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Discovery of associative patterns between workplace sound level and physiological wellbeing using wearable devices and empirical Bayes modeling
Get PDFWe conducted a field study using multiple wearable devices on 231 federal office workers to assess the impact of the indoor environment on individual wellbeing. Past research has established that the workplace environment is closely tied to an individual’s wellbeing. Since sound is the most-reported environmental factor causing stress and discomfort, we focus on quantifying its association with physiological wellbeing. Physiological wellbeing is represented as a latent variable in an empirical Bayes model with heart rate variability measures—SDNN and normalized-HF as the observed outcomes and with exogenous factors including sound level as inputs. We find that an individual’s physiological wellbeing is optimal when sound level in the workplace is at 50 dBA. At lower (50dBA) amplitude ranges, a 10 dBA increase in sound level is related to a 5.4% increase and 1.9% decrease in physiological wellbeing respectively. Age, body-mass-index, high blood pressure, anxiety, and computer use intensive work are person-level factors contributing to heterogeneity in the sound-wellbeing association
The Resilience of the Phonological Network May Have Implications for Developmental and Acquired Disorders
Get PDFA central tenet of network science states that the structure of the network influences processing. In this study of a phonological network of English words we asked: how does damage alter the network structure (Study 1)? How does the damaged structure influence lexical processing (Study 2)? How does the structure of the intact network “protect” processing with a less efficient algorithm (Study 3)? In Study 1, connections in the network were randomly removed to increasingly damage the network. Various measures showed the network remained well-connected (i.e., it is resilient to damage) until ~90% of the connections were removed. In Study 2, computer simulations examined the retrieval of a set of words. The performance of the model was positively correlated with naming accuracy by people with aphasia (PWA) on the Philadelphia Naming Test (PNT) across four types of aphasia. In Study 3, we demonstrated another way to model developmental or acquired disorders by manipulating how efficiently activation spread through the network. We found that the structure of the network “protects” word retrieval despite decreases in processing efficiency; words that are relatively easy to retrieve with efficient transmission of priming remain relatively easy to retrieve with less efficient transmission of priming. Cognitive network science and computer simulations may provide insight to a wide range of speech, language, hearing, and cognitive disorders
Plain-to-clear speech video conversion for enhanced intelligibility
Get PDFClearly articulated speech, relative to plain-style speech, has been shown to improve intelligibility. We examine if visible speech cues in video only can be systematically modified to enhance clear-speech visual features and improve intelligibility. We extract clear-speech visual features of English words varying in vowels produced by multiple male and female talkers. Via a frame-by-frame image-warping based video generation method with a controllable parameter (displacement factor), we apply the extracted clear-speech visual features to videos of plain speech to synthesize clear speech videos. We evaluate the generated videos using a robust, state of the art AI Lip Reader as well as human intelligibility testing. The contributions of this study are: (1) we successfully extract relevant visual cues for video modifications across speech styles, and have achieved enhanced intelligibility for AI; (2) this work suggests that universal talker-independent clear-speech features may be utilized to modify any talker’s visual speech style; (3) we introduce “displacement factor” as a way of systematically scaling the magnitude of displacement modifications between speech styles; and (4) the high definition generated videos make them ideal candidates for human-centric intelligibility and perceptual training studies
General polygonal line tilings and their matching complexes
Get PDFA (general) polygonal line tiling is a graph formed by a string of cycles, each intersecting the previous at an edge, no three intersecting. In 2022, Matsushita proved the matching complex of a certain type of polygonal line tiling with even cycles is homotopy equivalent to a wedge of spheres. In this paper, we extend Matsushita's work to include a larger family of graphs and carry out a closer analysis of lines of triangles and pentagons, where the Fibonacci numbers arise
Indigenous research sovereignties: Sparking the deeper conversations we need
Get PDFThis article is part of the Environment and Planning F: Philosophy, Theory, Models, Methods and Practice special issue on ‘Indigenous Research Sovereignty’, edited by Jay T. Johnson, Joseph P. Brewer II., Melissa K. Nelson, Mark H. Palmer, and Renee Pualani Louis.This article seeks to spark a conversation and further debate through the 15 papers and 3 commentaries comprising this special issue entitled “Indigenous Research Sovereignty.” By inviting the authors to publish in this special edition and address Indigenous Research Sovereignty from a variety of viewpoints, we have brought together a collection that inspires, transforms, and expands on the ways in which Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers are engaging with Indigenous communities to address the research agendas of communities across the globe. Through our work together over the past 8 years, the editorial team have identified eight themes within this broad concept of Indigenous Research Sovereignty. This article provides an introduction to those eight themes in the broadest strokes, while the papers and commentaries explore and refine them with significant depth. We seek to spark a conversation, we do not intend to provide answers to any of the dilemma facing Indigenous communities as they engage, or choose not to engage, in research. Our primary goal is to express an all-encompassing concern for the protection of Indigenous Communities’ inherent rights and knowledges.The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The guest editors acknowledge financial support for the FIRST Network by the United States National Science Foundation through grant number 1417767
Development and implementation of the ECHO model in a school setting to address youth electronic cigarette use in Kansas: A protocol
Get PDFA grant from the One-University Open Access Fund at the University of Kansas was used to defray the author's publication fees in this Open Access journal. The Open Access Fund, administered by librarians from the KU, KU Law, and KUMC libraries, is made possible by contributions from the offices of KU Provost, KU Vice Chancellor for Research & Graduate Studies, and KUMC Vice Chancellor for Research. For more information about the Open Access Fund, please see http://library.kumc.edu/authors-fund.xml.Introduction: Schools remain at the frontlines of addressing issues, such as e-cigarette use, that impact students. Despite e-cigarette use remaining a significant public health concern in the U.S., schools have limited resources (e.g., staff, capacity, programming) to address it, especially in rural and frontier areas. This ECHO Pilot Project aimed to build capacity and equip schools and school staff in the state of Kansas to address high rates of youth e-cigarette use by providing prevention support and information on best practices for e-cigarette cessation.
