Approach for participatory Delphi method for structuring voices, population empowerment and research training.

A Delphi panel is a methodology used to generate consensus among experts. The development of a participatory Delphi approach consists of including the research population in the design and conduct of the research. It involves panelists in the preparation of an open-ended questionnaire as well as in the responding process.

Teaching Old Polymers New Tricks: Improved Synthesis and Anomalous Crystallinity for a Lost Semi-Fluorinated Polyaryl Ether via Interfacial Polymerization of Hexafluoroacetone Hydrate and Diphenyl Ether.

A practical and direct electrophilic polymerization of hexafluoroacetone hydrate with diphenyl ether toward the preparation of semi-fluorinated polyaryl ethers (PAE) is reported. Electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) polymerization under interfacial conditions with phase transfer catalyst (Aliquat 336) proceeds in trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride by generation of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and the protonated hexafluoroacetone (HFA) in situ affording 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropylidene (6F) PAE with high regioselectivity (4,4'-DPE) and high molecular weight (≈60 kDa). Although first reported in a 1966 US Patent by DuPont using harsh conditions, improved synthetic methods or modern characterization has not been disclosed until now.

exon-6 truncating mutations produce separation of function isoforms with pro-tumorigenic functions.

truncating mutations are common in human tumors and are thought to give rise to p53-null alleles. Here, we show that exon-6 truncating mutations occur at higher than expected frequencies and produce proteins that lack canonical p53 tumor suppressor activities but promote cancer cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis. Functionally and molecularly, these p53 mutants resemble the naturally occurring alternative p53 splice variant, p53-psi.

Uncoupling protein-2 mRNA expression in mice subjected to intermittent hypoxia.

Objective: To investigate the effect of intermittent hypoxia-a model of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)-on pancreatic expression of uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2), as well as on glycemic and lipid profiles, in C57BL mice.

Methods: For 8 h/day over a 35-day period, male C57BL mice were exposed to intermittent hypoxia (hypoxia group) or to a sham procedure (normoxia group). The intermittent hypoxia condition involved exposing mice to an atmosphere of 92% N and 8% CO2 for 30 s, progressively reducing the fraction of inspired oxygen to 8 ± 1%, after which they were exposed to room air for 30 s and the cycle was repeated (480 cycles over the 8-h experimental period).

When is injury potentially reversible in a lung ischemia-reperfusion model?

Objective: To verify the impact of ischemic time on lung cell viability in an experimental model of lung ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury and its repercussion on lung performance after reperfusion.

Methods: Twenty-four animals were subjected to selective clamping of the left pulmonary artery and divided into four groups (n = 6) according to ischemic time: 15 (IR15), 30 (IR30), 45 (IR45), and 60 min (IR60). All animals were observed for 120 min after reperfusion.

On the biomimetic design of agile-robot legs.

The development of functional legged robots has encountered its limits in human-made actuation technology. This paper describes research on the biomimetic design of legs for agile quadrupeds. A biomimetic leg concept that extracts key principles from horse legs which are responsible for the agile and powerful locomotion of these animals is presented.

Multivessel revascularization on the beating heart by anterolateral left thoracotomy.

Background: Off-pump coronary artery bypass is commonly performed through a full median sternotomy; however, the tendency to reduce surgical trauma has stimulated cardiac surgeons to use less invasive techniques for single-vessel disease. The use of thoracotomy for reoperative and valvular surgery has also been reported, but its application in primary revascularization is still uncommon. We report here a series of consecutive patients who underwent complete myocardial revascularization on the beating heart through anterolateral thoracotomy-coronary artery bypass (ALT-CAB).