Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Job loss and major depression among Mexican Americans.

Mexican Americans report significantly lower rates of major depression than do other Americans. This difference has been attributed to several possible mechanisms, including a cultural immunity to acute stressors. The purpose of this research is to test the hypothesis that Mexican Americans are reactive to one acute stressor, job loss, that is a demonstrated risk factor for depression in samples of the U.S. population. The test is based on a representative sample of 3,012 Mexican Americans living in Fresno County, California. Job loss is a risk factor for major depression among Mexican Americans in our sample. The inference from previous research that Mexican Americans were less reactive to acute stressors than were others in the community is probably incorrect. The relatively low rate of depression among Mexican Americans may be explained by cultural factors that protect against the chronic strains rather than acute stressors. Any public policies or clinical practices that assume Mexican Americans can withstand acute stressors better than other persons can should be reviewed in light of our findings
TrkB Isoforms with Distinct Neurotrophin Specificities Are Expressed in Predominantly Nonoverlapping Populations of Avian Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons

Alternative splicing of the avian trkB receptor generates an extracellular deletion (ED) isoform missing 11 amino acids from the neurotrophin-binding domain of the full-length (FL) receptor. When expressed in fibroblasts, the ED isoform exhibited restricted neurotrophin specificity compared with that of the FL receptor. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) activated the FL receptor, as determined by tyrosine phosphorylation. However, only BDNF was capable of significant activation of the ED isoform, although to a reduced level. Because positively charged residues in NT-3 are important for binding to trkB, two negatively charged aspartate residues within the 11 amino acid motif of FL trkB were mutated to examine the role of electrostatic interactions on ligand binding. As found for the ED isoform, the FL mutated receptor displayed a similar loss of NT-3- and NT-4-mediated activation, in addition to a diminished responsiveness to BDNF. Because of these profound effects on ligand specificity, reverse transcription-PCR was used to understand the expression of the FL and ED receptor isoforms at the level of single neurons. The predominant expression pattern of either FL or ED isoforms in single embryonic DRG neurons establishes the existence of two subpopulations exhibiting differential responsiveness to trkB ligands, indicating that regulated splicing of the extracellular domain of trkB may serve as a mechanism to restrict neuronal responsiveness to the neurotrophins.
The Extragalactic Infrared Background and Its Cosmological Implications: IAU Symposium 204

Observations carried out with the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) in the early 1990s have been processed and analyzed with increasing care over the past few years. These measurements are now yielding the first reliable estimates of the strength and spectral distribution of a ubiquitous extragalactic infrared background. Buried in this background are clues to the entire history of the universe since stars and galaxies first began to shine. If we could just unscramble the successive layers of information, each piled on top of a fainter, progressively more redshifted stratum, we would be able to discern how galaxies first formed, what kinds of stars they contained, and whether gravitational collapse rather than nuclear energy conversion first provided the energy to light up the cosmos. Symposium 204, convened at the 24th IAU General Assembly in Manchester in mid-August 2000, was a first attempt to come to grips with such questions. The difficulties of reliably measuring the infrared background are formidable. Atmospheric absorption and emission make ground-based observations hopeless. Worse yet, early measurements carried out with liquid helium–cooled rocketborne telescopes in the early 1970s already showed that zodiacal dust grains powerfully scatter and thermally reemit absorbed sunlight; similarly, interstellar dust radiating in the far-infrared all but swamps the faint cosmic background. These sources of foreground emission must be modeled in excruciating detail and subtracted out, if a genuine cosmic infrared background is to be uncovered. How best to achieve this was the topic of a series of talks by Leonid Ozernoy of George Mason University in Virginia, Martin Cohen of the University of California at Berkeley, François Boulanger of the Université Paris Sud, and Martin Giard of CESR-CNRS, Toulouse. Fortunately, as the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) launched in 1983 first revealed, a number of high Galactic latitude regions are relatively devoid of dust. Moreover, nearinfrared maps produced by COBE in the early 1990s showed that the zodiacal dust emission can be quite accurately modeled. With these tools in hand, Michael Hauser of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland, and Tashio Matsumoto of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan, discussed data obtained with instruments aboard COBE and Japan’s
Ventilatory Effects, Blood Gas Changes, and Oxygen Consumption During Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

