Anti-inflammatory effects of phytosphingosine-regulated cytokines and NF-kB and MAPK mechanism.

Phytosphingosine (PHS) is a major component of the skin barrier and a multifunctional physiologically active substance. This study  aimed to investigate the types of cytokines regulated by PHS, their anti-skin inflammatory effects, and their anti-inflammatory mechanisms. RAW264.7 cells stimulated with Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were treated with PHS to measure inflammatory factors such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and gene expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) were confirmed by q-PCR. Cytokines regulated by PHS against LPS-induced inflammation were found through cytokine array, and each factor was reconfirmed through ELISA. Western blot was performed to confirm anti-inflammatory mechanism of Iκbα and MAPK. To confirm anti-skin inflammatory efficacy, HaCaT cells stimulated with TNF-α/IFN-γ were treated with PHS, and TARC, IL-6, and IL-8 were detected by ELISA. PHS suppressed the gene expression of iNOS and COX2, which were increased by LPS, and suppressed NO and PGE2 production. Through cytokine array, it was confirmed that IL-6, IL-10, IL-27 p28/IL-30, IP-10, I-TAC, MCP-5, and TIMP-1 increased by LPS were decreased by PHS. PHS inhibited NF-κB signaling by inhibiting LPS-induced NF-κB nuclear migration and p-Iκbα-mediated Iκbα degradation, and inhibited p38, ERK, and JNK signaling pathways. PHS reduced the production of TARC, IL-6, and IL-8 increased by TNF-α/IFN-γ. These results indicate PHS has anti-inflammatory effects via the suppression of inflammatory factors and pro-inflammatory cytokines through the NF-κB and MAPK pathways. Moreover, these results may explain beneficial effects of PHS in the treatment of skin inflammatory conditions induced by TNF-α/IFN-γ.

Communities at Risk for Mpox and Stigmatizing Policies: A Randomized Survey, Republic of Korea, 2022.

Objectives. To estimate the impact of communicating to the public that men who have sex with men (MSM) are most at risk for mpox on potential stigmatization and risk perception. Methods. We conducted a survey experiment randomizing exposure to messages about mpox among a sample of the South Korean public (n = 1500) in July 2022. We randomized respondents to receive an informational message about mpox that was (1) a neutral informational message about mpox that did not highlight its origins or risk groups (control group), (2) a message explaining that the virus originated in Africa, or (3) a message emphasizing that MSM are most at risk. Results. We found that emphasizing that MSM are most at risk increases support for policies that would restrict lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/-sexual, queer or questioning-related events by about 7 percentage points compared with the control condition. However, the message describing African origins did not affect support for restricting travel from Africa. Neither changed risk perceptions or willingness to be vaccinated against mpox. Conclusions. Messages aimed at educating the public about most at-risk groups may trigger increased stigmatization of those groups in ways that could contribute to unnecessary persecution. (Am J Public Health. 2023;113(10):1120-1127. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307347).

Health Insurance Loss during COVID-19 May Increase Support for Universal Health Coverage.

CONTEXT: The United States is the only high-income country that relies on employer-sponsored health coverage to insure a majority of its population. Millions of Americans lost employer-sponsored health insurance during the COVID-19-induced economic downturn. We examine public opinion toward universal health coverage policies in this context. METHODS: Through a survey of 1,211 Americans in June 2020, we examine the influence of health insurance loss on support for Medicare for All (M4A) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in two ways. First, we examine associations between pandemic-related health insurance loss and M4A support. Second, we experimentally prime some respondents with a vignette of a sympathetic person who lost employer-sponsored coverage during COVID-19. FINDINGS: We find that directly experiencing recent health insurance loss is strongly associated (10 pp, p < 0.01) with greater M4A support and with more favorable views of extending the ACA (19.3 pp, p < 0.01). Experimental exposure to the vignette increases M4A support by 6 pp (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, situational framings can induce modest change in support for M4A. However, real-world health insurance losses are associated with larger differences in support for M4A and with greater support for existing safety net policies such as the ACA.

