Pepperdine University Libraries Sustainable Preservation Environment Project

The Pepperdine University Libraries requests a planning grant of $32,735 from the National Endowment for the Humanities to fund an investigation into innovative and sustainable methods of preserving our humanities holdings in Payson Library???s Special Collections. Funding for this proposal would support the hiring of nationally recognized consultants to advise on three specific aspects of rare material preservation and display, including: 1) Temperature and humidity; 2) Lighting and energy usage; and 3) Sustainable architectural design. The goal of the project is to develop an integrated sustainability plan achieved through an interdisciplinary team-based planning process that can serve as a model for other libraries. Support from the Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections program will help us explore best practices for advanced sustainable energy use

Digital sleep:expert evaluation of commercially available digital sleep trackers

Abstract. The use of digital technology has become a part of people’s life globally. The rapid digitalisation has created opportunities to understand and improve our sleep by monitoring sleep patterns with physiological parameters. In this study, three expert evaluators collect and analyse the sleep data from five different sleep monitoring devices: Dreem2, Fitbit Versa 3, Polar M430, SleepScore Max and Withings Sleep Analyzer. The data consists of three weeks sleep data from all devices, each participant using all devices simultaneously for one week. This study focuses on the device’s reliability on sleep monitoring, but also user experience is noticed with surveys filled in one week before assessment nights and one week during. In addition, technology expectation discussions were held to provide user perspective on the device. All devices had some problems recognising night-time wake ups and sleep restfulness. Reliability issues also came up when only two of five devices gave significantly lower sleep score after the user had many servings of alcohol. Devices recorded different amounts of sleep stages and had different algorithms to define sleep efficiency scoring to the user. The collected data and discussions from three expert evaluators, give an overall look on today’s marketed sleep tracking equipment compered to each other highlighting some issues that came up using the devices and analysing the sleep data. These results can be used for future work, applying the sleep data gathering timeline into a study of larger group of participants, to improve sleep technology equipment.Tiivistelmä. Digitaalisten laitteiden käyttö on tullut osaksi ihmisten elämää maailmanlaajuisesti. Nopeasti kehittyvä teknologia on tuonut ihmisille mahdollisuuksia ymmärtää ja parantaa untaan tutkimalla sitä erilaisten mitattavien fysiologisten parametrien avulla. Tutkimuksessamme kolme asiantuntija-arvioijaa kerää ja analysoi unidataa hyödyntäen viittä eri unta mittaavaa laitetta: Dreem2, Fitbit Versa 3, Polar M430, SleepScore Max ja Withings Sleep Analyzer. Käsiteltävä unidata koostuu kolmen viikon ajalta kerätystä datasta, jonka aikana jokainen osallistuja on käyttänyt kaikkia laitteita samanaikaisesti yhden viikon ajan. Tutkimus keskittyy laitteiden luotettavuuteen unen mittauksessa, mutta myös käyttäjäkokemus on huomioitu kyselyllä, joka täytetään viikon ajalta ennen unimittauksia ja unimittausviikon aikana. Lisäksi käyttökokemus näkökulma on huomioitu teknologiakeskusteluilla. Jokaisen laitteen kanssa ilmeni joitain ongelmia hereillä olon tunnistamisessa. Luottamusta laitteisiin heikensi myös, kun vain pieni osa laitteista antoi käyttäjälle selvästi alhaisemman arvon unen palauttavuudesta yönä, jota edelsi usea nautittu alkoholiannos. Laitteiden mittaamat univaiheiden määrät vaihtelivat myös merkittävästi ja laitteiden eri menetelmät mitata unen palauttavuutta nousivat esille tutkimuksessa. Kolmen asiantuntija-arvioijan keräämä ja analysoima data sekä teknologiakeskustelut, antavat kokonaiskuvan viidestä nykyaikaisesta unenmittauslaitteesta vertailtuna keskenään, ja nostavat esiin ongelmia laitteiden mittauksissa. Saadut tulokset voidaan hyödyntää tulevaisuudessa tutkimuksessa, jossa unidataa kerätään suuremmalta joukolta käyttäjiä, ja näin ollen kehittää unta mittaavia laitteita

Physical activity when young provides lifelong benefits to cortical bone size and strength in men

The skeleton shows greatest plasticity to physical activity-related mechanical loads during youth but is more at risk for failure during aging. Do the skeletal benefits of physical activity during youth persist with aging? To address this question, we used a uniquely controlled cross-sectional study design in which we compared the throwing-to-nonthrowing arm differences in humeral diaphysis bone properties in professional baseball players at different stages of their careers (n = 103) with dominant-to-nondominant arm differences in controls (n = 94). Throwing-related physical activity introduced extreme loading to the humeral diaphysis and nearly doubled its strength. Once throwing activities ceased, the cortical bone mass, area, and thickness benefits of physical activity during youth were gradually lost because of greater medullary expansion and cortical trabecularization. However, half of the bone size (total cross-sectional area) and one-third of the bone strength (polar moment of inertia) benefits of throwing-related physical activity during youth were maintained lifelong. In players who continued throwing during aging, some cortical bone mass and more strength benefits of the physical activity during youth were maintained as a result of less medullary expansion and cortical trabecularization. These data indicate that the old adage of “use it or lose it” is not entirely applicable to the skeleton and that physical activity during youth should be encouraged for lifelong bone health, with the focus being optimization of bone size and strength rather than the current paradigm of increasing mass. The data also indicate that physical activity should be encouraged during aging to reduce skeletal structural decay

