Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DIFFERENCES IN THE USE OF PSYCHIATRIC OUTPATIENT SERVICES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND ONTARIO

A BSTRACT Background The relation between health insurance and the use of mental health services is unclear. We compared the use of outpatient services for psychiatric problems in the United States and Ontario, Canada, among young and middle-aged adults according to self-reports of disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (third edition, revised) and to other indicators of need. Methods We analyzed two general-population surveys carried out separately in the United States and Ontario in 1990 that used identical assessments of need for services and questions about their use by persons 15 to 54 years of age. Results Respondents in the United States were significantly more likely than those in Ontario to report having had psychiatric disorders, poor mental health, or workdays lost or cut short because of psychiatric problems in the previous year. A significantly higher proportion of respondents in the United States (13.3 percent) than in Ontario (8.0 percent) had obtained outpatient treatment in the previous 12 months for psychiatric problems. However, an analysis of subgroups found that the higher probability of the use of services in the United States was confined to people with less severe mental illness. The average number of visits did not differ significantly between the two countries among patients who had similar numbers of psychiatric disorders over the same time periods. There was a stronger match in Ontario than in the United States between the use of services and the measures of perceived need we considered. Conclusions Although the mental health care system in the United States provides treatment to a larger proportion of the population than that in Ontario, the match between some measures of need and treatment is not as strong in the United States. Any plans to expand coverage for psychiatric disorders in the United States must address this problem. (N Engl J Med 1997;336:551-7.)
Sequence variation in mitochondrial cox1 and nad1 genes of ascaridoid nematodes in cats and dogs from Iran

Abstract The study was conducted to determine the sequence variation in two mitochondrial genes, namely cytochrome c oxidase 1 (pcox1) and NADH dehydrogenase 1 (pnad1) within and among isolates of Toxocara cati, Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina. Genomic DNA was extracted from 32 isolates of T. cati, 9 isolates of T. canis and 19 isolates of T. leonina collected from cats and dogs in different geographical areas of Iran. Mitochondrial genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. Sequence data were aligned using the BioEdit software and compared with published sequences in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods. Based on pairwise comparison, intra-species genetic diversity within Iranian isolates of T. cati, T. canis and T. leonina amounted to 0–2.3%, 0–1.3% and 0–1.0% for pcox1 and 0–2.0%, 0–1.7% and 0–2.6% for pnad1, respectively. Inter-species sequence variation among the three ascaridoid nematodes was significantly higher, being 9.5–16.6% for pcox1 and 11.9–26.7% for pnad1. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the pcox1 and pnad1 genes indicated that there is significant genetic diversity within and among isolates of T. cati, T. canis and T. leonina from different areas of Iran, and these genes can be used for studying genetic variation of ascaridoid nematodes.
Cognitive behavioural therapy for depression: systematic review of imaging studies

Objective Although cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been shown to be an effective treatment for depression, the biological mechanisms underpinning it are less clear. This review examines if it is associated with changes identifiable with current brain imaging technologies. Methods To better understand the mechanisms by which CBT exerts its effects, we undertook a systematic review of studies examining brain imaging changes associated with CBT treatment of depression. Results Ten studies were identified, five applying functional magnetic resonance imaging, three positron emission tomography, one single photon emission computer tomography, and one magnetic resonance spectroscopy. No studies used structural MRI. Eight studies included a comparator group; in only one of these studies was there randomised allocation to another treatment. CBT-associated changes were most commonly observed in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), posterior cingulate, ventromedial prefrontal cortex/orbitofrontal cortex (VMPFC/OFC) and amygdala/hippocampus. Discussion The evidence, such as it is, suggests resting state activity in the dorsal ACC is decreased by CBT. It has previously been suggested that treatment with CBT may result in increased efficiency of a putative ‘dorsal cognitive circuit’, important in cognitive control and effortful regulation of emotion. It is speculated this results in an increased capacity for ‘top-down’ emotion regulation, which is employed when skills taught in CBT are engaged. Though changes in activity of the dorsal ACC could be seen as in-keeping with this model, the data are currently insufficient to make definitive statements about how CBT exerts its effects. Data do support the contention that CBT is associated with biological brain changes detectable with current imaging technologies.
Characterization of the reaction product of the oriT nicking reaction catalyzed by Escherichia coli DNA helicase I

