Cool Bands: Wing bands decrease rate of heating, but not equilibrium temperature in Anartia fatima.

Butterflies regulate their internal thoracic temperature in order to optimize performance activities (e.g. flight, foraging).

Quantum uncertainty in the beam width of spatial optical modes.

We theoretically investigate the quantum uncertainty in the beam width of transverse optical modes and, for this purpose, define a corresponding quantum operator. Single mode states are studied as well as multimode states with small quantum noise. General relations are derived, and specific examples of different modes and quantum states are examined.

Differential associations of urbanicity and income with physical activity in adults in urbanizing China: findings from the population-based China Health and Nutrition Survey 1991-2009.

Background: High urbanicity and income are risk factors for cardiovascular-related chronic diseases in low- and middle-income countries, perhaps due to low physical activity (PA) in urban, high income areas. Few studies have examined differences in PA over time according to income and urbanicity in a country experiencing rapid urbanization.

Methods: We used data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey, a population-based cohort of Chinese adults (n = 20,083; ages 18-75y) seen a maximum of 7 times from 1991-2009.

Rapid Fractionation and Isolation of Whole Blood Components in Samples Obtained from a Community-based Setting.

Collection and processing of whole blood samples in a non-clinical setting offers a unique opportunity to evaluate community-dwelling individuals both with and without preexisting conditions. Rapid processing of these samples is essential to avoid degradation of key cellular components. Included here are methods for simultaneous peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC), DNA, RNA and serum isolation from a single blood draw performed in the homes of consenting participants across a metropolitan area, with processing initiated within 2 hr of collection.

DICER1 and microRNA regulation in post-traumatic stress disorder with comorbid depression.

DICER1 is an enzyme that generates mature microRNAs (miRNAs), which regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally in brain and other tissues and is involved in synaptic maturation and plasticity. Here, through genome-wide differential gene expression survey of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with comorbid depression (PTSD&Dep), we find that blood DICER1 expression is significantly reduced in cases versus controls, and replicate this in two independent cohorts. Our follow-up studies find that lower blood DICER1 expression is significantly associated with increased amygdala activation to fearful stimuli, a neural correlate for PTSD.

Anacardic acid and thyroid hormone enhance cardiomyocytes production from undifferentiated mouse ES cells along functionally distinct pathways.

The epigenetics of early commitment to embryonal cardiomyocyte is poorly understood. In this work, we compared the effect of thyroid hormone and that of anacardic acid, a naturally occurring histone acetylase inhibitor, or both in combination, on mouse embryonic stem cells (mES) differentiating into embryonal cardiomyocyte by embryoid bodies (EBs) formation. Although the results indicated that anacardic acid (AA) and thyroid hormone were both efficient in promoting cardiomyocyte differentiation, we noticed that a transient exposure of mES to AA alone was sufficient to enlarge the beating areas of EBs compared to those of untreated controls.

Fate of Hypoplastic Pulmonary Arteries After Arterial Duct Stenting in Congenital Heart Disease With Duct-Dependent Pulmonary Circulation.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the impact of arterial duct (AD) stenting in promoting catch-up growth of hypoplastic pulmonary artery (PA) tree in congenital heart disease with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation (CHD-DPC).

Background: Significant and balanced PA growth following AD stenting has already been consistently reported in the literature. However, no data are so far available about the role of this approach in severe PA hypoplasia, which significantly impacts the risk of surgical repair.

Engaging Street-Involved Youth in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy: A Secondary Analysis.

Objective: The objective of this secondary analysis was to identify factors associated with engagement of street-involved youth in a Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) intervention.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional correlational study. Youth were recruited from two agencies providing services to street-involved youth in Canada.

Differential Sequestration of a Cytotoxic Vismione from the Host Plant Vismia baccifera by Periphoba arcaei and Pyrrhopyge thericles.

We sought to compare the abilities of the specialist Lepidoptera Pyrrhopyge thericles (Hesperiidae) and the generalist Periphoba arcaei (Saturniidae) to assimilate three highly cytotoxic compounds from their larval host plant, Vismia baccifera (Clusiaceae) and to determine whether either insect discriminated in its assimilation of the compounds that are structurally similar but of variable cytotoxicity. Vismione B (1), deacetylvismione A (2), and deacetylvismione H (3) are cytotoxic compounds isolated from V. baccifera.

The Butterflies of Barro Colorado Island, Panama: Local Extinction since the 1930s.

Few data are available about the regional or local extinction of tropical butterfly species. When confirmed, local extinction was often due to the loss of host-plant species. We used published lists and recent monitoring programs to evaluate changes in butterfly composition on Barro Colorado Island (BCI, Panama) between an old (1923-1943) and a recent (1993-2013) period.

