Implementation research and Asian American/Pacific Islander health

Numerous barriers prevent the translation of research into practice, especially in settings with diverse populations. Nurses are in contact with diverse populations across settings and can be an important influence to further implementation research. This paper describes conceptual approaches and methodological issues pertinent to implementation research and implications for Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) health research. The authors discussed the values of using theory to guide implementation research, levels of theory that are commonly used in interventions, and decisions for theory selection. They also articulated the shortcoming of randomized controlled trials, the gold standard for testing efficacy of interventions, and present quasi-experimental designs as a plausible alternative to randomized controlled trials when research is conducted in real-world settings. They examined three types of quasi-experimental designs, the unit of analysis, the choice of dependent variables, and measurement issues that influence whether research findings and evidence-based interventions are successfully translated into practice. Practicing nurses who are familiar with the AAPI population, as well as nurse researchers who have expertise in AAPI health can play critical roles in shaping future implementation research to advance AAPI health. Nurses can provide practice-based evidence for refining evidence-supported interventions for diverse, real-world settings and theory-based interventions that are socioculturally appropriate for AAPIs. Interdisciplinary, practice-based research networks that bring multiple agencies, organizations, communities, and academic institutions together can be a mechanism for advancing implementation research for AAPI health

Northern Hemisphere Urban Heat Stress and Associated Labor Hour Hazard from ERA5 Reanalysis

Increasing surface air temperature is a fundamental characteristic of a warming world. Rising temperatures have potential impacts on human health through heat stress. One heat stress metric is the wet-bulb globe temperature, which takes into consideration the effects of radiation, humidity, and wind speed. It also has broad health and environmental implications. This study presents wet-bulb globe temperatures calculated from the fifth-generation European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts atmospheric reanalysis and combines it with health guidelines to assess heat stress variability and the potential for reduction in labor hours over the past decade on both the continental and urban scale. Compared to 2010–2014, there was a general increase in heat stress during the period from 2015 to 2019 throughout the northern hemisphere, with the largest warming found in tropical regions, especially in the northern part of the Indian Peninsula. On the urban scale, our results suggest that heat stress might have led to a reduction in labor hours by up to ~20% in some Asian cities subject to work–rest regulations. Extremes in heat stress can be explained by changes in radiation and circulation. The resultant threat is highest in developing countries in tropical areas where workers often have limited legal protection and healthcare. The effect of heat stress exposure is therefore a collective challenge with environmental, economic, and social implications.publishedVersio

Spontaneous Arrangement of Two-way Flow in Water Bridge

By revisiting the century-old problem of water bridge, we demonstrate that it is in fact dynamic and comprises of two coaxial currents that carry different charges and flow in opposite directions. Initially, the inner flow is facilitated by the cone jet that is powered by H+ and flows out of the anode beaker. The negative cone jet from cathode is established later and forced to take the outer route. This spontaneous arrangement of two-way flow is revealed by the use of chemical dyes, e.g., fluorescein and FeCl3, carbon powder, and the Particle Image Velocimetry. These two opposing flows are found to carry non-equal flux that results in a net transport of water to the cathode beaker. By combining the above information and taking into account the counter flow to equate the water level from the connecting pipe, we can estimate the cross section and flow speed of these co-axial flows as a function of time and applied voltage.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Japanese encephalitis virus co-opts the ER-stress response protein GRP78 for viral infectivity

The serum-free medium from Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infected Baby Hamster Kidney-21 (BHK-21) cell cultures was analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to identify host proteins that were secreted upon viral infection. Five proteins were identified, including the molecular chaperones Hsp90, GRP78, and Hsp70. The functional role of GRP78 in the JEV life cycle was then investigated. Co-migration of GRP78 with JEV particles in sucrose density gradients was observed and co-localization of viral E protein with GRP78 was detected by immunofluorescence analysis in vivo. Knockdown of GRP78 expression by siRNA did not effect viral RNA replication, but did impair mature viral production. Mature viruses that do not co-fractionate with GPR78 displayed a significant decrease in viral infectivity. Our results support the hypothesis that JEV co-opts host cell GPR78 for use in viral maturation and in subsequent cellular infections

Prediction Primary Available Blend Biodiesel of Waste Oil from Aurantiochytrium sp. for General Diesel Engines

Chemical and enzyme transesterification were compared by discussing preliminary transesterification of waste oil of Aurantiochytrium sp., which was then used in transesterification for the primary available blend biodiesel for a general diesel engine in this study. We made progress on the winterized characteristics of the waste oil’s biodiesel of Aurantiochytrium sp. and its biodiesel, which included the reactivity parameters and properties. This approach led to the development of a novel idea for the evaluation of kinetic parameters of winterization, along with obtaining the suitable operation and storage conditions of biodiesel. Therefore, the waste oil of Aurantiochytrium sp. could be developed for biodiesel production and successfully made into a suitable blend diesel. Overall, we acquired the best condition of mixtures and the highly mixed rate of petrodiesel: biodiesel = 80 : 20 (activation energy of winterization 21.32 kJ/mol; onset temperature of winterization -4.15 °C; heat of combustion 43.15 MJ/kg; kinematic viscosity 3.51 mm2/s; flash point 67.5 °C), which was an appropriate blend biodiesel from the waste oil’s biodiesel of Aurantiochytrium sp.