Methods and analysis: The pilot used the established Project ECHO model to disseminate evidence-based strategies for e-cigarette prevention and cessation among youth to schools across Kansas. The pilot selected 20 interdisciplinary school teams representing both rural and urban middle and high schools across the state to participate in seven ECHO sessions. ECHO sessions proceeded throughout Fall 2021, with the final session in Spring 2022. School participants completed pre-post surveys as well as component-specific surveys following each ECHO session. In addition, each school team created an individualized action plan to comprehensively address e-cigarette use at their school based on the information provided throughout the ECHO. Survey data, school tobacco/nicotine policies, and action plans will be analyzed to assess process and final outcomes.
Discussion: If successful, this pilot will demonstrate that the ECHO model is an effective platform for building school staff knowledge and skills to implement evidence-based strategies in both urban and rural settings. It is anticipated that the pilot will build capacity and equip schools and school staff to address high rates of youth e-cigarette use by providing support for school-based prevention programs and referrals for e-cigarette cessation which will lessen the burden of nicotine-related problems in Kansas schools and communities. Finally, the pilot will provide evidence that the ECHO model can be successfully and equitably applied in a school setting and may be a viable method for addressing other public health-related issues faced by schools
A protein subunit vaccine elicits a balanced immune response that protects against Pseudomonas pulmonary infection
Get PDFThe opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) causes severe nosocomial infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals and the elderly. Increasing drug resistance, the absence of a licensed vaccine and increased hospitalizations due to SARS-CoV-2 have made Pa a major healthcare risk. To address this, we formulated a candidate subunit vaccine against Pa (L-PaF), by fusing the type III secretion system tip and translocator proteins with LTA1 in an oil-in-water emulsion (ME). This was mixed with the TLR4 agonist (BECC438b). Lung mRNA sequencing showed that the formulation activates genes from multiple immunological pathways eliciting a protective Th1-Th17 response following IN immunization. Following infection, however, the immunized mice showed an adaptive response while the PBS-vaccinated mice experienced rapid onset of an inflammatory response. The latter displayed a hypoxic lung environment with high bacterial burden. Finally, the importance of IL-17 and immunoglobulins were demonstrated using knockout mice. These findings suggest a need for a balanced humoral and cellular response to prevent the onset of Pa infection and that our formulation could elicit such a response
Anchorage of High-Strength Reinforcing Bars in Concrete
Get PDFHooked and headed reinforcing bars are commonly used as a means of shortening development length of reinforcing bars, but a limited amount of previous research has resulted in restrictions on their use in practice. This study included two phases: In the first phase, 31 tests of simulated column-foundation joints were conducted to investigate the anchorage strength and behavior of large and high-strength headed bars as functions of the distance between the anchored headed bar and the compression reaction, number of headed bars tested simultaneously (1 or 2), size of the headed bars (No. 11 or No. 14), center-to-center spacing between headed bars loaded simultaneously (3.2 or 8.2db), amount of confining reinforcement within the joint region (zero to six No. 4 closed stirrups), and concrete compressive strength (5,060 to 14,470 psi). The embedment length of the headed bars ranged from 125 /8 to 14 in., and the stresses in the headed bars at failure ranged from 41,800 to 144,400 psi. The test results are compared with anchorage strengths based on the descriptive equations for headed bars developed at the University of Kansas, ACI 318-19 Code provisions, and proposed Code provisions. Recommended changes to Chapters 17 and 25 of ACI 318-19 are presented. In the second phase of the study, descriptive equations for beam-column joints tested under monotonic loading are investigated their applicability to predict the anchorage strength of hooked bars anchored in members subjected to reversed cyclic loading. Comparisons are made with test results from 24 studies of 146 exterior beam-column joint specimens subjected to reversed cyclic loading in which the beam bars are anchored by hooks. Key variables include embedment lengths of the hooked bars (6 to 21 in.), concrete compressive strength (3,140 to 13,700 psi), center-to-center spacing between the hooked bars (1.75 to 6.5 in.), bar size (No. 3 to No. 9), and confining reinforcement within the joint region parallel to the straight portion of the hooked bars (none to nine hoops spaced at 1.25 to 6.0 in.). The yield strength of the hooked bars ranged from 42,900 to 103,000 psi. Proposed changes to Chapters 18 of ACI 318-19 are presented.
