Aging Is Associated with Increased Human T Cell CC Chemokine Receptor Gene Expression

Leukocyte chemokine receptors (CR) are central to the pathogenesis of many human diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection. Elderly individuals infected with the HIV-1 virus have a shorter disease-free interval and worse clinic outcome. However, the reasons for this are unclear. We recently reported increased CC chemokine receptor (CCR) expression in CD4+ T cells in aged mice, but it is not known if similar changes occur in humans. In addition, it is unclear if the observed differences are related to aged-related expansion in the memory T cell compartment. In this report, we examined the effects of aging on CCR gene expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), CD4+ T cells, and naive/memory T cells. Aging is found to be associated with increased CCR1-5 expression in PBMCs and CD4+ T cells. In addition, although the age-related increases in CCR expression occurred in both naive and memory T cells, the greatest changes were seen in the memory T cell subset. We propose that the observed aging-associated increase in T cell chemokine receptor expression may contribute to the worse clinical outcome of T cell chemokine receptor-dependent disease, such as HIV-1 infection, in the elderly.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/63139/1/107999003322485071.pd

Leukocyte function in the aging immune system

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141408/1/jlb1001.pd

Medicare beneficiary panel characteristics associated with high Part D biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug prescribing for older adults among rheumatologists.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate beneficiary panel characteristics associated with rheumatologists' prescribing of biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) for older adults.In this retrospective observational study, we used Medicare Public Use Files (PUFs) to identify rheumatologists who met criteria for high-prescribing, defined as bDMARD prescription constituting ≥20% of their DMARD claims for beneficiaries ≥65 years of age. We first used descriptive analysis then multivariable regression model to test the association of high prescribing of bDMARDs with rheumatologists' panel size and beneficiary characteristics. In particular, we quantified the proportion of panel beneficiaries ≥75 years of age to assess how caring for an older panel correlate with prescribing of bDMARDs.We identified 3197 unique rheumatologists, of whom 405 (13%) met criteria for high prescribing of bDMARDs for Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 years of age. The high-prescribers provided care to 12% of study older adults, and yet accounted for 21% of bDMARD prescriptions for them. High prescribing of bDMARDs was associated with smaller panel size, and their beneficiaries were more likely to be non-black, ≥75 years of age, non-dual eligible, have diagnosis of CHF, however, less likely to have CKD.Rheumatologists differ in their prescribing of bDMARDs for older adults, and those caring for more beneficiaries ≥75 years of age are more likely to be high-prescribers. Older adults are more prone to the side-effects of bDMARDs and further investigation is warranted to understand drivers of differential prescribing behaviors to optimize use of these high-risk and high-cost medications.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/170715/2/Medicare beneficiary panel characteristics associated with high Part D biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug prescr.pdfPublished versio

An open source methodology to develop games for neurofeedback training (NFT)

Neurofeedback is a non-intrusive training in which individuals could control their own brain wave patterns and adjust it until it matches the desired pattern. It is claimed that this training is safe to be used because it will only collect the brain wave and no electric current will pass through the brain. In neurofeedback training, individual may require to play certain kind of specially designed game in which they would use their brain wave to control the game. In order to achieve success in the game, the individuals need to regulate their brain wave patterns to meet the required training pattern. The game is very interactive and hence, it would gain interests from the individuals. However, proprietary software and hardware ofneurofeedback deter customized development of games. If the users do not buy new games from the developer, then they may need to play the same games over and over again which may end up with boredom. In this project, an open source methodology to develop game for neurofeedback training would be introduced. This methodology would involve the usage of Ope nBC I to retrieve the raw brain data and Brainbay to do the brain signal processing. Through these, beta wave could be attained and it would be used to control the game. The game that is demonstrated in this project is being developed by using Scratch. Initially the game is being designed to be controlled by using the space bar on the computer keyboard. This methodology allows the keyboard to be replaced with the beta wave. In other words, the player would play the game by using his own brain power, which is beta wave

