Ames Life Science Data Archive: Translational Rodent Research at Ames

The Life Science Data Archive (LSDA) office at Ames is responsible for collecting, curating, distributing and maintaining information pertaining to animal and plant experiments conducted in low earth orbit aboard various space vehicles from 1965 to present. The LSDA will soon be archiving data and tissues samples collected on the next generation of commercial vehicles; e.g., SpaceX & Cygnus Commercial Cargo Craft. To date over 375 rodent flight experiments with translational application have been archived by the Ames LSDA office. This knowledge base of fundamental research can be used to understand mechanisms that affect higher organisms in microgravity and help define additional research whose results could lead the way to closing gaps identified by the Human Research Program (HRP). This poster will highlight Ames contribution to the existing knowledge base and how the LSDA can be a resource to help answer the questions surrounding human health in long duration space exploration. In addition, it will illustrate how this body of knowledge was utilized to further our understanding of how space flight affects the human system and the ability to develop countermeasures that negate the deleterious effects of space flight. The Ames Life Sciences Data Archive (ALSDA) includes current descriptions of over 700 experiments conducted aboard the Shuttle, International Space Station (ISS), NASA/MIR, Bion/Cosmos, Gemini, Biosatellites, Apollo, Skylab, Russian Foton, and ground bed rest studies. Research areas cover Behavior and Performance, Bone and Calcium Physiology, Cardiovascular Physiology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Chronobiology, Developmental Biology, Endocrinology, Environmental Monitoring, Gastrointestinal Physiology, Hematology, Immunology, Life Support System, Metabolism and Nutrition, Microbiology, Muscle Physiology, Neurophysiology, Pharmacology, Plant Biology, Pulmonary Physiology, Radiation Biology, Renal, Fluid and Electrolyte Physiology, and Toxicology. These experiment descriptions and data can be accessed online via the public LSDA website (http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov) and information can be requested via the Data Request form at http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/common/dataRequest/dataRequest.aspx or by contacting the ALSDA Office at: [email protected]

Two-port multimode interference reflectors based on aluminium mirrors in a thick SOI platform

