Assessment of Chronic Illness-Related Cognitive Fusion: Preliminary Development and Validation of a New Scale with an IBD Sample

Although research recognizes the advantages of creating specific content measures, no specific measure of chronic illness-related cognitive fusion had been developed to date. The current study presents the development and validation of the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire-Chronic Illness (CFQ-CI) in a sample of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and the analysis of the role of this construct in the psychological health of those patients. Results indicated that the 7-item CFQ-CI was a unidimensional measure of cognitive fusion in patients with chronic illnesses, and that scores had adequate/good internal consistency and construct, convergent, and discriminant validity. This study also showed that chronic illness-related cognitive fusion as assessed by the CFQ-CI acted as a mediator in the association between both IBD-related symptoms and shame with quality of life. The development of the CFQ-CI may thus contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms influencing functional outcomes in chronic illness

Binary and Millisecond Pulsars at the New Millennium

We review the properties and applications of binary and millisecond pulsars. Our knowledge of these exciting objects has greatly increased in recent years, mainly due to successful surveys which have brought the known pulsar population to over 1300. There are now 56 binary and millisecond pulsars in the Galactic disk and a further 47 in globular clusters. This review is concerned primarily with the results and spin-offs from these surveys which are of particular interest to the relativity community.Comment: 59 pages, 26 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in Living Reviews in Relativity (http://www.livingreviews.org

Structural basis for CRISPR RNA-guided DNA recognition by Cascade

The CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) immune system in prokaryotes uses small guide RNAs to neutralize invading viruses and plasmids. In Escherichia coli, immunity depends on a ribonucleoprotein complex called Cascade. Here we present the composition and low-resolution structure of Cascade and show how it recognizes double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) targets in a sequence-specific manner. Cascade is a 405-kDa complex comprising five functionally essential CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins (CasA1B2C6D1E1) and a 61-nucleotide CRISPR RNA (crRNA) with 5′-hydroxyl and 2′,3′-cyclic phosphate termini. The crRNA guides Cascade to dsDNA target sequences by forming base pairs with the complementary DNA strand while displacing the noncomplementary strand to form an R-loop. Cascade recognizes target DNA without consuming ATP, which suggests that continuous invader DNA surveillance takes place without energy investment. The structure of Cascade shows an unusual seahorse shape that undergoes conformational changes when it binds target DNA.

Effect of a Fatty Acid Additive on the Kinetic Friction and Stiction of Confined Liquid Lubricants