We evaluated the ventilatory effects and blood gas changes of prolonged CO (2)-pneumoperitoneum in normoventilated patients and examined the respiratory and gas exchange consequences of head-down positioning (25-30 degrees) and CO2 insufflation into the peritoneal cavity in 20 patients without major cardiorespiratory disorders in various phases of laparoscopic hysterectomy. The patients received general anesthesia with isoflurane, fentanyl, and vecuronium, and minute ventilation (MV) was adjusted to maintain the PETCO2 at 33-36 mm Hg throughout the entire procedure, either by increasing the tidal volume (TV) and keeping the respiratory rate (RR) at 12/min (10 patients) or by changing the RR and maintaining the TV at 8 mL/kg (10 patients). Arterial and mixed venous blood samples were collected simultaneously for blood gas analysis and for measurements of oxygen consumption, and respiratory mechanics and gases were recorded by an anesthetic gas analyzer and side stream spirometry device. Oxygen consumption decreased with anesthesia, remained stable to the end of the laparoscopy, increased soon after deflation of the pneumoperitoneum, and reached preanesthetic values during recovery. The MV requirement increased by approximately 30% after the start of CO2 insufflation, then increased somewhat further toward the end of the laparoscopy, reaching the highest level a few minutes after deflation of the intraabdominal gas. The compliance decreased by 20% with the head-down position and by an additional 30% with the increased intraabdominal pressure. PaCO2 and mixed venous PCO2 increased with CO2 insufflation, and the arterial to end-tidal PCO2 (a-etPCO2) gradient increased by 1.5 mm Hg during laparoscopy. A mild metabolic acidosis developed. The MV requirement was more among patients whose RR was changed to maintain normocapnia. In conclusion, there was a small increase in the a-etPCO2 gradient, indicating some increase in alveolar dead space during laparoscopy. Normocapnia during laparoscopy in healthy patients was achieved by maintaining the PETCO2 at a somewhat lower level than normal, preferably by increasing the TV of controlled ventilation. (Anesth Analg 1995;80:961-6)
Serological survey for emerging canine H3N8 and H3N2 influenza viruses in pet and village dogs in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND In Nigeria, keeping of dogs as pets and guards is gaining popularity. To determine whether infection of dogs with novel canine influenza virus (CIV) of equine (H3N8) and avian (H3N2) origins had occurred in Nigeria, we screened pet and village dogs from Lagos, Ibadan, Odeda and Sagamu in southwestern Nigeria for antibodies to CIV H3N8 and H3N2. METHODS Sera from 96 pet dogs presented at veterinary clinics in Lagos and Ibadan, and 89 village dogs from hunting communities in Odeda and Sagamu were tested for antibodies to CIV H3N8 and H3N2 using the hemagglutination inhibition test. RESULTS Anti-CIV H3N8 antibodies were detected in 51 (53.1%) and 24 (27.0%) pet and village dogs, respectively. Overall, 40.5% (75/185) of the sera were positive for CIV H3N8 antibodies while none contained anti-CIV H3N2 antibodies. CONCLUSION The presence of CIV H3N8 antibodies in pet and village dogs in this study suggests that they had natural exposure to the virus since dogs are not currently vaccinated against canine influenza in Nigeria. It is possible that the pet dogs acquired infection through contact with imported dogs in veterinary clinics, breeding kennels and dog shows while the village dogs could have been exposed through consumption of offal of infected animals killed during hunting. Considering the potential public health risk of this disease arising from the close relationship between pet and hunting dogs and their owners in Nigeria, systematic epidemiological surveillance of the Nigerian dog population for CIV H3N8, H3N2 and other influenza A virus subtypes is advocated.
Psychiatric Services and Prescription Fills Among Veterans With Serious Mental Illness in Methadone Maintenance Treatment

Objective: Comorbidity and co-prescription patterns of people with serious mental illness in methadone maintenance may complicate their treatment and have not been studied. The goal of this study was to examine the care and characteristics of people with serious mental illness in methadone maintenance treatment nationally in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Methods: Using national VHA data from FY2012, bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to compare veterans in methadone maintenance treatment wo had a serious mental illness (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major affective disorder) to patients in methadone maintenance treatment without serious mental illness and patients with serious mental illness who were not in methadone maintenance treatment. Results: Only a small fraction of patients with serious mental illness were receiving methadone maintenance treatment (0.65%), but a relatively large proportion in methadone maintenance treatment had a serious mental illness (33.2%). Compared to patients without serious mental illness, patients with serious mental illness in methadone maintenance treatment were more likely to have been homeless, to have had a recent psychiatric hospitalization, to be over 50% disabled, and to have had more fills for more classes of psychotropic drugs. Compared to other patients with serious mental illness, patients with serious mental illness in methadone maintenance treatment were more likely to have a drug abuse diagnosis and to reside in large urban areas. Conclusions: One-third of patients in methadone maintenance treatment have serious mental illness and more frequent psychiatric comorbidity, and they are more likely to use psychiatric and general health services and fill more types of psychiatric prescriptions. Further study and clinical awareness of potential drug-drug interactions in this high medication and service using population are needed.
Biometric data fusion based on subjective logic

