University of Massachusetts Boston

About: University of Massachusetts Boston is a education organization based out in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 6541 authors who have published 12918 publications receiving 411731 citations. The organization is also known as: UMass Boston.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy-Based Sandwich Immunoassays for Multiplexed Detection of Zika and Dengue Viral Biomarkers

Abstract: Zika and dengue are mosquito-borne diseases that present similar nonspecific symptoms but possess dramatically different outcomes. The first line of defense in epidemic outbreaks are rapid point-of-care diagnostics. Because many outbreaks occur in areas that are resource poor, assays that are easy to use, inexpensive, and require no power have become invaluable in patient treatment, quarantining, and surveillance. Paper-based sandwich immunoassays such as lateral flow assays (LFAs) are attractive as point-of-care solutions as they have the potential for wider deployability than lab-based assays such as PCR. However, their low sensitivity imposes limitations on their ability to detect low biomarker levels and early diagnosis. Here, we exploit the high sensitivity of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in a multiplexed assay that can distinguish between Zika and dengue nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) biomarkers. SERS-encoded gold nanostars were conjugated to specific antibodies for both diseases and us...

Centrality dependence of low-momentum direct-photon production in Au plus Au collisions at root s(NN)=200 GeV

Abstract: The PHENIX experiment at RHIC has measured the centrality dependence of the direct photon yield from Au+Au collisions at sNN−−−√=200 GeV down to pT=0.4 GeV/c. Photons are detected via photon conversions to e+e− pairs and an improved technique is applied that minimizes the systematic uncertainties that usually limit direct photon measurements, in particular at low pT. We find an excess of direct photons above the Ncoll-scaled yield measured in p+p collisions. This excess yield is well described by an exponential distribution with an inverse slope of about 240MeV/c in the pT range 0.6–2.0 GeV/c. While the shape of the pT distribution is independent of centrality within the experimental uncertainties, the yield increases rapidly with increasing centrality, scaling approximately with Nαpart, where α=1.38±0.03(stat)±0.07(syst).

Efficient Public Verification of Data Integrity for Cloud Storage Systems from Indistinguishability Obfuscation

Abstract: Cloud storage services allow users to outsource their data to cloud servers to save local data storage costs. However, unlike using local storage devices, users do not physically manage the data stored on cloud servers; therefore, the data integrity of the outsourced data has become an issue. Many public verification schemes have been proposed to enable a third-party auditor to verify the data integrity for users. These schemes make an impractical assumption—the auditors have enough computation capability to bear expensive verification costs. In this paper, we propose a novel public verification scheme for the cloud storage using indistinguishability obfuscation, which requires a lightweight computation on the auditor and the delegate most computation to the cloud. We further extend our scheme to support batch verification and data dynamic operations, where multiple verification tasks from different users can be performed efficiently by the auditor and the cloud-stored data can be updated dynamically. Compared with other existing works, our scheme significantly reduces the auditor’s computation overhead. Moreover, the batch verification overhead on the auditor side in our scheme is independent of the number of verification tasks. Our scheme could be practical in a scenario, where the data integrity verifications are executed frequently, and the number of verification tasks (i.e., the number of users) is numerous; even if the auditor is equipped with a low-power device, it can verify the data integrity efficiently. We prove the security of our scheme under the strongest security model proposed by Shi et al. (ACM CCS 2013). Finally, we conduct a performance analysis to demonstrate that our scheme is more efficient than other existing works in terms of the auditor’s communication and computation efficiency.

Ultra wideband loop antenna

Abstract: An ultra wideband loop antenna having a planar antenna element defining an at least semi-elliptical perimeter having a major axis, a minor axis and a center. There is also an elongated, contiguous discontinuity in the antenna element that is symmetric about the antenna element minor axis, entirely located within the antenna element, and defining a discontinuity feed end located on the minor axis and spaced from one side of the antenna element perimeter by an element feed width, and further defining an opposed discontinuity ground end located on the minor axis and spaced from the opposing side of the antenna element perimeter by an element ground width, to define an antenna element ground portion, wherein the feed width is greater than the ground width. The antenna also has a feed region connecting the feed end of the discontinuity to the perimeter, to define antenna element feed ends that are adjacent to the feed region.

