An examination of the roles of serologic, geographic, and demographic factors on the recurrence of pertussis in Minnesota

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. May 2021. Major: Epidemiology. Advisor: Shalini Kulasingam. 1 computer file (PDF); vii, 97 pages.Pertussis (whooping cough) is a vaccine-preventable respiratory infection that can occur in all ages and can result in life threatening complications, particularly among infants. Although outbreaks have historically occurred cyclically every 2 to 5 years, recent outbreaks in the United States have been the largest on record since the 1950's despite high vaccination coverage. The effective control of pertussis is complicated by the inability to directly obtain true estimates of incidence and population immunity from surveillance data. Pertussis infections in adults and previously vaccinated children often have a mild presentation, which can result in undetected infections. Additionally, vaccine coverage is not a direct measure of immune status due to imperfect vaccine effectiveness, waning immunity, and natural boosting. Additional data sources and analyses are needed to better understand and ultimately disrupt the epidemic cycle of pertussis. This research (1) tests the feasibility of conducting a pertussis seroprevalence study in the University of Minnesota's Driven to Discover building at the Minnesota State Fair (2) identifies spatial and spatio-temporal clusters of pertussis vaccine exemptions and incidence in Minnesota, and (3) develops a model of pertussis transmission in Minnesota to explore the impact of model parameters on disease dynamics. The ability to predict the occurrence of an outbreak based on serologic, geographic, and/or demographic characteristics of a population may identify opportunities to implement supplementary prevention strategies.Sanstead, Erinn. (2021). An examination of the roles of serologic, geographic, and demographic factors on the recurrence of pertussis in Minnesota. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/223128

Exercise for depression

Background Depression is a common and important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Depression is commonly treated with antidepressants and/or psychotherapy, but some people may prefer alternative approaches such as exercise. There are a number of theoretical reasons why exercise may improve depression. Objectives To determine the effectiveness of exercise in the treatment of depression. Search strategy We searched Medline, Embase, Sports Discus, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for eligible studies in March 2007. In addition, we hand-searched several relevant journals, contacted experts in the field, searched bibliographies of retrieved articles, and performed citation searches of identified studies. We also searched www.controlled-trials.com in May 2008. Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials in which exercise was compared to standard treatment, no treatment or a placebo treatment in adults (aged 18 and over) with depression, as defined by trial authors. We excluded trials of post-natal depression. Data collection and analysis We calculated effect sizes for each trial using Cohen's method and a standardised mean difference (SMD) for the overall pooled effect, using a random effects model. Where trials used a number of different tools to assess depression, we included the main outcome measure only in the meta-analysis. Main results Twenty-eight trials fulfilled our inclusion criteria, of which 25 provided data for meta-analyses. Randomisation was adequately concealed in a minority of studies, most did not use intention to treat analyses and most used self-reported symptoms as outcome measures. For the 23 trials (907 participants) comparing exercise with no treatment or a control intervention, the pooled SMD was -0.82 (95% CI -1.12, -0.51), indicating a large clinical effect. However, when we included only the three trials with adequate allocation concealment and intention to treat analysis and blinded outcome assessment, the pooled SMD was -0.42 (95% CI -0.88, 0.03) i.e. moderate, nonsignificant effect. The effect of exercise was not significantly different from that of cognitive therapy. There was insufficient data to determine risks and costs. Authors' conclusions Exercise seems to improve depressive symptoms in people with a diagnosis of depression, but when only methodologically robust trials are included, the effect sizes are only moderate and not statistically significant. Further, more methodologically robust trials should be performed to obtain more accurate estimates of effect sizes, and to determine risks and costs. Further systematic reviews could be performed to investigate the effect of exercise in people with dysthymia who do not fulfil diagnostic criteria for depression. This review is published as a Cochrane Review in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 1. Cochrane Reviews are regularly updated as new evidence emerges and in response to comments and criticisms, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews should be consulted for the most recent version of the Review.</p

Ultrafast 2D-IR and optical Kerr effect spectroscopy reveal the impact of duplex melting on the structural dynamics of DNA

Changes in the structural and solvation dynamics of a 15mer AT DNA duplex upon melting of the double-helix are observed by a combination of ultrafast two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) and optical Kerr-effect (OKE) spectroscopies. 2D-IR spectroscopy of the vibrational modes of the DNA bases reveal signature off-diagonal peaks arising from coupling and energy transfer across Watson-Crick paired bases that are unique to double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA). Spectral diffusion of specific base vibrational modes report on the structural dynamics of the duplex and the minor groove, which is predicted to contain a spine of hydration. Changes in these dynamics upon melting are assigned to increases in the degree of mobile solvent access to the bases in single-stranded DNA (ss-DNA) relative to the duplex. OKE spectra exhibit peaks that are assigned to specific long-range phonon modes of ds- and ss-DNA. Temperature-related changes in these features correlate well with those obtained from the 2D-IR spectra although the melting temperature of the ds-DNA phonon band is slightly higher than that for the Watson-Crick modes, suggesting that a degree of long-range duplex structure survives the loss of Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding. These results demonstrate that the melting of ds-DNA disrupts helix-specific structural dynamics encompassing length scales ranging from mode delocalisation in the Watson-Crick base pairs to long-range phonon modes that extend over multiple base pairs and which may play a role in molecular recognition of DNA

Governor's Band from Wayne Sanstead (1975)

Lieutenant Governor Wayne G. Sanstead's letter to Bismarck State College Symphonic Winds Director Ervin Ely thanking the Bismarck Junior College Winds for performing at the Inaugural Ceremonies of the Forty-Fourth Legislative Assembly

