Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Administration of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine Via Telephone.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Over a third of adults in the United States have limited health literacy, which has been associated with numerous negative health outcomes and high health care costs. Most commonly used, objective measures of patients' literacy skills have traditionally been administered in person. This study assessed the feasibility of administering the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) via telephone. METHODS A total of 119 participants were recruited after participating in a separate study where the REALM was administered in person. After approximately 1 week, patients were sent copies of the REALM prompt via mail and, when provided, email. A research assistant called participants approximately 1 week later to determine if the REALM had been received and could be accessed for use during the call. Multiple attempts to reach participants were made; 84 participants were able to successfully complete the study, yielding a response rate of 70.6%. The REALM was then administered over the phone, and results were compared with the scores from the in-person administration. RESULTS There was a high correlation between both assessments (Spearman=0.85). The agreement between literacy categories (low, marginal, and adequate) between the in-person and telephone-based assessments was also high at 84.5% (kappa=0.72). Participants who completed the study were older than participants who did not complete the study, more likely to be white, and less likely to be currently working. CONCLUSIONS The findings from this study indicate the REALM can be administered over the phone, providing alternative methodologies for literacy assessments in future studies.
Translating working memory into action: Behavioral and neural evidence for using motor representations in encoding visuo‐spatial sequences

The neurobiological organization of action‐oriented working memory is not well understood. To elucidate the neural correlates of translating visuo‐spatial stimulus sequences into delayed (memory‐guided) sequential actions, we measured brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging while participants encoded sequences of four to seven dots appearing on fingers of a left or right schematic hand. After variable delays, sequences were to be reproduced with the corresponding fingers. Recall became less accurate with longer sequences and was initiated faster after long delays. Across both hands, encoding and recall activated bilateral prefrontal, premotor, superior and inferior parietal regions as well as the basal ganglia, whereas hand‐specific activity was found (albeit to a lesser degree during encoding) in contralateral premotor, sensorimotor, and superior parietal cortex. Activation differences after long versus short delays were restricted to motor‐related regions, indicating that rehearsal during long delays might have facilitated the conversion of the memorandum into concrete motor programs at recall. Furthermore, basal ganglia activity during encoding selectively predicted correct recall. Taken together, the results suggest that to‐be‐reproduced visuo‐spatial sequences are encoded as prospective action representations (motor intentions), possibly in addition to retrospective sensory codes. Overall, our study supports and extends multi‐component models of working memory, highlighting the notion that sensory input can be coded in multiple ways depending on what the memorandum is to be used for. Hum Brain Mapp 35:3465–3484, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule: A novel biomarker for breast cancer

Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) has been implicated in tumorigenesis. Our goal was to examine the levels of ALCAM, in addition to the classical breast cancer tumor markers carbohydrate antigen 15‐3 (CA15‐3) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), in serum by quantitative enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis in breast cancer patients. The 3 proteins were measured in serum of 100 healthy women, 50 healthy men and 150 breast carcinoma patients. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the tests were calculated and the association of serum marker concentrations with various clinicopathologic variables was examined using nonparametric Kruskal‐Wallis tests. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the biomarkers. ALCAM, with area under the curve (AUC) of 0.78 [95% CI: 0.73, 0.84] outperformed CA15‐3 (AUC = 0.70 [95% CI: 0.64, 0.76]) and CEA (AUC= 0.63 [95% CI: 0.56, 0.70]). The incremental values of AUC for ALCAM over that for CA15‐3 were statistically significant (Delong test, p < 0.05). Combining CA15‐3 and ALCAM yielded a ROC curve with an AUC of 0.81 (95% CI [0.75, 0.87]). Serum ALCAM appears to be a new biomarker for breast cancer and may have value for disease diagnosis. © 2009 UICC
Predicting Discharge of Trauma Survivors to Rehabilitation: A Sampling Frame Solution for a Population-Based Trauma-Rehabilitation Survey

Sirois M-J, Lavoie A, Dionne CE: Predicting discharge of trauma survivors to rehabilitation: a sampling frame solution for a population-based trauma-rehabilitation survey. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2007;86:563–573. Objectives:To conduct a population-based survey among trauma survivors on accessibility to rehabilitation services in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas in Quebec (Canada), we attempted to use trauma registries as a sampling frame of subjects discharged to rehabilitation. Discharge destinations were inaccurate in many registries, preventing straightforward identification of the survey subjects. Using the best registry data, we aimed to identify predictors of rehabilitation discharge and to use them to specify a reliable sampling frame for the survey. Design:A logistic predictive model of rehabilitation discharge was developed. This model was applied to data from metropolitan, urban, and rural trauma centers to identify all subjects predicted to be discharged to a rehabilitation facility. Results:Age, acute-care length of stay, injury-severity score, lower-limb injuries, and seven other predictors were included in the model that generated an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.83 and a classification accuracy of 76.6%. The metropolitan, urban, and rural frames were slightly different. They included, respectively, 808, 798, and 929 subjects. Conclusions:The procedure helped us bypass largely inaccurate data from trauma registries. The sampling frames reflected severely injured trauma survivors who were likely to have been referred to postacute rehabilitation.
In-band time-to-live signaling system for combined DPSK/SCM scheme in OLS

