Association between substance use and concurrent sexual relationships among urban slum dwellers in Nairobi, Kenya.

While the overall incidence and prevalence of HIV/AIDS are declining in Africa, substance use-related HIV/AIDS is on the rise. The main objectives of this study were to elicit the types of commonly used substances and to examine the association between substance use and concurrent sexual relationships among slum dwellers in Kenya. Freelisting elicitation techniques were used to identify the most commonly used substances using 53 key informants.

Exploring brain mechanisms underlying Gulf War Illness with group ICA based analysis of fMRI resting state networks.

Around 200,000 veterans (up to 32% of those deployed) of the 1991 Gulf War (GW) suffer from GW illness (GWI), which is characterized by multiple deficits in cognitive, affective, sensory and nociception domains. In this study we employed resting state fMRI (rsfMRI) to map impairments in brain function in GWI with advanced network analysis. RsfMRI data was obtained from 60 GWI veterans and 30 age-matched military controls.

Barriers and Facilitators to the Use of Genomic-Based Targeted Lung Cancer Therapies in the VA: Qualitative Findings.

Reflexive testing, standardization of the mutation test ordering procedure and results reporting, and elimination of the preauthorization requirements could facilitate the utilization of targeted therapies.

Defining the impact of mutation accumulation on replicative lifespan in yeast using cancer-associated mutator phenotypes.

Mutations accumulate within somatic cells and have been proposed to contribute to aging. It is unclear what level of mutation burden may be required to consistently reduce cellular lifespan. Human cancers driven by a mutator phenotype represent an intriguing model to test this hypothesis, since they carry the highest mutation burdens of any human cell.

Specificity of expectancies prospectively predicting alcohol and marijuana use in adulthood in the Pittsburgh ADHD longitudinal study.

Alcohol and marijuana use expectancies are presumed to be drug-specific, but prospective study of this assumption is lacking. In addition, these associations may operate differently for adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) histories, as expectancies have been found to be less associated with alcohol and marijuana use among this population. The first aim of the present study was to investigate whether associations between alcohol and marijuana expectancies and substance use were specific to the substances they assess.

Regulation of GDNF expression in Sertoli cells.

Sertoli cells regulate male germ cell proliferation and differentiation and are a critical component of the spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) niche, where homeostasis is maintained by the interplay of several signaling pathways and growth factors. These factors are secreted by Sertoli cells located within the seminiferous epithelium, and by interstitial cells residing between the seminiferous tubules. Sertoli cells and peritubular myoid cells produce glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), which binds to the RET/GFRA1 receptor complex at the surface of undifferentiated spermatogonia.

Solid fuel combustion as a major contributor of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rural China: Evidence from emission inventory and congener profiles in tree bark.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) remain a focal concern of the air pollution in China. To discriminate the sources of airborne PAHs in Chinese rural regions, a national-scale tree bark sampling campaign and emission inventory estimation were conducted. The concentrations of the sum of 16 U.

Gene multifunctionality scoring using gene ontology.

Multifunctional genes are important genes because of their essential roles in human cells. Studying and analyzing multifunctional genes can help understand disease mechanisms and drug discovery. We propose a computational method for scoring gene multifunctionality based on functional annotations of the target gene from the Gene Ontology.

A qualitative analysis of the vaccine intention-behaviour relationship: parents' descriptions of their intentions, decision-making behaviour and planning processes towards HPV vaccination.

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify factors influencing the vaccine intention-behaviour relationship.

Design: A total of 445 parents who received a brief intervention to promote HPV vaccination were categorized based on their intentions post-intervention (yes/unsure/eventually/never) and subsequent adolescents' vaccine status (yes/no). Fifty-one of these parents participated in qualitative interviews.

PVA/Chitosan/Silver Nanoparticles Electrospun Nanocomposites: Molecular Relaxations Investigated by Modern Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy.

In this study, we used broadband dielectric spectroscopy to analyze polymer nanofibers of poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan/silver nanoparticles. We also studied the effect of incorporating silver nanoparticles in the polymeric mat, on the chain motion dynamics and their interactions with chitosan nanofibers, and we calculated the activation energies of the sub- relaxation processes. Results revealed the existence of two sub- relaxations, the first gets activated at very low temperature (-90 °C) and accounts for motions of the side groups within the repeating unit such as ⁻NH₂, ⁻OH, and ⁻CH₂OH in chitosan and poly(vinyl alcohol).

Silk as a Natural Reinforcement: Processing and Properties of Silk/Epoxy Composite Laminates.

With growing environmental awareness, natural fibers have recently received significant interest as reinforcement in polymer composites. Among natural fibers, silk can potentially be a natural alternative to glass fibers, as it possesses comparable specific mechanical properties. In order to investigate the processability and properties of silk reinforced composites, vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) was used to manufacture composite laminates reinforced with woven silk preforms.

Using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form Cutoffs to Predict Lack of Pre-surgical Exercise.

Previous studies suggest the importance of understanding what factors increase risk of lack of physical activity (PA) prior to bariatric surgery, which may increase risk of suboptimal postoperative outcomes. Therefore, the current study sought to explore which Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) scales were associated with lack of pre-surgical PA. The mean age of the sample (N = 1170) was 45.

