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Multispectral imaging is at the forefront of contactless surface analysis. Standard multispectral imaging systems use sophisticated software, cameras and light filtering optics. This paper discloses the building of a customizable and cost-effective multispectral imaging and analysis system. It integrates a web camera, light emitting diodes (LEDs) lighting, a semisphere for even lightening, an open-source Arduino™ development board and a free Python application to automatically obtain and visually analyze multispectral images. The device is hereafter called MEDUSA and its optical performance was tested for repeated Imaging consistency, visible and near infrared band sensitivity and lighting evenness. Four proof of concept tests were run in order to understand the advantageous use of this system, as compared to a simple visual score of diverse samples. Each of three qualitative tests used sets of 12 LED band spectral images to analyze ink changes in a counterfeit bill, surface bruises on Hass avocado fruits and transient changes in petri dish grown bacterial colonies. A fourth test used single band imaging in a set of standard laboratory analyzed plant samples, to quantitatively relate a red band light reflectance to its nitrogen content. These tests indicate that MEDUSA made images may yield qualitative and quantitative spectral information unseen to the naked eye, suggesting potential use in currency counterfeit tests, food quality analyses, microbial phenotyping and agricultural plant chemistry. MEDUSA can be freely reproduced and customized from this research, making it a powerful and affordable analytical tool to analyze a wide range of subtle chemical properties in samples at industrial and science fields.

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A deep learning method for laser absorption tomography was developed to effectively integrate physical priors related to flow-field thermochemistry and transport. Mid-fidelity reacting flow simulations were coupled with a forward molecular absorption model to train a deep neural network that performs the tomographic inversion of laser absorption images to predict temperature and species fields in flames. The method was evaluated through numerical simulation and experimental testing in benchtop laminar flames. The target flow-fields involved a spatially-convolved laminar ethylene-flame doublet, backlit with tunable radiation from a quantum cascade laser near 4.85 µm probing rovibrational absorption transitions of carbon monoxide. 2D images were collected at 11 different projection angles, yielding an aggregate of 50,688 unique lines of sight capturing the scene with a pixel resolution of approximately 70 µm. A convolutional neural network was introduced to efficiently generate temperature and species profiles and trained with a large dataset of large-eddy simulations of laminar flames at variable conditions. The learning-based approach to the inversion problem was found to more accurately predict species and temperature fields of the flame with fewer projection angles, reduce convergence time, and expand the field domain relative to classical linear tomography.

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PURPOSE: Violence is the leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults in the Americas. Community-Based Participatory Action Research engaged youth and parents to develop and implement two interventions. A Violence Prevention Program (VPP) focused on risk factors for violence, and a Positive Youth Development Program (PYDP) focused on protective factors. Program effects on violence outside of and in school were assessed at 6 and 12 months. METHODS: Both interventions included an 8-week internet-based program and an in-person youth summit. Participants were prospectively randomized twice, first to the VPP and a no-VPP control group and again to the PYDP and a no-PYDP control group. Participants self-reported violence outside of and in school through self-administered baseline surveys with repeat assessments at 6 and 12 months. Analysis of covariance models examined VPP and PYDP effects on violence. RESULTS: The analysis sample was 86% Latino, 56% female, 36% aged 10-13 years, 45% aged 14-18, and 19% aged 19-23 years. Analysis of covariance models of violence outside of school demonstrated small program interaction effects at 6 months (partial eta2 = .030; p = .007) and small VPP effects at 12 months (partial eta2 = .023; p = .025). Models of violence in school demonstrated small PYDP effects at 6 months (partial eta2 = .023; p = .018). CONCLUSIONS: Community-Based Participatory Action Research engaging adolescents, young adults, and parents to address locally relevant health issues can have multiple benefits. In this study, a VPP had positive effects on violence outside of school at 12 months, and a PYDP had positive effects on violence in school at 6 months.

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Granulicatella is a type of nutritionally variant Streptococcus (NVS) that requires special medium for growth. It has shown to cause infective endocarditis which is associated with higher mortality and complications. We present a case of Granulicatella causing endocarditis and glomerulonephritis. There has only been one such prior case report. An adult male with a remote history of gastric bypass presented with shortness of breath with exertion, lower extremity swelling of 1-month duration. Blood cultures 4/4 bottles grew Granulicatella albicans with infected tooth being the source. Transesophageal echocardiogram revealed a vegetation on the mitral valve. He received intravenous vancomycin. He was found to have acute kidney injury requiring hemodialysis. Kidney biopsy revealed immune complex deposits in the mesangium and along the capillary basement membrane suggestive of post infectious glomerulonephritis. It is crucial to recognize NVS as potential cause for endocarditis in cultures that are slow growing. NVS require a special medium. Though it is rare, NSV can also cause glomerulonephritis. Early recognition is important to help with determining treatment options which may include immunosuppressive therapy along with treatment of underlying infection.