Early invasive versus early conservative strategy in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome: An outcome research study.

Background: An early invasive strategy (EIS) has been shown to yield a better clinical outcome than an early conservative strategy (ECS) in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACSs), particularly in those at higher risk according to the GRACE risk score. However, findings of the clinical trials have not been confirmed in registries.

Objective: To investigate the outcome of patients with NSTEACS treated according to an EIS or a ECS in a real-world all-comers outcome research study.

Keeping the band together: evidence for false boundary disruptive coloration in a butterfly.

There is a recent surge of evidence supporting disruptive coloration, in which patterns break up the animal's outline through false edges or boundaries, increasing survival in animals by reducing predator detection and/or preventing recognition. Although research has demonstrated that false edges are successful for reducing predation of prey, research into the role of internal false boundaries (i.e.

Frequency of alcohol consumption in humans; the role of metabotropic glutamate receptors and downstream signaling pathways.

Rodent models implicate metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) and downstream signaling pathways in addictive behaviors through metaplasticity. One way mGluRs can influence synaptic plasticity is by regulating the local translation of AMPA receptor trafficking proteins via eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2). However, genetic variation in this pathway has not been examined with human alcohol use phenotypes.

The influence of somatosensory and muscular deficits on postural stabilization: Insights from an instrumented analysis of subjects affected by different types of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is the most common hereditary neuromuscular disorder. CMT1 is primarily demyelinating, CMT2 is primarily axonal, and CMTX1 is characterized by both axonal and demyelinating abnormalities. We investigated the role of somatosensory and muscular deficits on quiet standing and postural stabilization in patients affected by different forms of CMT, comparing their performances with those of healthy subjects.

Prevalence of Obesity in Children and Adolescents in Brazil: A Meta-analysis of Cross-sectional Studies.

Background: Obesity in children/adolescents is a major public health problem worldwide. In Brazil there is great variability in published data on the prevalence of obesity among children/adolescents.

Aims: To show a systematic review with meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies, conducted in Brazil between 2008 and 2014.

Cardiometabolic Risk, Socio-Psychological Factors, and Trajectory of Grip Strength Among Older Japanese Adults.

Objective: To examine the association between cardiometabolic risk (percent body fat [BF%], triglycerides [TG], high-density lipoprotein [HDL]-cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]), socio-psychological factors (education and self-rated health [SRH]), and trajectories of grip strength (GS) in older adults.

Method: Longitudinal 8-year data from 1,381 Japanese adults aged 65 years or above were analyzed using hierarchical linear models, stratified according to gender.

Results: GS declined following a linear trajectory.

The effect of reactive school closure on community influenza-like illness counts in the state of Michigan during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.

Background: In sum, 559 Michigan schools were closed as a nonpharmaceutical intervention during the influenza A 2009 (H1N1) pandemic.

Methods: By linking the proportion of schools closed within a district to state influenza-like illness (ILI) surveillance data, we measured its effect on community levels of ILI. This analysis was centered by the peak week of ILI for each school district, and a negative binomial model compared three levels of school closure: 0%, 1%-50%, and 51%-100% of schools closed from three weeks leading up to ILI peak to four weeks following ILI peak rate.

An analysis of gene expression in PTSD implicates genes involved in the glucocorticoid receptor pathway and neural responses to stress.

We examined the association between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and gene expression using whole blood samples from a cohort of trauma-exposed white non-Hispanic male veterans (115 cases and 28 controls). 10,264 probes of genes and gene transcripts were analyzed. We found 41 that were differentially expressed in PTSD cases versus controls (multiple-testing corrected p<0.

Sex differences in the association between depression, anxiety, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Depression and anxiety have been inconsistently associated with diabetes. Sex differences in the biological and behavioral correlates of these forms of distress could partially explain these inconsistencies. We investigated sex-specific associations between depression/anxiety symptoms and diabetes in two separate samples.

Associations of intergenerational education with metabolic health in U.S. Latinos.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the association of intergenerational education and country of birth with waist circumference, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes among older adult Latinos in the United States.

Methods: We used cross-sectional data from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging, a cohort of older adult Mexican-American Latinos (mean age = 70 years). At baseline, we measured waist circumference and assessed metabolic syndrome and diabetes according to established guidelines (N = 1,789).

RORA and posttraumatic stress trajectories: main effects and interactions with childhood physical abuse history.

Background: Longitudinal studies of posttraumatic stress (PTS) have documented environmental factors as predictors of trajectories of higher, versus lower, symptoms, among them experiences of childhood physical abuse. Although it is now well-accepted that genes and environments jointly shape the risk of PTS, no published studies have investigated genes, or gene-by-environment interactions (GxEs), as predictors of PTS trajectories. The purpose of this study was to fill this gap.