Effects of Statewide Sex Education Laws on Health Behaviors

Data suggested that abstinence-only education (AOE) was not an effective form of sex education compared to abstinence plus (AP) or comprehensive sex education (CSE). However, there was a dearth of research regarding how state sex education policies affect sixth, seventh, and eighth grade student behaviors. This study involved investigating how state policies impact sexual health behaviors of this population. The theoretical framework for this study was the socioecological model (SEM), which was used to assess how policies impact sexual behaviors. Research questions involved sex education policies and their impacts on condom use as well as age and number of sexual partners. The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey was used to collect secondary data that were analyzed using Chi-Square analysis. Results suggested that policies should be implemented based on data rather than political agenda or religious affiliation. Data suggested a statistically significant difference in terms of proportion of students who had sexual intercourse before age 11 and type of state sex education policy. The following percentage of students were found to have sex before age 11. This data was found to be statistically significant (AOE = 6.3%, AP = 5.0%, CSE = 6.1%, p = 0.003). There were also research questions that were found to be statistically significant; involving ever having sexual intercourse and type of state sex education policy (p = 0.020). In terms of types of sex education policies, 6.3% of students receiving AOE, 5.0% of students receiving AP, and 6.1% of students receiving CSE reported ever having sexual intercourse. Results suggested lack of associations between state sex education policies and sexual behaviors

Rational design of antimicrobial nanomedicines

We are living in a post-antibiotic era. The miracle drugs that shaped our modern healthcare system are losing effectiveness, and we aren\u27t developing enough new drugs to meet patient needs. Innovative strategies to kill resistant bacteria and protect our antibiotic arsenal are urgently needed. Biodegradable polyanhydride nanoparticle-based nanomedicines could shape the next generation of antimicrobial therapies by improving drug biodistribution and targeting. By controlling drug release and improving antibiotic potency, they provide dose sparing and dose frequency reduction capabilities that could improve compliance. Unfortunately, traditional screening approaches are impractical for nanomedicines due to the massive physicochemical dataspace contributed by drug, polymer, and nanoparticle properties. Additionally, the relationships between these properties and nanomedicine efficacy are complex and nonlinear, impeding first principles modeling. Improved methods of screening and modeling antimicrobial nanomedicines are needed to realize their full potential. In this dissertation, we report the adaptation of a high-throughput method to rapidly screen a novel polyanhydride copolymer chemical space for interesting drug delivery properties. These CPTEG:SA copolymers were shown to erode more rapidly than traditional polyanhydride copolymers, resulting in rapid, chemistry-dependent drug release within three days. This rapid release could be beneficial for fast-growing pathogens by providing a quick, suppressive antibiotic dose that is maintained over several days. The high-throughput method was adapted to synthesize polymer-drug films to screen for thermodynamic mixing interactions that influence release kinetics. These methods enabled high-throughput synthesis of antibiotic-loaded nanoparticle libraries, which were evaluated for their controlled release capabilities and antimicrobial efficacy against the opportunistic, resistant pathogen Burkholderia cepacia. Multivariate data analytics approaches were used to identify key polymer, drug, and nanoparticle properties that determine nanomedicine release kinetics and efficacy. Graph theory was used to reduce the dimensionality of the descriptor data while preserving nonlinear relationships between formulations, enabling interrogation of nanomedicine design pathways. The dimensionally compressed descriptor space was used to develop predictive models for nanomedicine release kinetics and efficacy. These models successfully predicted the release kinetics and encapsulation efficiency for nanoparticles encapsulating two drugs not included in the training data set. In terms of efficacy, the model successfully predicted whether untested individual nanomedicines or nanomedicine cocktails would provide improved potency over soluble drug. From these results, we proposed two informatics-assisted frameworks to rapidly screen nanomedicine candidates capable of killing resistant bacteria and controlling drug release. Overall, this dissertation has provided the first steps toward a broader framework for the rational design of antimicrobial nanomedicines. Lead candidates identified by this framework could provide new therapies against resistant pathogens and enable repurposing of existing antibiotics limited by resistance

