Synthesis of the extended phenacene molecules, [10]phenacene and [11]phenacene, and their performance in a field-effect transistor.

The [10]phenacene and [11]phenacene molecules have been synthesized using a simple repetition of Wittig reactions followed by photocyclization. Sufficient amounts of [10]phenacene and [11]phenacene were obtained, and thin-film FETs using these molecules have been fabricated with SiO and ionic liquid gate dielectrics. These FETs operated in p-channel.

Nurses' Time Allocation and Multitasking of Nursing Activities: A Time Motion Study.

Nurses have been required to provide more patient-centered, efficient, and cost effective care. In order to do so, they need to work at the top of their license. We conducted a time motion study to document nursing activities on communication, hands-on tasks, and locations (where activities occurred), and compared differences between different time blocks (7am-11am, 11am-3pm, and 3pm-7pm).

Phase II clinical trial of adoptive cell therapy for patients with metastatic melanoma with autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and low-dose interleukin-2.

Adoptive cell therapy using autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) has shown significant clinical benefit, but is limited by toxicities due to a requirement for post-infusion interleukin-2 (IL-2), for which high dose is standard. To assess a modified TIL protocol using lower dose IL-2, we performed a single institution phase II protocol in unresectable, metastatic melanoma. The primary endpoint was response rate.

Titin truncations lead to impaired cardiomyocyte autophagy and mitochondrial function in vivo.

Titin-truncating variants (TTNtv) are the most common genetic cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. TTNtv occur in ~1% of the general population and causes subclinical cardiac remodeling in asymptomatic carriers. In rat models with either proximal or distal TTNtv, we previously showed altered cardiac metabolism at baseline and impaired cardiac function in response to stress.

Integrated Experimental and Computational Analyses Reveal Differential Metabolic Functionality in Antibiotic-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Metabolic adaptations accompanying the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria remain poorly understood. To study this relationship, we profiled the growth of lab-evolved antibiotic-resistant lineages of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa across 190 unique carbon sources. Our data revealed that the evolution of antibiotic resistance resulted in systems-level changes to growth dynamics and metabolic phenotype.

PD-linked CHCHD2 mutations impair CHCHD10 and MICOS complex leading to mitochondria dysfunction.

Coiled-coil-helix-coiled-coil-helix domain containing protein 2 (CHCHD2) mutations were linked with autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease (PD) and recently, Alzheimer's disease/frontotemporal dementia. In the current study, we generated isogenic human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines harboring PD-associated CHCHD2 mutation R145Q or Q126X via clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) method, aiming to unravel pathophysiologic mechanism and seek potential intervention strategy against CHCHD2 mutant-caused defects. By engaging super-resolution microscopy, we identified a physical proximity and similar distribution pattern of CHCHD2 along mitochondria with mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system (MICOS), a large protein complex maintaining mitochondria cristae.

Novel Transcriptional Mechanisms for Regulating Metabolism by Thyroid Hormone.

The thyroid hormone plays a key role in energy and nutrient metabolisms in many tissues and regulates the transcription of key genes in metabolic pathways. It has long been believed that thyroid hormones (THs) exerted their effects primarily by binding to nuclear TH receptors (THRs) that are associated with conserved thyroid hormone response elements (TREs) located on the promoters of target genes. However, recent transcriptome and ChIP-Seq studies have challenged this conventional view as discordance was observed between TH-responsive genes and THR binding to DNA.

Teleconsultation Using Mobile Phones for Diagnosis and Acute Care of Burn Injuries Among Emergency Physicians: Mixed-Methods Study.

Background: The referral process in acute care remains challenging in many areas including burn care. Mobile phone apps designed explicitly for medical referrals and consultations could streamline the referral process by using structured templates and integrating features specific to different specialties. However, as these apps are competing with commercial chat services, usability becomes a crucial factor for successful uptake.

A fluorescent methylation-switchable probe for highly sensitive analysis of FTO -methyladenosine demethylase activity in cells.

-Methyladenosine (mA) is one of the most abundant epigenetic modifications on mRNA. It is dynamically regulated by the mA demethylases FTO and ALKBH5, which are currently attracting intense medical interest because of their strong association with several human diseases. Despite their clinical significance, the molecular mechanisms of mA demethylases remain unclear, hence there is tremendous interest in developing analytical tools to facilitate their functional studies, with a longer term view of validating their therapeutic potentials.

Synthetic miRNAs induce dual arboviral-resistance phenotypes in the vector mosquito .

Mosquito-borne arboviruses are responsible for recent dengue, chikungunya, and Zika pandemics. The yellow-fever mosquito, , plays an important role in the transmission of all three viruses. We developed a miRNA-based approach that results in a dual resistance phenotype in mosquitoes to dengue serotype 3 (DENV-3) and chikungunya (CHIKV) viruses.

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from Guadeloupe (French West Indies) are able to transmit yellow fever virus.

