bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Information sharing via electronic health records in team-based care: the patient perspective
Authors: Sanyer Osman , Butler Jorie M , Fortenberry Katherine , Webb-Allen Tatiana , Ose Dominik
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Team-based care offers potential improvements in communication, care coordination, efficiency, value and satisfaction levels of both patients and providers. However, the question of how to balance the need for information in team-based care without disregarding patient preferences remains unanswered. This study aims to determine patients’ perceptions of information sharing via electronic health records (EHRs) in team-based care.

Methods

This qualitative study used a focus group approach. Participants were primary care patients and representative members from minority groups (ethnic, racial or social). Audio recordings of the sessions were transcribed and coded consistent with thematic analyses.

Results

The analysis revealed that the participants in the focus groups had diverging levels of understanding and personal beliefs around five major themes including (i) patient’s understanding of the care team, (ii) perceptions of electronic health records, (iii) defining basic health care information, (iv) sharing information with the health care team and (v) patient’s trust in doctors and the health care system.

Conclusions

The participants of our focus groups value team-based care and view patients as a critical part of those teams. With respect to electronic health records, our participants recognized their importance but had concerns about inaccuracies and limited options to correct errors in their records. In general, participants were willing to share basic information but disagreed about what information should be considered to be basic. Moreover, based on their trust and comfort level, many participants want to control what information is recorded and shared in the electronic health record.
Health of war-affected Karen adults 5 years post-resettlement
Authors: Hoffman Sarah J , Shannon Patricia J , Horn Tonya L , Letts James , Mathiason Michelle A
Published: December 2020

Background

An estimated 140 000 refugees from Burma have resettled to the USA since 2009, comprising 21% of total resettlement in the USA over the last decade. Our objective was to describe patterns of longitudinal health outcomes in a cohort of Karen refugees resettled in the USA for 5 years, and to translate these findings to a primary healthcare context.

Methods

The study was a retrospective cohort study focused on the analysis of the first 5 years of electronic health records of a sample of 143 Karen refugees who were initially resettled between May 2011 and May 2013.

Results

Through descriptive, inferential and survival statistics, we described patterns of retention in primary care, biometric trends, condition prevalence and survival probabilities. Highest prevalence health conditions documented at any point in the 5-year period included diagnoses or symptoms associated with pain (52%); gastrointestinal disturbance (41%); metabolic disorder (41%); infectious process (34%); mental health condition (31%) and central nervous system disorder (24%).

Conclusions

This study is the first retrospective longitudinal analysis of patterns of health in Karen refugees originating from Burma and resettled to the USA. Findings identified in the 5-year, the post-resettlement period provided important clinical insights into the health trajectories of war-affected populations. Burden of illness was high although results did not demonstrate the extent of trauma-associated physical health conditions reported in the literature. Indicators such as significant increases in body mass index (BMI), the overall prevalence of dyslipidaemia and others suggested that the cohort may be exhibiting an early trajectory towards the development of these conditions. Authors summarize potential protective factors experienced by the cohort that promoted aspects of health frequently challenged in forced migration.
A label-free real-time method for measuring glucose uptake kinetics in yeast
Authors: Schmidl Sina , Iancu Cristina V , Reifenrath Mara , Choe Jun-yong , Oreb Mislav
Published: December 2020

Glucose uptake assays commonly rely on the isotope-labeled sugar, which is associated with radioactive waste and exposure of the experimenter to radiation. Here, we show that the rapid decrease of the cytosolic pH after a glucose pulse to starved Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells is dependent on the rate of sugar uptake and can be used to determine the kinetic parameters of sugar transporters. The pH-sensitive green fluorescent protein variant pHluorin is employed as a genetically encoded biosensor to measure the rate of acidification as a proxy of transport velocity in real time. The measurements are performed in the hexose transporter-deficient (hxt0) strain EBY.VW4000 that has been previously used to characterize a plethora of sugar transporters from various organisms. Therefore, this method provides an isotope-free, fluorometric approach for kinetic characterization of hexose transporters in a well-established yeast expression system.
Social Media Use and Loneliness Among Older Adults: The Mediating Role of Social Contact and Perceived Social Support
Authors: Zhang Kunyu , Burr Jeffrey , Kim Kyungmin , Silverstein Nina , Song Qian
Published: December 2020

