Fall 2007, Biology major samples various cultures to determine focus for future work in international health

A resident of Troy, NY, Zoe Rogers is a junior studying biology and a member of the University Honors Program

Wearing Your Heart on Your Sleeve: The Effects of Conspicuous Compassion on Identity Signaling and Charitable Behavior

Conspicuous compassion is one type of prosocial behavior that involves the purchase and wearing of merchandise that supports a cause. This research considers the effects that conspicuous compassion has on signaling to others and signaling to the self and the factors that influence these types of signaling. This research shows that self-signaling is influenced more by whether the merchandise supported (vs. did not support) a cause, while other-signaling is more influenced by the public (vs. private) dimension of the message on the merchandise. This research also examines a two-path model of the effects of conspicuous compassion on subsequent charitable behavior, through both self-signaling and other-signaling. Two boundary conditions, individuals\u27 self-importance of symbolization moral identity and the differences between the purchasing and wearing components of conspicuous compassion, are also examined

Evaluating the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day Program

It is well-documented that women in the United States are underrepresented in STEM fields and engineering in particular. This results in the underutilization of the available range of human resources and diverse problem-solving capacity in addressing the types of problems engineers are trained to solve. The lack of female representation in STEM fields may be associated with gender stereotypes and cultural practices that steer women away from engineering, a process that begins in childhood. This study examined the impact of one type of outreach, a 1-day opportunity for young girls in grades 1 through 5 to learn about and get hands-on experience with engineering. As part of this program, gender stereotypes as they relate to STEM fields were also discussed. We were interested in children’s interest in and previous experiences with engineering as well as their and their parent’s general beliefs about the child’s abilities in STEM areas. We collected surveys from parents and children prior to the program and from children immediately and 6 months after the program. Results showed that regardless of child age, participating in the program contributed to a significant increase in children’s self-reported engagement in engineering activities and in knowledge and interest in engineering. However, when followed up 6 months later, children’s self-reports in these areas returned to nearly pretest levels. The findings suggest the need for booster engineering experiences to maintain the gains achieved through participating in the Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program

Sovereignty and Freedom

Background: Coagulopathic bleeding is common after cardiac surgery and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Implementation of blood management algorithms in which patients with severe bleeding undergo near-patient coagulation testing results in less overall bleeding and transfusion. However, it is unknown whether there is additional value from pre-emptive near-patient testing to predict whether severe bleeding will occur. Objectives:To evaluate how well a comprehensive panel of 28 near-patient platelet and viscoelastometry tests predict bleeding after cardiac surgery, compared to prediction using baseline clinical characteristics alone. Methods:Single-center, prospective cohort study in adults undergoing a range of cardiac surgery procedures. The primary outcome was clinical concern about bleeding (CCB), a composite of high blood loss (chest drain volume >600 mL within 6 hours), re-operation for bleeding or administration of a pro-haemostatic treatment directed by clinician judgement. Results:In 1833 patients recruited between March 2010 and August 2012, the median number of abnormal near-patient test results was 5/28 per patient (range 0-18). CCB occurred in 449/1833 patients (24.5%). The c-statistic for a predictive model for CCB using only baseline clinical characteristics (baseline-only model) was 0.72 (95% CI 0.69-0.75). Addition of near-patient test results to this model (baseline-plus-test model) improved the prediction of CCB (c-statistic 0.75 [0.72-0.77]), but increased the number of correctly classified patients by only 18 (0.98%). Conclusions:Near-patient coagulation testing predicts bleeding in cardiac surgery patients, but offers little improvement in prediction compared to baseline clinical characteristics alone. trial registration: ISRNCTN 20778544 (http://www.isrctn.com/)

Tailoring iridium luminescence and gold nanoparticle size for imaging of microvascular blood flow

