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.

Mobile consulting as an option for delivering healthcare services in low-resource settings in low- and middle-income countries: A mixed-methods study

Abstract: ObjectiveRemote or mobile consulting is being promoted to strengthen health systems, deliver universal health coverage and facilitate safe clinical communication during coronavirus disease 2019 and...

Nemo-like kinase regulates postnatal skeletal homeostasis.

Abstract: Nemo-like kinase (Nlk) is related to the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and known to regulate signaling pathways involved in osteoblastogenesis. In vitro Nlk suppresses osteoblastogenesis, but the consequences of the Nlk inactivation in the skeleton in vivo are unknown. To study the function of Nlk, Nlk(loxP/loxP) mice, where the Nlk exon2 is flanked by lox(P) sequences, were mated with mice expressing the Cre recombinase under the control of the paired-related homeobox gene 1 (Prx1) enhancer (Prx1-Cre), the Osterix (Osx-Cre) or the osteocalcin/bone gamma carboxyglutamate protein (Bglap-Cre) promoter. Prx1-Cre;Nlk(Δ/Δ) mice did not exhibit a skeletal phenotype except for a modest increase in trabecular number and connectivity observed only in 3-month-old male mice. Osx-Cre;Nlk(Δ/Δ) male and female mice exhibited an increase in trabecular bone volume secondary to an increased trabecular number at 3 months of age. Bone histomorphometry revealed a decrease in osteoclast number and eroded surface in male mice, and decreased osteoblast number and function in female mice. Expression of osteoprotegerin mRNA was increased in calvarial extracts, explaining the decreased osteoclast and osteoblast number. The conditional deletion of Nlk in mature osteoblasts (Bglap-Cre;Nlk(Δ/Δ) ) resulted in no skeletal phenotype in 1- to 6-month-old male or female mice. In conclusion, when expressed in undifferentiated osteoblasts, Nlk is a negative regulator of skeletal homeostasis possibly by targeting signals that regulate osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption.

Automated, Parallel Optimization Algorithms for Stochastic Functions

Abstract: We propose a hierarchical framework and new parallel algorithms for stochastic function optimization under conditions where the function to be optimized is subject to random noise, the variance of which decreases with sampling time. This is the situation expected for many real-world and simulation applications where results are obtained from sampling, and contain experimental error or random noise. Our new optimization algorithms are based on a downhill simplex algorithm, with extensions that alter the timing of simplex operations based on the level of noise in the function evaluations. Three proposed optimization methods, which we term maxnoise, point-to-point comparison, and a combination of these two, are tested on the Rosenbrock function and found to be better than previous stochastic optimization methods. The parallel frame work implementing the optimization algorithms is also new, and is based on a master-worker architecture where each worker runs a massively parallel program. The parallel implementation allows the sampling to proceed independently on multiple processors, and is demonstrated to scale well up to over 100 vertices. It is highly suitable for clusters with an ever increasing number of cores per node. The new methods have been applied successfully to the reparameterization of the TIP4P water model, achieving thermodynamic and structural results for liquid water that are as good as or better than the original model, with the advantage of a fully automated parameterization process.

HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment in stable people living with HIV on ART in rural Tanzania.

Abstract: Objectives Few studies have assessed cognitive impairment among healthy people living with HIV (PLWH) who are stable on antiretroviral treatment (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among a random sample of stable adult PLWH from rural Tanzania on ART for more than 1 year and without immunological failure or pre-existing neurological disease. We evaluated the prevalence and risk factors for neurocognitive impairment (NCI), assessed through neuropsychological tests, functional and depression questionnaires and defined as a mean Z-score ≤ -1 in two or more cognitive domains. Results Among 243 participants [median age = 44.3 years (interquartile range: 36-52] and 71% female] we found a rate of NCI of 19.3% (95% confidence interval: 14.8-24.8%). Memory and psychomotor domains demonstrated the highest impairment. Independent predictors of NCI were age and self-reported alcohol use. Other classical risk factors were not associated with HIV-associated NCI. Conclusion Despite effective ART roll-out, NCI remained a prevalent condition in this healthy rural Tanzanian population of PLWH on ART. Age and alcohol use were key risk factors.

Direct oral anticoagulants vs. vitamin K antagonists for left ventricular thrombus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract: Current guidelines recommend vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) to reduce the risk of systemic thromboembolic (STE) events in patients with left ventricular (LV) thrombus. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOA...