Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal association of initiation/perseveration and severity of geriatric depression.

OBJECTIVE Many older adults with major depression (MDD) present with impairment in initiation and perseveration (IP) tests. However, it remains unclear how these abnormalities change during the course of depression. METHODS The authors studied the longitudinal covariation of depression severity and IP functioning in 157 depressed older adults with MDD. Patients with and without baseline IP impairment were studied on three occasions over 1 year. RESULTS Depression severity was associated with concurrent IP scores; however, despite IP improvement, those with impaired baseline IP functioning did not reach the level of their non-impaired counterparts. CONCLUSION The persistence of IP abnormalities suggests that these patients require careful treatment planning and follow-up, given that earlier studies noted an association of abnormal IP with disability and poor outcomes of depression treatment.
Executive functioning-related brain abnormalities associated with the genetic liability for schizophrenia: an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis

Background Relatives of schizophrenia patients demonstrate abnormalities in prefrontal cortical activation during executive processing as measured by functional neuroimaging, albeit not consistently. A meta-analysis was conducted to determine whether reliable patterns of brain hypo- and hyperactivity, especially in the middle frontal region, were present in the relatives of patients. Method Seventeen studies, containing 18 samples of relatives and controls, were included in this meta-analysis. Studies were included if relatives of schizophrenia patients were compared to controls, an executive processing task was used, and standard space coordinates were reported for the functional activations. Activation likelihood estimation (ALE) was implemented to find convergence across functional neuroimaging experiment coordinates. A separate analysis was conducted to assess the potential impact of a priori hypothesis testing used in region-of-interest (ROI) approaches on the meta-analysis results. Results Relatives demonstrated hypo- and hyperactivity in statistically overlapping right middle frontal regions [Brodmann area (BA) 9/10]. Use of an ROI analysis that a priori focused on prefrontal regions resulted in more findings of reduced activity in the middle frontal region. Conclusions The cortical regions identified by this meta-analysis could potentially serve as intermediate biological markers in the search for candidate genes for schizophrenia. As neurocognitive deficits are related to functional impairments in patients, a better understanding of neural and genetic vulnerabilities would be beneficial in our efforts to remediate these important deficits.
Control of a Mucosal Challenge and Prevention of AIDS by a Multiprotein DNA/MVA Vaccine

Heterologous prime/boost regimens have the potential for raising high levels of immune responses. Here we report that DNA priming followed by a recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara (rMVA) booster controlled a highly pathogenic immunodeficiency virus challenge in a rhesus macaque model. Both the DNA and rMVA components of the vaccine expressed multiple immunodeficiency virus proteins. Two DNA inoculations at 0 and 8 weeks and a single rMVA booster at 24 weeks effectively controlled an intrarectal challenge administered 7 months after the booster. These findings provide hope that a relatively simple multiprotein DNA/MVA vaccine can help to control the acquired immune deficiency syndrome epidemic.
Psychological and behavioral implications of abnormal mammograms.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate women's psychological responses to abnormal mammograms and the effect on mammography adherence. To identify psychological responses and other factors that predict mammography adherence in women with normal or abnormal mammograms. DESIGN Survey study with prospective analysis of factors associated with mammography adherence. SETTING Health Maintenance Organization of Pennsylvania and New Jersey (HMO PA/NJ). PATIENTS Study patients, members of HMO PA/NJ who were 50 years of age or older, and who had had mammography done 3 months earlier, included women with normal mammograms (n = 121), women with low-suspicion mammograms (n = 119), and women with high-suspicion mammograms (n = 68), but not women with breast cancer. MEASUREMENTS Psychological responses 3 months after mammography and adherence to subsequent annual mammography were assessed. MAIN RESULTS Women with high-suspicion mammograms had substantial mammography-related anxiety (47%) and worries about breast cancer (41%). Such worries affected the moods (26%) and daily functioning (17%) of these women, despite diagnostic evaluation excluding malignancy. For each variable, a consistent trend (P greater than 0.05) was seen with degree of mammogram abnormality. Sixty-eight percent of women with normal results, 78% of women with low-suspicion results, and 74% of women with high-suspicion results obtained their subsequent annual mammograms (P greater than 0.05). The number of previous mammograms (odds ratio, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.6 to 6.2) and the effect of the previous results on concerns about breast cancer (odds ratio, 0.5; CI, 0.2 to 1.0) were independent predictors of adherence in logistic regression analyses (P less than 0.05). CONCLUSIONS A substantial proportion of women with suspicious mammograms have psychological difficulties, even after learning that they do not have cancer. Such sequelae do not appear to interfere with subsequent adherence.
The impact of import prices on inflation in the euro area

