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Sweeney A, Rush A, Stevens J, Sutherland GT. A Survey of Community Perceptions on Brain Donation for Research. Biopreserv Biobank 2024. [PMID: 38457650 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2023.0158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Postmortem brain donation for medical research is a little-known form of organ donation. While most brain research is carried out using animal models, many neurological diseases are uniquely human. Greater availability of human postmortem brain tissue from diseased individuals and controls would therefore improve the development of treatments for neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Globally, organ donation for medical research is dwarfed by organ donation for transplantation. In 2021, 36% of Australians were registered organ donors for transplantation, with public "in-principle" support even higher, at 76%. In contrast, there are little data on Australian or international brain donation rates for research. A 30-item online survey was conducted to ascertain knowledge of, and attitudes toward, brain donation in Australia. Of the respondents, 12/237 (5%) were current brain donors and excluded from further analysis. Of the remaining 225, 75% were registered organ donors for transplant. The vast majority (n = 189/225, 84%) of respondents supported or strongly supported the principle of brain donation. However, of those registered for transplantation or whole-body donors, 93/170 (55%) were not aware that brain donation was possible, while 50%, alternatively or also, thought that registering as an organ donor for transplantation rendered them a brain donor by default. Only 9/225 (4%) respondents indicated that they would definitely not donate their brain in the future, while 27 remained unsure. There is prominent public support for brain donation in Australia, with 84% of respondents willing to donate their brain. Yet, the extent of public misconceptions on brain donation for research suggests the need for further education on all types of organ donation, so individuals may make informed decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Sweeney
- New South Wales Brain Tissue Research Centre, Charles Perkins Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Amanda Rush
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, Charles Perkins Centre and School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Julia Stevens
- New South Wales Brain Tissue Research Centre, Charles Perkins Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Greg T Sutherland
- New South Wales Brain Tissue Research Centre, Charles Perkins Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
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Aldecoa I, Barroeta I, Carroll SL, Fortea J, Gilmore A, Ginsberg SD, Guzman SJ, Hamlett ED, Head E, Perez SE, Potter H, Molina‐Porcel L, Raha‐Chowdhury R, Wisniewski T, Yong WH, Zaman S, Ghosh S, Mufson EJ, Granholm A. Down Syndrome Biobank Consortium: A perspective. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:2262-2272. [PMID: 38270275 PMCID: PMC10984425 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have a partial or complete trisomy of chromosome 21, resulting in an increased risk for early-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD)-type dementia by early midlife. Despite ongoing clinical trials to treat late-onset AD, individuals with DS are often excluded. Furthermore, timely diagnosis or management is often not available. Of the genetic causes of AD, people with DS represent the largest cohort. Currently, there is a knowledge gap regarding the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of DS-related AD (DS-AD), partly due to limited access to well-characterized brain tissue and biomaterials for research. To address this challenge, we created an international consortium of brain banks focused on collecting and disseminating brain tissue from persons with DS throughout their lifespan, named the Down Syndrome Biobank Consortium (DSBC) consisting of 11 biobanking sites located in Europe, India, and the USA. This perspective describes the DSBC harmonized protocols and tissue dissemination goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iban Aldecoa
- Pathology DepartmentHospital Clinic de Barcelona‐University of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Neurological Tissue Bank of the BiobankHospital Clinic de Barcelona‐FCRB/IDIBAPSBarcelonaSpain
| | - Isabel Barroeta
- Neurology DepartmentHospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, NeurologyBarcelonaSpain
| | - Steven L. Carroll
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineMedical University of South CarolinaCharlestonSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Juan Fortea
- Neurology DepartmentHospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, NeurologyBarcelonaSpain
| | - Anah Gilmore
- University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, NeurosurgeryAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Stephen D. Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline InstituteOrangeburgNew YorkUSA
- Departments of PsychiatryNeuroscience & Physiology, and the NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Samuel J. Guzman
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Eric D. Hamlett
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineMedical University of South CarolinaCharlestonSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of California Irvine, UCI School of Medicine D440 Medical Sciences IIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Sylvia E. Perez
- Barrow Neurological InstituteTranslational Neurosciences and NeurologyPhoenixArizonaUSA
| | - Huntington Potter
- University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus, NeurologyAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Laura Molina‐Porcel
- Pathology DepartmentHospital Clinic de Barcelona‐University of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders UnitNeurology Service, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, University of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Ruma Raha‐Chowdhury
- Department of PsychiatryCambridge Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Research GroupUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Thomas Wisniewski
- Center for Cognitive Neurology, Departments of Neurology, Pathology and PsychiatryNew York University Grossman School of MedicineNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - William H. Yong
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of California Irvine, UCI School of Medicine D440 Medical Sciences IIrvineCaliforniaUSA
| | - Shahid Zaman
- Department of PsychiatryCambridge Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Research GroupUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Sujay Ghosh
