Age, calorie restriction, and age of calorie restriction onset reduce maturation of natural killer cells in C57Bl/6 mice.

Calorie restriction (CR), also known as energy restriction, has been shown to have a deleterious impact on both adult and aged mouse survival during influenza virus infection. Natural killer (NK) cell phenotypic differences contribute to increased susceptibility of adult CR mice. We hypothesized NK cell phenotype from adult and aged C57Bl/6 mice fed NIH-31 diet ad libitum (AL) would be different from NK cell phenotype from adult and aged mice fed NIH-31/NIA fortified diet at 40% CR.

Reducing Inappropriate Antibiotics for Urinary Tract Infections in Long-Term Care: A Replication Study.

Background: Nursing home providers face challenges in urinary tract infection assessment and treatment, often prescribing unnecessary antibiotics for asymptomatic bacteriuria, a practice that can result in adverse drug reactions, drug resistance, and an increase in antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to replicate the Cooper Urinary Tract Infection Program in another facility and measure its effectiveness.

Methods: Using a pre-post design, this project was implemented at a 120-bed, long-term care and rehabilitation facility located in the Midwest United States.

Measuring the Gap Between Students' Expectations and Experiences in an RN-to-BSN Nursing Program.

With the nursing profession requiring a more educated workforce, RN-to-BSN program enrollment has increased. Therefore, many nursing schools have expanded these programs and incorporated online learning components. The purpose of this study was to explore student expectations and perceptions of a Midwestern university's RN-to-BSN program.

Predictors of falls in older survivors of breast and prostate cancer: A retrospective cohort study of surveillance, epidemiology and end results-Medicare health outcomes survey linkage.

Objectives: To identify predictors of falls in older breast and prostate cancer survivors.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (SEER-MHOS) linkage. Inclusion criteria were age >65 years at cancer diagnosis, first primary female breast or prostate cancer, cancer staging information available, completion of baseline MHOS during years 2-3 and follow-up MHOS during years 4-5 post-diagnosis, and falls information available.

Comparing Women's and Men's Sexual Offending Using a Statewide Incarcerated Sample: A Two-Study Design.

This study identifies the characteristics that distinguish between women's and men's sexual offending. We compare women and men currently incarcerated for a sex offense in one state using two data sources: administrative data on sex offenders in the state prison ( = 9,235) and subsample surveys ( = 129). Bivariate and logistic regressions were used in these analyses.

Comparing SVM and ANN based Machine Learning Methods for Species Identification of Food Contaminating Beetles.

Insect pests, such as pantry beetles, are often associated with food contaminations and public health risks. Machine learning has the potential to provide a more accurate and efficient solution in detecting their presence in food products, which is currently done manually. In our previous research, we demonstrated such feasibility where Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based pattern recognition techniques could be implemented for species identification in the context of food safety.

Assessment of Behavioral Health Concerns in the Community Affected by the Flint Water Crisis - Michigan (USA) 2016.

Objectives: The Flint Community Resilience Group (Flint, Michigan USA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; Atlanta, Georgia USA) assessed behavioral health concerns among community members to determine the impact of lead contamination of the Flint, Michigan water supply.

Methods: A Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) was conducted from May 17 through May 19, 2016 using a multi-stage cluster sampling design to select households and individuals to interview.

Results: One-half of households felt overlooked by decision makers.

Preparation and properties of room temperature vulcanized silicone rubber based on rosin-grafted polydimethylsiloxane.

Rosin-grafted polydimethylsiloxane (RGSO) was prepared ring-opening reaction of glycidyl ester of rosin acid (ER) with hydroxy-terminated amino polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The structure of RGSO was confirmed by H and C NMR spectroscopy. The effects of ER on relative molecular weight and rheological properties of RGSO were studied by gel permeation chromatography and rotational rheometry.

Predictors of Parental Use of Corporal Punishment in Ukraine.

Despite a great deal of evidence that corporal punishment is harmful, corporal punishment is still very prevalent worldwide. We examine predictors of different types of corporal punishment among Ukrainian mothers in 12 communities across Ukraine. Findings suggest that maternal spirituality, maternal coping styles, family communication, and some demographic characteristics are predictive of mothers' use of corporal punishment.

Characterizing Mobility Limitations Among Older African American Men.

This study represents an effort to contribute to the limited body of research on biopsychosocial contextual factors that influence or contribute to mobility limitations for older African American men. Specifically, we were interested in examining associations between socio-demographic, physical and emotional health experiences with mobility limitations. A secondary analysis of 1666 older African American men was performed to investigate socio-demographic, mental and physical health correlates to a specific measures of mobility limitation.

Neighborhood collective efficacy, parental spanking, and subsequent risk of household child protective services involvement.

Children exposed to negative neighborhood conditions and parental spanking are at higher risk of experiencing maltreatment. We conducted prospective analyses of secondary data to determine the effects of neighborhood collective efficacy and parental spanking on household Child Protective Services (CPS) involvement, and whether spanking mediates the relationship between neighborhood collective efficacy and CPS involvement. The sample (N = 2,267) was drawn from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS), a stratified random sample of 4,789 births between 1998-2000 in 20 large U.

