Impacts of Oil Exposure During Early Life Development Stages In Sheepshead Minnows (\u3ci\u3eCyprinodon variegatus\u3c/i\u3e) Under Different Environmental Factors

The release of approximately 5 million barrels of crude oil into the northern Gulf of Mexico during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill jeopardized estuarine ecosystem health from Texas to Florida. These estuarine habitats, which serve as nurseries for many important fisheries are also prone to rapid fluctuations in environmental stressors such as oxygen concentration, and salinity. The consequence of combined exposure to crude oil and suboptimal environmental factors during early life stage development of fish is still largely unknown. The objective of this project was to investigate the impacts of exposure to crude oil in combination with varying environmental stressors on Cyprinodon variegatus survival, gene expression, and genotoxicity. The post-larval developmental stage was the most sensitive early life stage to oil and abiotic stress. Median lethal concentrations during the post-larval exposures followed a treatment dependent pattern with the greatest lethal effect seen under hypoxic-high salinity conditions (64.55 µg/L ± 12.81). Real-time PCR analysis identified down-regulation of cyp1a1, epo, and arnt1, target genes involved in the two common defense pathways, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling pathway which modulates metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and the hypoxia inducible 1-α signaling pathway which is responsible for resilience to hypoxic stress, this was only observed under hypoxic-high salinity environmental conditions in treatments with PAH concentrations greater than 226 µg/L. Top toxicological functions impacted during post-larval development in all treatment comparisons included cholesterol biosynthesis, cardiotoxicity, and hepatoxicity. These findings indicate that the post-larval stage is the most sensitive to oil and environmental stress

Reducing Digestible Tidbits from Meaty Stock: Satisfying Varied Tastes with an Attractive Instructional Assessment Menu

Do you collect streams of data that never see the light of day? Libraries are more frequently being held accountable for metrics via scorecards, dashboards, and other short snapshots of performance. Information Literacy practitioners have meanwhile moved away from tick-marks to a learning outcome assessment culture. This means that the full array of evaluative, formative and summative approaches-- competencies, tests, self-reports and rubrics-- can leave new librarians\u27 heads spinning. Learning outcomes data are hard to wrangle, let alone, in a digestible format, but fresh assessment approaches can fully illustrate the benefits of our varied media and modes of instruction. Instead of underreporting our value, we must reconcile decision-makers\u27 needs with instructional best practices. The presenters are assessment enthusiasts, not assessment professionals, so this session will be highly accessible, and the presenters will encourage audience members to share their expertise. The session will gauge the audience\u27s vocabulary and skills regarding assessment culture. It will apprise practitioners of the challenges of educational media assessment and introduce new technologies for visualizing and compiling data. It will also provide practical examples from Capella Library\u27s assessment strategy. Session presenters come from a higher education for-profit setting. They bring the value of Information Literacy to the forefront in an intensely results-driven environment. Capella University Library has engineered a holistic reporting strategy through a living information literacy plan that draws from a plethora of data pipelines. Capella University is an invited member of the Presidents\u27 Alliance for Excellence in Student Learning & Accountability

Exposure to Oil and Hypoxia Results In Alterations of Immune Transcriptional Patterns In Developing Sheepshead Minnows (\u3ci\u3eCyprinodon variegatus\u3c/i\u3e)

The area and timing of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill highlight the need to study oil and hypoxia exposure in early life stage fishes. Though critical to health, little research has targeted the effect of oil and hypoxia exposure on developing immune systems. To this end, we exposed sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) at three early life stages: embryonic; post-hatch; and post-larval, to a high energy water accommodated fraction (HEWAF) of oil, hypoxia, or both for 48 hours. We performed RNAseq to understand how exposures alter expression of immune transcripts and pathways. Under control conditions, the embryonic to post-hatch comparison (first transition) had a greater number of significantly regulated immune pathways than the second transition (post-hatch to post-larval). The addition of oil had little effect in the first transition, however, hypoxia elicited changes in cellular and humoral immune responses. In the second transition, oil exposure significantly altered many immune pathways (43), and while hypoxia altered few pathways, it did induce a unique signature of generally suppressing immune pathways. These data suggest that timing of exposure to oil and/or hypoxia matters, and underscores the need to further investigate the impacts of multiple stressors on immune system development in early life stage fishes

A case study of an individual participant data meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy showed that prediction regions represented heterogeneity well