Loneliness is a risk factor for poor quality of life among older adults. Social media use provides a new dimension of communication for older adults to connect with people and to maintain social relationships. However, research has been inconclusive about whether social media use reduces loneliness among older adults, which is due in part to a lack of appropriate measures for capturing different types of social media use. Furthermore, little is known about the underlying mechanisms through which social media use is associated with loneliness. This study investigates the association between social media communication with close social ties and loneliness among community-dwelling older adults (65+), and further examines the mediating role of social contact and social support in the association. Data from the 2014 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) are analyzed to address our research questions (N = 4,184). Path analyses are employed to examine the relationships among social media communication with close social ties (i.e., children, family, and friends), frequency of contact with social ties (i.e., phone, in-person contact, write/email), perceived social support from social ties, and loneliness (R-UCLA loneliness scale). The results show that a higher level of social media communication is associated with lower levels of loneliness through social contact and perceived social support. Moreover, the relationship between social media communication and perceived social support is partially mediated by social contact. These findings suggest that social media communication may be considered an intervention that may reduce loneliness among older people.
The Spiritual Dimensions of Caring for a Family Member With Early-Stage Dementia
Authors: McGee Jocelyn , Myers Dennis , Meraz Rebecca , Galarza Janet , Davie Morgan , Smith Jensen
Published: December 2020

There are approximately 16.1 million family members caring for persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias in the USA. However, few studies have examined the role of spirituality/religiosity as it relates to the caregiving experience, particularly in family members of persons in the early-stages of dementia. In this cross-sectional qualitative study, one-on-one, in-depth, 60-90 minute interviews were conducted with family members of persons assessed to be in the early-stages of dementia (n = 26). A structured interview, “The Spiritual and Religious Dimensions of Living with Dementia” developed by McGee, J. & Carlson-Zhao, H. (2012), was utilized. Interviews were recorded and transcribed by members of an interdisciplinary team of gerontology researchers (nursing, psychology, and social work). Narrative data were examined through thematic analysis approach, supported by NVivo (version 12.0) software, and a modified constant comparison analysis approach (Glaser & Strauss, 1967). Participants reported a diverse range of spiritual/religious beliefs, practices, and experiences including how these intersected with their adaptation to the opportunities and challenges of the caregiver role. The importance of intrapersonal processing, family connection, and community support for managing the ambiguity of this role was expressed. The interview questions were reportedly therapeutic for some participants suggesting the need to include similar questions as part of the assessment in clinical care settings. Indeed, interviewing caregivers of people with early-stage dementia may serve to improve clinical outcomes by identifying important aspects of spiritual/religious coping that can be encouraged as well as spiritual struggles that need to be addressed. Additional research is needed.
Going Viral: Understanding Medical Misinformation and Older Adults’ Vaccine Hesitancy
Authors: Mirza Raza , Hull James , Peng Siyu , Mousavi Yalda , Mustafa Muhammad Ibrar , Papageorgiou Peter , Rotgaus Eric , Hsieh Jessica
Published: December 2020

Influenza persists as a common communicable disease and remains a significant cause of disease burden across the world. Despite preventative therapies, such as influenza vaccination to reduce its spread and transmission, influenza continues to be a source of morbidity and mortality, even in developed countries. For the population over the age of 65, the effects of influenza virus may be more severe when they are compounded by pre-existing conditions and reduced natural immune function. In light of plateauing vaccination rates, a scoping review was conducted to map the literature and determine why seniors aged 65 and above refuse or fail to receive seasonal influenza vaccination. Nine peer-reviewed academic databases covering both social sciences and medical research were searched, along with the grey literature. A total of 6,562 references were identified; after the screening process, 118 references were included in the final review. Thematic analysis focused on the broad areas that positively or negatively influence older adults’ decision-making regarding influenza vaccination, and this resulted in five main themes: (1) barriers to obtaining vaccination; (2) social factors; (3) personal characteristics; (4) individual subjectivity; and (5) direct clinical interventions. This review aims to identify gaps in knowledge and synthesize currently available information to make recommendations for future research, policy development and clinical practice. Increasing the vaccination rate among Canadian older adults will contribute to ongoing efforts to reduce the spread of the influenza virus among the population, reducing influenza-associated hospital admissions and deaths.
Sense of Belonging, Religious Activity, and Well-Being in Long-Term Care Residents
Authors: Shryock Kelly , Meeks Suzanne
Published: December 2020

