Objectives: Work stress is an emergent risk in occupational health in China, and its measurement is still a critical issue. The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of a short version of the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) questionnaire in a sample of Chinese workers.Methods: A community-based ...

The main goal of this work was to develop a methodology for the computed analysis of American College of Radiology (ACR) mammographic phantom images, to be used in a quality control (QC) program of mammographic services. Discrete wavelet transform processing was applied to enhance the quality of images from the ...

In this paper, we report on the functionalization of silicon nanostructured (NanoSi) surface with an organic layer of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and its subsequent use as an affinity surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) interface for histidine-tagged peptide enrichment and mass spectrometry analysis. The NTA terminal groups are immobilized onto ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Dairy proteins, in particular the whey fraction, exert insulinogenic properties and facilitate glycemic regulation through a mechanism involving elevation of certain plasma amino acids, and stimulation of incretins. Human milk is rich in whey protein and has not been investigated in this respect. METHOD: Nine healthy volunteers were ...

Droplets of liquid perfluorocarbon (PFC) are under study as the next generation of contrast agents for ultrasound (US). These droplets can be selectively vaporized into echogenic gas bubbles in situ by externally applied US, with numerous applications to diagnosis and therapy. However, little is known about the mechanisms of droplet ...

A new cell-printed scaffold consisting of poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) and cell-embedded alginate struts is designed. The PCL and alginate struts are stacked in an interdigitated pattern in successive layers to acquire a three-dimensional (3D) shape. The hybrid scaffold exhibits a two-phase structure consisting of cell (MC3T3-E1)-laden alginate struts able to support ...

This study aimed to evaluate various concentrations of egg yolk (5, 10, or 20%) in combination with different concentrations of glycerol (3% or 6%) added to a Tris-based extender on the post-thaw characteristics of sperm obtained from Tayassu tajacu. For this purpose, semen from 10 sexually male mature collared peccaries ...

AIMS: To investigate the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in untreated hospital wastewaters (UHWW), their transmission into the receiving sewage treatment plant (STP) and survival through the STP treatment. METHODS AND RESULTS: Over 8 consecutive weeks of sampling we isolated 224 S. aureus strains from UHWW-1, UHWW-2 and its ...

Hydralazine hydrochloride is an antihypertensive used alone or in combination with isosorbide nitrate for the treatment of congestive heart failure. Since control of blood pressure should be continuous, sustained release delivery of this drug is considered therapeutically beneficial. Core beads for oral administration of this drug were prepared by extrusion-spheronization. ...

Homocysteine (Hcy) and cysteine (Cys) are two important kinds of amino acids in human bodies. Herein, we synthesized an iridium(III) complex-functionalized poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and its hydrogel, which could be used as the excellent phosphorescent bioprobe for sensing Hcy and Cys. Their detection can be realized in aqueous system through the variations ...

There is an emerging body of research demonstrating that the co-expression of key lineage-specifying transcription factors, commonly referred to as 'master regulators', affects the functional capabilities and flexibility of CD4(+) T cell subsets. Here, we discuss how the natural co-expression of these lineage-specifying transcription factors has challenged the concept that ...

To describe the incidence, features, management, and risk factors of post-intravitreal anti-VEGF endophthalmitis (PIAE) in patients undergoing treatment for exudative age-related macular degeneration in the United Kingdom. Prospective observational case control study. Forty-seven cases of PIAE were identified through the British Ophthalmological Surveillance Unit from January 2009 to March 2010. ...

Significant advances in our understanding of the in vivo functions of human cells and tissues and the human immune system have resulted from the development of 'humanized' mouse strains that are based on severely immunodeficient mice with mutations in the interleukin-2 receptor common γ-chain locus. These mouse strains support the ...

Highly ordered dimpled Ta (DT) nanotemplates, prepared by electrochemical anodization of Ta, were recently reported to be ideally suited for the fabrication of a Au nanoparticle (NP) array using a Au thin film dewetting method. Here, we provide guidance and understanding of the effect of the DT fabrication and Au ...

In this review, the evaluation methods for the screening of depigmenting substrates were investigated. For this purpose, the evaluation method of tyrosinase, a key-enzyme of melanin biosynthesis, is most frequently used, but evaluating methods based on the regulation of cellular signal transfer factors, or the inhibition of melanosome transfer have ...

The reactivity of the cubane-type rare-earth methylidene complex [Cp'Lu(μ(3) -CH(2) )](4) (1, Cp'=C(5) Me(4) SiMe(3) ) with various unsaturated electrophiles was investigated. The reaction of 1 with CO (1 atm) at room temperature gave the bis(ketene dianion)/dimethylidene complex [Cp'(4) Lu(4) (μ(3) -CH(2) )(2) (μ(3) ,η(2) -O-CCH(2) )(2) ] (2) in 86 % ...

