Spatial and Socioeconomic Analysis of Purposeful Mobile Internet Use in US States

The digital divide in the United States has received renewed attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. As achievement of digital equity remains a high priority, this study examines spatial patterns and socioeconomic determinants of the purposeful use of mobile internet for personal and business needs in US states. Agglomerations of mobile internet use are identified using K-means clustering and the extent of agglomeration is measured using spatial autocorrelation analysis. Regression analysis reveals that mobile internet use is associated with employment in management, business, science, and arts occupations, affordability, age structure, and the extent of freedom in US states. Spatial randomness of regression residuals shows the effectiveness of the conceptual model to account for spatial bias. Implications of these findings are discussed

Small Heat Shock Protein αA-Crystallin Prevents Photoreceptor Degeneration in Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis

The small heat shock protein, αA-crystallin null (αA−/−) mice are known to be more prone to retinal degeneration than the wild type mice in Experimental Autoimmune Uveoretinitis (EAU). In this report we demonstrate that intravenous administration of αA preserves retinal architecture and prevents photoreceptor damage in EAU. Interestingly, only αA and not αB-crystallin (αB), a closely related small heat shock protein works, pointing to molecular specificity in the observed retinal protection. The possible involvement of αA in retinal protection through immune modulation is corroborated by adaptive transfer experiments, (employing αA−/− and wild type mice with EAU as donors and Rag2−/− as the recipient mice), which indicate that αA protects against the autoimmune challenge by modulating the systemic B and T cell immunity. We show that αA administration causes marked reduction in Th1 cytokines (TNF-α, IL-12 and IFN-γ), both in the retina and in the spleen; notably, IL-17 was only reduced in the retina suggesting local intervention. Importantly, expression of Toll-like receptors and their associated adaptors is also inhibited suggesting that αA protection, against photoreceptor loss in EAU, is associated with systemic suppression of both the adaptive and innate immune responses

Teens and seat belt use: What makes them click?

Problem:Motor vehicle crashes killmore adolescents in the United States than any other cause, and often the teen is notwearing a seat belt. Methods: Using data fromthe 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Surveys from38 states, we examined teens\u27 self-reported seat belt use while riding as a passenger and identified individual characteristics and environmental factors associated with alwayswearing a seat belt. Results: Only 51% of high school students living in 38 states reported alwayswearing a seat beltwhen riding as a passenger; prevalence varied from32% in South Dakota to 65% in Delaware. Seat belt use was 11 percentage points lower in states with secondary enforcement seat belt laws compared to states with primary enforcement laws. Racial/ethnic minorities, teens living in states with secondary enforcement seat belt laws, and those engaged in substance use were least likely to alwayswear their seat belts. The likelihood of always being belted declined steadily as the number of substance use behaviors increased. Discussion: Seat belt use among teens in the United States remains unacceptably low. Results suggest that environmental influences can compound individual risk factors, contributing to even lower seat belt use among some subgroups. Practical applications: This study provides the most comprehensive state-level estimates to date of seat belt use among U.S. teens. This information can be useful when considering policy options to increase seat belt use and for targeting injury prevention interventions to high-risk teens. States can best increase teen seat belt use by making evidence-informed decisions about state policy options and prevention strategies

Sericin A Boon to Medical and Dental doctors – A Review

Silk sericin is a natural polymer produced by the silkworm, Bombyx mori, which surrounds and keeps together two fibroin filaments in silk thread used in the cocoon. The recovery and reuse of sericin usually discarded by the textile industry not only minimizes environmental issues but also has a high scientific and commercial value. The physicochemical properties of the molecule are responsible for numerous applications in biomedicine and are influenced by the extraction method and silkworm lineage, which can lead to variations in molecular weight and amino acid concentration of sericin. The presence of highly hydrophobic amino acids and their antioxidant potential make it possible for sericin to be applied in the food and cosmetic industry. The moisturizing power allows indications as a therapeutic agent for wound healing, stimulating cell proliferation, protection against ultraviolet radiation, and formulating creams and shampoos. The antioxidant activity associated with the low digestibility of sericin expands the application in the medical field, such as antitumour, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory agent, and anticoagulant, acts in colon health, improving constipation and protecting the body from obesity through improved plasma lipid profile. In addition, the properties of sericin allow its application as a culture medium and cryopreservation, in tissue engineering and for drug delivery, demonstrating its effective use, as an important biomaterial. The present review on sericin describes its properties and application in various fields. Keywords: Silk, sericin, biomedical, dental, biomaterial, biodegradable, biocompatible

