Concurrent Validity of the Sahara Portable Bone Sonometer

Osteoporosis is a contemporary health issue in today’s society. Bone mineral density tests have the ability to detect low bone density before a fracture occurs. Presently, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a common method used to measure bone mineral density. In recent years, quantitative ultrasonography (ultrasound) has been used as a screening device at health fairs and other venues to estimate bone mineral density. The use of ultrasound offers several advantages: it exposes individuals to no radiation, it is inexpensive, and requires less tester skill and oversight than DXA. PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy of calcaneal ultrasound as a bone mineral density screening method compared to total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. METHODS: A total of 44 men between the ages of 18-25 years (21.6 ± 1.41) completed both a total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (GE Lunar) scan and an ultrasound (Hologic Sahara) calcaneus scan in a single visit. Correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationship between the two devices. Independent sample t-tests were used to determine if the two devices produced significantly different raw values. Bland-Altman plots were used to visually display agreement between devices. RESULTS: The ultrasound device had a weak relationship to the DXA (r = 0.514, p \u3c 0.01). Comparing the absolute agreement between the two devices, the ultrasound device was consistently conservative. It provided mean values of 0.689g/cm2 less than the DXA. It produced values significantly lower (1.31± 0.13 g/cm2 vs. 0.62 ± 0.14 g/cm2 , p \u3c 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the ultrasound device produced values significantly lower than the values produced by the DXA. Ultrasound should not be used for individuals requiring a high degree of precision in their measurement. It could be useful, however, as a field device in the screening and estimating of bone mineral density

Non-Uniform Assemblage: Mass Customization in Digital Fabrication

This paper focuses on the development of parametric detailing, mass customization in CNC fabrication and its computational and handcrafted realizations in actualized built work. The projects studied are examples of student and faculty applied research work at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture that engage parametric design strategies to integrate digital fabrication processes with manual assembly procedures, including prefabricated components and assemblies. The presented case studies include the design, fabrication and assembly of two full-scale pavilion projects

Dry storage of mammalian spermatozoa and cells: state-of-the-art and possible future directions

This review provides a snapshot of the current state-of-the-art of drying cells and spermatozoa. The major successes and pitfalls of the most relevant literature are described separately for spermatozoa and cells. Overall, the data published so far indicate that we are closer to success in spermatozoa, whereas the situation is far more complex with cells. Critical for success is the presence of xeroprotectants inside the spermatozoa and, even more so, inside cells to protect subcellular compartments, primarily DNA. We highlight workable strategies to endow gametes and cells with the right combination of xeroprotectants, mostly sugars, and late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) or similar ‘intrinsically disordered’ proteins to help them withstand reversible desiccation. We focus on the biological aspects of water stress, and in particular cellular and DNA damage, but also touch on other still unexplored issues, such as the choice of both dehydration and rehydration methods or approaches, because, in our view, they play a primary role in reducing desiccation damage. We conclude by highlighting the need to exhaustively explore desiccation strategies other than lyophilisation, such as air drying, spin drying or spray drying, ideally with new prototypes, other than the food and pharmaceutical drying strategies currently used, tailored for the unique needs of cells and spermatozoa

The Influence of Physical Activity on Monocyte Phenotype on Circulating Platelet-Monocyte Complexes in Overweight/Obese Persons

Elevated platelet-monocyte complexes (PMC) promote atherosclerosis and are associated with cardiovascular disease. It is unknown whether consistent physical activity (PA) decreases circulating PMCs. Additionally, no one has determined the monocyte phenotype most associated with PMCs. Purposes: 1) to examine the influence of PA on PMCs and their association with inflammatory /prothrombotic markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), L-selectin (LS), platelet factor 4 (PF4), von Willebrand Factor (vWF), and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) and 2) to determine the monocyte phenotype most likely to form PMCs. Methods: Thirty-one overweight/obese subjects (44±5yr, BMI 34.2±5 kg×m2) were divided into two groups: sedentary (SED, n=17) and physically active (PA, n=14) based on physical activity logs. SED participated in \u3c 1 h of formal exercise while PA participated in moderate-high intensity exercise at least 3 h per week. Flow cytometry was used to identify PMCs on the monocyte phenotypes: classical (CD14+CD16-), intermediate (CD14+CD16+), and non-classical (CD14+CD16++). Platelets were identified using the marker CD42a. Results: Percentage of circulating PMCs and median fluorescence intensity of CD42a (MedFI; marker of platelet density per monocyte) were not different between groups; however, monocyte phenotype significantly impacted PMC percentage and MedFI where the lower the CD16 expression, the greater the adhesion of platelets. Classical monocytes (CD16-) had the highest % of PMC, etc. (Fig 1). HbA1c was greater (p=0.031) and LS (p=0.019) was lower in SED compared to PA (Fig. 2). There were no significant associations between any blood marker and PMC percentage, but PF4 was correlated with percent of CD16 -(r= -0.482, p=0.031) and CD16+(r= 0.473, p=0.035) monocytes. Conclusions: The absence of a separation between groups in VO2max may partially explain the lack of a difference in PMCs between groups. Regarding our second aim, classical monocytes appear to be more involved in PMC formation than do CD16+ monocytes with CD16++ having the lowest percentage of cells with platelets adhered (PMC). This observation may be due to the shedding of adhesion molecules from platelets and monocytes during activation from classical (CD16-) to a more inflammatory state (ie. CD16+)