Topographic Study of Extracted Molars with Advanced Furcation Involvement: Furcation Entrance Dimension and Molar Type

This study investigated the topography of the furcation entrance dimension (FED) on molars with advanced furcation involvement (FI). The sample pool consisted of 169 maxillary and mandibular molars from a group of 165 individuals with severely advanced periodontal destruction. The subjects included men and women aged 24 to 84 years (mean, 47.8 ± 7.2 years). The FEDs of the maxillary buccal, mesial, and distal surfaces as well as the mandibular buccal and lingual surfaces were measured under a stereomicroscope and clarified into grades I (FED < 0.55 mm), II (0.55-0.75 mm), and III (> 0.75 mm) using automatic grading system software designed by our research associates. The differences and relationships among molar location, furcation site, and FED grade were analyzed using the chi-square test. There was a significant difference among buccal (BFED), mesial (MFED), and distal (DFED) FEDs in both the maxillary first (χ24 = 58.915, p < 0.001) and second (χ24 = 66.839, p < 0.001) molars. The relationship between molar type and FED grade was statistically significant for both the BFED (p < 0.001) and the DFED (p < 0.001) of maxillary molars, as well as for both the BFED (p < 0.0001) and LFED (p < 0.0001). The difference in FED grade between the first and second molars was statistically significant in both maxillary (p < 0.001) and mandibular (p < 0.0001) molars. There was a significant relationship between FED grade and tooth location at molars with advanced FI

Role of tissue transglutaminase 2 in the acquisition of a mesenchymal-like phenotype in highly invasive A431 tumor cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cancer progression is closely linked to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Studies have shown that there is increased expression of tissue tranglutaminase (TG2) in advanced invasive cancer cells. TG2 catalyzes the covalent cross-linking of proteins, exhibits G protein activity, and has been implicated in the modulation of cell adhesion, migration, invasion and cancer metastasis. This study explores the molecular mechanisms associated with TG2's involvement in the acquisition of the mesenchymal phenotype using the highly invasive A431-III subline and its parental A431-P cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The A431-III tumor subline displays increased expression of TG2. This is accompanied by enhanced expression of the mesenchymal phenotype, and this expression is reversed by knockdown of endogenous TG2. Consistent with this, overexpression of TG2 in A431-P cells advanced the EMT process. Furthermore, TG2 induced the PI3K/Akt activation and GSK3β inactivation in A431 tumor cells and this increased Snail and MMP-9 expression resulting in higher cell motility. TG2 also upregulated NF-κB activity, which also enhanced Snail and MMP-9 expression resulting in greater cell motility; interestingly, this was associated with the formation of a TG2/NF-κB complex. TG2 facilitated acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype, which was reversed by inhibitors of PI3K, GSK3 and NF-κB.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study reveals that TG2 acts, at least in part, through activation of the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling systems, which then induce the key mediators Snail and MMP-9 that facilitate the attainment of a mesenchymal phenotype. These findings support the possibility that TG2 is a promising target for cancer therapy.</p

Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated Leukocytes Contribute to Platelet Aggregative Dysfunction, Which is Attenuated by Catalase in Rats

Endotoxemia causes several hematological dysfunctions, including platelet degranulation or disseminated intravascular coagulation, which lead to thrombotic and hemorrhagic events. Here, we tested the hypothesis that bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated leukocytes contribute to platelet aggregative dysfunction, and this function is attenuated by antioxidants. Plateletrich plasma (PRP) was prepared from whole blood of normal and endotoxemic rats. The ability of platelet aggregation was measured by an aggregometer. LPS (50–100 μg/mL) was incubated with PRP, whole blood and PRP with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) for 30 minutes, 60 minutes and 90 minutes, and platelet aggregation was detected. LPS-induced platelet aggregative dysfunction was undetectable in intact PRP which was isolated from normal whole blood, whereas it was detected in PRP isolated from endotoxemic rats and LPS-treated whole blood. Moreover, the effect of LPS-induced platelet aggregative dysfunction on intact PRP was observed when the PMNs were added. LPS-induced platelet aggregative dysfunction was significantly attenuated by catalase alone and in combination with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, but not by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester alone. These results indicate that LPS-stimulated PMNs modulate platelet aggregation during LPS treatment and the effects are reversed by antioxidants. PMNs serve as an approach to understand LPS-induced platelet aggregative dysfunction during endotoxemia. During this process, the generation of reactive oxygen species, hydrogen peroxide especially, from LPS-stimulated PMNs could be an important potential factor in LPS-induced platelet aggregative dysfunction. Catalase contributes to the prevention of platelet dysfunction during LPS-induced sepsis