We study low consumer price inflation in the euro area between 2013 and the third quarter of 2016, before its recent increase due to higher energy prices. Two main factors identified in Rue de la Banque No. 6 have continued to contribute roughly equally to low headline inflation up to 2015: imported inflation and domestic slack (output gap). Since 2015, the downward pressure from lower import prices has increased while that from domestic slack has eased noticeably. Focusing on consumer prices of manufactured goods, we find that the pass-through of import prices of manufactured goods is almost complete after a period of six quarters. Import prices of manufactured goods explain a significant part of the 2013-2015 weakness and the subsequent recovery of manufactured goods consumer price inflation.
Characterization of bovine immunodeficiency virus rev cDNAs and identification and subcellular localization of the Rev protein

One of the six putative accessory genes of bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) is similar to those identified as rev in the human immunodeficiency virus and visna virus genomes. To further analyze the BIV rev gene locus, protein, and function, rev cDNAs were cloned and characterized. BIV rev mRNA is derived from the full-length transcript by multiple splicing events and consists of three exons, including the untranslated leader sequence and two coding exons. BIV rev cDNA was expressed in bacteria and in a mammalian in vitro translation expression system. A 23-kDa Rev protein (p23rev) was immunologically detected in lysates from both systems by using an antiserum made to a synthetic Rev peptide. Recombinant p23rev made in bacteria was purified and used to make a polyvalent antiserum. Antisera to Rev peptide and recombinant p23rev immunoprecipitated p23rev from BIV-infected mammalian cells but not from virions. A mammalian expression vector using the BIV rev cDNA was constructed; p23rev was immunoprecipitated with anti-Rev serum from 32P-labeled lysates of monkey cells transfected with this plasmid, demonstrating that BIV Rev is phosphorylated. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy with anti-BIV Rev antisera localized Rev in the nucleus and, particularly, in the nucleoli of BIV-infected cells. In functional studies, the expression of BIV Rev was shown to positively regulate the appearance both of Gag protein, which is translated from the unspliced primary viral transcript, and of singly spliced env mRNA but not that of the multiply spliced tat mRNA. These results demonstrate that BIV Rev activity correlates with the known function of lentivirus Rev proteins.
Effect of epilepsy, seizures and epileptiform EEG discharges on cognitive function

Patients with an established diagnosis of epilepsy were included in three groups on the basis of the absence (Group 2) or presence (Group 3) of epileptiform EEG discharges or subtle seizures (Group 4) during the cognitive assessment procedure. A separate age‐matched non‐epileptic control group (Group 1) was formed. Twenty‐five patients were included in each of the four groups. Thus, a total of 100 patients were investigated. The patients were assessed with continuous 21‐channel EEG and video‐monitoring, combined with cognitive testing. The results show consistently lower performance on cognitive tests for Group 4, the group with subtle seizures. The difference with the control group was significant for the intelligence subtests and for the complex information processing test (p<0.05). No transient cognitive impairment was found. The results are discussed in the light of possible factors that may be responsible for the lower test‐scores in the patients of Group 4: both the ictal effects of the seizures themselves, postictal effects and the effects of the epileptiform EEG discharges may have had an impact on cognitive performance. Finally the absence of evidence for transient cognitive impairment in a group with frequent epileptiform EEG discharges is discussed in detail.
Distribution and development of β‐adrenergic receptors in the rat olfactory bulb

Beta‐adrenergic stimulation appears to be involved in the establishment of both learned olfactory preferences and functional changes in the olfactory bulb of young rats. We examined the postnatal development of beta‐adrenergic receptors within the main olfactory bulb to determine the density and distribution of these receptors. To quantify beta‐adrenergic receptor density, olfactory bulb homogenates from postnatal day (PND) 1, 6, 12, and 19 rats were assessed for receptor binding with 125I‐iodopindolol. In addition, receptor autoradiography was performed with the selective P, antagonist ICI 89,406 and selective β2 antagonist ICI 118,551 on tissue sections from PND 1–30 rats to examine the distribution of the beta‐adrenergic receptor subtypes. We observed both an increase in receptor density with increasing age and the formation of distinct spatial distributions of the two beta receptor subtypes within the bulbar lamina. Beta‐adrenergic receptors were located in both deep and superficial layers of the bulb. Specifically, β1 receptors were present in the granule cell, internal plexiform and glomerular layers. β2 receptors were present in the granule cell, internal plexiform, external plexiform, and glomerular layers. High levels Of β2 receptors also were visible in the meningeal layers between the two bulbs. High densities of β1 and β2 adrenergic receptors were present within different sets of individual glomeruli by PND 12–19, and the number of these foci increased with age. The knowledge of beta‐noradrenergic receptor localization in the bulb may provide the basis for understanding the action of norepinephrine on neural processes in the developing olfactory bulb. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Effects of Workplace Flexibility on Health Behaviors: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analysis

