An inhomogeneous anisotropic physical model of the brain cortex is presented that predicts the emergence of non-evanescent (weakly damped) wave-like modes propagating in the thin cortex layers transverse to both the mean neural fiber direction and to the cortex spatial gradient. Although the amplitude of these modes stays below the typically observed axon spiking potential, the lifetime of these modes may significantly exceed the spiking potential inverse decay constant. Full brain numerical simulations based on parameters extracted from diffusion and structural MRI confirm the existence and extended duration of these wave modes. Contrary to the standard paradigm that the neural fibers determine the pathways for signal propagation in the brain, the signal propagation due to the cortex wave modes in highly folded areas will exhibit no apparent correlation with the fiber directions. The results are consistent with numerous recent experimental animal and human brain studies demonstrating the existence of electroicular for neuroimaging methods that detect electromagnetic physiological activity, such as EEG and MEG, and in general for the understanding of brain activity, including mechanisms of memory.This study aimed to assess the status of national diabetes associations in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories as a starting point for strengthening their development and effectiveness in the prevention and control of diabetes. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 21 Pacific Island Countries and Territories using a structured questionnaire that gathered information from national non-communicable diseases prevention and control focal persons on diabetes associations, organizational structure, funding sources, and ongoing activities to address diabetes. The overall status of national diabetes associations was assessed using standardized criteria. Of the 21 countries surveyed, 18 (86%) responded. Of these, 12 (67%; American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Fiji, Guam, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu) have a national diabetes association. Half of the existing associations are fully functioning, while the remainder is either partially functioning or not functioning. Only 50% of existing associations have a regular funding source, and many lack clear visions and workable governance structures. This study fills a knowledge gap on the current status of associations and forms a baseline from which associations can be strengthened. It also draws attention to the need for Pacific leaders to invest and engage more in civil societies for better and effective diabetes care for all.in the State of Hawai'i, and the shortage is expected to worsen in the coming years. During the 2015-2016 academic year, a 6-month Primary Care Mentorship Program (PCMP) for first-year medical students was launched at the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM). This study sought to determine (1) whether participation in a PCMP as a first-year medical student correlates with an increased likelihood of matching into a primary care graduate medical education (GME) residency specialty, (2) whether the PCMP medical student participants developed lasting mentorship relationships with their assigned mentor, and (3) whether a PCMP is a worthwhile endeavor for medical schools to incorporate into their structured undergraduate medical education curriculum. Mentees were surveyed before and after the PCMP and after the residency Match. Overall, 105 (36%) of the 288 students in the JABSOM classes of 2019-2022 have applied to participate in the PCMP. Seventeen (85%) of the 20 JABSOM class of 2019 PCMP mentees completed the post-Match reflection survey. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/srpin340.html The study found as follows (1) participation in a 6-month PCMP as a first-year medical student does not correlate with an increased likelihood of matching into a primary care GME residency specialty, (2) 7 (41%) participants did continue their mentorship relationship following completion of the PCMP, and (3) overwhelmingly positive qualitative feedback from mentees and the number of mentees who did establish lasting mentorship relationships suggest a PCMP is a worthwhile endeavor for medical schools to implement.The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the world, caused over 1.8 million deaths in its first year, and severely affected the global economy. Hawai'i has not been spared from the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the local population, including high infection rates in racial and ethnic minorities. Early in the pandemic, we described in this journal various technologies used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Herein we characterize a 969-bp SARS-CoV-2 segment of the S gene downstream of the receptor-binding domain. At the John A. Burns School of Medicine Biocontainment Facility, RNA was extracted from an oropharyngeal swab and a nasal swab from 2 patients from Hawai'i who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 in August 2020. Following PCR, the 2 viral strains were sequenced using Sanger sequencing, and phylogenetic trees were generated using MEGAX. Phylogenetic tree results indicate that the virus has been introduced to Hawai'i from multiple sources. Further, we decoded 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms across 13 unique SARS-CoV-2 genomes within this region of the S gene, with 1 non-synonymous mutation (P681H) found in the 2 Hawai'i strains. The P681H mutation has unique and emerging characteristics with a significant exponential increase in worldwide frequency when compared to the plateauing of the now universal D614G mutation. The P681H mutation is also characteristic of the new SARS-CoV-2 variants from the United Kingdom and Nigeria. Additionally, several mutations resulting in cysteine residues were detected, potentially resulting in disruption of the disulfide bridges in and around the