Two-Layer Retrieval-Augmented Generation Framework for Low-Resource Medical Question Answering Using Reddit Data: Proof-of-Concept Study.

Background: The increasing use of social media to share lived and living experiences of substance use presents a unique opportunity to obtain information on side effects, use patterns, and opinions on novel psychoactive substances. However, due to the large volume of data, obtaining useful insights through natural language processing technologies such as large language models is challenging.

Objective: This paper aims to develop a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architecture for medical question answering pertaining to clinicians' queries on emerging issues associated with health-related topics, using user-generated medical information on social media.

Development of a Tremor Detection Algorithm for Use in an Academic Movement Disorders Center.

Tremor, defined as an "involuntary, rhythmic, oscillatory movement of a body part", is a key feature of many neurological conditions including Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. Clinical assessment continues to be performed by visual observation with quantification on clinical scales. Methodologies for objectively quantifying tremor are promising but remain non-standardized across centers.

Distribution of Vasopressin 1a and Oxytocin Receptor Binding in the Basal Forebrain and Midbrain of Male and Female Mongolian Gerbils.

The nonapeptide system modulates a diversity of social behaviors, including aggression, parental care, affiliation, sexual behavior, and pair bonding. Such social behaviors are regulated through oxytocin and vasopressin activation of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and vasopressin V1a receptor (AVPR1A) in the brain. Nonapeptide receptor distributions have been mapped for several species, however, studies have demonstrated that there is substantial variation across species.

Behavioral trajectories of aging prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster): Adapting behavior to social context wanes with advanced age.

Several studies using mice have examined the effects of aging on cognitive tasks, as well as sensory and motor functions. However, few studies have examined the influence of aging on social behavior. Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are a socially monogamous and biparental rodent that live in small family groups and are now among the most popular rodent models for studies examining social behavior.

Distribution of vasopressin 1a and oxytocin receptor protein and mRNA in the basal forebrain and midbrain of the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus).

The nonapeptide system modulates numerous social behaviors through oxytocin and vasopressin activation of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and vasopressin receptor (AVPR1A) in the brain. OXTRs and AVPR1As are widely distributed throughout the brain and binding densities exhibit substantial variation within and across species. Although OXTR and AVPR1A binding distributions have been mapped for several rodents, this system has yet to be characterized in the spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus).

Natural locus coeruleus dynamics during feeding.

Recent data demonstrate that noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC-NE) are required for fear-induced suppression of feeding, but the role of endogenous LC-NE activity in natural, homeostatic feeding remains unclear. Here, we found that LC-NE activity was suppressed during food consumption, and the magnitude of this neural response was attenuated as mice consumed more pellets throughout the session, suggesting that LC responses to food are modulated by satiety state. Visual-evoked LC-NE activity was also attenuated in sated mice, suggesting that satiety state modulates LC-NE encoding of multiple behavioral states.

An Intersectional Viral-Genetic Method for Fluorescent Tracing of Axon Collaterals Reveals Details of Noradrenergic Locus Coeruleus Structure.

Understanding the function of broadly projecting neurons depends on comprehensive knowledge of the distribution and targets of their axon collaterals. While retrograde tracers and, more recently, retrograde viral vectors have been used to identify efferent projections, they have limited ability to reveal the full pattern of axon collaterals from complex, heterogeneous neuronal populations. Here we describe TrAC (tracing axon collaterals), an intersectional recombinase-based viral-genetic strategy that allows simultaneous visualization of axons from a genetically defined neuronal population and a projection-based subpopulation.

Why and how to implement an incident command system in business continuity management.

In a disaster, businesses face concurrent challenges of maintaining business continuity required to keep the business open, while reacting, responding and recovering from the chaos and impacts of the disaster. This article takes the reader through the conceptual and practical facets of the Incident Command System, the framework components, organisation structure, incident deployment methodology and common documentation. Each framework component is taken from its concept definition and drilled down into a description of high-level implementation.

Elimination of galanin synthesis in noradrenergic neurons reduces galanin in select brain areas and promotes active coping behaviors.

Accumulating evidence indicates that disruption of galanin signaling is associated with neuropsychiatric disease, but the precise functions of this neuropeptide remain largely unresolved due to lack of tools for experimentally disrupting its transmission in a cell type-specific manner. To examine the function of galanin in the noradrenergic system, we generated and crossed two novel knock-in mouse lines to create animals lacking galanin specifically in noradrenergic neurons (Gal). We observed reduced levels of galanin peptide in pons, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex of Gal mice, indicating that noradrenergic neurons are a significant source of galanin to those brain regions, while midbrain and hypothalamic galanin levels were comparable to littermate controls.

DEFiNE: A Method for Enhancement and Quantification of Fluorescently Labeled Axons.

Visualization and quantification of fluorescently labeled axonal fibers are widely employed in studies of neuronal connectivity in the brain. However, accurate analysis of axon density is often confounded by autofluorescence and other fluorescent artifacts. By the time these problems are detected in labeled tissue sections, significant time and resources have been invested, and the tissue may not be easy to replace.

IP3 receptors and associated Ca2+ signals localize to satellite cells and to components of the neuromuscular junction in skeletal muscle.

Recently, we described an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) signaling system in cultured rodent skeletal muscle, triggered by high K+ and affecting gene transcription (Powell et al., 2001). Now, in a study of adult rodent skeletal muscle, using immunocytology and confocal microscopy, we have found a high level of IP3 receptor (IP3R) staining in satellite cells, which have been shown recently to contribute to nuclei in adult fibers after muscle exercise.

Dihydropyridine receptors as voltage sensors for a depolarization-evoked, IP3R-mediated, slow calcium signal in skeletal muscle cells.

The dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR), normally a voltage-dependent calcium channel, functions in skeletal muscle essentially as a voltage sensor, triggering intracellular calcium release for excitation-contraction coupling. In addition to this fast calcium release, via ryanodine receptor (RYR) channels, depolarization of skeletal myotubes evokes slow calcium waves, unrelated to contraction, that involve the cell nucleus (Jaimovich, E., R.