Digital Commons Network^™

Centering Intersectional Breast Cancer Screening Experiences Among Black, Latina, And White Women: A Qualitative Analysis, Sienna Ruiz, Kamilah Abdur-Rashid, Rachel L Mintz, Maggie Britton, Ana A Baumann, Graham A Colditz, Ashley J Housten

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: Mammography screening guidelines in the United States highlight the importance of informing and involving women when making their breast cancer screening decisions. However, the complexity of interpreting and applying these population-level guidelines can contribute to patient burden. Patient-centered communication strategies can alleviate patient burden, but few consider perspectives from racially and ethnically marginalized populations. We examine diverse women's perspectives on screening to characterize patient-centered experiences.

METHODS: We conducted 28 focus groups with 134 non-Latina Black (

RESULTS: We identified three themes: (1) personal relationships with primary care providers, (2) potential impacts of cancer on families, and (3) interactions with …

The Potential Impact Of Exercise On Affect And Neuroinflammation In Older Adults Living With Fibromyalgia: A Scoping Review, Taylor L Taylor, Fitzgerald Dodds, Mckenna Tharpe, Emily L Zumbro, Michael Hankes, Raymond Jones, Deanna Rumble, Lisa Antoine, Kristen Allen-Watts, Andrew Sims, Reshu Chandra, Burel R Goodin, Jarred Younger, Thomas W Buford

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a widespread chronic pain condition with prevalence increasing in older adults. Older adults living with FM experience longer pain symptom durations that can negatively impact their quality of life. Affect and neuroinflammation are potential factors that can exacerbate pain symptoms. Exercise is a recommended intervention to manage pain symptoms; however, adherence limitations persist. Drawing on the Biopsychosocial Framework of Chronic Pain, this scoping review explores how exercise impacts factors related to neuroinflammation and affect, and how these factors contribute to exercise adherence in older adults living with FM.

METHODS: We conducted a scoping search of articles …

Delayed Macrophage Targeting By Clodronate Liposomes Worsens The Progression Of Cytokine Storm Syndrome, Kunjan Khanna, Emily Eul, Hui Yan, Roberta Faccio

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Excessive macrophage activation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines are hallmarks of the Cytokine Storm Syndrome (CSS), a lethal condition triggered by sepsis, autoimmune disorders, and cancer immunotherapies. While depletion of macrophages at disease onset protects from lethality in an infection-induced CSS murine model, patients are rarely diagnosed early, hence the need to characterize macrophage populations during CSS progression and assess the therapeutic implications of macrophage targeting after disease onset. In this study, we identified MHCII

The Role Of Brainstem Biopsy And Targeted Therapies In Pediatric Diffuse Midline Glioma/Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, Shehryar R Sheikh, Violette M R Recinos, Eric M Thompson, Ross Mangum, Mariah Wright-Nadkarni, Bradley Gampel, Neha J Patel

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Pediatric diffuse midline glioma (DMG), including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), are aggressive brainstem tumors with a dire prognosis, traditionally diagnosed based on MRI characteristics. The recognition that molecular characteristics may determine prognosis and response to therapy has led to a reevaluation of biopsy necessity. This comprehensive review addresses the evolving role of brainstem biopsies in diagnosing and managing these tumors - both within the context of a clinical trial and in routine clinical care. We examine practice variability around brainstem biopsies for DMG/DIPG, revealing a global inconsistency in biopsy application and perceptions amongst providers. We show that safety profiles …

A Global Survey Of Self-Reported Cancer Screening Practices By Health Professionals For Kidney Transplant Candidates And Recipients, Nida Saleem, Naoka Murakami, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients. Health professionals have a critical role in promoting cancer screening participation. From March 2023 to February 2024, an online survey was distributed to kidney transplant health professionals globally to assess their screening practices. We compared their reported screening practices to recommended guidelines and analyzed factors associated with these practices. We received 97 responses, and most were nephrologists (70%), and around 80% recommended breast, colorectal, and cervical cancer screening for kidney transplant candidates and recipients. About 85% recommended lung cancer screening for higher-risk individuals. Skin cancer screening recommendations …

