Transversus abdominis is part of a global not local muscle synergy during arm movement

The trunk muscle transversus abdominis (TrA) is thought to be controlled independently of the global trunk muscles. Methodological issues in the 1990s research such as unilateral electromyography and a limited range of arm movements justify a re-examination of this theory. The hypothesis tested is that TrA bilateral co-contraction is a typical muscle synergy during arm movement. The activity of 6 pairs of trunk and lower limb muscles was recorded using bilateral electromyography during anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) associated with the arm movements. The integrated APA electromyographical signals were analyzed for muscle synergy using Principle Component Analysis. TrA does not typically bilaterally co-contract during arm movements (1 out of 6 participants did). APA muscle activity of all muscles during asymmetrical arm movements typically reflected a direction specific diagonal pattern incorporating a twisting motion to transfer energy from the ground up. This finding is not consistent with the hypothesis that TrA plays a unique role providing bilateral, feedforward, multidirectional stiffening of the spine. This has significant implications to the theories underlying the role of TrA in back pain and in the training of isolated bilateral co-contraction of TrA in the prophylaxis of back pain

Bactericidal Effects of Cold Plasma Technology on Geobacillus Stearothermophilus and Bacillus Cereus Microorganisms

Cold plasma is a state of matter that contains a large number of particles that are electrically charged. Plasmas generate chemically reactive species and ultraviolet radiation making them useful in decontamination applications (Kong & Laroussi, 2003). Research regarding the inactivation of gram-positive bacteria by cold plasma has been studied by Laroussi et al (2003); however, there is limited research regarding the germicidal effectiveness of cold plasma on Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus cereus microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to determine if cold plasma technology inactivates Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus cereus vegetative cells and spores. This study consisted of 981 samples; 762 experimental samples exposed to cold plasma at various times and 291 controls. Experimental samples were inoculated and exposed either directly or indirectly/remotely to cold plasma. After exposure the samples were incubated for 12 to 16 hours and colony forming units (CFU) were quantified. The percentage kill and log concentration reductions were calculated from the CFU counts. Data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis and Tukey\u27s tests at the .05 level. There was a statistically significant difference in the inactivation of Geobacillus stearothermophilus vegetative cells for indirect exposure (p=.0001), direct exposure (p=.0013), as well as for Bacillus cereus vegetative cells and spores (p=.0001). Exposure of Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores to cold plasma demonstrated no statistically significant differences in inactivation for indirect exposure (p=.7208) and direct exposure (p=.0835). Results indicate that cold plasma exposure significantly inactivated Geobacillus stearothermophilus (vegetative) and Bacillus cereus; however, Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores were not significantly inactivated. Funding for this project was provided by ADHA IOH

Cold Plasma Technology: Bactericidal Effects on Geobacillus Stearothermophilus and Bacillus Cereus Microorganisms

Introduction: Cold plasma, also known as Low Temperature Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (LTAPP) is a novel technology consisting of neutral and charged particles, including free radicals, which can be used to destroy or inactivate microorganisms. Research has been conducted regarding the effect of cold plasma on gram-positive bacteria; however, there is limited research regarding its ability to inactivate the spore-formers Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus cereus. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if cold plasma inactivates G. stearothermophilus and B. cereus vegetative cells and spores. Methods: Nine hundred eighty-one samples were included in this study (762 experimental and 219 controls). Experimental samples were exposed indirectly or directly to cold plasma, before plating and incubating for 16 hours. Control samples were not exposed to cold plasma. The percentage-kill and cell number reductions were calculated from Colony Forming Units (CFU). Data were statistically analyzed at the .05 level using one-way ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis and Tukey\u27s tests. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the inactivation of G. stearothermophilus vegetative cells receiving indirect and direct exposure (p=0.0001 and p=0.0013, respectively), as well as for B. cereus vegetative cells and spores (p=0.0001 for direct and indirect). There was no statistically significant difference in the inactivation of G. stearothermophilus spores receiving indirect exposure (p=0.7208) or direct exposure (p=0.0835). Conclusion: Results demonstrate that cold plasma exposure effectively kills G. stearothermophilus vegetative cells and B. cereus vegetative cells and spores; however, G. stearothermophilus spores were not significantly inactivated

A single crystal study of CPO-27 and UTSA-74 for nitric oxide storage and release

Funding: UK EPSRC EP/K005499/1, EP/K503162, and EP/L017008/1).Single crystal CPO-27-Mg, -Zn and its structural isomer UTSA-74 have been prepared through use of acid modulators; salicylic acid and benzoic acid, respectively. Salicylic acid directed the synthesis of CPO-27-Mg/Zn whereas benzoic acid the synthesis of UTSA-74. Through “in-house” SCXRD, DMF was seen to bind to the Zn2+ and water to the Mg2+ metal sites in CPO-27-M. Although the synthesis conditions were analogous for UTSA-74, DMF is too large to bind due to the proximity of the binding sites. A dissolution–recrystallisation transformation was examined from UTSA-74 to CPO-27-Zn. The release of nitric oxide was measured for each material.PostprintPeer reviewe

