Long-term practice of intuitive inquiry meditation modulates EEG dynamics during self-schema processing.

Objective: Intuitive inquiry meditation is a unique form of Buddhist Zen/Chan practice in which individuals actively and intuitively utilize the cognitive functions to cultivate doubt and explore the concept of the self. This event-related potential (ERP) study aimed to investigate the neural correlates by which long-term practice of intuitive inquiry meditation induces flexibility in self-schema processing, highlighting the role of doubt and belief processes in this exploration. Methods: Twenty experienced and eighteen beginner meditators in intuitive inquiry meditation were recruited for this ERP study. The interactions of doubt and belief processes with concepts of the self and Buddha were investigated. A 128-channel electroencephalography (EEG) system was used to collect EEG data. The ERP data were processed and analyzed using EEGLAB. Results: The data showed a double dissociation between beginners and experienced meditators (monks) in the concepts of the self and Buddha: intuitive inquiry meditation reduced the brain activity of beginners when viewing Buddha image but not when viewing a picture of themselves. However, in experienced meditators, intuitive inquiry meditation reduced brain activity when they viewed images of themselves but not when they viewed Buddha image. Further event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP) analysis revealed that experienced meditators had a greater theta spectral power and higher intertrial coherence (ITC), indicating that they could more flexibly modulate ongoing cognitive processes than beginner meditators. Conclusion: Intuitive inquiry meditation could help beginner meditators detach from the concept of Buddha but not from that of the self. However, in experienced meditators, the opposite was true. ERSP analysis showed that only experienced meditators exhibited significant alterations in brain activity dynamics during intuitive inquiry meditation, which might enable these practitioners to become spontaneously detached from the concept of the self. These findings revealed the neural mechanism by which long-term practice of intuitive inquiry meditation can influence the doubting process and its effect on self-schema processing.

Metabolic Engineering Design Strategies for Increasing Carbon Fluxes Relevant for Biosynthesis in Cyanobacteria.

Cyanobacteria are promising microbial cell factories for the direct production of biochemicals and biofuels from CO2. Through genetic and metabolic engineering, they can be modified to produce a variety of both natural and non-natural compounds. To enhance the yield of these products, various design strategies have been developed. In this chapter, strategies used to enhance metabolic fluxes towards common precursors used in biosynthesis, including pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, malonyl-CoA, TCA cycle intermediates, and aromatics, are discussed. Additionally, strategies related to cofactor availability and mixotrophic conditions for bioproduction are also summarize.

Correction: Decoupling of the PI3K Pathway via Mutation Necessitates Combinatorial Treatment in HER2+ Breast Cancer.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133219.].

Decoupling of the PI3K Pathway via Mutation Necessitates Combinatorial Treatment in HER2+ Breast Cancer.

We report here on experimental and theoretical efforts to determine how best to combine drugs that inhibit HER2 and AKT in HER2(+) breast cancers. We accomplished this by measuring cellular and molecular responses to lapatinib and the AKT inhibitors (AKTi) GSK690693 and GSK2141795 in a panel of 22 HER2(+) breast cancer cell lines carrying wild type or mutant PIK3CA. We observed that combinations of lapatinib plus AKTi were synergistic in HER2(+)/PIK3CA(mut) cell lines but not in HER2(+)/PIK3CA(wt) cell lines. We measured changes in phospho-protein levels in 15 cell lines after treatment with lapatinib, AKTi or lapatinib + AKTi to shed light on the underlying signaling dynamics. This revealed that p-S6RP levels were less well attenuated by lapatinib in HER2(+)/PIK3CA(mut) cells compared to HER2(+)/PIK3CAwt cells and that lapatinib + AKTi reduced p-S6RP levels to those achieved in HER2(+)/PIK3CA(wt) cells with lapatinib alone. We also found that that compensatory up-regulation of p-HER3 and p-HER2 is blunted in PIK3CA(mut) cells following lapatinib + AKTi treatment. Responses of HER2(+) SKBR3 cells transfected with lentiviruses carrying control or PIK3CA(mut )sequences were similar to those observed in HER2(+)/PIK3CA(mut) cell lines but not in HER2(+)/PIK3CA(wt) cell lines. We used a nonlinear ordinary differential equation model to support the idea that PIK3CA mutations act as downstream activators of AKT that blunt lapatinib inhibition of downstream AKT signaling and that the effects of PIK3CA mutations can be countered by combining lapatinib with an AKTi. This combination does not confer substantial benefit beyond lapatinib in HER2+/PIK3CA(wt) cells.

Optical activities of large-area SU8 microspirals fabricated by multibeam holographic lithography.

We report on the fabrication of large-area microspirals in SU8 photoresist using a 6+1 beam holographic lithography (HL) technique involving the interference of six linearly polarized side beams and one circularly polarized central beam. In contrast to common photoresist-substrate (glass) configuration, the spirals are fabricated on a substrate with a precured thin SU8 photoresist. This SU8-SU8-glass configuration strengthens the attachment of the spirals to the substrate, and hence enhances the quality of the fabricated spirals. The fabricated SU8 microspirals exhibit large optical activities with a polarization rotation close to 10 deg and a circular dichroism of about 0.5 in the visible range. Our precured substrate method could lift the limitations of the HL method in fabricating large and uniform microstructures or nanostructures.

Promoting breast cancer screening among Asian American women: the Asian grocery store-based cancer education program.

Asian American women's historically low breast cancer mortality rate has remained constant as rates decreased for all other races. From 2000 to 2004, a randomized controlled trial explored the Asian grocery store-based breast cancer education program's impact on Chinese, Filipino, Korean, and Vietnamese women (n = 1,540). Women aged 40 and older and non-adherent for annual screening mammograms were more likely to schedule a mammogram after receiving the breast cancer education program than women randomized to the prostate cancer program (X (2) = 3.85, p = 0.05). With the right program ingredients, late adopters of breast cancer screening can be prompted to change.

Then and now: comparison of baseline breast cancer screening rates at 2 time intervals.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is Asian American women's most frequently occurring cancer. METHODS: Asian American women completed breast cancer-related baseline surveys for 2 studies 5 years apart. RESULTS: Statistically significant and rapid improvements in knowledge and screening practices were seen between the 948 participants in the first study (1995) and the 1540 participants in the second study. This increase paralleled the reported climb in early detection rates among Asian American women. CONCLUSIONS: The data document the achievement of a tipping point in breast cancer screening rates with culturally and linguistically focused education programs and increased access to screening among disadvantaged women.