App-based Data Collection to Characterize Latent Transportation Demand within Marginalized and Underserved Populations

Our interdisciplinary team refined an app prototype, MyAmble, to gather data related to quantity of transportation disadvantage and latent demand, and to identify psycho-social-economic corollaries. MyAmble utilizes a traditional travel diary format but expands the type of trips measured to include 1) completed trips, 2) missed trips, and 3) latent travel demand. The app also measures the real-time perceived impact of transportation behaviors (realized and latent) on participants’ physical health, mental health, social engagement, and employment/academics. Finally, the app has a text-messaging feature, Travel Buddy, that is used to increase participant engagement and retention over longitudinal data collection. The project had several phases including focus groups to help inform app refinement. We deployed the MyAmble prototype through community-engaged research strategies in Dallas, TX, Tucson, AZ, and Knoxville, TN. Recruiting through community partners and snowball sampling resulted in a sample of 77 participants. The majority of participants were female (74.7%) and the average age of participants was 38.41 (SD 13.61) years old. In terms of race and ethnicity, the majority of participants were white (45.5 %) followed by Black/African American (28.6%), Hispanic or Latinx (10.4 %), and American Indian or Alaska Native (5.2%). The prototype testing shows promise in capturing latent travel demand data among typically underserved populations. The study generated critical feedback for continued improvements to MyAmble. Participants expressed positive feedback about MyAmble in the usability survey and offered recommendations for improving the app during the follow-up focus group. Transportation professionals offered recommendations for implementation planning and future studies using MyAmble

Consistent Pulmonary and Systemic Responses from Inhalation of Fine Concentrated Ambient Particles: Roles of Rat Strains Used and Physicochemical Properties

Several studies have reported health effects of concentrated ambient particles (CAP) in rodents and humans; however, toxicity end points in rodents have provided inconsistent results. In 2000 we conducted six 1-day exposure studies where spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats were exposed to filtered air or CAPs (≤ 2.5 μm, 1,138–1,765 μg/m(3)) for 4 hr (analyzed 1–3 hr afterward). In seven 2-day exposure studies in 2001, SH and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were exposed to filtered air or CAP (≤ 2.5 μm, 144–2,758 μg/m(3)) for 4 hr/day × 2 days (analyzed 1 day afterward). Despite consistent and high CAP concentrations in the 1-day exposure studies, no biologic effects were noted. The exposure concentrations varied among the seven 2-day exposure studies. Except in the first study when CAP concentration was highest, lavageable total cells and macrophages decreased and neutrophils increased in WKY rats. SH rats demonstrated a consistent increase of lavage fluid γ -glutamyltransferase activity and plasma fibrinogen. Inspiratory and expiratory times increased in SH but not in WKY rats. Significant correlations were found between CAP mass (microgram per cubic meter) and sulfate, organic carbon, or zinc. No biologic effects correlated with CAP mass. Despite low chamber mass in the last six of seven 2-day exposure studies, the levels of zinc, copper, and aluminum were enriched severalfold, and organic carbon was increased to some extent when expressed per milligram of CAP. Biologic effects were evident in those six studies. These studies demonstrate a pattern of rat strain–specific pulmonary and systemic effects that are not linked to high mass but appear to be dependent on CAP chemical composition

Discovery of underground argon with low level of radioactive 39Ar and possible applications to WIMP dark matter detectors

We report on the first measurement of 39Ar in argon from underground natural gas reservoirs. The gas stored in the US National Helium Reserve was found to contain a low level of 39Ar. The ratio of 39Ar to stable argon was found to be <=4x10-17 (84% C.L.), less than 5% the value in atmospheric argon (39Ar/Ar=8x10-16). The total quantity of argon currently stored in the National Helium Reserve is estimated at 1000 tons. 39Ar represents one of the most important backgrounds in argon detectors for WIMP dark matter searches. The findings reported demonstrate the possibility of constructing large multi-ton argon detectors with low radioactivity suitable for WIMP dark matter searches.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, 2 table

Repeatability in the contact calling system of Spix's disc-winged bat (Thyroptera tricolor)

