Photoacoustic discrimination of viable and thermally coagulated blood for burn injury imaging

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on January 11, 2008)Includes bibliographical references.Thesis (M.S.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2007.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Biological engineering.Early and accurate determination of burn depth is crucial to monitoring and treatment of the burn wound. One such treatment, surgical excision and grafting, involves removal of necrotic tissue from the wound and replacing it with healthy skin donated from another area of the body. We propose that a photo acoustically obtained depth profile of the burn wound, which delineates the boundary between necrotic tissue and viable tissue, would prove useful for this intervention. A simplified model of a dermal burn wound can be described as a layer of necrotic tissue, containing thermally coagulated blood, atop a layer of inflamed tissue that is characterized by the presence of viable (non-coagulated) blood. Using optical spectroscopy and photo acoustic spectroscopy, we show that it is possible to discriminate between coagulated and non-coagulated blood using a dual-wavelength photo acoustic method and, therefore, discriminate between the two layer types. A blood vessel phantom study confirmed the feasibility of this dual-wavelength photo acoustic technique. Finally, since little is known about the optical properties of thermally coagulated blood, we sought out to elucidate them. A novel photo acoustic method was used to derive the optical absorption coefficient, [mu]a, of thermally coagulated blood over the wavelength range from 580 to 700 nm. Additionally, we performed a linear regression on the 580 to 700 nm absorption spectrum and extrapolated it out to 500 nm, creating a theoretical 500 to 700 nm absorption spectrum for thermally coagulated blood

Inverting the Transition-to-Proof Classroom

In this paper, we examine the benefits of employing an inverted or “flipped” class design in a Transition-to-Proof course for second-year mathematics majors. The issues concomitant with such courses, particularly student acquisition of “sociomathematical norms” and self-regulated learning strategies, are discussed along with ways that the inverted classroom can address these issues. Finally, results from the redesign of a Transition-to-Poof class at the author’s university are given and discussed

Compilation of Radiochemical Analyses of Spent Nuclear Fuel Samples

This document is a compilation of radiochemical analyses of spent nuclear fuel samples performed at the Khlopin Radium Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia

Decreased brain venous vasculature visibility on susceptibility-weighted imaging venography in patients with multiple sclerosis is related to chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: The potential pathogenesis between the presence and severity of chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and its relation to clinical and imaging outcomes in brain parenchyma of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients has not yet been elucidated. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between CCSVI, and altered brain parenchyma venous vasculature visibility (VVV) on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in patients with MS and in sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HC). METHODS: 59 MS patients, 41 relapsing-remitting and 18 secondary-progressive, and 33 HC were imaged on a 3T GE scanner using pre- and post-contrast SWI venography. The presence and severity of CCSVI was determined using extra-cranial and trans-cranial Doppler criteria. Apparent total venous volume (ATVV), venous intracranial fraction (VIF) and average distance-from-vein (DFV) were calculated for various vein mean diameter categories: .9 mm. RESULTS: CCSVI criteria were fulfilled in 79.7% of MS patients and 18.2% of HC (p < .0001). Patients with MS showed decreased overall ATVV, ATVV of veins with a diameter < .3 mm, and increased DFV compared to HC (all p < .0001). Subjects diagnosed with CCSVI had significantly increased DFV (p < .0001), decreased overall ATVV and ATVV of veins with a diameter < .3 mm (p < .003) compared to subjects without CCSVI. The severity of CCSVI was significantly related to decreased VVV in MS (p < .0001) on pre- and post-contrast SWI, but not in HC. CONCLUSIONS: MS patients with higher number of venous stenoses, indicative of CCSVI severity, showed significantly decreased venous vasculature in the brain parenchyma. The pathogenesis of these findings has to be further investigated, but they suggest that reduced metabolism and morphological changes of venous vasculature may be taking place in patients with MS

Chromosome-Biased Binding and Gene Regulation by the Caenorhabditis elegans DRM Complex

DRM is a conserved transcription factor complex that includes E2F/DP and pRB family proteins and plays important roles in development and cancer. Here we describe new aspects of DRM binding and function revealed through genome-wide analyses of the Caenorhabditis elegans DRM subunit LIN-54. We show that LIN-54 DNA-binding activity recruits DRM to promoters enriched for adjacent putative E2F/DP and LIN-54 binding sites, suggesting that these two DNA–binding moieties together direct DRM to its target genes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and gene expression profiling reveals conserved roles for DRM in regulating genes involved in cell division, development, and reproduction. We find that LIN-54 promotes expression of reproduction genes in the germline, but prevents ectopic activation of germline-specific genes in embryonic soma. Strikingly, C. elegans DRM does not act uniformly throughout the genome: the DRM recruitment motif, DRM binding, and DRM-regulated embryonic genes are all under-represented on the X chromosome. However, germline genes down-regulated in lin-54 mutants are over-represented on the X chromosome. We discuss models for how loss of autosome-bound DRM may enhance germline X chromosome silencing. We propose that autosome-enriched binding of DRM arose in C. elegans as a consequence of germline X chromosome silencing and the evolutionary redistribution of germline-expressed and essential target genes to autosomes. Sex chromosome gene regulation may thus have profound evolutionary effects on genome organization and transcriptional regulatory networks.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant GM24663)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant DK068429)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant GM082971)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant GM076378