Experimental and simulation studies on focused ultrasound triggered drug delivery.

To improve drug delivery efficiency in cancer therapy, many researchers have recently concentrated on drug delivery systems that use anticancer drug loaded micro- or nanoparticles. In addition, induction methods, such as ultrasound, magnetic field, and infrared light, have been considered as active induction methods for drug delivery. Among these, focused ultrasound has been regarded as a promising candidate for the active induction method of drug delivery system because it can penetrate a deep site in soft tissue, and its energy can be focused on the targeted lesion. In this research, we employed focused ultrasound as an active induction method. For an anticancer drug loaded microparticles, we fabricated poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid docetaxel (PLGA-DTX) nanoparticle encapsulated alginate microbeads using the single-emulsion technique and the aeration method. To select the appropriate operating parameter for the focused ultrasound, we measured the pressure and temperature induced by the focused ultrasound at the focal area using a needle-type hydrophone and a digital thermal detector, respectively. Additionally, we conducted a simulation of focused ultrasound using COMSOL Multiphysics 4.3a. The experimental measurement results were compared with the simulation results. In addition, the drug release rates of the PLGA-DTX-encapsulated alginate microbeads induced by the focused ultrasound were tested. Through these experiments, we determined that the appropriate focused ultrasound parameter was peak pressure of 1 MPa, 10 cycle/burst, and burst period of 20 µSec. Finally, we performed the cell cytotoxicity and drug uptake test with focused ultrasound induction and found that the antitumor effect and drug uptake efficiency were significantly enhanced by the focused ultrasound induction. Thus, we confirmed that focused ultrasound can be an effective induction method for an anticancer drug delivery system.

Removal Efficiency of Bottom Ash and Sand Mixtures as Filter Layers for Fine Particulate Matter.

Permeable pavement is a technology that allows rainwater to infiltrate into the pavement. Permeable pavements not only help reduce surface runoff by allowing rainwater to infiltrate into the pavement, but also improve water quality with the filter layer that removes particulate matter pollutants. This study evaluated the particulate matter removal efficiency of bottom ash-sand mixtures as filter layers for removing fine (≤10 µm) or ultrafine (≤2.5 µm) particulate matter in the laboratory. Five filter media were tested: silica sand, bottom ash, and bottom ash-sand mixtures with 30:70, 50:50, and 70:30 ratios. The mixed filters exhibited more consistent and stable particulate matter removal efficiency over time than either the uniform sand or bottom ash filter. The 50:50 bottom ash-sand mixture demonstrated removal rates of 58.05% for 1.8 µm particles, 93.92% for 10 µm particles, and 92.45% for 60 µm particles. These findings highlight the potential of bottom ash-sand mixtures as effective filter media for removing PM10 road dust, although field validation with actual pavement systems is necessary.

Substantial Disparities In COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake And Unmet Immunization Demand In Low- And Middle-Income Countries.

The two primary narratives that have emerged to explain low COVID-19 vaccine uptake in low- and middle-income countries are constrained accessibility and vaccine hesitancy. However, it is unclear how much each issue contributes to low uptake. This article examines these twin barriers to access. Using global survey data from 15,696 respondents across seventeen Western Pacific and African countries, collected between May 2022 and January 2023, we estimated the unmet demand for vaccines and examined its predictors. We found that among unvaccinated respondents, by the time of the survey, 50 percent had unmet demand-meaning they were still willing to get vaccinated. Rates of unmet demand were highest in African countries and lowest in Western Pacific countries. The perceived accessibility of vaccines and respondents' age and sex were identified as consistent predictors of unmet demand. These issues suggest that inequitable supply continues to play a substantial role in limiting vaccine access. Targeted efforts to increase vaccination rates are necessary, particularly in countries with low coverage and high unmet demand. Policy efforts should address barriers to vaccine access, ensure accessibility and distribution of mRNA vaccines, and aim to overcome vaccine hesitancy-all critical factors in reducing unmet immunization demand and achieving higher vaccination rates across regions.

