Impulsiveness in Reactive Dieters: Evidence From Delay Discounting in Orthodontic Patients.

: Researchers have made efforts to distinguish the behavioral differences and underlying mechanisms that explain the various possible outcomes of dieting (success, failure and relapse). Although extensive research has demonstrated that eating behavior and individual impulsiveness are closely related to subjective appetite and decision making, very few studies have investigated how subjective and appetite impulsiveness is affected by reactive dieting. : In the present study, we utilized the power of food scale (PFS) and the intertemporal choice task and to examine subjective appetite and impulsivity of decision making in orthodontic patients.

Status of population-based birth defects surveillance programs before and after the Zika public health response in the United States.

Background: The 2016 Zika public health response in the United States highlighted the need for birth defect surveillance (BDS) programs to collect population-based data on birth defects potentially related to Zika as rapidly as possible through enhanced case ascertainment and reporting. The National Birth Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN) assessed BDS program activities in the United States before and after the Zika response.

Methods: The NBDPN surveyed 54 BDS programs regarding activities before and after the Zika response, lessons learned, and programmatic needs.

Deep Convolutional Neural Network Used in Single Sample per Person Face Recognition.

Face recognition (FR) with single sample per person (SSPP) is a challenge in computer vision. Since there is only one sample to be trained, it makes facial variation such as pose, illumination, and disguise difficult to be predicted. To overcome this problem, this paper proposes a scheme combined traditional and deep learning (TDL) method to process the task.

All-Solution-Processed Pure Formamidinium-Based Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes.

All-solution-processed pure formamidinium-based perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) with record performance are successfully realized. It is found that the FAPbBr device is hole dominant. To achieve charge carrier balance, on the anode side, PEDOT:PSS 8000 is employed as the hole injection layer, replacing PEDOT:PSS 4083 to suppress the hole current.

Quadratic electro-optic effect in silicon-organic hybrid slot-waveguides.

This Letter reports on the quadratic electro-optic effect of polymers, observed in a silicon slot-waveguide at low voltages. We demonstrate that in narrow slots, the electro-optic response with respect to refractive index change is strong enough for on-chip wavelength tuning and intensity modulation using voltages as low as 1 V. A silicon slot-waveguide embedded by a nonlinear optical polymer, consisting of the dye Disperse Red 1 in poly(methyl methacrylate), serves as the phase shifter in a racetrack ring resonator.

Influence of vitamin intake and MTHFR polymorphism on the levels of DNA damage in tobacco farmers.

Background: Genetic damage may occur spontaneously under normal metabolic circumstances, inadequate intake of nutrients, and excessive exposure to environmental mutagens.

Objectives: To evaluate the influence of the intake of micronutrients vitamin B, vitamin B, and folate and of the polymorphism methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T on the induction of DNA damage in tobacco farmers.

Methods: The study involved 66 men and 44 women engaged in tobacco cultivation in the region of Venâncio Aires (Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil).

Academic dishonesty among academics in Malaysia: a comparison between healthcare and non-healthcare academics.

Background: This study was carried out to gauge the prevalence of academic dishonesty among academics in Malaysian universities. A direct comparison was made between academics of healthcare and non-healthcare courses to note the difference in the level of academic integrity between the two groups. In addition, the predisposing factors and implications of academic dishonesty, as well as the different measures perceived to be effective at curbing this problem were also investigated.

Occurrence and distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in the sediments of drinking water sources, urban rivers, and coastal areas in Zhuhai, China.

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are regarded as emerging contaminants related with human activities. Aquatic environments of an urban city are apt for the persistence and prevalence of ARGs. In this study, we investigated the occurrence and distribution of ARGs and integrase genes in the sediment samples collected from drinking water sources, urban rivers, and coastal areas of Zhuhai, China, in the dry and wet seasons of 2016.

Advancing Pharmacy Service using Big Data - Are We Fully Utilising the Big Data's Potential Yet?