Spix's disc-winged bat (Thyroptera tricolor) forms cohesive groups despite using an extremely ephemeral roost, partly due to the use of two acoustic signals that help individuals locate roost sites and group embers. While the calls that aid in group cohesion are commonly used, some bats rarely or never produce them. Here, we examine whether the differences observed in the contact calling behaviour of T. tricolor are repeatable; that is, whether individual differences are consistent. We recorded contact calls of individuals in the field and rates and patterns of vocalization. To determine whether measured variables were consistent within individuals, we estimated repeatability (R), which compares within-individual to among-individual variance in behavioural traits. Our results show that repeatability for call variables was moderate but significant, and that repeatability was highest for the average number of calls produced (R=0.46–0.49). Our results demonstrate important individual differences in the contact calling behaviour of T. tricolor; we discuss how these could be the result of mechanisms such as frequency-dependent selection that favour groups composed of individuals with diverse vocal strategies. Future work should address whether changes in social environment, specifically group membership and social status, affect vocal behaviour.UCR::Sedes Regionales::Sede del Su

Neutrophils in cancer: neutral no more

Neutrophils are indispensable antagonists of microbial infection and facilitators of wound healing. In the cancer setting, a newfound appreciation for neutrophils has come into view. The traditionally held belief that neutrophils are inert bystanders is being challenged by the recent literature. Emerging evidence indicates that tumours manipulate neutrophils, sometimes early in their differentiation process, to create diverse phenotypic and functional polarization states able to alter tumour behaviour. In this Review, we discuss the involvement of neutrophils in cancer initiation and progression, and their potential as clinical biomarkers and therapeutic targets

An evidence-based decision assistance model for predicting training outcome in juvenile guide dogs

Working dog organisations, such as Guide Dogs, need to regularly assess the behaviour of the dogs they train. In this study we developed a questionnaire-style behaviour assessment completed by training supervisors of juvenile guide dogs aged 5, 8 and 12 months old (n = 1,401), and evaluated aspects of its reliability and validity. Specifically, internal reliability, temporal consistency, construct validity, predictive criterion validity (comparing against later training outcome) and concurrent criterion validity (comparing against a standardised behaviour test) were evaluated. Thirty-nine questions were sourced either from previously published literature or created to meet requirements identified via Guide Dogs staff surveys and staff feedback. Internal reliability analyses revealed seven reliable and interpretable trait scales named according to the questions within them as: Adaptability; Body Sensitivity; Distractibility; Excitability; General Anxiety; Trainability and Stair Anxiety. Intra-individual temporal consistency of the scale scores between 5±8, 8±12 and 5±12 months was high. All scales excepting Body Sensitivity showed some degree of concurrent criterion validity. Predictive criterion validity was supported for all seven scales, since associations were found with training outcome, at at-least one age. Thresholds of z-scores on the scales were identified that were able to distinguish later training outcome by identifying 8.4% of all dogs withdrawn for behaviour and 8.5% of all qualified dogs, with 84% and 85% specificity. The questionnaire assessment was reliable and could detect traits that are consistent within individuals over time, despite juvenile dogs undergoing development during the study period. By applying thresholds to scores produced from the questionnaire this assessment could prove to be a highly valuable decision-making tool for Guide Dogs. This is the first questionnaire-style assessment of juvenile dogs that has shown value in predicting the training outcome of individual working dogs

Robust Selections of Various Hematopoietic Cell Fractions on the CliniMACS Plus Instrument

Cell separation technologies play a vital role in the graft engineering of hematopoietic cellular fractions, particularly with the rapid expansion of the field of cellular therapeutics. The CliniMACS Plus Instrument (Miltenyi Biotec) utilizes immunomagnetic techniques to isolate hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), T cells, NK cells, and monocytes. These products are ultimately used for HPC transplantation and for the manufacture of adoptive immunotherapies. We evaluated the viable cell recovery and cell purity of selections and depletions performed on the CliniMACS Plus over a 10-year period at our facility, specifically assessing for the isolation of CD34+, CD4+, CD3+/CD56+, CD4+/CD8+, and CD25+ cells. Additionally, patient- and instrument-related factors affecting these parameters were examined. Viable cell recovery ranged from 32.3 ± 10.2% to 65.4 ± 15.4%, and was the highest for CD34+ selections. Cell purity ranged from 86.3 ± 7.2% to 99.0 ± 1.1%, and was the highest for CD4+ selections. Undesired cell fractions demonstrated a range of 1.2 ± 0.45 to 5.1 ± 0.4 log reductions. Red cell depletions averaged 2.12 ± 0.68 logs, while platelets were reduced by an average of 4.01 ± 1.57 logs. Donor characteristics did not impact viable cell recovery or cell purity for CD34+ or CD4+ cell enrichments; however, these were affected by manufacturing variables, including tubing size, bead quantity, and whether preselection platelet washes were performed. Our data demonstrate the efficient recovery of hematopoietic cellular fractions on the CliniMACS Plus that may be optimized by adjusting manufacturing variables