Reducing Same Day Missed Appointments

Radiology Associates (RA) is a diagnostic imaging center that offers high-quality, digital medical imaging and interventional radiology services for patients, physicians and healthcare organizations across the Central Coast. They are an ongoing problem that involves a considerable portion of their patients not showing up for their appointments Our project aims to reduce same day missed appointments at Radiology Associates. Radiology Associates currently has a no-show rate of 13.48%. They lose approximately $240 for every same day missed appointment. Our goal was to find new ways to reduce their no-show rate to 8$39,285.35 by reducing the no-show percentage by 5.5%. We researched literature on causes of no-shows and alternative scheduling methods. We then mapped out the scheduling process and analyzed data on no-shows. After discovering some potential causes for the high no-show rate, we constructed solutions and created standard operating procedures

Physiological Basis of No-go Decay with Sod1Δ Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Chromium VI (Cr (VI)), a common byproduct of industry, induces oxidative stress in cells, resulting in altered gene expression, increased apoptosis, and cell death. Previous work has shown showed that Cr (VI) exposure results in the formation of 8-oxoguanines (8- oxo(G) bases) in mRNA. These 8-oxo(G) bases lead to ribosome stalls during translation and the activation of no-go decay. Upon ribosome stalls, no-go decay is activated. During no-go decay, the Dom34p/Hbsp1p complex acts to remove stalled ribosomes and promote endonucleolytic cleavage of the damaged mRNA at the stall site. Although oxidative agents and other non-physiological substrates have been used to activate no-go decay, very little work exists to elucidate the true physiological role of this pathway. Sod1p (superoxide dismutase 1) scavenges free oxygen species by catalyzing the partitioning of superoxide (O2- ) into O2 and H2O2. Cells that lack functional Sod1p have been observed to have increased oxidative stress resulting in increased P-body assembly, while leading only to an attenuation of global translation. To determine whether no-go decay is being activated in strains lacking Sod1p, double mutant strains were created in which SOD1 was knocked out in conjunction with one of the effectors of no-go decay. Consistent with no-go decay being activated in response to oxidation, the hbs1Δsod1Δ strain resulted in a decrease in Pbody assembly, as compared to wild-type strain, even in the presence of Cr (VI). To assess how effective Sod1p is as a deterrent to 8-oxo(G) base formation in the presence of Cr (VI), the SOD1 gene was overexpressed in yeast cells. The presence of high levels of Sod1p was hypothesized to limit the number of 8-oxo(G) in response to the Cr (VI) and affect P-body assembly. However, overexpression of Sod1p does not seem to compensate for Cr (VI) mediated oxidation. Instead, we will look under milder oxidative conditions. Interestingly, Stm1p is thought to potentially to aid in the dissociation and recycling of the ribosomal subunits. In the stm1Δ and wild-type strain, P-body assembly was mildly decreased when treated with 17 Cr (VI), which is consistent with Stm1p functioning to recycle ribosomes downstream of no-go decay. Additionally, stm1Δ can suppress sod1Δ growth defects on Cr (VI) containing media.https://openriver.winona.edu/urc2019/1068/thumbnail.jp

Microtiming patterns and interactions with musical properties in Samba music

In this study, we focus on the interaction between microtiming patterns and several musical properties: intensity, meter and spectral characteristics. The data-set of 106 musical audio excerpts is processed by means of an auditory model and then divided into several spectral regions and metric levels. The resulting segments are described in terms of their musical properties, over which patterns of peak positions and their intensities are sought. A clustering algorithm is used to systematize the process of pattern detection. The results confirm previously reported anticipations of the third and fourth semiquavers in a beat. We also argue that these patterns of microtiming deviations interact with different profiles of intensities that change according to the metrical structure and spectral characteristics. In particular, we suggest two new findings: (i) a small delay of microtiming positions at the lower end of the spectrum on the first semiquaver of each beat and (ii) systematic forms of accelerando and ritardando at a microtiming level covering two-beat and four-beat phrases. The results demonstrate the importance of multidimensional interactions with timing aspects of music. However, more research is needed in order to find proper representations for rhythm and microtiming aspects in such contexts

