Effects of an Ionic Bracelet on Physical, Cognitive, and Integrative Tasks

Abstract: One approach in complementary/alternative medicine posits that manipulations of undocumented body energy patterns (biofields) can improve health and function. Various clinician-delivered interventions focus on biofields, but devices that purportedly correct these are also marketed and claim immediate benefits in a variety of domains. OBJECTIVE: To determine acute effects of ionic bracelet use on physical, cognitive and integrative sports-related tasks. METHODS: 52 healthy young adults participated (9 men and 43 women; 20.2±3.4 years of age; 65.4±11.3 kg; 165±6.9 cm). None reported prior or current use of the product. Each completed 2 series of 6 tasks wearing the ionic and an inert bracelet (counter-balanced presentation order). Bracelets were applied by the investigators behind a shield and covered by a sleeve in a single-blind design. Center of pressure excursion in single leg stance on a dynamic surface assessed posture control; anticipation timing absolute error represented perceptuomotor performance; time difference between 2 Stroop task variants tested concentration; peak vertical jump velocity (m/s) served to test power; maximum force in an isometric dead-lift was used to test strength; and time able to hold a weight (20% of body weight) at chin level served to test endurance. Effects of test order and bracelet type were analyzed independently via paired t-tests (α =.05). RESULTS: An order effect for strength was observed, attributable to a learning effect or an artifact of the number of t-tests applied; no other significant contrast was revealed. CONCLUSION: This ionic bracelet demonstrated no immediate benefits in any of the domains examined

CSAP localizes to polyglutamylated microtubules and promotes proper cilia function and zebrafish development

The diverse populations of microtubule polymers in cells are functionally distinguished by different posttranslational modifications, including polyglutamylation. Polyglutamylation is enriched on subsets of microtubules including those found in the centrioles, mitotic spindle, and cilia. However, whether this modification alters intrinsic microtubule dynamics or affects extrinsic associations with specific interacting partners remains to be determined. Here we identify the microtubule-binding protein centriole and spindle–associated protein (CSAP), which colocalizes with polyglutamylated tubulin to centrioles, spindle microtubules, and cilia in human tissue culture cells. Reducing tubulin polyglutamylation prevents CSAP localization to both spindle and cilia microtubules. In zebrafish, CSAP is required for normal brain development and proper left–right asymmetry, defects that are qualitatively similar to those reported previously for depletion of polyglutamylation-conjugating enzymes. We also find that CSAP is required for proper cilia beating. Our work supports a model in which polyglutamylation can target selected microtubule-associated proteins, such as CSAP, to microtubule subpopulations, providing specific functional capabilities to these populations.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant no. GM074746)American Cancer Society. Research Scholar Grant (121776)National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U.S.) (GM088313

Tumor Cells Upregulate Normoxic HIF-1α in Response to Doxorubicin

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a master transcription factor that controls cellular homeostasis. While its activation benefits normal tissue, HIF-1 activation in tumors is a major risk factor for angiogenesis, therapeutic resistance and poor prognosis. HIF-1 activity is usually suppressed under normoxic conditions because of rapid oxygen-dependent degradation of HIF-1α. Here we show that under normoxic conditions HIF-1α is upregulated in tumor cells in response to doxorubicin, a chemotherapy used to treat many cancers. Doxorubicin also enhanced VEGF secretion by normoxic tumor cells and stimulated tumor angiogenesis. Doxorubicin-induced accumulation of HIF-1α in normoxic cells was caused by increased expression and activation of STAT1, the activation of which stimulated expression of iNOS and its synthesis of NO in tumor cells. Mechanistic investigations established that blocking NO synthesis or STAT1 activation was sufficient to attenuate the HIF-1α accumulation induced by doxorubicin in normoxic cancer cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report that a chemotherapeutic drug can induce HIF-1α accumulation in normoxic cells, an efficacy-limiting activity. Our results argue that HIF-1α targeting strategies may enhance doxorubicin efficacy. More generally, they suggest a broader perspective on the design of combination chemotherapy approaches with immediate clinical impact

