Depression screening in a women's clinic: Using automated Spanish- and English-language voice recognition.

Clinical depression is frequently unrecognized, even in health care settings. This study (a) reports high levels of major depressive episodes (MDEs) and depressive symptoms in a public sector women's clinic, (b) compares computerized voice recognition with live interviews, and (c) compares Spanish and English versions of the depression-screening instruments. Patients (N?=?104) completed face-to-face interviews and/or computerized voice recognition interviews in counterbalanced order; 38% scored positive for current MDE, and 67% scored positive for lifetime MDE. The mean score on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D) was 22.1 (SD?=?12.1), with 68% scoring 16 or above. No differences were found on either measure between English and Spanish speakers. Overall agreement between computer and live interviews was as follows: κ?=?.82 for both current and lifetime MDE and r?=?.89 for CES-D scores. Kappas between the MDE Screener developed for this study and the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders were .75 for live interviews and .81 for the computerized version. Depression screening with computerized voice recognition methods yielded results comparable with those of live interviews in both English and Spanish. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of Etest to broth microdilution method for testing Streptococcus pneumoniae susceptibility to levofloxacin and three macrolides

When the Etest was compared to broth microdilution for susceptibility testing of Streptococcus pneumoniae, levofloxacin, erythromycin, and penicillin results correlated for both methods; azithromycin and clarithromycin showed discrepancies of > or = 2 dilutions for 95.8% and 31.5% of the isolates, respectively. Levofloxacin was active against 141 of 142 isolates (< or = 2.0 micrograms/ml), making it a potentially useful new fluoroquinolone.     

Practical method for estimating the power and energy delivered by photovoltaic modules operating under non‐standard conditions

This work describes a method developed for estimating the energy delivered by building integrated photovoltaics systems operating under non‐standard conditions of irradiance and temperature. The method is based on calculation of the maximum power (P_Gmax) supplied by the modules array as a function of irradiance and ambient temperature, achieved by simulating its I–V and P–V curves using an algorithm which needs only the performance parameters supplied by the manufacturers. The energy generated by the PV system is estimated from monthly average values of P_Gmax calculated for using monthly average values of ambient temperature and irradiance obtained from data measured during 2 years. The method is applied to crystalline Si modules and tested by comparing the simulated I–V and P–V curves with those obtained by outdoor measurements as well as for comparing the energy produced during the years 2009 and 2010 with a 3.6 kWp building integrated photovoltaics system installed at the Universidad Nacional located in the city of Bogotá, Colombia, at 4°35′ latitude and 2.580 m altitude. The contrast of the simulated I–V and P–V curves for two different types of commercial Si‐modules with those experimentally obtained under real conditions indicated that the simulation method is reliably. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Restarted Iterated Pareto Greedy algorithm for multi-objective flowshop scheduling problems

Multi-objective optimisation problems have seen a large impulse in the last decades. Many new techniques for solving distinct variants of multi-objective problems have been proposed. Production scheduling, as with other operations management fields, is no different. The flowshop problem is among the most widely studied scheduling settings. Recently, the Iterated Greedy methodology for solving the single-objective version of the flowshop problem has produced state-of-the-art results. This paper proposes a new algorithm based on Iterated Greedy technique for solving the multi-objective permutation flowshop problem. This algorithm is characterised by an effective initialisation of the population, management of the Pareto front, and a specially tailored local search, among other things. The proposed multi-objective Iterated Greedy method is shown to outperform other recent approaches in comprehensive computational and statistical tests that comprise a large number of instances with objectives involving makespan, tardiness and flowtime. Lastly, we use a novel graphical tool to compare the performances of stochastic Pareto fronts based on Empirical Attainment Functions.     

Modeling the Combining Site of the Human Asialoglycoprotein Receptor

A model for the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) and combining site of the human asialoglycoprotein (ASGP) receptor has been computed on the basis of the close sequence homology with the mannose-binding lectin (MBP), whose three-dimensional structure in complex with a ligand has been determined by crystallographic methods (Weis, W.I.; Drickamer, K.; Hendrickson, W.A. Nature 1992, 360: 127). Within the limitations of modeling methods, the model is compatible with data on ligand binding of the family C-type lectins, of which the MBP and the ASGP receptor are members. The model derived can serve as a guide for designing site-directed mutagenesis experiments in order to further elucidate the origins of specificity of the ASGP receptor toward galactose. In particular, the model focuses attention on the possible role of position 207 (MBP sequence numbering) in promoting galactose binding.     

Structural models of critical regions in old-type r.c. frames with smooth rebars

Structural assessment of existing reinforced concrete constructions under gravity loads and seismic actions has a high social and economical impact; actually in many European countries, most of the buildings dates back to 1960s and 1970s and cannot ensure satisfactory seismic response, since many areas have been later classified as seismic or since design has been carried out according to obsolete codes. These structures are generally reinforced with smooth bars that exhibit poor bond and need specific anchoring end details. In the present paper, some key aspects of structural models of smooth reinforcement for old-type r.c. frame analysis are reported. Results of experimental tests on smooth reinforcement and circular hook anchoring devices are also used to discuss some aspects of behavioural models of beam to column critical regions.     

Disposal of domestic sludge and sludge ash on volcanic soils

Column leaching experiments were conducted to test the ability of Chilean volcanic soils in retaining the mineral constituents and metals in sewage sludge and sludge ash that were incorporated into the soils. Small or negligible amounts of the total content of Pb, Fe, Cr, Mn, Cd, and Zn (0 to <2%), and more significant amounts of mineral constituents such as Na (7-9%), Ca (7-13%), PO4 (4-10%), and SO4 (39-46%) in the sludge and sludge ash were readily soluble. When they were incorporated on the surface layer of the soils and leached with 12 pore volumes of water over a 3 month period of time, less than 0.1% of the total amount of heavy metals and PO4 in the sludge and sludge ash were collected in the drainage water. Cation exchange selectivity, specific anion adsorption and solubility are the processes that cause the reduction of leaching. The volcanic soils were capable of retaining the mineral constituents, P, and metals in applied sewage sludge and sludge ash and gradually released them as nutrients for plant growth.     

Optical and structural properties of ZnO + Zn<Subscript>2</Subscript>TiO<Subscript>4</Subscript> thin films prepared by the sol–gel method

ZnO + Zn₂TiO₄ thin films were obtained by the sol–gel method using precursor solutions with different Ti/Zn ratios in the 0.18–2.13 range. The films were deposited on glass substrates and annealed in an open atmosphere at 550 °C. The oxide was characterized by X-ray diffraction and photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy. The films were constituted of polycrystalline ZnO for the lowest Ti/Zn ratio (0.18), polycrystalline Zn₂TiO₄ for the 0.70 and 1.0 ratios, and mixes of both oxides for the intermediate ratios (0.32 and 0.50). For the highest ratios studied (1.44 and 2.13), the films were amorphous. The energy band gap (E_g) values were determined from optical absorption spectra, measured by means of the PA technique spectra. E_g varied in the 3.15 eV (ZnO) to 3.70 eV (Zn₂TiO₄) range.