receptor-binding domain. Targeted sequence characterization is warranted to determine the origin of multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in Hawai'i.The developing flexible electronic equipment are greatly affected by the rapid accumulation of heat, which is urgent to be solved by thermally conductive polymer composite films. However, the interfacial thermal resistance (ITR) and the phonon scattering at the interfaces are the main bottlenecks limiting the rapid and efficient improvement of thermal conductivity coefficients (λ) of the polymer composite films. Moreover, few researches were focused on characterizing ITR and phonon scattering in thermally conductive polymer composite films. In this paper, graphene oxide (GO) was aminated (NH2-GO) and reduced (NH2-rGO), then NH2-rGO/polyimide (NH2-rGO/PI) thermally conductive composite films were fabricated. Raman spectroscopy was utilized to innovatively characterize phonon scattering and ITR at the interfaces in NH2-rGO/PI thermally conductive composite films, revealing the interfacial thermal conduction mechanism, proving that the amination optimized the interfaces between NH2-rGO and PI, reduced phonon scattering and ITR, and ultimately improved the interfacial thermal conduction. The in-plane λ (λ ||) and through-plane λ (λ ⊥) of 15 wt% NH2-rGO/PI thermally conductive composite films at room temperature were, respectively, 7.13 W/mK and 0.74 W/mK, 8.2 times λ || (0.87 W/mK) and 3.5 times λ ⊥ (0.21 W/mK) of pure PI film, also significantly higher than λ || (5.50 W/mK) and λ ⊥ (0.62 W/mK) of 15 wt% rGO/PI thermally conductive composite films. Calculation based on the effective medium theory model proved that ITR was reduced via the amination of rGO. Infrared thermal imaging and finite element simulation showed that NH2-rGO/PI thermally conductive composite films obtained excellent heat dissipation and efficient thermal management capabilities on the light-emitting diodes bulbs, 5G high-power chips, and other electronic equipment, which are easy to generate heat severely.Microplastic pollutants in oceans and food chains are concerning to public health. Common plasticizing compounds Bisphenol-A (BPA) and Styrene-7,8-Oxide (SO) are now labeled as carcinogens. We show that BPA and SO cause deoxyribonucleic acid damage and mutagenesis in human cells, and analyze the genome-wide point mutation and genomic rearrangement patterns associated with BPA and SO exposure. A subset of the single- and doublet base substitutions shows mutagenesis near or at guanine, consistent with these compounds' preferences to form guanosine adducts. Presence of other mutational signatures suggest additional mutagenesis probably due to complex effects of BPA and SO on diverse cellular processes. Analyzing data for 19 cancer cohorts, we find that tumors of digestive and urinary organs show relatively high similarity in mutational profiles, and the burden of such mutations increases with age. Even within the same cancer type, proportions of corresponding mutational patterns vary among the cohorts from different countries, as does the amount of microplastic waste in ocean waters. BPA and SO are relatively mild mutagens, and other environmental agents can also potentially generate similar, complex mutational patterns in cancer genomes. Nonetheless, our findings call for systematic evaluation of public health consequences of microplastic exposure worldwide.Our ability to perceive meaningful action events involving objects, people, and other animate agents is characterized in part by an interplay of visual and auditory sensory processing and their cross-modal interactions. However, this multisensory ability can be altered or dysfunctional in some hearing and sighted individuals, and in some clinical populations. The present meta-analysis sought to test current hypotheses regarding neurobiological architectures that may mediate audio-visual multisensory processing. Reported coordinates from 82 neuroimaging studies (137 experiments) that revealed some form of audio-visual interaction in discrete brain regions were compiled, converted to a common coordinate space, and then organized along specific categorical dimensions to generate activation likelihood estimate (ALE) brain maps and various contrasts of those derived maps. The results revealed brain regions (cortical "hubs") preferentially involved in multisensory processing along different stimulus category dimensions, including 1) living versus nonliving audio-visual events, 2) audio-visual events involving vocalizations versus actions by living sources, 3) emotionally valent events, and 4) dynamic-visual versus static-visual audio-visual stimuli. These meta-analysis results are discussed in the context of neurocomputational theories of semantic knowledge representations and perception, and the brain volumes of interest are available for download to facilitate data interpretation for future neuroimaging studies.
Advance care planning is the process of communicating and documenting a person's future health care preferences. Despite its importance, knowledge of advance care planning is limited, especially among the Islamic community. In addition, little is known about how the Islamic community views advance care planning in the context of their religious and cultural beliefs.

We aimed to increase knowledge of the importance of advance care planning, to improve health care provider and public knowledge, and to encourage dialogue between the community and health care providers.

We organized a community event and assembled a multi-disciplinary panel. Through a moderated discussion, the panel members offered their perspectives of advance care planning within a Muslim context.

Approximately 100 individuals attended the event including community members, health care providers, medical students, and faith leaders. More than 90% of respondents rated the event as very good or excellent, found the session useful and were encouraged to reflect further on advance care planning.