Objective: To examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between workplace flexibility and health behaviors, and estimate the potential importance of flexibility for effective worksite health promotion programs. Method: Cross-sectional and longitudinal health risk appraisal data were obtained from US based employees of a multinational pharmaceutical company (n = 3193). Examined health behaviors were hours of sleep, physical activity frequency, health education seminar attendance, frequency of practicing personal resilience techniques, and self-appraised lifestyle. Self-reported flexibility in the workplace was the primary independent variable. Results: Each health behavior, except regular attendance in health education seminars, was positively related to perceived flexibility in cross-sectional analyses. Sleep and self-appraised lifestyle were significantly related to changes in perceived flexibility over time. Conclusions: Workplace flexibility may contribute to positive lifestyle behaviors, and may play an important role in effective worksite health promotion programs.
Reconstruction of Large Cranial Defects in Nonimmunosuppressed Experimental Design With Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells

The main aim of this study is to evaluate the capacity of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSC), isolated from deciduous teeth, to reconstruct large-sized cranial bone defects in nonimmunosuppressed (NIS) rats. To our knowledge, these cells were not used before in similar experiments. We performed two symmetric full-thickness cranial defects (5 × 8 mm) on each parietal region of eight NIS rats. In six of them, the left side was supplied with collagen membrane only and the right side (RS) with collagen membrane and hDPSC. In two rats, the RS had collagen membrane only and nothing was added at the left side (controls). Cells were used after in vitro characterization as mesenchymal cells. Animals were euthanized at 7, 20, 30, 60, and 120 days postoperatively and cranial tissue samples were taken from the defects for histologic analysis. Analysis of the presence of human cells in the new bone was confirmed by molecular analysis. The hDPSC lineage was positive for the four mesenchymal cell markers tested and showed osteogenic, adipogenic, and myogenic in vitro differentiation. We observed bone formation 1 month after surgery in both sides, but a more mature bone was present in the RS. Human DNA was polymerase chain reaction-amplified only at the RS, indicating that this new bone had human cells. The use of hDPSC in NIS rats did not cause any graft rejection. Our findings suggest that hDPSC is an additional cell resource for correcting large cranial defects in rats and constitutes a promising model for reconstruction of human large cranial defects in craniofacial surgery.
Approximate pricing of European and Barrier claims in a local-stochastic volatility setting

We derive asymptotic expansions for the prices of a variety of European and barrier-style claims in a general local-stochastic volatility setting. Our method combines Taylor series expansions of the diffusion coefficients with an expansion in the correlation parameter between the underlying asset and volatility process. Rigorous accuracy results are provided for European-style claims. For barrier-style claims, we include several numerical examples to illustrate the accuracy and versatility of our approximations.
A study on high-efficiency floating multi-terminal power flow controller for next-generation DC power networks

DC microgrid has been drawing much attention in recent years. In DC microgrid, introduction of renewable energies to demand sides possibly causes power imbalance and reverse power flows on feeders. These problems cause increase of distribution losses and voltage rises in feeders. To overcome these problems, a power flow control method among multiple DC feeders (nodes) is required. We have studied bidirectional power flow controller (BPFC) based on a bidirectional buck-boost converter. It realizes power flow control by intentionally generating voltage difference between two terminals. Furthermore, BPFC has been extended to multi-terminal power flow controller (MTPFC) that realizes power flow control among multiple DC nodes. However, output voltages of BPFC and MTPFC are excessively higher than minimally required voltages for realizing the power flow control. That leads to unnecessary increase of conversion capacity of the circuit, and therefore seriously deteriorates the efficiency. Then, we studied a novel circuit structure, floating bidirectional power flow controller (F-BPFC). F-BPFC outputs the voltage just equal to the minimally required voltage for realizing the power flow control. Therefore, it is able to be implemented with low conversion capacity, and significantly improves the efficiency. In this paper, to realize high-efficiency power flow control among multiple DC nodes, we extend F-BPFC to multi-terminal cases. We call it, floating multi-terminal power flow controller (F-MTPFC). We study the power flow control by using F-MTPFC with introduction of a novel control method. The effectiveness, feasibility, and efficiency of F-MTPFC are validated by experimental studies.
Glutamate Neurotoxicity in Rat Cerebellar Granule Cells: A Major Role for Xanthine Oxidase in Oxygen Radical Formation