The Epidemiology Of Pediatric Oncology And Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Admissions To U.S. Intensive Care Units From 2001-2019, Kyle B Lenz, R Scott Watson, Jennifer J Wilkes, Matthew R Keller, Mary E Hartman, Elizabeth Y Killien

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Children with cancer or hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) frequently require ICU care. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's State Inpatient Databases from 21 U.S. states from 2001-2019. We included children < 18 years with oncologic or HCT diagnosis and used ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM codes to identify diagnoses, comorbidities, and organ failures. We used generalized linear Poisson regression and Cuzick's test of trend to evaluate changes from 2001-2019. Among 2,157,991 total pediatric inpatient admissions, 3.9% (n=82,988) were among oncology patients and 0.3% (n=7,381) were among HCT patients. ICU admission prevalence rose from 13.6% in 2001 to 14.4% in 2019 for oncology admissions and declined from 23.9% to 19.5%, for HCT admissions. Between 2001-2019, the prevalence of chronic non-oncologic comorbidities among ICU patients rose from 44.3% to 69.1% for oncology patients (RR 1.60 [95% CI 1.46-1.66]) and from 41.4% to 81.5% (RR 1.94 [95% CI 1.61-2.34]) for HCT patients. The risk of Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome more than tripled for oncology (9.5% to 33.3%; RR 3.52 [95% CI 2.97-4.18]) and HCT (12.4% to 39.7%; RR 3.20 [95% CI 2.09-4.89]) patients. Mortality decreased most for ICU patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (14.6% to 8.5%) and oncology-related HCTs (15.5% to 9.2%). Critically ill pediatric oncology and HCT patients are increasingly medically complex with greater prevalence of chronic comorbidities and organ failure, but mortality did not increase. Pediatric ICUs may require increased financial and staffing support to care for these patients in the future.

Can Micro-Expressions Be Used As A Biomarker For Autism Spectrum Disorder, Mindi Ruan, Na Zhang, Xiangxu Yu, Wenqi Li, Chuanbo Hu, Paula J Webster, Lynn K Paul, Shuo Wang, Xin Li

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Early and accurate diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is crucial for effective intervention, yet it remains a significant challenge due to its complexity and variability. Micro-expressions are rapid, involuntary facial movements indicative of underlying emotional states. It is unknown whether micro-expression can serve as a valid bio-marker for ASD diagnosis.

METHODS: This study introduces a novel machine-learning (ML) framework that advances ASD diagnostics by focusing on facial micro-expressions. We applied cutting-edge algorithms to detect and analyze these micro-expressions from video data, aiming to identify distinctive patterns that could differentiate individuals with ASD from typically developing peers. Our computational …

Initial Clinical Experience With [177lu]Lu-Pnt2002 Radioligand Therapy In Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Dosimetry, Safety, And Efficacy From The Lead-In Cohort Of The Splash Trial, Aaron R Hansen, Jeff M Michalski, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: SPLASH (NCT04647526) is a multicenter phase III trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of [

METHODS: Enrolled participants had mCRPC that progressed on one prior androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI), were prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET-positive as determined by a central reader, were chemotherapy-naïve for mCRPC, and had adequate bone marrow and end-organ reserve. Participants received up to 4 cycles of [

RESULTS: Of 34 individuals screened, 32 underwent PSMA-PET/CT; 27 met all eligibility criteria. Median (range) age was 72 (57-86) years; all participants were enrolled in North America; 40.7% initiated prior ARPI treatment without distant metastases (M0) and …

Clinical, Laboratory, And Orbital Imaging Features Of Giant Cell Arteritis In Comparison To Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropath: A Single Center Case Series, Rami W Eldaya, Yi-Hsien Yeh, Leanne Stunkel, Matthew S Parsons, Gregory P Van Stavern

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common vasculitis in patients older than 50 years and is considered a "do not miss" diagnosis. However, it remains a diagnostic challenge given overlapping clinical syndromes such as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and poorly explored imaging findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study between the time period of January 2013 and December 2021, a total of 13 consecutive patients with a pathological diagnosis of GCA and 8 patients with clinical diagnosis of NAION were isolated. Demographic and clinical data for each patient were collected, including pertinent laboratory data. Pertinent …