A warm Jet in a cold ocean

Unprecedented quantities of heat are entering the Pacific sector of the Arctic Ocean through Bering Strait, particularly during summer months. Though some heat is lost to the atmosphere during autumn cooling, a significant fraction of the incoming warm, salty water subducts (dives beneath) below a cooler fresher layer of near-surface water, subsequently extending hundreds of kilometers into the Beaufort Gyre. Upward turbulent mixing of these sub-surface pockets of heat is likely accelerating sea ice melt in the region. This Pacific-origin water brings both heat and unique biogeochemical properties, contributing to a changing Arctic ecosystem. However, our ability to understand or forecast the role of this incoming water mass has been hampered by lack of understanding of the physical processes controlling subduction and evolution of this this warm water. Crucially, the processes seen here occur at small horizontal scales not resolved by regional forecast models or climate simulations; new parameterizations must be developed that accurately represent the physics. Here we present novel high resolution observations showing the detailed process of subduction and initial evolution of warm Pacific-origin water in the southern Beaufort Gyre

La Grange Comprehensive Plan 2018 - 2038

In the Fall of 2017, the City of La Grange and Texas Target Communities partnered to create a task force to represent the community. The task force was integral to the planning process, contributing the thoughts, desires, and opinions of community members—as well as their enthusiasm about La Grange’s future. This fifteen-month planning process ended in August 2018. The result of this collaboration is the La Grange Comprehensive Plan, which is the official policy guide for the community’s growth over the next twenty years.La Grange Comprehensive Plan 2018 - 2038 provides a guide for the future growth of the City. This document was developed by Texas Target Communities in partnership with the City of La Grange.Texas Target Communitie

The International Pulsar Timing Array: First data release

International audienceThe highly stable spin of neutron stars can be exploited for a variety of (astro)physical investigations. In particular, arrays of pulsars with rotational periods of the order of milliseconds can be used to detect correlated signals such as those caused by gravitational waves. Three such 'pulsar timing arrays' (PTAs) have been set up around the world over the past decades and collectively form the 'International' PTA (IPTA). In this paper, we describe the first joint analysis of the data from the three regional PTAs, i.e. of the first IPTA data set. We describe the available PTA data, the approach presently followed for its combination and suggest improvements for future PTA research. Particular attention is paid to subtle details (such as underestimation of measurement uncertainty and long-period noise) that have often been ignored but which become important in this unprecedentedly large and inhomogeneous data set. We identify and describe in detail several factors that complicate IPTA research and provide recommendations for future pulsar timing efforts. The first IPTA data release presented here (and available on-line) is used to demonstrate the IPTA's potential of improving upon gravitational-wave limit

Extracellular vesicles and their nucleic acids for biomarker discovery

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogenous population of vesicles originate from cells. EVs are found in different biofluids and carry different macromolecules, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, providing a snap shot of the parental cells at the time of release. EVs have the ability to transfer molecular cargoes to other cells and can initiate different physiological and pathological processes. Mounting lines of evidence demonstrated that EVs' cargo and machinery is affected in disease states, positioning EVs as potential sources for the discovery of novel biomarkers. In this review, we demonstrate a conceptual overview of the EV field with particular focus on their nucleic acid cargoes. Current knowledge of EV subtypes, nucleic acid cargo and pathophysiological roles are outlined, with emphasis placed on advantages against competing analytes. We review the utility of EVs and their nucleic acid cargoes as biomarkers and critically assess the newly available advances in the field of EV biomarkers and high throughput technologies. Challenges to achieving the diagnostic potential of EVs, including sample handling, EV isolation, methodological considerations, and bioassay reproducibility are discussed. Future implementation of ‘omics-based technologies and integration of systems biology approaches for the development of EV-based biomarkers and personalized medicine are also considered

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Worms, Genetics and Healthy Kidneys : the Candidate PKD-2 Localization Factor, papl, May Play a Role in Polycystic Kidney Disease

Color poster with text, images, charts, and diagrams.Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) causes cysts to form within the kidneys, leading ultimately to renal failure. Prior research in our lab demonstrated that expression of the papl gene is downregulated in a zebrafish model of cystic kidney disease. We asked whether the papl gene has a direct effect on proper localization of PKD2, one of the proteins known to be involved in cyst formation, and whether the papl gene influences cilia structure. Neither the human ortholog (ACP7) nor the zebrafish ortholog (acp7/papl-1) has been associated with a specific function or organelle. papl encodes an acid phosphatase with putative hydrolase activity and a metal ion binding domain. Acid phosphatases have been associated with several human disorders, including prostate cancer. Zebrafish papl ESTs have been identified in the kidney, olfactory rosettes, and reproductive system.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program