Association of cardiac and vascular changes with ambient PMin diabetic individuals

Background and Objective Exposure to fine airborne particles (PM2.5) has been shown to be responsible for cardiovascular and hematological effects, especially in older people with cardiovascular disease. Some epidemiological studies suggest that individuals with diabetes may be a particularly susceptible population. This study examined effects of short-term exposures to ambient PM2.5 on markers of systemic inflammation, coagulation, autonomic control of heart rate, and repolarization in 22 adults (mean age: 61 years) with type 2 diabetes. Methods Each individual was studied for four consecutive days with daily assessments of plasma levels of blood markers. Cardiac rhythm and electrocardiographic parameters were examined at rest and with 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitors. PM2.5 and meteorological data were measured daily on the rooftop of the patient exam site. Data were analyzed with models adjusting for season, weekday, meteorology, and a random intercept. To identify susceptible subgroups, effect modification was analyzed by clinical characteristics associated with insulin resistance as well as with oxidative stress and by medication intake. Results Interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha showed a significant increase with a lag of two days (percent change of mean level: 20.2% with 95%-confidence interval [6.4; 34.1] and 13.1% [1.9; 24.4], respectively) in association with an increase of 10 μg/m3 in PM2.5. Obese participants as well as individuals with elevated glycosylated hemoglobin, lower adiponectin, higher ferritin or with glutathione S-transferase M1 null genotype showed higher IL-6 effects. Changes in repolarization were found immediately as well as up to four days after exposure in individuals without treatment with a beta-adrenergic receptor blocker. Conclusions Exposure to elevated levels of PM2.5 alters ventricular repolarization and thus may increase myocardial vulnerability to arrhythmias. Exposure to PM2.5 also increases systemic inflammation. Characteristics associated with insulin resistance or with oxidative stress were shown to enhance the association

Redox proteomics of the inflammatory secretome identifies a common set of redoxins and other glutathionylated proteins released in inflammation, influenza virus infection and oxidative stress

Protein cysteines can form transient disulfides with glutathione (GSH), resulting in the production of glutathionylated proteins, and this process is regarded as a mechanism by which the redox state of the cell can regulate protein function. Most studies on redox regulation of immunity have focused on intracellular proteins. In this study we have used redox proteomics to identify those proteins released in glutathionylated form by macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) after pre-loading the cells with biotinylated GSH. Of the several proteins identified in the redox secretome, we have selected a number for validation. Proteomic analysis indicated that LPS stimulated the release of peroxiredoxin (PRDX) 1, PRDX2, vimentin (VIM), profilin1 (PFN1) and thioredoxin 1 (TXN1). For PRDX1 and TXN1, we were able to confirm that the released protein is glutathionylated. PRDX1, PRDX2 and TXN1 were also released by the human pulmonary epithelial cell line, A549, infected with influenza virus. The release of the proteins identified was inhibited by the anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (DEX), which also inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α release, and by thiol antioxidants (N-butanoyl GSH derivative, GSH-C4, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which did not affect TNF-α production. The proteins identified could be useful as biomarkers of oxidative stress associated with inflammation, and further studies will be required to investigate if the extracellular forms of these proteins has immunoregulatory functions

A high-resolution map of human evolutionary constraint using 29 mammals.

The comparison of related genomes has emerged as a powerful lens for genome interpretation. Here we report the sequencing and comparative analysis of 29 eutherian genomes. We confirm that at least 5.5% of the human genome has undergone purifying selection, and locate constrained elements covering ∼4.2% of the genome. We use evolutionary signatures and comparisons with experimental data sets to suggest candidate functions for ∼60% of constrained bases. These elements reveal a small number of new coding exons, candidate stop codon readthrough events and over 10,000 regions of overlapping synonymous constraint within protein-coding exons. We find 220 candidate RNA structural families, and nearly a million elements overlapping potential promoter, enhancer and insulator regions. We report specific amino acid residues that have undergone positive selection, 280,000 non-coding elements exapted from mobile elements and more than 1,000 primate- and human-accelerated elements. Overlap with disease-associated variants indicates that our findings will be relevant for studies of human biology, health and disease

Research productivity and academics’ conceptions of research

This paper asks the question: do people with different levels of research productivity and identification as a researcher think of research differently? It discusses a study that differentiated levels of research productivity among English and Australian academics working in research-intensive environments in three broad discipline areas: science, engineering and technology; social science and humanities; and medicine and health sciences. The paper explores the different conceptions of research held by these academics in terms of their levels of research productivity, their levels of research training, whether they considered themselves an active researcher and a member of a research team, and their disciplinary differences

A psychometric evaluation of the student teacher assessment system at UNCG using structural equation modeling

