Examining Social Isolation and Loneliness: Cross-Sectional Needs Assessment among Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Social isolation and loneliness (SIL) represent a growing public health and public policy concern, particularly among older adults. Half of older adults over the age of 60 are at risk of social isolation and one-third experience loneliness. SIL is a particular concern for individuals aging-in-place in low-density and rural areas. SIL increases the risk of premature death from all causes in older individuals, and results in $6.7 billion in additional Medicare spending annually. Tennessee is ranked tenth in the nation for risk of social isolation. Strategies to promote social connections are a critical step in designing age-friendly communities. A cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of older adults (62 years and older) living in affordable housing apartment complexes in Hawkins County, TN was conducted in February and March 2023. Loneliness (UCLA 3-item Loneliness Scale), social isolation (Lubben Social Network Scale 6-item), and sense of community (Brief Sense of Community Scale) were assessed. Data were also gathered on demographic characteristics, health status, social engagement, and strategies to support older adults aging-in-place. Data from 82 participants aged 62 to 95 (73.14 mean age; SD = 7.00) were analyzed. The majority of participants were female (67$14,225 (43%). Nearly half (44%) report their health as fair or poor compared to others their age and 79% of participants have 4 or more chronic conditions. Overall mean loneliness score indicated moderate loneliness (mean = 4.9; SD = 2.08; range 0-9). 48% were at risk of social isolation (mean = 13.35; SD = 6.14; range 0-29). The total mean sense of community score was moderate (mean = 22.9; SD = 1.09; range 0-40). Factors associated with SIL will be analyzed using Pearson’s correlation test. Strategies to promote social engagement will be discussed. Living and growing older in rural communities is considered a primary risk factor for SIL. To support healthy aging, local efforts must include strategies to increase social engagement for rural older adults and their communities. Results from this needs assessment will be used to generate recommendations that can be used to improve social connectedness among older adults living in Hawkins County, TN

Four-dimensional laser induced fluorescence study of the structure of molecular mixing in turbulent flows

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77075/1/AIAA-1994-820-515.pd

A scalar imaging velocimetry technique for fully resolved four‐dimensional vector velocity field measurements in turbulent flows

This paper presents an experimental technique for obtaining fully resolved measurements of the vector velocity field u(x,t) throughout a four‐dimensional spatiotemporal region in a turbulent flow. The method uses fully resolved four‐dimensional scalar field imaging measurements in turbulent flows [Phys. Fluids A 3, 1115 (1991)] to extract the underlying velocity field from the exact conserved scalar transport equation. A procedure for accomplishing this is described, and results from a series of test cases are presented. These involve synthetically generated scalar fields as well as actual measured turbulent flow scalar fields advected numerically by various imposed flow fields. The imposed velocity fields are exactly known, allowing a careful validation of the technique and its potential accuracy. Results obtained from a zeroth iteration of the technique are found to be very close to the exact underlying vector velocity field. Further results show that successive iterations bring the velocity field from the zeroth iteration even closer to the exact result. It is also shown that the comparatively dense velocity field information that this technique provides is well suited for accurate extraction of the more dynamically insightful strain rate and vorticity fields ϵ(x,t) and ω(x,t).Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69930/2/PFADEB-4-10-2191-1.pd

Direct, high resolution, four‐dimensional measurements of the fine scale structure of Sc≫1 molecular mixing in turbulent flows

Results from highly resolved, four‐dimensional measurements of the fine structure of the fully space‐ and time‐varying Sc≫1 conserved scalar field and the associated scalar energy dissipation rate field in a turbulent flow are presented. The resolution achieved in all three spatial dimensions and in time reaches down to the local strain‐limited molecular diffusion scale in the flow, allowing all three components of the instantaneous scalar gradient vector field ∇ζ(x,t) and their time evolution at every point in the data space to be directly evaluated. Results are presented in the form of fine structure maps of the instantaneous dissipation field loge ∇ζ⋅∇ζ(x,t) in several spatially adjacent data planes within an individual three‐dimensional spatial data volume, as well as in several temporally successive data planes from a sequence of such three‐dimensional data volumes. The degree of anisotopy in the underlying scalar gradient field is characterized in terms of the joint distribution β(ϑ,φ) of spherical orientation angles. The probability density of true scalar energy dissipation rates is presented and compared with the distributions that would result from lower‐dimensional measurements of the scalar gradient vector. From this the ‘‘spottiness’’ of the scalar dissipation field is directly quantified by determining the true fraction of the total dissipation that occurs in any given volume fraction of the flow.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70449/2/PFADEB-3-5-1115-1.pd

DomSVR: Domain boundary prediction with support vector regression from sequence information alone

Protein domains are structural and fundamental functional units of proteins. The information of protein domain boundaries is helpful in understanding the evolution, structures and functions of proteins, and also plays an important role in protein classification. In this paper, we propose a support vector regression-based method to address the problem of protein domain boundary identification based on novel input profiles extracted from AA-index database. As a result, our method achieves an average sensitivity of ∼36.5% and an average specificity of ∼ 81% for multi-domain protein chains, which is overall better than the performance of published approaches to identify domain boundary. As our method used sequence information alone, our method is simpler and faster.© Springer-Verlag 2010

