Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of 3 Depression Screening Methods and Provider Referral in a Veterans Affairs Primary Care Clinic.

BACKGROUND: Concern about underdiagnosis and undertreatment of depression in primary care has led to support for routine screening. Although multiple screening instruments exist, we are not aware of studies to date that have compared different screening strategies, e.g., how the instrument is administered: by whom and in what setting. This study compared 3 separate screening strategies in terms of patient flow, coverage, patient characteristics, and other factors with the usual care system of provider referral. METHOD: We analyzed existing data from a completed randomized team trial of collaborative care depression treatment in which patients who met DSM-IV criteria for current major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, or both were recruited using the usual care system of provider referral (provider) and 3 separate screening strategies: (1) a 2-stage waiting room screening interview (waiting), (2) an in-clinic screen consisting of 2 self-report items embedded in a larger survey (in-clinic), and (3) a 2-stage self-report mail survey (mail). The team trial and analysis were conducted between January 1998 and July 2003. RESULTS: The usual care system of provider referral identified the most depressed patients and had relatively good coverage compared with the 3 screening strategies. Of the 3 screening strategies, the in-clinic strategy had the best coverage, while the mail strategy had the worst coverage. Provider referral patients were younger and had fewer chronic medical illnesses than did other patients. The waiting strategy identified more patients with bipolar affective disorder. CONCLUSION: While different strategies may be optimal for different resource levels and patient characteristics, this study suggests that an in-clinic self-report survey may be the best adjunct to provider referral for efficiently increasing coverage. This study also suggests that different screening strategies may capture different patient populations.
Neuropsychological deficits are correlated with frontal hypometabolism in positron emission tomography studies of older alcoholic patients.

In an extension of previous work, we studied the behavioral correlates of medial frontal lobe glucose hypometabolism in chronically alcohol-dependent patients. Thirty-one male patients who were detoxified, medically stable, and free of other central nervous system risk factors for neuropsychological impairment were examined with (1) anatomic imaging (CT or MR), (2) functional imaging with [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) and positron emission tomography (PET), and (3) a battery of neuropsychological tests, including two measures of abstraction known to be generally sensitive to frontal lobe disease or dysfunction [the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the Halstead Category Test (HCT)]. 18F-FDG PET data from 18 age- and sex-matched normal control subjects were used for comparison. All patients met criteria for severe alcohol dependence and for at least a mild degree of alcoholic-induced cognitive impairment. Although the mean IQ level of the alcoholic patients was in the average range, the concepts attained and the error scores on the WCST and HCT were significantly impaired in comparison with established norms. Local cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (LCMRglc) was significantly decreased in a sagittal strip of the medial frontal cortex in the alcoholic patients as compared with the normal controls. Comparison of data from PET scans and anatomic images indicated that the reduced LCMRglc could not be attributed to reduced amounts of tissue alone. A statistically significant relationship was found between LCMRglc in the medial frontal region of the cerebral cortex and performance on the WCST, but not the HCT. These findings suggest that chronic alcohol intake results in impaired function of cerebral tissue in the medial frontal region. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
THE POPULATION GENETICS OF ADAPTATION: THE ADAPTATION OF DNA SEQUENCES

Abstract I describe several patterns characterizing the genetics of adaptation at the DNA level. Following Gillespie (1983, 1984, 1991), I consider a population presently fixed for the ith best allele at a locus and study the sequential substitution of favorable mutations that results in fixation of the fittest DNA sequence locally available. Given a wild type sequence that is less than optimal, I derive the fitness rank of the next allele typically fixed by natural selection as well as the mean and variance of the jump in fitness that results when natural selection drives a substitution. Looking over the whole series of substitutions required to reach the best allele, I show that the mean fitness jumps occurring throughout an adaptive walk are constrained to a twofold window of values, assuming only that adaptation begins from a reasonably fit allele. I also show that the first substitution and the substitution of largest effect account for a large share of the total fitness increase during adaptation. I further show that the distribution of selection coefficients fixed throughout such an adaptive walk is exponential (ignoring mutations of small effect), a finding reminiscent of that seen in Fisher's geometric model of adaptation. Last, I show that adaptation by natural selection behaves in several respects as the average of two idealized forms of adaptation, perfect and random.
Is the Effect of Behavioral Synchrony on Cooperative Behavior Mediated by Pain Threshold?

