Social support as a moderator in the relationship between intrusive thoughts and anxiety among Spanish-speaking Latinas with breast cancer.

ObjectiveIntrusive thoughts, defined as unwanted and recurrent thoughts about a stressful experience, are associated with psychological distress in women with breast cancer. This study assessed moderating effects of various social support dimensions on associations between intrusive thoughts and psychological distress among Latina breast cancer survivors.MethodsWe used baseline data from a randomized controlled trial of a stress management intervention delivered to 151 Spanish-speaking Latinas with nonmetastatic breast cancer within 1 year of diagnosis. Intrusive thoughts, four dimensions of social support (emotional/informational, tangible, affectionate, and positive social interaction), and symptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed through in-person interviews. Information on age, time since diagnosis, breast cancer variables, history of depression, and marital status served as covariates. Generalized linear models were used to investigate bivariate and multivariate associations and to explore moderation effects of the four dimensions of social support.ResultsIn bivariate models, intrusive thoughts were associated positively with depression (β = .024, .001) and anxiety (β = .047, P < .001) symptoms. Adjusting for other factors, intrusive thoughts remained associated with depression symptoms (β = .022, .008), regardless of level of social support (for all support dimensions). For anxiety, there were significant interactions of tangible (β = -.013, .034) and affectionate (β = -.022, .005) support with intrusive thoughts. Intrusive thoughts were associated more strongly with anxiety symptoms among women reporting less tangible and affectionate support than those with higher levels of these types of support.ConclusionsTangible and affectionate support have protective effects on anxiety symptoms among Spanish-speaking Latina breast cancer survivors experiencing intrusive thoughts, but not depression symptoms

Functionally different PIN proteins control auxin flux during bulbil development in Agave tequilana

In Agave tequilana, reproductive failure or inadequate flower development stimulates the formation of vegetative bulbils at the bracteoles, ensuring survival in a hostile environment. Little is known about the signals that trigger this probably unique phenomenon in agave species. Here we report that auxin plays a central role in bulbil development and show that the localization of PIN1-related proteins is consistent with altered auxin transport during this process. Analysis of agave transcriptome data led to the identification of the A. tequilana orthologue of PIN1 (denoted AtqPIN1) and a second closely related gene from a distinct clade reported as ‘Sister of PIN1’ (denoted AtqSoPIN1). Quantitative real-time reverse transcription–PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis showed different patterns of expression for each gene during bulbil formation, and heterologous expression of the A. tequilana PIN1 and SoPIN1 genes in Arabidopsis thaliana confirmed functional differences between these genes. Although no free auxin was detected in induced pedicel samples, changes in the levels of auxin precursors were observed. Taken as a whole, the data support the model that AtqPIN1 and AtqSoPIN1 have co-ordinated but distinct functions in relation to auxin transport during the initial stages of bulbil formation

Fuzzy logic in the design of public policies: application of law

This paper presents a methodological proposal in the field of uncertainty management, FuzzyLogic, to support efficient and effective decision-making in the field of Legal Sciences. We aim to contribute to provide more elements to a better guidance in law application. We apply the methodology to assign a sanction in years of imprisonment to a given felony; in this case to parricide. This work aims to foster the design of new public policies to qualify the sentences of felonies in all areas of justice in order to establish databases of felonies characterizations to provide the judge a greater number of elements to make more deficient and effective decisions

Supercritical sage extracts as anti-inflammatory food ingredients

This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Industrial Crops and Products. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Industrial Crops and Products, [54, (2014)] DOI: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2014.01.021The anti-inflammatory capacity of supercritical CO2extracts (S1 and S2) obtained from sage (Salvia offi-cinalis) was evaluated using THP-1 human macrophages activated with human ox-LDL, a specific in vitromodel to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of the extracts in an atherosclerotic environment. Theexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, with an important role in the atherogenic process, such asTNF- , IL-1 and IL-6, in presence of different extracts concentrations was evaluated. Results showedthat 30 g/mL of both supercritical extracts (S1 and S2) markedly suppressed the ox-LDL induced pro-duction of TNF- , IL-1 and IL-6, as well as their mRNA expression. Data showed that S1 presented ahigher anti-inflammatory activity than S2.A characterization by GC–MS of sage extracts identified 16 compounds, mainly camphor, borneol and1,8-cineole. These three compounds represented a 62.4% of S1 and a 48.1% of S2. Camphor, borneol and1,8-cineole presented an important anti-inflammatory activity in the proposed model, with a decreasein the release and gene expression of TNF- , IL-1 and IL-6 and an increase in IL-10 expression. Theseresults explained the higher activity found in S1.This study suggested that supercritical sage extracts could be used as food ingredients in the develop-ment of anti-inflammatory/anti-atherogenic products.Financial support from Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CICYT) (Project: IPT-300000-2010-034, Ingredientes Saludables Mediterráneos Innovadores (INNSAMED) And Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (ALIBIRD, project S-505/AGR-0153). E.A. thanks Spanish Ministry of Education for a FPU grant

In Vitro and in Vivo Evaluation of Novel Cross-Linked Saccharide Based Polymers as Bile Acid Sequestrants