Old Norwegian Vowel Harmony: A Quantitative Graphemic-Phonological Analysis

The focus of this thesis is a statistically grounded analysis of early 14th century Norwegian sound patterns using an electronically transcribed corpus of thirty-one royal charters written by four named scribes between 1309 A.D. - 1340 A.D. The written language of these medieval documents is highly variable and it has historically been contested to what extent genuine linguistic and grammatical characteristics can be learned from them. In this study, the written words have been collected into a database where the sound patterns have been analyzed, both in correspondence with written and interpreted phonetic patterns. These patterns have then been compared across scribes to reveal broader regularities as well as deviations. Using this method, genuine sound processes and written tendencies have been distinguished. The results of this investigation are shown to be incongruent with current phonological analyses and a potential pattern of Vowel Harmony not otherwise yet attested among the world's harmonic languages has been identified

Investigation of DNA Dehybridization through Steady-State and Transient Temperature-Jump Nonlinear Infrared Spectroscopy

Many of the most important functions performed by nucleic acids are highly dynamic, whether in natural biological roles or in the field of DNA based nanotechnology. Despite a secure understanding of the thermodynamics of hybridization, the kinetics and particularly the dynamics remain less well understood. The fundamental structural transition that underlies much of nucleic acid folding is the formation of base pairs mediated by hydrogen bonding between complementary nucleobases and by stacking interactions with neighboring bases along the strand. To advance our understanding, an experimental approach that possesses both high time resolution and structural sensitivity towards these fundamental interactions is required. The work in this thesis develops a strategy for addressing DNA structural dynamics and hybridization kinetics through steady-state and transient temperature jump (T jump) nonlinear infrared (IR) spectroscopy since the molecular vibrations probed are sensitive to the hydrogen bonding and base stacking interactions that mediate nucleic acid folding. In particular, two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy offers sub picosecond time resolution and enhanced structural sensitivity through cross-peak information that reveals the coupling between nucleobase vibrations. By studying a model set of DNA oligonucleotides in which the placement of guanine-cytosine (GC) base pairs is varied in an otherwise adenine-thymine (AT) sequence, an assembly of IR experimental and analysis methods reveals sequence-dependent variation in the ensemble of hybridized duplex structures. A simple statistical lattice model is developed that provides an intuitive interpretation of the experimental results. Transient T-jump experiments that track the dehybridization of the DNA double helix in real-time between nanoseconds to milliseconds resolve essentially barrierless unzipping dynamics as the terminal base pairs fray as well as activated barrier crossing between the duplex and single strand states. Once validated on studies of model canonical oligonucleotides, the approach developed in the first half of the thesis is applied to investigate naturally occurring non-canonical nucleobases implicated in epigenetic regulation of the mammalian genome. Specifically, modified deoxycytidines that result from methylation of the 5 position of cytosine (mC) followed by successive oxidation of the methyl group to 5-hydroxymethyl- (hmC), 5-formyl- (fC), and 5 carboxyl- (caC) cytosine are involved in the active DNA demethylation cycle, which is central to gene regulation and cellular development. The influence of each of these modified nucleobases on the fundamental biophysical properties of DNA as well as the potential biological implications of such effects remains a topic of ongoing debate. The latter half of the thesis seeks to address some of these unresolved questions. 2D IR measurements reveal that the canonical keto amino tautomeric form predominates for fC and caC under physiological conditions, ruling out the possibility that the formyl and carboxyl groups shift the tautomeric equilibrium and thereby disrupt base pairing. Proposed weakened base pairing in oligonucleotides containing fC and caC is supported by observations of increased acidity at the cytosine N3 hydrogen bond acceptor site as well as altered stability in fC and caC containing duplexes. Finally, the impact of each of the cytosine derivatives on the kinetic barrier to opening modified base pair domains is characterized by T jump measurements, revealing a significant reduction in the dissociation barrier for base pairs involving fC and hmC while both mC and caC show a minor reduction in barrier height relative to canonical C. Possible biological implications of these trends are discussed

THE TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION THROUGH A GRADUATED AEROBIC EXERCISE INTERVENTION

Recently aerobic exercise has been presented as an effective treatment for certain depressed individuals. This study attempted to examine individual responses of depressives to a ten week aerobic exercise intervention. The subjects consisted of 14 women and one man ranging in age from 26 to 53 years, who suffered from mild-moderate depression. In an intensive multiple baseline design, depression was monitored with the Beck Depression Inventory, Profile of Mood States, and Daily Mood Measure over a two week baseline period preceding the exercise intervention. Following the baseline period, subjects met individually with the investigator to devise a graduated aerobic exercise program consisting of walking and/or running. Subjects were allowed to schedule exercise on an individual basis or attend the thrice weekly exercise group. All subjects were instructed to record their exercise activity and their response to the exercise. Each subject was individually interviewed every week to discuss exercise progress and assess level of depression. Subjects were encouraged to gradually increase the intensity and duration of their exercise. All but three subjects completed the study. The quantitative data was graphed and visually analyzed. Although 80% of the subjects showed improvement in their depression, it was difficult to determine the source of this improvement as it began during the baseline period. It was concluded that regular interaction with the investigator and the act of signing up for an exercise study may have positively influenced mood. It was observed that the graduated exercise approach seemed to be associated with minimal study attrition. However, the majority of subjects struggled with exercise maintenance and the observed level of exercise frequency and intensity fell short of investigator expectations. it is apparent that exercise is not the treatment of choice for every individual. However, it is difficult to predict the most suitable candidates for exercise interventions