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Eight Holstein steers (216±48 kg body weight) fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used to evaluate effects of wheat straw processing (ground vs pelleted) at two straw inclusion rates (7% and 14%; dry matter basis) in dry rolled or steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets on characteristics of digestion. The experimental design was a split plot consisting of two simultaneous 4×4 Latin squares. Increasing straw level reduced ruminal (p0.10) by wheat straw level. Likewise, straw level did not influence ruminal acetate and propionate molar proportions or estimated methane production (p>0.10). Pelleting straw did not affect (p≥0.48) ruminal digestion of OM, NDF, and starch, or microbial efficiency. Ruminal feed N digestion was greater (7.4%; p = 0.02) for ground than for pelleted wheat straw diets. Although ruminal starch digestion was not affected by straw processing, post-ruminal (p0.14) by corn processing. However, microbial N flow to the small intestine and ruminal N efficiency (non-ammonia N flow to the small intestine/N intake) were greater (p

This paper presents a discussion of design considerations for community web portals as social networking systems. We analyse and compare the social interaction approach, design considerations and socio-technical requirements with regards to community portal technology employed in two master-planned urban developments in Australia and Mexico. We focus on how the human and social concepts and local contextualisations affect technology design and use. In response to our analysis, and to face the challenge of designing for variability and diversity, we present the communicative ecology model as a conceptual tool to help researchers and designers grasp the situated context and purpose of these systems in order to inform the design and development of better community technology.

The use of personal computers and Internet at home is becoming more and more common in some developing countries such as Mexico, where affordable prices and credit plans have contributed to this trend. Undoubtedly, the presence of information technology in the households has effects in the life of families and their communities; however how beneficial these effects are depends on the way technology is contextualized to support domestic and community practices. Achieving a proper contextualization is the goal of what we call habitat computing. This paper presents the case of Real del Sol, a housing community in Mexico where an implementation of habitat computing is being developed. Houses are built with Internet access and personal computers as part of their basic infrastructure. We analyze here the role, usage and development of the Real del Sol community intranet, which is a key element on supporting the vision of the project. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.

This preliminary study investigated the association of insight (defined as a patient's recognition of having a mental illness) with depression and suicidality among individuals with schizophrenia (N = 1009), bipolar I disorder (N = 297), and recurrent major depression (N = 162). Participants completed interviews at 2 time periods, 6-months apart. Individuals who were recognized having a mental illness reported significantly greater depression than those who denied having a mental illness. Recognition of mental illness was significantly related, both retrospective and prospectively, with suicidal ideation and attempts. No significant differences were found between the diagnostic groups in these relationships. Although there are many clinical benefits associated with insight, these findings suggest there may possibly be cause for concern in attempting to increase insight among individuals with a serious mental illness. However, current evidence suggests that certain forms of treatment may be beneficial in improving insight, while resulting in a decrease in negative affect, rather than an increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people have high rates of abstinence from alcohol and other drugs, there also is evidence of greater rates of substance use disorders (SUDs) in Native communities. Health disparities associated with substance use are compounded by inadequate access to evidence-based treatments (EBTs). Lack of mental health providers is one notable barrier to EBT implementation in rural AI reservation communities. Our Indigenous Recovery Planning (IRP) intervention merges cultural lessons and culturally adapted relapse prevention strategies to facilitate SUD recovery in the reservation environment. One key implementation strategy is training non-specialist community-based facilitators to deliver IRP, thereby increasing its acceptability and sustainability. This manuscript reports the facilitator training, supervision, and fidelity monitoring procedures used in our ongoing clinical trial of IRP., Method: The study recruited four AI non-specialist providers from the community to serve as IRP facilitators. Initial training involved an introductory motivational interviewing workshop followed by a 2-day workshop in the IRP curriculum. Then we conducted an open trial of the 6-week intervention with weekly supervision meetings as part of the facilitator training process. During the open trial we also assessed participant and facilitator receptivity to the IRP intervention and pilot tested our fidelity monitoring protocol., Results: The initial training workshops provided facilitators with information they needed to understand the rationale behind IRP and determine whether the facilitator role was a good fit; however, additional training and supervision during the open trial was needed to ensure proper treatment delivery. Although participant and facilitator feedback ratings were positive, the open trial helped us identify revisions needed to improve our approach to facilitator training, supervision, and fidelity monitoring. We revised these procedures, and also developed a protocol to train new facilitators who join the study midstream., Conclusion: The open trial was an important aspect of the facilitator training process and helped our team identify several areas of improvement. Our approach to training, supervising, and monitoring community member facilitators may serve as an example of how to overcome one barrier to implementing evidence-based SUD treatments in rural reservation communities with few mental health professionals., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No authors have conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Dynamic, shapeshifting hydrocarbons have emerged as enabling frameworks across drug discovery, materials science, and catalysis. Their employment, however, is often hampered by a lack of efficient synthetic methods for their preparation. Herein, we report a unified, concise, and modular synthesis of enantioenriched shapeshifting hydrocarbons (barbaralones and bullvalones) and multisubstituted bullvalenes, leveraging mild photochemical and base-induced rearrangements.

Background: Federal regulations allow exception from informed consent (EFIC) to study emergent conditions when obtaining prospective consent is not feasible. Little is known about public views on including children in EFIC studies. The Pediatric Dose Optimization for Seizures in EMS (PediDOSE) trial implements age-based, standardized midazolam dosing for pediatric seizures. The primary objective of this study was to determine public support for and concerns about the PediDOSE EFIC trial. The secondary objective was to assess how support for PediDOSE varied by demographics., Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study in 20 U.S. communities. Participants reviewed information about PediDOSE before completing an online survey. Descriptive data were generated. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis identified factors associated with support for PediDOSE. Reviewers identified themes from free-text response data regarding participant concerns., Results: Of 2450 respondents, 79% were parents/guardians, and 20% had a child with previous seizures. A total of 96% of respondents supported PediDOSE being conducted, and 70% approved of children being enrolled without prior consent. Non-Hispanic Black respondents were less likely than non-Hispanic White respondents to support PediDOSE with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.57 (95% CI 0.42-0.75). Health care providers were more likely to support PediDOSE, with strongest support among prehospital emergency medicine clinicians (aOR 5.82, 95% CI 3.19-10.62). Age, gender, parental status, and level of education were not associated with support of PediDOSE. Common concerns about PediDOSE included adverse effects, legal and ethical concerns about enrolling without consent, and potential racial bias., Conclusions: In communities where this study will occur, most respondents supported PediDOSE being conducted with EFIC and most approved of children being enrolled without prior consent. Support was lowest among non-Hispanic Black respondents and highest among health care providers. Further research is needed to determine optimal ways to address the concerns of specific racial and ethnic groups when conducting EFIC trials., (© 2024 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.)

