Construction, analysis, ligation, and self-assembly of DNA triple crossover complexes

This paper extends the study and prototyping of unusual DNA motifs, unknown in nature, but founded on principles derived from biological structures. Artificially designed DNA complexes show promise as building blocks for the construction of useful nanoscale structures, devices, and computers. The DNA triple crossover (TX) complex described here extends the set of experimentally characterized building blocks. It consists of four oligonucleotides hybridized to form three double-stranded DNA helices lying in a plane and linked by strand exchange at four immobile crossover points. The topology selected for this TX molecule allows for the presence of reporter strands along the molecular diagonal that can be used to relate the inputs and outputs of DNA-based computation. Nucleotide sequence design for the synthetic strands was assisted by the application of algorithms that minimize possible alternative base-pairing structures. Synthetic oligonucleotides were purified, stoichiometric mixtures were annealed by slow cooling, and the resulting DNA structures were analyzed by nondenaturing gel electrophoresis and heat-induced unfolding. Ferguson analysis and hydroxyl radical autofootprinting provide strong evidence for the assembly of the strands to the target TX structure. Ligation of reporter strands has been demonstrated with this motif, as well as the self-assembly of hydrogen-bonded two-dimensional crystals in two different arrangements. Future applications of TX units include the construction of larger structures from multiple TX units, and DNA-based computation. In addition to the presence of reporter strands, potential advantages of TX units over other DNA structures include space for gaps in molecular arrays, larger spatial displacements in nanodevices, and the incorporation of well-structured out-of-plane components in two-dimensional arrays

Enhancement of Adherence to Therapeutic and Lifestyle Recommendations Among Hemodialysis Patients: An Umbrella Review of Interventional Strategies

Leila Zhianfar,1 Haidar Nadrian,2 Abdolreza Shaghaghi1 1Health Education & Promotion Department, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; 2Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranCorrespondence: Abdolreza ShaghaghiHealth Education & Promotion Department, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Golgasht Ave., Tabriz, IranTel +98 41 33376227Email [email protected]: To systematically retrieve and condense the best possible evidence on the successful interventions that targeted enhancement of therapeutic and lifestyle recommendations adherence in hemodialysis patients (HDPs).Design: An umbrella review of interventional studies.Data Sources: A comprehensive search of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE and Web of science databases to identify relevant publications in 2000– 2018 (June) timeframe.Study Selection: Two reviewers independently applied inclusion criteria to select potential systematic reviews assessing the successful interventions that targeted enhancement of therapeutic and lifestyle recommendations adherence in HDPs. Data were summarized for information about the first author(s)’ names, year of publication, type(s) of the intervention and output variables, main findings and also the applied quality appraisal tools in the retrieved research evidence.Data Extraction: Eligible studies were selected and data were extracted independently by two reviewers. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI)’s critical appraisal tool for systematic reviews was used to assess the quality of the identified publications, and discrepancies were resolved by consensus with a third reviewer.Data Synthesis: Thirteen systematic reviews (12 solely systematic reviews and 1 systematic review with meta-analyses) were eligible to be enrolled in the study. The range of interventions that had been reported to boost therapeutic and lifestyle recommendations adherence in HDPs’ included psycho-educational programs, physical activity enhancement initiatives, information technology (IT)-based interventions and aromatherapy. Depression, diet biomarkers and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) were among the myriad of output variables that had been measured as proxies to assess impacts of the implemented interventions. Psycho-educational interventions were among the prevalent initiatives to boost therapeutic and lifestyle recommendations adherence among the HDPs.Conclusion: This umbrella review revealed that various intervention approaches and strategies can be used for HDPs’ better therapeutic and lifestyle recommendations adherence with considerable methodological heterogeneity. The pinpointed research evidence is also supporting application of multifaceted interventional modalities to reach an improved acquiescence form the patients’ side and their families. Further studies are recommended to address the interactions across various interventions in discordant socio-cultural contexts.Keywords: hemodialysis, intervention, adherence, psychosocial, cognitive, exercis

Psychometric properties of the Persian Health Care Climate Questionnaire (HCCQ-P): assessment of type 2 diabetes care supportiveness in Iran

H Matin,1 H Nadrian,1 L Jahangiry,1 P Sarbakhsh,2 A Shaghaghi11Health Education & Promotion Department, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; 2Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranBackground: Health-care systems play a key role in responding to the growing problems of patients with type 2 diabetes by supporting their autonomy in providing routine care. The Health Care Climate Questionnaire (HCCQ) was designed to assess patients’ perceived degree of autonomy support within the care practice settings. The main purpose of this study was to translate and evaluate psychometric properties of the Persian version of the HCCQ (HCCQ-P) to be applied among Iranian and other Persian-speaking patients with type 2 diabetes.Method: Translation/back-translation procedures were carried out to prepare a preliminary draft of the HCCQ-P that was subsequently sent for face and content validity appraisal by a group of 15 health education/promotion and nursing specialists. Minor revisions were performed based on the feedback, and the content validity ratio (=0.91) and content validity index (=0.95) were within the acceptable range. The structural validity of the scale was assessed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.Results: The exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis outputs(root mean square error of approximation=0.079, comparative fit index=0.976, Tucker Lewis index=0.967, standardized root mean square residual=0.022) demonstrated the proper performance and fitness statistics of the translated HCCQ in a one-dimensional model similar to the original scale. The internal consistency and reliability scores endorsed the validity of the translated measure (α=0.945, intraclass correlation coefficient=0.999, P=0.000).Conclusion: In this study, the translated HCCQ-P scale showed robust internal validity for its application in the assessment of health-care settings’ supportiveness in care provision to Persian-speaking patients with type 2 diabetes. Future cross-cultural and multidisciplinary studies are recommended to investigate the applicability of the scale in different patients/cultural groups and health-care settings.Keywords: type 2 diabetes, Health Care Climate Questionnaire, supportive environmen

