Processing TES Level-1B Data

TES L1B Subsystem is a computer program that performs several functions for the Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES). The term "L1B" (an abbreviation of "level 1B"), refers to data, specific to the TES, on radiometric calibrated spectral radiances and their corresponding noise equivalent spectral radiances (NESRs), plus ancillary geolocation, quality, and engineering data. The functions performed by TES L1B Subsystem include shear analysis, monitoring of signal levels, detection of ice build-up, and phase correction and radiometric and spectral calibration of TES target data. Also, the program computes NESRs for target spectra, writes scientific TES level-1B data to hierarchical- data-format (HDF) files for public distribution, computes brightness temperatures, and quantifies interpixel signal variability for the purpose of first-order cloud and heterogeneous land screening by the level-2 software summarized in the immediately following article. This program uses an in-house-developed algorithm, called "NUSRT," to correct instrument line-shape factors

Are women and providers satisfied with antenatal care? Views on a standard and a simplified, evidence-based model of care in four developing countries

BACKGROUND: This study assessed women and providers' satisfaction with a new evidence-based antenatal care (ANC) model within the WHO randomized trial conducted in four developing countries. The WHO study was a randomized controlled trial that compared a new ANC model with the standard type offered in each country. The new model of ANC emphasized actions known to be effective in improving maternal or neonatal health, excluded other interventions that have not proved to be beneficial, and improved the information component, especially alerting pregnant women to potential health problems and instructing them on appropriate responses. These activities were distributed within four antenatal care visits for women that did not need any further assessment. METHODS: Satisfaction was measured through a standardized questionnaire administered to a random sample of 1,600 pregnant women and another to all antenatal care providers. RESULTS: Most women in both arms expressed satisfaction with ANC. More women in the intervention arm were satisfied with information on labor, delivery, family planning, pregnancy complications and emergency procedures. More providers in the experimental clinics were worried about visit spacing, but more satisfied with the time spent and information provided. CONCLUSIONS: Women and providers accepted the new ANC model generally. The safety of fewer visits for women without complications with longer spacing would have to be reinforced, if such a model is to be introduced into routine practice

A Microphysiological System to Model Viral Hepatitis in the Liver

Viral hepatitis is a leading cause of liver morbidity and mortality globally. Symptomatic infection can occur acutely with subsequent clearance, or result in a chronic infection. The mechanisms underlying acute infection and clearance, versus the development of chronic infection, are poorly understood. The prevalence and severity of viral hepatitis necessitates research on the progression of infection to liver disease. In vitro models of viral hepatitis circumvent the high costs and ethical considerations of animal models, which also translate poorly to studying the human-specific hepatitis viruses. However, there are significant challenges associated with modeling long-term infection in vitro. For example, standard two-dimensional (2D) models are limited because they fail to mimic the architecture and cellular microenvironment of the liver and cannot maintain a differentiated hepatocyte phenotype over extended periods. Differentiated hepatocytes are best able to sustain chronic viral hepatitis infection; therefore, traditional 2D cultures have challenges recapitulating a hepatocyte’s physiological response to infection over weeks to months. Alternatively, microphysiological systems (MPSs) facilitate important interactions between hepatocytes and their microenvironment by incorporating liver-specific environmental factors such as three-dimensional (3D) ECM interactions and co-culture with other non-parenchymal cells. These physiologically relevant interactions help maintain a mature and functional hepatocyte phenotype, that is critical for sustaining viral hepatitis infection. We designed, built, and tested a novel MPS, specifically with the goal of modeling chronic viral hepatitis infection. We achieved this by incorporating microenvironmental factors from the hepatic acinus, including co-cultures of multiple cell types with proper orientation, requisite ECM components, and perfusion to reconstruct the liver’s biology in an in vitro platform

Physiologically relevant microsystems to study viral infection in the human liver

