Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Teledermatology patient satisfaction in the Pacific Northwest.

BACKGROUND The aim of this quality improvement project is to assess patient satisfaction with a store-and-forward teledermatology project and to identify factors associated with patient satisfaction and dissatisfaction. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Veterans receiving care in rural clinics in the Pacific Northwest were surveyed using a 5-point Likert scale about satisfaction with face-to-face care for a skin complaint prior to any teledermatology exposure. One year later, veterans in the same rural clinics were surveyed about satisfaction with teledermatology care using a more comprehensive survey. Ninety-six patients completed the face-to-face satisfaction survey questions, and 501 completed the teledermatology satisfaction survey. RESULTS Most (78%) of surveyed patients were highly satisfied or satisfied with face-to-face dermatology care. After 1 year of teledermatology, 77% of patients were highly satisfied or satisfied with teledermatology care. The mean patient satisfaction score for teledermatology was equivalent to face-to-face care (4.1±1.2 and 4.3±1.0, p=0.4). Factors associated with teledermatology patient satisfaction included short wait times for initial consultation, a perception that the initial wait time was not too long, a perception that the skin condition was properly treated, and the belief that adequate follow-up was received. Factors associated with teledermatology patient dissatisfaction included perceptions that the skin condition was not properly treated and that inadequate follow-up was received. CONCLUSIONS Teledermatology was widely accepted by the majority of patients receiving care at rural clinics. Patient satisfaction with care received through teledermatology was equivalent to that with face-to-face dermatology.
The Geographic Mobility of Elderly Canadians

RÉSUMÉ La monographie Changing Residence: The Geographic Mobility of Elderly Canadians (Northcott, 1988) a examiné les travaux de recherche qui avaient été fait vers le milieu des années mi-1980 sur la mobilité géographique des personnes âgées au Canada et ailleurs. Le but de cet article est de fournir une mise à jour et une vue d’ensemble des développements dans l’étude de la mobilité géographique des personnes âgées, depuis le milieu des années 1980, avec un accent particulier sur le Canada. Dans cette revue, tout d’abord nous examinons le progrès au cours des derniers 25 ans dans la recherche sur la mobilité géographique des personnes âgées et se concentrons sur trois thèmes : le deplacement et la concentration géographique des personnes âgées, la migration saisonnière « retraités migrateurs » et les migrations internationales. Deuxièmement, nous évaluons l’état actuel de la recherche sur la migration des personnes âgées au Canada. Enfin, nous identifions les défis futurs et des questions sans réponses et offrons des suggestions pour la recherche du futur. ABSTRACT The monograph Changing Residence: The Geographic Mobility of Elderly Canadians (Northcott, 1988) reviewed the research that had been done up to the mid-1980s on the geographic mobility of older persons in Canada and elsewhere. The purpose of this article is to provide an update and overview of developments in the study of the geographic mobility of seniors since the mid-1980s with a particular emphasis on Canada. In this review, we first examine progress over the past 25 years in research about seniors’ geographic mobility and focus on three topics: the relocation and geographic concentration of seniors, seasonal migration (“snowbirds”), and international migration. Second, we assess the current status of research on elder migration in Canada. Finally, we identify future challenges and unanswered questions, and make suggestions for future research.
Social Support, Caregiving, and Aging

RÉSUMÉ Cet article examine la littérature internationale rédigée en anglais sur le thème du soutien social et des soins gérontologiques depuis le début des années 1990. La littérature s’est développée, mais il manque de consensus sur le sens des termes et sur la mesure. L’intérêt reste une constante pour l’aide pratique, les prestations de soutien social, et la demande et les résultats négatifs pour les aidants, avec de plus en plus de questions plus théoriques, auxquelles on accorde de moins en moins d’importance, sur les résultats négatifs du soutien reçu, ainsi que sur les conséquences positives de la prestation de soins. Le soutien social, néanmoins, est dûment reconnu comme un déterminant social de la santé et reçoit l’attention au niveau des politiques—qui sont tous deux d’importants changements à partir de deux décennies—et ajoutent a l’intérêt ce domaine recevra de chercheurs dans les décennies à venir. Il reste de nombreuses questions sans réponses quant à l’évolution du contexte sociétal, mais il est clair que le soutien social des personnes – y compris la vieillesse et tout au long de la vie – se poursuivra dans l’avenir, quoique dans des formes toujours renouvelées. ABSTRACT This article reviews the international English-language literature on social support and caregiving in gerontology since the early 1990s. The literature has grown, but consensus on the terms’ meaning and measurement is lacking. Interest is ongoing in practical help, in benefits of social support, and in demands and negative outcomes for caregivers, with growing but less emphasis on more theoretical questions, on negative outcomes from the receipt of support, and on positive consequences of providing care. Nevertheless, social support is duly recognized as a social determinant of health and receiving attention at policy levels – both are significant shifts from two decades ago and add to the interest this area will receive from researchers in coming decades. There remain many unanswered questions regarding the changing societal context, but it is clear that the social support of others – throughout our lives including old age – will continue in the future, albeit in ever-changing forms.
Cellular‐interstitial water exchange and its effect on the determination of contrast agent concentration in vivo: Dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI of human internal obturator muscle