Introduction: The concealment of suicidal ideation (SI) constitutes a significant barrier to reducing veteran deaths by suicide and is associated with fear of negative consequences (e.g., involuntary hospitalization). This study examined whether augmenting informed consent with psychoeducation aimed to help patients achieve a more realistic risk appraisal of consequences associated with disclosure of SI, decreased hesitancy to disclose SI, and related risk behaviors among U.S. veterans., Method: Participants (N = 133) were recruited from combat veteran social media groups and were randomly assigned to a video simulated treatment-as-usual informed consent (control) or to one of two psychoeducation-enhanced informed consent conditions (psychoed, psychoed + trust)., Results: Compared with the control group, participants in both psychoeducation and enhanced informed consent conditions reported lower hesitancy to disclose SI, firearm access, and problems with drugs/thoughts of harming others, as well as greater trust and respect for the simulated clinician., Conclusions: These findings suggest that brief psychoeducation regarding common factors that affect hesitancy to disclose SI may be beneficial for increasing trust in providers during the informed consent process and decreasing concealment of SI and firearm access among veterans., (© 2024 American Association of Suicidology.)

Although Native (American Indian and Alaska Native [AI/AN]) populations have high rates of abstinence from alcohol, health problems associated with substance use remain a pressing concern in many AI/AN communities. As part of a longstanding community-based participatory research (CBPR) project involving five years of relationship building and three preliminary studies, our team of academic and community co-researchers developed a culturally grounded intervention to facilitate recovery from substance use disorders among tribal members from a rural AI reservation. Our Indigenous Recovery Planning (IRP) intervention consists of six weekly sessions and aims to provide inroads to existing resources in the community, affirm and enhance Native identity, address culturally relevant risk factors, and build upon strengths. Results from a feasibility pilot study ( N = 15) suggest that IRP is feasible to implement and acceptable to the community. Although there was insufficient statistical power to conduct hypothesis testing, there were changes between pretest and posttest scores in the expected directions. Future directions and limitations of this research are discussed., Competing Interests: No authors have conflicts of interest to declare.

For American Indians and Alaska Native (AIAN) and other communities of color, experiences with discrimination and historical trauma may contribute to healthcare system distrust and negatively affect health care decisions, including vaccination. A saturated path analysis was conducted to examine the direct and indirect associations of thoughts regarding historical losses (of culture, language, and traditional ways) and AIAN racial discrimination with historical loss associated distress, healthcare system distrust, and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among AIAN college students (N = 391). Historical loss thoughts and experiences with racial discrimination were strongly associated with each other, and both were uniquely associated with greater historical loss associated distress. In turn, historical loss associated distress was associated with greater healthcare system distrust, which in turn was associated with greater likelihood of being COVID-19 vaccine hesitant. While further research is needed, the findings suggest that to address health disparities for AIAN people it is necessary to consider how to best overcome healthcare system distrust and factors that contribute to it, including historical trauma and contemporary experiences with discrimination., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Reproductive processes are regulated by a variety of neuropeptides in vertebrates and invertebrates. In starfish (phylum Echinodermata), relaxin-like gonad-stimulating peptide triggers oocyte maturation and spawning. However, little is known about other neuropeptides as potential regulators of reproduction in starfish. To address this issue, here, we used histology and immunohistochemistry to analyze the reproductive system of the starfish Asterias rubens at four stages of the seasonal reproductive cycle in male and female animals, investigating the expression of eight neuropeptides: the corticotropin-releasing hormone-type neuropeptide ArCRH, the calcitonin-type neuropeptide ArCT, the pedal peptide-type neuropeptides ArPPLN1b and ArPPLN2h, the vasopressin/ocytocin-type neuropeptide asterotocin, the gonadotropin-releasing hormone-type neuropeptide ArGnRH, and the somatostatin/allatostatin-C-type neuropeptides ArSS1 and ArSS2. The expression of five neuropeptides, ArCRH, ArCT, ArPPLN1b, ArPPLN2h, and asterotocin, was detected in the gonoducts and/or gonads. For example, extensive ArPPLN2h expression was revealed in the coelomic epithelial layer of the gonads throughout the seasonal reproductive cycle in both males and females. However, seasonal and/or sexual differences in the patterns of neuropeptide expression were also observed. Informed by these findings, the in vitro pharmacological effects of neuropeptides on gonad preparations from male and female starfish were investigated. This revealed that ArSS1 causes gonadal contraction and that ArPPLN2h causes gonadal relaxation, with both neuropeptides being more effective on ovaries than testes. Collectively, these findings indicate that multiple neuropeptide signaling systems are involved in the regulation of reproductive function in starfish, with some neuropeptides exerting excitatory or inhibitory effects on gonad contractility that may be physiologically relevant when gametes are expelled during spawning., (© 2024 The Authors. The Journal of Comparative Neurology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