Bile acid sequestrants (BAS) represent a therapeutic approach for the management of hypercholesterolemia that relies on the cationic polymeric nature of BAS to selectively bind negatively charged bile acids. We hypothesized that the cross-linking of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and saccharides such as starch or dextrin with divinyl sulfone (DVS) yields homo- and hetero-polymeric materials with the ability to trap sterols. Our hypothesis was put to test by synthesizing a library of 22 polymers that were screened to evaluate their capability to sequester both cholesterol (CHOL) and cholic and deoxycholic acids (CA and DCA). Three polymers synthesized in high yield were identified as promising. Two were neutral hetero-polymers of β-CD and starch or dextrin and the third was a weakly cationic homo-polymer of starch, highlighting the importance of the cavity effect. They were tested in hypercholesterolemic male Wistar rats and their ability to regulate hypercholesterolemia was similar to that for the reference BAS cholestyramine, but with two additional advantages: (i) they normalized the TG level and (ii) they did not increase the creatinine level. Neither hepatotoxicity nor kidney injury was detected, further supporting them as therapeutical candidates to manage hypercholesterolemia.Financial Support was provided by Universidad de Granada in the frame of the Granada Research of Excellence Initiative on BioHealth (GREIB)

Estudio de las condiciones para la síntesis de la hidroxiapatita y el β-fosfato tricálcico

El propósito de este estudio es encontrar las condiciones de síntesis reproducibles para obtener una HAP y un β-TCP, de fase única, con una pureza >99% y, de tamaño de partícula entre 20 y 60 nm; debido a la falta de congruencia en los procedimientos. El estudio se desarrolló, por el método de co-precipitación, con el control y la variación de las condiciones de reacción, de añejamiento y de cristalización. El seguimiento de los resultados se hizo por IR-TF y DRX. Los resultados para el β-TCP, mostraron la fase bifásica formada por β-TCP, con una cantidad mínima de HAP. En el caso de la HAP se estableció una metodología reproducible, para una pureza mayor al 99%, un tamaño 31.86 nm; similar a 35.54 nm a una, de tipo bovino. La HAP funcional sintetizada se usará en el diseño de andamios bioactivos mediante la impresión 3D para regeneración del tejido óseo.The aim of this study is obtain reproducible synthesis conditions for the HAP and the β-TCP, as unique phase, with a purity >99% and particle size of 20-60 nm; due to incongruence in procedures. The study was performed with the co-precipitation method, varying the conditions of reaction, aging and crystallization. The XRD and FT-IR were used to follow the procedures. The synthesis results of β-TCP showed a biphasic phase formed with β-TCP and a minimum amount of HAP. In the case of the HAP, a reproducible methodology was stablished, with a purity >99% and size of 31.86 nm, similar to one bovine of 35.54 nm. The HAP functional synthesized will be used in the design of bioactive scaffolds by printing 3D for bone tissue regeneration

Integrated analysis of whole-exome sequencing and transcriptome profiling in males with autism spectrum disorders

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with high heritability. Recent findings support a highly heterogeneous and complex genetic etiology including rare de novo and inherited mutations or chromosomal rearrangements as well as double or multiple hits. METHODS: We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) and blood cell transcriptome by RNAseq in a subset of male patients with idiopathic ASD (n = 36) in order to identify causative genes, transcriptomic alterations, and susceptibility variants. RESULTS: We detected likely monogenic causes in seven cases: five de novo (SCN2A, MED13L, KCNV1, CUL3, and PTEN) and two inherited X-linked variants (MAOA and CDKL5). Transcriptomic analyses allowed the identification of intronic causative mutations missed by the usual filtering of WES and revealed functional consequences of some rare mutations. These included aberrant transcripts (PTEN, POLR3C), deregulated expression in 1.7% of mutated genes (that is, SEMA6B, MECP2, ANK3, CREBBP), allele-specific expression (FUS, MTOR, TAF1C), and non-sense-mediated decay (RIT1, ALG9). The analysis of rare inherited variants showed enrichment in relevant pathways such as the PI3K-Akt signaling and the axon guidance. CONCLUSIONS: Integrative analysis of WES and blood RNAseq data has proven to be an efficient strategy to identify likely monogenic forms of ASD (19% in our cohort), as well as additional rare inherited mutations that can contribute to ASD risk in a multifactorial manner. Blood transcriptomic data, besides validating 88% of expressed variants, allowed the identification of missed intronic mutations and revealed functional correlations of genetic variants, including changes in splicing, expression levels, and allelic expression. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13229-015-0017-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

The Vehicle, Fall 2003

Table of Contents Blame It on My BirthsignMichael Doizanpage 4 Like a BanjoKaitlyn Kingstonpage 6 A BubbleMaria Santoyopage 7 UntitledLiz Toyntonpage 8 She Said It Was Stuck in the FenceGreg Holdenpage 11 Thanksgiving Table CharactersKrystal Heringpage 12 This Is My LandKorah Winnpage 13 Bleeding HeartsKaitlyn Kingstonpage 14 SoldierEmily Rapppage 17 HomelessLaTasha Harrispage 18 InfinitiLindsey Nawojskipage 19 Gone Until ForeverAndy Whytepage 20 On My WayKristin Bornpage 27 GloryJay Popepage 28 Untitled (1)Trevor Moorepage 29 Nature\u27s MoratoriumMatt McCarthypage 29 Untitled (2)Trevor Moorepage 30 Eternal ChildAmy Towerypage 31 FingersJosh Sopiarzpage 31 She Likes JazzMario Podeschipage 32 Back Alley FarmsScott E. Lutzpage 33 Biographiespage 35https://thekeep.eiu.edu/vehicle/1078/thumbnail.jp