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of cellular‐interstitial water exchange on estimates of tracer kinetics parameters obtained using rapid dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) MRI. Data from the internal obturator muscle of six patients were examined using three models of water exchange: no exchange (NX), fast exchange limit (FXL), and intermediate rate (shutter‐speed [SS]). In combination with additional multiple flip angle (FA) data, a full two‐pool exchange model was also used. The results obtained using the NX model (transfer constant, Ktrans = 0.049 ± 0.027 min–1, apparent interstitial volume, ve = 0.14 ± 0.04) were marginally higher than those obtained using the FXL model (Ktrans = 0.045 ± 0.025 min–1, ve = 0.13 ± 0.04), but the error bars overlapped in two‐thirds of these parameter estimate pairs. Estimates of Ktrans and ve obtained using the SS model exceeded those obtained using the NX model in half the patients, and many estimates, including all those of intracellular residence time of water, ti, were imprecise. Results obtained using the full two‐pool model fell between those obtained using FXL and NX models, and estimates of ti were also imprecise. The results suggest that data obtained using clinically relevant DCE‐MRI are exchange‐insensitive and unsuitable for the assessment of cellular‐interstitial water exchange. Magn Reson Med 60:1011–1019, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
No evidence of contemporary interploidy gene flow between the closely related European woodland violets Viola reichenbachiana and V. riviniana (sect. Viola, Violaceae).

Viola reichenbachiana (2n = 4x = 20) and V. riviniana (2n = 8x = 40) are closely related species widely distributed in Europe, often sharing the same habitat throughout their overlapping ranges. It has been suggested in numerous studies that their high intraspecific morphological variability and plasticity might have been further increased by interspecific hybridisation in contact zones, given the sympatry of the species and the incomplete sterility of their hybrid. The aims of this study were to: (i) confirm that V. reichenbachiana and V. riviniana have one 4x genome in common, and (ii) determine the impact of hybridisation and introgression on genetic variation of these two species in selected European populations. For our study, we used 31 Viola populations from four European countries, which were analysed using AFLP and sequencing of a variable plastid intergenic spacer, trnH-psbA. Our analysis revealed that V. reichenbachiana exhibited larger haplotype diversity, having three species-specific haplotypes versus one in V. riviniana. The relationships among haplotypes suggest transfer of common haplotypes into V. riviniana from both V. reichenbachiana and hypothetically the other, now extinct, parental species. AFLP analysis showed low overall genetic diversity of both species, with V. riviniana showing higher among-population diversity. None of the morphologically designated hybrid populations had additive AFLP polymorphisms that would have indicated recent hybridisation. Also, kinship coefficients between both species did not indicate gene flow. V. riviniana showed significant population subdivision and significant isolation by distance, in contrast to V. reichenbachiana. The results indicate lack of gene flow between species, high influence of selfing on genetic variability, as well as probably only localised introgression toward V. riviniana.
Reciprocal Relationship between Social Support and Psychological Distress among a National Sample of Older Adults: An Autoregressive Cross-Lagged Model*

RÉSUMÉ Dans cette étude, nous avons examiné les relations longitudinales entre les cinq dimensions de soutien social et la détresse psychologique afin de déterminer si (1) le soutien social est lié à niveaux subséquentes de la détresse psychologique ; ou (2) si les niveaux de détresse psychologique ont été liés à des niveaux ultérieurs de soutien social ; ou (3) si la détresse et le soutien avaient une relation réciproque (bi-directionnel) à travers le temps. L’étude a examiné le rapport bidirectionnel longitudinal entre les dimensions différentes du soutien social et la détresse psychologique, en utilisant un modèle autorégressif de corrélation avec décalage pour cinq périodes de données. Nous avons trouvé des preuves (d’appui) de la relation réciproque entre le soutien affectueux et la détresse. L’augmentation de la détresse psychologique etait liée à des niveaux élevés de la suite des interactions sociales positives et significativement liée a un soutien par la suite plus émotionnel et informationnel. Aucune relation significative n’a été trouvée entre un soutien tangible et structurelle et la détresse psychologique. Cette étude démontre que les différents types de soutien sont associés avec la détresse psychologique d’une manière correspondante et que la détresse psychologique peut être important, deux ans plus tard, pour prévoir des niveaux de soutien social. ABSTRACT In this study we examined the longitudinal relationships between five dimensions of social support and psychological distress to determine whether (1) social support was related to subsequent psychological distress levels; or (2) if distress levels were related to subsequent social support levels; or (3) if distress and support had a reciprocal (bi-directional) relationship across time. Using bivariate autoregressive cross-lagged models, we analysed data from 2,564 older adults. We found support for the reciprocal relationship between affectionate support and distress. Higher psychological distress was related to subsequently higher levels of positive social interaction, and significantly related to subsequently higher emotional/informational support. No significant relationship was found between tangible and structural support and psychological distress. This study demonstrates that different types of support are associated in correspondingly different ways with psychological distress, and that psychological distress may be important in predicting levels of social support two years later.
Corema album: unbiased dioecy in a competitive environment.