In starfish, a relaxin-like gonad-stimulating peptide (RGP) acts as a gonadotropin that triggers gamete maturation and spawning. In common with other relaxin/insulin superfamily peptides, RGP consists of an A- and a B-chain, with cross-linkages mediated by one intra- and two inter-chain disulfide bonds. In this study, a second relaxin-like peptide (RLP2) was identified in starfish species belonging to the orders Valvatida, Paxillosida, and Forcipulatida. Like RGP, RLP2 precursors comprise a signal peptide and a C-peptide in addition to the A- and B-chains. However, a unique cysteine motif [CC-(3X)-C-(10X)-C] is present in the A-chain of RLP2, which contrasts with the cysteine motif in other members of the relaxin/insulin superfamily [CC-(3X)-C-(8X)-C]. Importantly, in vitro pharmacological tests revealed that Patiria pectinifera RLP2 (Ppe-RLP2) and Asterias rubens RLP2 (Aru-RLP2) trigger shedding of mature eggs from ovaries of P. pectinifera and A. rubens, respectively. Furthermore, the potencies of Ppe-RLP2 and Aru-RLP2 as gonadotropic peptides were similar to those of Ppe-RGP and Aru-RGP, respectively, and the effect of RLP2 exhibited partial species-specificity. These findings indicate that two relaxin-type peptides regulate spawning in starfish and therefore we propose that RGP and RLP2 are renamed RGP1 and RGP2, respectively., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Oocyte maturation and gamete release (spawning) in starfish are triggered by relaxin-like gonad-stimulating peptide (RGP), a neuropeptide that was first isolated from the radial nerve cords of these animals. Hitherto, it has generally been assumed that the radial nerve cords are the source of RGP that triggers spawning physiologically. To investigate other sources of RGP, here we report the first comprehensive anatomical analysis of its expression, using both in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to map RGP precursor transcripts and RGP, respectively, in the starfish Asterias rubens. Cells expressing RGP precursor transcripts were revealed in the ectoneural epithelium of the radial nerve cords and circumoral nerve ring, arm tips, tube feet, cardiac stomach, pyloric stomach, and, most notably, gonoducts. Using specific antibodies to A. rubens RGP, immunostaining was revealed in cells and/or fibers in the ectoneural region of the radial nerve cords and circumoral nerve ring, tube feet, terminal tentacle and other arm tip-associated structures, body wall, peristomial membrane, esophagus, cardiac stomach, pyloric stomach, pyloric caeca, and gonoducts. Our discovery that RGP is expressed in the gonoducts of A. rubens proximal to its gonadotropic site of action in the gonads is important because it provides a new perspective on how RGP may act as a gonadotropin in starfish. Thus, we hypothesize that it is the release of RGP from the gonoducts that triggers gamete maturation and spawning in starfish, while RGP produced in other parts of the body may regulate other physiological/behavioral processes., (© 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Comparative Neurology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: Belief in an American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) specific biological vulnerability (BV) to alcohol problems is associated with worse alcohol outcomes among AIANs. Despite a notable lack of evidence that biogenetic factors play a greater role in the development of alcohol problems among AIANs than other groups, many people still believe this myth. Consistent with theory and evidence that greater experiences with discrimination leads to the internalization of stereotypes and oppression, we hypothesized that greater perceived racial discrimination (racism) would be associated with greater BV belief, but that having a stronger ethnic identity would weaken this association. We also examined whether previous substance use treatment as well as participation in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA) was associated with BV belief., Method: Participants were 198 reservation-dwelling AI adults with a substance use problem who completed a survey as part of a larger community-based participatory study., Results: A multiple regression analysis revealed that greater systemic racism was associated with greater belief in a BV; this association was not moderated by ethnic identity. Greater interpersonal racism was also associated with greater BV belief-but only among those low in ethnic identity. A regression analysis revealed that previous treatment, AA, and NA participation were not associated with BV belief., Conclusions: Greater systemic and interpersonal racism were associated with belief in a BV, and greater ethnic identity buffered the association between interpersonal racism and BV belief. This suggests that both combatting racism and fostering positive ethnic identity may help to lessen BV belief. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: In the American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) population there is a discrepancy between high rates of mental health needs and low utilization rates of mental health services. This study sought to explore whether historical trauma and racial discrimination are associated with health care system (HCS) distrust and negative attitudes toward seeking mental health services., Method: Participants were AIAN college students ( n = 392) who completed a cross-sectional online survey. A sequential mediation analysis examined whether historical trauma (thoughts and associated symptoms) was associated with less favorable attitudes toward seeking mental health services, and whether distrust of the HCS mediated this association. A second mediation analysis examined whether perceived racial discrimination was associated with less favorable attitudes toward seeking mental health services, and whether distrust of the HCS mediated this association., Results: Greater reported historical trauma (thoughts and associated symptoms) and racial discrimination were associated with greater distrust of the HCS, which in turn was associated with less favorable attitudes toward seeking mental health services. Perceived racial discrimination was also directly associated with less favorable attitudes toward seeking mental health services., Conclusion: Historical trauma and perceived racial discrimination appear to contribute to less favorable attitudes toward seeking mental health services through their association with distrust of the HCS. This suggests that attempts to address the underutilization of mental health services in the AIAN population should consider the potential roles of historical trauma, racial discrimination, and distrust. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sports, and reduced screen time are associated with favorable youth risk profiles. We evaluated the association of MVPA, sports, and screen time with adolescent behaviors among pediatric emergency department youth. Adolescents were assessed for alcohol/drug use, risky behavior, conduct disorder, and depressive mood. MVPA was activity for ≥5 days/week and ≥60 minutes/day. Increased screen time was ≥3 hours/day computer/TV use for non-schoolwork. Multivariable regression studied association between MVPA, sports, and increased screen time and outcomes adjusting for demographics and academic achievement. Older age and lower academic achievement were significantly associated with risky behaviors, conduct disorder, and depression. Youth who endorsed MVPA and sports participation had less depression (odds ratio [OR] = 0.76; confidence interval [CI] = 0.66-0.87). Increased screen time was associated with conduct disorder (OR = 1.6; CI = 1.3-2.1), depression (OR = 1.2; CI = 1.0-1.4), and drug use (OR = 1.8; CI = 1.1-2.8). In pediatric emergency department youth, MVPA and sports participation is associated with less depression. Increased screen time is associated with conduct disorders, depression, and drug use.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection continues to be a significant health burden in many countries around the world. Current HIV treatment through a combination of different antiretroviral drugs (cART) effectively suppresses viral replication, but drug resistance and crossresistance are significant challenges. This has prompted the search for novel targets and agents, such as nucleic acid aptamers. Nucleic acid aptamers are oligonucleotides that attach to the target sites with high affinity and specificity. This review provides a target-by-target account of research into anti-HIV aptamers and summarises the challenges and prospects of this therapeutic strategy, specifically in the unique context of HIV infection., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

We describe the synthesis of [ o -Ph 2 P(O)(C 6 H 4 )SbPh 3 ] + ([2] + ), an intramolecularly base-stabilized stibonium Lewis acid which was obtained by reaction of [ o -Ph 2 P(C 6 H 4 )SbPh 3 ] + with NOBF 4 . This cation reacts with fluoride anions to afford the corresponding fluorostiborane o -Ph 2 P(O)(C 6 H 4 )SbFPh 3 , the structure of which indicates a strengthening of the PO → Sb interaction. When deployed in fluoride-containing POPC unilamellar vesicles, [2] + behaves as a potent fluoride anion transporter whose activity greatly exceeds that of [Ph 4 Sb] + .