Apresentamos neste texto parte das produções de pesquisa que acompanhou a construção de corpos inseridos num Centro de Atenção Psicossocial para Álcool e outras Drogas, em cidade do nordeste brasileiro, focando de modo mais acentuado em arranjos de masculinidades. Especial atenção é dada à tensão entre normalização de corpos e tentativas de (re)existências. A argumentação se desenvolve no campo da saúde pública, em particular o da saúde mental, e alicerçada nos estudos de gênero e sexualidade. A produção de dados se valeu de observações registradas em diário de campo, acompanhamento itinerante, composição de um coletivo de pesquisa, entrevistas, grupos focais em que, dentre outras coisas, se discutia trechos de diários de campo, rodas de conversa e oficinas com profissionais e usuári*s. A aposta metodológica foi a de forjar um modo de narrar coletivo que agenciasse experimentação e desaprendizagens corporais, junto a modos de produzir cuidado em saúde e de fazer pesquisa.Apresentamos neste texto parte das produções de pesquisa que acompanhou a construção de corpos inseridos num Centro de Atenção Psicossocial para Álcool e outras Drogas, em cidade do nordeste brasileiro, focando de modo mais acentuado em arranjos de masculinidades. Especial atenção é dada à tensão entre normalização de corpos e tentativas de (re)existências. A argumentação se desenvolve no campo da saúde pública, em particular o da saúde mental, e alicerçada nos estudos de gênero e sexualidade. A produção de dados se valeu de observações registradas em diário de campo, acompanhamento itinerante, composição de um coletivo de pesquisa, entrevistas, grupos focais em que, dentre outras coisas, se discutia trechos de diários de campo, rodas de conversa e oficinas com profissionais e usuári*s. A aposta metodológica foi a de forjar um modo de narrar coletivo que agenciasse experimentação e desaprendizagens corporais, junto a modos de produzir cuidado em saúde e de fazer pesquisa.Apresentamos neste texto parte das produções de pesquisa que acompanhou a construção de corpos inseridos num Centro de Atenção Psicossocial para Álcool e outras Drogas, em cidade do nordeste brasileiro, focando de modo mais acentuado em arranjos de masculinidades. Especial atenção é dada à tensão entre normalização de corpos e tentativas de (re)existências. A argumentação se desenvolve no campo da saúde pública, em particular o da saúde mental, e alicerçada nos estudos de gênero e sexualidade. A produção de dados se valeu de observações registradas em diário de campo, acompanhamento itinerante, composição de um coletivo de pesquisa, entrevistas, grupos focais em que, dentre outras coisas, se discutia trechos de diários de campo, rodas de conversa e oficinas com profissionais e usuári*s. A aposta metodológica foi a de forjar um modo de narrar coletivo que agenciasse experimentação e desaprendizagens corporais, junto a modos de produzir cuidado em saúde e de fazer pesquisa.Apresentamos neste texto parte das produções de pesquisa que acompanhou a construção de corpos inseridos num Centro de Atenção Psicossocial para Álcool e outras Drogas, em cidade do nordeste brasileiro, focando de modo mais acentuado em arranjos de masculinidades. Especial atenção é dada à tensão entre normalização de corpos e tentativas de (re)existências. A argumentação se desenvolve no campo da saúde pública, em particular o da saúde mental, e alicerçada nos estudos de gênero e sexualidade. A produção de dados se valeu de observações registradas em diário de campo, acompanhamento itinerante, composição de um coletivo de pesquisa, entrevistas, grupos focais em que, dentre outras coisas, se discutia trechos de diários de campo, rodas de conversa e oficinas com profissionais e usuári*s. A aposta metodológica foi a de forjar um modo de narrar coletivo que agenciasse experimentação e desaprendizagens corporais, junto a modos de produzir cuidado em saúde e de fazer pesquisa.Apresentamos neste texto parte das produções de pesquisa que acompanhou a construção de corpos inseridos num Centro de Atenção Psicossocial para Álcool e outras Drogas, em cidade do nordeste brasileiro, focando de modo mais acentuado em arranjos de masculinidades. Especial atenção é dada à tensão entre normalização de corpos e tentativas de (re)existências. A argumentação se desenvolve no campo da saúde pública, em particular o da saúde mental, e alicerçada nos estudos de gênero e sexualidade. A produção de dados se valeu de observações registradas em diário de campo, acompanhamento itinerante, composição de um coletivo de pesquisa, entrevistas, grupos focais em que, dentre outras coisas, se discutia trechos de diários de campo, rodas de conversa e oficinas com profissionais e usuári*s. A aposta metodológica foi a de forjar um modo de narrar coletivo que agenciasse experimentação e desaprendizagens corporais, junto a modos de produzir cuidado em saúde e de fazer pesquisa.Apresentamos neste texto parte das produções de pesquisa que acompanhou a construção de corpos inseridos num Centro de Atenção Psicossocial para Álcool e outras Drogas, em cidade do nordeste brasileiro, focando de modo mais acentuado em arranjos de masculinidades. Especial atenção é dada à tensão entre normalização de corpos e tentativas de (re)existências. A argumentação se desenvolve no campo da saúde pública, em particular o da saúde mental, e alicerçada nos estudos de gênero e sexualidade. A produção de dados se valeu de observações registradas em diário de campo, acompanhamento itinerante, composição de um coletivo de pesquisa, entrevistas, grupos focais em que, dentre outras coisas, se discutia trechos de diários de campo, rodas de conversa e oficinas com profissionais e usuári*s. A aposta metodológica foi a de forjar um modo de narrar coletivo que agenciasse experimentação e desaprendizagens corporais, junto a modos de produzir cuidado em saúde e de fazer pesquisa.The paper presents part of the research productions that accompanied the construction of bodies inserted in a Psychosocial Care Center for Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAPS-AD) of a city in the northern region of Brasil, focusing more sharply on masculinities arrangements. Special attention is given to the tension between normalized bodies and attempts at resistance and (re) exist. The argument is in the field of public health, particularly mental health, and rooted in gender and sexuality studies. The data production methodology made use of observations recorded in a diary, itinerant follow-up of a collective of research, interviews, focus groups where, among other things, was discussed diary topics, conversation circles and workshops. The attempt was to produce a way of collective narrating strategy, combining up experience and body (un)learn well as ways of producing health care and doing research