DNA helicase I, encoded on the Escherichia coli F plasmid, catalyzes a site- and strand-specific nicking reaction within the F plasmid origin of transfer (oriT) to initiate conjugative DNA strand transfer. The product of the nicking reaction contains a single phosphodiester bond interruption as determined by single-nucleotide resolution mapping of both sides of the nick site. This analysis has demonstrated that the nick is located at precisely the same site previously shown to be nicked in vivo (T. L. Thompson, M. B. Centola, and R. C. Deonier, J. Mol. Biol. 207:505-512, 1989). In addition, studies with two oriT point mutants have confirmed the specificity of the in vitro reaction. Characterization of the nicked DNA product has revealed a modified 5' end and a 3' OH available for extension by E. coli DNA polymerase I. Precipitation of nicked DNA with cold KCl in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate suggests the existence of protein covalently attached to the nicked DNA molecule. The covalent nature of this interaction has been directly demonstrated by transfer of radiolabeled phosphate from DNA to protein. On the basis of these results, we propose that helicase I becomes covalently bound to the 5' end of the nicked DNA strand as part of the reaction mechanism for phosphodiester bond cleavage. A model is presented to suggest how helicase I could nick the F plasmid at oriT and subsequently unwind the duplex DNA to provide single-stranded DNA for strand transfer during bacterial conjugation.
Implementation of an obstetric hemorrhage risk assessment: validation and evaluation of its impact on pretransfusion testing and hemorrhage outcomes

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the impact of an obstetric hemorrhage risk assessment on pretransfusion testing and hemorrhage outcomes at a tertiary care, academic medical center. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed among women delivering neonates ≥24 weeks from 2009 to 2011. Demographics, pretransfusion testing rates and hemorrhage outcomes were compared between those delivering before and after implementation of the risk assessment. Multivariable analyses were used to determine predictors of postpartum hemorrhage and transfusion. Results: There were 1388 women delivering before and 2121 women delivering after implementation of the risk assessment. More pretransfusion testing occurred after the assessment was initiated (22.8% versus 15.0%). Those who were considered high-risk were more likely to experience hemorrhage outcomes. In multivariable analyses, physician ordering practice in the pre-risk assessment period was a better prognosticator of both postpartum hemorrhage (aOR 9.98, 95% CI 5.02–19.82) and transfusion (aOR 31.14, 95% CI 14.97–64.82) than completion of a cross-match after implementation of the risk assessment (postpartum hemorrhage: aOR 2.10, 95% CI 1.20–3.66, transfusion: aOR 6.31, 95% CI 3.34–11.94). Conclusions: Pre-risk assessment practice may be better at identifying those in need of blood transfusion, strictly due to the necessity for pretransfusion orders for transfusion to occur. In contrast, the obstetric hemorrhage risk assessment accurately predicted those who were more likely to experience hemorrhage outcomes. Optimal utilization of the risk assessment has yet to be determined.
Correlation between Lipid-Associated Sialic Acid and Tumor Burden in Melanoma

Recent studies have suggested that lipid-associated sialic acid (LSA) may be a useful tumor marker for monitoring patients with melanoma, but the relationship between LSA and tumor burden has not been previously studied. We therefore examined LSA levels in 240 patients of whom 169 had no clinical evidence of disease (NED) and 71 had metastatic disease. There was a statistically significant difference in LSA levels in patients with NED compared with metastatic disease as well as those with high tumor burden compared with low or intermediate tumor burden. There was no difference between the groups with low and intermediate tumor burden. An LSA level of 25 mg/dl provided a positive predictive value of 70% and a negative value of approximately 80%. Our data show that LSA levels correlate with tumor burden in patients with melanoma.
Signal-to-signal-to-noise ratio of full-field Fourier domain optical coherence tomography: experiment