Characteristics of Public Health Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses: Lessons Learned From the 2018 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses.

OBJECTIVES: Little research has compared the demographic and practice characteristics of registered nurses (RNs) who work in public health (PH RNs) with other RNs and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who work in public health (PH APRNs) with other APRNs. We examined differences in characteristics between PH RNs and other RNs and between PH APRNs and other APRNs. METHODS: Using the 2018 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses (N = 43 960), we examined demographic and practice characteristics, training needs, job satisfaction, and wages of PH RNs compared with other RNs and PH APRNs compared with other APRNs. We used independent sample t tests to determine significant differences between PH RNs and other RNs and between PH APRNs and other APRNs. RESULTS: On average, PH RNs and PH APRNs earned significantly less than other RNs ($7082 difference) and APRNs ($16 362 difference) (both P < .001). However, their job satisfaction was comparable. PH RNs and PH APRNs were also significantly more likely than other RNs and APRNs to report the need for more training in social determinants of health (20 [P < .001] and 9 [P = .04] percentage points higher, respectively), working in medically underserved communities (25 and 23 percentage points higher, respectively [P < .001 for both]), population-based health (23 and 20 percentage points higher, respectively [P < .001 for both]), and mental health (13 and 8 percentage points higher, respectively [P < .001 for both]). CONCLUSIONS: Efforts that expand public health infrastructure and workforce development must consider the value of a diverse public health nursing workforce to protect community health. Future studies should include more detailed analyses of PH RNs and PH APRNs and their roles.

Who gets COVID-19 booster vaccination? Trust in public health institutions and promotion strategies post-pandemic in the Republic of Korea.

INTRODUCTION: It is increasingly recognized that regular boosters will be necessary for the continued management of the COVID-19 pandemic. While vaccine hesitancy in the context of the initial COVID-19 vaccinations has been extensively studied, less is known about hesitancy around boosters in the post-pandemic era, where the immediate threat of COVID-19 has diminished. METHODS: Using 5,584 survey responses from people who had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose based on a four-round survey between May and November 2022, we examined various factors that affect booster vaccine uptake and the willingness to take an additional shot. Ordinary least squares regressions were conducted to confirm the statistical significance of the findings. RESULTS: Nearly 99% of vaccinated respondents reported having had two COVID-19 vaccine doses, while 69% of respondents reported having received a booster shot (three or more vaccine doses) and 48% reported being willing to get another shot. Booster uptake was strongly increased along with the degree of trust in the Korean Disease Control Agency (KDCA) and was also significantly associated with older age, gender, political propensity, and household income-level. When examining willingness to get an additional shot, the predictors were similar to booster vaccine uptake. However, the effect of trust in the KDCA became more salient. CONCLUSION: The factors associated with booster uptake and willingness to continue to boost are similar to those associated with initial vaccine acceptance in the ROK, namely trust in the public health authority and older age. Despite high initial uptake in the ROK, convincing the public of the continued necessity of routine immunization against COVID-19 may pose challenges in the post-pandemic era.

Does media slant polarize compliance with science-based public health recommendations? Effects of media consumption patterns on COVID-19 attitudes and behaviors in the United States.

Has political polarization undermined the media' informational role during the COVID-19 pandemic? Recent studies show that politicized reporting from conservative media discouraged compliance with COVID-19 guidelines in the U.S. However, greater attention to the 24-hour news cycle may make high-consumption viewers better factually informed regardless of the source. We examine how the extent of media consumption affects people's emotions, attitudes, and behaviors toward the pandemic. With an online survey of 1128 respondents, we found a strong convergence in anxiety and health-protective behaviors in more avid media viewers regardless of media outlet while finding a divergence in attitudes toward specific mitigation strategies.

Mistrust in public health institutions is a stronger predictor of vaccine hesitancy and uptake than Trust in Trump.