Aim: Imaging of blood flow in narrow channels and close to vessel walls is important in cardiovascular research for understanding pathogenesis. Our aim was to provide novel nanoprobes with visible emission and long lifetimes as trackers of flow. Materials & methods: Gold nanoparticles coated with an iridium complex were prepared. Luminescence imaging was used to monitor their flows in different hematocrit blood and in murine tissues. Results: The velocities are independent of hematocrit level and the nanoparticles entering blood circulation can be clearly detected in vessels in lungs, mesentery and the skeletal muscle. Conclusion: The work introduces for the first time iridium-based yellow-green luminescence with nanoparticle size of 100 nm for visualizing and monitoring flows with much higher resolution than conventional alternatives

Reading the biomineralized book of life: expanding otolith biogeochemical research and applications for fisheries and ecosystem-based management

Chemical analysis of calcified structures continues to flourish, as analytical and technological advances enable researchers to tap into trace elements and isotopes taken up in otoliths and other archival tissues at ever greater resolution. Increasingly, these tracers are applied to refine age estimation and interpretation, and to chronicle responses to environmental stressors, linking these to ecological, physiological, and life-history processes. Here, we review emerging approaches and innovative research directions in otolith chemistry, as well as in the chemistry of other archival tissues, outlining their value for fisheries and ecosystem-based management, turning the spotlight on areas where such biomarkers can support decision making. We summarise recent milestones and the challenges that lie ahead to using otoliths and archival tissues as biomarkers, grouped into seven, rapidly expanding and application-oriented research areas that apply chemical analysis in a variety of contexts, namely: (1) supporting fish age estimation; (2) evaluating environmental stress, ecophysiology and individual performance; (3) confirming seafood provenance; (4) resolving connectivity and movement pathways; (5) characterising food webs and trophic interactions; (6) reconstructing reproductive life histories; and (7) tracing stock enhancement efforts. Emerging research directions that apply hard part chemistry to combat seafood fraud, quantify past food webs, as well as to reconcile growth, movement, thermal, metabolic, stress and reproductive life-histories provide opportunities to examine how harvesting and global change impact fish health and fisheries productivity. Ultimately, improved appreciation of the many practical benefits of archival tissue chemistry to fisheries and ecosystem-based management will support their increased implementation into routine monitoring.[GRAPHICS]

Which symptoms are linked to a delayed presentation among melanoma patients? A retrospective study

Background: The incidence of melanoma is rising. Early detection is associated with a more favourable outcome. The factors that influence the timing of a patient’s presentation for medical assessment are not fully understood. The aims of the study were to measure the nature and duration of melanoma symptoms in a group of patients diagnosed with melanoma within the preceding 18 months and to identify the symptoms and barriers associated with a delay in presentation. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of 200 of the 963 melanoma patients who had participated in the Cancer Patient Experience Survey 2010 and were known to be alive 1 year later. Data were collected on symptoms, duration of symptoms prior to presentation and the reasons for not attending a doctor sooner. Results: A total of 159 patients responded to the questionnaire; 74 (47%) were men; mean age was 62 (range 24–90) years. Of the 149 patients who reported a symptom, 40 (27%) had a delayed presentation (i.e. >3 months). A mole growing bigger was the most common symptom and reporting this symptom was significantly associated with a delayed presentation (odds ratio (OR) 2.04, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.14–5.08). Patients aged ≥65 years were less likely to report a barrier to presentation and were less likely to delay than those under 40, although this was of borderline statistical significance (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.08–1.00). Conclusions: This study highlights that an enlarging mole is a significant symptom influencing the timing of presentation. Increasing public awareness of the signs of melanoma and of the importance of early presentation is desirable. Health professionals should take advantage of the opportunity to educate patients on such symptoms and signs where feasible. Further exploration of the barriers to presentation in younger people should be considered

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Diagnostic and therapeutic medical devices for safer blood management in cardiac surgery : systematic reviews, observational studies and randomised controlled trials

Funding: This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research programme and will be published in full in Programme Grants for Applied Research; Vol. 5, No. 17. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.Peer reviewedPublisher PD