We report a new approach in optical coherence tomography (OCT) termed full-field Fourier-domain OCT (3F-OCT). A three-dimensional image of a sample is obtained by digital reconstruction of a three-dimensional data cube, acquired using a Fourier holography recording system illuminated with a swept-source. This paper presents theoretical and experimental study of the signal-to-noise ratio of the full-field approach versus serial image acquisition approach, represented by 3F-OCT and "flying-spot" OCT systems, respectively.
Go with Your Gut: Emotion and Evaluation in Job Interviews1

This article presents hiring as an emotional process rooted in interpersonal evaluation. Drawing from Randall Collins’s theory of interaction ritual, the author offers a qualitative case study of elite professional service firms to unpack how employers’ emotional reactions to applicants in job interviews affect hiring evaluations. She finds that employers use subjective feelings of excitement and enthusiasm toward candidates—akin to Collins’s concept of emotional energy—to evaluate applicants and make hiring decisions. With these data, she constructs an original theoretical framework of emotional energy development, which highlights the qualities that tend to produce or inhibit the subjective experience of emotional energy in job interviews. Additionally, she outlines the particular phases of an encounter where energy gains and losses are most consequential for influencing hiring outcomes and inequalities. She discusses the implications of these findings for research on hiring, labor market stratification, and interaction rituals.
All-wheel-drive electric vehicle with on-board motors: Experimental validation of the motion control systems

This paper discusses the vehicle dynamics control system of an all-wheel-drive electric vehicle with four on-board motors. Each driveline is characterized by complex torsional dynamics caused by the gearbox and the half-shaft located between the electric motor and the wheel. Such a drivetrain configuration can benefit from a specific controller, i.e., the active vibration controller (AVC), which increases the damping ratio of the actuation system. The AVC enhances the effectiveness of the other vehicle dynamics controllers such as the direct yaw moment controller (DYC) and the wheel slip controllers (WSCs). This study introduces examples of AVC, DYC and WSC implementations, and their experimental validation on the electric vehicle demonstrator of the European Union FP7 E-VECTOORC project. The experimental results confirm that the powertrain architecture with individually controlled on-board motors significantly improves the traction, braking and cornering capabilities of the electric vehicle, while increasing comfort and active safety.
Sex and stress: Men and women show different cortisol responses to psychological stress induced by the Trier social stress test and the Iowa singing social stress test

Acute psychological stress affects each of us in our daily lives and is increasingly a topic of discussion for its role in mental illness, aging, cognition, and overall health. A better understanding of how such stress affects the body and mind could contribute to the development of more effective clinical interventions and prevention practices. Over the past 3 decades, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) has been widely used to induce acute stress in a laboratory setting based on the principles of social evaluative threat, namely, a judged speech‐making task. A comparable alternative task may expand options for examining acute stress in a controlled laboratory setting. This study uses a within‐subjects design to examine healthy adult participants' (n = 20 men, n = 20 women) subjective stress and salivary cortisol responses to the standard TSST (involving public speaking and math) and the newly created Iowa Singing Social Stress Test (I‐SSST). The I‐SSST is similar to the TSST but with a new twist: public singing. Results indicated that men and women reported similarly high levels of subjective stress in response to both tasks. However, men and women demonstrated different cortisol responses; men showed a robust response to both tasks, and women displayed a lesser response. These findings are in line with previous literature and further underscore the importance of examining possible sex differences throughout various phases of research, including design, analysis, and interpretation of results. Furthermore, this nascent examination of the I‐SSST suggests a possible alternative for inducing stress in the laboratory. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Higher Criticism in the Context of Unknown Distribution, Non-independence and Classification