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Mid-infrared laser absorption imaging of methane in flames is performed with a learning-based approach to the limited view-angle inversion problem. A deep neural network is trained with superimposed Gaussian field distributions of spectral absorption coefficients, and the prediction capability is compared to linear tomography methods at a varying number of view angles for simulated fields representative of a flame pair. Experimental 3D imaging is demonstrated on a methane-oxygen laminar flame doublet (${\lt}\text{cm}$

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A mid-infrared absorption spectroscopy technique has been developed to quantitatively and spatially resolve gas temperature and molecular abundance of $ ^1{{\rm H}^{35}}{\rm Cl} $1H35Cl in the high-temperature pyrolysis and oxidation layers of chlorinated polymers. Two transitions in the R-branch of the fundamental vibrational band of HCl near 3.34 µm are selected due to their relative strength and spectral isolation from other combustion products at elevated temperatures, and they are probed using a distributed feedback interband cascade laser. A scanned-wavelength direct absorption method is employed with a Voigt line-fitting routine to recover projected absorbance areas across the exit plane of a cylindrical polymeric slab, wherein the gaseous core comprises the axisymmetric reaction layer. Tikhonov-regularized Abel inversion of the projected absorbance areas yields line-integrated radial absorption coefficients, from which a two-line ratio is used to infer a radially resolved temperature between the gas core and solid polymer surface. The method is demonstrated to provide insights into the gas-phase combustion physics that lead to the formation of toxicants when a fire-resistant polymer, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), is burned in the presence of oxygen. Two-dimensional images were generated by assembling multiple tomographic reconstructions for several cylinder lengths. The quantitative images highlight the technique's ability to characterize the thermochemical evolution and toxicant formation during the burning of a halogenated polymer fuel.

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In this work, laser absorption imaging is expanded in temporal resolution capability to kilohertz measurement rates by coupling sparsely sampled wavelength scanning and digital image postprocessing for diffraction correction. The setup employs an interband cascade laser near 3.34 µm to backlight an unsteady flame for species-specific 2D imaging of ethane (C2H6) with a high-speed infrared camera. Injection-current laser tuning is achieved with a high-duty-cycle square wave that involves a sparse number of data samples per scan to recover an integrated absorbance area for the target ethane feature, thereby minimizing the number of camera frames needed. In conjunction, an image-by-image computational diffraction pattern removal scheme is employed based on inverse Fourier transformations with the aim to reject high spatial frequencies associated with diffraction while preserving spatial resolution of the flow field, without averaging in time. These methods are applied to achieve species-specific 2D cinematography of ethane absorption in an unsteady partially premixed flame with a spatial resolution of ∼415 µm and a temporal resolution of 2 kHz.

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In this work, laser absorption spectroscopy techniques are expanded in spatial resolution capability by utilizing a high-speed infrared camera to image flow fields backlit with tunable mid-wave infrared laser radiation. The laser absorption imaging (LAI) method yields spectrally-resolved and spatially-rich datasets from which quantitative species and temperature profiles can be generated using tomographic reconstruction. Access to the mid-wave infrared (3-5 µm) enables imaging of fuels, intermediates, and products of combustion in canonical small-diameter flames (< 1 cm). Example 1D measurements and 2D reconstructions of ethane (3.34 µm), carbon monoxide (4.97 µm), and carbon dioxide (4.19 µm) in an axisymmetric laminar flame are presented and discussed. LAI is shown to significantly enhance spatio-temporal data bandwidth (∼400 simultaneously sampled lines-of-sight) and resolution (∼50 µm) compared to other tomographic absorption spectroscopy techniques, and with a simplified optical arrangement.

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Every community is unique and has special strengths and health-related needs, such that a community-based participatory research partnership cannot be formed and implemented in a predetermined, step-by-step manner. In this article, we describe how the Community Partnership Model (CPM), designed to allow flexible movement back and forth through all action phases, can be adapted to a variety of communities. Originally developed for nursing practice, the CPM has evolved into approaches for the collaborative initiation and maintenance of community partnerships. The model is informed by the recognition that cultural, social, economic, and knowledge backgrounds may vary greatly between nurse researchers and their community partners. The Familias En Acción violence prevention project exemplifies the use of the CPM in a transcultural partnership formation and implementation process. The collaborative approaches of the model guide community and research partners to interconnect and move flexibly through all partnership phases, thereby facilitating sustainability and community self-advocacy.

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral disorder in childhood, and often has effects detectable into adulthood. Advances in genetic linkage and association analysis have begun to elucidate some of the genetic factors underlying this complex disorder. Recently, we identified LPHN3, a novel ADHD susceptibility gene harbored in 4q, and showed that a LPHN3 common haplotype confers susceptibility to ADHD and predicts effectiveness of stimulant medication. Here we present the mutational analysis of the entire coding region of LPHN3 in a cohort of 139 ADHD subjects and 52 controls from across the USA. We identified 21 variants, of which 14 have been reported and 7 are novel. These include 5 missense, 8 synonymous, and 8 intronic changes. Interestingly, neither susceptibility nor protective haplotype alleles are associated with obviously significant coding region changes, or canonical splice site alterations, suggesting that non-coding variations determining the quantity and/or quality of LPHN3 isoforms are the likely contributors to this common behavioral disorder.

