Biomimetic Sequence-Templating Approach toward a Multiscale Modulation of Chromogenic Polymer Properties.

Precision control via molecular structure over adaptive conjugated polymer properties in aqueous environments is critical for realizing their biomedical applications. Here, we unravel the dependence of amphiphilic peptide-polydiacetylene (PDA) conjugate properties on the characteristic steric and hydrophobic contributions within peptide segments that serve as a biomimetic template for diacetylene polymerization in water. We investigated the functional impacts of molecular volume and polarity changes brought by dipeptide substitution domains on the following peptide-PDA material properties at multiple length scales: supramolecular assembly behavior, chain conformation-dependent photophysical properties, cell-material interfacing, and for the first time, bulk electrical properties of their films processed in water.

Development of a global urban greenness indicator dataset for 1,000+ cities.

Global climate change has sparked efforts to adapt to increasing temperatures, especially in urban areas that experience increased day and nighttime temperatures due to the urban heat island effect. The addition of greenspace has been suggested as a possible means for urban centers to respond to increasing urban temperatures. Thus, it is important for urban planning and policymakers to have access to data on greenspace specific at a fine spatial resolution.

Shining a light on the pathogenicity of health care providers' mobile phones: Use of a novel ultraviolet-C wave disinfection device.

Background: Mobile phones are known to carry pathogenic bacteria and viruses on their surfaces, posing a risk to healthcare providers (HCPs) and hospital infection prevention efforts. We utilize an Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) device to provide an effective method for mobile phone disinfection and survey HCPs about infection risk.

Methods: Environmental swabs were used to culture HCPs' personal mobile phone surfaces.

Interim report of a randomized cross-over study comparing clinical performance of novice trainee endoscopists using conventional air insufflation versus warm water infusion colonoscopy.

Background: The applicability of water method colonoscopy in trainee education is not known.

Aim: To compare the water method vs. usual air method in teaching novice trainee colonoscopy.

Indigocarmine added to the water exchange method enhances adenoma detection - a RCT.

Purpose: Chromoendoscopy with dye spray and the water method both increase adenoma detection.

Hypothesis: Adding indigocarmine to the water method will enhance further the effectiveness of the latter in adenoma detection.

Methods: Screening colonoscopy was performed with the water method (control) or with 0.

Exploring the mental representation underlying familiarity assessment.

A new method was used to explore the role of perceptual information in familiarity-based recognition. The method uses a pairwise recognition task to compare recognition judgments to a test word when that word is related and unrelated to an immediately preceding word. If the false-alarm rate to the test word is greater when the two words are related, this is interpreted as reflecting an increase in the likelihood of positive familiarity assessment to the test word (Ngo, C.

Head-to-head comparison of practice with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography computer and mechanical simulators by experienced endoscopists and trainees.

Background And Aim:   The endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) mechanical simulator (EMS) and computer simulator (ECS) are described herein. No direct hands-on comparison has been reported to reflect the perception of trainers and trainees regarding the efficacy of each model for trainee ERCP education. We compared the trainers' and trainees' assessments of the EMS and ECS for trainee education.

Effects of hyperglycemia and effects of ketosis on cerebral perfusion, cerebral water distribution, and cerebral metabolism.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) may cause brain injuries in children. The mechanisms responsible are difficult to elucidate because DKA involves multiple metabolic derangements. We aimed to determine the independent effects of hyperglycemia and ketosis on cerebral metabolism, blood flow, and water distribution.

Retrospective analysis showing the water method increased adenoma detection rate - a hypothesis generating observation.

BACKGROUND: A water method developed to attenuate discomfort during colonoscopy enhanced cecal intubation in unsedated patients. Serendipitously a numerically increased adenoma detection rate (ADR) was noted. OBJECTIVE: To explore databases of sedated patients examined by the air and water methods to identify hypothesis-generating findings.

Efficient targeted gene disruption in the soma and germ line of the frog Xenopus tropicalis using engineered zinc-finger nucleases.

The frog Xenopus, an important research organism in cell and developmental biology, currently lacks tools for targeted mutagenesis. Here, we address this problem by genome editing with zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs). ZFNs directed against an eGFP transgene in Xenopus tropicalis induced mutations consistent with nonhomologous end joining at the target site, resulting in mosaic loss of the fluorescence phenotype at high frequencies.

Superficial Priming in Episodic Recognition.

We explored the effect of superficial priming in episodic recognition and found it to be different from the effect of semantic priming in episodic recognition. Participants made recognition judgments to pairs of items, with each pair consisting of a prime item and a test item. Correct positive responses to the test item were impeded if the prime and test item were superficially related; this was the case when the items were words and the crucial relationship was phonological and orthographic as well as when the items were letter strings and the crucial relationship was orthographic.

Effects of conceptual processing on familiarity-based recognition.

Two experiments compared the impact of conceptual and perceptual processing at encoding on the familiarity-based recognition of items without preexisting conceptual representations. The stimuli for the experiments were visual designs and nonsense letter strings. The process dissociation procedure was used in conjunction with the process dissociation equations and the Dual Process Signal Detection model to assess the contributions of familiarity-based recognition and recollection in the recognition of the stimuli.

The bias for a recognition judgement depends on the response emitted in a prior recognition judgement.

On each trial of the experimental procedure the participant read a list of words and made successive recognition judgements to multiple test words. The bias for a given recognition judgement was more conservative if the judgement followed a correct positive response to a target than if it followed a correct negative response to a lure. Similar results were not observed for successive semantic recognition judgements.

Rapid gynogenetic mapping of Xenopus tropicalis mutations to chromosomes.

Pilot forward genetic screens in Xenopus tropicalis have isolated over 60 recessive mutations. Here we present a simple method for mapping mutations to chromosomes using gynogenesis and centromeric markers. When coupled with available genomic resources, gross mapping facilitates evaluation of candidate genes as well as higher resolution linkage studies.

Level of Discrimination for Recognition Judgments Reduced following the Recognition of Semantically Related Words.

Participants read lists of words and then made recognition judgments to pairs of words, each of which consisted of a prime word and a test word. At issue was the effect of a semantic relationship between the prime word and the test word on the recognition judgment to the test word. Under standard recognition conditions, semantic priming impeded correct recognition judgments to new test words and had no effect on recognition judgments to old test words.

Heritable targeted gene disruption in zebrafish using designed zinc-finger nucleases.

We describe the use of zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) for somatic and germline disruption of genes in zebrafish (Danio rerio), in which targeted mutagenesis was previously intractable. ZFNs induce a targeted double-strand break in the genome that is repaired to generate small insertions and deletions. We designed ZFNs targeting the zebrafish golden and no tail/Brachyury (ntl) genes and developed a budding yeast-based assay to identify the most active ZFNs for use in vivo.