2,350 research outputs found
Acculturation and self-reported health among Hispanics using a socio-behavioral model: the North Texas Healthy Heart Study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Acculturation is a continuous, firsthand contact with other cultures functioning at both group and individual levels and is reflected in our culturally diverse society, calling for a greater understanding of the environmental and cultural impact on health. Self-reported health (SRH), a robust and well validated predictor of future mortality for all racial/ethnic groups, has been differentially reported by Hispanics compared to whites, especially based on their acculturation status. This study investigated the relationship between acculturation and SRH among Hispanics. An adapted Andersen framework was used to develop logistic regression models to assess for an association between acculturation and general health status.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Hispanic participants (n = 135), as part of the North Texas Healthy Heart Study, were administered standardized questionnaires on acculturation, psychosocial measures which included sense of control, stress, depression and social support and a single item SRH measure. In addition, physiological measurements and demographic characteristics including age, gender, body mass index, medical history, and socioeconomic status were also obtained.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Bivariate analyses found Mexican-oriented participants 3.16 times more likely to report fair/poor SRH compared to Anglo-oriented Hispanics. Acculturation was also associated with SRH in multiple regression models controlling for enabling, need, and predisposing factors together (OR: 3.53, 95% CI: 1.04, 11.97).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Acculturation status was associated with SRH after accounting for other underlying factors. Medical and public health professionals should promote the use of acculturation measures in order to better understand its role in Hispanic behaviors, health outcomes and health care use. Such research findings will contribute to the design of culturally sensitive prevention and treatment strategies for diverse and immigrant populations.</p
Small optic suspensions for Advanced LIGO input optics and other precision optical experiments
We report on the design and performance of small optic suspensions developed
to suppress seismic motion of out-of-cavity optics in the Input Optics
subsystem of the Advanced LIGO interferometric gravitational wave detector.
These compact single stage suspensions provide isolation in all six degrees of
freedom of the optic, local sensing and actuation in three of them, and passive
damping for the other three
Traumatic pericardial rupture with skeletonized phrenic nerve
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Traumatic pericardial rupture is a rare presentation. Pericardial rupture itself is asymptomatic unless complicated by either hemorrhage or herniation of the heart through the defect. Following diagnosis surgical repair of the pericardium is indicated because cardiac herniation may result in vascular collapse and sudden death.</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>Here we present a case of traumatic, non-herniated pericardial rupture with complete skeletonization of the phrenic nerve.</p> <p>Case report</p> <p>An 18-year-old healthy male suffered multi-trauma after falling 50 feet onto concrete. The patient could not be stabilized despite exploratory laparotomy with splenectomy, IR embolization and packing for a liver laceration. Right posterolateral thoracotomy revealed a ruptured pericardium with a completely skeletonized phrenic nerve. The pericardium was repaired with a Goretex(R) patch.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A high level of suspicion for pericardial rupture is necessary in all patients with high-velocity thoracic injuries.</p
Epigenetics as a mechanism driving polygenic clinical drug resistance
Aberrant methylation of CpG islands located at or near gene promoters is associated with inactivation of gene expression during tumour development. It is increasingly recognised that such epimutations may occur at a much higher frequency than gene mutation and therefore have a greater impact on selection of subpopulations of cells during tumour progression or acquisition of resistance to anticancer drugs. Although laboratory-based models of acquired resistance to anticancer agents tend to focus on specific genes or biochemical pathways, such 'one gene : one outcome' models may be an oversimplification of acquired resistance to treatment of cancer patients. Instead, clinical drug resistance may be due to changes in expression of a large number of genes that have a cumulative impact on chemosensitivity. Aberrant CpG island methylation of multiple genes occurring in a nonrandom manner during tumour development and during the acquisition of drug resistance provides a mechanism whereby expression of multiple genes could be affected simultaneously resulting in polygenic clinical drug resistance. If simultaneous epigenetic regulation of multiple genes is indeed a major driving force behind acquired resistance of patients' tumour to anticancer agents, this has important implications for biomarker studies of clinical outcome following chemotherapy and for clinical approaches designed to circumvent or modulate drug resistance
Bistability in Apoptosis by Receptor Clustering
Apoptosis is a highly regulated cell death mechanism involved in many
physiological processes. A key component of extrinsically activated apoptosis
is the death receptor Fas, which, on binding to its cognate ligand FasL,
oligomerize to form the death-inducing signaling complex. Motivated by recent
experimental data, we propose a mathematical model of death ligand-receptor
dynamics where FasL acts as a clustering agent for Fas, which form locally
stable signaling platforms through proximity-induced receptor interactions.
Significantly, the model exhibits hysteresis, providing an upstream mechanism
for bistability and robustness. At low receptor concentrations, the bistability
is contingent on the trimerism of FasL. Moreover, irreversible bistability,
representing a committed cell death decision, emerges at high concentrations,
which may be achieved through receptor pre-association or localization onto
membrane lipid rafts. Thus, our model provides a novel theory for these
observed biological phenomena within the unified context of bistability.
Importantly, as Fas interactions initiate the extrinsic apoptotic pathway, our
model also suggests a mechanism by which cells may function as bistable
life/death switches independently of any such dynamics in their downstream
components. Our results highlight the role of death receptors in deciding cell
fate and add to the signal processing capabilities attributed to receptor
clustering.Comment: Accepted by PLoS Comput Bio
Sensitivity Studies for Third-Generation Gravitational Wave Observatories
Advanced gravitational wave detectors, currently under construction, are
expected to directly observe gravitational wave signals of astrophysical
origin. The Einstein Telescope, a third-generation gravitational wave detector,
has been proposed in order to fully open up the emerging field of gravitational
wave astronomy. In this article we describe sensitivity models for the Einstein
Telescope and investigate potential limits imposed by fundamental noise
sources. A special focus is set on evaluating the frequency band below 10Hz
where a complex mixture of seismic, gravity gradient, suspension thermal and
radiation pressure noise dominates. We develop the most accurate sensitivity
model, referred to as ET-D, for a third-generation detector so far, including
the most relevant fundamental noise contributions.Comment: 13 pages, 7 picture
Scientific Potential of Einstein Telescope
Einstein gravitational-wave Telescope (ET) is a design study funded by the
European Commission to explore the technological challenges of and scientific
benefits from building a third generation gravitational wave detector. The
three-year study, which concluded earlier this year, has formulated the
conceptual design of an observatory that can support the implementation of new
technology for the next two to three decades. The goal of this talk is to
introduce the audience to the overall aims and objectives of the project and to
enumerate ET's potential to influence our understanding of fundamental physics,
astrophysics and cosmology.Comment: Conforms to conference proceedings, several author names correcte
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