- Department of ZoologyCytogenetics and Genomics Research UnitKolkataIndia
| | - Elliott J. Mufson
- Barrow Neurological InstituteTranslational Neurosciences and NeurologyPhoenixArizonaUSA
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Brady CB, Robey I, Stein TD, Huber BR, Riley J, Abdul Rauf N, Spencer KR, Walt G, Adams L, Averill JG, Walker S, McKee AC, Thomson SP, Kowall NW. The Department of Veterans Affairs Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Biorepository: Supporting Research on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses. Brain Sci 2021; 11:1349. [PMID: 34679413 PMCID: PMC8533803 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11101349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS To introduce a resource supporting research on Gulf War illness (GWI) and related disorders, the Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses Biorepository (GWVIB). METHODS Gulf War era veterans (GWVs) are recruited nationally and enrolled via telephone and email/postal mail. Enrolled veterans receive annual telephone and mail follow-up to collect health data until their passing. A postmortem neuropathological examination is performed, and fixed and frozen brain and spinal cord samples are banked to support research. Investigators studying GWI and related disorders may request tissue and data from the GWVIB. RESULTS As of September 2021, 127 GWVs from 39 states were enrolled; 60 met the criteria for GWI, and 14 met the criteria for chronic multisymptom illness (CMI). Enrollees have been followed up to six years. Postmortem tissue recoveries were performed on 14 GWVs. The most commonly found neuropathologies included amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, and Lewy body disease. Tissue was of good quality with an average RNA integrity number of 5.8 (SD = 1.0) and ≥4.8 in all of the cases. DISCUSSION The availability of health data and high-quality CNS tissue from this well-characterized GWV cohort will support research on GWI and related disorders affecting GWVs. Enrollment is ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B. Brady
- Research and Development Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA; (J.R.); (N.A.R.); (K.R.S.); (G.W.); (L.A.)
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (B.R.H.); (N.W.K.)
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ian Robey
- Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System, Tucson, AZ 85723, USA; (I.R.); (J.G.A.); (S.W.); (S.P.T.)
- Department of Endocrinology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Thor D. Stein
- Pathology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA; (T.D.S.); (A.C.M.)
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bedford, MA 01730, USA
| | - Bertrand R. Huber
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (B.R.H.); (N.W.K.)
- Pathology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA; (T.D.S.); (A.C.M.)
- National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA
| | - Jessica Riley
- Research and Development Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA; (J.R.); (N.A.R.); (K.R.S.); (G.W.); (L.A.)
| | - Nazifa Abdul Rauf
- Research and Development Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA; (J.R.); (N.A.R.); (K.R.S.); (G.W.); (L.A.)
| | - Keith R. Spencer
- Research and Development Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA; (J.R.); (N.A.R.); (K.R.S.); (G.W.); (L.A.)
| | - Gabriel Walt
- Research and Development Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA; (J.R.); (N.A.R.); (K.R.S.); (G.W.); (L.A.)
| | - Latease Adams
- Research and Development Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA; (J.R.); (N.A.R.); (K.R.S.); (G.W.); (L.A.)
| | - James G. Averill
- Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System, Tucson, AZ 85723, USA; (I.R.); (J.G.A.); (S.W.); (S.P.T.)
| | - Sean Walker
- Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System, Tucson, AZ 85723, USA; (I.R.); (J.G.A.); (S.W.); (S.P.T.)
| | - Ann C. McKee
- Pathology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA; (T.D.S.); (A.C.M.)
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Stephen P. Thomson
- Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System, Tucson, AZ 85723, USA; (I.R.); (J.G.A.); (S.W.); (S.P.T.)
- Department of Endocrinology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Neil W. Kowall
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA; (B.R.H.); (N.W.K.)
- Neurology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA
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Tu T, Jiang J, Zhang QL, Wan L, Li YN, Pan A, Manavis J, Yan XX. Extracellular Sortilin Proteopathy Relative to β-Amyloid and Tau in Aged and Alzheimer's Disease Human Brains. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:93. [PMID: 32477092 PMCID: PMC7236809 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) are hallmark lesions of Alzheimer's disease (AD) related to β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition and intraneuronal phosphorylated tau (pTau) accumulation. Sortilin C-terminal fragments (shortened as "sorfra") can deposit as senile plaque-like lesions within AD brains. The course and pattern of sorfra plaque formation relative to Aβ and pTau pathogenesis remain unknown. In the present study, cerebral and subcortical sections in postmortem human brains (n = 46) from aged and AD subjects were stained using multiple markers (6E10, β-secretase 1, pTau, and sortilin antibodies, as well as Bielschowsky silver stain). The course and pattern of sorfra plaque formation relative to Thal Aβ and Braak NFT pathogenic stages were determined. Sorfra plaques occurred in the temporal, inferior frontal and occipital neocortices in cases with Thal 1 and Braak III stages. They were also found additionally in the hippocampal formation, amygdala, and associative neocortex in cases with Thal 2-4 and Braak IV-V. Lastly, they were also found in the primary motor, somatosensory, and visual cortices in cases with Thal 4-5 and Braak VI. Unlike Aβ and pTau pathologies, sorfra plaques did not occur in subcortical structures in cases with Aβ/pTau lesions in Thal 3-5/Braak IV-VI stages. We establish here that sorfra plaques are essentially a cerebral proteopathy. We believe that the development of sorfra plaques in both cortical and hippocampal regions proceeds in a typical spatiotemporal pattern, and the stages of cerebral sorfra plaque formation partially overlap with that of Aβ and pTau pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Tu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Juan Jiang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qi-Lei Zhang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lily Wan
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ya-Nan Li
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Aihua Pan