Viral hepatitis is a leading cause of liver disease and mortality. Infection can occur acutely or chronically, but the mechanisms that govern the clearance of virus or lack thereof are poorly understood and merit further investigation. Though cures for viral hepatitis have been developed, they are expensive, not readily accessible in vulnerable populations and some patients may remain at an increased risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) even after viral clearance. To sustain infection in vitro , hepatocytes must be fully mature and remain in a differentiated state. However, primary hepatocytes rapidly dedifferentiate in conventional 2D in vitro platforms. Physiologically relevant or physiomimetic microsystems, are increasingly popular alternatives to traditional two-dimensional (2D) monocultures for in vitro studies. Physiomimetic systems reconstruct and incorporate elements of the native cellular microenvironment to improve biologic functionality in vitro . Multiple elements contribute to these models including ancillary tissue architecture, cell co-cultures, matrix proteins, chemical gradients and mechanical forces that contribute to increased viability, longevity and physiologic function for the tissue of interest. These microsystems are used in a wide variety of applications to study biological phenomena. Here, we explore the use of physiomimetic microsystems as tools for studying viral hepatitis infection in the liver and how the design of these platforms is tailored for enhanced investigation of the viral lifecycle when compared to conventional 2D cell culture models. Although liver-based physiomimetic microsystems are typically applied in the context of drug studies, the platforms developed for drug discovery purposes offer a solid foundation to support studies on viral hepatitis. Physiomimetic platforms may help prolong hepatocyte functionality in order to sustain chronic viral hepatitis infection in vitro for studying virus-host interactions for prolonged periods

Physiomimetic In Vitro Human Models for Viral Infection in the Liver.

Viral hepatitis is a leading cause of liver morbidity and mortality globally. The mechanisms underlying acute infection and clearance, versus the development of chronic infection, are poorly understood. In vitro models of viral hepatitis circumvent the high costs and ethical considerations of animal models, which also translate poorly to studying the human-specific hepatitis viruses. However, significant challenges are associated with modeling long-term infection in vitro. Differentiated hepatocytes are best able to sustain chronic viral hepatitis infection, but standard two-dimensional models are limited because they fail to mimic the architecture and cellular microenvironment of the liver, and cannot maintain a differentiated hepatocyte phenotype over extended periods. Alternatively, physiomimetic models facilitate important interactions between hepatocytes and their microenvironment by incorporating liver-specific environmental factors such as three-dimensional ECM interactions and co-culture with non-parenchymal cells. These physiologically relevant interactions help maintain a functional hepatocyte phenotype that is critical for sustaining viral hepatitis infection. In this review, we provide an overview of distinct, novel, and innovative in vitro liver models and discuss their functionality and relevance in modeling viral hepatitis. These platforms may provide novel insight into mechanisms that regulate viral clearance versus progression to chronic infections that can drive subsequent liver disease

Physiomimetic In Vitro Human Models for Viral Infection in the Liver

Viral hepatitis is a leading cause of liver morbidity and mortality globally. The mechanisms underlying acute infection and clearance, versus the development of chronic infection, are poorly understood. In vitro models of viral hepatitis circumvent the high costs and ethical considerations of animal models, which also translate poorly to studying the human-specific hepatitis viruses. However, significant challenges are associated with modeling long-term infection in vitro. Differentiated hepatocytes are best able to sustain chronic viral hepatitis infection, but standard two-dimensional (2D) models are limited because they fail to mimic the architecture and cellular microenvironment of the liver, and cannot maintain a differentiated hepatocyte phenotype over extended periods. Alternatively, physiomimetic models facilitate important interactions between hepatocytes and their microenvironment by incorporating liver-specific environmental factors such as three-dimensional (3D) ECM interactions and co-culture with non-parenchymal cells. These physiologically relevant interactions help maintain a functional hepatocyte phenotype that is critical for sustaining viral hepatitis infection. In this review, we provide an overview of distinct, novel, and innovative in vitro liver models and discuss their functionality and relevance in modeling viral hepatitis. These platforms may provide novel insight into mechanisms that regulate viral clearance versus progression to chronic infections that can drive subsequent liver disease

Inferential language use by school-aged boys with fragile X syndrome: Effects of a parent-implemented spoken language intervention

This study examined the impact of a distance-delivered parent-implemented narrative language intervention on the use of inferential language during shared storytelling by school-aged boys with fragile X syndrome, an inherited neurodevelopmental disorder. Nineteen school-aged boys with FXS and their biological mothers participated. Dyads were randomly assigned to an intervention or a treatment-as-usual comparison group. Transcripts from all pre- and post-intervention sessions were coded for child use of prompted and spontaneous inferential language coded into various categories. Children in the intervention group used more utterances that contained inferential language than the comparison group at post-intervention. Furthermore, children in the intervention group used more prompted inferential language than the comparison group at post-intervention, but there were no differences between the groups in their spontaneous use of inferential language. Additionally, children in the intervention group demonstrated increases from pre- to post-intervention in their use of most categories of inferential language. This study provides initial support for the utility of a parent-implemented language intervention for increasing the use of inferential language by school aged boys with FXS, but also suggests the need for additional treatment to encourage spontaneous use