Metabolic Susceptibility of 2-Chlorothioxanthone and Its Toxic Effects on mRNA and Protein Expression and Activities of Human CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 Enzymes.

Thioxanthones (TXs) are photoinitiators widely used in UV curable resins and food packaging, and their residues have been frequently detected in human bodies. Our current understanding of the susceptibility of residual TXs to metabolism and their effects on human health is very limited. The in vitro metabolism of TXs and its toxic effects on cytochrome P450 (CYP) (the key xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes) were examined in this study.

Assessing and teaching job-related social skills to adults with autism spectrum disorder.

Few studies have evaluated interventions to improve the job-related social skills of adults with autism spectrum disorder. In this study, we examined the efficacy of a treatment package for teaching several social skills that are critical to job success, such as responding appropriately to feedback and asking for a task model from the supervisor. Three adults, aged 19 to 27 years, participated.

Electron affinities from gas chromatography electron capture detector and negative ion mass spectrometry responses and complementary methods.

The use of the electron-capture detector, ECD, to measure molecular electron affinities and kinetic parameters for reactions of thermal electrons with molecules at atmospheric pressure separated by chromatography and the sensitive and selective quantitative analysis of certain classes molecules are reviewed. The evaluated ground state electron affinities of the main group elements and diatomic molecules from slightly positive, 0+, to 3.6 eV are summarized.

Psychosocial functioning and quality of life in patients with loose redundant skin 4 to 5 years after bariatric surgery.

Background: Bariatric surgery usually results in substantial weight loss and a reduction in medical comorbidities. Many patients, as a consequence of the weight loss, subsequently evidence loose, redundant skin.

Objectives: This investigation seeks to examine the prevalence of body contouring surgery (BCS) by patients approximately 4 to 5 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.

Eggshell Membrane-Templated MnO Nanoparticles: Facile Synthesis and Tetracycline Hydrochloride Decontamination.

Taking advantages of reticular proteins and reductive groups on the surface, eggshell membrane (ESM) was selected to synthesize MnO nanoparticles from potassium permanganate through a super simple way in which ESM acted as both template and reductant. This process avoided harsh reaction conditions or complicated aftertreatments and thus owned the merits of green synthesis, handy operation, low cost, and easy purification. The ESM-templated MnO nanoparticles (MnO NPs/ESM) were characterized, and the content of nanomaterials on the template was tested.

Dimensional Structure of and Variation in Anthropomorphic Concepts of God.

When considering other persons, the human mind draws from folk theories of biology, physics, and psychology. Studies have examined the extent to which people utilize these folk theories in inferring whether or not God has human-like biological, physical, and psychological constraints. However, few studies have examined the way in which these folk attributions relate to each other, the extent to which attributions within a domain are consistent, or whether cultural factors influence human-like attributions within and across domains.

A subtype-specific neuropeptide FF receptor antagonist attenuates morphine and nicotine withdrawal syndrome in the rat.

Considerable evidence suggests the Neuropeptide FF (NPFF) and related peptides exert pro-nociceptive and anti-opiate actions, particularly at the supra-spinal level, which may contribute to opiate dependence. The FF1 receptor subtype appears to be primarily responsible for anti-opiate effects. In contrast, stimulation of the FF2 receptor primarily induces pro-opiate effects.

Effects of manganese toxicity on the protein profile of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) roots as revealed by two complementary proteomic approaches, two-dimensional electrophoresis and shotgun analysis.

The aim of this work was to assess the effects of manganese (Mn) toxicity on the proteome of tomato roots using two proteomic approaches, shotgun and two-dimensional electrophoresis. The shotgun approach yielded 367 reliable proteins, whereas the 2-DE approach detected 340 consistent spots. The 2-DE method found 54 proteins changing in relative abundance in the excess Mn treatment, whereas the shotgun detected changes in 118 proteins.

Patient Activation Mediates the Association Between Psychosocial Risk Factors and Spine Surgery Results.

Although spine surgery (SS) and spinal cord stimulators (SCSs) can provide significant relief for patients with intractable pain, their effectiveness is variable. Previously, a number of pre-operative psychosocial risk factors have predicted suboptimal outcomes of these procedures. However, recent research has found that "patient activation"-the extent to which patients are engaged and active in their own health care-can predict positive surgical results.

Microaggressions and Islamophobia: Experiences of Muslims Across the United States and Clinical Implications.

This mixed methods exploratory study illustrates the influence of pervasive misconceptions about Islam on the experiences of 314 adult Muslims across the United States. Quantitative results suggest that Muslim stress levels are comparable to the stress levels of other marginalized groups in the United States. Qualitative analysis revealed four themes that highlight the challenges faced by Muslims as well as their resiliency in the face of microaggressions and marginalization.

Adhesion of gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria on 1D nano-ripple glass pattern in weak magnetic fields.

This research project has major applications in the healthcare and biomedical industries. Bacteria reside in human bodies and play an integral role in the mechanism of life. However, their excessive growth or the invasion of similar agents can be dangerous and may cause fatal or incurable diseases.