827 research outputs found
Factors associated with dietary supplement use among prescription medication users
BACKGROUND: We examined the patterns of nonvitamin dietary supplement (NVDS) use among adult prescription medication users in the United States.
METHODS: Using the 2002 National Health Interview Survey, we analyzed factors associated with NVDS use and prescription medication use in the prior 12 months with descriptive, chi(2), and logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS: In the United States, 21% of adult prescription medication users reported using NVDSs in the prior 12 months. Of the respondents who used both prescription medications and NVDSs in the prior 12 months, 69% did not discuss this use with a conventional medical practitioner. Among adults who used prescription medications in the prior 12 months, the most commonly used supplements included echinacea, ginseng, ginkgo, garlic, and glucosamine chondroitin. Prescription medication users with menopause and chronic gastrointestinal disorders had the highest rates of NVDS use (33% and 28%, respectively), and prescription medication users with coronary heart disease and history of myocardial infarction had the lowest rates of use (12% each). In the adjusted analysis, factors associated with increased use of NVDSs by prescription medication users included being female, being Hispanic, having more years of education, living in the West, lacking medical insurance, and having chronic conditions. Elderly respondents were less likely to use NVDSs.
CONCLUSION: One in 4 prescription medication users took an NVDS in the prior 12 months, yet the majority did not share this with a conventional medical professional
A Presynaptic Kainate Receptor Is Involved in Regulating the Dynamic Properties of Thalamocortical Synapses during Development
AbstractPrevious studies have shown that pharmacological activation of presynaptic kainate receptors at glutamatergic synapses facilitates or depresses transmission in a dose-dependent manner. However, the only synaptically activated kainate autoreceptor described to date is facilitatory. Here, we describe a kainate autoreceptor that depresses synaptic transmission. This autoreceptor is present at developing thalamocortical synapses in the barrel cortex, specifically regulates transmission at frequencies corresponding to those observed in vivo during whisker activation, and is developmentally down regulated during the first postnatal week. This receptor may, therefore, limit the transfer of high-frequency activity to the developing cortex, the loss of which mechanism may be important for the maturation of sensory processing
A novel HIV vaccine adjuvanted by IC31 induces robust and persistent humoral and cellular immunity.
The HIV vaccine strategy that, to date, generated immune protection consisted of a prime-boost regimen using a canarypox vector and an HIV envelope protein with alum, as shown in the RV144 trial. Since the efficacy was weak, and previous HIV vaccine trials designed to generate antibody responses failed, we hypothesized that generation of T cell responses would result in improved protection. Thus, we tested the immunogenicity of a similar envelope-based vaccine using a mouse model, with two modifications: a clade C CN54gp140 HIV envelope protein was adjuvanted by the TLR9 agonist IC31®, and the viral vector was the vaccinia strain NYVAC-CN54 expressing HIV envelope gp120. The use of IC31® facilitated immunoglobulin isotype switching, leading to the production of Env-specific IgG2a, as compared to protein with alum alone. Boosting with NYVAC-CN54 resulted in the generation of more robust Th1 T cell responses. Moreover, gp140 prime with IC31® and alum followed by NYVAC-CN54 boost resulted in the formation and persistence of central and effector memory populations in the spleen and an effector memory population in the gut. Our data suggest that this regimen is promising and could improve the protection rate by eliciting strong and long-lasting humoral and cellular immune responses
Comparative mapping and targeted-capture sequencing of the gametocidal loci in Aegilops sharonensis
Gametocidal (Gc) chromosomes or elements in species such as Aegilops sharonensis are preferentially transmitted to the next generation through both the male and female gametes when introduced into wheat. Furthermore, any genes, e.g. genes that control agronomically important traits, showing complete linkage with gametocidal elements, are also transmitted preferentially to the next generation without the need for selection. The mechanism for the preferential transmission of the gametocidal elements appears to occur by the induction of extensive chromosome damage in any gametes that lack the gametocidal chromosome in question. Previous studies on the mechanism of the gametocidal action in Ae. sharonensis indicates that at least two-linked elements are involved. The first, the ‘breaker’ element, induces chromosome breakage in gametes, which have lost the gametocidal elements while the second, the ‘inhibitor’ element, prevents the chromosome breakage action of the ‘breaker’ element in gametes, which carry the Gc elements. In this study, we have used comparative genomic studies to map 54 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in an Ae. sharonensis 4SshL introgression segment in wheat and have also identified 18 candidate genes in Ae. sharonensis for the ‘breaker’ element through targeted sequencing of this 4SshL introgression segment. This valuable genomic resource will aide in further mapping the Gc locus that could be exploited in wheat breeding to produce new, superior varieties of wheat
Sugar prevalence in Aedes albopictus differs by habitat, sex and time of day on Masig Island, Torres Strait, Australia
Background: Sugar feeding is a fundamental behaviour of many mosquito species. For Aedes albopictus, an important vector of dengue virus and chikungunya virus, little is known about its sugar-feeding behaviour, and no studies have been conducted on this in the southern hemisphere. This knowledge is pivotal for determining the potential of attractive targeted sugar baits (ATSBs) to control this important vector.
Methods: The prevalence of sugar was assessed in 1808 Ae. albopictus from Masig Island, Torres Strait, Australia collected between 13 and 25 March 2020. Fructose presence and content in field-collected Ae. albopictus were quantified using the cold anthrone assay.
Results: Significantly more male (35.8%) than female (28.4%) Ae. albopictus were sugar fed. There was a significant interaction between sex and time of day on the probability of capturing sugar-fed Ae. albopictus. For both sexes, fructose prevalence and content were higher in mosquitoes caught in the morning than in the afternoon. Female Ae. albopictus collected in the residential habitat were significantly more likely to be sugar fed than those collected in the woodland habitat.