Relationship between Antibody Susceptibility and Lipopolysaccharide O-Antigen Characteristics of Invasive and Gastrointestinal Nontyphoidal Salmonellae Isolates from Kenya

Background: Nontyphoidal Salmonellae (NTS) cause a large burden of invasive and gastrointestinal disease among young children in sub-Saharan Africa. No vaccine is currently available. Previous reports indicate the importance of the O-antigen of Salmonella lipopolysaccharide for virulence and resistance to antibody-mediated killing. We hypothesised that isolates with more O-antigen have increased resistance to antibody-mediated killing and are more likely to be invasive than gastrointestinal. Methodology/Principal findings: We studied 192 NTS isolates (114 Typhimurium, 78 Enteritidis) from blood and stools, mostly from paediatric admissions in Kenya 2000-2011. Isolates were tested for susceptibility to antibody-mediated killing, using whole adult serum. O-antigen structural characteristics, including O-acetylation and glucosylation, were investigated. Overall, isolates were susceptible to antibody-mediated killing, but S. Enteritidis were less susceptible and expressed more O-antigen than Typhimurium (p\u3c0.0001 for both comparisons). For S. Typhimurium, but not Enteritidis, O-antigen expression correlated with reduced sensitivity to killing (r = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.10-0.45, p = 0.002). Both serovars expressed O-antigen populations ranging 21-33 kDa average molecular weight. O-antigen from most Typhimurium were O-acetylated on rhamnose and abequose residues, while Enteritidis O-antigen had low or no O-acetylation. Both Typhimurium and Enteritidis O-antigen were approximately 20%-50% glucosylated. Amount of S. Typhimurium O-antigen and O-antigen glucosylation level were inversely related. There was no clear association between clinical presentation and antibody susceptibility, O-antigen level or other O-antigen features. Conclusion/Significance: Kenyan S. Typhimurium and Enteritidis clinical isolates are susceptible to antibody-mediated killing, with degree of susceptibility varying with level of O-antigen for S. Typhimurium. This supports the development of an antibody-inducing vaccine against NTS for Africa. No clear differences were found in the phenotype of isolates from blood and stool, suggesting that the same isolates can cause invasive disease and gastroenteritis. Genome studies are required to understand whether invasive and gastrointestinal isolates differ at the genotypic level

University of North Carolina Wilmington Watson College of Education PDS school-university partnership with Isaac Bear Early College and Southeast Area Technical High School

Purpose – This article highlights the recipient of the Exemplary PDS Award given by the National Association of School–University Partnerships. In 2024, the University of North Carolina Wilmington's Watson College of Education (WCE) PDS School–University Partnership with Isaac Bear Early College (IBEC) and Southeast Area Technical (SEA-Tech) High School were recognized for their collaborative work. This article highlights the structures and major activities involved in a longstanding, successful PDS partnership. Design/methodology/approach – The article is derived from the award proposal and written in an informative, narrative style, embedding references to each of the NAPDS 9 Essentials to assist in highlighting key aspects of the partnership. Findings – Due to the nature of this piece, there are no research findings. Originality/value – This article draws additional attention to various aspects of this exemplary partnership and may inspire future nominations

Blood pressure after recent stroke: baseline findings from the secondary prevention of small subcortical strokes trial

La hipertensión es el factor de riesgo más poderoso para el accidente cerebrovascular. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar la presión arterial de referencia en los participantes en el ensayo de prevención secundaria de accidentes cerebrovasculares. Para este análisis transversal, los participantes se clasificaron por línea de base de presión arterial sistólica: menor a 120, 120–139, 140–159, 160–179, y mayor o igual a 180 mm Hg y en comparación con las características demográficas y clínicas. Se examinaron los predictores de presión arterial sistólica menor a 140 mm Hg. Más de la mitad de los pacientes con accidentes cerebrovasculares lacunares examinados tuvieron hipertensión sin controlar aproximadamente 2 meses y medio antes. Se indica que se deben considerar las diferencias regionales, raciales y clínicas para controlar y prevenir accidentes cerebrovasculares recurrentes

Learning spaces:built, natural and digital considerations for learning and learners

Learning spaces: Built, natural and digital considerations for learning and learner

Achieved blood pressures in the secondary prevention of small subcortical strokes (SPS3) study: challenges and lessons learned.

La reducción de la presión arterial después del accidente cerebrovascular sigue siendo un desafío, incluso en el contexto de los ensayos clínicos. Se describe la previsión secundaria del infarto subcortical con la prevención de la presión arterial y la gestión de presión arterial baja durante el estudio