“© 2015 Optical Society of America. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modifications of the content of this paper are prohibited"Multimode interference reflectors (MIRs) were recently introduced as a new type of photonic integrated devices for on-chip, broadband light reflection. In the original proposal, different MIRs were demonstrated based on total internal reflection mirrors made of two deep-etched facets. Although simpler to fabricate, this approach imposes certain limits on the shape of the field pattern at the reflecting facets, which in turn restricts the types of MIRs that can be implemented. In this work, we propose and experimentally demonstrate the use of aluminium-based mirrors for the design of 2-port MIRs with variable reflectivity. These mirrors do not impose any restrictions on the incident field, and thus give more flexibility at the design stage. Devices with different reflectivities in the range between 0 and 0.5 were fabricated in a 3 um thick SOI platform, and characterization of multiple dies was performed to extract statistical data about their performance. Our measurements show that, on average, losses both in the aluminium mirror and in the access waveguides reduce the reflectivities to about 79% of their target value. Moreover, standard deviations lower than +/- 5% are obtained over a 20 nm wavelength range (1540-1560 nm). We also provide a theoretical model of the aluminium mirror based on the effective index method and Fresnel equations in multilayer thin films, which shows good agreement with FDTD simulations.This work was supported by projects TEC2010-21337 (ATOMIC), FEDER UPVOV10-3E-492, FEDER UPVOV08-3E-008, TEC2013-42332-P (PIC4ESP), and PROMETEO 2013/012. The work of J. S. Fandino was supported by Grant FPU-2010 (ref: AP2010-1595).Sánchez Fandiño, JA.; Doménech Gómez, JD.; Muñoz Muñoz, P. (2015). Two-port multimode interference reflectors based on aluminium mirrors in a thick SOI platform. Optics Express. 23(16):20219-20233. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.23.020219S20219202332316Besse, P. A., Bachmann, M., Melchior, H., Soldano, L. B., & Smit, M. K. (1994). Optical bandwidth and fabrication tolerances of multimode interference couplers. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 12(6), 1004-1009. doi:10.1109/50.296191Soldano, L. B., & Pennings, E. C. M. (1995). Optical multi-mode interference devices based on self-imaging: principles and applications. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 13(4), 615-627. doi:10.1109/50.372474Besse, P. A., Gini, E., Bachmann, M., & Melchior, H. (1996). New 2×2 and 1×3 multimode interference couplers with free selection of power splitting ratios. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 14(10), 2286-2293. doi:10.1109/50.541220Domenech, J. D., Fandino, J. S., Gargallo, B., & Munoz, P. (2014). Arbitrary Coupling Ratio Multimode Interference Couplers in Silicon-on-Insulator. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 32(14), 2536-2543. doi:10.1109/jlt.2014.2329994Kwong, D., Covey, J., Hosseini, A., Zhang, Y., Xu, X., & Chen, R. T. (2012). Ultralow-loss polycrystalline silicon waveguides and high uniformity 1x12 MMI fanout for 3D photonic integration. Optics Express, 20(19), 21722. doi:10.1364/oe.20.021722Ortega-Moñux, A., Alonso-Ramos, C., Maese-Novo, A., Halir, R., Zavargo-Peche, L., Pérez-Galacho, D., … Janz, S. (2013). An ultra-compact multimode interference coupler with a subwavelength grating slot. Laser & Photonics Reviews, 7(2), L12-L15. doi:10.1002/lpor.201200106Maese-Novo, A., Halir, R., Romero-García, S., Pérez-Galacho, D., Zavargo-Peche, L., Ortega-Moñux, A., … Cheben, P. (2013). Wavelength independent multimode interference coupler. Optics Express, 21(6), 7033. doi:10.1364/oe.21.007033Chen, H., & Poon, A. W. (2006). Low-Loss Multimode-Interference-Based Crossings for Silicon Wire Waveguides. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 18(21), 2260-2262. doi:10.1109/lpt.2006.884726Fan Wang, Jianyi Yang, Limei Chen, Xiaoqing Jiang, & Minghua Wang. (2006). Optical switch based on multimode interference coupler. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 18(2), 421-423. doi:10.1109/lpt.2005.863201Hosseini, A., Rahimi, S., Xu, X., Kwong, D., Covey, J., & Chen, R. T. (2011). Ultracompact and fabrication-tolerant integrated polarization splitter. Optics Letters, 36(20), 4047. doi:10.1364/ol.36.004047Hu, Y., Jenkins, R. M., Gardes, F. Y., Finlayson, E. D., Mashanovich, G. Z., & Reed, G. T. (2011). Wavelength division (de)multiplexing based on dispersive self-imaging. Optics Letters, 36(23), 4488. doi:10.1364/ol.36.004488Fukuda, T., Okamoto, K., Hinokuma, Y., & Hamamoto, K. (2009). Phase-Locked Array Laser Diodes (LDs) by Using $1\times N$ Active Multimode-Interferometer (MMI). IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 21(3), 176-178. doi:10.1109/lpt.2008.2009470Berry, M. V., & Klein, S. (1996). Integer, fractional and fractal Talbot effects. Journal of Modern Optics, 43(10), 2139-2164. doi:10.1080/09500349608232876Kaplan, A. E., Marzoli, I., Lamb, W. E., & Schleich, W. P. (2000). Multimode interference: Highly regular pattern formation in quantum wave-packet evolution. Physical Review A, 61(3). doi:10.1103/physreva.61.032101Azana, J., & Muriel, M. A. (2001). Temporal self-imaging effects: theory and application for multiplying pulse repetition rates. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 7(4), 728-744. doi:10.1109/2944.974245Kleijn, E., Smit, M. K., & Leijtens, X. J. M. (2013). Multimode Interference Reflectors: A New Class of Components for Photonic Integrated Circuits. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 31(18), 3055-3063. doi:10.1109/jlt.2013.2278187Cherchi, M., Ylinen, S., Harjanne, M., Kapulainen, M., & Aalto, T. (2015). MMI resonators based on metal mirrors and MMI mirrors: an experimental comparison. Optics Express, 23(5), 5982. doi:10.1364/oe.23.005982Seimetz, M., & Weinert, C.-M. (2006). Options, feasibility, and availability of 2 /spl times/ 4 90/spl deg/ hybrids for coherent optical systems. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 24(3), 1317-1322. doi:10.1109/jlt.2005.863251Pennings, E. C. M., van Roijen, R., van Stralen, M. J. N., de Waard, P. J., Koumans, R. G. M. P., & Verbeck, B. H. (1994). Reflection properties of multimode interference devices. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 6(6), 715-718. doi:10.1109/68.300172Kleijn, E., Melati, D., Melloni, A., de Vries, T., Smit, M. K., & Leijtens, X. J. M. (2014). Multimode Interference Couplers With Reduced Parasitic Reflections. IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 26(4), 408-410. doi:10.1109/lpt.2013.2295624Gordón, C., Guzmán, R., Leijtens, X., & Carpintero, G. (2014). On-chip mode-locked laser diode structure using multimode interference reflectors. 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Syndromes of self-reported psychopathology for ages 18-59 in 29 societies