We propose and validate experimentally a time-to-live (TTL) signaling system for an optical label swapping scheme based on 10-Gb/s differential phase-shift-keying (DPSK) packets and with 100-Mb/s subcarrier multiplexing (SCM) label. The proposed scheme allows fast packet discarding by using a 3-GHz subcarrier tone. DPSK payload has only a 2.4-dB power penalty at 10/sup -9/ bit-error rate after superimposing the SCM and TTL labeling signal.
Late-life depression, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of late-life depression with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in a multiethnic community cohort. DESIGN AND SETTING A cohort study was conducted in Northern Manhattan, New York, New York. PARTICIPANTS A total of 2160 community-dwelling Medicare recipients aged 65 years or older were included in the study. METHODS Depression was assessed using the 10-item version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D) and defined by a CES-D score of 4 or more. We used logistic regression for cross-sectional association analyses and proportional hazards regression for longitudinal analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Mild cognitive impairment dementia, and progression from MCI to dementia were the main outcome measures. We also used subcategories of MCI (amnestic and nonamnestic), and dementia (probable Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia, including possible Alzheimer disease with stroke). RESULTS Baseline depression was associated with prevalent MCI (odds ratio, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9) and dementia (2.2; 1.6-3.1). Baseline depression was associated with an increased risk of incident dementia (hazard ratio [HR], 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.3) but not with incident MCI (0.9; 0.7-1.2). Persons with MCI and coexisting depression at baseline had a higher risk of progression to dementia (HR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2-3.4), especially vascular dementia (4.3; 1.1-17.0), but not Alzheimer disease (1.9; 1.0-3.6). CONCLUSION The association of depression with prevalent MCI and with progression from MCI to dementia, but not with incident MCI, suggests that depression accompanies cognitive impairment but does not precede it.
Isolation of Estrogen-Responsive Genes with a CpG Island Library

ABSTRACT In order to isolate novel estrogen-responsive genes, we utilized a CpG island library in which the regulatory regions of genes are enriched. CpG islands were screened for the ability to bind to a recombinant estrogen receptor protein with a genomic binding site (GBS) cloning method. Six CpG islands were selected, and they contained perfect, imperfect, and/or multiple half-palindromic estrogen-responsive elements (EREs). Northern blot analysis of various human cells showed that all these genomic fragments hybridized to specific mRNAs, suggesting that the genes associated with these EREs might be transcribed in human cells. Then cDNAs associated with two of them, EB1 and EB9, were isolated from libraries of human placenta and MCF-7 cells derived from a human breast cancer, respectively. Both transcripts were increased by estrogen in MCF-7 cells. The increase is inhibited by actinomycin D but not by cycloheximide, indicating that no protein synthesis is required for the up-regulation. The cDNA associated with EB1 encodes a 114-amino-acid protein similar to the cytochrome c oxidase subunit VIIa, named COX7RP (cytochromec oxidase subunit VII-related protein). The cDNA associated with EB9 is homologous only to an express sequence tag and was named EBAG9 (estrogen receptor-binding fragment-associated gene 9). The palindromic ERE of EB1 is located in an intron of COX7RP, and that of EB9 is in the 5′ upstream region of the cDNA. Both EREs had significant estrogen-dependent enhancer activities in a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assay, when they were inserted into the 5′ upstream region of the chicken β-globin promoter. We therefore propose that the CpG-GBS method described here for isolation of the DNA binding site from the CpG island library would be useful for identification of novel target genes of certain transcription factors.
Induction and relief of nasal congestion in ferrets infected with influenza virus.