Background: Belief in the myth of an American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN)-specific biological vulnerability (BV) to alcohol problems is associated with worse alcohol outcomes among AIAN college students who drink, despite also being associated with greater attempts to reduce drinking. This study examined the association of belief in a BV with alcohol use among reservation-dwelling AI adults with a substance use problem., Methods: Participants (n = 141) who drank alcohol in the past 90 days were selected from a larger AI sample who self-identified as having a substance use problem. Moderated-mediation analyses examined whether belief in a BV was positively associated with alcohol- and substance use-related consequences and whether self-efficacy and craving mediated the association of belief in a BV with alcohol use., Results: Among participants who reported using alcohol but not hard drugs (e.g., methamphetamine, opioids), greater belief in a BV was associated with more drinking days, which in turn was associated with greater alcohol-related consequences. Among participants who used alcohol only, belief in a BV was also significantly associated with greater craving, and in turn with more drinking days. Among individuals who used both alcohol and hard drugs, greater belief in a BV was associated with fewer drinking days, but was not significantly associated with substance use-related consequences. No association was found between belief in a BV and self-efficacy to avoid alcohol or drug use., Conclusions: Among individuals who use only alcohol, belief in a BV may contribute to more drinking days and greater alcohol-related consequences through its association with greater craving. This study provides further evidence of the potential harm of internalizing the belief that being AIAN contributes to the risk for alcohol problems, a notion that lacks scientific evidence despite decades of research. The findings highlight the importance of combating societal myths regarding AIAN peoples and the internalization of these stereotypes., (© 2021 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.)

Background: There is a need for pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) researchers, but the current state of PEM fellow research training is not well described. We sought to (1) describe resources and gaps in PEM fellowship research training and (2) assess agreement between fellow and program director (PD) perceptions of these in fellow research experience., Methods: Surveys were distributed electronically to U.S. PEM fellows and PDs from March to April 2020. Fellows and PDs were queried on program research infrastructure and current gaps in fellow research experience. For programs that had at least one fellow and PD response, each fellow response was compared to their PD's corresponding response (reference standard). For each binary survey item, we determined the percent of responses with agreement between the fellow and PD., Results: Of 79 fellowship programs, 70 (89%) were represented with at least one response, including responses from 59 PDs (75%) and 218 fellows (39% of all fellows, representing 80% of programs). Fellows and PDs identified mentorship and faculty engagement as the most important needs for successful fellowship research; for every one fellow there was a median of 0.8 potential faculty mentors in the division. Twenty percent of fellows were not satisfied with mentorship opportunities. There was no association between fellow career research intent (high, defined as ≥20% dedicated time, or low) with current year of training (p = 0.88), program size (p = 0.67), and area of research focus (p = 0.40). Fellows were often unaware of research being performed by division faculty., Conclusion: PEM fellows were not consistently aware of resources available to support research training. To better support PEM fellows' research training, many programs may need to expand mentorship and increase fellows' awareness of local and external resources and opportunities., Competing Interests: The authors have no potential conflicts to disclose., (© 2021 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.)

Introduction: Despite being widely used as a screening tool, a rigorous scientific evaluation of infrared thermography for the diagnosis of minimally symptomatic patients suspected of having COVID-19 infection has not been performed., Methods: A consecutive sample of 60 adult individuals with a history of close contact with COVID-19 infected individuals and mild respiratory symptoms for less than 7 days and 20 confirmed COVID-19 negative healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. Infrared thermograms of the face were obtained with a mobile camera, and RT-PCR was used as the reference standard test to diagnose COVID-19 infection. Temperature values and distribution of the face of healthy volunteers and patients with and without COVID-19 infection were then compared., Results: Thirty-four patients had an RT-PCR confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and 26 had negative test results. The temperature asymmetry between the lacrimal caruncles and the forehead was significantly higher in COVID-19 positive individuals. Through a random forest analysis, a cut-off value of 0.55°C was found to discriminate with an 82% accuracy between patients with and without COVID-19 confirmed infection., Conclusions: Among adults with a history of COVID-19 exposure and mild respiratory symptoms, a temperature asymmetry of ≥ 0.55°C between the lacrimal caruncle and the forehead is highly suggestive of COVID-19 infection. This finding questions the widespread use of the measurement of absolute temperature values of the forehead as a COVID-19 screening tool., (© 2020 Stichting European Society for Clinical Investigation Journal Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Little research on solitary drinking has focused on clinical samples. Previous research in college students has found that depression, suicidal ideation, and drinking to cope with negative affect are associated with drinking in solitary, but not social, contexts. These associations have not been examined among individuals with alcohol use disorder, despite their high rates of depression and suicidal behavior., Method: To fill this gap in knowledge, the associations of depression and suicidal ideation with solitary and social drinking were examined among 96 individuals seeking alcohol treatment, the majority of whom had alcohol use disorder (97.9%). Multiple mediation models were conducted to examine the mediating effects of two drinking to cope variables (drinking excessively to cope and coping motives) on the associations of depression and suicidal ideation with drinks per month and heavy episodic drinking in social and solitary contexts., Results: Significant indirect effects were found for depression and suicidal ideation with solitary drinking variables through greater drinking excessively to cope. No significant indirect effects were found for social drinking variables. However, a positive direct association was found between suicidal ideation and greater social drinks per month that was not mediated by drinking to cope., Conclusions: These findings suggest that greater depression or suicidal ideation, through their effect on greater drinking to cope, are associated with greater solitary drinking in a treatment seeking sample. Drinking context should perhaps be considered in alcohol interventions, particularly when treating individuals suffering from depression or suicidal ideation.