The recent yellow fever epidemic in Brazil has raised the concern of outbreaks in neighboring countries, particularly in the Caribbean region where the vector Aedes aegypti is predominant. This threat comes from the past when in the Americas, this disease caused devastating urban epidemics. We report the vector competence of Ae.

Bezafibrate induces autophagy and improves hepatic lipid metabolism in glycogen storage disease type Ia.

Glucose-6-phosphatase α (G6Pase) deficiency, also known as von Gierke's Disease or Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD Ia), is characterized by decreased ability of the liver to convert glucose-6-phosphate to glucose leading to glycogen accumulation and hepatosteatosis. Long-term complications of GSD Ia include hepatic adenomas and carcinomas, in association with the suppression of autophagy in the liver. The G6pc-/- mouse and canine models for GSD Ia were treated with the pan-peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor agonist, bezafibrate, to determine the drug's effect on liver metabolism and function.

Thyroid hormone (T) stimulates brown adipose tissue activation via mitochondrial biogenesis and MTOR-mediated mitophagy.

The thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T) activates thermogenesis by uncoupling electron transport from ATP synthesis in brown adipose tissue (BAT) mitochondria. Although T can induce thermogenesis by sympathetic innervation, little is known about its cell autonomous effects on BAT mitochondria. We thus examined effects of T on mitochondrial activity, autophagy, and metabolism in primary brown adipocytes and BAT and found that T increased fatty acid oxidation and mitochondrial respiration as well as autophagic flux, mitophagy, and mitochondrial biogenesis.

Potential of Aedes aegypti populations in Madeira Island to transmit dengue and chikungunya viruses.

Background: Aedes spp. mosquitoes mainly transmit the arboviruses dengue virus (DENV) and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in urban areas, causing a severe public health problem. In 2012-2013, a major dengue outbreak occurred on Madeira Island where the mosquito Aedes aegypti was the only vector.

A multi-level usability evaluation of mobile health applications: A case study.

Objective: To report a methodological approach for the development of a usable mHealth application (app).

Materials And Methods: This work was guided by a 3-level stratified view of health information technology (IT) usability evaluation framework. We first describe a number of methodologies for operationalizing each level of the framework.

Differential Transmission of Antiviral Drug-Resistant Chikungunya Viruses by Mosquitoes.

The chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is transmitted by female and mosquitoes, mostly present in (sub)tropical regions. No antivirals are available to treat CHIKV infections. If antiviral drugs are proven efficient to treat CHIKV-infected patients, it will be pivotal to determine whether drug-resistant viruses can be transmitted from one human to another by their mosquito vectors.

Natural Acidification with Low-pH Fruits and Incorporation of Essential Oil Constituents for Organic Preservation of Unpasteurized Juices.

Unlabelled: Essential oil constituents (EOCs) derived from antimicrobial plant extracts can be used for organic preservation of food products. However, the characteristic flavor resulting from EOCs limit the concentration that can be used in high-pH beverages. This work provides an innovative approach of organically preserving a high-pH beverage (watermelon juice) with a natural blend of low-pH fruits (apples and lemons) and EOCs simultaneously.

Combining Wolbachia-induced sterility and virus protection to fight Aedes albopictus-borne viruses.

Among the strategies targeting vector control, the exploitation of the endosymbiont Wolbachia to produce sterile males and/or invasive females with reduced vector competence seems to be promising. A new Aedes albopictus transinfection (ARwP-M) was generated by introducing wMel Wolbachia in the ARwP line which had been established previously by replacing wAlbA and wAlbB Wolbachia with the wPip strain. Various infection and fitness parameters were studied by comparing ARwP-M, ARwP and wild-type (SANG population) Ae.

Macrolide and phenolic metabolites from the marine-derived fungus Paraconiothyrium sp. VK-13 with anti-inflammatory activity.

Five new secondary metabolites, modiolides D-G (1-4) and 1-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-methoxy-butan-1-one (8), one new natural product, 1-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxybutan-1-one (7), along with three known compounds, modiolides A (5) and B (6), and 1-(2,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-buten-1-one (9) were isolated from a fermentation culture of the marine endophytic fungus Paraconiothyrium sp. VK-13. Their chemical structures were elucidated by the NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis as well as the modified Mosher's method.

Thyroid hormone receptor and ERRα coordinately regulate mitochondrial fission, mitophagy, biogenesis, and function.

Thyroid hormone receptor β1 (THRB1) and estrogen-related receptor α (ESRRA; also known as ERRα) both play important roles in mitochondrial activity. To understand their potential interactions, we performed transcriptome and ChIP-seq analyses and found that many genes that were co-regulated by both THRB1 and ESRRA were involved in mitochondrial metabolic pathways. These included oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and β-oxidation of fatty acids.

Nurses' Experience With Health Information Technology: Longitudinal Qualitative Study.

Background: Nurses are the largest group of health information technology (HIT) users. As such, nurses' adaptations are critical for HIT implementation success. However, longitudinal approaches to understanding nurses' perceptions of HIT remain underexplored.