Effects of Statewide Sex Education Laws on Health Behaviors

Data suggested that abstinence-only education (AOE) was not an effective form of sex education compared to abstinence plus (AP) or comprehensive sex education (CSE). However, there was a dearth of research regarding how state sex education policies affect sixth, seventh, and eighth grade student behaviors. This study involved investigating how state policies impact sexual health behaviors of this population. The theoretical framework for this study was the socioecological model (SEM), which was used to assess how policies impact sexual behaviors. Research questions involved sex education policies and their impacts on condom use as well as age and number of sexual partners. The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey was used to collect secondary data that were analyzed using Chi-Square analysis. Results suggested that policies should be implemented based on data rather than political agenda or religious affiliation. Data suggested a statistically significant difference in terms of proportion of students who had sexual intercourse before age 11 and type of state sex education policy. The following percentage of students were found to have sex before age 11. This data was found to be statistically significant (AOE = 6.3%, AP = 5.0%, CSE = 6.1%, p = 0.003). There were also research questions that were found to be statistically significant; involving ever having sexual intercourse and type of state sex education policy (p = 0.020). In terms of types of sex education policies, 6.3% of students receiving AOE, 5.0% of students receiving AP, and 6.1% of students receiving CSE reported ever having sexual intercourse. Results suggested lack of associations between state sex education policies and sexual behaviors

Biodistribution of degradable polyanhydride particles in Aedes aegypti tissues

Insecticide resistance poses a significant threat to the control of arthropods that transmit disease agents. Nanoparticle carriers offer exciting opportunities to expand the armamentarium of insecticides available for public health and other pests. Most chemical insecticides are delivered by contact or feeding, and from there must penetrate various biological membranes to reach target organs and kill the pest organism. Nanoparticles have been shown to improve bioactive compound navigation of such barriers in vertebrates, but have not been well-explored in arthropods. In this study, we explored the potential of polyanhydride micro- and nanoparticles (250 nm– 3 μm), labeled with rhodamine B to associate with and/or transit across insect biological barriers, including the cuticle, epithelium, midgut and ovaries, in female Ae. aeygpti mosquitoes. Mosquitoes were exposed using conditions to mimic surface contact with a residual spray or paint, topical exposure to mimic contact with aerosolized insecticide, or per os in a sugar meal. In surface contact experiments, microparticles were sometimes observed in association with the exterior of the insect cuticle. Nanoparticles were more uniformly distributed across exterior tissues and present at higher concentrations. Furthermore, by surface contact, topical exposure, or per os, particles were detected in internal organs. In every experiment, amphiphilic polyanhydride nanoparticles associated with internal tissues to a higher degree than hydrophobic nanoparticles. In vitro, nanoparticles associated with Aedes aegypti Aag2 cells within two hours of exposure, and particles were evident in the cytoplasm. Further studies demonstrated that particle uptake is dependent on caveolae-mediated endocytosis. The propensity of these nanoparticles to cross biological barriers including the cuticle, to localize in target tissue sites of interest, and to reach the cytoplasm of cells, provides great promise for targeted delivery of insecticidal candidates that cannot otherwise reach these cellular and subcellular locations

A data analytics approach for rational design of nanomedicines with programmable drug release

