A nature-based health intervention at a military healthcare center: a randomized, controlled, cross-over study.

We describe a mixed qualitative and quantitative research study in a military facility regarding the role of nature in well-being. Study intervention included two 20-minute walks. One walk was in an intentionally designed woodland environment (Green Road) and the other was on a busy campus road in a medical treatment facility (Urban Road).

A wearable patch for continuous monitoring of sweat electrolytes during exertion.

Implementation of wearable sweat sensors for continuous measurement of fluid based biomarkers (including electrolytes, metabolites and proteins) is an attractive alternative to common, yet intrusive and invasive, practices such as urine or blood analysis. Recent years have witnessed several key demonstrations of sweat based electrochemical sensing in wearable formats, however, there are still significant challenges and opportunities in this space for clinical acceptance, and thus mass implementation of these devices. For instance, there are inherent challenges in establishing direct correlations between sweat-based and gold-standard plasma-based biomarker concentrations for clinical decision-making.

"Living in the moment" among cancer survivors who report life-transforming change.

Background: Some cancer survivors say that while coping with their illness they have had what they identify as a highly beneficial, personal, life-transforming change (LTC; a self-subscribed condition among participants in this study, not a researcher-defined construct). Previously we found that the content of LTC was highly individual; but certain features of the LTC process were quite uniform. For example, LTC was driven by a very rational desire to remain genuinely functional as a person in the midst of highly stressful circumstances.

Quantification of cortisol in human eccrine sweat by liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry.

Cortisol has long been recognized as the "stress biomarker" in evaluating stress related disorders. Plasma, urine or saliva are the current source for cortisol analysis. The sampling of these biofluids is either invasive or has reliability problems that could lead to inaccurate results.

New and Future Directions in Integrative Medicine Research Methods with a Focus on Aging Populations: A Review.

This review discusses existing and developing state-of-the-art noninvasive methods for quantifying the effects of integrative medicine (IM) in aging populations. The medical conditions of elderly patients are often more complex than those of younger adults, making the multifaceted approach of IM particularly suitable for aging populations. However, because IM interventions are multidimensional, it has been difficult to examine their effectiveness and mechanisms of action.

Spirituality in the context of life-threatening illness and life-transforming change.

Objective: Individuals with life-threatening illness often engage in some form of spirituality to meet increased needs for meaning and purpose. This study aimed to identify the role of spirituality in persons who had reported positive, life-transforming change in relation to life-threatening cancer or cardiac events, and to connect these roles to palliative and supportive care.

Method: A purposive sample of 10 cardiac survivors and 9 cancer survivors was recruited.

A novel high electrode count spike recording array using an 81,920 pixel transimpedance amplifier-based imaging chip.

Microelectrode recording arrays of 60-100 electrodes are commonly used to record neuronal biopotentials, and these have aided our understanding of brain function, development and pathology. However, higher density microelectrode recording arrays of larger area are needed to study neuronal function over broader brain regions such as in cerebral cortex or hippocampal slices. Here, we present a novel design of a high electrode count picocurrent imaging array (PIA), based on an 81,920 pixel Indigo ISC9809 readout integrated circuit camera chip.

Impedance-based retinal contact imaging as an aid for the placement of high resolution epiretinal prostheses.

An important factor in effective stimulation of the retina is close contact with the retina. The design of the electrode surface and the placement of the electrode against the retina both affect the degree of contact with the retina. We have addressed the design factor by creating a curved surface 3200-electrode array.

Electrical stimulation of isolated retina with microwire glass electrodes.

The development of high-resolution retinal prostheses fabricated from silicon wafers presents an interesting problem: how to electrically bridge the space between the flat silicon wafer and the curved retinal surface. One potential "bridge" is a microwire glass electrode. In this paper we present our results in evaluating microwire glass electrodes.