A randomized clinical trial comparing an acceptance-based behavior therapy to applied relaxation for generalized anxiety disorder.

Abstract: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic anxiety disorder associated with high comorbidity (Bruce, Machan, Dyck, & Keller, 2001), reduced quality of life (Hoffman, Dukes, & Wittchen, 2008) and significant health care utilization (Hoffman et al., 2008). Meta-analyses reveal that cognitive behavioral therapies are efficacious for GAD (Borkovec & Ruscio, 2001; Covin, Ouimet, Seeds, & Dozois, 2008). However, GAD remains one of the least successfully treated of the anxiety disorders (Waters & Craske, 2005), with most studies finding that fewer than 65% of clients meet criteria for high end-state functioning at post-treatment (e.g., Ladouceur et al., 2000; Newman et al., 2011) and few studies examining the impact of treatment on quality of life. Several researchers have aimed to refine and expand existing models of GAD in an effort to more clearly identify causal and maintaining factors to target in therapy (see Behar, DiMarco, Hekler, Mohlman, & Staples, 2009, for a review). Recent randomized controlled trials informed by these models indicate that targeting intolerance of uncertainty (Dugas et al., 2010), and the interpersonal and emotion focused aspects of GAD (Newman et al., 2011) yield effects comparable to existing CBTs for GAD. A small pilot study found that targeting meta-cognition in GAD (Wells et al., 2010) produced better outcomes than applied relaxation, however, the very low rates of response to applied relaxation, coupled with the small sample size, indicate a need for further research to confirm this finding. Roemer and Orsillo (2002) developed a model of GAD informed by research and theory highlighting the potential roles of experiential avoidance (e.g., Hayes, Wilson, Gifford, Follette & Strosahl, 1996) and ruminative, self-critical processing (e.g., Barnard & Teasdale, 1991) in the development and maintenance of psychopathology. Supported by research comparing individuals with and without GAD, this model suggests that those with GAD have a problematic relationship with their internalized experiences characterized by a narrowed attention toward threat (Bar-Haim, Lamy, Pergamin, Bakermans-Kranenburg, & van IJzendoorn, 2007), and a critical, judgmental reactivity toward their emotional responses (e.g., Lee, Orsillo, Roemer, & Allen, 2010; Llera & Newman, 2010; Mennin, Heimberg, Turk, & Fresco, 2005) and thoughts (Wells & Carter, 1999). This reaction to internal experiences motivates individuals with GAD to engage in experiential avoidance (e.g., Lee et al., 2010) using a variety of strategies including worry, the central defining feature of GAD. Although worry decreases somatic arousal and helps to distract an individual from more emotional topics (see Borkovec, Alcaine, & Behar, 2004, for a review), rigid habitual efforts at experiential avoidance can paradoxically increase distress (e.g., Hayes et al., 1996), leading to a cycle of reactivity and avoidance that in turn affects behavior. Individuals with GAD are less likely to consistently engage in behaviors that are important to them (i.e., valued actions) and as a result experience a diminished quality of life (Michelson, Lee, Orsillo, & Roemer, 2011). This model led to the development of an acceptance based behavior therapy for GAD (ABBT; Roemer & Orsillo, 2009; Roemer & Orsillo, In press), a flexible treatment adapted from traditional CBT for GAD (e.g., Borkovec et al., 2004), as well as other acceptance-based behavioral therapies including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999), Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT; Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2002), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (Linehan, 1993), that explicitly target these mechanisms1. Specifically, this ABBT aims to help clients to cultivate an expanded (as opposed to narrowed, threat-focused) awareness along with a compassionate (as opposed to judgmental) and decentered (as opposed to seeing thoughts and feelings as all-encompassing indicators of truth) stance towards internal experiences. These new skills reduce rigid experiential avoidance, as does the explicit promotion of an accepting and willing stance towards internal experiences. Behavioral avoidance