Drug delivery vehicles can improve the functional efficacy of existing antimicrobial therapies by improving biodistribution and targeting. A critical property of such nanomedicine formulations is their ability to control the release kinetics of their payloads. The combination of (and interactions between) polymer, drug, and nanoparticle properties gives rise to nonlinear behavioral relationships and a large data space. These factors complicate both first-principles modeling and screening of nanomedicine formulations. Predictive analytics may offer a more efficient approach toward rational design of nanomedicines by identifying key descriptors and correlating them to nanoparticle release behavior. In this work, antibiotic release kinetics data were generated from polyanhydride nanoparticle formulations with varying copolymer compositions, encapsulated drug type, and drug loading. Four antibiotics, doxycycline, rifampicin, chloramphenicol, and pyrazinamide, were used. Linear manifold learning methods were used to relate drug release properties with polymer, drug, and nanoparticle properties, and key descriptors were identified that are highly correlated with release properties. However, these linear methods could not predict release behavior. Non-linear multivariate modeling based on graph theory was then used to deconvolute the governing relationships between these properties, and predictive models were generated to rapidly screen lead nanomedicine formulations with desirable release properties with minimal nanoparticle characterization. Release kinetics predictions of two drugs containing atoms not included in the model showed good agreement with experimental results, validating the model and indicating its potential to virtually explore new polymer and drug pairs not included in training data set. The models were shown to be robust after inclusion of these new formulations in that the new inclusions did not significantly change model regression. This approach provides the first steps towards development of a framework that can be used to rationally design nanomedicine formulations by selecting the appropriate carrier for a drug payload to program desirable release kinetics

IDCS J1426.5+3508: Cosmological implications of a massive, strong lensing cluster at Z = 1.75

The galaxy cluster IDCS J1426.5+3508 at z = 1.75 is the most massive galaxy cluster yet discovered at z > 1.4 and the first cluster at this epoch for which the Sunyaev-Zel'Dovich effect has been observed. In this paper we report on the discovery with HST imaging of a giant arc associated with this cluster. The curvature of the arc suggests that the lensing mass is nearly coincident with the brightest cluster galaxy, and the color is consistent with the arc being a star-forming galaxy. We compare the constraint on M200 based upon strong lensing with Sunyaev-Zel'Dovich results, finding that the two are consistent if the redshift of the arc is z > 3. Finally, we explore the cosmological implications of this system, considering the likelihood of the existence of a strongly lensing galaxy cluster at this epoch in an LCDM universe. While the existence of the cluster itself can potentially be accomodated if one considers the entire volume covered at this redshift by all current high-redshift cluster surveys, the existence of this strongly lensed galaxy greatly exacerbates the long-standing giant arc problem. For standard LCDM structure formation and observed background field galaxy counts this lens system should not exist. Specifically, there should be no giant arcs in the entire sky as bright in F814W as the observed arc for clusters at z \geq 1.75, and only \sim 0.3 as bright in F160W as the observed arc. If we relax the redshift constraint to consider all clusters at z \geq 1.5, the expected number of giant arcs rises to \sim15 in F160W, but the number of giant arcs of this brightness in F814W remains zero. These arc statistic results are independent of the mass of IDCS J1426.5+3508. We consider possible explanations for this discrepancy.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, Accepted to The Astrophysical Journa

The XMM Cluster Survey: Active Galactic Nuclei and Starburst Galaxies in XMMXCS J2215.9-1738 at z=1.46

We use Chandra X-ray and Spitzer infrared observations to explore the AGN and starburst populations of XMMXCS J2215.9-1738 at z=1.46, one of the most distant spectroscopically confirmed galaxy clusters known. The high resolution X-ray imaging reveals that the cluster emission is contaminated by point sources that were not resolved in XMM observations of the system, and have the effect of hardening the spectrum, leading to the previously reported temperature for this system being overestimated. From a joint spectroscopic analysis of the Chandra and XMM data, the cluster is found to have temperature T=4.1_-0.9^+0.6 keV and luminosity L_X=(2.92_-0.35^+0.24)x10^44 erg/s extrapolated to a radius of 2 Mpc. As a result of this revised analysis, the cluster is found to lie on the sigma_v-T relation, but the cluster remains less luminous than would be expected from self-similar evolution of the local L_X-T relation. Two of the newly discovered X-ray AGN are cluster members, while a third object, which is also a prominent 24 micron source, is found to have properties consistent with it being a high redshift, highly obscured object in the background. We find a total of eight >5 sigma 24 micron sources associated with cluster members (four spectroscopically confirmed, and four selected using photometric redshifts), and one additional 24 micron source with two possible optical/near-IR counterparts that may be associated with the cluster. Examining the IRAC colors of these sources, we find one object is likely to be an AGN. Assuming that the other 24 micron sources are powered by star formation, their infrared luminosities imply star formation rates ~100 M_sun/yr. We find that three of these sources are located at projected distances of <250 kpc from the cluster center, suggesting that a large amount of star formation may be taking place in the cluster core, in contrast to clusters at low redshift.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ, 16 pages, 10 figure

