Apollonian Equilateral Triangles

Given an equilateral triangle with $a$ the square of its side length and a point in its plane with $b$, $c$, $d$ the squares of the distances from the point to the vertices of the triangle, it can be computed that $a$, $b$, $c$, $d$ satisfy $3(a^2+b^2+c^2+d^2)=(a+b+c+d)^2$. This paper derives properties of quadruples of nonnegative integers $(a,\, b,\, c,\, d)$, called triangle quadruples, satisfying this equation. It is easy to verify that the operation generating $(a,\, b,\, c,\, a+b+c-d)$ from $(a,\, b,\, c,\, d)$ preserves this feature and that it and analogous ones for the other elements can be represented by four matrices. We examine in detail the triangle group, the group with these operations as generators, and completely classify the orbits of quadruples with respect to the triangle group action. We also compute the number of triangle quadruples generated after a certain number of operations and approximate the number of quadruples bounded by characteristics such as the maximal element. Finally, we prove that the triangle group is a hyperbolic Coxeter group and derive information about the elements of triangle quadruples by invoking Lie groups. We also generalize the problem to higher dimensions

Synthetic biology: advancing biological frontiers by building synthetic systems

Advances in synthetic biology are contributing to diverse research areas, from basic biology to biomanufacturing and disease therapy. We discuss the theoretical foundation, applications, and potential of this emerging field

Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in Genetics Patient Perspectives on Intimate Partner Violence Discussion and/or Disclosure During Genetic Counseling Sessions

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major health concern that has become a nationwide epidemic in the United States (ACOG, 2013). The World Health Organization (WHO) describes IPV as physical, sexual, psychological harm including physical aggression and sexual coercion by a current or former intimate partner (WHO, 2015). Due to the psychosocial depth and nature of discussions within genetic counseling sessions, patients may disclose and/or discuss IPV as it relates to sexual wellbeing, reproductive and overall health. This study aims to assess the role for IPV screening, counseling and intervention in the genetic counseling practice by investigating the incidence, awareness, experiences and attitudes about IPV among genetic counseling patients. Patients receiving genetic counseling at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, New York were anonymously surveyed about personal experiences and perspectives on IPV as a topic of discussion and/or disclosure during a genetic counseling session. Among 60 eligible patients, 50 completed the survey (49 females, 1 male, of which, 5 identified as LGBT) ages 20 to 66. The incidence of IPV in this group was 16% (n=8). The majority of participants had never been asked about IPV by a healthcare provider (n=32; 64.0%), would have felt comfortable answering questions about IPV by their healthcare provider (n=34; 68.0%), and would have felt comfortable answering questions about IPV by their genetic counselor (n=39; 78.0%). Perspectives from all participants, notably those with IPV history, provided tremendous insights as to the role of genetic counselors in IPV screening and highlighted areas for IPV screening and counseling training

Efficacy of Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) ± Aspirin in the Prevention of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in both sexes, accounting for a third of all deaths in developed countries. One of the mainstays in treatment in both CAD and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is the prevention of thrombus formation using antiplatelets, with aspirin as the drug of choice. Currently, rivaroxaban, a direct factor Xa inhibitor, is being studied in patients with CAD and PAD. This review addresses the efficacy of rivaroxaban, with or without aspirin, in the prevention of major adverse cardiovascular events, in adults with CAD and PAD, compared to standard of care, aspirin

Digital Storytelling with Refugee Youth: A Tool for Promoting Literacy and Youth Empowerment And a Catalyst for Social Action

For my master’s project in the International Education concentration, College of Education, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, I chose to conduct an action research project where I worked with refugee youth aged twelve to fourteen in Springfield, Massachusetts, to facilitate them in creating digital narratives about their lives and experiences coming to the United States. From November 2014 through March 2015, I recruited seven students to participate in a 22-hour workshop I facilitated over twelve weeks. During the workshop, they learned about digital storytelling, wrote their stories, and created multimedia videos of these narratives. They shared their digital stories with each other, as well as at an exhibit at their school in March 2015 that was attended by parents, teachers, and school staff. I also asked participants about their experiences coming to the workshop sessions and creating their digital stories. This paper is a record of both the process of developing and facilitating the DST workshop and of what I learned from the participants’ experiences

Open up : the mission statement of the Control of Impulsive Action (Ctrl-ImpAct) lab on Open Science

The present paper is the mission statement of the Control of Impulsive Action (Ctrl-ImpAct) Lab regarding Open Science. As early-career researchers (ECRs) in the lab, we first state our personal motivation to conduct research based on the principles of Open Science. We then describe how we incorporate four specific Open Science practices (i.e., Open Methodology, Open Data, Open Source, and Open Access) into our scientific workflow. In more detail, we explain how Open Science practices are embedded into the so-called 'co-pilot' system in our lab. The 'co-pilot' researcher is involved in all tasks of the 'pilot' researcher, that is designing a study, double-checking experimental and data analysis scripts, as well as writing the manuscript. The lab has set up this co-pilot system to increase transparency, reduce potential errors that could occur during the entire workflow, and to intensify collaborations between lab members. Finally, we discuss potential solutions for general problems that could arise when practicing Open Science

The cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase RegA critically regulates encystation in social and pathogenic amoebas

AbstractAmoebas survive environmental stress by differentiating into encapsulated cysts. As cysts, pathogenic amoebas resist antibiotics, which particularly counteracts treatment of vision-destroying Acanthamoeba keratitis. Limited genetic tractability of amoeba pathogens has left their encystation mechanisms unexplored. The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum forms spores in multicellular fruiting bodies to survive starvation, while other dictyostelids, such as Polysphondylium pallidum can additionally encyst as single cells. Sporulation is induced by cAMP acting on PKA, with the cAMP phosphodiesterase RegA critically regulating cAMP levels. We show here that RegA is deeply conserved in social and pathogenic amoebas and that deletion of the RegA gene in P. pallidum causes precocious encystation and prevents cyst germination. We heterologously expressed and characterized Acanthamoeba RegA and performed a compound screen to identify RegA inhibitors. Two effective inhibitors increased cAMP levels and triggered Acanthamoeba encystation. Our results show that RegA critically regulates Amoebozoan encystation and that components of the cAMP signalling pathway could be effective targets for therapeutic intervention with encystation