Palladium(II)-coordinated NCR(1) (R(1) = Et (1), NMe(2) (2), Ph (3)) species react smoothly with acyclic nitrones such as the ketonitrones Ph(2)C═N(O)R(4) (R(4) = p-MeC(6)H(4) (4), p-ClC(6)H(4) (5)) and the aldonitrone p-MeC(6)H(4)CH═N(O)Me (6) in the corresponding nitrile media. This reaction proceeds as a consecutive two-step intermolecular cycloaddition to give the mono- ...

MOTIVATION: RNA-Seq uses the high-throughput sequencing technology to identify and quantify transcriptome at an unprecedented high resolution and low cost. However, RNA-Seq reads are usually not uniformly distributed and biases in RNA-Seq data post great challenges in many applications including transcriptome assembly and the expression level estimation of genes or ...

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling that limits the ability of the pulmonary vascular bed to withstand the physiological changes of pregnancy. Historically, pregnancy in PAH carries a high risk to the parturient. Normal pulmonary vasculature can withstand the hemodynamic and physiological changes associated with pregnancy ...

In a previous study, important acclimation to water stress was observed in the Ramellet tomato cultivar (TR) from the Balearic Islands, related to an increase in the water use efficiency through modifications in both stomatal (g(s) ) and mesophyll conductances (g(m) ). In the present work, the comparison of physiological ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare congenital respiratory disorder characterized by abnormal ciliary motility leading to chronic airway infections. Qualitative evaluation of ciliary beat pattern based on digital high-speed videomicroscopy analysis has been proposed in the diagnosis process of PCD. Although this evaluation is easy in typical ...

Controlling the adsorption behavior of bulk-phase self-assembling dye molecules at solid/liquid interfaces is of importance for application to various devices. Herein, we report an unexpected phenomenon on the adsorption behaviors of bulk J-aggregating water-soluble porphyrin diacids. A comparative study on the adsorption amounts of J-aggregated meso-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin diacid from freshly prepared ...

A new aromatic carboxylate ligand, 4-[4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)butoxy]benzoic acid (HL), has been synthesized by the replacement of the hydroxyl hydrogen of 4-hydroxy benzoic acid with a 9-butyl-9H-carbazole moiety. The anion derived from HL has been used for the support of a series of lanthanide coordination compounds [Ln = Eu (), Gd () ...

Developing approaches to effectively induce and control the magnetic states is critical to the use of magnetic nanostructures in quantum information devices but is still challenging. Here we have demonstrated, by employing the density functional theory calculations, an existence of infinite magnetic sheets with structural integrity and magnetic homogeneity. Examination ...

  Following a mastectomy, both the cosmetic and functional results can be impaired by the presence of a lateral "dog ear." This is a particular problem in women with a large body habitus giving an increased amount of adipose tissue lateral to the breast. The standard approaches to this operation ...

We found that an integrated flow microreactor system enables the preparation of boronic esters bearing electrophilic functional groups using organolithium chemistry and that it allows for their use in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling without intentionally added base. Based on this method, cross-coupling of two aryl halides bearing electrophilic functional groups was accomplished ...

We report the atomic-scale structures and fluctuating dynamical behavior of size-selected Au55 clusters obtained by Aberration-Corrected Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) coupled with systematic STEM simulations. No high-symmetry structures (FCC polyhedron, icosahedron or decahedron) were observed in our statistical investigation. We find Au55 clusters that are characteristic of the theoretically ...

Aim:The aim of this article is to generate hypotheses for the mechanism of pituitary adenoma headache.Patients and methods:Fifty-eight patients with pituitary adenoma were prospectively analysed for prevalence and manifestation of tumour headache. Intrapersonal and neoplasm-associated risk factors were assessed.Results:Twenty-four patients (41%) had tumour-attributed headache, seven had migraine-like, 11 tension-type headache-like ...

Classically, silver (Ag) halides have been used to understand thermodynamic principles of the charging process and corresponding development of the electrical double layer (EDL). A mechanistic approach of the processes at the molecular level has not yet been done using advanced surface complexation modeling (SCM) as applied to metal (hydr) ...

Human mesenchymal stromal or stem cells (hMSCs) are being investigated for cell therapy in a wide range of diseases. MSCs are a potent source of trophic factors and actively remodel their immediate microenvironment through the secretion of bioactive factors in response to external stimuli such as oxygen tension. In this ...

This study analyzed 140 patients with isolated del13q14 on interphase FISH (I-FISH), to identify subsets with a different progression risk and to assess the acquisition of additional chromosomal abnormalities (clonal evolution) in treatment-naïve del13q14 patients. A monoallelic deletion (del13qx1) was detected in 123 cases (88%), a biallelic deletion (del13qx2) in ...

BACKGROUND: In prostate cancer cells, transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) inhibits proliferation in earlier stages of the disease; however, the cancer cells become refractory to growth inhibitory effects in advanced stages where TGFβ promotes cancer progression and metastasis. Inhibitor of differentiation (Id) family of closely related proteins (Id1-Id4) are dominant ...