Susceptible ferrets intranasally infected with influenza virus consistently responded with maximal nasal secretion of virus, febrile reaction, and influx of inflammatory cells into nasal lumen on day 2 post infection (d.p.i.). Polymorphonuclear leucocytes were the earliest predominant cell, followed by monocytes/macrophages while lymphocytes were maintained as a minor population throughout the 7-day period. Nasal congestion level, continuously monitored by computer aided active anterior rhinomanometry, was reproducibly maximal at 2 d.p.i. , diminished in intensity the next day and returned to the basal level within 7 d.p.i. Nasal congestion was effectively relieved by a single intranasal dose of 0.1% oxymetazoline or 0.2% phenylephrine, or a single intragastric administration of pseudoephedrine. Intranasal delivery of a single dose of 1% pyrilamine relieved nasal congestion while 0.8% ipratropium bromide and 30% cimetidine were ineffective. These results suggested that nasal congestion is regulated by alpha-adrenergic receptors in the mucosal vasculature or by H1 histamine receptor, but is unaffected by inhibitors of nasal secretion regulated by the cholinergic nervous system. The present study indicates that the infectious rhinitis ferret model provides a reproducible nasal congestion pattern that can be objectively measured by a refined active anterior rhinomanometric system. This labour intensive measurement, however, makes it difficult either to conduct a large population animal study or to use it for a rapid throughput screening of new drugs. The temporal relation between the influx of inflammatory cells into the nasal lumen and the onset of nasal congestion underlies the model's relevance to the exploration of the pathogenic mechanism(s) during viral rhinitis.
Immigrant generation and diabetes risk among Mexican Americans: the Sacramento area Latino study on aging.

OBJECTIVES We examined whether acculturation and immigrant generation, a marker for assimilation, are associated with diabetes risk in an aging Mexican-origin population. METHODS We analyzed data on 1789 adults aged 60 to 101 years from the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging. We ascertained type 2 diabetes on the basis of diabetic medication use, self-report of physician diagnosis, or a fasting glucose of 126 milligrams/deciliter or greater. Logistic regression modeled prevalent diabetes. RESULTS Adjusting for age and gender, we observed significant but divergent associations between immigrant generation, acculturation, and diabetes risk. Relative to first-generation adults, second-generation adults had an odds ratio (OR) of 1.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.4, 2.4) and third-generation adults had an OR of 2.1 (95% CI = 1.4, 3.1) of having diabetes. Greater US acculturation, however, was associated with a slightly decreased diabetes rate. In the full model adjusting for socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, the association between generation (but not acculturation) and diabetes remained significant. CONCLUSIONS Our study lends support to the previously contested notion that assimilation is associated with an increased diabetes risk in Mexican immigrants. Researchers should examine the presence of a causal link between assimilation and health more closely.
The Biologically Relevant Targets and Binding Affinity Requirements for the Function of the Yeast Actin-Binding Protein 1 Src-Homology 3 Domain Vary With Genetic Context

Many protein–protein interaction domains bind to multiple targets. However, little is known about how the interactions of a single domain with many proteins are controlled and modulated under varying cellular conditions. In this study, we investigated the in vivo effects of Abp1p SH3 domain mutants that incrementally reduce target-binding affinity in four different yeast mutant backgrounds in which Abp1p activity is essential for growth. Although the severity of the phenotypic defects observed generally increased as binding affinity was reduced, some genetic backgrounds (prk1Δ and sla1Δ) tolerated large affinity reductions while others (sac6Δ and sla2Δ) were much more sensitive to these reductions. To elucidate the mechanisms behind these observations, we determined that Ark1p is the most important Abp1p SH3 domain interactor in prk1Δ cells, but that interactions with multiple targets, including Ark1p and Scp1p, are required in the sac6Δ background. We establish that the Abp1p SH3 domain makes different, functionally important interactions under different genetic conditions, and these changes in function are reflected by changes in the binding affinity requirement of the domain. These data provide the first evidence of biological relevance for any Abp1p SH3 domain-mediated interaction. We also find that considerable reductions in binding affinity are tolerated by the cell with little effect on growth rate, even when the actin cytoskeletal morphology is significantly perturbed.
Composite Likelihood Modeling of Neighboring Site Correlations of DNA Sequence Substitution Rates

Sequence data from a series of homologous DNA segments from related organisms are typically polymorphic at many sites, and these polymorphisms are the result of evolutionary processes. Such data may be used to estimate the substitution rates as well as the variability of these rates. Careful characterization of the distribution of this variation is essential for accurate estimation of evolutionary distances and phylogeny reconstruction among these sequences. Many researchers have recognized the importance of the variability of substitution rates, which most have modeled using a discrete gamma distribution. Some have extended these methods to explicitly account for the correlation of substitution rates among sites using hidden Markov models; others have proposed context-dependent substitution rate schemes. We accommodate these correlations using a composite likelihood method based on a bivariate gamma distribution, which is more flexible than hidden Markov models in terms of correlation structure and more computationally tractable compared to the context-dependent schemes. We show that the estimates have good theoretical properties. We also use simulations to compare the maximum composite likelihood estimates to those obtained from maximum likelihood based on the independence assumption. We use data from the mitochondrial DNA of ten primates to obtain maximum composite likelihood estimates of the mean substitution rate, overdispersion, and correlation parameters, and use these estimates in a parametric phylogenetic bootstrap to assess the impact of serial correlation on the estimates of substitution rates and branch lengths.
Organization of cerebral cortical afferent systems in the rat. II. Magnocellular basal nucleus