STUDY GOAL: This study examines the sources of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and refusal in Americans by decomposing different forms of government trust/mistrust including trust in Trump and mistrust in public health institutions. METHODS: Using linear panel regression models with data from 5,446 US adults (37,761 responses) from the Understanding America Survey, the likelihoods of vaccine hesitancy, uptake, and trust in various information sources were examined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: We find that the likelihoods of hesitancy and having negative perceptions of COVID-19 vaccines were consistently much higher among PHI mistrusters, showing even a stronger hesitancy than Trump trusters. This tendency has persisted over time, resulting in only 49% of PHI mistrusters having been vaccinated in the most recent survey wave. However, a large portion of PHI mistrusters still trusted physicians, family, and friends. These findings suggest that mistrust in PHIs is a salient predictor of vaccine hesitancy and reduced uptake on its own, which is compounded by trust in Trump.

Does highlighting COVID-19 disparities reduce or increase vaccine intentions? evidence from a survey experiment in a diverse sample in New York State prior to vaccine roll-out.

Racial identity and political partisanship have emerged as two important social correlates of hesitancy towards COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. To examine the relationship of these factors with respondents' intention to vaccinate before the vaccine was available (November/December, 2020), we employed a multi-method approach: a survey experiment that randomized a vaccine-promotion message focused on racial equity in vaccine targeting, stepwise regression to identify predictors of hesitancy, and qualitative analysis of open-ended survey questions that capture how respondents reason about vaccination intentions. Experimental manipulation of a racial equity vaccine promotion message via an online survey experiment had no effect on intention-to-vaccinate in the full sample or in racial, ethnic and partisan subsamples. Descriptively, we find heightened hesitancy among non-Hispanic Black respondents (OR = 1.82, p<0.01), Hispanics (OR = 1.37, p<0.05), Trump voters (OR = 1.74, p<0.01) and non-Voters/vote Other (OR = 1.50, p<0.01) compared with non-Hispanic White respondents and Biden voters. Lower trust in institutions, individualism and alternative media use accounted for heightened hesitancy in Trump voters, but not non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics. Older age and female gender identity also persistently predicted lower vaccine intentions. Qualitatively, we find that most hesitant responders wanted to 'wait-and-see,' driven by generalized concerns about the speed of vaccine development, and potential vaccine side-effects, but little mention of conspiracy theories. Identity appears to be an important driver of vaccinate hesitancy that is not fully explained by underlying socioeconomic or attitudinal factors; furthermore, hesitancy was not significantly affected by racial equity messages in this setting.

Prediction Models Based on Regression and Artificial Neural Network for Moduli of Layers Constituted by Open-Graded Aggregates.

The impermeable cover in urban area has been growing due to rapid urbanization, which prevents stormwater from being naturally infiltrated into the ground. There is a higher chance of flooding in urban area covered with conventional concretes and asphalts. The permeable pavement is one of Low-Impact Development (LID) technologies that can reduce surface runoff and water pollution by allowing stormwater into pavement systems. Unlike traditional pavements, permeable pavement bases employ open-graded aggregates (OGAs) with highly uniform particle sizes. There is very little information on the engineering properties of compacted OGAs. In this study, the moduli of open-graded aggregates under various compaction energies are investigated based on the Plate Load Test (PLT) and Light-Weight Deflectometer (LWD). Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Linear Regression (LR) models are employed for estimation of the moduli of the aggregates based on the material type and level of compaction. Overall, the moduli from PLT and LWD steeply increase until the number of roller passes reaches 4, and they gradually increase until the number of roller passes becomes 8. A set of simple linear equations are proposed to evaluate the moduli of open-graded aggregates from PLT and LWD based on the material type and the number of roller passes.

Political Economy of Reform under US Federalism: Adopting Single-Payer Health Coverage in New York State.

