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A polyionized hydrogel polymer (sodium polyacrylate-grafted poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PAAS-g-PVDF)) is fabricated via an alkaline-induced phase-inversion process. PAAS-g-PVDF coatings exhibit unprecedented anti-adhesion and self-cleaning properties to crude oils under an aqueous environment. A PAAS-g-PVDF-coated copper mesh can effectively separate a crude oil/water mixture with extremely high flux and high oil rejection driven by gravity, and is oil-fouling-free for long-term use.

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The multi-center REACTION study has captured a broad range of data on physical, psychological and metabolic function as well as health status, biochemical and lifestyle information in 259 657 adults from the general population across the China.

The function of α-synuclein (α-syn) has been long debated, and two seemingly divergent views have emerged. In one, α-syn binds to VAMP2, acting as a SNARE chaperone—but with no effect on neurotransmission—while another posits that α-syn attenuates neurotransmitter release by restricting synaptic vesicle mobilization and recycling. Here, we show that α-syn–VAMP2 interactions are necessary for α-syn–induced synaptic attenuation. Our data connect divergent views and suggest a unified model of α-syn function.

OBJECTIVEProlactin is a major stimulus for the β-cell adaptation during gestation and guards postpartum women against gestational diabetes. Most studies of the role of prolactin on glucose metabolism have been conducted in humans and animals during pregnancy. However, little is known concerning the association between circulating prolactin and glucose metabolism outside pregnancy in epidemiological studies. We aimed to determine whether the variation of circulating prolactin concentration associates with diabetes and impaired glucose regulation (IGR) in a cross-sectional study.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSWe recruited 2,377 participants (1,034 men and 1,343 postmenopausal women) without hyperprolactinemia, aged 40 years and older, in Shanghai, China. Diabetes and IGR were determined by an oral glucose tolerance test. Multinomial logit analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship of prolactin with diabetes and IGR.RESULTSProlactin levels decreased from normal glucose regulation to IGR to diabetes. Multinomial logit analyses, adjusted for potential confounding factors, showed that high circulating prolactin was associated with lower prevalence of diabetes and IGR. The adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) for IGR and diabetes for the highest compared with the lowest quartile of prolactin were 0.54 (95% CI 0.33–0.89) and 0.38 (0.24–0.59) in men and 0.54 (0.36–0.81) and 0.47 (0.32–0.70) in women.CONCLUSIONSHigh circulating prolactin associates with lower prevalence of diabetes and IGR in the current study. Further studies are warranted to confirm this association.

This study used one longitudinal and two cross-sectional population surveys to compare stability of low-rate daily smokers (<5 CPD) with other daily smokers and occasional smokers. Most low-rate smokers do not maintain consumption level for long; 36% retained their smoking status after 20 months compared to 82% and 44% for regular daily and occasional smokers, respectively. Analysis revealed a dynamic process; established smokers of all consumption levels quit smoking as well as modified (decreased or increased) consumption level. Low-rate and occasional smokers quit at higher rates than regular daily smokers (odds ratios > 3:1), but were continuously replenished by new members, many "converted" from regular daily smokers. The overall trend is an increasing proportion of low-consumption smokers, even while smoking prevalence declines. The dynamic process described has implications for tobacco control efforts and for addiction theory.Key words: Low-rate smokers, chippers, occasional smokers, smoking reduction, cessation, dynamics of smoking behavior.Low-rate smokers 3 Low-rate smoke rs consume five or fewer cigarettes per day (CPD). Their low consumption behavior is of theoretical and practical interest. Theoretically, there is the question of how many of them will maintain such a low daily consumption , given that nicotine regulation is generally ineffective when people smoke 5 CPD or less (Benowitz, Jacob, Kozlowski, & Yu, 1986). More practical questions include: how many of these low-rate smokers used to smoke more but cut down their CPD in response to anti-smoking campaigns, and whether the reduced consumption increases the probability of cessation.Previous studies have shown that a subgroup of low-rate smokers maintains low consumption for an extended period of time. Shiffman called these smokers "chippers" and defined them as smokers who have maintained < 5 CPD for at least two years (Shiffman, 1989). He and his colleagues demonstrated that chippers do not exhibit characteristic features of nicotine dependence (Shiffman, Paty, Gyns, Kassel, & Elash, 1995), even though they absorb the same amount of nicotine per cigarette and show similar cardiovascular responses as dependent smokers (Shiffman, Fischer, Zettler-Seg al, & Benowitz, 1990;Shiffman et al., 1992). These studies, however, do not address the question of how many low-rate smokers in the general smoking population are chippers. Hence, the issue of how many low-rate smokers will maintain daily low consumption has not been resolved.With regard to the probability of cessation, a lower consumption generally predicts a higher cessation rate (USDHHS, 1988). However, this is not always true (Hughes, 2000). Smokers who cut down CPD to a certain level may not share the characteristics of smokers who have always consumed that same level, and nicotine intake is only one of many factors that affect cessation rate. In fact, consumption that is consistently as low as 5 CPD suggests that factors other than nicotine regulation must also play a significant ro...

The normal function of α-synuclein (α-syn) remains elusive. Although recent studies suggest α-syn as a physiologic attenuator of synaptic vesicle (SV) recycling, mechanisms are unclear. Here, we show that synapsin—a cytosolic protein with known roles in SV mobilization and clustering—is required for presynaptic functions of α-syn. Our data offer a critical missing link and advocate a model where α-syn and synapsin cooperate to cluster SVs and attenuate recycling.