Gene Expression Changes Associated with the Airway Wall Response to Injury

Understanding the way in which the airway heals in response to injury is fundamental to dissecting the mechanisms underlying airway disease pathology. As only limited data is available in relation to the in vivo characterisation of the molecular features of repair in the airway we sought to characterise the dynamic changes in gene expression that are associated with the early response to physical injury in the airway wall.We profiled gene expression changes in the airway wall using a large animal model of physical injury comprising bronchial brush biopsy in anaesthetised sheep. The experimental design featured sequential studies in the same animals over the course of a week and yielded data relating to the response at 6 hours, and 1, 3 and 7 days after injury. Notable features of the transcriptional response included the early and sustained preponderance of down-regulated genes associated with angiogenesis and immune cell activation, selection and differentiation. Later features of the response included the up-regulation of cell cycle genes at d1 and d3, and the latter pronounced up-regulation of extracellular matrix-related genes at d3 and d7.It is possible to follow the airway wall response to physical injury in the same animal over the course of time. Transcriptional changes featured coordinate expression of functionally related genes in a reproducible manner both within and between animals. This characterisation will provide a foundation against which to assess the perturbations that accompany airway disease pathologies of comparative relevance

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Crown Lengthening Revisited

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141178/1/cap0233.pd

Determining the Repertoire of Immunodominant Proteins via Whole-Genome Amplification of Intracellular Pathogens

Culturing many obligate intracellular bacteria is difficult or impossible. However, these organisms have numerous adaptations allowing for infection persistence and immune system evasion, making them some of the most interesting to study. Recent advancements in genome sequencing, pyrosequencing and Phi29 amplification, have allowed for examination of whole-genome sequences of intracellular bacteria without culture. We have applied both techniques to the model obligate intracellular pathogen Anaplasma marginale and the human pathogen Anaplasma phagocytophilum, in order to examine the ability of phi29 amplification to determine the sequence of genes allowing for immune system evasion and long-term persistence in the host. When compared to traditional pyrosequencing, phi29-mediated genome amplification had similar genome coverage, with no additional gaps in coverage. Additionally, all msp2 functional pseudogenes from two strains of A. marginale were detected and extracted from the phi29-amplified genomes, highlighting its utility in determining the full complement of genes involved in immune evasion

Effect of thong style flip-flops on children’s barefoot walking and jogging kinematics

BACKGROUND: Thong style flip-flops are a popular form of footwear for children. Health professionals relate the wearing of thongs to foot pathology and deformity despite the lack of quantitative evidence to support or refute the benefits or disadvantages of children wearing thongs. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of thong footwear on children’s barefoot three dimensional foot kinematics during walking and jogging. METHODS: Thirteen healthy children (age 10.3 ± 1.6 SD years) were recruited from the metropolitan area of Sydney Australia following a national press release. Kinematic data were recorded at 200 Hz using a 14 camera motion analysis system (Cortex, Motion Analysis Corporation, Santa Rosa, USA) and simultaneous ground reaction force were measured using a force platform (Model 9281B, Kistler, Winterthur, Switzerland). A three-segment foot model was used to describe three dimensional ankle, midfoot and one dimensional hallux kinematics during the stance sub-phases of contact, midstance and propulsion. RESULTS: Thongs resulted in increased ankle dorsiflexion during contact (by 10.9°, p; = 0.005 walk and by 8.1°, p; = 0.005 jog); increased midfoot plantarflexion during midstance (by 5.0°, p; = 0.037 jog) and propulsion (by 6.7°, p; = 0.044 walk and by 5.4°, p;= 0.020 jog); increased midfoot inversion during contact (by 3.8°, p;= 0.042 jog) and reduced hallux dorsiflexion during walking 10% prior to heel strike (by 6.5°, p; = 0.005) at heel strike (by 4.9°, p; = 0.031) and 10% post toe-off (by 10.7°, p; = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Ankle dorsiflexion during the contact phase of walking and jogging, combined with reduced hallux dorsiflexion during walking, suggests a mechanism to retain the thong during weight acceptance. Greater midfoot plantarflexion throughout midstance while walking and throughout midstance and propulsion while jogging may indicate a gripping action to sustain the thong during stance. While these compensations exist, the overall findings suggest that foot motion whilst wearing thongs may be more replicable of barefoot motion than originally thought