Progression of Aortic Calcification in Stage 4-5 Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Transitioning to Dialysis and Transplantation

Background and Aims: Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and associated with increased mortality. Comparative data on the AAC score progression in CKD patients transitioning from conservative treatment to different modalities of renal replacement therapy (RRT) are lacking and were examined. Methods: 150 study patients underwent lateral lumbar radiograph to study AAC in the beginning of the study before commencing RRT (AAC1) and at 3 years of follow-up (AAC2). We examined the associations between repeated laboratory tests taken every 3 months, echocardiographic and clinical variables and AAC increment per year (ΔAAC), and the association between ΔAAC and outcomes during follow-up. Results: At the time of AAC2 measurement, 39 patients were on hemodialysis, 39 on peritoneal dialysis, 39 had a transplant, and 33 were on conservative treatment. Median AAC1 was 4.8 (0.5-9.0) and median AAC2 8.0 (1.5-12.0) (p p = 0.19). ΔAAC was independently associated with mean left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (log LVMI: β = 0.97, p = 0.02) and mean phosphorus through follow-up (log phosphorus: β = 1.19, p = 0.02) in the multivariable model. Time to transplantation was associated with Delta AAC in transplant recipients (per month on the waiting list: β = 0.04, p = 0.001). Delta AAC was associated with mortality (HR 1.427, 95% confidence interval 1.044-1.950, p = 0.03). Conclusion: AAC progresses rapidly in patients with CKD, and ΔAAC is similar across the CKD treatment groups including transplant recipients. The increment rate is associated with mortality and in transplant recipients with the time on the transplant waiting list.</p

Cluster structure of 3α + p states in ¹³N

Background: Cluster states in 13N are extremely difficult to measure due to the unavailability of 9B + elastic-scattering data.Purpose: Using -delayed charged-particle spectroscopy of 13O, clustered states in 13N can be populated and measured in the 3⁢+ decay channel.Methods: One-at-a-time implantation and decay of 13O was performed with the Texas Active Target Time Projection Chamber. 149⁢⁢3⁢⁢ decay events were observed and the excitation function in 13N reconstructed.Results: Four previously unknown -decaying excited states were observed in 13N at an excitation energy of 11.3, 12.4, 13.1, and 13.7 MeV decaying via the 3⁢+ channel.Conclusions: These states are seen to have a [9B⁡(g.s)⁢⨂/+ 12 C ⁡(0+2)], [9B⁡(½+)⁢⨂], [9B⁡(⁵⁄₂+)⁢⨂], and [9B⁡(⁵⁄₂+)⁢⨂] structure, respectively. A previously seen state at 11.8 MeV was also determined to have a [+ 12 C ⁡(g.s.)/+ 12C ⁡(0+2)] structure. The overall magnitude of the clustering is not able to be extracted, however, due to the lack of a total width measurement. Clustered states in 13N (with unknown magnitude) seem to persist from the addition of a proton to the highly -clustered 12C . Evidence of the ½+ state in 9B was also seen to be populated by decays from 13N★

Dental health assessed using panoramic radiograph and adverse events in chronic kidney disease stage 4-5 patients transitioning to dialysis and transplantation-A prospective cohort study

Background and aimsOral health could potentially be a modifiable risk factor for adverse outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients transitioning from predialysis treatment to maintenance dialysis and transplantation. We aimed to study the association between an index of radiographically assessed oral health, Panoramic Tomographic Index (PTI), and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and episodes of bacteremia and laboratory measurements during a three-year prospective follow-up in CKD stage 4–5 patients not on maintenance dialysis at baseline.MethodsAltogether 190 CKD stage 4–5 patients without maintenance dialysis attended panoramic dental radiographs in the beginning of the study. The patients were followed up for three years or until death. MACEs and episodes of bacteremia were recorded during follow-up. Laboratory sampling for C-reactive protein and leukocytes was repeated tri-monthly.ResultsPTI was not associated with baseline laboratory parameters or C-reactive protein or leukocytes examined as repeated measures through the 3-year follow-up. During follow-up, 22 patients had at least one episode of bacteremia, but only 2 of the bacteremias were considered to be of oral origin. PTI was not associated with incident bacteremia during follow-up. Thirty-six patients died during follow-up including 17 patients due to cardiovascular causes. During follow-up 42 patients were observed with a MACE. PTI was independently associated with all-cause (HR 1.074 95% CI 1.029–1.122, p = 0.001) and cardiovascular (HR 1.105, 95% CI 1.057–1.157, pConclusionsRadiographically assessed dental health is independently associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and MACEs but not with the incidence of bacteremia in CKD stage 4–5 patients transitioning to maintenance dialysis and renal transplantation during follow-up.</p

