Di\v{s}imo: Anchoring Our Breath

We present a system that raises awareness about users' inner state. Di\v{s}imo is a multimodal ambient display that provides feedback about one's stress level, which is assessed through heart rate monitoring. Upon detecting a low heart rate variability for a prolonged period of time, Di\v{s}imo plays an audio track, setting the pace of a regular and deep breathing. Users can then choose to take a moment to focus on their breath. By doing so, they will activate the Di\v{s}imo devices belonging to their close ones, who can then join for a shared relaxation session

Variación del pH salival en relación a la severidad de la enfermedad periodontal

El presente estudio considera variables muy importantes de conocer y diferenciar como son el pH salival, el cual ayuda a conservar el equilibrio bucal, evitando futuras enfermedades en boca, como caries dental y la enfermedad periodontal. El objetivo del presente estudio fue, determinar la relación entre la variación del pH salival y la severidad de la enfermedad periodontal en pacientes de 18 a 67 años de edad atendidos en la clínica Docente Asistencial de la Universidad Peruana Los Andes filial Lima en el año 2018. Se consideró el Método científico con tipo de investigación transversal de nivel Relacional y diseño no experimental descriptivo relacional o correlacionar; como muestra se obtuvo a 58 pacientes de ambos géneros, con edad que comprenden los 18 hasta los 67 años de edad. Resultados: El pH salival promedio fue de 7,06 con un valor máximo de 7,9 y un valor mínimo de 6,4, de acuerdo a la severidad de la enfermedad periodontal se clasificó en gingivitis causada por biofilm con un 44,83% (n=26), así también con periodontitis leve con 27,59% (n=16), con periodontitis moderada 13,79% (n=8) y por último con periodontitis grave 13,79% (n=8). Se determinó que si existe relación estadísticamente significativa (p=0.008) directa y baja (rs= 0,345) entre el pH salival y la severidad de la enfermedad periodontal en pacientes que asisten a la Clínica Docente Asistencial de Universidad Peruana Los Andes de la Filial Lima. Conclusión: El pH alcalino es un factor de riesgo para desarrollar periodontitis moderada en pacientes adultos mayores

Proteomic and functional analysis of NCS-1 binding proteins reveals novel signaling pathways required for inner ear development in zebrafish

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The semicircular canals, a subdivision of the vestibular system of the vertebrate inner ear, function as sensors of angular acceleration. Little is currently known, however, regarding the underlying molecular mechanisms that govern the development of this intricate structure. Zebrafish represent a particularly tractable model system for the study of inner ear development. This is because the ear can be easily visualized during early embryogenesis, and both forward and reverse genetic techniques are available that can be applied to the discovery of novel genes that contribute to proper ear development. We have previously shown that in zebrafish, the calcium sensing molecule neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) is required for semicircular canal formation. The function of NCS-1 in regulating semicircular canal formation has not yet been elucidated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We initiated a multistep functional proteomic strategy to identify neuronal calcium sensor-1 (NCS-1) binding partners (NBPs) that contribute to inner ear development in zebrafish. By performing a Y2H screen in combination with literature and database searches, we identified 10 human NBPs. BLAST searches of the zebrafish EST and genomic databases allowed us to clone zebrafish orthologs of each of the human NBPs. By investigating the expression profiles of zebrafish NBP mRNAs, we identified seven that were expressed in the developing inner ear and overlapped with the <it>ncs-1a </it>expression profile. GST pulldown experiments confirmed that selected NBPs interacted with NCS-1, while morpholino-mediated knockdown experiments demonstrated an essential role for <it>arf1</it>, <it>pi4kβ, dan</it>, and <it>pink1 </it>in semicircular canal formation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Based on their functional profiles, the hypothesis is presented that Ncs-1a/Pi4kβ/Arf1 form a signaling pathway that regulates secretion of molecular components, including Dan and Bmp4, that are required for development of the vestibular apparatus. A second set of NBPs, consisting of Pink1, Hint2, and Slc25a25, are destined for localization in mitochondria. Our findings reveal a novel signalling pathway involved in development of the semicircular canal system, and suggest a previously unrecognized role for NCS-1 in mitochondrial function via its association with several mitochondrial proteins.</p