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Using methods of community-based participatory research, a prospective randomized controlled trial of a violence prevention program based on Latino cultural values was implemented with elementary school children in a Mexican American community. Community members participated in intervention program selection, implementation, and data collection. High-risk students who participated in the program had greater nonviolent self-efficacy and demonstrated greater endorsement of program values than did high-risk students in the control group. This collaborative partnership was able to combine community-based participatory research with a rigorous study design and provide sustained benefit to community partners.

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The neural nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α4 subunit (CHRNA4), at 20q13.2-q13.3, is an important candidate gene for conferring susceptibility to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Several studies have already looked for association/linkage between ADHD and CHRNA4 in different populations. We used the Pedigree Disequilibrium Test to search for evidence of association between ADHD and six SNP marker loci in families from the isolated Paisa population. We found that the T allele of SNP rs6090384 exhibits a deficit of transmission in unaffected individuals (OR = 5.43, IC 1.54-19.13) (global P value = 0.014). We also found significant association and linkage to extended haplotypes rs2273502-rs6090384 (combination of variants C-T, respectively) (P = 0.02) and rs6090384-rs6090387 (P = 0.04) (combination of variants T-G, respectively). SNP rs6090384, variant T, has also been reported to be associated with inattention in a previous study. This makes ours the ninth study to examine the association of CHRNA4 with ADHD and the seventh one to find evidence for association in a population with a different ethnicity.

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The lateral part of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTL) is a component of the subpallial amygdala located near the ventral sulcus of the lateral ventricle, but its limits have not been well defined in birds. In this study, we analyzed the expression patterns of a number of neurochemical markers: GABA, calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR), or neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), in the embryonic and adult chicken brain, to further characterize the organization of the avian BSTL. From embryonic day 16, it was possible to distinguish three different regions within BSTL on the basis of cytoarchitectonic and immunohistochemical features. A central region, referred to as lateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis pars densocellularis (BSTLdc), is characterized by numerous tightly packed cell bodies, most of which are GABA-immunoreactive (ir), and two peripheral regions with lower cellular density displaying a moderate GABA expression, referred to as lateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, plexiform part 1 (BSTLp1) and plexiform part 2 (BSTLp2), respectively. In contrast to BSTLdc, both plexiform parts are characterized by the presence of many fibers and terminals immunoreactive for nNOS and CR, as well as some CR-ir scattered cells. A distinctive feature of BSTLp2 is a population of CB-ir cells embedded in a slightly CB-ir neuropil. Comparison of our immunohistochemical data with gene expression data suggests that BSTLdc and BSTLp1 are pallidal in nature, whereas BSTLp2 receives important contributions from the entopeduncular/preoptic area.

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In the present study, we analyzed the expression of Semaphorin5A (Sema5A), a gene implicated in axon guidance and many other processes of neuronal development, in the developing chick telencephalon. By using a heterologous mouse probe and in situ hybridization techniques, we showed distinct patterns of Sema5A expression within the chick telencephalon. In early development, Sema5A was present in pallial regions, mainly in the neuroepithelium and in the deep mantle of ventral and lateral pallia, and in the subpallium. As development proceeds, some ventral pallial derivatives maintained a moderate to strong Sema5A expression, whereas other lateral or dorsal pallial derivatives showed low to moderate expression of Sema5A. The overall expression of Sema5A during development in the chick telencephalon was similar to that reported in mouse. Moreover, the expression of Sema5A in mesencephalic, diencephalic, and telencephalic centers related to the tectofugal system suggests an important role of this gene in the development.

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Snakebites produce notable morbidity and mortality in the Amazonian and Orinocan regions of Colombia. A review was undertaken of 56 snakebite cases sent to hospitals in Leticia (Amazonas) and Yopal (Casanare) between September 1996 and June 1997. Of the total, 57% of the bites occurred in Leticia, 54% in men. The 14 to 44 year-old age group was most compromised (41%). Most encounters occurred in forests and open fields between 17:00 and 18:00 hours (57%). Nearly all bites were located on legs and feet (82%). One death occurred in Yopal; 3 fasciotomies and 2 amputations were performed. Snakebite incidence occurred with highest probability during evening hours. Although antibiotics are in general use, minor infections (16%) were frequent.

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El presente artículo describe los dos primeros casos de accidentes por orugas de Lonomia diagnósticados en Colombia. Estos insectos ocasionan un cuadro local con alteraciones hemorrágicas caracterizadas por una intensa actividad fibrinolítica y valores bajos de diferentes factores de la coagulación. Los dos casos se presentaron en el departamento de Casanare y fueron remitidos al Hospital San Carlos de Bogotá. La evolución de cada uno fue diferente: el primero, con hemoptisis e insuficiencia renal secundaria, que le causó la muerte a la paciente; el segundo, con gingivorragia y sangrado vaginal que evolucionó hasta la completa mejoría después de la adminitración del sueo anti-Lonomia. Descritos estos primeros casos, es necesario ampliar el conocimiento sobre el tema y trabajar en su prevención

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