The US remains the only high-income country that lacks a universal health financing system and instead relies on a fragmented system with the largest segment of the population receiving health insurance through private, voluntary employer-sponsored health insurance plans. While not "universal" in the sense of being mandatory and tax-financed, through a series of reforms, the US has managed to provide some form of health insurance coverage to 90% of the population. Yet, the high cost of this system, the insufficient coverage afforded to many, and continued concerns about equity have led to calls for a national health insurance program that can reduce costs across the board while providing high-quality coverage for all. Given the policy gridlock at the national level, the states have often sought to achieve universal health financing on their own, but these bills have met with little success so far. Why has the ideal of states as "laboratories of democracy" failed to produce policy change towards national health insurance? This article examines the prospects for the New York Health Act, a single-payer bill that would create a universal health financing plan for all New York State residents. Applying the Political Economy of Health Financing Framework, we analyze the politics of health reform in New York State and identify strategies to overcome opposition to this policy proposal. We find that while a clear political opportunity is in place, the prospects for adoption remain low given the power of symbolic politics and institutional inertia on the reform process.

Engineering a de novo internal disulfide bridge to improve the thermal stability of xylanase from Bacillus stearothermophilus No. 236.

Improvement of thermal stability of the Bacillus stearthermophilus No. 236 endo-beta-1,4-xylanase (XynA) was tried by engineering a de novo designed disulfide bridge. Disulfide design was performed firstly using the disulfide bond design program (Disulfide by Designtrade mark) to identify residue pairs having the favorable geometric characteristics for disulfide formation. Subsequently, the selected 25 amino acid pairs were filtered with the evolutionarily conserved Cys residues identified by alignment of 34 family 11 mesophilic and thermophilic xylanases, and also by doing inspection of the molecular model of the xylanases. Only one pair (Ser100 and Asn150) was finally chosen, and the respective amino acids were substituted with cysteine residues. The newly designed disulfide bridge increased thermostability of the XynA about 5 degrees C. This improved thermal stability was supported by the increase in the energy barrier for inactivation. As expected, the mutant XynA SNC demonstrated its better use in the hydrolysis of xylan at substantially higher temperatures than permitted by its native counterpart. The mutation had little influence on the catalytic efficiency and other functional properties of the XynA. In conclusion, it is evident that the strategically placed disulfide bridge has made the XynA be more effective in resisting thermal inactivation.

Investigation of Intrinsic Electrical Characteristics and Contact Effects in p-Type Tin Monoxide Thin-Film Transistors Using Gated-Four-Probe Measurements.

We investigate the intrinsic electrical characteristics and source/drain parasitic resistance in p-type SnO TFTs fabricated using Ni electrodes based on the gated-four-probe method. Because of the relatively high work function and inexpensive price, Ni has been most frequently used as the source/drain electrode materials in p-type SnO TFTs. However, our experimental data shows that the width normalized parasitic resistances of SnO TFT with Ni electrodes are around one to three orders of magnitude higher than those in the representative n-type oxide TFT, amorphous indium- gallium-zinc oxide TFT, and are comparable with those in amorphous silicon TFTs with Mo electrodes. This result implies that the electrical performance of the short channel SnO TFT can be dominated by the source/drain parasitic resistances. The intrinsic field-effect mobility extracted without being influenced by source/drain parasitic resistance was ~2.0 cm2/Vs, which is around twice the extrinsic field-effect mobility obtained from the conventional transconductance method. The large contact resistance is believed to be mainly caused from the heterogeneous electronic energy-level mismatch between the SnO and Ni electrodes.

Implantable nonenzymatic glucose/O2 micro film fuel cells assembled with hierarchical AuZn electrodes.

Hierarchical AuZn dendrites revealed electrocatalytic properties towards the glucose oxidation and the four-electron O2 reduction. The micro fuel cell using AuZn electrodes generated a power density of 2.07 and 0.29 mW cm(-2) for glucose and human whole blood. The micro film fuel cell implanted into the rat brain produced ∼0.52 V continuously operating for more than 18 days.

Identification and characterization of a novel inulin binding module (IBM) from the CFTase of Bacillus macerans CFC1.