High School Students as Citizen Scientists to Decrease Radon Exposure

Residents in rural Kentucky (KY) and suburban Ohio (OH) expressed concerns about radon exposure and lung cancer. Although 85% of lung cancer cases are caused by tobacco smoke, radon exposure accounts for 10–15% of lung cancer cases. Academic and community members from the University of KY and the University of Cincinnati developed and pilot-tested a family-centered, youth-engaged home radon testing toolkit. The radon toolkit included radon information, and how to test, interpret, and report back findings. We educated youth as citizen scientists and their teachers in human subjects protection and home radon testing using the toolkit in the classroom. Youth citizen scientists explained the study to their parents and obtained informed consent. One hundred students were trained in human subjects protection, 27 had parental permission to be citizen scientists, and 18 homeowners completed surveys. Radon values ranged from \u3c 14.8 Bq/m3 to 277.5 Bq/m3. Youth were interested and engaged in citizen science and this family-centered, school-based project provided a unique opportunity to further the healthy housing and quality education components of the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. Further research is needed to test the impact of student-led, family-centered citizen science projects in environmental health as part of school curricula

Towards Bottom-Up Analysis of Social Food

in ACM Digital Health Conference 201

Individual Differences in Personality Predict How People Look at Faces

Determining the ways in which personality traits interact with contextual determinants to shape social behavior remains an important area of empirical investigation. The specific personality trait of neuroticism has been related to characteristic negative emotionality and associated with heightened attention to negative, emotionally arousing environmental signals. However, the mechanisms by which this personality trait may shape social behavior remain largely unspecified.We employed eye tracking to investigate the relationship between characteristics of visual scanpaths in response to emotional facial expressions and individual differences in personality. We discovered that the amount of time spent looking at the eyes of fearful faces was positively related to neuroticism.This finding is discussed in relation to previous behavioral research relating personality to selective attention for trait-congruent emotional information, neuroimaging studies relating differences in personality to amygdala reactivity to socially relevant stimuli, and genetic studies suggesting linkages between the serotonin transporter gene and neuroticism. We conclude that personality may be related to interpersonal interaction by shaping aspects of social cognition as basic as eye contact. In this way, eye gaze represents a possible behavioral link in a complex relationship between genes, brain function, and personality

Inhibition of uric acid or IL- 1β ameliorates respiratory syncytial virus immunopathology and development of asthma

BackgroundRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) affects most infants early in life and is associated with increased asthma risk. The specific mechanism remains unknown.ObjectiveTo investigate the role of uric acid (UA) and IL- 1β in RSV immunopathology and asthma predisposition.MethodsTracheal aspirates from human infants with and without RSV were collected and analyzed for pro- IL- 1β mRNA and protein to establish a correlation in human disease. Neonatal mouse models of RSV were employed, wherein mice infected at 6- 7 days of life were analyzed at 8 days postinfection, 5 weeks postinfection, or after a chronic cockroach allergen asthma model. A xanthine oxidase inhibitor or IL- 1 receptor antagonist was administered during RSV infection.ResultsHuman tracheal aspirates from RSV- infected infants showed elevated pro- IL- 1β mRNA and protein. Inhibition of UA or IL- 1β during neonatal murine RSV infection decreased mucus production, reduced cellular infiltrates to the lung (especially ILC2s), and decreased type 2 immune responses. Inhibition of either UA or IL- 1β during RSV infection led to chronic reductions in pulmonary immune cell composition and reduced type 2 immune responses and reduced similar responses after challenge with cockroach antigen.ConclusionsInhibiting UA and IL- 1β during RSV infection ameliorates RSV immunopathology, reduces the consequences of allergen- induced asthma, and presents new therapeutic targets to reduce early- life viral- induced asthma development.Neonatal RSV infection is associated with increases in pulmonary uric acid and IL- 1β and lung immunopathology. XOI or IL- 1RA administration during neonatal RSV infection leads to reduced RSV immunopathology. XOI or IL- 1RA administration during neonatal RSV infection leads to reduced type 2 immune responses during a subsequent model of asthma.Abbreviations: IL- 1RA, IL- 1 receptor antagonist; RSV: Respiratory syncytial virus; XOI, xanthine oxidase inhibitor.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162774/3/all14310.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162774/2/all14310_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162774/1/all14310-sup-0005-TableS1.pd

Linguistics

Contains research objectives and reports on five research projects.National Institutes of Health (Grant 1 P01 MH-13390-02