Digital Quantum Simulation of the Statistical Mechanics of a Frustrated Magnet

Many problems of interest in physics, chemistry and computer science are equivalent to problems defined on systems of interacting spins. However, most such problems require computational resources that are out of reach with classical computers. A promising solution to overcome this challenge is quantum simulation. Several 'analogue' quantum simulations of interacting spin systems have been realized experimentally, where ground states were prepared using adiabatic techniques. Here we report a 'digital' quantum simulation of thermal states; a three-spin frustrated magnet was simulated using a nuclear magnetic resonance quantum information processor, and we were able to explore the phase diagram of the system at any simulated temperature and external field. These results help to identify the challenges for performing quantum simulations of physical systems at finite temperatures, and suggest methods that may be useful in simulating thermal open quantum systems.Chemistry and Chemical Biolog

Intrinsic satisfaction derived from office recycling behavior: A case study in Taiwan

Despite the fact that more and more researchers have devoted themselves to recycling studies in varied settings, virtually no research has been conducted to study the causal relationships between intrinsic satisfaction and individual recycling behavior in office settings. In addition, little research has tried to explore whether there is only one index of intrinsic satisfaction or several distinct indices. This paper examines the dimensionality of intrinsic satisfaction. It also explores the causal relationships between intrinsic satisfaction and office recycling behavior. Data from field surveys conducted in 32 different organizations in Taiwan were analyzed. The findings indicate that there are at least two distinct factors regarding intrinsic satisfaction — participation and frugality. These data suggest that intrinsic satisfaction can be derived from office recycling activities, not only being predictors of office recycling behavior.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43688/1/11205_2005_Article_BF01086514.pd

Mass transport phenomena between bubbles and dissolved gases in liquids under reduced gravity conditions

The experimental and analytical work that was done to establish justification and feasibility for a shuttle middeck experiment involving mass transfer between a gas bubble and a liquid is described. The experiment involves the observation and measurement of the dissolution of an isolated immobile gas bubble of specified size and composition in a thermostatted solvent liquid of known concentration in the reduced gravity environment of earth orbit. Methods to generate and deploy the bubble were successful both in normal gravity using mutually buoyant fluids and under reduced gravity conditions in the NASA Lear Jet. Initialization of the experiment with a bubble of a prescribed size and composition in a liquid of known concentration was accomplished using the concept of unstable equilibrium. Subsequent bubble dissolution or growth is obtained by a step increase or decrease in the liquid pressure. A numerical model was developed which simulates the bubble dynamics and can be used to determine molecular parameters by comparison with the experimental data. The primary objective of the experiment is the elimination of convective effects that occur in normal gravity

Use of antibiotics by primary care doctors in Hong Kong

© 2009 Lam et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Analysis of Heat Transfer in a Chemical Vapor Deposition Reactor: An Eigenfunction Expansion Solution Approach

A numerical solution procedure combining several weighted residual methods and based on global trial function expansion is developed to solve a model for the steady state gas flow field and temperature distribution in a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition reactor. The enthalpy flux across the wafer/gas boundary is calculated explicitly and is found to vary significantly as a function of wafer position. An average heat transfer coefficient is estimated numerically and is compared to typical radiative heat transfer rates in the system. The convergence properties of the discretization method developed also are discussed

Model Reduction for a Tungsten Chemical Vapor Deposition System

A model of a tungsten chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system isdeveloped to study the CVD system thermal dynamics and wafer temperaturenonuniformities during a processing cycle. We develop a model for heattransfer in the system's wafer/susceptor/guard ring assembly and discretizethe modeling equation with a multiple-grid, nonlinear collocation technique.This weighted residual method is based on the assumption that the system'sdynamics are governed by a small number of modes and that the remaining modesare slaved to these slow modes. Our numerical technique produces a model thatis effectively reduced in its dynamical dimension, while retaining theresolution required for the wafer assembly model. The numerical techniqueis implemented with only moderately more effort than the traditional collocationor pseudospectral techniques. Furthermore, by formulating the technique in termsof a collocation procedure, the relationship between temperature measurementsmade on the wafer and the simulator results produced with the reduced-ordermodel remain clear