Objective  To investigate the effects of the volatile anaesthetic sevoflurane on the release of total and active myeloperoxidase (MPO) by non-stimulated and stimulated polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) in whole blood from healthy horses. Study design  In vitro experimental study. Animals  Adult healthy horses. Methods  Samples of whole venous blood were collected ...

This study suggests combustion synthesized Ce(1-x)Zr(x)O(2) (CZO; x = 0.1-0.5) as a new catalyst for the cathode in non-aqueous electrolyte based Li/O(2) cells. The spherical catalysts have a fluorite structure with a mean diameter of 5-17 nm. Zr doping into the ceria lattice leads to the reduction of Ce(4+) to Ce(3+), which further ...

Cardiac MRI in neonates holds promise as a tool that can provide detailed functional information in this vulnerable group. However, their small size, rapid heart rate, and inability to breath-hold, pose particular challenges that require prolonged high-contrast and high-SNR methods. Balanced-steady state free precession (SSFP) offers high SNR efficiency and ...

ABSTRACT: We are pleased to announce that Molecular Brain has been accepted by Thomson Reuters for tracking and is due to receive its first official Impact Factor in June 2013.

We show that DNA containing a conformationally-locked anti analogue of O(6)-alkylguanine is a poor substrate for human O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and the alkyltransferase-like protein, Atl1. This highlights the requirement for the syn conformation and rationalises why certain O(6)-alkylguanines are poor MGMT substrates.

The aim of this article is to discuss how parallel therapy work with parents can be structured to achieve the goals of therapy with their children. Time-limited psychotherapy with children is a structured therapeutic method, where the goal and the number of sessions are contracted together with the child and ...

The term informatics is currently enveloped in chaos. One way to clarify the meaning of informatics is to identify the competencies associated with training in the field, but this approach can conceal the whole that the competencies atomistically describe. This work takes a different approach by offering three higher-level visions ...

Heterogeneous chemistry of nitrogen dioxide with lead-containing particles is investigated to better understand lead metal mobilization in the environment. In particular, PbO particles, a model lead-containing compound due to its wide spread presence as a component of lead paint and as naturally occurring minerals, massicot and litharge, are exposed to ...

Cyclosporine (CsA) is a highly effective immunosuppressant used in patients after transplantation; however, its use is limited by nephrotoxicity. Salt depletion is known to enhance CsA-induced nephrotoxicity in the rat, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely understood. The goal of our study was to identify the molecular effects ...

Abstract Introduction: Fractional resurfacing with an Erbium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) 2940nm laser is an increasingly popular option for the treatment of the signs of facial photoaging, which include wrinkles as well as pigmentation issues and unwanted textural changes. Fractional treatment has produced favorable clinical responses, but with less complications and shorter ...

BACKGROUND: Although laparoscopic surgeries are associated with reduced surgical stress response and shortened post-operative recovery, intense pain and high analgesia requirements in the immediate post-operative period are often the chief complaints. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-emptive intraperitoneal local anaesthetic drugs on post-operative ...

None of the replacements proposed in the literature for small-calibre blood vessels (SCBV) fully satisfies the stringent requirements that these grafts have to fulfil. Here, an electrospun silk fibroin tubular construct is hybridized with type I collagen gel to produce a biomimetic SCBV graft with physiologically relevant compliance and burst ...

  Large amounts of floral bio-residues (92.6 g per 100 g of flowers) are generated and wasted in the production of saffron (Crocus sativus) spice. Progress in mechanization of saffron crop offer the opportunity to expand the uses of C. sativus flowers, beyond the spice (dried stigmas). The antioxidant potential ...

The aim of this study is to gain more insight into basic aspects of identity, in relation to adolescent chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). In dialogical self theory, identity is regarded as incorporating multiple self-positions, such as 'I as tired', 'I as pessimistic', or 'I as ...

Efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) was developed in a material based on a phenoxazine (PXZ) electron donor unit and a 2,4,6-triphenyl-1,3,5-triazine (TRZ) electron acceptor unit. An organic light-emitting diode containing this novel TADF emitter layer was fabricated and exhibited a maximum external quantum efficiency of 12.5% with green emission.

Purpose: The physical background of diffusion phenomena in intracranial cysts is unclear in some cases. To evaluate a potential dependency of proton diffusion on the concentration of proteins in cystic lesions we investigated the correlation of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and magnetization transfer ratio imaging (MTR) in intracranial cystic pathologies ...

Glycaemic control is an essential component in diabetes management. There is growing attention on the protective effects of social capital on health, where social capital comprises features of society that facilitate co-operation for mutual benefit. The aim of this study was to investigate its role as a social determinant of ...

Objectives The aim of this study is to present a systematic review of available literature on the effect of maternal ethnicity (Africans/blacks, Asians, Hispanics, others) on the risk of preterm birth (PTB).Study Design Studies investigating ethnicity (or race) as a risk factor for PTB were included if performing adjustments for confounders. A ...