Leishmania Major Surface Components And Dkk1 Signalling Via Lrp6 Promote Migration And Longevity Of Neutrophils In The Infection Site, Olivia C Ihedioha, Haley Q Marcarian, Anutr Sivakoses, Stephen M Beverley, Diane Mcmahon-Pratt, Alfred L M Bothwell

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Host-related factors highly regulate the increased circulation of neutrophils during

RESULTS: In this study, we further explored the potential role of DKK1-LRP6 signalling in the migration and longevity of activated neutrophils in the infection site using BALB/c mice with PMNs deficient in LRP6 (LRP6

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that DKK1 signalling and

Surviving Septic Patients Endotyped With A Functional Assay Demonstrate Active Immune Responses, Adam D Price, Andrew H Walton, Sydney Miles, Richard S Hotchkiss, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Sepsis is a complex clinical syndrome characterized by a heterogenous host immune response. Historically, static protein and transcriptomic metrics have been employed to describe the underlying biology. Here, we tested the hypothesis that

METHODS: This prospective, observational study of patient samples collected from the SPIES consortium included patients at five health systems enrolled over 17 months, with 46 healthy control patients, 68 ICU patients without sepsis, and 107 ICU patients with sepsis. Whole blood was collected on day 1, 4, and 7 of ICU admission. Outcomes included in-hospital and 180-day mortality and non-favorable discharge disposition defined by skilled nursing …

Social Relationships, Amyloid Burden, And Dementia: The Aric-Pet Study, Renée C Groechel, Albert C Liu, Chelsea Liu, David S Knopman, Silvia Koton, Anna M Kucharska-Newton, Pamela L Lutsey, Thomas H Mosley, Priya Palta, A Richey Sharrett, Keenan A Walker, Dean F Wong, Rebecca F Gottesman

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess whether social relationships in mid-life reduce the risk of dementia related to amyloid burden.

METHODS: Participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study were assessed for social support and isolation (visit 2; 1990-1992). A composite measure, "social relationships," was generated. Brain amyloid was evaluated with florbetapir positron emission tomography (PET); (visit 5; 2012-2014). Incident dementia cases were identified following visit 5 through 2019 using ongoing surveillance. Relative contributions of mid-life social relationships and elevated brain amyloid to incident dementia were evaluated with Cox regression models.

RESULTS: Among 310 participants without dementia, strong mid-life …

Hippocampal Volumes In Uk Biobank Are Associated With Apoe Only In Older Adults, Ariya Chaloemtoem, Vera Thornton, Yoonhoo Chang, Andrey P Anokhin, Michaël E Belloy, Janine Bijsterbosch, Brian A Gordon, Sarah M Hartz, Laura J Bierut

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: The hippocampus atrophies with age and is implicated in neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). We examined the interplay between age and apolipoprotein E (

METHODS: Using neuroimaging data from 37,463 UK Biobank participants, we applied linear regression to quantify the association of age and

RESULTS: Total hippocampal volume declined with age, with significant differences by

DISCUSSION: The association of

HIGHLIGHTS: Apolipoprotein E (

Cathepsin C Role In Inflammatory Gastroenterological, Renal, Rheumatic, And Pulmonary Disorders, Ali A Aghdassi, Christine Pham, Lukas Zierke, Vincent Mariaule, Brice Korkmaz, Moez Rhimi

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Cathepsin C (CatC, syn. Dipeptidyl peptidase I) is a lysosomal cysteine proteinase expressed in several tissues including inflammatory cells. This enzyme is important for maintaining multiple cellular functions and for processing immune cell-derived proteases. While mutations in the CatC gene were reported in Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive disorder featuring hyperkeratosis and periodontitis, evidence from clinical and preclinical studies points toward pro-inflammatory effects of CatC in various disease processes that are mainly mediated by the activation of neutrophil serine proteinases. Moreover, tumor-promoting effects were ascribed to CatC. The aim of this review is to highlight current knowledge of the …