Discipline-Specific Compared to Generic Training of Teachers in Higher Education

A recurrent theme arising in the higher education sector is the suitability and effectiveness of generic versus discipline-specific training of university teachers, who are often recruited based on their disciplinary specialties to become teachers in higher education. We compared two groups of participants who had undergone training using a generic post-graduate certificate in higher education (PGCertGeneric) versus a discipline-specific course in veterinary education (PGCertVetEd). The study was conducted using a survey that allowed comparison of participants who completed PGCertGeneric (n=21) with PGCertVetEd (n=22). Results indicated that participants from both PGCertGeneric and PGCertVetEd considered teaching to be satisfying and important to their careers, valued the teaching observation component of the course, and identified similar training needs. However, the participants of the PGCertVetEd felt that the course made them better teachers, valued the relevance of the components taught, understood course design better, were encouraged to do further courses/reading in teaching and learning, changed their teaching as a result of the course, and were less stressed about teaching as compared to the PGCertGeneric participants (p<.05). It is likely that the PGCertVetEd, which was designed and developed by veterinarians with a wider understanding of the veterinary sector, helped the participants perceive the training course as suited to their needs

Sequence-dependent Administration of Raloxifene and 5-Fluorouracil/Pemetrexed Protects against Pemetrexed Cytotoxicity in Human Bone Marrow

BACKGROUND: Pemetrexed (Alimta) is a new-generation multitargeted antifolate that inhibits several key enzymes in the de novo pathways of pyrimidine and purine biosynthesis, including thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFT). Alimta has demonstrated antitumor activity in a broad array of human malignancies, e.g. breast, non-small cell lung cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma and pancreatic, colorectal, gastric, bladder, head and neck cancer, and is currently in phase III clinical trials. It has been reported that a dose of 600 mg/m2 of pemetrexed showed toxicity to bone marrow and the gastrointestinal system. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate raloxifene (RAL) in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/pemetrered multitargeted antifolate (MTA) to determine the most effective regimens and cellular mechanism of action to mitigate pemetrexed cytotoxicity in human bone marrow cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In order to determine the sequence-dependent interaction between MTA, 5-FU and RAL on proliferation, cell viability was carried out using the Quick Cell Proliferation Assay by exposing the HS-5 and MCF-7 cells to (i) MTA, 5-FU and RAL alone, or (ii) RAL 24 h prior to 5-FU followed 2 h later by MTA, or (iii) 5-FU 2 h prior to MTA followed 24 h later by RAL. RESULTS: The growth rate in MCF-7 in early RAL was 69 +/- 8.65% and late RAL was 36 +/- 4.6% of the control whereas in bone marrow early RAL was 78 +/- 8.65% and late RAL was 52 +/- 5.49% of the control. The late RAL exhibits significant protection against MTA cytotoxicity in bone marrow. The findings were further supported by cell flow cytometry, apoptosis and Western blot analysis data. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that sequence-dependent administration of RAL (5FU/MTA/RAL), in combination with 5-FU/MTA, protects against MTA toxicity in human bone marrow while maintaining the maximum inhibitory effect of pemetrexed in breast cancer

Raloxifene and Selective Cell Cycle Specific Agents: A Case for the Inclusion of Raloxifene in Current Breast Cancer Treatment Therapies

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer patients are at increased risk of osteoporosis. Contributing factors include age and/or chemotherapy. The selective estrogen modulator, raloxifene (RAL), effective in the prevention of breast cancer and approved for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, may prove beneficial in current breast cancer treatment modules. The purpose of this study was to evaluate RAL in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and trimetrexate (TMX) to determine the most effective sequence in which to administer these cell cycle specific agents while taking into consideration the cellular mechanism of action. The goal was to maintain cytotoxicity to breast cancer cells and capitalize on the selective estrogen receptor modulatory effects of RAL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MCF-7 cells were exposed to (i) TMX, 5-FU or RAL alone, or (ii) RAL 24 h prior to 5-FU followed 2 h later by TMX, or (iii) 5-FU 2 h prior to TMX followed 24 h later by RAL. The cell viability was determined using the Quick Cell Proliferation Assay. RESULTS: The growth rate of MCF- 7 cells exposed to early RAL was 68.25 +/- 4.11% that of the control, however, late RAL exposure produced a growth of 34.75 +/- 4.79% that of the control. Late RAL maintained the cytotoxicity of the regimen. The findings were further supported by cell flow cytometry and Western blot analysis data. CONCLUSION: RAL given prior to 5-FU/TMX significantly compromised cytotoxicity to breast cancer cells

Ancestry reported by white adults with cutaneous melanoma and control subjects in central Alabama

BACKGROUND: We sought to evaluate the hypothesis that the high incidence of cutaneous melanoma in white persons in central Alabama is associated with a predominance of Irish and Scots descent. METHODS: Frequencies of country of ancestry reports were tabulated. The reports were also converted to scores that reflect proportional countries of ancestry in individuals. Using the scores, we computed aggregate country of ancestry indices as estimates of group ancestry composition. HLA-DRB1*04 allele frequencies and relationships to countries of ancestry were compared in probands and controls. Results were compared to those of European populations with HLA-DRB1*04 frequencies. RESULTS: Ninety evaluable adult white cutaneous melanoma probands and 324 adult white controls reported countries of ancestry of their grandparents. The respective frequencies of Ireland, and Scotland and "British Isles" reported countries of ancestry were significantly greater in probands than in controls. The respective frequencies of Wales, France, Italy and Poland were significantly greater in controls. 16.7% of melanoma probands and 23.8% of controls reported "Native American" ancestry; the corresponding "Native American" country of ancestry index was not significantly different in probands and controls. The frequency of HLA-DRB1*04 was significantly greater in probands, but was not significantly associated with individual or aggregate countries of ancestry. The frequency of DRB1*04 observed in Alabama was compared to DRB1*04 frequencies reported from England, Wales, Ireland, Orkney Island, France, Germany, and Australia. CONCLUSION: White adults with cutaneous melanoma in central Alabama have a predominance of Irish, Scots, and "British Isles" ancestry and HLA-DRB1*04 that likely contributes to their high incidence of cutaneous melanoma