and constriction are targeted by encouraging clients to identify and mindfully engage in personally meaningful actions. ABBT uses empathic validation, self-monitoring, formal and informal mindfulness exercises, encouragement of acceptance through psychoeducation and experiential exercises, and writing and behavioral exercises that apply these skills to personally meaningful activities (see Roemer & Orsillo, 2009; in press, for a more detailed presentation of the treatment). Data from an open trial (Roemer & Orsillo, 2007) and waitlist RCT (Roemer, Orsillo, & Salters-Pedneault, 2008) indicate significant effects on clinician-rated and self-report symptom measures of anxiety and depression, as well as self-reported quality of life and high rates of end-state functioning. Clients receiving ABBT report significant decreases in experiential avoidance (Roemer et al., 2008), distress about emotional responses, and intolerance of uncertainty (Treanor, Erisman, Salters-Pedneault, Orsillo, & Roemer, 2011) and significant increases in values-consistent behavior (Michelson et al., 2011). Moreover, both the time spent accepting internal experiences and engaging in valued activities significantly predict outcome (Hayes, Orsillo, & Roemer, 2010) providing support for the proposed mechanisms of action. However, studies are needed that compare this treatment to a credible, efficacious alternative therapy. Other acceptance- and mindfulness-based treatments have also been tested for GAD. A recent study comparing ACT to CBT (with behavioral exposures in both conditions) showed comparable effects of the two treatments, with the 14 individuals with GAD who received ACT demonstrating medium to large effects on outcome measures (Arch et al., 2012). Similarly, in a study of older adults with GAD, the seven individuals receiving ACT demonstrated large effect sizes on outcome measures, which were comparable to the nine individuals receiving CBT in this study (Wetherell et al., 2011). A recent meta-analysis demonstrated the promise of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing anxiety generally (Hofmann, Sawyer, Witt, & Oh, 2010), and two preliminary trials of MBCT suggest an effect of treatment on self-reported GAD symptoms (Craigie, Rees, Marsh, & Nathan, 2008; Evans et al., 2008), although outcomes fell short relative to other GAD treatment trials. Unlike ACT and ABBT, MBCT did not incorporate behavioral strategies, which may partly explain the more modest effects. While findings for ABBT are promising, previous studies were limited by absence of an active control condition and modest sample sizes. To more rigorously test ABBT, this study compared ABBT to an established and efficacious treatment, Applied Relaxation (AR). AR is an empirically supported treatment for GAD (Chambless & Ollendick, 2001) and is recommended in the NICE clinical guideline 113 (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health and the National Collaborating Centre for Primary Care, 2011). This status comes from several methodologically rigorous studies that have examined the efficacy of AR. For example, randomized controlled trials demonstrated that AR was more efficacious than a nondirective, reflective listening therapy (Borkovec & Costello, 1993) and roughly as efficacious as cognitive therapy (Arntz, 2003; Ost & Breitholtz, 2000), cognitive behavioral therapy (Borkovec & Costello, 1993; Dugas et al., 2010), and worry exposure (Hoyer et al., 2009) in treating GAD. Further supporting the efficacy of AR, a meta-analysis by Siev and Chambless (2007) found that cognitive therapy and relaxation therapy were equivalent treatments for GAD. AR is also straightforward and relatively easy to learn, which increases the probability that therapists can deliver it with good adherence and competence. In the spirit of a comparative efficacy trial, we hypothesized that both ABBT and AR would lead to statistically and clinically significant change but that ABBT would be more efficacious than AR on measures of anxiety and quality of life. Additionally, because the processes targeted in ABBT are presumed to underlie many forms of psychopathology, we hypothesized that ABBT would be associated with greater decreases in depression and comorbidity than AR. Finally, we hypothesized that the treatments would be comparably credible and acceptable to participants.