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Recognition memory studies have reliably demonstrated theword frequency effect (WFE), where low-frequency words aremore accurately recognized than high-frequency words. Thecontext noise account of WFE argues that pre-experimentalexposure to stimuli generates interference that compromiseshigh-frequency words more than low-frequency words.Because the representations of the contexts associated withmore recent exposures are assumed to overlap more with therepresentation of the study context, stimuli that have been seenmore recently are thought to generate the most interference.We asked participants to log their daily email for two months.Based on the participant’s email corpus, we constructed anindividualized study-test recognition memory task toinvestigate the effect of recency. Results show that recency hasa graded effect on recognition memory that extends for at leasttwo months providing support for the context noise account.

Introduction: Older adults undergoing surgery are at risk of postoperative neurocognitive disorders, prompting the need for preoperative cognitive screening in this population. Traditionally, cognitive screening has been conducted in-person using brief assessment tools such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) or the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). More comprehensive test batteries, such as the Uniform Data Set (UDS) Neuropsychological Battery, and its remote testing version, the Uniform Data Set version 3 tele-adapted test battery (UDS v3.0 T-cog), have been developed to assess cognitive decline in normal aging and disease conditions, but have not been applied in the perioperative setting. Methods: We assessed the feasibility of using this remote UDS v3.0 T-cog battery for preoperative cognitive assessment in 81 older adults 65+ scheduled for lower extremity joint replacement surgery. Results: Our results indicate that the UDS v3.0 T-cog achieves 99% completion rates and demonstrates high patient satisfaction. Further, we found 28% of subjects were cognitively impaired in this patient cohort. Discussion: These findings suggest that the UDS v3.0 T-cog is a feasible tool for assessing cognitive function in the older adult perioperative population. To our knowledge, this is the first study to apply this comprehensive remote test battery in the preoperative setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The airway mucus of patients with cystic fibrosis has altered properties, which create a microenvironment primed for chronic infections that are difficult to treat. These complex polymicrobial airway infections and corresponding mammalian-microbe interactions are challenging to model in vitro. Here, we report the development of mucus-like hydrogels with varied compositions and viscoelastic properties reflecting differences between healthy and cystic fibrosis airway mucus. Models of cystic fibrosis and healthy airway microenvironments were created by combining the hydrogels with relevant pathogens, human bronchial epithelial cells, and an antibiotic. Notably, pathogen antibiotic resistance was not solely dependent on the altered properties of the mucus-like hydrogels but was also influenced by culture conditions including microbe species, monomicrobial or polymicrobial culture, and the presence of epithelial cells. Additionally, the cystic fibrosis airway model showed the ability to mimic features characteristic of chronic cystic fibrosis airway infections including sustained polymicrobial growth and increased antibiotic tolerance.