Cost-effectiveness of Community Health Workers in controlling diabetes epidemic on the U.S.-Mexico border.

Objectives: This study attempted to evaluate clinical outcomes and long-term cost-effectiveness of an intervention involving Community Health Workers (CHW's, a.k.a.

Morphology-tunable synthesis of ZnO nanoforest and its photoelectrochemical performance.

Understanding and manipulating synthesis reactions and crystal growth mechanisms are keys to designing and constructing the morphology and functional properties of advanced materials. Herein, the morphology-controlled synthesis of three-dimensional (3D) ZnO nanoforests is reported via a facile hydrothermal route. Specifically, the respective and synergistic influence of polyethylenimine (PEI) and ammonia on tuning the architecture of ZnO nanoforests is systematically studied.

Bismuth nitrate-induced novel nitration of estradiol: an entry to new anticancer agents.

Direct nitration of estradiol was carried out using metal nitrates on solid surfaces under mild condition, and a combination of bismuth nitrate pentahydrate impregnated KSF clay was found to be the best reagent to synthesize 2- and 4-nitroestradiol effectively. Furthermore, various basic side chains were introduced, through O-linker at C-3, to these nitroestradiols. The ability of these derivatives to cause cytotoxicity in Estrogen Receptor (ER)-positive and ER-negative breast cancer cell lines, as well as cancer cell lines of other origins, was examined.

Development and validation of the belief in Female Sexual Deceptiveness scale.

This article describes the development of a scale measuring the extent of men's belief in female sexual deceptiveness. This belief has been postulated as a component of hostile masculinity and a precursor to more serious sexual-assault-facilitating cognitions, though it has not yet been studied empirically. From a final pool of 22 items, the 14-item Belief in Female Sexual Deceptiveness (BFSD) scale was constructed.

Nematodes infect, but do not manipulate digging by, sand crabs, Lepidopa benedicti.

We examined sand crabs (Lepidopa benedicti) for endoparasites, and found the only parasite consistently infecting the studied population were small nematodes. Because many nematodes have complex life cycles involving multiple hosts, often strongly manipulating their hosts, we hypothesized that nematodes alter the behavior of their sand crab hosts. We predicted that more heavily infected crabs would spend more time above sand than less heavily infected crabs.

Biodegradable electrospun nanofibers coated with platelet-rich plasma for cell adhesion and proliferation.

Biodegradable electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds were coated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to improve cell adhesion and proliferation. PRP was obtained from human buffy coat, and tested on human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to confirm cell proliferation and cytocompatibility. Then, PRP was adsorbed on the PCL scaffolds via lyophilization, which resulted in a uniform sponge-like coating of 2.

Prepubertal exposure to elevated manganese results in estradiol regulated mammary gland ductal differentiation and hyperplasia in female rats.

Evidence suggests that environmental substances regulating estrogenic pathways during puberty may be detrimental to the developing mammary gland (MG). Manganese (Mn) is a trace mineral required for normal physiological processes. Prepubertal exposure to Mn induces precocious puberty in rats, an event associated with early elevations in puberty-related hormones, including estradiol (E).

Projected future distributions of vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi in North America under climate change scenarios.

Background: Chagas disease kills approximately 45 thousand people annually and affects 10 million people in Latin America and the southern United States. The parasite that causes the disease, Trypanosoma cruzi, can be transmitted by insects of the family Reduviidae, subfamily Triatominae. Any study that attempts to evaluate risk for Chagas disease must focus on the ecology and biogeography of these vectors.

Position of larval tapeworms, Polypocephalus sp., in the ganglia of shrimp, Litopenaeus setiferus.

Parasites that invade the nervous system of their hosts have perhaps the best potential to manipulate their host's behavior, but how they manipulate the host, if they do at all, could depend on their position within the host's nervous system. We hypothesize that parasites that live in the nervous system of their host will be randomly distributed if they exert their influence through non-specific effects (i.e.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases PTP-1B, SHP-2, and PTEN facilitate Rb/E2F-associated apoptotic signaling.

To maintain tissue homeostasis, apoptosis is functionally linked to the cell cycle through the retinoblastoma (Rb)/E2F pathway. When the Rb tumor suppressor protein is functionally inactivated, E2F1 elicits an apoptotic response through both intrinsic (caspase-9 mediated) and extrinsic (caspase-8 mediated) apoptotic pathways in order to eliminate hyperproliferative cells. Rb/E2F-associated apoptosis has been demonstrated to be associated with the loss of constitutive transcriptional repression by Rb/E2F complexes and mediated by caspase-8.

Parasitic manipulation of hosts' phenotype, or how to make a zombie--an introduction to the symposium.

Nearly all animals in nature are infected by at least one parasite, and many of those parasites can significantly change the phenotype of their hosts, often in ways that increase the parasite's likelihood of transmission. Hosts' phenotypic changes are multidimensional, and manipulated traits include behavior, neurotransmission, coloration, morphology, and hormone levels. The field of parasitic manipulation of hosts' phenotype has now accrued many examples of systems where parasites manipulate the phenotypes of their hosts and focus has shifted to answering three main questions.