ABSTRACT Synchronized behavior results in a variety of prosocial behaviors. Research has also implicated that interpersonal synchrony affects pain thresholds, inferred as indicative of endorphin levels. The current study was designed to see if these pain threshold effects mediated the effect of synchrony on interpersonal cooperation. Twenty six individuals were randomly assigned to complete a 30 minute run on a treadmill in either a synchronized or nonsynchronized condition. Pain threshold was measured both before and after exercise as an indicator of endorphin activity. A postrun social investment game measured interpersonal cooperation. Analyses showed that there was a significant direct relationship between condition and cooperation but that this effect was not mediated by pain threshold.
Flavobacterium branchiophilum and F. succinicans associated with bacterial gill disease in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) in water recirculation aquaculture systems

Bacterial gill disease (BGD) is a common and occasionally devastating disease that affects numerous cultured fish species throughout the world (Starliper & Schill 2012). Outbreaks of BGD tend to occur when environmental conditions deteriorate, and opportunistic pathogens can more readily cause overt disease (Bullock 1972; Schachte 1983). The putative causative agent, Flavobacterium branchiophilum, has been shown to induce BGD under laboratory conditions (e.g. Lumsden et al. 1995; Ostland et al. 1995); however, diagnosis of BGD in the field is generally carried out through light microscopy and/or observation of clinical signs. Therefore, the identity of the bacterial specie(s) present on the gills of BGD-affected fish in culture settings is most often based on visual assessment alone. The observed bacteria using microscopy are presumed to be F. branchiophilum based on organism morphology (numerous long, thin rods; Fig. ​Fig.1.),1. ), with this presumption supported by previous BGD research (e.g. Byrne et al. 1995; Ostland et al. 1997; Derksen, Ostland & Ferguson 1998) and various F. branchiophilum-specific diagnostic approaches that have been developed. The latter include ELISA (MacPhee et al. 1995), IFAT (Heo, Kasai & Wakabayashi 1990), and PCR (Toyama, Kita & Wakabayashi 1996). A comprehensive examination of bacterial species present on the gills of naturally infected fish, however, has not been carried out and is desirable to enhance our understanding of BGD and to inform further research (e.g. potential vaccine development). We therefore sought to induce BGD through environmental manipulation (as opposed to pathogen challenge) and to identify the bacterial species involved in typical BGD outbreaks. Our findings are presented in this short communication.
Structured Expert Elicitation About Listeria monocytogenes Cross‐Contamination in the Environment of Retail Deli Operations in the United States

Listeria monocytogenes is among the foodborne pathogens with the highest death toll in the United States. Ready‐to‐eat foods contaminated at retail are an important source of infection. Environmental sites in retail deli operations can be contaminated. However, commonly contaminated sites are unlikely to come into direct contact with food and the public health relevance of environmental contamination has remained unclear. To identify environmental sites that may pose a considerable cross‐contamination risk, to elucidate potential transmission pathways, and to identify knowledge gaps, we performed a structured expert elicitation of 41 experts from state regulatory agencies and the food retail industry with practical experience in retail deli operations. Following the “Delphi” method, the elicitation was performed in three consecutive steps: questionnaire, review and discussion of results, second questionnaire. Hands and gloves were identified as important potential contamination sources. However, bacterial transfers to and from hands or gloves represented a major data gap. Experts agreed about transfer probabilities from cutting boards, scales, deli cases, and deli preparation sinks to product, and about transfer probabilities from floor drains, walk‐in cooler floors, and knife racks to food contact surfaces. Comparison of experts' opinions to observational data revealed a tendency among experts with certain demographic characteristics and professional opinions to overestimate prevalence. Experts’ votes clearly clustered into separate groups not defined by place of employment, even though industry experts may have been somewhat overrepresented in one cluster. Overall, our study demonstrates the value and caveats of expert elicitation to identify data gaps and prioritize research efforts.
Separation of Multilinear Circuit and Formula Size

An arithmetic circuit or formula is multilinear if the polynomial computed at each of its wires is multilinear. We give an explicit polynomial f(x1,., xn) with coeffi- cients in {0, 1} such that over any field: 1. f can be computed by a polynomial-size multilinear circuit of depth O(log 2 n).
Shear wave dispersion for fibrosis, steatosis and activity staging

Quantitative elastography has been established as an efficient tool for chronic liver diseases non invasive diagnosis and staging. By estimating the velocity of shear waves propagating in the liver, the local shear modulus can be estimated, and, since it is correlated to the fibrosis level, can thus be used for non invasive fibrosis staging. But shear wave propagation also yields information on the viscosity and other medium properties than can be assessed under the assumption of a rheological model and could be interesting for diagnosis. In this study, Shear Wave Spectroscopy is compared with fibrosis, steatosis and activity assessed by liver biopsies. Results show that dispersion curves can be used for the determination of the fibrosis stage with good accuracy when parameters are physically linked to the medium stiffness. Shear Viscosity is also found to be linked to the fibrosis level which could be a consequence of the relationship between viscosity and shear modulus assumed by the Voigt Model. While the activity level can also be retrieved from those parameters, it is believed that the activity level is a direct consequence of the fibrosis level for most patients and not an independent indicator. Contrary to preliminary reports and hopes on the issue, steatosis is not found to be correlated to any of the parameters tested here.
Effect of Smoking Status on Healthcare Costs and Resource Utilization in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Routine Clinical Practice: A Retrospective Nested Case-Control Economic Study

Aim: To compare healthcare resource utilization and costs according to smoking status in patients with type 2 diabetes in clinical practice. Methods: A retrospective cohort nested case-control study was designed. Cases were current smokers, while 2 types of controls (former smokers and never smokers) were matched (2 controls per case) for age, sex, duration of diabetes and burden of comorbidity using data from medical records. Noninstitutionalized diabetics of both genders, aged >18 years and seen consecutively over a 5-year period before the index date, were enrolled. Analysis compared healthcare resource utilization, loss of productivity due to sick leave and corresponding costs. Results: In total, 2,490 medical records were analyzed, i.e. 498 cases, 996 former smokers and 996 never smokers. Mean age was 63.4 years (64.9% male). Smokers had higher glycosylated hemoglobin levels (7.4 vs. 7.2 and 7.2%, respectively; p = 0.013) and a lower degree of metabolic control (49.2 vs. 54.7 and 55.8%; p = 0.036). Smokers had higher average annual costs (EUR 3,583) than former smokers (EUR 2,885; p < 0.001) and never smokers (EUR 2,183; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Diabetic smoker patients had lower metabolic control, higher health resource utilization and more sick leave, resulting in higher healthcare costs and lost productivity compared with both former and never smoker diabetics.
Converging Language Streams in the Human Temporal Lobe

There is general agreement that, after initial processing in unimodal sensory cortex, the processing pathways for spoken and written language converge to access verbal meaning. However, the existing literature provides conflicting accounts of the cortical location of this convergence. Most aphasic stroke studies localize verbal comprehension to posterior temporal and inferior parietal cortex (Wernicke’s area), whereas evidence from focal cortical neurodegenerative syndromes instead implicates anterior temporal cortex. Previous functional imaging studies in normal subjects have failed to reconcile these opposing positions. Using a functional imaging paradigm in normal subjects that used spoken and written narratives and multiple baselines, we demonstrated common activation during implicit comprehension of spoken and written language in inferior and lateral regions of the left anterior temporal cortex and at the junction of temporal, occipital, and parietal cortex. These results indicate that verbal comprehension uses unimodal processing streams that converge in both anterior and posterior heteromodal cortical regions in the left temporal lobe.
Thermal, Mechanical, and Dielectric Properties of a Dielectric Elastomer for Actuator Applications

Dielectric elastomers (DE) are a new type of electro-active material, which is able to produce a large degree of deformation under electrical stimulation. The thermal, mechanical, and dielectric properties of the most widely used dielectric acrylic elastomer (VHB 4910), commercially available from the company 3M, were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and broadband dielectric spectroscopy (BDS) analyzer, respectively. DSC experiments on the VHB 4910 showed a glass transition at about −40°C. VHB 4910 started to lose weight at about 250°C from the TGA study. The results of DMA indicated the storage modulus of VHB 4910 increased with frequency and had a strong temperature dependence of elasticity. The dielectric constant of VHB 4910 increased as a function of temperature up to 0°C, followed by a drop till 100°C. The mechanical and electrical efficiency of dielectric elastomer actuators (DEA) of VHB 4910 were analyzed. It was demonstrated that the actuation performance is dominated by the mechanical properties of the elastomer and is less influenced by the frequency and the temperature dependence of the dielectric properties; this may be used to guide the design of actuator configurations, as well as the choice of actuator materials.
Quantitative lithium magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the normal human brain on a 3 T clinical scanner

Lithium (Li) is a core for many neuropsychiatric conditions. The safe serum range of Li treatment is narrow, and regular monitoring by blood test is required, although serum levels are thought to be a poor indicator of Li concentration in the brain itself. Brain Li concentration can be measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. However, little data exist in the healthy human brain, and there are no studies of the relaxation properties of brain 7Li at 3 T. Here, 11 healthy male subjects were prescribed Li over a period of 11 days. In seven subjects, the in vivo T1 of 7Li was measured to be 2.1 ± 0.7 s. In the remaining subjects, spectroscopic imaging (1D) yielded a mean brain 7Li concentration of 0.71 ± 0.1 mM, with no significant difference between gray and white matter. Mean serum concentration was 0.9 ± 0.16 mM, giving a mean brain/serum ratio of 0.78 ± 0.26. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Development of a novel electrochemical-cantilever hybrid platform