A novel inulin-binding module (IBM), which was identified from the N-terminal region of the cycloinulinooligosaccharide fructanotransferase (CFTase) in Bacillus macerans CFC1, was characterized using the discrete entity of IBM produced by the recombinant Escherichia coli strains. Deletion analyses located the inulin binding activity in the N-terminal region between 241 and 389 amino acid residues, which was removed from the mature enzyme by processing when secreted from the B. macerans CFC1 cells. IBM bound specifically to polyfructans such as inulin and levan but it did not interact with any of the glycan polymers tested in this study including cellulose, xylan, and starch. Binding studies on the IBM revealed that the equilibrium dissociation constant K(d) and the maximum amount of protein bound [(PC)(max)] were 4.7 microM and 22 microM g(-1), respectively. Together, these results indicate that the IBM of CFTase has a relatively high and specific affinity for inulin. Adsorption of the IBM to inulin was highest at pH 7.0 and lowered slowly with decreasing pH down to 3.0. At pH 7.0, the binding activity was enhanced about twofold by the presence of 1 M MgCl(2). Chemical modification experiments with the aromatic amino acid-specific modifiers implied that tryptophan and tyrosine residues in the IBM are likely to participate in the interaction with the inulin molecules.

Effects of inorganic substances on water splitting in ion-exchange membranes; II. Optimal contents of inorganic substances in preparing bipolar membranes.

An approach to enhancing the water-splitting performance of bipolar membranes (BPMs) is introducing an inorganic substance at the bipolar (BP) junction. In this study, the immobilization of inorganic matters (i.e., iron hydroxides and silicon compounds) at the BP junction and the optimum concentration have been investigated. To immobilize these inorganic matters, novel methods (i.e., electrodeposition of the iron hydroxide and processing of the sol-gel to introduce silicon groups at the BP junction) were suggested. At optimal concentrations, the immobilized inorganic matters significantly enhanced the water-splitting fluxes, indicating that they provide alternative paths for water dissociation, but on the other hand possibly reduce the polarization of water molecules between the sulfonic acid and quaternary ammonium groups at high contents. Consequently, the amount of inorganic substances introduced should be optimized to obtain the maximum water splitting in the BPM.

Effects of inorganic substances on water splitting in ion-exchange membranes; I. Electrochemical characteristics of ion-exchange membranes coated with iron hydroxide/oxide and silica sol.

The effects of inorganic substances on water splitting in ion-exchange membranes (IEMs) were investigated. In this study, iron hydroxide/ oxide and silica sol were immobilized on the surface of the IEMs. The water-splitting capabilities of the metal-embedded cation-exchange membranes were 10(4)-10(5) times greater than those of the virgin membranes at the same current density. Similarly, silica sol (i.e., triple bond Si-OH groups) deposited on the anion-exchange membrane surface also drastically increased the proton transport numbers. It was thought that the bipolar structure consisting of H- and OH-affinity groups immobilized on the IEM surface increased water-splitting due to the enhancement of water polarization with the help of strong electric fields. This study revealed that metal oxides or silica groups (triple bond Si-OH), as well as metal hydroxides, can be used as catalysts for water splitting.

A pathway-based classification of breast cancer integrating data on differentially expressed genes, copy number variations and microRNA target genes.

Breast cancer is a clinically heterogeneous disease characterized by distinct molecular aberrations. Understanding the heterogeneity and identifying subgroups of breast cancer are essential to improving diagnoses and predicting therapeutic responses. In this paper, we propose a classification scheme for breast cancer which integrates data on differentially expressed genes (DEGs), copy number variations (CNVs) and microRNAs (miRNAs)-regulated mRNAs. Pathway information based on the estimation of molecular pathway activity is also applied as a postprocessor to optimize the classifier. A total of 250 malignant breast tumors were analyzed by k-means clustering based on the patterns of the expression profiles of 215 intrinsic genes, and the classification performances were compared with existing breast cancer classifiers including the BluePrint and the 625-gene classifier. We show that a classification scheme which incorporates pathway information with various genetic variations achieves better performance than classifiers based on the expression levels of individual genes, and propose that the identified signature serves as a basic tool for identifying rational therapeutic opportunities for breast cancer patients.