Objectives: The effects of stereotype threat and internalized alcohol stereotypes on negative affect and negative affect-related drinking have not been examined in American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs), despite their frequently being subjected to alcohol stereotypes. The current study examined the association of belief in the myth of an AI/AN specific biological vulnerability (BV) with alcohol consequences through its effect on depression and drinking to cope with negative affect. Method: In this cross-sectional study, a moderated mediation model examined the association of belief in a BV with alcohol consequences via sequential mediators of depression and drinking to cope. It was hypothesized that the positive association of belief in a BV with depression would be stronger among individuals who engaged in more frequent heavy episodic drinking. Participants were 109 female (69.9%) and 47 male (30.1%) AI/AN college students ( M age = 27.1 years, range 18 to 61) who reported having at least 1 drink in the past month. Results: Belief in a BV was positively associated with depression symptoms among participants reporting average or high frequency of heavy episodic drinking. Greater depression symptoms predicted greater drinking to cope, which in turn predicted greater alcohol consequences. Conclusion: Belief in the BV myth may act as a type of stereotype threat, contributing to alcohol consequences by increasing negative affect and drinking to cope. These results suggest that for AI/ANs who drink, there are psychological and behavioral health ramifications of believing in the notion of a BV, and a need to debunk this myth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities experience notable health disparities associated with substance use, including disproportionate rates of accidents/injuries, diabetes, liver disease, suicide, and substance use disorders. Effective treatments for substance use are needed to improve health equity for AI/AN communities. However, an unfortunate history of unethical and stigmatizing research has engendered distrust and reluctance to participate in research among many Native communities. In recent years, researchers have made progress toward engaging in ethical health disparities research by using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework to work in close partnership with community members throughout the research process. In this methodological process paper, we discuss the collaborative development of a quantitative survey aimed at understanding risk and protective factors for substance use among a sample of tribal members residing on a rural AI reservation with numerous systems-level barriers to recovery and limited access to treatment. By using a CBPR approach and prioritizing trust and transparency with community partners and participants, we were able to successfully recruit our target sample and collect quality data from nearly 200 tribal members who self-identified as having a substance use problem. Strategies for enhancing buy-in and recruiting a community sample are discussed., (© 2020 Society for Community Research and Action.)

Objective: The aim of this research is to investigate the relationship level of oxytocin released and the tactile stimulation of the cervix in Holstein cattle from the northwestern arid regions in México., Materials and Methods: The cervixes of 10 Holstein Friesian dairy cows in mid-lactation were manually stimulated for 60 sec. Oxytocin released in the blood was analyzed before and after stimulation. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used in the analysis to make oxytocin detectable by spectrometry techniques and by converting the luminescence absorbance of each sample into pg per mol., Results: The study revealed that tactile stimulation of the cervix increased oxytocin levels. The highest increase in oxytocin level was 10,940.8222 pg/mol, while the lowest increase in oxytocin level was 1,830.94254 pg/mol. Besides, the milk production by tactile stimulation of the cervix had a higher milk yield and a p- value of 9.4 × 10 -4 ( p < 0.05) in comparison to the monthly average without tactile stimulation., Conclusion: Tactile stimulation of the cervix activates the Ferguson reflex and increases the oxytocin released in the blood and increases the milk released from the alveolar glands., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (Copyright: © Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research.)

Belief in an American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) specific biological vulnerability (BV) to alcohol problems (aka the "firewater myth") has been found to be associated with worse alcohol outcomes among AI/AN college students who drink, despite also being associated with greater attempts to reduce drinking. In the current study, we examined the associations of belief in a BV and belief that AI/AN people have more alcohol problems with the use of alcohol protective behavioral strategies (PBS) among AI/AN college students. PBS examined, as measured by the Protective Behavioral Strategies Scale-20, included manner of drinking, limiting/stopping drinking, and serious harm reduction strategies. Participants were college students who identified being AI/AN (n = 137) and had drank in the past month, and were selected from a larger multi-site study on PBS. Mediation models revealed that greater belief in a BV and belief that AI/AN people have more alcohol problems were both negatively associated with manner of drinking, which in turn was associated with greater past month alcohol use and alcohol consequences. These beliefs were not significantly associated with other PBS. Consistent with prior research with other student populations, both manner of drinking and limiting/stopping drinking were associated with less alcohol use and all three domains of PBS were directly associated with fewer alcohol consequences. The results suggest that these beliefs regarding AI/AN people and alcohol negatively affect the use of strategies aimed at avoiding drinking behavior that can lead to rapid drinking and a higher blood alcohol content, contributing to alcohol consequences., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