Lung Infection With Classical Klebsiella Pneumoniae Strains Establishes Robust Macrophage-Dependent Protection Against Heterologous Reinfection, Joseph J Mackel, Casey L G Mick, Emily Guo, David A Rosen

2020-Current year OA Pubs

At present, there is no approved vaccine for prevention of infection by the opportunistic bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp); success in treating these infections is increasingly challenged by the spread of antibiotic resistance. Preclinical investigation of adaptive immunity elicited by lung infection with live classical Kp may reveal host mechanisms of protection against this pathogen. Here, we utilize multiple virulent classical Kp strains to demonstrate that following lung infection, surviving wild-type mice develop protective immunity against both homologous and heterologous (heterotypic) reinfection. For Kp strains with low capacity to disseminate from the lung, this immunity is B-cell-independent. We further demonstrate that …

Brainqcnet: A Deep Learning Attention-Based Model For The Automated Detection Of Artifacts In Brain Structural Mri Scans, Mélanie Garcia, Nico Dosenbach, Clare Kelly

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Analyses of structural MRI (sMRI) data depend on robust upstream data quality control (QC). It is also crucial that researchers seek to retain maximal amounts of data to ensure reproducible, generalizable models and to avoid wasted effort, including that of participants. The time-consuming and difficult task of manual QC evaluation has prompted the development of tools for the automatic assessment of brain sMRI scans. Existing tools have proved particularly valuable in this age of Big Data; as datasets continue to grow, reducing execution time for QC evaluation will be of considerable benefit. The development of Deep Learning (DL) models for …

Assets For Integrating Task-Sharing Strategies For Hypertension Within Hiv Clinics: Stakeholder's Perspectives Using The Pen-3 Cultural Model, Juliet Iwelunmor, Daphne Lew, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Access to antiretroviral therapy has increased life expectancy and survival among people living with HIV (PLWH) in African countries like Nigeria. Unfortunately, non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases are on the rise as important drivers of morbidity and mortality rates among this group. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of key stakeholders in Nigeria on the integration of evidence-based task-sharing strategies for hypertension care (TASSH) within existing HIV clinics in Nigeria.

METHODS: Stakeholders representing PLWH, patient advocates, health care professionals (i.e. community health nurses, physicians and chief medical officers), as well as policymakers, completed in-depth …

Examining Associations Between Genetic And Neural Risk For Externalizing Behaviors In Adolescence And Early Adulthood, Sarah J Brislin, Andrey P Anokhin, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Researchers have identified genetic and neural risk factors for externalizing behaviors. However, it has not yet been determined if genetic liability is conferred in part through associations with more proximal neurophysiological risk markers.

METHODS: Participants from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism, a large, family-based study of alcohol use disorders were genotyped and polygenic scores for externalizing (EXT PGS) were calculated. Associations with target P3 amplitude from a visual oddball task (P3) and broad endorsement of externalizing behaviors (indexed via self-report of alcohol and cannabis use, and antisocial behavior) were assessed in participants of European (EA;

RESULTS: …

Hyperbaric Oxygen Augments Susceptibility To C. Difficile Infection By Impairing Gut Microbiota Ability To Stimulate The Hif-1Α-Il-22 Axis In Ilc3, José L Fachi, Laís P Pral, Helder C Assis, Sarah Oliveira, Vinícius R Rodovalho, Jefferson A C Dos Santos, Mariane F Fernandes, Valquíria A Matheus, Renata Sesti-Costa, Paulo J Basso, Marina Flóro E Silva, Niels O S Câmara, Selma Giorgio, Marco Colonna, Marco A R Vinolo

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is a well-established method for improving tissue oxygenation and is typically used for the treatment of various inflammatory conditions, including infectious diseases. However, its effect on the intestinal mucosa, a microenvironment known to be physiologically hypoxic, remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that daily treatment with hyperbaric oxygen affects gut microbiome composition, worsening antibiotic-induced dysbiosis. Accordingly, HBO-treated mice were more susceptible to

