FNP led Mobile Health Services for the Homeless population

A small percentage of the U.S. population uses the greatest portion of the healthcare services. Homeless people are often such a group of “super-utilizers” of the healthcare system. Due to multiple medical and psychosocial conditions, people experiencing homelessness face numerous barriers to accessing healthcare, thus leading increased utilization of hospitals and emergency departments (EDs) services. Many of these events are preventable through improved primary care interventions. The literature on Respite/Recuperative Care, Transitional Care, and Mobile Health interventions have shown effectiveness in providing safe and quality care to homeless individuals during the critical transitional period post hospital discharge while also reducing the readmission rates to hospitals and EDs. The goal of this DNP project was to establish a Mobile Health Services program and function as a part of a larger Recuperative Care pilot program for Marin County\u27s homeless population. The partnership between the University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Health Professions (USF-SONHP) and local organizations in Marin endeavored to improve the quality of care for the homeless population and reduce rehospitalizations and ED visits. This goal was accomplished through the successful implementation of the pilot project. Outcome evaluation demonstrated that the project team was able to prevent rehospitalization in all eight patients that enrolled in the program. These results also showed a potential for a significant positive financial impact on the overall healthcare system by reducing utilization rates of EDs and hospitals and costs associated with i

Methods of isolation and identification of pathogenic and potential pathogenic bacteria from skins and tannery effluents

Currently there is no standard protocol available within the leather industry to isolate and identify pathogenic bacteria from hides, skins or tannery effluent. This study was therefore carried out to identify simple but effective methods for isolation and identification of bacterial pathogens from the effluent and skins during leather processing. Identification methods based on both phenotypic and genotypic characteristics were investigated. Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used as indicator bacteria to evaluate the isolation and identification methods. Decontaminated calfskins were inoculated with a pure culture of the above mentioned bacterial species followed by a pre-tanning and chromium tanning processes. Effluent samples were collected and skins were swabbed at the end of each processing stage. Bacterial identification was carried out based on the phenotypic characteristics; such as colony appearance on selective solid media, cell morphology following a standard Gram-staining and spore staining techniques, and biochemical reactions, e.g., the ability of a bacterial species to ferment particular sugars and ability to produce certain enzymes. Additionally, an identification system based on bacterial phenotypic characteristics, known as Biolog® system was applied. A pulsed-filed gel electrophoresis (PFGE) method for bacterial DNA fingerprinting was also evaluated and used for the identification of the inoculated bacteria. The methods described in the study were found to be effective for the identification of pathogenic bacteria from skins and effluent

Deteksi Logam pada Penggilingan Batu Berbasis SMS Gateway dan Mikrokontroler

Berdasarkan hasil survei di lapangan, seringkali kualitas batu yang dihasilkan oleh mesin penggilingan batu kurang memuaskan. Hal tersebut disebabkan oleh beberapa faktor, salah satunya dikarenakan mesin penggiling yang bekerja kurang maksimal akibat banyak logam atau besi yang melalui mesin penggiling. Pada penelitian ini dibuat alat pendeteksi logam pada penggilingan. Sensor logam akan mendeteksi logam saat terjadi Perubahan frekuensi melalui bantuan coil. Saat terjadi Perubahan frekuensi tersebut maka Arduino akan mengirimkan perintah ke relay, alarm buzzer dan LED, serta modul GSM SIM900 secara bersamaan. Berdasarkan hasil pengujian, sensor akan mendeteksi saat benda logam berada pada jarak 0-2,1 cm. Selain itu sensor dapat mendeteksi berbagai jenis benda logam seperti gunting, paku, handphone, dan lain-lain. Akan tetapi sensor tidak dapat mendeteksi keberadaan induktansi pada benda berbahan logam mulia. Pada saat terdeteksi adanya logam, perangkat SMS gateway mengirimkan notifikasi kepada operator

3D Cultures of Human Liver Cell Lines Encapsulated in PuraMatrix on a Microarray Chip Platform

A high-throughput cell printing technology has developed to simulate the liver tissue environment using a hydrogel-based chip platform that has potential to shift in vivo drug toxicity models towards in vitro tests. However, the hydrophobic nature of polystyrene chips is not promoting direct adhesion of hydrogels, which created a problem with spot attachment. The main goal of this research is to create a surface chemistry that helps to attach a peptide-based hydrogel, including PuraMatrix, to a polystyrenebased micropillar chip. Seven analogs of maleic anhydride co-polymers were used to coat the micropillar chip to create a functional surface. Then, six ionic solutions were tested for inducing gelation of PuraMatrix. Formation of bubbles and spot detachment on the chip platform was quantified. As a result, an optimum polymer, PMA-OD was selected for surface attachment based on its low bubble formation and high spot attachment. This polymer could easily coat the chip for better gel adhesion. In regards to the gelation of PuraMatrix, poly-L-lysine was the most favorable for spot attachment and cell viability on the chip platform. In future research, encapsulated human liver cells expressing drug metabolizing enzymes will be tested with different drugs to determine mechanisms of drug toxicity.https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/u_poster_2014/1019/thumbnail.jp

Phase transition in the Sznajd model with independence

We propose a model of opinion dynamics which describes two major types of social influence -- conformity and independence. Conformity in our model is described by the so called outflow dynamics (known as Sznajd model). According to sociologists' suggestions, we introduce also a second type of social influence, known in social psychology as independence. Various social experiments have shown that the level of conformity depends on the society. We introduce this level as a parameter of the model and show that there is a continuous phase transition between conformity and independence

