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Objectives. We examined how different types of health information-seeking behaviors (HISBs)--no use, illness information only, wellness information only, and illness and wellness information combined--are associated with health risk factors and health indicators to determine possible motives for health information seeking. Methods. A sample of 559 Seattle-Tacoma area adults completed an Internet-based survey in summer 2006. The survey assessed types of HISB, physical and mental health indicators, health risks, and several covariates. Covariate-adjusted linear and logistic regression models were computed. Results. Almost half (49.4%) of the sample reported HISBs. Most HISBs (40.6%) involved seeking a combination of illness and wellness information, but both illness-only (28.6%) and wellness-only (30.8%) HISBs were also widespread. Wellness-only information seekers reported the most positive health assessments and the lowest occurrence of health risk factors. An opposite pattern emerged for illness-only information seekers. Conclusions. Our findings reveal a unique pattern of linkages between the type of health information sought (wellness, illness, and so on) and health self-assessment among adult Internet users in western Washington State. These associations suggest that distinct health motives may underlie HISB, a phenomenon frequently overlooked in previous research. (Am J Public Health. 2010;100: 1520-1525. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.180521)

A fundamental obstacle to successful dissemination and implementation of evidence-based public health programs is the near-total absence of systems and infrastructure for marketing and distribution. We describe the functions of a marketing and distribution system, and we explain how it would help move effective public health programs from research to practice. Then we critically evaluate the 4 dominant strategies now used to promote dissemination and implementation, and we explain how each would be enhanced by marketing and distribution systems. Finally, we make 6 recommendations for building the needed system infrastructure and discuss the responsibility within the public health community for implementation of these recommendations. Without serious investment in such infrastructure, application of proven solutions in public health practice will continue to occur slowly and rarely. (Am J Public Health. 2009; 99:2123-2127. doi: 10.2105/ AJPH.2008.155218)

Objective: This study used a two-group randomized design to assess the validity of measuring self-reported alcohol consumption among college students using the Handheld Assisted Network Diary (HAND), a daily diary assessment administered using wireless mobile devices. Method: A convenience sample of college students was recruited at a large, public university in the southeastern United States and randomized into two groups. A randomly assigned group of 86 students completed the daily HAND assessment during the 30-day study and a Timeline Followback (TLFB) at 30-day follow-up. A randomly assigned group of 82 students completed the paper-and-pencil Daily Social Diary (DSD) over the same study period. Data from the daily HAND assessment were compared with the TLFB completed at follow-up by participants who completed the HAND using 95% limits of agreement analysis. Furthermore, individual growth models were used to examine differences between the HAND and DSD by comparing the total drinks, drinking days, and drinks per drinking day captured by the two assessments over the study period. Results: Results suggest that the HAND captured similar levels of alcohol use compared with the TLFB completed at follow-up by the same participants. In addition, comparisons of the two study groups suggest that, controlling for baseline alcohol use and demographics, the HAND assessment captured similar levels of total drinks, drinking days, and drinks per drinking day as the paper-and-pencil DSD. Conclusions: The study findings support the validity of wireless mobile devices as a daily assessment of alcohol use among college students., HEAVY ALCOHOL USE among college students is a public health problem in the United States (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2004; Wechsler et al., 2000). Despite significant advances [...]

Hypoxia has been proposed as an important microenvironmental factor in the development of tissue fibrosis; however, the underlying mechanisms are not well defined. To examine the role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), a key mediator of cellular adaptation to hypoxia, in the development of fibrosis in mice, we inactivated Hif-1[alpha] in primary renal epithelial cells and in proximal tubules of kidneys subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) using Cre-loxP-mediated gene targeting. We found that Hif-1[alpha] enhanced epithelial-tomesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and induced epithelial cell migration through upregulation of lysyl oxidase genes. Genetic ablation of epithelial Hif-1[alpha] inhibited the development of tubulointerstitial fibrosis in UUO kidneys, which was associated with decreased interstitial collagen deposition, decreased inflammatory cell infiltration, and a reduction in the number of fibroblast-specific protein-1-expressing (FSP-1-expressing) interstitial cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that increased renal HIF-1[alpha] expression is associated with tubulointerstitial injury in patients with chronic kidney disease. Thus, we provide clinical and genetic evidence that activation of HIF-1 signaling in renal epithelial cells is associated with the development of chronic renal disease and may promote fibrogenesis by increasing expression of extracellular matrix-modifying factors and lysyl oxidase genes and by facilitating EMT., Introduction Peritubular capillary loss and reduced blood flow limit oxygen supply to the renal interstitium, leading to chronic interstitial and tubular cell hypoxia, which can initiate and sustain interstitial scarring [...]

Objective: The purpose of this trial was to investigate the feasibility and short-term outcomes of a tailored intervention, delivered via text messages to wireless handheld computers, to reduce alcohol-related consequences among college students. Method: Forty college students were randomly assigned to one of two study groups. In the control group, participants used handheld computers to complete daily surveys about their drinking behavior and related variables. In the treatment group, participants used the handheld computers to complete daily surveys and to receive individually tailored messages on the units. The tailored messages addressed consequences of alcohol use and were tailored to respondents' reported behavior, self-efficacy, and outcome expectancies regarding alcohol-related consequences. Results: All treatment group participants reported receiving messages on their handheld computers; most students were sent messages on 12-14 days. Controlling for baseline differences, participants in the treatment group reported drinking significantly fewer drinks per drinking day than participants in the control group during the study period. At follow-up, participants in the treatment group had lower expectancies that they would get in trouble as a result of alcohol consumption than did control group participants. Participants provided both positive and negative feedback about the messages. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the feasibility of delivering tailored messages via wireless handheld computers. Tailored messages about avoiding negative consequences of alcohol use delivered via handheld computers had small but positive effects on alcohol-related attitudes and behaviors. Future research should replicate these findings with a larger, more diverse sample, during a longer period, and with other audiences. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 68: 534-537, 2007), HEAVY EPISODIC DRINKING AMONG college students is a serious problem in the United States (Wechsler et al., 2000). Among other suggestions, the Task Force of the National Advisory Council on [...]

Understanding people's risk perceptions and motivations to adopt preventive behavior is important in preventing the spread of recreational water illnesses (RWI) and other emerging infectious diseases. We developed a comprehensive [...]

Series of time-resolved still images of the explosion dynamics of micrometer-sized water droplets after femtosecond laser-pulse irradiation were obtained for different laser-pulse intensities. Amplified pulses centered around a wavelength of 805 nm with 1-mJ energy and 60-fs duration were focused onto the droplet to initiate the dynamics. Several effects, such as forward and backward plumes, jets, water films, and shock waves, were investigated. Additionally, the influence of different pulse durations produced by chirping the laser pulses was observed. OCIS codes: 320.0320, 190.3970, 320.7120.