This thesis presents the development of a novel electrochemical-cantilever hybrid sensing platform. Microcantilevers are highly sensitive transducers of surface stress, while electrochemical methods allow control and monitoring of the surface charge and potential, which can be used to identify compounds or selectively modify the surface. A device combining these two complementary techniques was designed, produced, and tested with the target application being the detection and speciation of toxic heavy metals. A new electrochemical-cantilever chip format was designed, incorporating six individually addressable cantilever electrodes and two reference/counter electrodes in a microchannel, all on a single chip. The fabrication process was optimized to consistently achieve nearly 100% chip yield. This chip was combined with a polymer flow cell that could be assembled, used, and disassembled repeatedly without the need for wax or epoxy to seal the cell. The flow cell was optimized to provide reliable electrical and fluidic connections, as well as optical access for control and interrogation of the cantilevers and their environment. The cantilever arrays were functionalized with the amino acid L-cysteine (Cys) and tetrapeptide Cys-Gly-Gly-His (CGGH) for binding copper (II) ions. This functional layer was removed from one cantilever by selective application of a voltammetric signal to generate a clean reference cantilever for differential measurements. The responses of the monolayers to three different concentrations of copper ions were investigated, and an estimate of the adsorption rate constant was found for the Cu-(Cys) and Cu-(CGGH) binding systems. Potential steps and sweeps were applied to a cantilever in buffered electrolyte, resulting in surface stress behavior in agreement with theory. A differential stress response due to cyclic voltammetry performed in electrolyte with and without a reversible redox couple was found to agree with a first order approximation of Lippmann’s equation, verifying that the source of the motion is stress induced by a charged surface. This prototype system was successfully tested and demonstrated to be a powerful analytical tool, but still requires a deeper understanding to reach its full potential.
Tapered Covariance: Bayesian Estimation and Asymptotics

The method of maximum tapered likelihood has been proposed as a way to quickly estimate covariance parameters for stationary Gaussian random fields. We show that under a useful asymptotic regime, maximum tapered likelihood estimators are consistent and asymptotically normal for covariance models in common use. We then formalize the notion of tapered quasi-Bayesian estimators and show that they too are consistent and asymptotically normal. We also present asymptotic confidence intervals for both types of estimators and show via simulation that they accurately reflect sampling variability, even at modest sample sizes. Proofs, an example, and detailed derivations are provided in the supplementary materials, available online.
Human Bone Progenitor Cells for Clinical Application: What Kind of Immune Reaction Does Fetal Xenograft Tissue Trigger in Immunocompetent Rats?

The potential of human fetal bone cells for successful bone regeneration has been shown in vivo. In particular, it has been demonstrated that the seeding of these cells in porous poly-(L-lactic acid)/β-tricalcium phosphate scaffolds improved the bone formation compared to cell-free scaffolds in skulls of rats. However, even if the outcome is an improvement of bone formation, a thorough analysis concerning any immune responses, due to the implantation of a xenograft tissue, is not known. As the immune response and skeletal system relationship may contribute to either the success or failure of an implant, we were interested in evaluating the presence of any immune cells and specific reactions of human fetal cells (also called human bone progenitor cells) once implanted in femoral condyles of rats. For this purpose, (1) cell-free scaffolds, (2) human bone progenitor cells, or (3) osteogenic human bone progenitor cells within scaffolds were implanted over 3, 7, 14 days, and 12 weeks. The key finding is that human bone progenitor cells and osteogenic human bone progenitor cells do not trigger any particular specific immune reactions in immunocompetent rats but are noted to delay some bone formation.
Sources of alcohol for underage drinkers.

OBJECTIVE We assessed the extent to which various sources of alcoholic beverages are used by early, middle and older teenagers, the extent to which teenagers perceive alcohol to be available from different sources and factors related to use of alternative sources. METHOD Ninth graders (n = 2,269), twelfth graders (n = 2,377) and youth aged 18-20 (n = 1,738) were surveyed in 15 upper-midwestern communities using a nested cross-sectional design. Analyses were based on mixed-model regressions, with both the individual and community treated as random effects, taking into account the intraclass correlation for each dependent variable. Analyses focused on current (last 30 day) drinkers to avoid recall bias for drinking events in the distant past. RESULTS A person aged 21 or over was the most common source of alcohol for current drinkers in all three age groups; 46% of 9th graders, 60% of 12th graders and 68% of those aged 18-20 obtained alcohol from a person age 21 or older for their last drinking occasion. A person under age 21 was the second most prevalent source for 9th and 12th graders (29% of each group obtained alcohol from someone under age 21 for their last drinking occasion). A commercial outlet was the second most prevalent source for those aged 18-20 (14% obtained alcohol directly from an outlet for their last drinking occasion). CONCLUSIONS Perceived availability, binge drinking and several demographic characteristics were independently related to source of alcohol used, and age interacted with several factors in predicting source of alcohol. We conclude that increased attention to sources of alcohol used by youths would facilitate efforts to reduce underage drinking.