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center for Morphological Sciences, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jim Manavis
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Xiao-Xin Yan
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Zhang Q, Deng J, Li YN, Gou Y, Yan XX, Li F, Pan AH. Perceptions and Attitudes toward Brain Donation among the Chinese People. Anat Sci Educ 2020; 13:80-90. [PMID: 31022327 DOI: 10.1002/ase.1886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Postmortem human brain donation is crucial to both anatomy education and research. The China Human Brain Banking Consortium was established recently to foster brain donation in China. The purpose of this study was to gain information about the public perception of and attitudes toward brain donation and to identify factors that may impact the willingness to participate in brain donation among the Chinese people. A specifically designed questionnaire was delivered to community residents in Changsha (the capital city of Hunan province) with a total of 1,249 completed forms returned and statistically analyzed. The majority of the participants considered that brain donation would help medical research and education, and 32.0% of respondents agreed that the brain donation would help change the traditional Chinese funeral belief in keeping the body intact after death. However, participants aged over 60 years old were less supportive of this concept. Among all participants, 63.7% stated that they were not knowledgeable about brain donation, while 26.4% explicitly expressed a willingness to participate in brain donation. Age, gender, monthly household income, and knowledge about brain donation significantly affected the willingness. Compared with other age groups, a higher proportion of participants aged over 60 years old preferred to be informed by a medical college. To promote brain donation in China, especially among the elderly, better communication of its medical benefits and a reinterpretation of the Confucius view of the human body should be provided. Efforts are also needed to provide appropriate forums and sources of brain donation information to targeted communities and society in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- Xiangya Brain Bank, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Deng
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ya-Nan Li
- Xiangya Brain Bank, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Gou
- Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Xin Yan
- Xiangya Brain Bank, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Li
- Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ai-Hua Pan
- Xiangya Brain Bank, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
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Palmer-Aronsten B, Sheedy D, McCrossin T, Kril J. An International Survey of Brain Banking Operation and Characterization Practices. Biopreserv Biobank 2016; 14:464-469. [PMID: 27399803 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2016.0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain banks continue to make a major contribution to the study of neurological and psychiatric disorders. The current complexity and scope of research heighten the need for well-characterized cases and the demand for larger cohorts and necessitate strategies, such as the establishment of bank networks based in regional areas. While individual brain banks have developed protocols that meet researchers' needs within the confines of resources and funding, to further promote collaboration, standardization and scientific validity and understanding of the current protocols of participating banks are required. A survey was sent to brain banks, identified by an Internet search, to investigate operational protocols, case characterization, cohort management, data collection, standardization, and degree of collaboration between banks. The majority of the 24 banks that returned the survey have been established for more than 20 years, and most are affiliated with a regional network. While prospective donor programs were the primary source of donation, the data collected on donors varied. Longitudinal information assists case characterization and enhances the analysis capabilities of research. However, acquiring this information depended on the availability of qualified staff. Respondents indicated a high level of importance for standardization, but only 8 of 24 considered this occurred between banks. Standard diagnostic criteria were not achieved in the classification of controls, and some banks relied on the researcher to indicate the criteria for classification of controls. Although the capacity to collaborate with other banks was indicated by 16 of 24 banks, this occurred infrequently. Engagement of all brain banks to participate toward a consensus of diagnostic tools, especially for controls, will strengthen collaboration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrix Palmer-Aronsten
- 1 NSW Brain Tissue Resource Centre, Charles Perkins Centre, and Discipline of Pathology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney , Sydney, Australia .,2 Schizophrenia Research Institute , Randwick, Australia
| | - Donna Sheedy
- 1 NSW Brain Tissue Resource Centre, Charles Perkins Centre, and Discipline of Pathology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney , Sydney, Australia
| | - Toni McCrossin
- 1 NSW Brain Tissue Resource Centre, Charles Perkins Centre, and Discipline of Pathology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney , Sydney, Australia
| | - Jillian Kril
- 1 NSW Brain Tissue Resource Centre, Charles Perkins Centre, and Discipline of Pathology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney , Sydney, Australia
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Abstract
It is widely accepted that neurobiological abnormalities underlie the symptoms of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and unipolar or bipolar affective disorders. New molecular methods, computer-assisted quantification techniques and neurobiological investigation methods that can be applied to the human brain are all used in post-mortem investigations of psychiatric disorders. The following article describes modern quantitative methods and recent post-mortem findings in schizophrenia and affective disorders. Using our brain bank as an example, necessary considerations of modern brain banking are addressed such as ethical considerations, clinical work-up, preparation techniques and the organization of a brain bank, the value of modern brain banking for investigations of psychiatric disorders is summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Schmitt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Goettingen, Germany.
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