Design of diversified self-assembly systems based on a natural rosin-based tertiary amine for doxorubicin delivery and excellent emulsification.

A novel rosin-based ester tertiary amine (RETA) with three hydrophilic groups and a rigid hydrophobic group was synthesized from rosin by Diels-Alder addition, acylation and esterification reactions. RETA was characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (C NMR). Results from testing surface tension, zeta potential, and transmission electron spectroscopy showed that RETA had unique pH responsiveness.

Different Sickness Responses in Adult and Aged Rats Following Lipopolysaccharide Administration.

Objective: Immune challenges result in sickness responses such as decreased activity, fever, and spatial learning deficits. While these responses occur simultaneously, they are not usually evaluated concurrently or for an extended time. The purpose of this study was to examine how an immune challenge affected activity and temperature responses in animals tested concurrently in the Morris water maze (MWM) over 5 days and how aging interacts with such responses.

Evaluation of Bioinformatics Approaches for Next-Generation Sequencing Analysis of microRNAs with a Toxicogenomics Study Design.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key post-transcriptional regulators that affect protein translation by targeting mRNAs. Their role in disease etiology and toxicity are well recognized. Given the rapid advancement of next-generation sequencing techniques, miRNA profiling has been increasingly conducted with RNA-seq, namely miRNA-seq.

Characterization of cervical neuromuscular response to head-neck perturbation in active young adults.

Background: The majority of studies examining the role of cervical muscles on head-neck kinematics focused on musculoskeletal attributes (e.g. strength).

Simulated Interprofessional Education Discharge Planning Meeting to Improve Skills Necessary for Effective Interprofessional Practice.

Purpose Of Study: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of a simulation-enhanced interprofessional education (Sim-IPE) discharge planning learning experience using simulated patients (SPs), to explore the ability for students to communicate with each other and to a patient/caregiver, and to use clinical thinking to make a safe and appropriate interprofessional discharge recommendation.

Primary Practice Setting(s): Educational institution; university simulation center.

Methodology And Sample: A Sim-IPE was performed with students from physical therapy (N = 46), nursing (N = 25), and social work (N = 11).

Cultural Aspects of End-of-Life Care Planning for African Americans: An Integrative Review of Literature.

Advance directive completion rates among the general population are low. Studies report even lower completion rates among African Americans are affected by demographic variables, cultural distinctives related to patient autonomy, mistrust of the health care system, low health literacy, strong spiritual beliefs, desire for aggressive interventions, importance of family-communal decision making, and presence of comorbidities. An integrative review was conducted to synthesize nursing knowledge regarding cultural perspectives of end-of-life and advance care planning among African Americans.

Education, race/ethnicity, and multimorbidity among adults aged 30-64 in the National Health Interview Survey.

Background: Demographic risk factors for multimorbidity have been identified in numerous population-based studies of older adults; however, there is less data on younger populations, despite the fact that approximately 24% of US adults age 18+ have multimorbidity. Understanding multimorbidity earlier in the life course is critical because of the increased likelihood of long-term disability and loss of productivity associated with chronic disease progression.

Objective: To examine the associations of education and race/ethnicity with mutimorbidity among adults aged 30-64 using cross-sectional data from the 2002-2014 National Health Interview Surveys.

Breast Injuries in Female Collegiate Basketball, Soccer, Softball and Volleyball Athletes: Prevalence, Type and Impact on Sports Participation.

Objective: In 2015-2016, over 214,000 female athletes competed at the collegiate level in the United States (U.S.).

The case against physical punishment.

We review the literature on parental physical punishment of children, laying out foundations of a case against physical punishment as a form of discipline. We consider the research on physical punishment finding that physical punishment is associated with a number of undesirable outcomes for children and adolescents. We pay special attention to questions of: parent effects versus child effects; whether parental use of physical punishment is moderated by family, neighborhood, or cultural context, and whether physical punishment can be considered to be part of a continuum of family violence.

The Level of Cognitive Impairment and Likelihood of Frequent Hospital Admissions.

This study aims to examine the relationship between different levels of cognitive impairment (CI) and the frequency of hospital admission (HA). Data from the National Health and Aging Trend Study, Round 1 (2011), with 8,245 respondents from Medicare beneficiaries were used. The data account for the number of hospital admissions for one year before the data collection.

OCT4 supports extended LIF-independent self-renewal and maintenance of transcriptional and epigenetic networks in embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic stem (ES) cell pluripotency is governed by OCT4-centric transcriptional networks. Conventional ES cells can be derived and maintained in vitro with media containing the cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), which propagates the pluripotent state by activating STAT3 signaling, and simultaneous inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) and MAP kinase/ERK kinase signaling. However, it is unclear whether overexpression of OCT4 is sufficient to overcome LIF-dependence.

Validity and Reliability of Accelerometers in Patients With COPD: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.

Purpose: Reduced physical activity is associated with poor prognosis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Accelerometers have greatly improved quantification of physical activity by providing information on step counts, body positions, energy expenditure, and magnitude of force. The purpose of this systematic review was to compare the validity and reliability of accelerometers used in patients with COPD.