Residence in a long-term care (LTC) facility poses numerous challenges to psychological well-being and rates of depression are high. Sense of belonging (SoB) has been linked with measures of well-being in all age groups and interventions focused on improving SoB have been successful with college-age adults. It is unclear if SoB improves in LTC residents as they adjust to living in this environment or what factors predict poor SoB in this population. As part of a larger study of care preferences in LTC residents, participants (n= 76) completed measures of SoB, well-being, religious activity, and demographic information. SoB did not vary significantly based on duration of stay, age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, number of children, education, facility, cognitive functioning, or physical health. SoB was found to be significantly and positively correlated with participation in religious activities (r= .388, N=76, p=.001), private religious practices (r= .275, N=71, p=.020), and spirituality (r= .263, N=70, p=.028). There was also a significant positive correlation between SoB and positive affect (r= .450, N=74, p<.001) and SoB and life satisfaction (r= .393, N=74, p=.001). These results suggest that connections formed before admission to a LTC facility, including religious networks, are important to SoB and well-being and that individuals without or with low religious involvement may benefit most from interventions focusing on improving SoB in LTC residents.
Increasing Adoption and Utility of Smartwatches in Older Adults
Authors: Roberts Mitchell , Sappington Erica , Yalcin Ali , Lowenkron Jeffrey , Amzallag David , VandeWeerd Carla
Published: December 2020

Older adults (55+) represent one of the fastest growing groups adopting wearable devices (e.g. smartwatches). However, questions remain as to how older adults, healthcare providers and researchers can maximize the ability of these devices to maintain and improve health. The objective of this study was to understand the needs and preferences of older adults in wearable devices, as part of a Florida High Tech Corridor Matching Grant between The Villages Health, Aviv/Xtend Scientific, and The University of South Florida. Six focus groups were conducted with older adults (n=36) living in The Villages, Florida, and were stratified by gender. Topics such as adoption, benefits/concerns, usability, and potential gender differences were explored. Heart rate monitoring, calories burned, and step counting features were most often utilized by current wearable users (43%). Participants reported that the most important benefits of wearables were atrial fibrillation identification, fitness tracking and fall detection. Concerns included privacy, the “learning curve” and too frequent of notifications by the device. Across both genders, choice resonated strongly as a theme. Male and female participants desired personalized, easy to understand outcomes and control over data sharing preferences. Men were interested in continual access to wearable health data, whereas females were interested in daily or weekly summaries. Further, men reported higher on-going use and comfort with smartwatches as compared to females. Participants suggested “low, medium, and high-tech savvy” user profiles and supporting resources (e.g. 1-1 training, paper manuals) to enhance adoption. Recommendations for policy and practice are shared, in light of the findings.
Moving Toward Age-Diverse Universities: Perspectives of Admission and Career Service Professionals
Authors: Morrow-Howell Nancy , Galucia Natalie , Swinford Emma , Meyer Tanner
Published: December 2020

As age diversity in universities increases in response to demographic shifts, changes in educational practices, programs and policies are needed. To inform these transformations, this research focuses on opportunities and challenges of increasing age-diversity. We conducted 5 focus groups and included 31 professional staff at Washington University in St Louis who work in admissions and career services. A thematic content analysis revealed themes in two main categories: challenges of serving non-traditionally aged students (fitting in, career concerns, acclimating to learning environment and technology, ROI, and ageism) and benefits of older students (intentional students, experienced students, and classroom diversity). Recommendations emerged, including affinity groups, social opportunities which include families, community engagement for job placement, financial aid, targeted outreach to older students, academic flexibility, and administrative support. Findings will be used to advocate for increasing age-diversity among students at Washington University and other institutions in the Age-Friendly Global Network..
The Influence of Mental, Physical, and Social Activity on Episodic Memory of Americans Aged 50 and Older
Authors: Malatyali Ayse , Gordon Shirley , Morris John , Wiese Lisa , Williams Christine
Published: December 2020