The Type Ii Raf Inhibitor Tovorafenib In Relapsed/Refractory Pediatric Low-Grade Glioma: The Phase 2 Firefly-1 Trial, Lindsay B Kilburn, Mohamed S Abdelbaki, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BRAF genomic alterations are the most common oncogenic drivers in pediatric low-grade glioma (pLGG). Arm 1 (n = 77) of the ongoing phase 2 FIREFLY-1 (PNOC026) trial investigated the efficacy of the oral, selective, central nervous system-penetrant, type II RAF inhibitor tovorafenib (420 mg m

Perspectives From Public Health Practitioners And Advocates On Community Development For Active Living: What Are The Lasting Impacts?, Natalicio Serrano, Laurel Schmidt, Amy A Eyler, Ross C Brownson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

PURPOSE: Evidence suggests differential impacts of community development, including gentrification and displacement. Public health practitioners and advocates are key stakeholders involved in the community development process related to active living, yet little is known about their perceptions of its impacts. We explored the perspectives of relevant leaders of public health departments and key community and advocacy organizations on community development, gentrification, and displacement.

APPROACH: Purposive key informant interviews.

SETTING: CDC State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) funding recipients.

PARTICIPANTS: CDC SPAN recipient leadership (n = 10 of 16) and advocacy organizations they partnered with (n = 7 of 16).

METHOD: …

Sc2menetdrug: A Computational Tool To Uncover Inter-Cell Signaling Targets And Identify Relevant Drugs Based On Single Cell Rna-Seq Data, Jiarui Feng, S. Peter Goedegebuure, Amanda Zeng, Ye Bi, Ting Wang, Philip Payne, Li Ding, David Denardo, William Hawkins, Ryan C. Fields, Fuhai Li

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a powerful technology to investigate the transcriptional programs in stromal, immune, and disease cells, like tumor cells or neurons within the Alzheimer's Disease (AD) brain or tumor microenvironment (ME) or niche. Cell-cell communications within ME play important roles in disease progression and immunotherapy response and are novel and critical therapeutic targets. Though many tools of scRNA-seq analysis have been developed to investigate the heterogeneity and sub-populations of cells, few were designed for uncovering cell-cell communications of ME and predicting the potentially effective drugs to inhibit the communications. Moreover, the data analysis processes of discovering signaling …

Patient-Reported Treatment Response In Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease, Annie Im, Iskra Pusic, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) treatment response is assessed using National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Criteria in clinical trials, and by clinician assessment in routine practice. Patient-reported treatment response is central to the experience of chronic GvHD manifestations as well as treatment benefit and toxicity, but how they correlate with clinician- or NIH-responses has not been well-studied. We aimed to characterize 6-month patientreported response, determine associated chronic GvHD baseline organ features and changes, and evaluate which patientreported quality of life and chronic GvHD symptom burden measures correlated with patient-reported response. From two nationally representative Chronic GVHD Consortium prospective observational studies, …

Proceedings Of The 11th Annual Deep Brain Stimulation Think Tank: Pushing The Forefront Of Neuromodulation With Functional Network Mapping, Biomarkers For Adaptive Dbs, Bioethical Dilemmas, Ai-Guided Neuromodulation, And Translational Advancements, Kara A Johnson, Nico U F Dosenbach, Evan M Gordon, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Think Tank XI was held on August 9-11, 2023 in Gainesville, Florida with the theme of "Pushing the Forefront of Neuromodulation". The keynote speaker was Dr. Nico Dosenbach from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He presented his research recently published in Nature inn a collaboration with Dr. Evan Gordon to identify and characterize the somato-cognitive action network (SCAN), which has redefined the motor homunculus and has led to new hypotheses about the integrative networks underpinning therapeutic DBS. The DBS Think Tank was founded in 2012 and provides an open platform where clinicians, engineers, and …

Lung Lymphatic Endothelial Cells Undergo Inflammatory And Prothrombotic Changes In A Model Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Anjali Trivedi, Tyler M Lu, Barbara Summers, Kihwan Kim, Alexander J Rhee, Sean Houghton, Derek E Byers, Raphaël Lis, Hasina Outtz Reed

