Fast Mapping of Terahertz Bursting Thresholds and Characteristics at Synchrotron Light Sources

Dedicated optics with extremely short electron bunches enable synchrotron light sources to generate intense coherent THz radiation. The high degree of spatial compression in this so-called low-alpha optics entails a complex longitudinal dynamics of the electron bunches, which can be probed studying the fluctuations in the emitted terahertz radiation caused by the micro-bunching instability ("bursting"). This article presents a "quasi-instantaneous" method for measuring the bursting characteristics by simultaneously collecting and evaluating the information from all bunches in a multi-bunch fill, reducing the measurement time from hours to seconds. This speed-up allows systematic studies of the bursting characteristics for various accelerator settings within a single fill of the machine, enabling a comprehensive comparison of the measured bursting thresholds with theoretical predictions by the bunched-beam theory. This paper introduces the method and presents first results obtained at the ANKA synchrotron radiation facility.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, to be published in Physical Review Accelerators and Beam

HPV vaccination intentions in Black young adults: Preliminary data

The purpose of this quantitative study in HPV vaccine naive, Black college students aged 18-24, is to assess perceived vulnerability, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and risk behavior factors (trust/mistrust, social influence, and prior sexual behavior) regarding intent to initiate and complete the HPV vaccination series

Price Variation in Markets with Homogeneous Goods: The Case of Medigap

Nearly 30 percent of Americans age 65 and older supplement their Medicare health insurance through the Medigap private insurance market. We show that prices for Medigap policies vary widely, despite the fact that all plans are standardized, and even after controlling for firm heterogeneity. Economic theory suggests that heterogeneous consumer search costs can lead to a non-degenerate price distribution within a market for otherwise homogenous goods. Using a structural model of equilibrium search costs first posed by Carlson and McAfee (1983), we estimate average search costs to be $72. We argue that information problems arise from the complexity of the insurance product and lead individuals to rely on insurance agents who do not necessarily guide them to the lowest prices.

Mass Media in Society

Panel Chair: Lisa Vazzi Student Presenters: Sarah Mathis, Camila Garcia, Douglas Laman, Amanda Crotzer, and Veronica Nicole Liang Sarah Mathis “The Effects of Media on Women’s Body Image” Camila Garcia “Positive Advantages of Mass Communication” Douglas Laman “Autism, Actually: A Look at Representation of Autism in Pop Culture” Amanda Crotzer “Thruth in Advertising: Targeting Children in and Age of Privatized Media Consumption

A systematic review of home-based dietary interventions during radiation therapy for cancer.

Purpose: Our objectives are to assess (1) the acceptability and feasibility of dietary interventions for patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT), and (2) the impact of dietary interventions on patient reported outcomes, toxicities, and survival. Methods: A PICOS/PRISMA/MOOSE selection protocol was used to include articles that evaluate adding dietary interventions to patients receiving RT. Acceptability was defined as (# accepting/# approached); feasibility was (# completing/# approached). Patient-reported outcomes were reported based on questionnaires used in each study and survival was measured from the date of diagnosis until death in each study. Level of evidence was assessed with Center for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) criteria. Results: Sixteen articles were included; among these, 2027 patients were approached regarding the intervention, and 1661 accepted (81.9%); of these, 1543 (92.9%) completed the prescribed diet + RT course. The most common cancers included were gynecological, head and neck, and gastrointestinal. For patients with pelvic cancers, a high fiber diet may improve diarrhea (CEBM level 1b). Enteral nutrition formula, including formulas with proteins such as L-arginine, lipids such as eicosapentaenoic acids, glucids, and ribonucleotides, may help prevent of malnutrition in head and neck cancer patients undergoing RT (level 2b). Vitamin C and β-carotene may reduce of xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients; however, the studies evaluating these vitamins included vitamin E, which increases all-cause mortality (level 2b). No dietary intervention for cancer patients receiving RT has been shown to improve survival. Conclusion: There are limited data to support safe and efficacious use of dietary interventions during RT

