Sleep-Related Problems, Sleep-Related Distress, and Sleep-Related Functional Status Among Adult Inpatients Receiving Palliative Care

Palliative care patients may be at a higher risk for sleep-related problems and their negative effects compared to the general population, yet limited sleep research has been done with this population. The purpose of this dissertation was to determine prevalence rates for excessive sleepiness, insomnia, restless legs syndrome (RLS), and high risk for sleep apnea (HRSA); examine relationships between the aforementioned sleep-related problems, sleep-related distress (SD), and sleep-related functional status (SFS); and to determine which sleep-related problem measures along with age and gender predicted SD and SFS among a sample of adult palliative care inpatients. Secondary aims were to understand causes of SD and find out participant willingness to accept inconveniences/risks to alleviate SD. Participants (N = 38) were recruited from an urban, academic medical center in Virginia and asked to participate in an interview and complete sleep-related instruments. Measures included the STOP-Bang Questionnaire (STOP-Bang) for HRSA, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), 2012 International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) revised consensus diagnostic criteria, Sleep-Related Distress Thermometer (SDT), and Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire – 10 (FOSQ-10) for SFS. Prevalence rates were 62% for insomnia (ISI score \u3e 7), 57% for HRSA (STOP-Bang score \u3e 2), 41% for excessive sleepiness (ESS score \u3e 10), and 14% for RLS (met all IRLSSG criteria). Significant relationships (p \u3c 0.05) were found between insomnia and SD (Spearman’s ρ = 0.75, p \u3c 0.0001), and excessive sleepiness and SFS (Spearman’s ρ = -0.59, p = 0.0001). Based on regression models, ISI score was found to be a predictor of SD (F = 48.14, p \u3c 0.0001); and age, ISI score, and ESS score were found to be predictors of SFS (F = 10.85, p \u3c 0.0001). The most frequently reported causes of SD were anxiety/distressing thoughts (32%) and pain/physical discomfort (19%). Most participants expressed willingness to accept minimal risk interventions (97%), prescription medication (68%) and positive airway pressure therapy (57%) to alleviate SD. In conclusion, sleep-related problems were found to be common among the study sample, frequent causes of SD included anxiety/distressing thoughts and pain/physical discomfort, and the majority of participants were willing to accept the inconvenience of standard treatment options to alleviate SD. While associations were found between variables, due to limitations of the study including small sample size and uncertainty of the reliability/validity of the measures used with this population, more research is needed to better understand these relationships. Future research is also needed to establish tolerability and efficacy of interventions for sleep-related problems among palliative care inpatients

Quantum dynamics of localized excitations in a symmetric trimer molecule

We study the time evolution of localized (local bond) excitations in a symmetric quantum trimer molecule. We relate the dynamical properties of localized excitations such as their spectral intensity and their temporal evolution (survival probability and tunneling of bosons) to their degree of overlap with quantum tunneling pair states. We report on the existence of degeneracy points in the trimer eigenvalue spectrum for specific values of parameters due to avoided crossings between tunneling pair states and additional states. The tunneling of localized excitations which overlap with these degenerate states is suppressed on all times. As a result local bond excitations may be strongly localized forever, similar to their classical counterparts.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figures. Improved version with more discussions. Some figures were replaced for better understanding. Accepted in Phys. Rev.

Sub-Doppler laser cooling of fermionic 40K atoms in three-dimensional gray optical molasses

We demonstrate sub-Doppler cooling of 40K on the D_1 atomic transition. Using a gray molasses scheme, we efficiently cool a compressed cloud of 6.5x10^8 atoms from ~ 4\mK to 20uK in 8 ms. After transfer in a quadrupole magnetic trap, we measure a phase space density of ~10^-5. This technique offers a promising route for fast evaporation of fermionic 40K.Comment: 6 pages; 7 figures; submitted to EP

Edge-localized states in quantum one-dimensional lattices

In one-dimensional quantum lattice models with open boundaries, we find and study localization at the lattice edge. We show that edge-localized eigenstates can be found in both bosonic and fermionic systems, specifically, in the Bose-Hubbard model with on-site interactions and in the spinless fermion model with nearest-neighbor interactions. We characterize the localization through spectral studies via numerical diagonalization and perturbation theory, through considerations of the eigenfunctions, and through the study of explicit time evolution. We concentrate on few-particle systems, showing how more complicated edge states appear as the number of particles is increased.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figure

Notes on Snail Feeding Behavior of Anaxjunius (Drury): (Odonata)

A naiad of Anax junius (Drury), in final instar, preyed upon 47 mature snails, Helisoma trivolvis (Say), during a period of 63 clays. The feeding behavior has potential significance: (1) with respect to biological control of trematode vectoring gastropods; (2) as a mechanism for vectoring trematodes between snails and birds; and (3) in interpreting structural adaptations and perception in immature oclonates

Hsp90 globally targets paused RNA polymerase to regulate gene expression in response to environmental stimuli

The molecular chaperone Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) promotes the maturation of several important proteins and plays a key role in development, cancer progression, and evolutionary diversification. By mapping chromatin-binding sites of Hsp90 at high resolution across the Drosophila genome, we uncover an unexpected mechanism by which Hsp90 orchestrates cellular physiology. It localizes near promoters of many coding and noncoding genes including microRNAs. Using computational and biochemical analyses, we find that Hsp90 maintains and optimizes RNA polymerase II pausing via stabilization of the negative elongation factor complex (NELF). Inhibition of Hsp90 leads to upregulation of target genes, and Hsp90 is required for maximal activation of paused genes in Drosophila and mammalian cells in response to environmental stimuli. Our findings add a molecular dimension to the chaperone's functionality with wide ramifications into its roles in health, disease, and evolution

Soybean Fungicide Evaluation Study

The objective of this study was to evaluate Priaxor and Headline fungicides on two different soybean varieties. Past studies have shown yield benefit from fungicide application in the absence of foliar leaf disease. Pioneer 92Y51 and Kruger K2-1901 were planted May 14 at 156,00 seeds/acre. The fungicide treatments were 6.0 oz/acre of Headline or 4.0 oz/acre of Priaxor plus 4.0 oz/acre NIS at 13.9 GPA on July 23 at the R3 stage of development. Plot size was eight, 30-in. rows by 75 ft in length. The center six rows were harvested for yield data. The plot was harvested on September 18, 2012