Potential Benefits of Limited Clinical and Radiographic Follow-up After Surgical Treatment of Ankle Fractures

Introduction: Ankle fractures are one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal injuries, with a significant number requiring surgical treatment. Postoperative complications requiring additional interventions frequently occur during the early postoperative period. We hypothesize that there is a limited need for routine clinical and radiographic follow-up once the fracture is deemed healed. Methods: IRB approval was obtained at four academic trauma centers. A retrospective chart review was done to identify adults with healed unimalleolar and bimalleolar ankle fractures treated surgically with at least 12 months of follow-up. Based on postoperative radiographs, changes in fracture alignment and implant position from radiographic union to final follow-up were documented. The average reimbursement for a final follow-up clinic visit and a set of ankle radiographs were estimated. Results: A total of 140 patients met inclusion criteria. The mean age at injury was 49.5 years, and 67.9% of patients were female. The mean time to healing was 82.2 days (±33.5 days). After radiographic healing, one patient had radiographic changes but was asymptomatic and full weight bearing at their final follow-up. On average, our institution was reimbursed $46 to$49 for a follow-up clinic visit and $364 to$497 for a set of ankle radiographs. Conclusion: Given the average time to healing, there is limited utility in routine radiographic and clinical follow-up beyond 16 weeks in asymptomatic patients. In our series, this would result in a savings of $950 to$1,200 per patient. However, after ankle fractures were deemed healed, 0.7% patients had radiographic evidence of a change in implant position. Documenting this change did not modify the immediate course of fracture treatment. Surgeons will need to balance the need for routine follow-up with the potential economic benefits in reducing costs to the healthcare system

The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: Physical Properties and Purity of a Galaxy Cluster Sample Selected via the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect

We present optical and X-ray properties for the first confirmed galaxy cluster sample selected by the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Effect from 148 GHz maps over 455 square degrees of sky made with the Atacama Cosmology Telescope. These maps, coupled with multi-band imaging on 4-meter-class optical telescopes, have yielded a sample of 23 galaxy clusters with redshifts between 0.118 and 1.066. Of these 23 clusters, 10 are newly discovered. The selection of this sample is approximately mass limited and essentially independent of redshift. We provide optical positions, images, redshifts and X-ray fluxes and luminosities for the full sample, and X-ray temperatures of an important subset. The mass limit of the full sample is around 8e14 Msun, with a number distribution that peaks around a redshift of 0.4. For the 10 highest significance SZE-selected cluster candidates, all of which are optically confirmed, the mass threshold is 1e15 Msun and the redshift range is 0.167 to 1.066. Archival observations from Chandra, XMM-Newton, and ROSAT provide X-ray luminosities and temperatures that are broadly consistent with this mass threshold. Our optical follow-up procedure also allowed us to assess the purity of the ACT cluster sample. Eighty (one hundred) percent of the 148 GHz candidates with signal-to-noise ratios greater than 5.1 (5.7) are confirmed as massive clusters. The reported sample represents one of the largest SZE-selected sample of massive clusters over all redshifts within a cosmologically-significant survey volume, which will enable cosmological studies as well as future studies on the evolution, morphology, and stellar populations in the most massive clusters in the Universe.Comment: 20 pages, 15 figures, 6 tables. Accepted for publication in ApJ. Higher resolution figures available at: http://peumo.rutgers.edu/~felipe/e-prints