International Urban Design Studio 2018, Kyojima-Sumida District, Tokyo

The Tokyo Smart City Studio is a practical capstone project housed within the Eco Urban Lab at Georgia Tech’s School of City and Regional Planning and School of Architecture. Throughout the four-month semester, students collaborate on innovative urban design solutions for some of Tokyo’s most important problems. In conjunction with the Global Carbon Project (GCP), the National Institute for Environmental Studies of Japan, the Department of Urban Engineering of the University of Tokyo, and the University of Tsukuba, Georgia Tech Students tackled issues ranging from energy consumption and disaster preparedness to heat stress and a vulnerable elderly population. The group completed five comprehensive reviews, a week-long site visit to Tokyo, multiple workshopping sessions, an Architecture Exposition, and two final reports. The focus area of this year’s studio was Kyojima, a one-half kilometer neighborhood in Sumida-Ku. In the late 19th century, this neighborhood was characterized by paddy fields, marshes, and a few small factories. It’s known for its traditional Japanese crafts, tight alleyways, and wooden tenement housing. The area is dense and in need of revitalization. Kirakira Street, the neighborhood’s once bustling shopping destination, is in substantial economic decline. This document is a detailed report of all student proposals aimed at assisting community members and other Kyojima stakeholders with technological, design, and policy solutions

Do keiretsu really hinder FDI into Japanese manufacturing?

This paper examines an issue that has received considerable comment but little analysis. It has often been argued that the presence of the keiretsu in Japan has been instrumental in deterring multinational firms from entering Japan, though evidence for this is patchy. We present some new analysis of this issue, thereby evaluating the effects of keiretsu on inward investment penetration in Japan. In contrast to previous work in this area, our results suggest that there is little relationship between inward FDI and keiretsu networks, once one controls for endogeneity and unobservable heterogeneity. The results illustrate some important interaction effects between keiretsu and other explanatory variables that explain differences in inward investment penetration

Microbleeds, Cerebral Hemorrhage, and Functional Outcome After Stroke Thrombolysis: Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We assessed whether the presence, number, and distribution of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) on pre-intravenous thrombolysis MRI scans of acute ischemic stroke patients are associated with an increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) or poor functional outcome. METHODS We performed an individual patient data meta-analysis, including prospective and retrospective studies of acute ischemic stroke treated with intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator. Using multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression, we investigated associations of pre-treatment CMB presence, burden (1, 2-4, ≥5, and >10), and presumed pathogenesis (cerebral amyloid angiopathy defined as strictly lobar CMBs and noncerebral amyloid angiopathy) with symptomatic ICH, parenchymal hematoma (within [parenchymal hemorrhage, PH] and remote from the ischemic area [remote parenchymal hemorrhage, PHr]), and poor 3- to 6-month functional outcome (modified Rankin score >2). RESULTS In 1973 patients from 8 centers, the crude prevalence of CMBs was 526 of 1973 (26.7%). A total of 77 of 1973 (3.9%) patients experienced symptomatic ICH, 210 of 1806 (11.6%) experienced PH, and 56 of 1720 (3.3%) experienced PHr. In adjusted analyses, patients with CMBs (compared with those without CMBs) had increased risk of PH (odds ratio: 1.50; 95% confidence interval: 1.09-2.07; P=0.013) and PHr (odds ratio: 3.04; 95% confidence interval: 1.73-5.35; P10 CMBs independently predicted poor 3- to 6-month outcome (odds ratio: 1.85; 95% confidence interval: 1.10-3.12; P=0.020; and odds ratio: 3.99; 95% confidence interval: 1.55-10.22; P=0.004, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Increasing CMB burden is associated with increased risk of ICH (including PHr) and poor 3- to 6-month functional outcome after intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke