Selection of A Computer Vision Algorithm to Track Bed Bug Swarms

Modern aerospace systems require a new approach for swarm consensus that is distributed, operates with localized information, uses simple agents, and is easily deployable and expandable. The overarching goal of our research is to advance our understanding of bed-bug behavior and use this understanding to improve performance of aerospace swarms. The central hypothesis is that if we record bed-bug response to CO2 exposure, then we will be able to improve our understanding of collective decision making because the bed bugs coordinate their response to environmental conditions. Previous research began this work by developing an algorithm capable of tracking a single target bed-bug utilizing computer vision. We seek to continue this research to develop an algorithm capable of tracking the interaction of multiple target bed-bugs at once utilizing computer vision. The research for the improved algorithm will consist of two undergraduate students and will result in the examination of six viable approaches and algorithms for tracking multiple targets utilizing computer vision. This poster is the first step of reviewing potential algorithms for selection for the project. Difficulties with our scenario include the small size of the bed bug, lack of identifying characteristics, and multiple cameras where movement needs to be tracked from one another, all of these challenges pose difficulties with many existing individual approaches

Menthol Cigarette Smoking and Obesity in Young Adult Daily Smokers in Hawaii

This study investigates 1) the relationship between menthol cigarette smoking and obesity and 2) the association of body mass index with the nicotine metabolite ratio among menthol and non-menthol daily smokers aged 18–35 (n = 175). A brief survey on smoking and measures of height and weight, carbon monoxide, and saliva samples were collected from participants from May to December 2013 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Multiple regression was used to estimate differences in body mass index among menthol and non-menthol smokers and the association of menthol smoking with obesity. We calculated the log of the nicotine metabolite ratio to examine differences in the nicotine metabolite ratio among normal, overweight, and obese smokers. Sixty-eight percent of smokers used menthol cigarettes. Results showed that 62% of normal, 54% of overweight, and 91% of obese smokers used menthol cigarettes (p = .000). The mean body mass index was significantly higher among menthol compared with non-menthol smokers (29.4 versus 24.5, p = .000). After controlling for gender, marital status, educational attainment, employment status, and race/ethnicity, menthol smokers were more than 3 times as likely as non-menthol smokers to be obese (p = .04). The nicotine metabolite ratio was significantly lower for overweight menthol smokers compared with non-menthol smokers (.16 versus .26, p = .02) in the unadjusted model, but was not significant after adjusting for the covariates. Consistent with prior studies, our data show that menthol smokers are more likely to be obese compared with non-menthol smokers. Future studies are needed to determine how flavored tobacco products influence obesity among smokers

Childhood and adolescent psychopathology and subsequent tobacco smoking in young adults: findings from an Australian birth cohort

Aims To examine whether child and adolescent psychopathology predicts subsequent tobacco use at 14 and 21 years of age. Design Prospective birth cohort study. Setting Data are taken from the Mater Misericordiae Hospital and University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy and its outcomes (MUSP), a prospective longitudinal study which recruited women at their first antenatal visit in Brisbane, Australia. Participants A 5-, 14- and 21-year follow-up of children whose mother's were recruited into the MUSP birth cohort study at their first antenatal visit. Measurements Psychopathology exposure was measured using the Achenbach's Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) at 5 years, the Youth Self Report (YSR) at 14 years and the Young Adult Self Report (YASR) at 21 years. Outcome measures were the children's tobacco smoking status at the 14 and 21 years' follow-up and the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) based DSM-IV nicotine dependence at 21 years' follow-up. Findings Externalizing symptoms had the strongest association with subsequent tobacco use. Children who met the criteria for CBCL aggression at 5 years were more likely to be tobacco smokers at the 14-year follow-up. YSR externalizing behaviours at the 14-year follow-up predicted tobacco smoking, but not DSM-IV nicotine dependence at the 21-year follow-up. Internalizing behaviour (anxiety/depression) was associated with a reduced rate of smoking at the 14- and 21-year follow-ups, but externalizing behaviour and attention problems at 14 and 21 years were associated separately and cumulatively with nicotine dependence at the 21-year follow-up. Conclusion Childhood and adolescent psychopathology predict tobacco smoking, but some forms of psychopathology predict increased (aggression/delinquency; attention problems) and other forms decreased (anxiety/depression) smoking. There may be some benefits in targeting children with early onset aggressive/delinquent behaviour problems with tobacco smoking prevention initiatives

Fagerstrom test for nicotine dependence vs heavy smoking index in a general population survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) is used for assessing nicotine dependence. A shorter test derived from the FTND used for the general population is the Heavy Smoking Index (HSI) (six questions vs. two). The objective of this study is to compare the validity of the HSI versus the FTND.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A survey of tobacco use in the general population was carried out in the northern Spanish region of Galicia using both the FTND and the HSI to study a representative sample of 1655 daily smokers. The HSI was compared with the FTND, considered the gold standard. Measures of sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were calculated. Concordance between the tests was also established (Cohen's kappa).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cohen's kappa showed good agreement between measures (Kappa = 0.7); specificity values were also high (Sp = 96.2%). Sensitivity analysis in females (Se = 62.3%) did not show good agreement.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The HSI can be used as a reasonably good screening test in order to identify daily smokers with high nicotine dependence. Nevertheless, for populations or subpopulations having low nicotine dependence, such as women, the FTND is more reliable.</p

Are Adolescents with ADHD Interested in Genetic Testing for Nicotine Addiction Susceptibility?

It has been well-established that some adolescents diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at increased risk for cigarette smoking. Current research on the genetic basis of this association could ultimately translate into genetic tests capable of identifying smoking-prone adolescents with ADHD. In this study we examined 81 ADHD affected adolescents’ (age 13–21) interest in genetic testing for nicotine addiction susceptibility. Fifty-seven percent of adolescents indicated a fair amount of interest or more in testing. Most adolescents indicated that the personal information revealed from testing would be either useful (29%) or interesting (37%). Implications for genetically-informed smoking prevention and cessation interventions in high risk adolescents with ADHD are discussed

Addiction to the nicotine gum in never smokers

Abstract Background Addiction to nicotine gum has never been described in never smokers or in never users of tobacco. Methods Internet questionnaire in 2004–2006 in a self-selected sample of 434 daily users of nicotine gum. To assess dependence on nicotine gum, we used modified versions of the Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale (NDSS), the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence and the Cigarette Dependence Scale. Results Five never smokers used the nicotine gum daily. They had been using the nicotine gum for longer than the 429 ever smokers (median = 6 years vs 0.8 years, p = 0.004), and they had higher NDSS-gum Tolerance scores (median = 0.73 vs = -1.0, p = 0.03), a difference of 1.5 standard deviation units. Two never smokers had never used smokeless tobacco, both answered "extremely true" to: "I use nicotine gums because I am addicted to them", both "fully agreed" with: "after a few hours without chewing a nicotine gum, I feel an irresistible urge to chew one" and: "I am a prisoner of nicotine gum". Conclusion This is to our knowledge the first report of addiction to nicotine gum in never users of tobacco. However, this phenomenon is rare, and although the long-term effect of nicotine gum is unknown, this product is significantly less harmful than tobacco.</p

The genetics of addiction—a translational perspective

Addictions are serious and common psychiatric disorders, and are among the leading contributors to preventable death. This selective review outlines and highlights the need for a multi-method translational approach to genetic studies of these important conditions, including both licit (alcohol, nicotine) and illicit (cannabis, cocaine, opiates) drug addictions and the behavioral addiction of disordered gambling. First, we review existing knowledge from twin studies that indicates both the substantial heritability of substance-specific addictions and the genetic overlap across addiction to different substances. Next, we discuss the limited number of candidate genes which have shown consistent replication, and the implications of emerging genomewide association findings for the genetic architecture of addictions. Finally, we review the utility of extensions to existing methods such as novel phenotyping, including the use of endophenotypes, biomarkers and neuroimaging outcomes; emerging methods for identifying alternative sources of genetic variation and accompanying statistical methodologies to interpret them; the role of gene-environment interplay; and importantly, the potential role of genetic variation in suggesting new alternatives for treatment of addictions