There is a well-established association between suicidal behavior and alcohol misuse. However, few studies have applied relevant theory and research findings in the areas of both alcohol and suicidal behavior to aid in the understanding of why these may be linked. The current study examined whether three variables (problem-solving skills, avoidant coping, and negative urgency) suggested by theory and previous findings in both areas of study help to account for the previously found association of suicidal ideation with drinking to cope and alcohol problems. Participants were 381 college women (60.4%) and men (39.6%) between the ages of 18 and 25 who were current drinkers and had a history of (at a minimum) passive suicidal ideation. Structural equation modeling was used to examine hypothesized associations among problem-solving skills, avoidant coping, drinking to cope (DTC), impulsivity in response to negative affect (i.e., negative urgency), severity of suicidal ideation, heavy alcohol use, and alcohol problems. Model results revealed that problem-solving skills deficits, avoidant coping, and negative urgency were each directly or indirectly associated with greater severity of suicidal ideation, DTC, heavy alcohol use, and alcohol problems. The results suggest that the positive association between suicidal ideation and DTC found in this and other studies may be accounted for by shared associations of these variables with problem-solving skills deficits, avoidant coping, and negative urgency. Increasing at-risk students' use of problem-solving skills may aid in reducing avoidance and negative urgency, which in turn may aid in reducing suicidal ideation, DTC, and alcohol misuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Adjuvant chemotherapy for solid tumors based on platinum-derived compounds such as cisplatin is the treatment of choice in most cases. Cisplatin triggers signaling pathways that lead to cell death, but it also induces changes in tumor cells that modify the therapeutic response, thereby leading to cisplatin resistance. We have recently reported that microRNA-7 is silenced by DNA methylation and is involved in the resistance to platinum in cancer cells through the action of the musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene family, protein G (MAFG). In the present study, we first confirm the miR-7 epigenetic regulation of MAFG in 44 normal- and/or tumor-paired samples in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We also provide translational evidence of the role of MAFG and the clinical outcome in NSCLC by the interrogation of two extensive in silico databases of 2019 patients. Moreover, we propose that MAFG-mediated resistance could be conferred due to lower reactive oxygen species production after cisplatin exposure. We developed specifically selected aptamers against MAFG, with high sensitivity to detect the protein at a nuclear level probed by aptacytochemistry and histochemistry analyses. The inhibition of MAFG activity through the action of the specific aptamer apMAFG6F increased the levels of reactive oxygen species production and the sensitivity to cisplatin. We report first the specific nuclear identification of MAFG as a novel detection method for diagnosis in NSCLC, and then we report that MAFG modulates the redox response and confers cell protection against free radicals generated after platinum administration, thus also being a promising therapeutic target., (Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Post-secondary students in training for helping profession disciplines, including nursing, may be at elevated risk for high stress levels. Stress among students has been linked with adverse physical and psychological health. In addition to the common stressors associated with post-secondary education, sources of stress for students in the helping professions include balancing academic and clinical demands. Previous research indicates perceived stress levels are correlated with emotional intelligence (EI) and with the coping strategies employed by students., Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine (1) the relationship between EI and perceived stress, and (2) the potential mediating role of coping responses., Design: A cross-sectional survey design was employed., Setting: Participants were recruited from a public university in the United States., Participants: A sample of 203 undergraduate and graduate students majoring in psychology, nursing, and social work was recruited., Method: Participants were recruited on-campus and through campus online resources and completed an online survey or a paper-and-pencil version of the survey. Descriptive statistics and mediation analyses were used to test the study hypotheses., Results: Higher EI was associated with lower perceived stress, and this association was partially mediated by both adaptive and maladaptive coping responses. Higher EI was associated with greater use of adaptive coping and lower use of maladaptive coping, and these, in turn, were negatively and positively (respectively) associated with perceived stress., Conclusion: The findings suggest that interventions aimed at increasing emotional intelligence may help to reduce perceived stress for students in the helping disciplines., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study examined whether three facets of impulsivity previously shown to be associated with suicidal ideation and attempts (negative urgency, lack of premeditation, and lack of perseverance) help to account for the established association between problem solving deficits and suicidal ideation., Method: Emerging adult college student drinkers with a history of at least passive suicidal ideation (N = 387) completed measures of problem solving, impulsivity, and suicidal ideation. A path analysis was conducted to examine the mediating role of impulsivity variables in the association between problem solving (rational problem solving, positive and negative problem orientation, and avoidance style) and suicidal ideation., Results: Direct and indirect associations through impulsivity, particularly negative urgency, were found between problem solving and severity of suicidal ideation., Conclusions: Interventions aimed at teaching problem solving skills, as well as self-efficacy and optimism for solving life problems, may help to reduce impulsivity and suicidal ideation., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21 (CCL21) is a cytokine that attracts CCR7-positive cells to the T cell (paracortical) zone of lymph nodes by directional migration of these cells along the CCL21 gradient. In this article, we sought to mimic this chemotactic mechanism, by identifying a novel aptamer that binds CCL21 with high affinity. In vitro selection of DNA aptamers was performed by the Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and enzyme-linked oligonucleotide assay were used to screen for high-affinity aptamers against human and mouse CCL21 protein, respectively. Three such aptamers were identified. Surface plasmon resonance showed equilibrium dissociation constant (K d ) for these three aptamers in the nano to picomolar range. Cytotoxicity assays showed <10% toxicity in HEK293 and HL-60 cells. Last, in vivo biodistribution was successfully performed and CCL21 chemokine-binding aptamers were quantified within the draining lymph nodes and spleen using qPCR. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that one of the aptamers showed significantly higher presence in the paracortex than the control aptamer. The use of anti-CCL21 aptamers to mimic the chemotaxis mechanism thus represents a promising approach to achieve targeted delivery of drugs to the T cell-rich zones of the lymph node. This may be important for the treatment of HIV infection and the eradication of HIV reservoirs.

Belief in an American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) specific biological vulnerability (BV) to alcohol problems (aka the "firewater myth") is associated with worse alcohol outcomes among AI/AN college students who drink, despite also being associated with greater attempts to reduce drinking. The current study examined how belief in a BV may have affected how 157 AI/AN college students who drink (a) attempted to moderate their alcohol use and avoid alcohol-related problems using abstinence-based and harm reduction strategies, and (b) attitudes toward these strategies as a means of addressing alcohol problems. Contrary to our hypotheses, belief in a BV was not found to be associated with use of harm reduction strategies or with how effective students believed these strategies to be. However, greater belief in a BV was associated with lower self-efficacy for the use of harm reduction strategies among more frequent heavy episodic drinkers. This is concerning, as the use of harm reduction strategies was associated with less frequent heavy episodic drinking in this sample. In contrast, belief in a BV was positively associated with the use of abstinence-based strategies and with how effective these strategies were perceived to be. However, for individuals with average or greater belief in a BV, abstinence-based strategies were associated with greater alcohol consequences. The results suggest that for AI/AN students who drink, belief in a BV may be influencing the strategies used to moderate alcohol use and avoid alcohol-related harm, as well as attitudes toward these strategies, in ways that do not appear helpful. (PsycINFO Database Record, ((c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).)

In 2017, approximately 5 million Americans were living with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and it is estimated that by 2050 this number could increase to 16 million. In this study, we apply mathematical optimization to approach microarray analysis to detect differentially expressed genes and determine the most correlated structure among their expression changes. The analysis of GSE4757 microarray dataset, which compares expression between AD neurons without neurofibrillary tangles (controls) and with neurofibrillary tangles (cases), was casted as a multiple criteria optimization (MCO) problem. Through the analysis it was possible to determine a series of Pareto efficient frontiers to find the most differentially expressed genes, which are here proposed as potential AD biomarkers. The Traveling Sales Problem (TSP) model was used to find the cyclical path of maximal correlation between the expression changes among the genes deemed important from the previous stage. This leads to a structure capable of guiding biological exploration with enhanced precision and repeatability. Ten genes were selected (FTL, GFAP, HNRNPA3, COX1, ND2, ND3, ND4, NUCKS1, RPL41, and RPS10) and their most correlated cyclic structure was found in our analyses. The biological functions of their products were found to be linked to inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases and some of them had not been reported for AD before. The TSP path connects genes coding for mitochondrial electron transfer proteins. Some of these proteins are closely related to other electron transport proteins already reported as important for AD.

