Search

Pacific Islanders residing in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands have had among the highest COVID-19-associated morbidity and mortality rates in the U.S. To reduce this disparity, we conducted a study to increase the reach and uptake of COVID-19 testing in Guam. Participants, who completed a pre-survey on demographics, health status, history of COVID-19 testing and vaccination, access to COVID-19 testing, sources of COVID-19 information, and knowledge and attitudes towards COVID-19 test results and transmission, were invited to attend an online educational session about COVID-19 testing and transmission and to complete a post-survey. There were significant positive changes between pre- and post-survey in knowledge and perceptions about COVID-19 testing and transmission, but changes were not necessarily due to exposure to the educational session. Compared to CHamoru participants (n = 380), Other Micronesians (n = 90) were significantly less knowledgeable about COVID-19 transmission and testing, were significantly more likely to not want to know if they had COVID-19, were more likely to believe if they did have COVID-19 there was not much that could be done for them, and that they would have difficulty in getting the needed healthcare. This study is another example of disparities in health knowledge and perceptions of certain Pacific Islander groups.

The outstanding versatility of starch offers a source of inspiration for the development of high-performance-value-added biomaterials for the biomedical field, including drug delivery, tissue engineering and diagnostic imaging. This is because starch-based materials can be tailored to specific applications via facile grafting or other chemistries, introducing specific substituents, with starch being effectively the "template" used in all the chemical transformations discussed in this review. A considerable effort has been carried out to obtain specific tailored starch-based grafted polymers, taking advantage of its biocompatibility and biodegradability with appealing sustainability considerations. The aim of this review is to critically explore the latest research that use grafting chemistries on starch for the synthesis of products for biomedical applications. An effort is made in reviewing the literature that proposes synthetic "greener" approaches, the use of enzymes and their immobilized analogues and alternative solvent systems, including water emulsions, ionic liquids and supercritical CO 2 ., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Serra Pelada is the newest Brazilian eucrite and the first recovered fall from Amazonia (State of Pará, Brazil, June 29th 2017). In this paper, we report on its petrography, chemistry, mineralogy and its magnetic properties. Study of four thin sections reveals that the meteorite is brecciated, containing basaltic and gabbroic clasts, as well of recrystallized impact melt, embedded into a fine-medium grained matrix. Chemical analyses suggest that Serra Pelada is a monomict basaltic eucritic breccia, and that the meteorite is a normal member of the HED suite. Our results provide additional geological and compositional information on the lithological diversity of its parent body. The mineralogy of Serra Pelada consists basically of low-Ca pyroxene and high-Ca plagioclase with accessory minerals such as quartz, sulphide (troilite), chromite - ulvöspinel and ilmenite. These data are consistent with the meteorite being an eucrite, a basaltic achondrite and a member of the howardite-eucrite-diogenite (HED) clan of meteorites which most likely are from the crust asteroid 4 Vesta.

Objective: The aim of this in vivo study was to radiographically evaluate the proximal contour of composite resin restorations performed using different matrix systems., Materials and Methods: Patients with premolars needing class II type resin composite restorations involving the marginal ridge were selected. Thirty premolars were selected and randomly divided into three groups (n = 10 each) to receive restorations using different matrix systems: group 1: metal matrix coupled to a carrier matrix and wood wedge (G1-MMW); group 2: sectioned and precontoured metal matrix and elastic wedge (G2-SME); and group 3: a polyester strip and reflective wedge (G3-PMR). After the restorative procedure, bitewing radiographs were performed and analyzed by three calibrated professionals. The quality of the proximal contact and marginal adaptation of the proximal surfaces was classified as either correct or incorrect (undercontour/overcontour)., Results: The Pearson Chi-square statistical test (α = 5%) revealed a statistically difference between frequencies of correct and incorrect restorations (α(2) = 6.787, p < 0.05). The group G2 SME produced a higher frequency of correct proximal contours (90%), while G1-MMW and G3-PMR had a ratio of 40% correct and 60% incorrect contours respectively., Conclusion: None of the matrix systems was able to prevent the formation of incorrect proximal contours; however, the sectioned and precontoured metal matrix/elastic wedge configuration provided better results as compared to the other groups.

Objective: This case series examines the feasibility, specificity, and preliminary effectiveness of NeuroGame Therapy (NGT) for improving wrist control in four children with cerebral palsy (CP). NGT uses surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals routed through motivating computer games to improve motor control., Methods: Primary outcomes of NGT included feasibility (hours of play) and specificity (changes in sEMG activity during game play). Secondary outcomes included changes in co-contraction, range of motion, segmental alignment, and spontaneous upper extremity function following intervention., Results: Participants completed a mean of 8.8 hours of NGT over 5-6 weeks. Participants demonstrated dramatic improvement of the sEMG activity during game play. Several participants also showed improvements in range of motion, co-contraction, and spontaneous upper extremity function following NGT., Conclusion: This case series provides evidence for the feasibility, specificity, and effectiveness of NGT. Future studies will pair NGT with functional practice to improve transfer of learning to daily activities.

Ginger root powder is widely used as a dietary supplement as well as a spice and flavoring agent in foods and beverages. In this study, we developed a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method that is suitable for the analysis of 6-gingerol, 6-shogaol, 8-gingerol, and 10-gingerol in a wide variety of ginger-containing dietary supplements, spices, teas, mints, and beverages. 6-Gingerol, 6-shogaol, 8-gingerol, and 10-gingerol were extracted from various ginger-containing products with ethyl acetate and analyzed by HPLC on a C-8 reversed phase column at 282 nm. The recoveries of 6-, 8-, and 10-gingerol, and 6-shogaol from the ginger dietary supplements and ginger-containing products were 94.7+/-4.1, 93.6+/-3.4, 94.9+/-4.0, 97.1+/-3.8%, respectively. The within-day coefficients of variation for 6-gingerol, 6-shogaol, 8-gingerol, and 10-gingerol standards at 50.0 microg/mL were 2.54, 2.38, 2.55, and 2.31%, respectively. The lower limit of quantitation was 25 ng injected. The standard curves for 6-, 8-, and 10-gingerol and 6-shogaol were linear from 10.0 to 1000 microg/mL. The variation (CV's) in the 6-gingerol, 6-shogaol, 8-gingerol, and 10-gingerol concentrations of nine different ginger root dietary supplements were 115.2, 45.7, 72.3, and 141.7%, respectively. The gingerol composition of various ginger-containing spices, teas, and beverages also were found to vary widely. The proposed method can be used for the analysis and standardization of 6-, 8-, and 10-gingerol in ginger-containing dietary supplements, spices, food products and beverages and as a method for determining the amounts of 6-shogaol as a marker for 6-gingerol stability.