Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changes in Mood in New Enrollees at a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.

OBJECTIVES To examine changes in mood after nine months of enrollment in a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). DESIGN Cohort study. SETTING Alexian Brothers PACE, St. Louis, Missouri. PARTICIPANTS Newly enrolled patients 55 years of age and older, living in the PACE service area, eligible for nursing facility care and able to live safely in the community, with continuous care, for at least nine months (N = 182). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)-15 score at the pre-admission evaluation (PAE) and the nine-month evaluation (9ME). RESULTS Of the 182 patients evaluated, 27% (n = 49) met the definition of depression as defined by the GDS-15 score of ≥ 6 at the PAE. At the 9ME, only 11% of patients met the depression criteria (P < 0.001). Of the patients who met the criteria for depression at the PAE, 80% of patients (n = 39) no longer met these criteria at the 9ME (P = 0.029). Similar findings were observed by age, gender, and race. Greater improvement was observed among those who were depressed at the PAE; the depressed cohort improved by 5.0 points (P < 0.001) on the GDS-15 scale from the PAE to the 9ME, whereas the nondepressed cohort improved by 0.6 points (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION The use of PACE as an alternative intervention may be a good option to improve mood in older adults.
Editorial: Depression in the Medically Ill: A Common and Serious Disorder

Medical illness, particularly when associated with chronic disability and dependency, causes life changes that present an enormous challenge to the individual. This is especially true for persons with serious illnesses that require frequent outpatient medical visits, repeated acute hospitalizations, or long-term institutionalization. Physical illness threatens life and way of life, causing a complex mixture of fear, frustration, and sometimes, demoralization and hopelessness. Medical illness is often interpreted as a sign of inevitable decline, growing dependency, and perhaps even the first step on the ultimate road to death. The sense of purpose and meaning in life may be lost. The person sees him or herself more and more as a burden on others, and even a burden to their self. With such a mindset, depression rapidly ensues and death may not follow far behind. Rates of depression in certain medical settings approximate 50 percent in some reports, depending on how the diagnosis is made and the type of patient population studied [1, 2]. Medical patients with depression have increased mortality and longer hospital stays [3]. Only a small fraction of these depressions, however, are diagnosed and adequately treated by primary care physicians [4, 5]. The latter is not surprising, however, given the difficulty of depression diagnosis in older persons with multiple medical illnesses that present with signs and symptoms that overlap with depression; given the increasingly limited time that primary care physicians have to address psychological issues; given the questionable effectiveness of available treatments; and given the limited training that physicians receive on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders in medical patients. In this issue of the Journal, a number of articles address the diagnosis and treatment of emotional disorders in medical patients. Wang and colleagues explore the connection between depression and quality of life in individuals with multiple sclerosis, finding that patients with major depression have significantly lower quality of life in multiple domains. Brown and colleagues investigate psychiatric disorders in inner city outpatients with moderate to severe asthma, finding that
Comparative studies of the angiogenic activity of vasoactive intestinal peptide, endothelins‐1 and −3 and angiotensin II in a rat sponge model