The vacuum shouts back: postpublication peer review on social media.

Social media has created new pathways for postpublication peer review, which regularly leads to corrections. Such online discussions are often resisted by authors and editors, however, and efforts to formalize postpublication peer review have not yet resonated with scientific communities.

New Frontiers for the NFIL3 bZIP Transcription Factor in Cancer, Metabolism and Beyond.

The bZIP transcription factor NFIL3 (Nuclear factor Interleukin 3 regulated, also known as E4 binding protein 4, E4BP4) regulates diverse biological processes from circadian rhythm to cellular viability. Recently, a host of novel roles have been identified for NFIL3 in immunological signal transduction, cancer, aging and metabolism. Elucidating the signaling pathways that are impacted by NFIL3 and the regulatory mechanisms that it targets, inhibits or activates will be critical for developing a clearer picture of its physiological roles in disease and normal processes.

Perceptions of Equity, Balance of Support Exchange, and Mother-Adult Child Relations.

Equity theory suggests that relationships are more harmonious when both members of a dyad believe that their exchanges are fair. However, the level and frequency of exchange, rather than perceptions of equity, have been the focus of most research on support and the quality of intergenerational relations. Using data from 1,426 mother-child dyads nested within 413 families collected as part of the Within-Family Differences Study, the authors explored whether mothers' perceptions of equity are better predictors of closeness and tension than are mothers' reports of balanced exchanges of support.

EELS Analysis of Nylon 6 Nanofibers Reinforced with Nitroxide-Functionalized Graphene Oxide.

A detailed analysis by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) of nitroxide-functionalized graphene oxide layers (GOFT) dispersed in Nylon 6 nanofibers is reported herein. The functionalization and exfoliation process of graphite oxide to GOFT was confirmed by TEM using electron diffraction patterns (EDP), wherein 1 to 4 graphene layers of GOFT were observed. The distribution and alignment of GOFT layers within a sample of Nylon 6 nanofiber reveals that GOFT platelets are mainly within the fiber, but some were partially protruding from it.

Contributions of the insula to cognition and emotion.

Historically, the insula was considered primary gustatory cortex. Now it is known to play a more comprehensive role in the processing of sensory information, including acting as primary cortex for interoceptive information, including autonomic nervous system mediated changes. As such, it is critical for emotional feeling in accord with the James-Lange theory, a role previously ascribed to the limbic system.

Nitroxide-Functionalized Graphene Oxide from Graphite Oxide.

A facile method for preparing functionalized graphene oxide single layers with nitroxide groups is reported herein. Highly oxidized graphite oxide (GO=90.6%) was obtained, slightly modifying an improved Hummer's method.

Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of La2Zr2O7:Eu3+@YBO3 core@shell nanoparticles.

Novel heterostructured La2Zr2O7:Eu(3+)@YBO3 core@shell nanoparticles (NPs) composed of a trivalent europium doped lanthanum zirconate (La2Zr2O7:Eu(3+)) core and yttrium orthoborate (YBO3) shell are reported in this paper for the first time. X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopies, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were employed to confirm the formation of the heterostructured core@shell NPs. Luminescent enhancement was observed after the La2Zr2O7:Eu(3+) core NPs were coated with the thin YBO3 shells under 405 nm excitation.

Task-switching cost and repetition priming: two overlooked confounds in the first-set procedure of the Sternberg paradigm and how they affect memory set-size effects.

Subjects performed Sternberg-type memory recognition tasks (Sternberg paradigm) in four experiments. Category-instance names were used as learning and testing materials. Sternberg's original experiments demonstrated a linear relation between reaction time (RT) and memory-set size (MSS).

Identification of the GPR55 antagonist binding site using a novel set of high-potency GPR55 selective ligands.

GPR55 is a class A G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that has been implicated in inflammatory pain, neuropathic pain, metabolic disorder, bone development, and cancer. Initially deorphanized as a cannabinoid receptor, GPR55 has been shown to be activated by non-cannabinoid ligands such as l-α-lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI). While there is a growing body of evidence of physiological and pathophysiological roles for GPR55, the paucity of specific antagonists has limited its study.

Two homologous EF-G proteins from Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibit distinct functions.

Genes encoding two proteins corresponding to elongation factor G (EF-G) were cloned from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The proteins encoded by these genes are both members of the EFG I subfamily. The gene encoding one of the forms of EF-G is located in the str operon and the resulting protein is referred to as EF-G1A while the gene encoding the other form of EF-G is located in another part of the genome and the resulting protein is referred to as EF-G1B.

Facile and highly efficient approach for the fabrication of multifunctional silk nanofibers containing hydroxyapatite and silver nanoparticles.

In this study, a good combination consisting of electrospun silk fibroin nanofibers incorporated with high-purity hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles (NPs) and silver NPs is introduced as antimicrobial for tissue engineering applications. The variable pressure field emission scanning electron microscope results confirmed randomly placed nanofibers are produced with highly dispersed HAp and silver NPs in nanofibers after electrospinning. The X-ray diffraction results demonstrated crystalline features of each of the three components used for electrospinning.