Corema album is a dioecious coastal shrub. Dioecious plants growing in these resource-limited habitats may present spatial segregation of the sexes (SSS) or demographic biases because of the different reproductive effort between sexes. In these environments facilitation is a more common interaction between plants than competition. To assess factors determining the distribution of C. album male and female plants, we investigated the influence of habitat type (sand dunes and coastal woodlands), assessed the occurrence of SSS or demographic biases and also a possible role of these shrubs as nurse plants. We selected three C. album populations with the two habitat types. All C. album individuals were sexed, mapped and measured in three plots (20 m × 20 m) per population/habitat type. Presence and abundance of all plant species were recorded under five female and five male C. album plants as well as in equivalent open ground area in each of 15 plots. According to Ripley's K function result, C. album did not display SSS. Generalised linear mixed models (GLMM) show that differences in plant size were not related to plant sex. Plant inventory correspondence analysis showed that species composition and abundance were influenced by habitat type, population and the presence of a C. album individual, but not by its sex. GLMM indicated a detrimental effect of C. album on the co-occurring plants. Our results show that sexual dimorphism has allowed C. album to adapt to the environment avoiding SSS or significant demographic bias, suggesting a positive outlook for its conservation.
Cultural Locations of Disability

Sharon L. Snyder and David T. Mitchell are US scholars working at the University of Illinois at Chicago. They have previously published important books, such as Narrative Prosthesis: Disability and the Dependencies on Discourse. In their book Cultural Locations of Disability they trace how disabled people came to be looked upon as biologically deviant. Using the eugenic period as a starting point they examine cultural spaces that have been developed exclusively on behalf of disabled people. Included in their understanding of cultural spaces are locations like the 19th century charity systems, institutions for the feebleminded (during the eugenics period), sheltered workshops for the ‘‘multi-handicapped’’, documentary film representations of disability and current academic trends in research on disability. Snyder and Mitchell argue that the social production of human variance as deviance (from an empirical norm) places disabled people in significant jeopardy. The modern obsession with order and tidiness and our desire to attain perfect bodies constantly produces images of disabled people as living examples of what is imperfect. They continue to illustrate how disability discourses and practises are important as examples of how our society has infused different modes of social obedience a transition from a historical period (eugenic period) where instrumental techniques were applied to a period (the present) where self-policing and regulation of the self prevails. The book is divided into three parts. In the first part the authors address eugenics, the making of a US disability minority and what they call the Eugenic Atlantic disability and the making of an international science. Drawing on the work of scholars such as Henry Friedlander (1997) and Robert Lifton (2000) the authors illustrate how the cultural (dis)location of disabled people was closely linked to an idea of social prophylactic against members of society who were imagined to endanger the racial ‘‘stock’’ from the inside. This was an ideology directly responsible for the sterilisation and then the medical killings of hundreds of thousands of disabled people in Europe during the period of 1938 1945. In part two Snyder and Mitchell examine the echoes of eugenics primarily by looking into (US) contemporary institutions. One main issue
Restructuring a Rehabilitation Program for Older Adults: Effects on Patient Outcomes and Staff Perspectives