Smartphone-based alcohol interventions represent an innovative strategy for providing in-the-moment intervention to individuals with an alcohol use disorder. While early research into their overall effectiveness is promising, little is known about the efficacy of specific intervention tools in reducing drinking subsequent to a cued craving. This study examined the influence of smartphone-delivered in-the-moment coping strategies on drinking after experiencing a craving among participants utilizing the Location-Based Monitoring and Intervention for Alcohol Use Disorders (LBMI-A). The LBMI-A was utilized by 28 adults (18 to 45 years old) who met criteria for an alcohol use disorder and were interested in changing their drinking. Participants utilized the system for 6 weeks and responded to a daily interview of craving, type of LBMI-A coping strategy utilized in response, and whether or not they subsequently drank. Mixed model analyses of 744 total observations revealed that craving cue type, craving strength, and coping strategies were significantly related to drinking in response to a craving. Results suggested that coping strategies delivered by the LBMI-A (i.e., listening to an urge surfing audio file, viewing reasons for changing drinking) were superior to using a non-LBMI-A strategy. Simple contrast analyses indicated that cues related to being around alcohol and time of day were the most potent elicitors of subsequent drinking. Results suggest smartphone-delivered coping strategies for alcohol cravings are effective in reducing craving cued drinking and that craving cues related to drinking environments and drinking times of day represent fruitful areas of intervention focus. (PsycINFO Database Record, ((c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).)

This study compared alcohol consumption data collected through daily interviews on a smartphone with data collected via the Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB) during a 6-week pilot study of a smartphone-based alcohol intervention system. The focus of the study was to assess for discrepancies between the two measurement methodologies on commonly utilized alcohol outcome variables. Twenty-five participants between 22 and 45 years of age and were drinking heavily at study incipience completed a 6-week alcohol intervention delivered by a smartphone application that monitored drinking through a daily interview. Participants also completed a TLFB of their alcohol consumption during the intervention period. Difference scores were calculated by subtracting the average weekly outcome variables derived from the smartphone daily interview from the average weekly outcome variables derived from the TLFB which yielded six discrepancy scores for each of the 25 participants and resulted in 150 observations. Heirarchical linear modeling indicated that the TLFB and smartphone daily interview methods did not produce significant discrepancies over the 6-week interval when examining percent of heavy drinking days and percent of days abstinent. However, discrepancies on drinks per drinking day increased substantially over time, suggesting that it is susceptible to recall bias when assessed by the TLFB. Results also indicated that participants under-reported their drinking on the TLFB compared to the daily smartphone-based assessment. Results indicate that outside of assessing for extreme drinking (binge or no drinking), the TLFB should be used cautiously and that smartphone apps represent a promising method for accurately assessing alcohol consumption over time.

The firewater myth (FM) is the notion that American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) are more susceptible to the effects of alcohol and vulnerable to alcohol problems due to biological or genetic differences. Believing that one is vulnerable to problems with alcohol may have negative effects on expectancies and drinking behavior among AI/ANs who drink; however, the association of belief in the FM with alcohol outcomes has not previously been examined. In this study we examined the factor structure of a revised version of the Firewater Myth Scale (FMS; LaMarr, 2003) and the association of belief in the FM with alcohol use, consequences, attitudes, and expectancies with 159 AI/AN college students who drink. On average, participants "slightly agreed" with the FM and scores were normally distributed. There were significant small to moderate positive associations between believing that AI/ANs have a biological vulnerability to problems with alcohol (i.e., the FM) and drinks consumed per week, frequency of heavy episodic drinking, and alcohol consequences, as well as belief in a disease model of "alcoholism," attempts to control drinking, guilt over drinking small amounts of alcohol, both positive and negative alcohol expectancies, temptation to drink heavily, and lack of self-efficacy to drink moderately. Although this is only an initial examination of potential consequences of belief in the FM for AI/AN students who drink, the results suggest that this belief may be harmful and have negative effects on attempts to moderate drinking. (PsycINFO Database Record, ((c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved).)

The genetic diversity of the influenza virus hinders the use of broad spectrum antiviral drugs and favors the appearance of resistant strains. Single-stranded DNA aptamers represent an innovative approach with potential application as antiviral compounds. The mRNAs of influenza virus possess a 5'cap structure and a 3'poly(A) tail that makes them structurally indistinguishable from cellular mRNAs. However, selective translation of viral mRNAs occurs in infected cells through a discriminatory mechanism, whereby viral polymerase and NS1 interact with components of the translation initiation complex, such as the eIF4GI and PABP1 proteins. We have studied the potential of two specific aptamers that recognize PABP1 (ApPABP7 and ApPABP11) to act as anti-influenza drugs. Both aptamers reduce viral genome expression and the production of infective influenza virus particles. The interaction of viral polymerase with the eIF4GI translation initiation factor is hindered by transfection of infected cells with both PABP1 aptamers, and ApPABP11 also inhibits the association of NS1 with PABP1 and eIF4GI. These results indicate that aptamers targeting the host factors that interact with viral proteins may potentially have a broad therapeutic spectrum, reducing the appearance of escape mutants and resistant subtypes.

Objective: To date, no research has evaluated the efficacy of a stand-alone, smartphone-based intervention for individuals with an alcohol use disorder. The current pilot study evaluated the short-term outcomes of a smartphone-based intervention for alcohol use disorders compared with an Internet-based brief motivational intervention plus bibliotherapy., Method: Adults (18 to 45 years old) with an alcohol use disorder received either the Location-Based Monitoring and Intervention for Alcohol Use Disorders (LBMI-A; n = 28), a smartphone-based intervention, or the online Drinker's Check-up plus bibliotherapy (DCU + bib; n = 26). These groups were compared using the Timeline Followback interview for percent days abstinent (PDA), percent heavy drinking days (PHDD), and drinks per week (DPW) from baseline to 6 weeks after the introduction of the interventions., Results: Multilevel models revealed that the LBMI-A resulted in a significant increase in PDA over the course of the study, whereas the DCU + bib did not. Effect sizes for change from baseline for PDA suggest that the DCU + bib resulted in moderate a decrease, whereas the LBMI-A resulted in a large increase in PDA. Both interventions resulted in significant decreases in PHDD and DPW. The LBMI-A produced larger reductions in the first 3 to 4 weeks after the intervention was introduced than the DCU + bib. On weeks with greater LBMI-A usage, participants reported less DPW and PHDD., Conclusions: Both interventions resulted in significant decreases in alcohol use over the 6-week trial, which is promising for stand-alone technology-based intervention systems aimed at individuals with an alcohol use disorder. (PsycINFO Database Record, ((c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).)