1 The angiogenic activity of four vasoactive peptides with a range of vasodilator and vasoconstrictor properties, i.e. vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), endothelin‐1, endothelin‐3 and angiotensin II, were investigated in a rat sponge model. Neovascularization was assessed by the 133Xe clearance technique and confirmed by histological studies. 2 Daily doses of the vasodilator peptide, VIP (1000 pmol), caused intense neovascularization, but a lower dose (10 pmol) produced no apparent effect. However, the lower dose of VIP, when given with a subthreshold dose of interleukin‐1α (0.3 pmol), produced an angiogenic response similar to that seen with the higher dose of VIP. The neovascular response induced by co‐administration of VIP and interleukin‐1α was inhibited by simultaneous administration of 100 pmol VIP (10–28), a specific VIP receptor antagonist. 3 In contrast, daily doses of 10, 100 or 1000 pmol endothelin‐3 (a mixed vasoconstrictor and vasodilator with more marked vasodilator activity) or of 100 or 1000 pmol endothelin‐1 (also with mixed activity but with much more pronounced vasoconstrictor response) produced no apparent effect on sponge‐induced angiogenesis. 4 The vasoconstrictor peptide, angiotensin II, in daily doses of 1000 pmol, caused an intense neovascularization like VIP but lower doses of angiotensin II (10 or 100 pmol) produced no apparent effect. The lowest dose of angiotensin II (10 pmol) when administered with the subthreshold dose of interleukin‐1α (0.3 pmol) had no effect on the basal neovascular response in the sponges. The angiotensin II‐induced neovascular response was inhibited by co‐administration of 100 nmol of the specific AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan, but not by the AT2 receptor antagonist, PD 123319. 5 These data show that VIP and angiotensin II possess angiogenic activity. However, endothelin‐1 and endothelin‐3 had no activity at the doses used. Thus the angiogenic response is not related to local vasoconstriction or vasodilatation in the sponges. The blockade of VIP‐ and angiotensin II‐induced angiogenesis at the receptor level suggests that receptor modulation could provide a strategy for the management of angiogenic diseases.
The Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase SHP-1 Regulates Phagolysosome Biogenesis

The process of phagocytosis and phagosome maturation involves the recruitment of effector proteins that participate in phagosome formation and in the acidification and/or fusion with various endocytic vesicles. In the current study, we investigated the role of the Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP-1) in phagolysosome biogenesis. To this end, we used immortalized bone marrow macrophages derived from SHP-1–deficient motheaten mice and their wild-type littermates. We found that SHP-1 is recruited early and remains present on phagosomes for up to 4 h postphagocytosis. Using confocal immunofluorescence microscopy and Western blot analyses on purified phagosome extracts, we observed an impaired recruitment of lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 in SHP-1–deficient macrophages. Moreover, Western blot analyses revealed that whereas the 51-kDa procathepsin D is recruited to phagosomes, it is not processed into the 46-kDa cathepsin D in the absence of SHP-1, suggesting a defect in acidification. Using the lysosomotropic agent LysoTracker as an indicator of phagosomal pH, we obtained evidence that in the absence of SHP-1, phagosome acidification was impaired. Taken together, these results are consistent with a role for SHP-1 in the regulation of signaling or membrane fusion events involved in phagolysosome biogenesis.
Growth Analysis in Patients with 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency Influence of Glucocorticoid Dosage, Age at Diagnosis, Phenotype and Genotype on Growth and Height Outcome

Objective: To evaluate the impact of hydrocortisone dosage, age at diagnosis, compliance, genotype and phenotype on growth and height outcome in 21-hydroxylase-deficient patients. Methods: We analyzed 37 patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency (17 had completed growth, 20 still growing). Final (FH)/predicted final height (pFH) and loss of height potential related to target height (TH) were calculated and the impact of 4 hydrocortisone (HC) dosage regimens on height outcome and growth velocities was evaluated. Mean FH SDS and pFH SDS were analyzed in accordance to age at diagnosis, compliance, genotype and phenotype. Results: Mean (FH SDS, pFH SDS) was –1.8 ± 1.06 SD, with 35.1% of all 37 patients exhibiting short stature. Doses >20 mg/m2/day during the first year and >15 mg/m2/day during age 1–5 and at puberty resulted in significantly lower FH SDS, pFH SDS and greater height losses. Age at diagnosis, compliance, genotype and phenotype played only a minor role in growth development. Conclusions: Hydrocortisone substitution in 21-hydroxylase-deficient patients should be kept at the lowest efficient level, if possible <20 during the first year and <15 mg/m2/day until age 5 and during puberty. Normal growth and not complete androgen suppression should be aimed for.
Using genetic algorithms in process planning for job shop machining