The diagnostic accuracy of a screening tool is often characterized by its sensitivity and specificity. An analysis of these measures must consider their intrinsic correlation. In the context of an individual participant data meta-analysis, heterogeneity is one of the main components of the analysis. When using a random-effects meta-analytic model, prediction regions provide deeper insight into the effect of heterogeneity on the variability of estimated accuracy measures across the entire studied population, not just the average. This study aimed to investigate heterogeneity via prediction regions in an individual participant data meta-analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for screening to detect major depression. From the total number of studies in the pool, four dates were selected containing roughly 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the total number of participants. A bivariate random-effects model was fitted to studies up to and including each of these dates to jointly estimate sensitivity and specificity. Two-dimensional prediction regions were plotted in ROC-space. Subgroup analyses were carried out on sex and age, regardless of the date of the study. The dataset comprised 17,436 participants from 58 primary studies of which 2322 (13.3%) presented cases of major depression. Point estimates of sensitivity and specificity did not differ importantly as more studies were added to the model. However, correlation of the measures increased. As expected, standard errors of the logit pooled TPR and FPR consistently decreased as more studies were used, while standard deviations of the random-effects did not decrease monotonically. Subgroup analysis by sex did not reveal important contributions for observed heterogeneity; however, the shape of the prediction regions differed. Subgroup analysis by age did not reveal meaningful contributions to the heterogeneity and the prediction regions were similar in shape. Prediction intervals and regions reveal previously unseen trends in a dataset. In the context of a meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy, prediction regions can display the range of accuracy measures in different populations and settings

Accuracy of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for screening to detect major depression: individual participant data meta-analysis

Objective: To determine the accuracy of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for screening to detect major depression. Design: Individual participant data meta-analysis. Data sources: Medline, Medline In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, PsycINFO, and Web of Science (January 2000-February 2015). Inclusion criteria: Eligible studies compared PHQ-9 scores with major depression diagnoses from validated diagnostic interviews. Primary study data and study level data extracted from primary reports were synthesized. For PHQ-9 cut-off scores 5-15, bivariate random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate pooled sensitivity and specificity, separately, among studies that used semistructured diagnostic interviews, which are designed for administration by clinicians; fully structured interviews, which are designed for lay administration; and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric (MINI) diagnostic interviews, a brief fully structured interview. Sensitivity and specificity were examined among participant subgroups and, separately, using meta-regression, considering all subgroup variables in a single model. Results: Data were obtained for 58 of 72 eligible studies (total n=17 357; major depression cases n=2312). Combined sensitivity and specificity was maximized at a cut-off score of 10 or above among studies using a semistructured interview (29 studies, 6725 participants; sensitivity 0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.83 to 0.92; specificity 0.85, 0.82 to 0.88). Across cut-off scores 5-15, sensitivity with semistructured interviews was 5-22% higher than for fully structured interviews (MINI excluded; 14 studies, 7680 participants) and 2-15% higher than for the MINI (15 studies, 2952 participants). Specificity was similar across diagnostic interviews. The PHQ-9 seems to be similarly sensitive but may be less specific for younger patients than for older patients; a cut-off score of 10 or above can be used regardless of age.. Conclusions: PHQ-9 sensitivity compared with semistructured diagnostic interviews was greater than in previous conventional meta-analyses that combined reference standards. A cut-off score of 10 or above maximized combined sensitivity and specificity overall and for subgroups. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42014010673

Probability of major depression diagnostic classification using semi-structured vs. fully structured diagnostic interviews

Background: Different diagnostic interviews are used as reference standards for major depression classification in research. Semi-structured interviews involve clinical judgement, whereas fully structured interviews are completely scripted. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), a brief fully structured interview, is also sometimes used. It is not known whether interview method is associated with probability of major depression classification. Aims: To evaluate the association between interview method and odds of major depression classification, controlling for depressive symptom scores and participant characteristics. Method: Data collected for an individual participant data meta-analysis of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) diagnostic accuracy were analyzed. Binomial Generalized Linear Mixed Models were fit. Results: 17,158 participants (2,287 major depression cases) from 57 primary studies were analyzed. Among fully structured interviews, odds of major depression were higher for the MINI compared to the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) [OR (95% CI) = 2.10 (1.15-3.87)]. Compared to semi-structured interviews, fully structured interviews (MINI excluded) were non-significantly more likely to classify participants with low-level depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 scores 6) as having major depression [OR (95% CI) = 3.13 (0.98-10.00)], similarly likely for moderate-level symptoms (PHQ-9 scores 7-15) [OR (95% CI) = 0.96 (0.56-1.66)], and significantly less likely for high-level symptoms (PHQ-9 scores 16) [OR (95% CI) = 0.50 (0.26-0.97)]. Conclusions: The MINI may identify more depressed cases than the CIDI, and semi- and fully structured interviews may not be interchangeable methods, but these results should be replicated