Higher criticism has been proposed as a tool for highly multiple hypothesis testing or signal detection, initially in cases where the distribution of a test statistic (or the noise in a signal) is known and the component tests are statistically independent. In this paper we explore the extent to which the assumptions of known distribution and independence can be relaxed, and we consider too the application of higher criticism to classification. It is shown that effective distribution approximations can be achieved by using a threshold approach; that is, by disregarding data components unless their significance level exceeds a sufficiently high value. This method exploits the good relative accuracy of approximations to lighttailed distributions. In particular, it can be effective when the true distribution is founded on something like a Studentised mean, or on an average of related type, which is commonly the case in practice. The issue of dependence among vector components is also shown not to be a serious difficulty in many circumstances.
Controlling light with light at the nanoscale: Backward-wave optical parametric amplification and generation in negative-index metamaterials

Negative-index (negative phase) metamaterials (NIMs) form a novel class of electromagnetic media that promises revolutionary breakthroughs in photonics [1]. A significant progress has been achieved recently in the design of bulk multilayer negative-index plasmonic structures [2–3]. The majority of NIMs realized to date consist of metal dielectric nanostructures that have highly controllable magnetic and dielectric responses. The problem, however, is that these structures have losses that are difficult to avoid, especially in the visible range of frequencies. The losses originate from a number of sources. Irrespective of their origin, losses constitute a major hurdle to the practical realization of the unique optical applications of these structures. Therefore, developing efficient loss-compensating techniques is of paramount importance. Herein, we explore the feasibility of the developing of such techniques making use the nonlinear-optical (NLO) response of the NIMs. Nonlinear optics in the NIMs remains so far a less-developed branch of optics. On a fundamental level, the NLO response of nanostructured metamaterials is not completely understood or characterized, and cannot be predicted effectively to date. Nevertheless, the fact of the local-field enhanced nonlinearities attributed to the plasmonic nanostructures is well established and some rough estimates of their magnitude can be done. The feasibility of crafting NIMs with strong NLO responses have been demonstrated in [4]. Unlike natural positive-index materials, the energy flow and the phase velocity are counter-directed in NIMs, which determines their extraordinary linear and NLO propagation properties. Counterintuitive properties of nonlinear propagation processes in NIMs, such as three-wave mixing (TWM) optical parametric amplification (OPA), second harmonic generation and changes in the optical bistability, which are in a stark contrast with their counterparts in natural materials, were shown in [5].
Polymorphism in the C-reactive protein (CRP) gene affects CRP levels in plasma and one early marker of atherosclerosis in men: The Health 2000 Survey

Abstract Background. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammatory protein that may play a role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, its status as a causal risk factor is still controversial. CRP gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been shown to associate with CRP concentration, but not convincingly with early atherosclerotic changes. Objective. We assessed whether CRP genotypes or their haplotypes associate with plasma CRP levels or carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) or carotid artery elasticity (CAE) in a Finnish middle-aged study population. Methods. We genotyped CRP gene polymorphisms −717A>G (rs2794521), −286C>T>A (rs3091244), +1059G>C (rs1800947), +1444C>T (rs1130864) and +1846G>A (rs1205) and measured CRP concentration in a sub-population (N=1332, mean age 58.2 ± 8.0, women n=727 and men n=605) of a large Finnish cross-sectional health examination survey, The Health 2000 Study, carried out in 2000–2001. Results. Significant association (both sexes p<0.0001, women p=0.015 and men p=0.029) was found between CRP rs1800947 genotype and CRP concentration. Multivariate analysis showed an independent effect of the genotype on CRP concentration after adjustment for risk factors (women p=0.036 and men p=0.009). Similar associations were seen at the haplotype level in haplotype ACCCA where +1059 C-carriers had lower median CRP values than non-carriers (p=0.008). One CRP genotype (rs1130864) was associated with one CAE parameter in men but no association was observed between CRP genotypes and carotid artery IMT. Conclusions. CRP gene allelic variation is associated with CRP levels in both sexes and with one CAE parameter (SI) in men in a population-based Finnish cohort of middle-aged subjects.
Dynamic US of the anterior band of the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow in asymptomatic major league baseball pitchers.