Efficacy and safety of medications for antihistamine-refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Purpose Most medications for antihistamine-refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) have not been compared head-to-head. This systematic review and network meta-analysis evaluates their relative efficacy and safety. Methods Electronic databases were searched until 05 May 2022 for randomized controlled trials investigating systemic medications for antihistamine-refractory CSU. The change in the urticaria activity score over seven days (UAS7) and occurrence of adverse events were compared between treatments using random-effects network meta-analysis models. Results In all, 32 studies with 3641 patients receiving 31 different systemic medical interventions were included. Among currently available drugs, omalizumab 300 mg injected every 4 weeks and cyclosporine 3–5 mg/kg daily per os were most effective in reducing the UAS7 with a reduction of −10.45 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −12.35, −8.55) and of −10.40 (95% CI: −19.4, −1.4) compared to placebo. Similar efficacies were shown by the nonapproved agents ligelizumab 72 mg injected every 4 weeks (−11.67, 95% CI: −16.80, −7.15) and fenebrutinib 400 mg daily per os (−9.50, 95% CI: −17.56, −1.44). The odds ratio for the occurrence of an adverse event with placebo as comparator was 1.09 for omalizumab (95% CI: 0.83, 1.42), 2.16 for cyclosporine (95% CI: 0.77, 6.07: GRADE; moderate certainty), 0.89 for ligelizumab (95% CI: 0.47, 1.69), and 2.14 for fenebrutinib (95% CI: 0.62, 7.38) in the mentioned dosages. Conclusion Omalizumab 300 mg injected every 4 weeks and cyclosporine 3–5 mg/kg daily per os are the most effective currently available drugs for antihistamine-refractory CSU. Cyclosporine shows a relatively less favorable safety profile

Annual sea-air CO2fluxes in the Bering Sea: insights from new autumn and winter observations of a seasonally ice-covered continental shelf

High-resolution data collected from several programs have greatly increased the spatiotemporal resolution of pCO2(sw) data in the Bering Sea, and provided the first autumn and winter observations. Using data from 2008 to 2012, monthly climatologies of sea-air CO2 fluxes for the Bering Sea shelf area from April to December were calculated, and contributions of physical and biological processes to observed monthly sea-air pCO2 gradients (?pCO2) were investigated. Net efflux of CO2 was observed during November, December, and April, despite the impact of sea surface cooling on ?pCO2. Although the Bering Sea was believed to be a moderate to strong atmospheric CO2 sink, we found that autumn and winter CO2 effluxes balanced 65% of spring and summer CO2 uptake. Ice cover reduced sea-air CO2 fluxes in December, April, and May. Our estimate for ice-cover corrected fluxes suggests the mechanical inhibition of CO2 flux by sea-ice cover has only a small impact on the annual scale (&lt;2%). An important data gap still exists for January to March, the period of peak ice cover and the highest expected retardation of the fluxes. By interpolating between December and April using assumptions of the described autumn and winter conditions, we estimate the Bering Sea shelf area is an annual CO2 sink of ?6.8 Tg C yr?1. With changing climate, we expect warming sea surface temperatures, reduced ice cover, and greater wind speeds with enhanced gas exchange to decrease the size of this CO2 sink by augmenting conditions favorable for greater wintertime outgassing

Molecular characterization of hematopoietic stem cells after in vitro amplification on biomimetic 3D PDMS cell culture scaffolds

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation is successfully applied since the late 1950s. However, its efficacy can be impaired by insufficient numbers of donor HSCs. A promising strategy to overcome this hurdle is the use of an advanced ex vivo culture system that supports the proliferation and, at the same time, maintains the pluripotency of HSCs. Therefore, we have developed artificial 3D bone marrow-like scaffolds made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) that model the natural HSC niche in vitro. These 3D PDMS scaffolds in combination with an optimized HSC culture medium allow the amplification of high numbers of undifferentiated HSCs. After 14 days in vitro cell culture, we performed transcriptome and proteome analysis. Ingenuity pathway analysis indicated that the 3D PDMS cell culture scaffolds altered PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways and activated SREBP, HIF1α and FOXO signaling, leading to metabolic adaptations, as judged by ELISA, Western blot and metabolic flux analysis. These molecular signaling pathways can promote the expansion of HSCs and are involved in the maintenance of their pluripotency. Thus, we have shown that the 3D PDMS scaffolds activate key molecular signaling pathways to amplify the numbers of undifferentiated HSCs ex vivo effectively

Probing the nucleoporin FG repeat network defines structural and functional features of the nuclear pore complex

A new tool to probe the FG repeat network of the nuclear pore complex transport channel in vivo provides insight into the organization and functional features of the channel