United States Marine Corps cost reduction and the Joint Battle Command Platform

The Department of Defense and the United States Marine Corps are under increased pressure to reduce costs and expenditures in response to the austere financial environment. Marine Corps information technology (IT) programs are in jeopardy due to budget shortfalls, which may result in reduced military capability. The purpose of this study is to test the theory of vicious business cycles, which relates cost reduction to return on investment for the Joint Battle Command Platform. The Joint Battle Command Platform is an Acquisition Category II program of record designed to meet joint requirements for a common C2/SA system between the Army and Marine Corps. In an attempt to achieve cost savings, the JBC-P has undergone several cost reduction initiatives. Using several value metrics to measure the impact of cost reductions on the capability provided by the program, this study determines that cost reductions do reduce the value of the military capability provided by the program. These reductions could be an indication of a vicious cycle. Identifying the occurrence of vicious business cycles in IT programs will allow decision makers to more effectively cut costs without reducing military capability.http://archive.org/details/unitedstatesmari1094537718Captain, United States Marine CorpsApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Anxiety and Depression in Older Adult Public Housing Residents: Prevalence, Correlates, and Implications for Care

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Rochester. School of Medicine & Dentistry. Dept. of Community and Preventive Medicine, 2011.Background: Anxiety and depression in socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults are frequently unrecognized and untreated. There is a great need for new cost-effective community programs that improve detection and treatment of these late-life mental illnesses. Older adult public housing high-rises are a promising venue to develop and test such programs due to the high concentration of older adults with many risk factors for mental illness. Few studies, however, have taken advantage of the potential opportunities these high-rises offer. Further work is needed to characterize anxiety, depression, mental health needs, and service utilization patterns in this population. Research Aims: This dissertation examined anxiety and depression in older adult residents of public housing high-rises. The objectives of Aim 1 were to estimate the prevalence of syndromal and subsyndromal anxiety and depression, characterize mental health care need, and identify the correlates of anxiety and depression symptom severity. We hypothesized that most residents with mental health care need are not receiving mental health care. The objectives of Aim 2 were to examine the association of anxiety and depression symptom severity with utilization of onsite service coordinator, health, human, and informal services after accounting for predisposing and enabling factors. We hypothesized that mental illness symptom severity is positively correlated with utilization of onsite service coordinator, health, human, and informal services. Study Design: The Rochester Housing Authority has four older adult public housing high-rises in Rochester, NY. In this setting, we conducted a two-phase cross-sectional psychiatric epidemiology study. During the first phase, all residents living in the older adult high-rises received a brief general health questionnaire. We assisted residents in completing the questionnaire because illiteracy may have been a barrier for some. On the questionnaire residents elected whether to participate in the second phase interview. All English-speaking residents aged 60 years and older with capacity to provide informed consent were eligible for the second phase. This second phase consisted of an in-depth, in-person interview that assessed anxiety and depression in the context of the Social Precursor Model. The Social Precursor Model characterized the relationship of psychopathology with participants’ demographics, early and current achievement, social integration, vulnerability/protective factors, life events, and coping methods. Participants’ use of services was determined by self-report and review of the onsite service coordinator records. Anxiety and depression were evaluated categorically (i.e., syndromal and subsyndromal conditions) and dimensionally (i.e., symptom severity). We used the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV to diagnostically assess anxiety and depression, as well as brief survey scales to measure anxiety and depression symptom severity. Descriptive analyzes and multivariable regression modeling addressed our aims. Results: Phase 1 had 358 participants (65% response) and Phase 2 had 190 participants (62% response among non-Hispanic English-speaking residents). Participation was higher in African Americans, but lower in Hispanic residents. Interview participants had a median age of 66 years, and 58% were female, 80% were black, and 92% lived alone. Thirty-nine (21%) residents had syndromal (n = 33; 17%) or subsyndromal (n = 6; 3%) anxiety. Twenty-eight (15%) residents had syndromal (n = 12; 6%) or subsyndromal (n = 16; 8%) depression. In total, 48 (25%) residents were experiencing a syndromal and/or subsyndromal condition (Aim 1.1). Anxiety and depression severity correlates overlapped considerably and spanned the six stages of the Social Precursor Model. In linear regression analyses, anxiety and depression correlates included age, medical comorbidity, mobility, social support, coping, and recent life events severity; Hispanic ethnicity was an anxiety, but not a depression correlate (Aim 1.2). Of the 59 (31%) residents with mental health care need, 32 (54%) were not receiving mental health care (Aim 1.3). In multivariable regression analyses accounting for predisposing and enabling factors, anxiety and depression symptom severity were associated with utilization of health, human, and informal services, but not onsite service coordinator utilization (Aim 2). Conclusions: To our knowledge, this dissertation is the first to examine subsyndromal anxiety and depression in older adult public housing residents and to conduct an in-depth analysis of the association of anxiety and depression with services utilization. Partial replication of previous research on syndromal psychiatric disorder prevalence, correlates, and mental health care need in this setting is an additional contribution. Findings from this dissertation improve our understanding of the mental health burden and may be instrumental in providing guidance to future interventions in this high-need community