This study tested the multi-society generalizability of an eight-syndrome assessment model derived from factor analyses of American adults' self-ratings of 120 behavioral, emotional, and social problems. The Adult Self-Report (ASR; Achenbach and Rescorla 2003) was completed by 17,152 18-59-year-olds in 29 societies. Confirmatory factor analyses tested the fit of self-ratings in each sample to the eight-syndrome model. The primary model fit index (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation) showed good model fit for all samples, while secondary indices showed acceptable to good fit. Only 5 (0.06%) of the 8,598 estimated parameters were outside the admissible parameter space. Confidence intervals indicated that sampling fluctuations could account for the deviant parameters. Results thus supported the tested model in societies differing widely in social, political, and economic systems, languages, ethnicities, religions, and geographical regions. Although other items, societies, and analytic methods might yield different results, the findings indicate that adults in very diverse societies were willing and able to rate themselves on the same standardized set of 120 problem items. Moreover, their self-ratings fit an eight-syndrome model previously derived from self-ratings by American adults. The support for the statistically derived syndrome model is consistent with previous findings for parent, teacher, and self-ratings of 11/2-18-year-olds in many societies. The ASR and its parallel collateral-report instrument, the Adult Behavior Checklist (ABCL), may offer mental health professionals practical tools for the multi-informant assessment of clinical constructs of adult psychopathology that appear to be meaningful across diverse societies

Effectiveness of Mechanisms and Models of Coordination between Organizations, Agencies and Bodies Providing or Financing Health Services in Humanitarian Crises: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Effective coordination between organizations, agencies and bodies providing or financing health services in humanitarian crises is required to ensure efficiency of services, avoid duplication, and improve equity. The objective of this review was to assess how, during and after humanitarian crises, different mechanisms and models of coordination between organizations, agencies and bodies providing or financing health services compare in terms of access to health services and health outcomes. METHODS: We registered a protocol for this review in PROSPERO International prospective register of systematic reviews under number PROSPERO2014:CRD42014009267. Eligible studies included randomized and nonrandomized designs, process evaluations and qualitative methods. We electronically searched Medline, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and the WHO Global Health Library and websites of relevant organizations. We followed standard systematic review methodology for the selection, data abstraction, and risk of bias assessment. We assessed the quality of evidence using the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Of 14,309 identified citations from databases and organizations' websites, we identified four eligible studies. Two studies used mixed-methods, one used quantitative methods, and one used qualitative methods. The available evidence suggests that information coordination between bodies providing health services in humanitarian crises settings may be effective in improving health systems inputs. There is additional evidence suggesting that management/directive coordination such as the cluster model may improve health system inputs in addition to access to health services. None of the included studies assessed coordination through common representation and framework coordination. The evidence was judged to be of very low quality. CONCLUSION: This systematic review provides evidence of possible effectiveness of information coordination and management/directive coordination between organizations, agencies and bodies providing or financing health services in humanitarian crises. Our findings can inform the research agenda and highlight the need for improving conduct and reporting of research in this field

Cut-offs and response criteria for the Hospital Universitario la Princesa Index (HUPI) and their comparison to widely-used indices of disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis

Objective To estimate cut-off points and to establish response criteria for the Hospital Universitario La Princesa Index (HUPI) in patients with chronic polyarthritis. Methods Two cohorts, one of early arthritis (Princesa Early Arthritis Register Longitudinal PEARL] study) and other of long-term rheumatoid arthritis (Estudio de la Morbilidad y Expresión Clínica de la Artritis Reumatoide EMECAR]) including altogether 1200 patients were used to determine cut-off values for remission, and for low, moderate and high activity through receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis. The areas under ROC (AUC) were compared to those of validated indexes (SDAI, CDAI, DAS28). ROC analysis was also applied to establish minimal and relevant clinical improvement for HUPI. Results The best cut-off points for HUPI are 2, 5 and 9, classifying RA activity as remission if =2, low disease activity if >2 and =5), moderate if >5 and <9 and high if =9. HUPI''s AUC to discriminate between low-moderate activity was 0.909 and between moderate-high activity 0.887. DAS28''s AUCs were 0.887 and 0.846, respectively; both indices had higher accuracy than SDAI (AUCs: 0.832 and 0.756) and CDAI (AUCs: 0.789 and 0.728). HUPI discriminates remission better than DAS28-ESR in early arthritis, but similarly to SDAI. The HUPI cut-off for minimal clinical improvement was established at 2 and for relevant clinical improvement at 4. Response criteria were established based on these cut-off values. Conclusions The cut-offs proposed for HUPI perform adequately in patients with either early or long term arthritis

Germline predisposition to soft tissue sarcoma

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) most often occurs sporadically, but can also arise in the setting of a germline cancer predisposition syndrome (CPS). There is significant diversity amongst STS diagnoses as these tumors exhibit a variety of histologies, occur in all age groups, and can occur in any location in the body. This diversity is also reflected in the many known associated germline cancer predisposition associations. Some STS diagnoses, such as anaplastic rhabdomyosarcoma, are associated with high heritability and other STS, such as Ewing sarcoma, are notably absent from known CPS. Recognizing when a STS is more likely to be hereditary can influence clinical management. Individuals diagnosed with STS due to CPS may be at risk for other malignancies and should undergo additional surveillance for early detection. Additionally, family members should undergo genetic testing as they also may be at risk to develop STS and other CPS-associated malignancies. Some underlying cancer predisposition diagnoses may have implications for the treatment of a concurrent malignancy as in the case of PARP inhibitor therapy in the setting of homologous recombination deficiency. This review summarizes current knowledge of selected STS and their associations with CPS