JETstream Volume 1 Issue 2

The JET Library kicked off 2017 with an always well-received event, our annual “Beat the Blahs” Party, sponsored by the Office of the President. This year, we featured a dessert table where members of the Molloy Community brought in their favorite desserts to share with everyone. We also held our first JET Bake-off, with Karen Cusumano, Executive Assistant in the President’s Office, being awarded a “Certificate in Excellence in Baking” with her “Classic Sour Cream Cheese Cake.” Requests have been received by the library asking if she will share her recipe! Although we definitely did enjoy a delicious feast, I think the consensus is unanimous when I say that the best part of the event was being able to spend time with everyone, engaging in good conversation, laughter and blintzes. In 2016, we welcomed several new members to the library; Tabitha Ochtera, Shikha Joseph and Sean Williams whom we look forward to you getting to know in our “Welcoming our New Additions” section. Theresa Rienzo, Associate Librarian Health Sciences and Head of Patron Services, an integral member of the JET Library is featured in our “Spotlight” article. A new column titled “What we are reading” was added, where our librarians and staff share their opinions on books from our collection. Among the various other articles, we would like to bring special attention to the “Did you know?” article where you can learn more about a new resource recently activated in the Ovid database, as well as SWANK, one of JET Library’s streaming video databases. Last but certainly not least, meet JET Library’s Official Mascot, Luciano

JETstream Volume 2 Issue 1

Although summer tends to be when we might experience a bit of a respite on campus, that was certainly not the case here at the JET Library. The library underwent some significant renovations to two of our instruction rooms, Educational Resource Center, and the Suffolk Extension Center Library. We also acquired several new products and technologies such as the DigitalCommons and BrowZine, which you may read about further in this issue of JETstream. At the start of the semester, we continued our annual tradition of hosting the JET Library Pizza Party to welcome the incoming freshmen, as well as our returning students where a great time was had by all! During the course of the semester, many of our students participate in a scavenger hunt. This is one of the tasks as part of their FST class, where students get to familiarize themselves with different areas and services of the library, while having fun bonding with their classmates

JETstream Volume 2 Issue 2

Although the calendar indicated otherwise, with the countless snowstorms these past few months, it seemed as if spring would never arrive. But alas, spring has sprung at Molloy and with that, the end of the Spring 2018 semester. So before many of you leave for your summer breaks or vacations, I invite you to peruse our latest edition of JETstream, perhaps even take it along with you as your summer read! Okay, so maybe a newsletter does not top your summer reading list, but I have no doubt you will find something that is useful, or at the very least, informative and even amusing

Non-Uniform Assemblage: Mass Customization in Digital Fabrication

This paper focuses on the development of parametric detailing, mass customization in CNC fabrication and its computational and handcrafted realizations in actualized built work. The projects studied are examples of student and faculty applied research work at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture that engage parametric design strategies to integrate digital fabrication processes with manual assembly procedures, including prefabricated components and assemblies. The presented case studies include the design, fabrication and assembly of two full-scale pavilion projects

DNA fragmentation in epididymal freeze-dried ram spermatozoa impairs embryo development.

Sperm freeze-drying is a revolutionary technique, which has been gaining prominence in recent years. The first related significant result was Wakayama and Yanagimachi's demonstration in 1998 of the birth of healthy mouse offspring by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), using epididymal freeze-dried spermatozoa. Mouse, rat, and hamster models were the first small mammals born from lyophilized epididymal spermatozoa, whereas most other studies in this field used ejaculated spermatozoa. In this work, we applied this technique to ram epididymal spermatozoa, checking the correlation between DNA integrity and embryo development following ICSI. To do this, epididymal sperm from four rams was lyophilized in a trehalose, glucose, KCl, HEPES, and Trolox media. To evaluate DNA damage and fragmentation after rehydration, samples were processed for Sperm Chromatin Dispersion test (SCD), Two-Tailed Comet Assay, and were used for ICSI. Ram #2 had a higher rate of spermatozoa with intact DNA compared with rams #1, #3, and #4 (28% vs. 3.8%, 2.8%, and 5%, respectively) and the lowest rate of Single-Strand Breaks (SSBs) (70% vs. 95.9%, 92.6%, and 93% respectively). Ram #3 had a higher level of Double-Strand Breaks (DSBs) compared to Ram #1 (4.6% vs. 0.33%, respectively). Embryo development to the blastocyst stage following ICSI was only reached from rams whose sperm had higher level of intact DNA - Rams #2 and #4 (6%, 5/147 and 6.3%, 4/64, respectively). Definitively, the impact of sperm DNA damage on embryonic development depends on the balance between sperm DNA fragmentation extent, fragmentation type (SSBs or DSBs), and the oocyte's repair capacity