Biometric identification and authentication is affected by varying levels of reliability depending on the inherent strength of a specific biometric modality, the specific techniques used to analyse the modality, as well as the quality of biometric samples. In many situations there are multiple biometric samples of the same modality available, or there are samples of different modalities available. In such situations the analysis includes some form of data fusion in order to optimize the accuracy of the biometric analysis. Biometric data fusion can be performed at different levels of the analysis and decision making process. This paper describes how subjective logic can be applied for biometric data fusion for multiple samples, multiple modalities and at different fusion levels.
An ecological exploration of personal recovery in the context of severe mental illness

This study had two objectives: to develop an ecological understanding of personal recovery in the context of severe mental illness (SMI) with a UK-based sample, and to develop a model of the discovery of hope and meaning in recovery, and relevant helping and hindering factors. A grounded theory methodology was employed as a framework for collecting and analysing qualitative data. The study provides an emergent ecological model of growth in the context of personal recovery incorporating seven theoretical categories including; prevailing contexts, the importance of relationships, purposeful goals, values-commitment, emerging self-efficacy, wellness experience, and tangible and intangible hope. The emergent model provides a novel understanding of the individual, ecological and interactional factors facilitating the discovery of hope and meaning in life. It is anticipated that such findings will benefit the provision of statutory and peer-run mental health services, and support further research into growth in the context of SMI.
Effect of polymorphisms within probe–target sequences on olignonucleotide microarray experiments

Hybridization-based technologies, such as microarrays, rely on precise probe-target interactions to ensure specific and accurate measurement of RNA expression. Polymorphisms present in the probe–target sequences have been shown to alter probe- hybridization affinities, leading to reduced signal intensity measurements and resulting in false-positive results. Here, we characterize this effect on exon and gene expression estimates derived from the Affymetrix Exon Array. We conducted an association analysis between expression levels of probes, exons and transcripts and the genotypes of neighboring SNPs in 57 CEU HapMap individuals. We quantified the dependence of the effect of genotype on signal intensity with respect to the number of polymorphisms within target sequences, number of affected probes and position of the polymorphism within each probe. The effect of SNPs is quite severe and leads to considerable false-positive rates, particularly when the analysis is performed at the exon level and aimed at detecting alternative splicing events. Finally, we propose simple solutions, based on ‘masking’ probes, which are putatively affected by polymorphisms and show that such strategy results in a large decrease in false-positive rates, with a very modest reduction in coverage of the transcriptome.
Research Paper: Incorporating the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) into an Electronic Health Record to Create Indicators of Function: Proof of Concept Using the SF-12

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this proof-of-concept study was to assess the feasibility of using a generic health measure to create coded functional status indicators and compare the characterization of a stroke population using coded functional indicators and using health-related quality-of-life summary measures alone. DESIGN Multiple raters assigned International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) codes to the items of the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Data for comparing the information from the SF-12 and from ICF codes were derived from the Montreal Stroke Cohort Study that was set up to examine the long-term impact of stroke. Available for analysis were data from 604 persons with stroke, average age 69 years, and 488 controls, average age 62 years. MEASUREMENT The SF-12 provides two summary scores, one for physical health and one for mental health. Domains of the ICF are coded to three digits, before the decimal; specific categorizations of impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions are coded to four digits before the decimal. RESULTS Persons with stroke scored, on average, approximately 10 points lower than controls on physical and mental health. The ICF coding indicated that this was attributed, not surprisingly, to greater difficulty in doing moderate activities including housework, climbing stairs, and working and was not attributed to differences in pain. Differences in mental health were attributed most strongly to greater fatigue (impairment in energy), but all areas of mental health were affected to some degree. CONCLUSION The ICF coding provided enhanced functional status information in a format compatible with the structure of administrative health databases.
Racial/Ethnic Differences Affecting Adherence to Cancer Screening Guidelines Among Women.