Health promoting lifestyle and its determinants among university students in Sabzevar, Iran

Background: Healthy lifestyle is a major strategy to promote current and subsequent health status. The aim of this study was to assess the status of health-promoting the lifestyle and its determinants among students. Methods: A stratified random sample of 500 students in a university in the city of Sabzevar, Iran participated in this cross-sectional study. Health-promoting lifestyle was measured using Walker�s health-promoting lifestyle profile II. Results: There was a significant correlation between all domains of health-promoting the lifestyle. The highest score among the domains was for an interpersonal relationship (70.8), and the lowest score was for nutrition (53.6), and physical activity (53.4). Significant differences were found in physical activity by gender (P � 0.05). There were significant differences in health responsibility, spiritual growth and body mass index by marital status (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Since one out of five students in this study were overweight/obese, health program planning to promote lifestyle, especially physical activity and nutrition among students is recommended. Our findings may be helpful for faculty administrators, curriculum planners, and health educators in designing guidelines to structuralize a healthier campus and to develop health promotion programs supporting healthy choices among students. © 2016 International Journal of Preventive Medicine

Public health impacts of urban traffic jam in sanandaj, Iran: A case study with mixed-method design

Introduction: Our aim was to conduct a health impact assessment (HIA) on Sanandaj urban traffic jam, as a consequence of current urban traffic and transport initiatives conducted by Sanandaj urban traffic and transport system. Methods: Incorporating practice standards into the methodology, and applying a single mixed-method case study, we collected four sources of data through profiling community (archival records/documentations), interviews/focus group discussions, field notes, and community survey in Sanandaj, Iran. Integration of data was conducted at interpretation level (data synthesis). Results: Reviewing archival records, a slight increase was found in the registered death/hospitalization cases due to diseases associated to air pollution. An aggravating trend was found in both air quality of city and fines for traffic violations. Challenges of urban traffic jam from residents� viewpoints were grouped into infrastructural, managerial, sociocultural, psychological and behavioral categories. Essential themes for the health impacts of urban traffic jam included physical and family mental health, and social determinants of health. Community survey showed high levels of negative impacts of urban traffic jam on air quality, public services delivery and accessibility, physical environment, public welfare services, family circumstances, social environment, and tobacco/substance use. The following barriers of urban traffic and transport initiatives were identified as the high priorities for revisiting plans: lack of enough streets/highways, lack of enough underpass/overpass, lack of parking lots in crowded areas and poor traffic education/acculturation. The team of assessors, based on findings, established the priority impacts and recommended justify options for action. Conclusion: Performing the HIA, we portrayed the contribution of a various range of urban-traffic related determinants to public health in a low- and middle-income country (LMIC) setting. This study may recall and familiarize policy and decision makers outside health sector on the ways to provide community health-oriented plans/projects. Our findings are particularly informative for the LMICs, where urban traffic jam is mostly due to poor urban traffic and transport initiatives within urban areas. © 2020 Elsevier Lt

Logical computation using algorithmic self-assembly of dna triple-crossover molecules

Recent work has demonstrated the self-assembly of designed periodic two-dimensional arrays composed of DNA tiles, in which the intermolecular contacts are directed by &apos;sticky &apos; ends. In a mathematical context, aperiodic mosaics may be formed by the self-assembly of &apos;Wang &apos; tiles 4, a process that emulates the operation of a Turing machine. Macroscopic self-assembly has been used to perform computations 5; there is also a logical equivalence between DNA sticky ends and Wang tile edges 6, 7. This suggests that the self-assembly of DNA-based tiles could be used to perform DNA-based computation 8. Algorithmic aperiodic self-assembly requires greater fidelity than periodic self-assembly, because correct tiles must compete with partially correct tiles. Here we report a one-dimensional algorithmic self-assembly of DNA triple-crossover molecules 9 that can be used to execute four steps of a logical (cumulative XOR) operation on a string of binary bits. A variety of different DNA tile types have been used in previous assemblies, including double-crossover molecules 1, triple-crossover molecules 9, and parallelograms produced from Holliday junction analogues 3

Prevalence and determinants of substance use among a sample of Iranian adolescents with ease of access to drugs: an application of Social Development Model

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence rate and determinants of SU in adolescents based on the social development model (SDM). In 2018, applying a cross-sectional design, cluster multistage random sampling was employed to recruit 600 adolescents in Bam County, Iran, to participate in the study. A valid and reliable SDM-based instrument was used to collect data. The prevalence rate of using at least one substance was 42 (in girls 33.6 and in boys 50.3). Adjusted for covariates, having close friends with SU was found as the factor with the highest risk. Higher scores in involvement in prosocial activities and interactions (OR: 0.47; 95 Confidence interval (CI): 0.33�0.66, p < 0.001), attachment and commitment to prosocial others (family and school) (OR: 0.73; 95 CI: 0.58�0.93, p < 0.05), and skills for interaction/involvement (OR: 0.51; 95CI: 0.39�0.67, p < 0.001) reduced the odds of ever use of SU among adolescents. Also, higher levels of perceived rewards for antisocial interaction/involvement (OR: 2.22; 95 Confidence interval (CI): 1.53�3.22, p < 0.001) and belief in antisocial values (OR: 2.24; 95 CI: 1.67�2.94, p < 0.001) increased the odds of ever use SU among the respondents. In community-based interventions to prevent SU among adolescents, a great focus should be firstly on identifying the probability of SU in close friends. Moreover, the involvement of adolescents in prosocial activities and interactions, attachment and commitment to prosocial others (family and school), and skills for interaction/involvement should be core categories while designing community-based interventional studies. © 2020 Institute of Health Promotion and Education