Generating Music from Literature

We present a system, TransProse, that automatically generates musical pieces from text. TransProse uses known relations between elements of music such as tempo and scale, and the emotions they evoke. Further, it uses a novel mechanism to determine sequences of notes that capture the emotional activity in the text. The work has applications in information visualization, in creating audio-visual e-books, and in developing music apps

Reactions to Edgar Allan Poe At Home And Abroad

One of the most enigmatic names in America literature is that of Edgar Allan Poe. Born in America of Americans, the major portion of his works were written in his native country and, with the exception of an occasional phrase or two used to create effect or atmosphere, all his works were written in his native tongue. This would naturally lead one to suppose that he would be a national favorite, widely read, freely quoted, universally admired

Using LEAN in the Library

The Library\u27s student employment program introduces students to the principles, and methods of Lean, a process and service improvement methodology that is focused on increasing customer-defined value.https://digitalcommons.xula.edu/xula_lmi/1002/thumbnail.jp

RAGE Signaling in Skeletal Biology

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and several of its ligands have been implicated in the onset and progression of pathologies associated with aging, chronic inflammation, and cellular stress. In particular, the role of RAGE and its ligands in bone tissue during both physiological and pathological conditions has been investigated. However, the extent to which RAGE signaling regulates bone homeostasis and disease onset remains unclear. Further, RAGE effects in the different bone cells and whether these effects are cell-type specific is unknown. The objective of the current review is to describe the literature over RAGE signaling in skeletal biology as well as discuss the clinical potential of RAGE as a diagnostic and/or therapeutic target in bone disease. RECENT FINDINGS: The role of RAGE and its ligands during skeletal homeostasis, tissue repair, and disease onset/progression is beginning to be uncovered. For example, detrimental effects of the RAGE ligands, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), have been identified for osteoblast viability/activity, while others have observed that low level AGE exposure stimulates osteoblast autophagy, which subsequently promotes viability and function. Similar findings have been reported with HMGB1, another RAGE ligand, in which high levels of the ligand are associated with osteoblast/osteocyte apoptosis, whereas low level/short-term administration stimulates osteoblast differentiation/bone formation and promotes fracture healing. Additionally, elevated levels of several RAGE ligands (AGEs, HMGB1, S100 proteins) induce osteoblast/osteocyte apoptosis and stimulate cytokine production, which is associated with increased osteoclast differentiation/activity. Conversely, direct RAGE-ligand exposure in osteoclasts may have inhibitory effects. These observations support a conclusion that elevated bone resorption observed in conditions of high circulating ligands and RAGE expression are due to actions on osteoblasts/osteocytes rather than direct actions on osteoclasts, although additional work is required to substantiate the observations. Recent studies have demonstrated that RAGE and its ligands play an important physiological role in the regulation of skeletal development, homeostasis, and repair/regeneration. Conversely, elevated levels of RAGE and its ligands are clearly related with various diseases associated with increased bone loss and fragility. However, despite the recent advancements in the field, many questions regarding RAGE and its ligands in skeletal biology remain unanswered

Evaluation of a Comprehensive Diabetes Mellitus Protocol at a Rural, Federally Qualified Health Center in Southern West Virginia

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects nearly 34 million Americans. In rural Appalachia, the population is affected disproportionately at a rate of 14% compared to the national average of 10%. Diabetes is a lifelong, chronic condition managed best by a multidisciplinary team-based approach to achieve optimal disease control. Best practices in the care of diabetes support the use of evidenced based care protocols and leveraging technology to decrease the burden of disease. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common type, making it the focal population for evaluation. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the impact of a standardized diabetes mellitus protocol for patients with T2DM at a rural federally qualified health center (FQHC) in rural southern West Virginia. Program evaluation completes the care cycle. This information can inform stakeholders about a protocol’s effectiveness, thus leading to recommendations for change to improve T2DM education and outcomes in healthcare delivery. Intervention and Methods: Program Evaluation was completed using a retrospective chart review and a provider survey. Objective 1 was to evaluate the diabetes protocol using seven core quality measures (hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, low density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol, diabetes self-management education (DSME), annual urine microalbumin, retinopathy, and neuropathy exams) over three years (pre-protocol T1 and post-protocol T2 and T3). Objective 2 utilized a provider survey to determine behaviors regarding Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) protocol and diabetes education team awareness and utilization. Results: Results for Objective 1 found statistically significant improvement at T3 for diastolic blood pressure and annual microalbumin, but not for other metrics. Overall, most metrics noted improvement or stabilization over all time periods despite the evaluation taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results for Objective 2 found that majority of providers were aware of the T2DM protocol and utilized the diabetes education accreditation program (DEAP) team regularly. Conclusion: The evaluation provided valuable insight on the current efforts to reduce the burden of diabetes mellitus at the facility in rural West Virginia. Over half of all core quality measures met facility benchmarks, however measures for DSME referral, A1c, retinopathy and neuropathy exams are still lower than expected. All providers agree that COVID-19 had a negative impact on patient care. Recommendations for improvements in practice include a patient-individualized approach to care with increasing utilization of the DEAP team, and continuous provider support of DSME in the management of patients with T2DM

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Osteocyte Apoptosis and the Associated Osteoclastogenesis in CX43-Deficiency and Aging

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)Old age is associated with increased bone fragility and risk of fracture as a result of skeletal alterations, including low bone density and cortical thinning. Further, apoptotic osteocytes accumulate in old mice and humans. We have previously shown that mice lacking osteocytic connexin (Cx) 43 (Cx43ΔOt) exhibit a phenotype similar to that of the aging skeleton, with elevated osteocyte apoptosis and an associated increase in osteoclastogenesis. These findings suggest that osteocyte apoptosis results in the release of factors that recruit osteoclasts to bone surfaces close to areas that contain apoptotic osteocytes. However, the specific chemotactic signals, the events mediating their release, and the mechanisms of their action remain unknown. Consistent with this notion, we also found that HMGB1 released by Cx43-deficient (Cx43def) MLO-Y4 osteocytic cells enhances osteoclastogenesis in part by increasing osteocytic RANKL, which promotes osteoclastogenesis, and, at the same time, directly stimulating osteoclastogenesis. Further, expression of the pro-survival microRNA (miR), miR21, is low in Cx43def cells and bones from old female mice, and low miR21 levels increase osteocyte apoptosis. However, surprisingly, mice lacking miR21 (miR21ΔOt) have decreased osteoclast number and activity even under conditions of elevated osteocyte apoptosis; suggesting that osteocytic miR21 may mediate osteoclast precursor recruitment/survival induced by apoptotic osteocytes. However, whether HMGB1/miR21 are released by osteocytes, and if the HMGB1 receptors, receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and/or tolllike receptor (TLR4) are involved in osteoclast recruitment in Cx43ΔOt and old mice is unknown. The overall objectives of this series of studies were to elucidate the mechanism