Minority college students\u27 HPV knowledge, awareness, and vaccination history

Session presented on Saturday, July 23, 2016 and Sunday, July 24, 2016: Human Pepilloma virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI), and can cause cervical, anal and oropharyngeal cancer. There are several approved vaccinations to protect against HPV infection, a quadrivalent, bivalent, and 9-valent respectively. It is estimated that 79 million individuals are infected with human Pepilloma virus (HPV), while 20 million more Americans become infected each year (CDC, 2014 & CDC, 2012). HPV is yearly responsible for 26,000 new cancers (about 17,000 in women and 9,000 in men) yearly (CDC, 2013). Although HPV vaccination is recommended, rates in the United States are not increasing in comparison to other countries. The purpose of this study is to explore HPV knowledge and awareness, sources of information received on HPV, and HPV vaccination rates for ethnically diverse male and female college students ages 18-24. This study is part of a larger study funded by the HIV and Substance Abuse Prevention for Minority Serving Institution\u27s initiative, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Methods: After IRB approval was received, male and female students were recruited at two sites, a South Florida university and a South Florida state college, from February-August 2014. Inclusion criteria for participants included: ages 18-24, enrolled as a student, and able to speak and read English. After giving verbal consent, the participants completed a self-administered survey. The instrument used was a modified Health Department community health survey, which included demographics, and was adapted to include eight items on awareness and knowledge of HPV, information received on HPV, and history of HPV vaccination. Results: The sample included 842 students. Data was entered into a SPSS file for data analysis. Overall, 554 (66%) of the participants were vaccine naive. 63% of the respondents had received knowledge about HPV from family, internet, news student health centers, or other unspecified sources. The majority of these participants, 54%, felt that they were not at risk for acquiring HPV. Another of the major findings from this study is that 25% of the participants had a false assumption that males are not susceptible to HPV infection. Conclusions/Implications for Practice: Although HPV vaccination is recommended, little is known about vaccination histories for ethnically diverse college students. Less is known about HPV knowledge and vaccination rates of young adult men. This study will add to the growing body of knowledge related to HPV knowledge and vaccination history of minority college-age men and women

Potential mechanical transmission of Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) by the stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans) through regurgitation and defecation.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disorder of cattle caused by the lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) which can induce severe infections leading to high economic losses. Being of African origin, the first LSD outbreaks in Europe occurred in Greece and later in the Balkan region. Little is known about the mode of transmission, especially in relation to the potential role of arthropods vectors. The purpose of our study was to investigate the role of Stomoxys calcitrans in the transmission of LSDV and their presence at different farms in Switzerland. Laboratory-reared flies were exposed to LSDV spiked-blood and incubated under a realistic fluctuating temperature regime. Body parts, regurgitated blood, and faecal samples were analysed by qPCR for the presence of viral DNA and infectious virus at different time points post-feeding (p.f.). LSDV DNA was detected in heads, bodies, and regurgitated blood up to three days p.f. and up to two days p.f. in the faeces. Infectious virus was isolated from bodies and faeces up to two days and in the regurgitated blood up to 12 h p.f. There was no increase in viral load, consolidating the role of S. calcitrans as mechanical vectors for LSDV. Stomoxys flies were present at all eight farms investigated, including a farm located at 2128 m asl. The persistence of LSDV in S. calcitrans in combination with the long flight ranges of this abundant and widespread fly might have implications on LSD epidemiology and on implementing control measures during disease outbreaks

Elderly and patients with large breast volume have an increased risk of seroma formation after mastectomy — results of the SerMa pilot study

The collective of the SerMa pilot study included 100 cases of primary breast cancer or Carcinoma in situ who had undergone a mastectomy procedure with or without reconstruction of the breast using an implant or expander at Augsburg University Hospital between 12/2019 and 12/2022. The study aimed to investigate possible causes of seroma formation; reported here are the clinicopathological correlations between seroma formation and tumor biology and surgical procedures. Seroma occurred significantly more often in patients with older age (median patient age in cases with seroma was 73 years vs. 52 years without seroma; p < 0.001). In addition, patients with larger mastectomy specimen were significantly more likely to develop seroma (median ablation weight in cases with seroma 580 g vs. 330 g without seroma; p < 0.001). Other significant parameters for seroma formation were BMI (p = 0.005), grading (p = 0.015) and tumor size (p = 0.036). In addition, with insertion of implant or expander, a seroma occurred significantly less frequently (p < 0.001). In a binary logistic regression, age in particular was confirmed as a significant risk factor. In contrast, tumor biological characteristics, number of lymph nodes removed or affected showed no significant effect on seroma formation. The present study shows the need for patient education about the development of seroma in particular in older patients and patients with large breast volumes within the preoperative surgical clarification. These clinicopathological data support the previously published results hypothesizing that seroma formation is related to autoimmune/inflammatory processes and will be tested on a larger collective in the planned international multicenter SerMa study

Fast mapping of terahertz bursting thresholds and characteristics at synchrotron light sources

Dedicated optics with extremely short electron bunches enable synchrotron light sources to generate intense coherent THz radiation. The high degree of spatial compression in this so-called low-α$_{c}$ optics entails a complex longitudinal dynamics of the electron bunches, which can be probed studying the fluctuations in the emitted terahertz radiation caused by the microbunching instability (“bursting”). This article presents a “quasi-instantaneous” method for measuring the bursting characteristics by simultaneously collecting and evaluating the information from all bunches in a multibunch fill, reducing the measurement time from hours to seconds. This speed-up allows systematic studies of the bursting characteristics for various accelerator settings within a single fill of the machine, enabling a comprehensive comparison of the measured bursting thresholds with theoretical predictions by the bunched-beam theory. This paper introduces the method and presents first results obtained at the ANKA synchrotron radiation facility