OBJECTIVE To examine whether adding either small, variable financial incentives or optional group sessions improves weight losses in a community-based, Internet behavioral program. METHODS Participants (N = 268) from Shape Up Rhode Island 2012, a 3-month Web-based community wellness initiative, were randomized to: Shape Up+Internet behavioral program (SI), Shape Up+Internet program+incentives...

Communication between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrion is important for bioenergetics and cellular survival. The ER supplies Ca(2+) directly to mitochondria via inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) at close contacts between the two organelles referred to as mitochondrion-associated ER membrane (MAM). We found here that the ER protein sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R), which is...

18 19 The Staphylococcus intermedius group (SIG), includes zoonotic pathogens 20 traditionally associated with dog bites. We describe a simple scheme for improved 21 detection of SIG using routine laboratory methods, report its effect on isolation rates 22 and use sequencing to confirm that, apart from one atypical SIG strain, most isolates 23 are S. pseudintermedius. 24

The Staphylococcus intermedius group (SIG) includes zoonotic pathogens traditionally associated with dog bites. We describe a simple scheme for improved detection of SIG using routine laboratory methods, report its effect on isolation rates, and use sequencing to confirm that, apart from one atypical SIG strain, most isolates are Staphylococcus pseudintermedius.

Anand, Praveen – “Proteome-wide binding site network analysis of M. tuberculosis” (Panel) Nagasuma Chandra and Praveen Anand. Indian Institute of Science, India. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, causative agent of tuberculosis claims 4700 lives everyday. Special traits of the bacteria such as dormancy, ability to quickly take-over immunocompromised hosts and resistance adds to the complexity of the ...

We read with interest the commentary of Venkatesh and Morgan in the February issue of Critical Care [1], in which they discuss the continuing need for clarification of the nature of unmeasured anions in critically ill patients. The questions asked in this commentary arise from the study of Bruegger and colleagues in a previous issue of this journal [2]. The main issue discussed is the ongoing u...

Graphene-based materials have emerged as new potential adsorbents for the adsorption and removal of persistent pollutants, and they could play a key role in the remediation of 1,4-dioxane. In this framework, a quantum chemistry study was carried out to rationalize the sorption properties of oxidized graphene (GO) and Si-doped graphene (SiG) nanosheets for use in 1,4-dioxane removal, taking into...

This study examined the suitability of sigmoidal (SIG) and exponential (EXP) functions for modeling HR kinetics at the onset of a 5-min low-intensity cycling ergometer exercise test (5MT). The effects of training status, absolute and relative workloads, and high versus low workloads on the accuracy and reliability of these functions were also examined. Untrained participants (UTabs; n = 13) per...