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The Editors-in-Chief have retracted this article [1] because, after publication, concerns were raised regarding the study design and statistical analysis. Post-publication review has confirmed firstly that within-group changes were highlighted rather than between-group differences as appropriate for a randomized trial, and secondly that there are baseline differences between the groups that exist despite randomization for which analyses were not controlled. The data reported in this article are therefore unreliable. Ching-Hsiu Hsieh and Pei-Ying Chuang agree with this retraction. Chi-Chuan Tseng and Ju-Yu Shen have not responded to any correspondence from the publisher about this retraction.

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BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of moxibustion therapy on weight loss, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio in young adult females. An experimental design, 51 Asian females were enrolled. Inclusion criteria included females with ages between 21 and 25 years-old and waist circumference ≥ 80 cm, and the exclusion criteria included intolerance to moxibustion therapy and current illness. Two groups were formed, and the subjects in the experimental group received moxibustion sessions lasting 20 min and an educational video program for 30 min; however, participants in the control group received only the educational program every other week for 8 weeks. Dependent variable measurements (e.g., body weight, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio) were collected at baseline and follow-up for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Average body weight of the treatment group decreased significantly from - 1.478 kg (p < 0.0001), while the average body weight in the control group did not decrease significantly - 0.038 kg (p = 0.7197). Also, individuals in the moxibustion experimental group showed significant reductions (p < 0.0001) in both waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio. CONCLUSION: Positive effects on anthropometry can be achieved by moxibustion intervention in conjunction with a weight loss education program. Especially waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio had more clinically significant and more pronounced for health reasons Future studies can focus on the functional assessment of biomarkers associated with the immune system and relevant mechanisms of action.

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The human genome, which is the complete set of human genetic information, significantly contributes to the health of an individual; it can lead to single or complex medical conditions (including cancer and heart disease) also affected by environmental and behavioral risk factors. To date, the challenges related to human genomics and nursing science focus on the following areas: (1) curriculum application, (2) advanced clinical practice in specific fields, and (3) hands-on bioscience laboratory skills. This review article summarizes current efforts and addresses critical components in nursing genomics.

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Neuroglobin has shown rich neuroprotective effects against cerebral hypoxia, and therefore has the potential to impact outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, to date an association between genetic variation within the human neuroglobin (NGB) gene and recovery post-TBI has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between NGB genotypes and outcomes (as assessed by the Glasgow Outcome Scale [GOS], the Disability Rating Scale [DRS], and the Neurobehavioral Rating Scale-Revised [NRS-R]) after severe TBI. Genotyping using TaqMan allele discrimination for two tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) that represent the two haplotype blocks for NGB (rs3783988 and rs10133981) was completed on DNA obtained from 196 Caucasian patients recovering from severe TBI. Patients were dichotomized based on the presence of the variant allele for each tSNP. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare characteristics between groups. Multivariate linear regression was used to examine NGB tSNPs and recovery from severe TBI. Subjects with the TT genotype (wild-type) for rs3783988 were more likely to have better GOS and DRS scores at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, while rs10133981 genotype was not significantly related to functional outcome. After controlling for age, gender, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, those subjects with the rs3783988 TT genotype had more than a 2.65-times greater likelihood of better functional outcomes than individuals with genotypes harboring a variant allele. Data suggest that the haplotype block represented by rs3783988 in NGB appears to influence recovery after severe TBI. Represented within this haplotype block of NGB is the region that codes for the oxygen-binding portion of NGB.

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The conformational structure and the interchain aggregation behavior of a semirigid conjugated polymer bearing a decyl side chain, poly(2,3-diphenyl-5-decyl-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (DP10-PPV), in solutions with chloroform and toluene have been investigated by means of small-angle neutron scattering (SANS), static light scattering (SLS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The radius of gyration, persistence length, and the second virial coefficient of the polymer in dilute solution as determined by SLS were higher in chloroform than in toluene; consequently, the polymer assumed a more extended wormlike chain conformation in the former. The difference in the strength of interaction in the two solvents gave rise to contrasting aggregation behavior of the polymer in the semidilute regime. While only a minor fraction of the polymer underwent segmental association in chloroform, a considerable fraction of it formed clusters (microgels) with several micrometers in size in toluene. These clusters were further found to consist of sheetlike nanodomains. Compared with the DP-PPV bearing a shorter hexyl side chain, DP6-PPV, the aggregates of DP10-PPV in toluene were weaker as they could be easily disrupted by moderate heating. This was attributed to a lack of strong pi-pi interaction between the DP10-PPV segments due to the greater steric hindrance imposed by the longer decyl side chains.