The organization of the magnocellular basal nucleus (MBN) projection to cerebral cortex in the rat has been studied by using cytoarchitectonic, immunohistochemical, and retrograde and anterograde transport methods. The distribution of retrogradely labeled basal forebrain neurons after cortical injections of wheat germ agglutinin‐horseradish peroxidase conjugate was essentially identical to that of neurons staining immunohistochemically for choline acetyltransferase. These large (20–30 μm perikaryon diameter) multipolar neurons were found scattered through a number of basal forebrain cell groups: medial septal nucleus, nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca, magnocellular preoptic nucleus, substantia innominata, and globus pallidus. This peculiar distribution mimics the locations of pathways by which descending cortical fibers enter the diencephalon. Each cortical area was innervated by a characteristic subset of MBN neurons, always located in close association with descending cortical fibers. In many instances anterogradely labeled descending cortical fibers appeared to ramify into diffuse terminal fields among MBN neurons which were retrogradely labeled by the same cortical injection. Double label experiments using retrograde transport of fluorescent dyes confirmed that MBN neurons innervate restricted cortical fields.
Appending active contour model on digital panoramic dental X-rays images for segmentation of maxillofacial region

Jawbone cysts of maxillofacial region are a major issue of concern for health care providers. Management of these lesions is predominantly bogged by recurrence. Cystic lesions if not treated early may lead to the formation of tumors. Cysts affecting jawbone can be detected by radiographic examination using orthopantomograms (OPG) commonly referred as panoramic dental x-rays. Orthopantomograms are turned to be cost effective and most preliminary step taken for scanning any dental anomalies. The dental panoramic images obtained with orthopantomograms are degraded by noise and poor visualization. An efficient computer aided diagnosis is much essential for segmentation of cysts/lesions from the panoramic images for its early detection. Segmentation of cyst/ lesion plays a crucial part in the diagnosis as most of the times cystic region is not defined by a proper boundary. Oftenly, the radiologist is supposed to mark manually to extract the region of cysts. Hence in this paper, a segmentation algorithm based on active contour model (ACM) is proposed for segmentation of cystic lesion and extracting the area of cysts to study the behavior of cyst formation. This could assist radiologist/dentist in diagnosis and treatment planning of the jawbone cysts.
Innate recognition of bacteria by a macrophage cytosolic surveillance pathway

Host recognition of bacterial pathogens is a critical component of the immune response. Intracellular bacterial pathogens are able to evade the humoral immune system by residing within the host cell. Here we show the existence of an innate host surveillance mechanism in macrophages that specifically distinguishes bacteria in the cytosol from bacteria in the vacuole. Recognition of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial products by this surveillance system results in transcription of the ifnb gene. The activation of cytosol-specific signaling is associated with translocation of NF-κB into the nucleus and phosphorylation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. Activation of the p38 kinase is required for the induction of gene expression by the cytosolic surveillance pathway. Our studies suggest that infection by intracellular bacterial pathogens results in an immune response distinct from that of infection by extracellular bacterial pathogens.
[Determination of the blood ascorbic acid level after administration of slow-release vitamin C].

PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to test the effects of a slow releasing form of vitamin C in smokers, because the single high dose previously proposed for smokers gave a transient increase of plasma ascorbate, being rapidly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and is rapidly excreted with urine. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a double-blind placebo-controlled study 18 subjects received both Vitamin C (C-test) and placebo (P-test) in two different periods. During the test-day the subject followed a controlled diet and food Intake was assessed by semiquantitative questionnaire. Peripheral blood sample were collected in fasting conditions, in the morning, before and after 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours from the treatment. Blood sample was collected into EDTA-containing tubes, immediately centrifuged and treated for ascorbate determination, and stored at -70 degrees C until chromatographic analysis. RESULTS Smokers and nonsmokers were similar for age, height, weight, BMI and for vegetable and fruit consumption. Ascorbic acid level was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the references level in all subjects, however there were no differences between smokers and non smokers plasma ascorbate concentration increased significantly at T1, T2 and T3 respect to T0 during C test (p < 0.005), whenever remaining higher than T0 was not still significant in T4. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that a slow releasing form of Vitamin C could be useful in clinical pharmacology to increase and to maintain to a constant rate ascorbate level, both in smokers and non smokers with a single daily administration.