Saint Francis University

About: Saint Francis University is a education organization based out in Loretto, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Osteoblast. The organization has 1694 authors who have published 2038 publications receiving 87149 citations.

Nine-year follow-up study of a plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine in a rural African setting.

Abstract: One hundred and one of 255 recipients of a plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine were evaluated in 1990, 9 years after the first vaccine dose in a study in Zambia to evaluate the efficacy of one, two, or three doses. In 1983, 2 years after the first vaccine dose, antibody to the hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) had been detectable in 90 of these 101 participants (89%). In 1990, anti-HBs was still detectable in 72 of 101 (71%), and was present at a protective level ( ≥ 10 mlU ml) in 68 of 101 (67%). Although the original vaccine study elicited a protective level of antibody in a greater percentage of children and adolescents than in adults, there were no significant differences among the three groups at 9 years. (In 1990, anti-HBs was still detectable in 52 of 70 [74%] who had had no serologic markers of the hepatitis B virus in 1981, and a protective level was detected in 47 of 70 [67%].) A protective level of anti-HBs was detected in 1990 in 26 of 36 (72%) recipients of three doses and in 23 of 31 (74%) recipients of two doses; the slightly lower prevalence among recipients of one dose (19 of 34 [56%]) was not statistically significant. However, between the years 1983–1990, hepatitis B virus infections had occurred in one of 36 (3%) of those who had been vaccinated with three doses, one of 31 (3%) vaccinated with two doses, and eight of 34 (24%) of those vaccinated with one dose (P < .02 for either two or three doses compared with one dose). These data support the long-term immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a two- or three-dose regimen of the hepatitis B vaccine in a rural African setting. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Comparing Recreation Benefits from On-Site versus Household Surveys in Count Data Travel Cost Demand Models with Overdispersion:

Abstract: On-site surveys of tourists often lead to overestimates of annual tourism because tourists who are frequent repeat visitors are more likely to be sampled. This unrepresentative sample leads to statistical problems known as ‘truncation’ and ‘endogenous stratification’ in widely used travel cost demand models. Further, wide variation in the number of on-site visits among tourists can lead to overdispersion in the dependent variable of count data travel cost models. The authors present the first real-world data correction for all three problems and compare the corrected estimates with the ideal household survey. Correcting for truncation and endogenous stratification in a count data specification allowing for overdispersion (negative binomial specification) lowers the demand and benefit estimate to a mean value not significantly different from the household estimate. If tourism researchers wish to develop visitor use estimates from on-site surveys consistent with household level surveys, the authors' improve...

Criminological Research in Contemporary China Challenges and Lessons Learned From a Large-Scale Criminal Victimization Survey

Abstract: This article discusses research experience gained from a large-scale survey of criminal victimization recently conducted in Tianjin, China. The authors review some of the more important challenges that arose in the research, their responses to these challenges, and lessons learned that might be beneficial to other scholars who are interested in conducting criminological research in China. Their experience underscores the importance of understanding the Chinese political, cultural, and academic context, and the utility of collaborating with experienced and knowledgeable colleagues "on site." Although there are some special difficulties and barriers, their project demonstrates the feasibility of original criminological data collection in China.

Role of the Ram Domain and Ankyrin Repeats on Notch Signaling and Activity in Cells of Osteoblastic Lineage

Abstract: Notch proteins belong to a family of single pass transmembrane receptors that are activated after interactions with the membrane-bound ligands Delta and Jagged/Serrate. We determined the pathways responsible for the inhibitory effects of Notch on osteoblastogenesis and the contributions of the RAM domain and ankyrin repeats to this process in cells of the osteoblastic lineage. Introduction: Notch receptors play a role in osteoblast differentiation. Activation of Notch results in its cleavage and the release of its intracellular domain (NICD), which interacts with the CBF1/RBP-Jκ, Suppressor of Hairless, Lag-1 (CSL) family of transcription factors. The interaction is presumably mediated by the RBP-Jκ–associated module (RAM) of NICD, although the role of the ankyrin repeats is uncertain. Materials and Methods: To determine the contributions of the RAM domain and ankyrin repeats to the inhibitory effects of Notch on osteoblastogenesis, ST-2 and MC3T3-E1 cells were transfected or transduced with vectors expressing NICD, RAM (NICD ΔRAM), and ankyrin (NICD ΔANK) deletion mutants. Results: Notch increased the transactivation of transiently transfected 12xCSL-Luc constructs, containing 12 repeats of an RBP-Jκ/CSL binding site, and of the hairy and E (spl) (HES)-1 promoter. Deletion of the ankyrin repeats resulted in the loss of 12xCSL-Luc and HES-1 promoter transactivation, whereas deletion of the RAM domain caused a partial loss of 12xCSL-Luc and sustained HES-1 promoter transactivation. NICD overexpression inhibited osteocalcin mRNA levels and alkaline phosphatase activity in ST-2 cells, and deletion of the ankyrin repeats, and to a lesser extent of the RAM domain, resulted in loss of the NICD inhibitory effect. NICD inhibited Wnt signaling and deletion of ankyrin repeats or the RAM domain restored Wnt signaling activity. Conclusions: The RAM domain and ankyrin repeats are required for Notch signaling and activity, and the CSL pathway is central to the inhibitory effect of Notch on osteoblastogenesis.

Optimism, Coping, and Posttraumatic Stress Severity in Women in the Childbearing Year.

Abstract: PTSD symptoms in pregnancy may cause adverse effects on both mother and infant child. Identifying and addressing PTSD in pregnancy may help to alleviate the impact of PTSD on pregnancy. Optimism has been examined as a protective factor in the development of PTSD; however no study to date has looked at the relationship between optimism and PTSD in pregnant women. The current study examined the role of optimism on PTSD symptom severity, coping and somatization among women in the childbearing year. We examined data from 1581 completed interviews with nulliparous, pregnant women from the first wave telephone interview conducted as part of a longitudinal outcomes study, “Psychobiology of PTSD & Adverse Outcomes of Childbearing” (NIH NR008767; common name “the STACY project”). Four trauma exposure group cohorts (PTSD-positive, trauma-positive, non-exposed, and partial PTSD) were differentiated and two coping variables (active and avoidant) were examined. The relationships between demographics, trauma exposure groups, optimism and PTSD were examined. In addition, we examined the impact of these factors on coping and somatization. In general, the PTSD-positive group reported significantly less optimism than the trauma-positive and non-exposed groups. SES and number of reported traumas contributed to PTSD severity, as well as optimism. For those women reporting more optimism, they reported more use of active coping, less engagement in avoidant coping, and less somatization.