Big data is anticipated to have large implications in clinical pharmacy, in view of its potential in enhancing precision medicine and to avoid medication error. However, it is equally debatable since such a powerful tool may also disrupt the need of pharmacist in healthcare industry. In this article, we commented the contribution of Big Data in various aspects of clinical pharmacy including advancing pharmaceutical care service, optimising drug supplies, managing clinical trials, and strengthening pharmacovigilance.

Comparative efficacy of vanilloids in inhibiting toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4)/myeloid differentiation factor (MD-2) homodimerisation.

Vanilloid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl benzenoid) containing foods are reported to possess many biological activities including anti-inflammatory properties. Homodimerisation of the Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4)/Myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2) complex results in life-threatening complications in inflammatory disorders. In this study, we report activity of vanilloids in inhibition of TLR-4/MD-2 homodimersization and their molecular interactions with the receptor.

Conjugated Polyelectrolytes as Efficient Hole Transport Layers in Perovskite Light-Emitting Diodes.

Perovskite-based optoelectronic devices have been rapidly developing in the past 5 years. Since the first report, the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) has increased rapidly through the control of morphology and structure from 0.1% to more than 11%.

Reduced expression of Rap1GAP as a prognostic biomarker for primary gastric cancer patients.

Background: Rap1GAP, a member of the family of GTPase-activating proteins, is reported to be involved in cancer development and progression.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the expression and prognostic value of Rap1GAP in gastric cancer patients.

Methods: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to examine Rap1GAP expression in tumorous and matched adjacent non-tumorous gastric tissues.

Identification of inhibitors synergizing gemcitabine sensitivity in the squamous subtype of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive cancer with a high chance of recurrence, limited treatment options, and poor prognosis. A recent study has classified pancreatic cancers into four molecular subtypes: (1) squamous, (2) immunogenic, (3) pancreatic progenitor and (4) aberrantly differentiated endocrine exocrine. Among all the subtypes, the squamous subtype has the worst prognosis.

Epigenetics in Metastatic Breast Cancer: Its Regulation and Implications in Diagnosis, Prognosis and Therapeutics.

Despite advances in the treatment regimen, the high incidence rate of breast cancer (BC) deaths is mostly caused by metastasis. Recently, the aberrant epigenetic modifications, which involve DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNA (miRNA) regulations become attractive targets to treat metastatic breast cancer (MBC). In this review, the epigenetic alterations of DNA methylation, histone modifications and miRNA regulations in regulating MBC are discussed.

Influence of hesperidin and vitamin C on glycemic parameters, lipid profile, and DNA damage in rats treated with sucrose overload.

We evaluated the influence of hesperidin and vitamin C (VitC) on glycemic parameters, lipid profile, and DNA damage in male Wistar rats treated with sucrose overload. Rats were divided into six experimental groups: I-water control; II-sucrose control; III-hesperidin control; IV-VitC control; V-co-treatment of sucrose plus hesperidin; VI-co-treatment of sucrose plus VitC. We measured the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, fasting glucose, and glycated hemoglobin (A1C).

Ultrastable Photoelectrodes for Solar Water Splitting Based on Organic Metal Halide Perovskite Fabricated by Lift-Off Process.

Herein, we report an integrated photoelectrolysis of water employing organic metal halide (OMH) perovskite material. As generic OMH perovskite material and device architecture are highly susceptible to degradation by aqueous electrolytes, we have developed a versatile mold-cast and lift-off process to fabricate and assemble multipurpose metal encapsulation onto perovskite devices. With the metal encapsulation effectively protecting the perovskite cell and also functioning as electrocatalyst, the high-performance perovskite photoelectrodes exhibit high photovoltage and photocurrent that are effectively inherited from the original solid-state solar cell.

Drug-like dietary vanilloids induce anticancer activity through proliferation inhibition and regulation of bcl-related apoptotic proteins.