BACKGROUND Race/ethnicity has been shown to modify the effects between obesity and cancer screening among women. The purpose of this article is to update the literature with recent data to examine how the association between different characteristics, including body mass index (BMI), and cancer screening compliance varies by race/ethnicity in a national sample of women. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three cycles of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) were combined for this cross-sectional study. Weighted descriptive statistics were evaluated using chi-square tests. Multivariable logistic regression evaluated associations between women with underweight or normal (<25), overweight (25-29.9), and obese (>30) BMIs and cancer screening concordant with guidelines (Papanicolaou [Pap] testing ≤3 years, ages 21+ years; mammography ≤2 years, ages 40+ years) in analyses stratified by race/ethnicity. We also assessed variance between racial/ethnic groups in how age, income, and insurance status were associated with cancer screening compliance. RESULTS This study included 4992 women who were evaluated for Pap testing and 3773 for mammography. In analyses stratified by race/ethnicity, whites with a higher household income were more likely to report having a Pap test (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] 2.16, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.38-3.40) and a mammogram (aPR 1.63, 95% CI 1.04-2.55) compared to lower income white women. Black women with BMIs between 25 and 30 were less likely to receive a Pap test (aPR 0.38, 95% CI 0.19-0.76) than black women with BMIs <25, while no association was observed among the other groups. Insurance was associated with increased likelihood of Pap testing among white and black women. Insurance coverage was positively associated with mammography only among white and Hispanic women. CONCLUSIONS We found variations in adherence to cancer screening guidelines by age, insurance coverage, and income between racial/ethnic groups. Little evidence was observed for variations in screening by BMI.
Throughput and Fairness Guarantees Through Maximal Scheduling in Wireless Networks

The question of providing throughput guarantees through distributed scheduling, which has remained an open problem for some time, is addressed in this paper. It is shown that a simple distributed scheduling strategy, maximal scheduling, attains a guaranteed fraction of the maximum throughput region in arbitrary wireless networks. The guaranteed fraction depends on the ldquointerference degreerdquo of the network, which is the maximum number of transmitter-receiver pairs that interfere with any given transmitter-receiver pair in the network and do not interfere with each other. Depending on the nature of communication, the transmission powers and the propagation models, the guaranteed fraction can be lower-bounded by the maximum link degrees in the underlying topology, or even by constants that are independent of the topology. The guarantees are tight in that they cannot be improved any further with maximal scheduling. The results can be generalized to end-to-end multihop sessions. Finally, enhancements to maximal scheduling that can guarantee fairness of rate allocation among different sessions, are discussed.
A generalized theory of age-dependent carcinogenesis

The Multi-Stage Model of Carcinogenesis (MMC), developed in the 1950 s-70s, postulated carcinogenesis as a Darwinian somatic selection process. The cellular organization of tissues was then poorly understood, with almost nothing known about cancer drivers and stem cells. The MMC paradigm was later confirmed, and cancer incidence was explained as a function of mutation occurrence. However, the MMC has never been tested for its ability to account for the discrepancies in the number of driver mutations and the organization of the stem cell compartments underlying different cancers that still demonstrate nearly universal age-dependent incidence patterns. Here we demonstrate by Monte Carlo modeling the impact of key somatic evolutionary parameters on the MMC performance, revealing that two additional major mechanisms, aging-dependent somatic selection and life history-dependent evolution of species-specific tumor suppressor mechanisms, need to be incorporated into the MMC to make it capable of generalizing cancer incidence across tissues and species. Editorial note: This article has been through an editorial process in which the authors decide how to respond to the issues raised during peer review. The Reviewing Editor's assessment is that all the issues have been addressed (see decision letter).
Mechanisms of Phosphine Toxicity

Fumigation with phosphine gas is by far the most widely used treatment for the protection of stored grain against insect pests. The development of high-level resistance in insects now threatens its continued use. As there is no suitable chemical to replace phosphine, it is essential to understand the mechanisms of phosphine toxicity to increase the effectiveness of resistance management. Because phosphine is such a simple molecule (PH3), the chemistry of phosphorus is central to its toxicity. The elements above and below phosphorus in the periodic table are nitrogen (N) and arsenic (As), which also produce toxic hydrides, namely, NH3 and AsH3. The three hydrides cause related symptoms and similar changes to cellular and organismal physiology, including disruption of the sympathetic nervous system, suppressed energy metabolism and toxic changes to the redox state of the cell. We propose that these three effects are interdependent contributors to phosphine toxicity.
Identification of Methylation Sites in Thermotoga maritima Chemotaxis Receptors

ABSTRACT Adaptation in bacterial chemotaxis involves reversible methylation of specific glutamate residues within the cytoplasmic domains of methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins. The specific sites of methylation in Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli chemoreceptors, identified 2 decades ago, established a consensus sequence for methylation by methyltransferase CheR. Here we report the in vitro methylation of chemoreceptors from Thermotoga maritima, a hyperthermophile that has served as a useful source of chemotaxis proteins for structural analysis. Sites of methylation have been identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry. Fifteen sites of methylation were identified within the cytoplasmic domains of four different T. maritima chemoreceptors. The results establish a consensus sequence for chemoreceptor methylation sites in T. maritima that is distinct from the previously identified consensus sequence for E. coli and S. enterica. These findings suggest that consensus sequences for posttranslational modifications in one organism may not be directly extrapolated to analogous modifications in other bacteria.