This paper presents a novel computer-aided process planning model for machined parts to be made in a job shop manufacturing environment. The approach deals with process planning problems in a concurrent manner in generating the entire solution space by considering the multiple decision-making activities, i.e., operation selection, machine selection, setup selection, cutting tool selection, and operations sequencing, simultaneously. Genetic algorithms (GAs) were selected due to their flexible representation scheme. The developed GA is able to achieve a near-optimal process plan through specially designed crossover and mutation operators. Flexible criteria are provided for plan evaluation. This technique was implemented and its performance is illustrated in a case study. A space search method is used for comparison.
A circular Eleven feed with significantly improved aperture efficiency over 1.3–14 GHz

A new decade bandwidth circular Eleven feed for future radio telescope projects has been developed, with a significantly improved BOR1 efficiency (therefore aperture efficiency). This Eleven feed is constructed of “circularly” curved folded dipoles on a flat printed circuit board (PCB), with the aim to make this antenna structure more rotationally symmetrical at a very low manufacture cost. The simulated results show that the BOR1 efficiency of the circular Eleven feed achieves better than -1 dB over a decade bandwidth of 1.3-14 GHz, which is considered as a significant improvement for decade-bandwidth feed technology.
Metabolic effects of hydroxyurea on BHK-21 cells transformed with polyoma virus.

Summary Hydroxyurea interferes with the DNA metabolism of BHK-21 cells transformed by polyoma virus. The syntheses of RNA and proteins are not affected by concentrations of the drug which completely abolish DNA production. Evidence is presented which indicates that the metabolic block in DNA synthesis is not at the enzymic reduction of ribonucleotides to the corresponding deoxyribonucleotides. In BHK-21 cells, hydroxyurethan appears to have an effect similar to that of hydroxyurea. Hydroxylamine on the other hand was not found to be a specific inhibitor of DNA synthesis.
A review of ultrasonic applications in animal science reverberations in echocardiograms

The development of ultrasonic evaluation of animals has uniquely paralleled human diagnostic development because of common problems and accomplishments. It is only natural that a diagnostic method that offers great potential in the medical field should be evaluated for animal application. Researchers in all areas have found that soft tissues exhibit similar acoustical properties whether located in a human or an animal. Animal science workers were initially interested in using ultrasonics to determine the economic value of a meat animal before slaughter. The amount or proportion of fat and lean determines the value of a carcass and an objective measure of these tissues is desirable. This information is helpful for determining the merit of the individual animal for meat, but even more important as a tool for selecting superior breeding stock. The first reported application of ultrasonics in the United States for live animal evaluation was carried out by Temple e t al. (1) at Colorado State University. This study involved the cooperation and suggestions of staff members from the University of Colorado Medical School, Howry and Bliss (2), who had been conducting diagnostic ultrasonic studies on human patients. The researchers at Colorado State University reported using A mode ultrasonic equipment for the measurement of subcutaneous fat thickness at 3, 7 and 11 inches from the backbone over the twelfth rib of 60 cattle. The hair was clipped and shaved from the areas for “sounding” and glycerine was added to insure efficient and continuous transmission of sound waves. After slaughter, measurements of fat thickness were
Predator-Prey Role Reversal in a Marine Benthic Ecosystem

Two closely located islands on the west coast of South Africa support widely different benthic communities. The biota at Malgas Island is dominated by seaweeds and by rock lobsters that consume settling mussels, thereby preventing the establishment of the mussels. They also prey on whelks, although one speces, Burnupena papyracea, is protected from predation by a commensal bryozoan that covers its shell. Marcus Island has extensive mussel beds, but rock lobsters and seaweeds are virtually absent; whelks (mostly Burnupena spp.) occur at high densities. Rock lobsters transferred to Marcus Island were overwhelmed and consumed by the whelks, reversing the normal predatorprey relation between the two species. These two contrasting communities persisted during 4 years and may represent multiple states of the same ecosystem. This effective change of roles between a prey species and its chief predator may provide an intrinsic mechanism to maintain these states following the initial exclusion of the predator.
Efficient across-frequency integration in short-signal detection.