Silk proteins and its biomedical and dental application: A Review: Silk proteins in medical and dental field

Silk is a group of fibrous proteins that have been used for centuries in the textile industry and as surgical sutures. Silk, in addition to its unique mechanical properties, silk possesses other properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, anti-bacterial properties, thermal stability, controlled degradation features, and ease of sterilization, ability to self-assemble make it a promising material for biomedical applications. Although silk forms only fibers in nature, synthetic techniques can be used to control the processing of silk into different morphologies, such as scaffolds, films, hydrogels, microcapsules, and micro- and nanospheres. Moreover, the biotechnological production of silk proteins broadens the potential applications of silk. With this background, this review describes silk proteins, their properties, synthesis, and uses. Keywords: Silk, Silk proteins, Sericin, Fibroin, Denta

Sleep disorders, Diagnosis, treatment and A Dentist’s role in early diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders: A Review: sleep disorders and Dentists role

Objective/Background: Sleep disorders are interdisciplinary and involve a number of specialties such as respiratory medicine, neurology, psychiatry, otolaryngology, and Dentistry. 87.5% of the patients with loud snoring suffer from sleep-disordered breathing, of which 72% complain of excessive daytime sleepiness. Controversial evidence exists on the association of sleep disorders as a primary or secondary risk factor for many common systemic conditions. Yet, sleep medicine is not given emphasis in medical school education. In addition, dentists now participate in the recognition and treatment of sleep disorders, Dentist’s role and involvement in the treatment and management of a sleep-disordered patient may be indirect or direct. Hence, this review explains sleep disorders, diagnosis and treatment, and the role of dentists in early diagnosis and treatment. 

Adaptive transfer demonstrates involvement of αA with immune regulation.

<p>Inflammatory cell infiltration is a hallmark of the progression in EAU. Note inflammatory cells (arrows) in the vitreous in (a) representing the status of early retina in Rag2−/− mice injected with splenocytes and lymphocytes from αA−/− mice with EAU. Note the relative absence of this infiltration in b, which represents the status of retina in Rag2−/− mice injected with splenocytes and lymphocytes derived from the wild type mice (129Sve) with EAU. PR = Photoreceptors, ONL = Outer nuclear layer, INL = Inner nuclear layer, GCL = Ganglion Cell layer.</p

Down regulation of gene activity associated with the innate immune pathways.

<p>Commercial PCR arrays were used. Fold decrease was calculated by comparing data obtained with αA−/− EAU without αA treatment and αA−/− EAU mice treated with αA. A = Toll like receptors B = associated adaptive and signaling proteins and C = the NFkB pathway in αA−/− mice with EAU treated with αA. TLRs = Toll like receptors, MyD88: Myeloid differentiation primary response gene (88), Irak1 = Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1, CD14 = Cluster of differentiation 14, Ticam 2 = TIR domain-containing adapter molecule 2, Tirap = toll-interleukin 1 receptor (TIR) domain containing adaptor protein, Cox-2 = Cyclooxygenase-2, Irf-1 = Interferon regulatory factor 1, IL-1R1 = Interleukin 1 receptor, type I, Il-6re = IL6 responsive element, Map3K1 = Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1, NFkB = Nuclear factor kappa B, Ccl2 = Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2, IFN-γ = Interferon-gamma.</p

Intravenous administration of αA protects retinal photoreceptors.

<p>Twelve days after EAU was induced in B10RIII (WT) mice with an IRBP peptide, the animals were injected with various crystallins and the retinas were collected and examined on day 21. <b>A, B and C:</b> αA = αA crystallin, β = β crystallin, αB = αB crystallin, γ = γ crystallin and saline. <b>A.</b> Histology of retina and uvea (Hematoxylin and Eosin stained). Arrows indicate photoreceptor inner segments (PR). Note presence of photoreceptors in αA and their degeneration (absence) in Saline treated animals. <b>B</b>. Retinal architecture as revealed by immunostaining for IRBP with anti-IRBP (green, arrows). <b>C.</b> Apoptosis in EAU retinas of animals treated with various crystallins; αA treated, αB treated, saline treated, positive (+ve) control (DNase I treated retina) and (‘no enzyme’) negative (−ve) control. Note that retinal photoreceptors are preserved (<b>A,</b> αA and <b>B,</b> αA); there is little or no apoptosis (TUNEL positive cells) in αA treated animals (<b>C,</b> αA). PR = Photoreceptors, ONL = Outer nuclear layer, INL = Inner nuclear layer, GCL = Ganglion cell layer.</p