Conclusions: These findings provide baseline information about the sugar-feeding patterns of Ae. albopictus and provide essential information to enable an assessment of the potential of ATSBs for vector suppression and control on Masig Island, with relevance to other locations where this species occurs
Dynamics of the frustrated Ising lattice gas
The dynamical properties of a three dimensional model glass, the frustrated
Ising lattice gas (FILG) are studied by Monte Carlo simulations. We present
results of compression experiments, where the chemical potential is either
slowly or abruptly changed, as well as simulations at constant density. One
time quantities like density and two time ones like correlations, responses and
mean square displacements are measured, and the departure from equilibrium
clearly characterized. The aging scenario, particularly in the case of density
autocorrelations is reminiscent of spin glass phenomenology with violations of
the Fluctuation-dissipation theorem, typical of systems with one replica
symmetry breaking. The FILG, as a valid on-lattice model of structural glasses
can be described with tools developed in spin glass theory and, being a finite
dimensional model, can open the way for a systematic study of activated
processes in glasses.Comment: to appear in Phys. Rev. E, november (2000
Geochemical analysis of bulk marine sediment by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Atomic Emission Spectroscopy on board the JOIDES Resolution
Geochemical analyses on board the JOIDES Resolution have been enhanced with the addition of a Jobin-Yvon Ultrace inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) as an upgrade from the previous X-ray fluorescence facility. During Leg 199, we sought to both challenge and utilize the capabilities of the ICP-AES in order to provide an extensive bulk-sediment geochemical database during the cruise. These near real-time analyses were then used to help characterize the recovered sedimentary sequences, calculate mass accumulation rates of the different sedimentary components, and assist with cruise and postcruise sampling requests. The general procedures, sample preparation techniques, and basic protocol for ICP-AES analyses on board ship are outlined by Murray et al. (2000) in Ocean Drilling Program Tech Note, 29. We expand on those concepts and offer suggestions for ICP-AES methodology, calibration by standard reference materials, data reduction procedures, and challenges that are specific to the analysis of bulk-sediment samples. During Leg 199, we employed an extensive bulk-sediment analytical program of ~600 samples of varying lithologies, thereby providing several opportunities for refinement of techniques. We also discuss some difficulties and challenges that were faced and suggest how to alleviate such occurrences for sedimentary chemical analyses during future legs
Rapid and Differential Regulation of AMPA and Kainate Receptors at Hippocampal Mossy Fibre Synapses by PICK1 and GRIP
AbstractWe identified four PDZ domain-containing proteins, syntenin, PICK1, GRIP, and PSD95, as interactors with the kainate receptor (KAR) subunits GluR52b, GluR52c, and GluR6. Of these, we show that both GRIP and PICK1 interactions are required to maintain KAR-mediated synaptic function at mossy fiber-CA3 synapses. In addition, PKCα can phosphorylate ct-GluR52b at residues S880 and S886, and PKC activity is required to maintain KAR-mediated synaptic responses. We propose that PICK1 targets PKCα to phosphorylate KARs, causing their stabilization at the synapse by an interaction with GRIP. Importantly, this mechanism is not involved in the constitutive recycling of AMPA receptors since blockade of PDZ interactions can simultaneously increase AMPAR- and decrease KAR-mediated synaptic transmission at the same population of synapses
Response to "Comment on `Resolving the 180deg Ambiguity in Solar Vector Magnetic Field Data: Evaluating the Effects of Noise, Spatial Resolution, and Method Assumptions'"
We address points recently discussed in Georgoulis (2011) in reference to
Leka et al. (2009b). Most importantly, we find that the results of Georgoulis
(2011) support a conclusion of Leka et al. (2009b): that limited spatial
resolution and the presence of unresolved magnetic structures can challenge
ambiguity- resolution algorithms. Moreover, the findings of both Metcalf et al.
(2006) and Leka et al. (2009b) are confirmed in Georgoulis (2011): a method's
performance can be diminished when the observed field fails to conform to that
method's assumptions. The implication of boundaries in models of solar magnetic
structures is discussed; we confirm that the distribution of the field
components in the model used in Leka et al. (2009b) is closer to what is
observed on the Sun than what is proposed in Georgoulis (2011). It is also
shown that method does matter with regards to simulating limited spatial
resolution and avoiding an inadvertent introduction of bias. Finally, the
assignment of categories to data- analysis algorithms is revisited; we argue
that assignments are only useful and elucidating when used appropriately.Comment: Accepted for publication in Solar Physic
Dynamics of fluctuations in a fluid below the onset of Rayleigh-B\'enard convection
We present experimental data and their theoretical interpretation for the
decay rates of temperature fluctuations in a thin layer of a fluid heated from
below and confined between parallel horizontal plates. The measurements were
made with the mean temperature of the layer corresponding to the critical
isochore of sulfur hexafluoride above but near the critical point where
fluctuations are exceptionally strong. They cover a wide range of temperature
gradients below the onset of Rayleigh-B\'enard convection, and span wave
numbers on both sides of the critical value for this onset. The decay rates
were determined from experimental shadowgraph images of the fluctuations at
several camera exposure times. We present a theoretical expression for an
exposure-time-dependent structure factor which is needed for the data analysis.
As the onset of convection is approached, the data reveal the critical
slowing-down associated with the bifurcation. Theoretical predictions for the
decay rates as a function of the wave number and temperature gradient are
presented and compared with the experimental data. Quantitative agreement is
obtained if allowance is made for some uncertainty in the small spacing between
the plates, and when an empirical estimate is employed for the influence of
symmetric deviations from the Oberbeck-Boussinesq approximation which are to be
expected in a fluid with its density at the mean temperature located on the
critical isochore.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, 52 reference
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