A series of experiments was performed on the influence of bandwidth on the masked threshold of brief deterministic signals in continuous broadband noise. The signal bandwidth is quantified by the number (n) of constituent 1/3-oct bands. For n increasing from 1 to typically 9, the masked-threshold level in the constituent 1/3-oct bands is found to decrease by 8 log(n). This integration rule is obtained when each of the 1/3-oct bands covered by the signal equally contributes to detection, i.e., that, for each of these 1/3-oct bands, the difference between signal level and the individual masked-threshold level is the same. It was found that this integration rule also applies to noncontiguous signal spectra and that it remains intact over a broad range of masker levels. Commonly, the masked threshold of compound signals (for instance, n frequency components with a spacing of typically 1/3 oct), relative to the masked threshold of single-component signals, has been described by a 5 log(n) integration rule. However, this rule was obtained for signal durations of typically 100 ms or more. For the present brief signals (typically 10 ms or less), the across-frequency integration is found to be more effective.
Who directs group movement? Leader effort versus follower preference in stickleback fish of different personality

During collective movement, bolder individuals often emerge as leaders. Here, we investigate whether this reflects a greater propensity of bold individuals to initiate movement, or a preference for shy individuals to follow a bolder leader. We set up trios of stickleback fish comprising a focal individual who was either bold or shy, and one other individual of each personality. We then recorded the movements of all individuals in and out of cover in a foraging context to determine how assiduously the focal fish followed the movements of each other partner. We found that a shy focal fish preferred to follow a leader whose personality matched its own, but we did not detect such a difference in bold fish. Despite this preference, however, the greater propensity of bold individuals to initiate movements out of cover meant that they successfully led more joint trips. Thus, when offered a choice of leaders, sticklebacks prefer to follow individuals whose personality matches their own, but bolder individuals may, nevertheless, be able to impose their leadership, even among shy followers, simply through greater effort.
Leydig Cells Encapsulation with Alginate-Chitosan: Optimization of Microcapsule Formation

This research aimed to optimize the formation of microcapsules from alginate and chitosan for Leydig cells encapsulation. Alginate was used as the first coating agent while chitosan was the second layer. Various concentrations of alginate and CaCl2 were applied utilizing the extrusion method and the best concentration was determined based on their formation time, shape and diameter of microcapsules. Alginate microcapsule was applied with chitosan in various con- centrations. The best chitosan concentration was selected based on its mechanical stability. The results showed that the minimum concentration of alginate was 1.5% (w/v) with viscosity of 33.8 cPs, resulted to spherical microcapsules with diameters of 230 - 270 μm. The optimum concentration of chitosan as the second coating agent was 0.5% (w/v), resulted to spherical microcapsules with mechanical stability of 4 hours. Leydig cells were trapped inside the microcapsule with a density that is proportional to the concentration of cells used in the encapsulation.
Unique Error Signature of the Four-subunit Yeast DNA Polymerase ϵ*

We have purified wild type and exonuclease-deficient four-subunit DNA polymerase ϵ (Pol ϵ) complex from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and analyzed the fidelity of DNA synthesis by the two enzymes. Wild type Pol ϵ synthesizes DNA accurately, generating single-base substitutions and deletions at average error rates of ≤2 × 10-5 and ≤5 × 10-7, respectively. Pol ϵ lacking 3′ → 5′ exonuclease activity is less accurate to a degree suggesting that wild type Pol ϵ proofreads at least 92% of base substitution errors and at least 99% of frameshift errors made by the polymerase. Surprisingly the base substitution fidelity of exonuclease-deficient Pol ϵ is severalfold lower than that of proofreading-deficient forms of other replicative polymerases. Moreover the spectrum of errors shows a feature not seen with other A, B, C, or X family polymerases: a high proportion of transversions resulting from T·dTTP, T·dCTP, and C·dTTP mispairs. This unique error specificity and amino acid sequence alignments suggest that the structure of the polymerase active site of Pol ϵ differs from those of other B family members. We observed both similarities and differences between the spectrum of substitutions generated by proofreading-deficient Pol ϵ in vitro and substitutions occurring in vivo in a yeast strain defective in Pol ϵ proofreading and DNA mismatch repair. We discuss the implications of these findings for the role of Pol ϵ polymerase activity in DNA replication.
Revisiting the mammographic follow-up of BI-RADS category 3 lesions.