The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between mental, physical, and social activity and episodic memory (EM) and further examine whether the relationship between these activities and EM is moderated by each activity type and demographics such as gender, marital status, and race. Participants were 3,903 cognitively intact persons who completed the 2016 Health and Retirement Study core interview and the 2015 Consumptions and Activities Mail Survey. Preliminary results showed no significant relationship between EM and mental, physical, and social activity. Mental activity significantly moderated the relationship between physical activity and EM, revealing a positive association between physical activity and EM for participants reporting low mental activity levels and a negative but non-significant association for participants with high mental activity scores. Although women demonstrated higher EM scores than men, there was a negative association between mental activity and EM for women. A significant reduction of EM performance was observed in participants who were divorced and widowed, compared to participants who were married. There was a positive relationship between physical activity and EM only for participants who were widowed. Furthermore, race significantly related to EM: African Americans had lower EM scores than Whites/Caucasians, but no significant association was found for the other race groups. Effect sizes were small throughout the analyses. Results emphasize the underlying relationship between different activity types and demographics in terms of EM performance. Further investigation is needed to explore changes over time in this relationship for persons who are cognitively intact or impaired.
Media Image Landscape: Age Representation in Online Images
Authors: Thayer Colette , Skufca Laura
Published: December 2020

This study looked at the extent to which the 50-plus population is portrayed in media images online. A random sample of images was drawn from 2.7 million images downloaded from professional and semiprofessional domains and social distributions for brands and thought leaders. Natural language processing technology was employed to find images using topical guides chosen to be reflective of online images. Results of this study showed that while some media has moved toward more positive visual representation of older people, the 50-plus population is still not accurately portrayed in the media. For example, while nearly half of the U.S. adult population is age 50-plus, only 15% of images containing adults include people this age. In addition, when the 50-plus are shown, they are more likely to be portrayed negatively than those under age 50. The 50-plus population is often portrayed as dependent and disconnected from the rest of world although most are actively engaged in their communities. They are rarely shown with technology and in work settings. Furthermore, while a myriad of vibrant personalities come across in images of adults under age 50, the representation of people 50-plus starts to homogenize and exaggerate stereotypical and outdated physical appearance characteristics. This study demonstrates the need for visual representations that reflect greater diversity and authenticity of the 50-plus population as these images affect the attitudes, expectations, and behaviors of older and younger people alike. Keywords: ageism, reframing aging, media image representation
Converting Physical Function Testing to the Remote Setting: Adapting Our Research Protocol During COVID-19
Authors: Winters-Stone Kerri , Lipps Colin , Guidarelli Carolyn , Herrera-Fuentes Pablo
Published: December 2020