Two trials were conducted to evaluate the influence of supplemental urea withdrawal on characteristics of digestion (Trial 1) and growth performance (Trial 2) of feedlot cattle during the last 40 days on feed. Treatments consisted of a steam-flaked corn-based finishing diet supplemented with urea to provide urea fermentation potential (UFP) of 0, 0.6, and 1.2%. In Trial 1, six Holstein steers (160 ± 10 kg) with cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square experiment. Decreasing supplemental urea decreased (linear effect, P ≤ 0.05) ruminal OM digestion. This effect was mediated by decreases (linear effect, P ≤ 0.05) in ruminal digestibility of NDF and N. Passage of non-ammonia and microbial N (MN) to the small intestine decreased (linear effect, P = 0.04) with decreasing dietary urea level. Total tract digestion of OM (linear effect, P = 0.06), NDF (linear effect, P = 0.07), N (linear effect, P = 0.04) and dietary DE (linear effect, P = 0.05) decreased with decreasing urea level. Treatment effects on total tract starch digestion, although numerically small, likewise tended (linear effect, P = 0.11) to decrease with decreasing urea level. Decreased fiber digestion accounted for 51% of the variation in OM digestion. Ruminal pH was not affected by treatments averaging 5.82. Decreasing urea level decreased (linear effect, P ≤ 0.05) ruminal N-NH and blood urea nitrogen. In Trial 2, 90 crossbred steers (468 kg ± 8), were used in a 40 d feeding trial (5 steers/pen, 6 pens/ treatment) to evaluate treatment effects on final-phase growth performance. Decreasing urea level did not affect DMI, but decreased (linear effect, P ≤ 0.03) ADG, gain efficiency, and dietary NE. It is concluded that in addition to effects on metabolizable amino acid flow to the small intestine, depriving cattle of otherwise ruminally degradable N (RDP) during the late finishing phase may negatively impact site and extent of digestion of OM, depressing ADG, gain efficiency, and dietary NE.

Background: This paper provides results from a pilot study focused on assessing early-stage effectiveness and usability of a smartphone-based intervention system that provides a stand-alone, self-administered intervention option, the Location-Based Monitoring and Intervention for Alcohol Use Disorders (LBMI-A). The LBMI-A provided numerous features for intervening with ongoing drinking, craving, connection with supportive others, managing life problems, high-risk location alerting, and activity scheduling., Methods: Twenty-eight participants, ranging in age from 22 to 45, who met criteria for an alcohol use disorder used an LBMI-A-enabled smartphone for 6 weeks., Results: Participants indicated the LBMI-A intervention modules were helpful in highlighting alcohol use patterns. Tools related to managing alcohol craving, monitoring consumption, and identifying triggers to drink were rated by participants as particularly helpful. Participants also demonstrated significant reductions in hazardous alcohol use while using the system (56% of days spent hazardously drinking at baseline vs. 25% while using the LBMI-A) and drinks per day diminished by 52%., Conclusions: Implications for system improvement as well as suggestions for designing ecological momentary assessment and intervention systems for substance use disorders are discussed.

The hormone abscisic acid (ABA) is a small molecule involved in pivotal physiological functions in higher plants. Recently, ABA has been also identified as an endogenous hormone in mammals, regulating different cell functions including inflammatory processes, stem cell expansion, insulin release, and glucose uptake. Aptamers are short, single-stranded (ss) oligonucleotidesable to recognize target molecules with high affinity. The small size of the ABA molecule represented a challenge for aptamer development and the aim of this study was to develop specific anti-ABA DNA aptamers. Biotinylated abscisic acid (bio-ABA) was immobilized on streptavidin-coated magnetic beads. DNA aptamers against bio-ABA were selected with 7 iterative rounds of the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment method (SELEX), each round comprising incubation of the ABA-binding beads with the ssDNA sequences, DNA elution, electrophoresis, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. The PCR product was cloned and sequenced. The binding affinity of several clones was determined using bio-ABA immobilized on streptavidin-coated plates. Aptamer 2 and aptamer 9 showed the highest binding affinity, with dissociation constants values of 0.98 ± 0.14 μM and 0.80 ± 0.07 μM, respectively. Aptamers 2 and 9 were also able to bind free, unmodified ABA and to discriminate between different ABA enantiomers and isomers. Our findings indicate that ssDNA aptamers can selectively bind ABA and could be used for the development of ABA quantitation assays.

Background: Harm reduction is a public health approach that aims to guide hazardous drinkers to change unsafe drinking and minimize alcohol-related consequences without requiring abstinence. In contrast, abstinence-based interventions are designed for people with more severe alcohol problems and they aim to eliminate consequences via complete abstinence from alcohol. Current best practices for treating college student alcohol misuse involve harm reduction strategies, but no research has been conducted examining students' perceptions of these strategies., Objective: Understanding attitudes is critical prior to the implementation of an intervention in a new setting, particularly when attitudes may serve as barriers to treatment enrolment and retention. For this reason, we sought to examine attitudes toward contrasting alcohol misuse interventions among college students in two large public universities in the circumpolar north., Design: A web-based survey was conducted with 461 students from two public universities in Alaska. Participants completed questionnaires assessing attitudes toward alcohol treatment, current drinking behavior, and demographic information., Results: Findings indicated that emerging adult (18-25 years old) students who would be targets of future interventions (hazardous drinkers) evidenced more positive attitudes toward harm reduction than abstinence-only approaches., Conclusion: This research provides support for the implementation of harm reduction intervention strategies for Alaskan college students who misuse alcohol. It is likely that harm reduction will be acceptable in this population.