OBJECTIVE Using data collected for one series during 1987-1989 and data collected for another series during 1996, we sought to compare the frequency of and positive predictive value for carcinoma of the breast in nonpalpable, probably benign lesions that had been detected on and followed up with mammography. MATERIALS AND METHODS During 1996, mammography was performed in 18,435 women of whom 544 (3.0%) had lesions assigned to Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 3 for nonpalpable, probably benign lesions. The lesions in the women were assessed as BI-RADS category 3 after the patients had undergone a diagnostic study that included additional imaging, sonography, and a focused physical examination. Patients with BI-RADS category 3 lesions were recommended for mammographic surveillance. A minimum of 2 years of follow-up data was available for 511 patients, our study population. We compared the findings for our study population with those of the previous study. RESULTS Ninety-seven percent of the follow-up mammograms showed stability or regression of the BI-RADS category 3 lesions. Fourteen patients (3%) had nonpalpable interval progression revealed on mammography and underwent biopsy. The breast cancer detection rate in category 3 lesions among the study population was 0.4% (2/511), which was 14% of the patients who had undergone biopsies because of interval progression of the lesions. The pathologic stage of the cancers in these two patients was T1b N0. CONCLUSION Compared with the findings from the 1987-1989 study, the frequency of BI-RADS category 3 lesions has remained stable; patient compliance for follow-up has increased; and the positive predictive value of category 3 lesions for cancer has decreased from 1.7% to 0.4% (p = 0.04).
A simulation model of forage yield, quality and intake and growth of growing cattle grazing cornstalks.

A simulation model was developed to predict corn crop residue yield and quality and intake and performance of growing cattle grazing cornstalks. The model is wholly deterministic and integrates the effects of weather, residue supply and animal components. Low temperatures increase animal energy requirements, whereas snow cover decreases residue available. Residual grain and leaf are calculated from grain yield. Residue quantity and quality are reduced daily by environmental losses and animal consumption. Daily performance is predicted based on the nutrients obtained from residue and supplemental feed. Under unlimited roughage supply, leaf, husk and grain are primary diet components. Grain consumption decreases as the supply diminishes and forage quality decreases with time. Intake is calculated based on digestibility and fecal output = . 0365 W.75. Forage availability affects intake in a curvilinear fashion. Energy gain is predicted by NRC equations and protein gain from metabolizable protein supply. The model underestimated intake of calves measured with chromic oxide and in vitro DM disappearance. Simulated daily gain (y, kg) of calves grazing at several stocking rates was related to observed daily gain (x, kg) by the equation y = . 012 + . 853 x (R2 = .71, Sy.x = .077). The model overestimated response to protein supplementation. Severe cold weather was predicted to reduce gains or cause weight loss due to increased energy requirements for maintenance. The model can be used as an aid in both research planning and cattle management.
The skinny on big box retailing: Wal-Mart, warehouse clubs, and obesity

Research attributes much of the rise in obesity to technological progress reducing the cost of food consumption. We examine this hypothesis in the context of Walmart Supercenters, whose advancements in retail logistics have translated to substantial reductions in food prices. Using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System matched with Walmart Supercenter entry dates and locations, we examine the effects of Supercenters on body mass index (BMI) and obesity. We account for the endogeneity of Walmart Supercenter locations with an instrumental variables approach that exploits the unique geographical pattern of Supercenter expansion around Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. An additional Supercenter per 100,000 residents increases average BMI by 0.25 units and the obesity rate by 2.4 percentage points. These results imply that the proliferation of Walmart Supercenters explains 11% of the rise in obesity since the late 1980s, but the resulting increase in medical expenditures offsets only a small portion of consumers’ savings from shopping at Supercenters.