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The lymphatic vasculature regulates lung homeostasis through drainage of fluid and trafficking of immune cells and plays a key role in the response to lung injury in several disease states. We have previously shown that lymphatic dysfunction occurs early in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by cigarette smoke (CS) and that this is associated with increased thrombin and fibrin clots in lung lymph. However, the direct effects of CS and thrombin on lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) in COPD are not entirely clear. Studies of the blood vasculature have shown that COPD is associated with increased thrombin …

In Vivo Measurement Of Pediatric Extracorporeal Oxygenator Insensible Losses; A Single Center Pilot Study, Tess L Suttles, John Poe, Tara M Neumayr, Ahmed S Said

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Fluid overload on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is associated with worse outcomes. Previous

METHODS: Pediatric ECMO patients were approached over eleven months in the pediatric and cardiac intensive care units. The water content of the oxygenator inflow sweep gas and exhaust gas were calculated by measuring the ambient temperature and relative humidity at frequent intervals and various sweep flow.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Nine subjects were enrolled, generating 431 data points. The cohort had a median age of 11 years IQR [0.83, 13], weight of 23.2 kg IQR [6.48, 44.28], and body surface area of 0.815 m

A Critical Evaluation Of "Leakage" At The Cochlear Blood-Stria-Barrier And Its Functional Significance, Kevin K Ohlemiller, Noël Dwyer, Veronica Henson, Kaela Fasman, Keiko Hirose

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The blood-labyrinth-barrier (BLB) is a semipermeable boundary between the vasculature and three separate fluid spaces of the inner ear, the perilymph, the endolymph and the intrastrial space. An important component of the BLB is the blood-stria-barrier, which shepherds the passage of ions and metabolites from strial capillaries into the intrastrial space. Some investigators have reported increased "leakage" from these capillaries following certain experimental interventions, or in the presence of inflammation or genetic variants. This leakage is generally thought to be harmful to cochlear function, principally by lowering the endocochlear potential (EP). Here, we examine evidence for this dogma. We find …

Increased Hif-2Α Activity In The Nucleus Pulposus Causes Intervertebral Disc Degeneration In The Aging Mouse Spine, Shira N Johnston, Maria Tsingas, Rahatul Ain, Ruteja A Barve, Makarand V Risbud

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are essential to the homeostasis of hypoxic tissues. Although HIF-2α, is expressed in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, consequences of elevated HIF-2 activity on disc health remains unknown. We expressed HIF-2α with proline to alanine substitutions (P405A; P531A) in the Oxygen-dependent degradation domain (HIF-2αdPA) in the NP tissue using an inducible, nucleus pulposus-specific K19

Effectively Communicating With Local Policymakers: A Randomized Trial Of Policy Brief Dissemination To Address Obesity, Elizabeth A Dodson, Renee G Parks, Rebekah R Jacob, Ruopeng An, Amy A Eyler, Nathan Lee, Alexandra B Morshed, Mary C Politi, Rachel G Tabak, Yan Yan, Ross C Brownson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Evidence-based policies are a powerful tool for impacting health and addressing obesity. Effectively communicating evidence to policymakers is critical to ensure evidence is incorporated into policies. While all public health is local, limited knowledge exists regarding effective approaches for improving local policymakers' uptake of evidence-based policies.

METHODS: Local policymakers were randomized to view one of four versions of a policy brief (usual care, narrative, risk-framing, and narrative/risk-framing combination). They then answered a brief survey including questions about their impressions of the brief, their likelihood of using it, and how they determine legislative priorities.

RESULTS: Responses from 331 participants indicated …

Active Transfer Learning For Audiogram Estimation, Hossana Twinomurinzi, Herman Myburgh, Dennis L Barbour

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Computational audiology (CA) has grown over the last few years with the improvement of computing power and the growth of machine learning (ML) models. There are today several audiogram databases which have been used to improve the accuracy of CA models as well as reduce testing time and diagnostic complexity. However, these CA models have mainly been trained on single populations. This study integrated contextual and prior knowledge from audiogram databases of multiple populations as informative priors to estimate audiograms more precisely using two mechanisms: (1) a mapping function drawn from feature-based homogeneous Transfer Learning (TL) also known as Domain …