MEMS 411: Giant Pouched Rat Trap

Our goal is to design a giant pouched rat trap that meets the customer needs from professor Stan Braude. The giant pouched rats are to be breed and trained to find land mines. Therefore, the rats must be captured in good condition. However, giant pouched rats are not passive once caught and tries to escape every way possible. In the past, with traditional trap wires, they tend to get caught in the wire and hurt themselves. Our solution offers a completely smooth inner wall of the trap to prevent damage to the rats, while improving on the functionality of the trap in the field

Pancreatic lymphoepithelial cyst with concurrent HIV infection: A case report and review of the literature

Pancreatic lymphoepithelial cysts are rare, benign, non-neoplastic unilocular or multilocular cystic lesions. These circumscribed pancreatic lesions are filled with keratinous material grossly and exhibit distinct microscopic features. Pancreatic lymphoepithelial cysts are like the more common lymphoepithelial cysts of the parotid glands, which have been associated with the diffuse infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome often seen in patients with HIV infection. However, pancreatic lymphoepithelial cysts are rare and their association with HIV infection has not been established. The presence of secondary changes in non-neoplastic cysts such as goblet cell metaplasia that was present in our case is an important feature to be included in the differential diagnosis and not to be interpreted as a mucinous neoplasm, particularly on fine-needle aspiration specimen microscopic evaluation that would impact further management. Here we describe the diagnosis and treatment of lymphoepithelial cysts in a patient who was on highly active antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection and we provide a brief literature review. Defining the clinical characteristics of lymphoepithelial cysts in patients with HIV and determining accurate preoperative diagnostic procedures will be critical for establishing effective surgical and medical approaches to treating these cysts, which differ substantially from other more serious pancreatic cystic lesions

Channel Characteristics of Ultra Wideband Systems with Single Co-Channel Interference

[[abstract]]In this paper, the channel characteristics of ultra-wideband systems with single co-channel interference are investigated. A ray-tracing technique is developed to calculate channel frequency responses in an indoor environment, of which the frequency dependence for the dielectric constant and the conductivity are carefully considered. By using the frequency responses, the channel capacities with single co-channel interference are calculated. The outage probability of the channel capacities are also calculated for analyzing the channel statistical property. Furthermore, some useful channel statistical parameters are also investigated for different material partitions.[[notice]]補正完畢[[incitationindex]]SCI[[incitationindex]]EI[[booktype]]電子版[[booktype]]紙

Geographic accessibility to primary care providers: Comparing rural and urban areas in Southwestern Ontario

This research examines geographical accessibility to primary care providers (PCPs) across urban and rural areas of Southwestern Ontario and examines variations in the distribution of PCPs in relation to the senior population (aged 65 years and older). Information about PCP practices was provided by the HealthForceOntario Marketing and Recruitment Agency. Population data were obtained from the 2016 Census of Canada. To calculate scores for accessibility to PCPs (i.e., PCPs/10,000 population), we applied the enhanced 2‐step floating catchment area method with distance decay effect within a global service catchment of 30‐minute drive time. A geospatial mapping approach revealed disparities in the distribution of PCPs with a pattern of higher spatial accessibility in or around major urban areas in Southwestern Ontario. Comparative analyses were performed in association with the seniors’ population to identify how accessibility scores were mismatched with the population needs. The outcome of this study will assist researchers and health service planners to better understand the distribution of existing PCPs to address inequalities, particularly in rural areas

A geospatial approach to understanding inequalities in accessibility to primary care among vulnerable populations

Many Canadians experience unequal access to primary care services, despite living in a country with a universal health care system. Health inequalities affect all Canadians but have a much stronger impact on the health of vulnerable populations. Health inequalities are preventable differences in the health status or distribution of health resources as experienced by vulnerable populations. A geospatial approach was applied to examine how closely the distribution of primary care providers (PCPs) in London, Ontario meet the needs of vulnerable populations, including people with low income status, seniors, lone parents, and linguistic minorities. Using enhanced two step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) method, an index of geographic access scores for all PCPs and PCPs speaking French, Arabic, and Spanish were separately developed at the dissemination area (DA) level. To analyze how PCPs are distributed, comparative analyses were performed in association with specific vulnerable groups. Geographical accessibility to all PCPs, and PCPs who speak specific minority languages vary considerably across the city of London. Access scores for French- and Arabic-speaking PCPs are found comparatively high (mean = 2.85 and 1.01 respectively) as compared to Spanish-speaking PCPs (mean = 0.47). Additionally, many areas with high proportions of vulnerable populations experience low accessibility. Despite its exploratory nature, this study offers insight into intra-urban distributions of geographical accessibility to primary care resources for vulnerable groups. These findings can facilitate health researchers and policymakers in the development of recommendations to increase levels of accessibility of specific population groups in underserved areas

Association between Serum Lycopene and Lung Cancer Mortality: An 18-Year Follow-up Study of a National Cohort