RÉSUMÉ L’objectif de cette étude utilisant des méthodes mixtes était d’examiner l’impact du changement organisationnel sur les résultats pour les patients et les expériences du personnel dans un programme de réadaptation pour les personnes âgées. La restructuration du programme a mis l’accent sur la réduction de la longueur du séjour des patients et l’augmentation de l’admission dans le programme de réhabilitation. Les résultats de cette étude ont révélé que les patients admis après la restructuration, par rapport à la periode avant cette restructuration, ont connu des séjours plus courts, et pourtant ont réalisé des progrès similaires vers la réadaptation. Les scores moyens à la décharge, Mesure d’indépendence fonctionnelle (MIF), ne diffèrent pas significativement entre ces deux périodes. Pourtant, les scores d’efficience MIF sont améliorés après la restructuration. Avec cette réorganisation, le personnel de réadaptation ont déclaré travailler plus fort pour aider les patients à obtenir des résultats, même si, au départ, le personnel a signalé un abaissement de moral. Ces résultats étendent la littérature actuelle et offrent des implications pratiques pour les professionnels de la santé qui sont intéressés à faciliter le changement organisationnel réussi. ABSTRACT The purpose of this mixed-methods research study was to examine the impact of organizational change on patient outcomes and staff experiences in a rehabilitation program for older adults. Program restructuring focused on reducing patient length of stay and increasing admissions to the rehabilitation program. Study findings revealed that patients admitted after restructuring, as compared to the time period just prior, experienced shorter lengths of stay yet made similar progress towards rehabilitation goals. The average discharge Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores between the two time periods were not significantly different. Yet FIM efficiency scores improved after the restructuring. With this reorganization, rehabilitation staff reported working harder to help patients achieve satisfactory outcomes, although initially staff reported lower morale. Findings extend the current literature and have practical implications for health care professionals interested in facilitating successful organizational change.
Micrococcus Bloodstream Infection in Patients With Pulmonary Hypertension on Epoprostenol

Micrococcus is a common cause of bloodstream infection in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) on intravenous epoprostenol, but it is rarely reported in other groups of patients. We reviewed the blood cultures of all patients with PH on continuous epoprostenol infusion through a Groshong catheter treated at our institution from 2001 to 2006. Thirty-one (33%) of 93 patients with PH requiring epoprostenol infusion had a total of 45 bloodstream infections. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis accounted for 21 (46%), followed by Micrococcus species with 5 cases (11%). No episodes of micrococcal bloodstream infection were identified in 657 patients without PH requiring Groshong catheters for other conditions during the same period. All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, and in 1 case resistance to penicillin appeared 4 weeks after the treatment. No patient died as a consequence of the infection.
The Role of Social Participation and Walking in Depression among Older Adults: Results from the VoisiNuAge Study*

RÉSUMÉ Des niveaux moins élevés de participation sociale et d’épisodes de marche représentent deux facteurs pouvant contribuer à la dépression chez les personnes âgées, mais les recherches antérieures ne sont pas concluantes à ce sujet. L’objectif de cette étude transversale est de quantifier les associations entre la dépression et l’effet combiné de la participation sociale et de la marche dans un échantillon de personnes âgées vivant au Canada (n = 549). Des analyses de régressions linéaires et logistiques ont été effectuées pour examiner si la participation sociale et la marche prédisent la dépression indépendamment des caractéristiques individuelles. Dans les modèles finaux, les résultats suggèrent que les individus qui ne prennent pas de marches présentent davantage de symptômes dépressifs ou une possible dépression (l’association entre la participation sociale et la dépression devient non significative dans les modèles ajustés). La présente étude souligne le rôle central des habitudes de vie telle la marche pour la santé mentale des aînés. ABSTRACT Lower social participation and less frequent walking represent two factors that may contribute to depression among older adults, but previous research on the subject is inconclusive. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to quantify associations between depression and the combined effects from social participation and walking in a sample of older adults living in Canada (n = 549). Linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted, in which we entered social participation and walking as predictors of depression while controlling for individual characteristics. Results of the final models show that individuals who do not walk outside their home report more depressive symptoms or a greater likelihood of possible clinical depression (the association in our study between social participation and depression was attenuated to non-significance). The current study highlights the central role played by life habits, such as walking, in older adults’ mental health status.
Field strength dependence of R1 and R  2* relaxivities of human whole blood to prohance, vasovist, and deoxyhemoglobin

This study has measured the longitudinal and transverse (T 2* ) relaxivity curves for ProHance (Gadoteridol), Vasovist (Gadofosveset) and deoxyhemoglobin at 1.5, 3.0, and 7.0 Tesla. The plots of R1 versus both contrast agent and deoxyhemoglobin concentration were linear. The plots of R 2* versus deoxyhemoglobin concentration showed a quadratic dependence. R 2* versus contrast agent concentration showed a parabolic dependence with a minimum occurring at contrast agent concentrations of approximately 1.5 mM, corresponding to an accessible concentration in vivo. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to support the hypothesis that the minimum results from the susceptibility of the red blood cells being matched to the susceptibility of the plasma. Relaxivity values (s−1mM−1) for R 2* and R1 for all agents and all three field strengths are given. Magn Reson Med 60:1313–1320, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.