Abstract: To gain insight into the mechanism through which the neurotransmitter glutamate causally participates in several neurological diseases, in vitro cultured cerebellar granule cells were exposed to glutamate and oxygen radical production was investigated. To this aim, a novel procedure was developed to detect oxygen radicals; the fluorescent dye 2′,7′‐dichlorofluorescein was used to detect production of peroxides, and a specific search for the possible conversion of the enzyme xanthine dehydrogenase into xanthine oxidase after the excitotoxic glutamate pulse was undertaken. A 100 µM glutamate pulse administered to 7‐day‐old cerebellar granule cells is accompanied by the onset of neuronal death, the appearance of xanthine oxidase, and production of oxygen radicals. Xanthine oxidase activation and superoxide (O2•−) production are completely inhibited by concomitant incubation of glutamate with MK‐801, a specific NMDA receptor antagonist, or by chelation of external calcium with EGTA. Partial inhibition of both cell death and parallel production of reactive oxygen species is achieved with allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, leupeptin, a protease inhibitor, reducing agents such as glutathione or dithiothreitol, antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin C, and externally added superoxide dismutase. It is concluded that glutamate‐triggered, NMDA‐mediated, massive Ca2+ influx induces rapid conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase into xanthine oxidase with subsequent production of reactive oxygen species that most probably have a causal involvement in the initial steps of the series of intracellular events leading to neuronal degeneration and death.
Voronoi networks and their probability of misclassification

Nearest neighbor classifiers that use all the training samples for classification require large memory and demand large online testing computation. To reduce the memory requirements and the computation cost, many algorithms have been developed that perform nearest neighbor classification using only a small number of representative samples obtained from the training set. We call the classification model underlying all these algorithms as Voronoi networks (Vnets), because these algorithms discretize the feature space into Voronoi regions and assign the samples in each region to a class. In this paper we analyze the generalization capabilities of these networks by bounding the generalization error. The class of problems that can be "efficiently" solved by Vnets is characterized by the extent to which the set of points on the decision boundaries fill the feature space, thus quantifying how efficiently a problem can be solved using Vnets. We show that Vnets asymptotically converge to the Bayes classifier with arbitrarily high probability provided the number of representative samples grow slower than the square root of the number of training samples and also give the optimal growth rate of the number of representative samples. We redo the analysis for decision tree (DT) classifiers and compare them with Vnets. The bias/variance dilemma and the curse of dimensionality with respect to Vnets and DTs are also discussed.
Scientific Teaching

Since publication of the AAAS 1989 report "Science for all Americans" (7), commissions, panels, and working groups have agreed that reform in science education should be foimded on "scientific teaching," in which teaching is approached with the same rigor as science at its best (2). Scientific teaching involves active learning strategies to engage students in the process of science and teaching methods that have been systematically tested and shown to reach diverse students (J).
Perioperative factors associated with HCAHPS responses of 2,758 surgical patients.

OBJECTIVE To determine perioperative treatments and events associated with Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey responses. DESIGN Retrospective analysis. SETTING Single tertiary care, academic, urban, level-1 trauma center. PARTICIPANTS Final cohort represents 2,758 consecutive surgical inpatients meeting criteria for evaluation by HCAHPS. EXPOSURES Responses to four HCAHPS questions were compared against 19 perioperative treatments and events. MEASURES Positive and negative responses to HCAHPS questions. RESULTS Patients responding affirmatively with a "9" or "10" to "what number would you use to rate this hospital" were associated with decreased lengths of hospitalization, greater lengths of surgery, decreased intraoperative opioid equianalgesic doses, greater preoperative midazolam doses, shorter post anesthesia care unit (PACU) lengths of stay and decreased last PACU numerical rating scale (NRS) pain scores. Patients responding affirmatively with "yes, definitely" to "would you recommend this hospital to your family" were associated with decreased last PACU NRS pain scores. Patients responding affirmatively with "yes, always" to "How often did the hospital staff do everything to help with your pain" were associated with decreased hospital lengths of stay, decreased chronic benzodiazepine use, greater chronic NSAID use, and decreased PACU lengths of stay. Patients responding affirmatively with "yes, always" to "how often was your pain well controlled" were associated with decreased chronic opioid use, decreased chronic benzodiazepine use, greater chronic NSAID use, increased length of surgery, decreased last PACU NRS pain score, and decreased first PACU NRS pain scores. Subgroup analysis of patients undergoing different types of surgery further characterized factors associated with HCAHPS responses among different surgical populations. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that demographic factors, preadmission medications, and PACU pain scores but not analgesic medications are associated with patient satisfaction with regards to both pain management and overall satisfaction.