Background: Lycopene is a carotenoid found in some fruits and vegetables that is responsible for the red pigment in tomatoes and tomato products. While many studies have shown a link between lycopene and protection against the initiation and/or progression of lung cancer, data on its effect on lung cancer survivability is limited. Objective: The primary objective of this study was to see if there was a link between lycopene levels in the blood and lung cancer mortality. A secondary goal was to see if dietary factors influence lycopene levels in the blood. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 14,358 adults who took part in Phase II of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III was carried out (1991- 1994). This dataset served as the baseline for a 15-year (1991-2006) follow-up study, which was correlated with the National Death Index database. The Cox Proportional Hazards Regression Model was used to calculate the HR for all-cause and cancer-related deaths for individuals with high, moderate, and low serum lycopene levels. Results: The unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) of deaths associated with low serum lycopene levels (25 percent cutoff) was 1.67 (95 percent CI=1.24-2.23) and 1.00, respectively (ref). After controlling for multiple risk factors such as age and gender, the HR for lung cancer fatalities was 1.45 (95% CI=1.08-1.96) for low serum levels (25 percent cutoff) with a reference value of 1.00. For low vs. high serum lycopene levels, the adjusted HR for lung cancer death using 3-level categorization (and adjusted for fruits and vegetables) was 1.67 (95 percent CI=1.03-2.71). In addition, the adjusted HR for lung cancer death using 3-level categorization (and unadjusted for fruits and vegetables) was 1.68 (95 percent CI=1.04-2.72) for low serum lycopene levels vs. high serum lycopene levels. Conclusions: The results suggest that high serum lycopene levels may reduce the risk of dying from lung cancer. Furthermore, lycopene may not only reduce the risk of lung cancer development but may also improve survival among lung cancer patients. More research is needed to understand the physiological mechanisms underlying this association

Risk factors for re-hospitalization following neonatal discharge of extremely preterm infants in Canada

Objective: Survivors of extremely preterm birth are at risk of re-hospitalization but risk factors in the Canadian population are unknown. Our objective is to identify neonatal, sociodemographic, and geographic characteristics that predict re-hospitalization in Canadian extremely preterm neonates. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective observational cohort study that included preterm infants born 22 to 28 weeks’ gestational age from April 1, 2009 to September 30, 2011 and seen at 18 to 24 months corrected gestational age in a Canadian Neonatal Follow-Up Network clinic. Characteristics of infants re-hospitalized versus not re-hospitalized are compared. The potential neonatal, sociodemographic, and geographic factors with significant association in the univariate analysis are included in a multivariate model. Results: From a total of 2,275 preterm infants born at 22 to 28 weeks gestation included, 838 (36.8%) were re-hospitalized at least once. There were significant disparities between Canadian provincial regions, ranging from 25.9% to 49.4%. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, factors associated with an increased risk for re-hospitalization were region of residence, male sex, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, prolonged neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay, ethnicity, Indigenous ethnicity, and sibling(s) in the home. Conclusion: Various neonatal, sociodemographic, and geographic factors predict re-hospitalization of extremely preterm infants born in Canada. The risk factors of re-hospitalization provide insights to help health care leaders explore potential preventative approaches to improve child health and reduce health care system cost

Curcumin Ingestion Inhibits Mastocytosis and Suppresses Intestinal Anaphylaxis in a Murine Model of Food Allergy

IgE antibodies and mast cells play critical roles in the establishment of allergic responses to food antigens. Curcumin, the active ingredient of the curry spice turmeric, has anti-inflammatory properties, and thus may have the capacity to regulate Th2 cells and mucosal mast cell function during allergic responses. We assessed whether curcumin ingestion during oral allergen exposure can modulate the development of food allergy using a murine model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced intestinal anaphylaxis. Herein, we demonstrate that frequent ingestion of curcumin during oral OVA exposure inhibits the development of mastocytosis and intestinal anaphylaxis in OVA-challenged allergic mice. Intragastric (i.g.) exposure to OVA in sensitized BALB/c mice induced a robust IgE-mediated response accompanied by enhanced OVA-IgE levels, intestinal mastocytosis, elevated serum mMCP-1, and acute diarrhea. In contrast, mice exposed to oral curcumin throughout the experimental regimen appeared to be normal and did not exhibit intense allergic diarrhea or a significant enhancement of OVA-IgE and intestinal mast cell expansion and activation. Furthermore, allergic diarrhea, mast cell activation and expansion, and Th2 responses were also suppressed in mice exposed to curcumin during the OVA-challenge phase alone, despite the presence of elevated levels of OVA-IgE, suggesting that curcumin may have a direct suppressive effect on intestinal mast cell activation and reverse food allergy symptoms in allergen-sensitized individuals. This was confirmed by observations that curcumin attenuated the expansion of both adoptively transferred bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs), and inhibited their survival and activation during cell culture. Finally, the suppression of intestinal anaphylaxis by curcumin was directly linked with the inhibition of NF-kappaB activation in curcumin-treated allergic mice, and curcumin inhibited the phosphorylation of the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB in BMMCs. In summary, our data demonstrates a protective role for curcumin during allergic responses to food antigens, suggesting that frequent ingestion of this spice may modulate the outcome of disease in susceptible individuals

Cults and Online Violent Extremism

The word ‘cultic’ is applied to a diverse range of online activity. This label is not always intended to convey a negative judgement; for example, individual influencers, music groups and brands aspire to a ‘cult following’. However, the use of the words ‘cult’ or ‘cultic’ is usually intended by the speaker as a judgement to draw attention to something that may have some elements typically associated with religion (for example, idealisation of a particular individual, a specific worldview and/or ritual practices) as well as the potential to cause harm and violence. This report proposes three ideal-typical groupings of online cultic activity that can glorify and inspire violent extremisms: ‘Cultic’ Religious Groups, ‘Online Cultic Milieus’ and ‘Cultic Fandoms’. This is not an exhaustive description of online activity that has been termed ‘cultic’ in popular culture, but it provides a good starting point for further analysis. This report argues that the understanding of ‘cults’ and online activity needs to be carefully nuanced; the complexities of online and offline activities that might result in violent extremism need to be analysed and risk assessed at the level of both group/social movement and individual. It is important to understand that there are a range of ways individuals interact with these cultic online environments that may or may not represent warning signs or pathways into violent extremism. A holistic understanding of both the nature of the cultic online milieu and an individual’s engagement with that environment is warranted before making assumptions about the nature of any individual’s engagement