The results of the experimental study show that the anchorage strength of headed bars anchored in column-foundation joints is improved by parallel tie reinforcement located on all sides of the headed bars, a contribution that is not included in the provisions of ACI 318-19. Similar to observations for beam-column joints, the anchorage strength of headed bars anchored in simulated column-foundation joints decreases as the center-to-center spacing decreases below 8db. The descriptive equations developed based on tests of beam-column joints are suitable for predicting the anchorage strength of headed bars anchored in column-foundation joints. Chapter 17 of ACI 318-19 does not accurately predict the anchorage strength of headed bars tested when parallel tie/anchor reinforcement is used and should be modified to combine the contributions of concrete strength and parallel tie reinforcement. The descriptive equations developed for beam-column joints apply to column-foundation joints and could serve as a basis for the anchorage provisions in Chapter 17 of ACI 318. The provisions in Chapter 25 of ACI 318-19 should be updated to include the effect of parallel tie reinforcement in connections other than beam-column joints. The descriptive equations for the anchorage strength of hooked bars in beam-column joints tested under monotonic loading are suitable for predicting the anchorage strength of hooked bars anchored in members subjected to reversed cyclic loading. The ACI Code provisions for the development length of hooked bars in tension in beam-column joints in special moment frames (Section 18.8.5.1 of ACI 318-19), derived from the development length provisions for non-seismic loading in earlier Codes, permit development lengths that are shorter needed for gravity load by Chapter 25. Changes in Chapter 18 of ACI 318-19 are proposed that require the use of the provisions in Chapter 25 to establish the minimum development length for hooked bars anchored in joints for frames subjected to seismic loadin
The oldest known bat skeletons and their implications for Eocene chiropteran diversification
Get PDFThe Fossil Lake deposits of the Green River Formation of Wyoming, a remarkable early Eocene Lagerstätte (51.98 ±0.35 Ma), have produced nearly 30 bat fossils over the last 50 years. However, diversity has thus far been limited to only two bat species. Here, we describe a new species of Icaronycteris based on two articulated skeletons discovered in the American Fossil Quarry northwest of Kemmerer, Wyoming. The relative stratigraphic position of these fossils indicates that they are the oldest bat skeletons recovered to date anywhere in the world. Phylogenetic analysis of Eocene fossil bats and living taxa places the new species within the family Icaronycteridae as sister to Icaronycteris index, and additionally indicates that the two Green River archaic bat families (Icaronycteridae and Onychonycteridae) form a clade distinct from known Old World lineages of archaic bats. Our analyses found no evidence that Icaronycteris? menui (France) nor I. sigei (India) belong to this clade; accordingly, we therefore remove them from Icaronycteridae. Taken in sum, our results indicate that Green River bats represent a separate chiropteran radiation of basal bats, and provide additional support for the hypothesis of a rapid radiation of bats on multiple continents during the early Eocene
Cell activation-based screening of natively paired human T cell receptor repertoires
Get PDFAdoptive immune therapies based on the transfer of antigen-specific T cells have been used successfully to treat various cancers and viral infections, but improved techniques are needed to identify optimally protective human T cell receptors (TCRs). Here we present a high-throughput approach to the identification of natively paired human TCRα and TCRβ (TCRα:β) genes encoding heterodimeric TCRs that recognize specific peptide antigens bound to major histocompatibility complex molecules (pMHCs). We first captured and cloned TCRα:β genes from individual cells, ensuring fidelity using a suppression PCR. We then screened TCRα:β libraries expressed in an immortalized cell line using peptide-pulsed antigen-presenting cells and sequenced activated clones to identify the cognate TCRs. Our results validated an experimental pipeline that allows large-scale repertoire datasets to be annotated with functional specificity information, facilitating the discovery of therapeutically relevant TCRs