PURPOSE To determine whether dynamic ultrasonography (US) can reveal abnormalities of the anterior band of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the elbow in asymptomatic major league professional baseball players. MATERIALS AND METHODS US was performed in 26 asymptomatic major league professional baseball pitchers before spring training. Images were obtained in both pitching and nonpitching arms with a multifrequency 13-MHz linear-array transducer. The thickness of the anterior band of the UCL and the width of the joint it spans (the ulnohumeral joint) were measured with the elbow at 30 degrees of flexion, both at rest and with valgus stress. The thickness of the anterior band of the UCL and the width of the joint space were compared for pitching and nonpitching arms by using the Student t test. The prevalence of hypoechoic areas and calcifications within the anterior band of the UCL in pitching and nonpitching arms was compared by using the McNemar test. The average time of the US examinations was recorded. RESULTS At rest, the mean thickness (+/- 1 SD) of the anterior band of the UCL was 6.3 mm +/- 1.1 in pitching arms and 5.3 mm +/- 1.0 in nonpitching arms. This difference was statistically significant (P <.01). With stress, the anterior band thickness was 6.3 mm +/- 1.4 in the pitching arms and 4.8 mm +/- 0.9 in the nonpitching arms (P <.001). The joint space width at rest was 2.8 mm +/- 1.0 in the pitching arms and 2.5 mm +/- 0.7 in the nonpitching arms (not statistically significant). When stress was applied, however, the joint space width was significantly greater in the pitching arms than in the nonpitching arms (4.2 mm +/- 1.5 vs 3 mm +/- 1.0, respectively; P <.01). Hypoechoic foci within the anterior band of the UCL were seen in 18 of 26 (69%) pitching arms and three of 26 (12%) nonpitching arms (P <.001). Calcifications were detected in nine of 26 (35%) pitching arms but in none of the nonpitching arms (P <.001). The average time for bilateral US was 10.4 minutes. CONCLUSION Dynamic US provides a rapid means for evaluating the anterior band of the UCL in professional baseball pitchers. In pitching arms, this band is thicker, is more likely to have hypoechoic foci and/or calcifications, and demonstrates more laxity with valgus stress.
Physiological states and functional relation between thyrotropin and free thyroxine in thyroid health and disease: in vivo and in silico data suggest a hierarchical model

Aims Understanding the exact relationship between serum thyrotropin/thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) is a prerequisite for improving diagnostic reliability and clinical decision making. Methods We (1) retrospectively studied the relationship between TSH and FT4 in a large unselected clinical sample (n=6641) of primary hypothyroid, euthyroid and hyperthyroid subjects, and (2) applied a mathematical model of thyroid hormone feedback control to assess the relation between structural parameters and TSH levels in the different functional states. Results When separately analysing total sample and untreated subjects, the correlation slope for logTSH versus FT4 for hypothyroid subjects was significantly different from that of the euthyroid panel and hyperthyroid subjects (the latter being compromised by reaching the TSH assay's lower detection limit). As trends between functional states changed, each functional segment appeared to become differently regulated. Theoretical modelling and sensitivity analysis revealed that the influence of various structural parameters on TSH levels also depends on the overall function of the feedback loop. Conclusions Our data suggest that the states of hypothyroidism, euthyroidism and hyperthyroidism can be regarded as differently regulated entities. The apparent complexity could be replicated by mathematical modelling suggesting a hierarchical type of feedback regulation involving patterns of operative mechanisms unique to each condition. For clinical purposes and assay evaluation, neither the standard model relating logTSH with FT4, nor an alternative model based on non-competitive inhibition can be reliably represented by a single correlation comparing all samples for both hormones in one all-inclusive group.