Student teachers are evaluated based on a number of criteria at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). Among these criteria are the evidence portfolios, the Candidate Disposition Assessment Process (CDAP), and the Teacher Growth and Assessment for Pre-Service Profile (TGAP) instruments. These instruments attempt to measure teacher skills and attitudes at various points throughout a student teacher’s progress leading up to graduation. Structural equation modeling was used first to compare the appropriateness of five confirmatory factor analysis models when the data is fit to each of them. Next, the most appropriate model was used to explore the quality of the items. Differences were examined between teacher candidate evaluators in cases where multiple raters exist. Finally, a differential item functioning (DIF) analysis will compare the way items were interpreted by the evaluators of elementary teacher candidates and middle secondary teacher candidates by the use of a multiple indicator-multiple cause model. The six-factor correlated model best represented the data from the assessment system of teacher candidates at the UNCG. Details of the model showed good evidence for the reliability of all six factors, however further data needs to be collected and preserved in order to draw conclusions about the instruments capacity to distinguish accurately teacher candidates whose abilities in at least one of the six areas being measured would put them near the cut score. Evidence was found of high inter-rater reliability between the supervising teacher and the on-site teacher evaluator for scores on the CDAP instrument, however differences were found between these raters for the TGAP instrument. In the demonstration of DIF detection, a few items were flagged as potentially being interpreted as significant differences in ratings between secondary/middle evaluators and elementary evaluators

Wolves, dragons, and ponies… oh my!: fursonas and stigmatization in the “human” world

The “furry fandom” is a broad term that generally refers to a subculture in which members have shown a deep invested interest in anthropomorphic or zoomorphic creatures and artwork. A “furry” is referred to as an individual who cultivates a “fursona,” which is a unique character that is personified through an anthropomorphic or zoomorphic creature exhibiting both human and animal characteristics.These “fursonas” are typically exemplified through cartoon avatars and other forms of artwork and costuming. Current research centered on the furry fandom is quite limited and primarily focuses on psychological frameworks regarding identity formation. For the purposes of this study, I utilized a broader understanding of identity cultivation, management, and concealment within a stigmatized subgroup, by incorporating sociological constructs based around identity performance and anthropological conceptions of masking. This study encompasses qualitative responses from ten self-identified “furries.” The information gained from these participants helps to support and substantiate previous research findings, while also broadening the scope of identity formation within a peculiar subgroup

Laboratory testing for wear performance of selected wood floor finishes

Eight wood floor finishes were applied to quarter-sawn, red oak flooring blocks and, along with a factory finished block, were tested under laboratory conditions to determine the degree of wear of each of the finishes. A loss in film thickness of the finish was considered wear. Test blocks included four replicates each of polyurethane, vinyl, epoxy, amino resin, lacquer, shellac, varnish, penetrating seal, and a prefinished specimen. Blocks were tested on the Simulated Human Wear Producing Machine consisting of a treadmill and cam-operated legs and feet developed by Dr. Henry Bowen and his engineering students of the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. A Zeiss Light-Section Microscope was used to measure the film thickness of finishes. Four measurements were recorded from predetermined locations and the mean computed for each test specimen of each finish before testing and during testing at one, two, four, five, six, and eight hour intervals. Blocks were rotated on the machine after each measurement period

A study of sizing and grading in different brands of misses' dress patterns

The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of variation in the same size pattern and in the grading of sizes 14, 16, 18 and 20 by eight different commercial companies producing patterns in January, 1950

Comparisons Of Leg, Arm, And Back Muscle Oxygenation During Rowing Exercise Using Near Infrared Spectroscopy

Introduction: Indoor rowing is an increasingly popular mode of exercise that provides a total-body workout. In a proper rowing motion, muscles in the leg, back, and arm are utilized sequentially (Secher, 1993). These different muscle groups, which vary in terms of muscle fiber composition, all consume oxygen during rowing exercise. However, it is unknown how changes in muscle oxygenation during an acute bout of rowing may differ between these primary working muscles. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the deoxygenation in exercising muscles based on their oxidative properties and to further the research into new near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology. Methods: Male and female college-age subjects were recruited for this study. NIRS devices were placed on the vastus lateralis, biceps brachii, and erector spinae muscles to measure oxygen saturation during rowing exercise. Subjects rowed for two minutes each at three different relative (i.e., based on percent of maximal power output) exercise intensities, in a randomized order. Muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2) and total hemoglobin content (THb) were continuously monitored during each stage, as well as in the rest periods between each stage. Results: Data indicate strikingly similar trends in muscle oxygen consumption in men and women during rowing. Additionally, SmO2 in the vastus lateralis decreased to the greatest degree out of the three muscle groups, regardless of intensity. The deoxygenation of the biceps and erector muscles, however, were not significantly different from each other. THb, like SmO2, increased from rest to exercise, but was not significantly different between the exercise intensities. The difference between male and female THb across all time periods was significant, as males exhibited a higher THb than females. Discussion: Many results of the study proved to be insignificant, most likely due to a multitude of variables, including the small sample size, the untrained status of the subjects, and the low reliability of current NIRS devices at high intensity exercise. More research should be performed to further understand the oxidative properties of various muscles groups during rowing exercise as well as advance the reliability of NIRS technology in an athletic setting

Trigger Warning: More Empirical Evidence For The Priming Effects Of Trigger Warnings Ahead

The use of trigger warnings and microaggressions within a university setting has recently become the center of controversy. The current study sought to examine the degree to which trigger warnings influenced participants’ perceptions towards potentially distressing and/or socially discriminatory literary passages. 128 participants, recruited from Amazon mTurk, completed a survey in which they read 3 pre-manipulation passages, 7 passages during the manipulation (half of the participants received trigger warnings before each of these passages and the other half did not) and 3 post-manipulation passages. Results showed that participants who received trigger warnings evaluated the post-manipulation microaggressive passage and email as less discriminatory, but evaluated the post-manipulation mildly distressing passage as more discriminatory. Potential explanation and implications surrounding these findings is offered in the discussion section