In this study, a series of 20 structurally similar vanilloids (Vn) were tested for their antiproliferative effects against 12 human cancer cells: human breast (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), cervical (HeLa), ovarian (Caov-3), lung (A549), liver (HepG2), colorectal (HT-29 and HCT116), nasopharyngeal (CNE-1 and HK-1), and leukemic (K562 and CEM-SS) cancer cells. Among all the tested vanilloids, Vn16 (6-shogaol) exhibited the most potent cytotoxic effects against human colorectal cancer cells (HT-29). The apoptotic induction effects exhibited by Vn16 on HT-29 cells were confirmed using dual staining fluorescence microscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Topical delivery of l-theanine ameliorates TPA-induced acute skin inflammation via downregulating endothelial PECAM-1 and neutrophil infiltration and activation.

l-theanine, the most abundant free amino acid in tea, has been documented to possess many different bioactive properties through oral or intragastrical delivery. However, little is known about the effect of topical delivery of l-theanine on acute inflammation. In the present study, by using 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA, 2.

4-Phenylbutyrate suppresses the unfolded protein response without restoring protein folding in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Accumulation of unfolded secretory proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), namely ER stress, is hazardous to eukaryotic cells and promotes the unfolded protein response (UPR). Ire1 is an ER-located transmembrane protein that senses ER stress and triggers the UPR. According to previous in vitro experiments, 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA) works as a chemical molecular chaperone.

Public Health Approach to Addressing the Needs of Children Affected by Congenital Zika Syndrome.

We have learned much about the short-term sequelae of congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention activated its ZIKV emergency response in January 2016. Nevertheless, gaps remain in our understanding of the full spectrum of adverse health outcomes related to congenital ZIKV infection and how to optimize health in those who are affected. To address the remaining knowledge gaps, support affected children so they can reach their full potential, and make the best use of available resources, a carefully planned public health approach in partnership with pediatric health care providers is needed.

Population-Based Surveillance of Birth Defects Potentially Related to Zika Virus Infection - 15 States and U.S. Territories, 2016.

Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects, including microcephaly and brain abnormalities (1). Population-based birth defects surveillance systems are critical to monitor all infants and fetuses with birth defects potentially related to Zika virus infection, regardless of known exposure or laboratory evidence of Zika virus infection during pregnancy. CDC analyzed data from 15 U.

Highly Efficient All-Solution Processed Inverted Quantum Dots Based Light Emitting Diodes.

In all-solution processed inverted quantum dots based light emitting diodes (QLEDs), the solvent erosion on the quantum dot (QD) layer prevents devices from reaching high performance. By employing an orthogonal solvent 1,4-dioxane for the hole transport layer (HTL) poly(9-vinlycarbazole) (PVK), the external quantum efficiencies (EQE) of red QLED is increased 4-fold, while the luminous efficiencies (LE) of blue QLED is enhanced by 25 times, compared to the previous devices' record. To further improve the device efficiency and reduce the efficiency roll-off, solution processed PVK/poly [(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-co-(4,4'-(N-(p-butylphenyl))diphenylamine)] (TFB) double-layer HTL is introduced to facilitate hole injection with stepwise energy level.

High consumption of sucrose induces DNA damage in male Wistar rats.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the high consumption of sucrose on the levels of DNA damage in blood, hippocampus and bone marrow of rats. Male Wistar rats were treated for 4 months with sucrose (10% for 60 initial days and 34% for the following 60 days) in drinking water, and then, glycemia and glycated hemoglobin (A1C) were measured. Levels of DNA damage in blood and hippocampus were evaluated by the comet assay.

The BRICS (Bronchiectasis Radiologically Indexed CT Score): A Multicenter Study Score for Use in Idiopathic and Postinfective Bronchiectasis.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to develop a simplified radiological score that could assess clinical disease severity in bronchiectasis.

Methods: The Bronchiectasis Radiologically Indexed CT Score (BRICS) was devised based on a multivariable analysis of the Bhalla score and its ability in predicting clinical parameters of severity. The score was then externally validated in six centers in 302 patients.