Maximal Exercise Capacity in Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 4-5 Patients Transitioning to Renal Replacement Therapy or Continuing Conservative Care: A Longitudinal Follow-Up Study

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with impaired maximal exercise capacity (MEC). However, data are scarce on the development of MEC in CKD stage 4-5 patients transitioning to renal replacement therapy (RRT).Methods: We explored the change in MEC measured in watts (Wlast4) with 2 consecutive maximal bicycle stress ergometry tests in 122 CKD stage 4-5 patients transitioning to dialysis and transplantation in an observational follow-up study.Results: Mean age was 58.9 ± 13.9 years and 43 (35.2%) were female. Mean time between the baseline and follow-up ergometry tests was 1,012 ± 327 days and 29 (23.8%) patients had not initiated RRT, 50 (41.0%) were undergoing dialysis, and 43 (35.2%) had received a kidney transplant at the time of the follow-up ergometry test. The mean Wlast4 was 91 ± 37 W and 84 ± 37 W for the baseline and follow-up ergometry tests, respectively (p Conclusion: MEC declined or remained poor in advanced CKD patients transitioning to RRT or continuing conservative care in this observational study. Mean capillary blood bicarbonate was independently associated with the development of MEC.</p

The Cyprinodon variegatus genome reveals gene expression changes underlying differences in skull morphology among closely related species

Genes in durophage intersection set at 15 dpf. This is a comma separated table of the genes in the 15 dpf durophage intersection set. Given are edgeR results for each pairwise comparison. Columns indicating whether a gene is included in the intersection set at a threshold of 1.5 or 2 fold are provided. (CSV 13 kb

A Meta-Analysis of Local Adaptation in Plants

Local adaptation is of fundamental importance in evolutionary, population, conservation, and global-change biology. The generality of local adaptation in plants and whether and how it is influenced by specific species, population and habitat characteristics have, however, not been quantitatively reviewed. Therefore, we examined published data on the outcomes of reciprocal transplant experiments using two approaches. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare the performance of local and foreign plants at all transplant sites. In addition, we analysed frequencies of pairs of plant origin to examine whether local plants perform better than foreign plants at both compared transplant sites. In both approaches, we also examined the effects of population size, and of the habitat and species characteristics that are predicted to affect local adaptation. We show that, overall, local plants performed significantly better than foreign plants at their site of origin: this was found to be the case in 71.0% of the studied sites. However, local plants performed better than foreign plants at both sites of a pair-wise comparison (strict definition of local adaption) only in 45.3% of the 1032 compared population pairs. Furthermore, we found local adaptation much more common for large plant populations (>1000 flowering individuals) than for small populations (<1000 flowering individuals) for which local adaptation was very rare. The degree of local adaptation was independent of plant life history, spatial or temporal habitat heterogeneity, and geographic scale. Our results suggest that local adaptation is less common in plant populations than generally assumed. Moreover, our findings reinforce the fundamental importance of population size for evolutionary theory. The clear role of population size for the ability to evolve local adaptation raises considerable doubt on the ability of small plant populations to cope with changing environments

Tibial Loading Increases Osteogenic Gene Expression and Cortical Bone Volume in Mature and Middle-Aged Mice

There are conflicting data on whether age reduces the response of the skeleton to mechanical stimuli. We examined this question in female BALB/c mice of different ages, ranging from young to middle-aged (2, 4, 7, 12 months). We first assessed markers of bone turnover in control (non-loaded) mice. Serum osteocalcin and CTX declined significantly from 2 to 4 months (p<0.001). There were similar age-related declines in tibial mRNA expression of osteoblast- and osteoclast-related genes, most notably in late osteoblast/matrix genes. For example, Col1a1 expression declined 90% from 2 to 7 months (p<0.001). We then assessed tibial responses to mechanical loading using age-specific forces to produce similar peak strains (−1300 µε endocortical; −2350 µε periosteal). Axial tibial compression was applied to the right leg for 60 cycles/day on alternate days for 1 or 6 weeks. qPCR after 1 week revealed no effect of loading in young (2-month) mice, but significant increases in osteoblast/matrix genes in older mice. For example, in 12-month old mice Col1a1 was increased 6-fold in loaded tibias vs. controls (p = 0.001). In vivo microCT after 6 weeks revealed that loaded tibias in each age group had greater cortical bone volume (BV) than contralateral control tibias (p<0.05), due to relative periosteal expansion. The loading-induced increase in cortical BV was greatest in 4-month old mice (+13%; p<0.05 vs. other ages). In summary, non-loaded female BALB/c mice exhibit an age-related decline in measures related to bone formation. Yet when subjected to tibial compression, mice from 2–12 months have an increase in cortical bone volume. Older mice respond with an upregulation of osteoblast/matrix genes, which increase to levels comparable to young mice. We conclude that mechanical loading of the tibia is anabolic for cortical bone in young and middle-aged female BALB/c mice