High-Content, 3D Cell Culture Assays on a Micropillar/Microwell Chip Platform

High content imaging (HCI) is a multi-parametric assay using multiple fluorescent dyes that are relevant to specific cell functions. The HCI assays provide an insight into the mechanisms of toxic drug responses, thus enhancing predictability of drug toxicity. However, current HCI assays are performed on 2D cell monolayer cultures which are physiologically irrelevant, creating a new opportunity for better predictable 3D HCI assays. The goal of this research is to develop HCI assays on 3D cellular microarrays that can be implemented for various toxicity screening, leading to classification of drug toxicity via investigating profiles of cell injury. As a model system, Hep3B human liver cells were dispensed onto a micropillar chip with a microarray spotter, which were exposed to various concentrations of model drugs. The chip containing the cells was then stained with multiple fluorescent dyes and scanned with a chip scanner to measure different end points. Conclusively, HCI assays performed on the 3D cellular microarrays showed a capability to identify several mechanisms of toxic drug responses. The mechanisms including DNA and mitochondrial impairment, calcium homeostasis, and glutathione conjugation were successfully demonstrated on the micropillar/microwell chip platform. Computational algorithms along with additional assays will be developed for enhanced predictability.https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/u_poster_2014/1017/thumbnail.jp

Optimal Uncertainty Quantification

We propose a rigorous framework for Uncertainty Quantification (UQ) in which the UQ objectives and the assumptions/information set are brought to the forefront. This framework, which we call \emph{Optimal Uncertainty Quantification} (OUQ), is based on the observation that, given a set of assumptions and information about the problem, there exist optimal bounds on uncertainties: these are obtained as values of well-defined optimization problems corresponding to extremizing probabilities of failure, or of deviations, subject to the constraints imposed by the scenarios compatible with the assumptions and information. In particular, this framework does not implicitly impose inappropriate assumptions, nor does it repudiate relevant information. Although OUQ optimization problems are extremely large, we show that under general conditions they have finite-dimensional reductions. As an application, we develop \emph{Optimal Concentration Inequalities} (OCI) of Hoeffding and McDiarmid type. Surprisingly, these results show that uncertainties in input parameters, which propagate to output uncertainties in the classical sensitivity analysis paradigm, may fail to do so if the transfer functions (or probability distributions) are imperfectly known. We show how, for hierarchical structures, this phenomenon may lead to the non-propagation of uncertainties or information across scales. In addition, a general algorithmic framework is developed for OUQ and is tested on the Caltech surrogate model for hypervelocity impact and on the seismic safety assessment of truss structures, suggesting the feasibility of the framework for important complex systems. The introduction of this paper provides both an overview of the paper and a self-contained mini-tutorial about basic concepts and issues of UQ.Comment: 90 pages. Accepted for publication in SIAM Review (Expository Research Papers). See SIAM Review for higher quality figure

Lactobacillus plantarum CUL66 can impact cholesterol homeostasis in Caco-2 enterocytes

Hypercholesterolemia drives the development of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of mortality in western society. Supplementation with probiotics that interfere with cholesterol metabolism may provide a contribution to disease prevention. Lactobacillus plantarum CUL66 (NCIMB 30280) has been assessed in vitro for its ability to impact cholesterol absorption. L. plantarum CUL66 tested positive for bile salt hydrolase activity and the ability to assimilate cholesterol from culture media. RT-qPCR analysis showed that the bacterium significantly decreased the expression of Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 and ATP-binding cassette transporter-1 in polarised Caco-2 cells after 6 h exposure. Conversely, the expression of ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member (ABCG)-5 and ABCG-8, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase were significantly increased. Using a radiolabelled assay, we also observed significant reductions in the uptake and basolateral efflux of cholesterol by Caco-2 cells exposed to L. plantarum CUL66. This in vitro study identified L. plantarum CUL66 as a cholesterol lowering bacteria by highlighting its ability to beneficially regulate multiple in vitro events associated with intestinal cholesterol metabolism and provides evidence of efficacy for its inclusion in future in vivo studies

IN VITRO EQUIVALENCE STUDY OF GENERIC METFORMIN HYDROCHLORIDE TABLETS UNDER BIOWAIVER CONDITIONS

Background: Generic drugs are smarter alternative to expensive brands, it is bio- equivalent formula of any branded drug. FDA approved that generic drugs are the safest to consume, the medicines meet the similar manufacturing standards followed while producing an innovator drug, however, the color, shape, taste and packaging of generics is different from the innovator product. In short, a generic drug should be bioequivalent to its brand counterpart. Metformin was initially marketed under the name of Glucophage®, and now the market is loaded by generics of different origin, and price variability. Method: Our study was conducted to determine whether metformin generics are bioequivalent to the innovator drug Glucophage®. In-vitro bioequivalence testing under Biowaiver conditions can predict bioequivalence in a safe, fast, and less expensive method. Thus, study was performed on Metformin tablets to assess whether generics are bioequivalent to the innovator and hence be interchangeable. Results: The quality control results of the thickness, hardness, friability, disintegration, weight uniformity, content uniformity, and assay showed that most metformin tablets complied with the USP 34 NF29 2011 specifications. Dissolution testing under biowaiver conditions showed different results. All tablets of the generics and innovator Glucophage® were able to dissolve by more than 85% within 15 min. Two generics were bioequivalent to the innovator Glucophage® having f2≥ 50 in the three dissolution media. The rest of generics showed variable results. Conclusion: Generics of metformin varied in their bioequivalency to the innovator Gluocophage®. This variation could be explained by different excipients, and manufacturing conditions. In-vivo bioequivalence testing should be conducted to confirm that the innovator could be safely interchangeable with the brand and this variation won’t affect the safety and efficacy of the drug