Density of Yang-Lee zeros for the Ising ferromagnet

The densities of Yang-Lee zeros for the Ising ferromagnet on the $L\times L$ square lattice are evaluated from the exact grand partition functions ($L=3\sim16$). The properties of the density of Yang-Lee zeros are discussed as a function of temperature $T$ and system size $L$. The three different classes of phase transitions for the Ising ferromagnet, first-order phase transition, second-order phase transition, and Yang-Lee edge singularity, are clearly distinguished by estimating the magnetic scaling exponent $y_h$ from the densities of zeros for finite-size systems. The divergence of the density of zeros at Yang-Lee edge in high temperatures (Yang-Lee edge singularity), which has been detected only by the series expansion until now for the square-lattice Ising ferromagnet, is obtained from the finite-size data. The identification of the orders of phase transitions in small systems is also discussed using the density of Yang-Lee zeros.Comment: to appear in Physical Review

Development of a Postburn Pruritus Relief Protocol

Background Postburn pruritus is a syndrome of stressful symptoms that is pervasive and occurs in over 90% of burn patients and continues for years after the burn has healed. Postburn pruritus is experienced by burn survivors that may require medical management and effective interventions. Purpose This article shows how to effectively relieve postburn pruritus by developing a postburn pruritus relief protocol. Design A descriptive literature review was conducted, and relevant empirical articles written during the years 2000–2014 were appraised to create a postburn pruritus relief protocol. Twenty-six of 79 articles were selected using preestablished inclusion criteria: any age group experiencing burn-related pruritus after second- or third-degree burns. Databases were Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, EBSCO, PubMed, the National Guideline Clearinghouse, Google Scholar, and the American Burn Association website. Conclusions This protocol included both nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions that have been delineated for use and was developed to apply based on the healing stage: prehealing, healing, and posthealing

Sex-associated differences in baseline urinary metabolites of healthy adults.

The biological basis for gender variability among disease states is not well established. There have been many prior efforts attempting to identify the unique urine metabolomic profiles associated with specific diseases. However, there has been little advancement in investigating the metabolomic differences associated with gender, which underlies the misconception that risk factors and treatment regimens should be the same for both male and female patients. This present study aimed to identify biologically-meaningful baseline sex-related differences using urine samples provided by healthy female and male participants. To elucidate whether urinary metabolic signatures are globally distinct between healthy males and females, we applied metabolomics profiling of primary metabolism with comprehensive bioinformatics analyses on urine samples from 60 healthy males and females. We found that levels of α-ketoglutarate and 4-hydroxybutyric acid increased 2.3-fold and 4.41-fold in males compared to females, respectively. Furthermore, chemical similarity enrichment analysis revealed that differentially expressed metabolites, such as saturated fatty acids, TCA, and butyrates, were significantly related to the gender effect. These findings indicate that there are baseline sex-related differences in urinary metabolism, which should be considered in biomarker discovery, diagnosis, and treatment of bladder diseases, such as interstitial cystitis

GSK3β N-terminus binding to p53 promotes its acetylation

The prevalence in human cancers of mutations in p53 exemplifies its crucial role as a tumor suppressor transcription factor. Previous studies have shown that the constitutively active serine/threonine kinase glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) associates with the C-terminal basic domain of p53 and regulates its actions. In this study we identified the GSK3β N-terminal amino acids 78–92 as necessary for its association with p53. Inhibitors of GSK3 impaired the acetylation of p53 at Lys373 and Lys382 near the GSK3β binding region in p53, indicating that GSK3β facilitates p53 acetylation. We also found that acetylation of p53 reduced its association with GSK3β, as well as with GSK3α. These results indicate that the N-terminal region of GSK3β binds p53, this association promotes the acetylation of p53, and subsequently acetylated p53 dissociates from GSK3

Mental Disorders and Mental Health Service Use Across Asian American Subethnic Groups in the United States

This study analyzed the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions data, 2001–2002, to compare the prevalence and odds of DSM-IV mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders and mental health service use across Asian American subethnic groups (648 East Asians, 485 Southeast Asians, 298 South Asians). Asian American subethnic groups varied in lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders (p = 0.004), mainly due to differences in the presence of any substance use disorder (p = 0.06), and specifically, drug use disorders (p = 0.02). While Southeast Asians had the highest prevalence of substance use disorders (16.7 %), fewer Southeast Asians with substance use disorders used mental health services (11.1 %) compared to South Asians with substance use disorders (24.2 %). East Asians compared to South Asians had significantly lower odds of mental health service use for substance use disorders (confidence interval = 0.08–0.84). Asian American subethnic groups vary in the prevalence of mental disorders and in mental health service use, especially for substance use disorders

The Effects of Fall Health Belief and Knowledge of Fall on the Prevention of Fall in the Elderly: Mediating and Moderating Effects of Fall Fear

Purpose: This descriptive study investigated the mediating and moderating effects of fear of fall on the relationships between health belief on fall, fall-related knowledge and fall prevention behaviors among older adults Methods: We enrolled 229 older adults residing in a senior citizen hall and community welfare center, and investigated their health belief on fall, fall-related knowledge, fall prevention behavior, and fear of fall. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and t-test were used to analyze differences in variables. Pearson correlation and multiple regression were used to investigate mediating and moderating effects of the fear of fall on the relationships between health belief on fall, fall-related knowledge, and fall prevention behaviors. Results: The fear of fall significantly mediated the health belief on fall and fall prevention behaviors, but there was no significant mediation between knowledge of fall and fall prevention behaviors. The fear of fall did not have a moderating effect on the relationships between health belief on fall, knowledge of fall, and fall prevention behaviors. Conclusion: It is important to investigate and implement health belief on fall and fear of fall among older adults to improve their fall prevention behaviors