Objective measurement of physical function can be a more sensitive predictor of future disability and changes over time than self-report measures. However, objective measures require in-person assessments which can limit their use in hard-to-reach populations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, laboratory assessment of physical functioning in our two large randomized controlled exercise trials in older adults with cancer was temporarily suspended. We adapted testing protocols for administering the short physical performance battery (PPB), including chair stand (CS; sec) and 4m usual walk (4MW; m/s) tests, and timed-up-and go (TUG; sec) tests of physical functioning for remote assessment by video conferencing technology. We report on interim assessments of inter and intra-rater reliability and validity against newly resumed in-person tests. Repeat assessments were conducted on the same participant 1-2 weeks apart, by the same assessor (intra-rater reliability) or by another assessor (inter-rater reliability) for remote visits and by the same assessor for in-person tests (validity). Pearson-product moment correlations are provided for PPB, CS, 4MW and TUG, in that order. Intra-rater reliability values are: 0.97, 0.88, 0.90, and 0.96; Inter-rater reliability values are: 0.79, 0.14, 0.40, and 0.99; Validity values (no TUG) are: 0.66, 0.81, 0.78. Reliability of conducting remote PPB by video is very high when using the same assessor, while TUG reliability is high within and between assessors. Remote PPB administration has a good correlation with in-person visits, but the two modes of delivery should not yet be used interchangeably in longitudinal studies until sources of error can be determined and minimized.
Loneliness among Rural and Underserved Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Wilkinson Lindsay , Masters Julie , Kelly Christopher , McKelvey Miechelle , Saidi Ladan Ghazi , Hill Toni
Published: December 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults are among the most vulnerable populations to the medical complications of COVID-19; however, they are also deeply affected by the unintended consequences of social distancing and sheltering in place. Social distancing effectively mitigates the spread of COVID-19, but this practice can also lead to social isolation and loneliness. Drawing on a sample of adults age 60 or older receiving Meals on Wheels/Grab and Go Meals in the state of Nebraska, this study investigates loneliness among rural and underserved older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys were distributed to 3725 meal recipients across Nebraska’s eight Area Agencies on Aging in July 2020 (response rate = 50%), and a stratified random subsample was selected for preliminary analysis (N = 240). Logistic regression models were used to estimate the effects of COVID-19 and its associated safety precautions on loneliness. The findings reveal that 1 in 10 older adults have not left their home in over a month, and 38 percent feel lonelier due to the impact of COVID-19. Older adults who engaged in more community activities before the pandemic, reported leaving their home less, and experienced a longer absence of social interaction since the pandemic all had significantly increased odds of feeling lonelier in the COVID-19 era. Longer duration of sheltering in place was marginally associated with increased loneliness. The findings from this study show the consequences of social distancing on rural and underserved older adults, which calls for coordinated intervention.
Inhibition of Kynurenine Metabolism and Its Effect in Mitochondrial Function in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Castro-Portuguez Raul , Freitas Samuel , Sutphin George
Published: December 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent cancer in the liver. The majority of ingested tryptophan is processed in the liver through the kynurenine pathway, the endpoint of which is de novo NAD+ biosynthesis. Dysregulation of tryptophan-kynurenine metabolism and NAD+ synthesis may promote mitochondrial malfunction, tumor reprogramming, and carcinogenesis. Using a publicly available gene expression dataset from liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) samples available through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; n = 371), we employed Principal Component Analysis (PCA), hierarchical clustering, gene-pattern expression profiling, and survival analysis to cluster patients and determine overall survival. Our analysis of genes encoding kynurenine pathway enzymes determined that patients with high QPRT expression had a poor prognosis with decreased median survival, with no effect on the maximum survival. There is a significant difference in the survival between patients with high QPRT expression relative to patients with high HAAO/AFMID expression (HR = 1.2, [95% CI 0.5-1.8] P = 0.0181, Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon Test). Patients with high QPRT expression have higher survival rates compared with low QPRT expression (HR = 1.4, [95% CI 0.9-2.2] P = 0.0344, Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon Test). To test the consequences of kynurenine-pathway inhibition in mitochondrial function and morphology we use 4-Cl-3HAA, an irreversible HAAO inhibitor, and observed a small increase in mitochondrial fragmentation in HepG2 cells after 24 hours of treatment. We conclude that kynurenine metabolism may be useful as a biomarker to predict patient prognosis among HCC patients. In ongoing work, we are testing QPRT inhibitors in cell culture as a potential adjuvant for chemotherapies.
Annual Foot Exams and Incident Amputation
Authors: Allen Latricia , Khakharia Anjali , Phillips Lawrence , Johnson Theodore , Uphold Constance , Perkins Molly , Vaughan Camille
Published: December 2020

Diabetes-related lower extremity amputations (LEA) are high cost and high prevalence. Individuals with complications such as neuropathy, foot deformity, history of diabetic foot ulcer or LEA increased morbidity and mortality.1 Current national recommend a foot exam for individuals with diabetes annually or more often depending on risk for LEA.2, The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the relationship between annual foot exams and incident lower extremity amputation in a large Veteran cohort. We conducted a secondary analysis of a national VA Diabetes administrative dataset registry for Veterans with diabetes aged 65 and older during the period of fiscal year 2002-2014 (n=1,544,654; mean age 77.6 years; 97.9 % male). Using logistic regression, we examined the association between annual foot exams and incident LEA. Our analysis was adjusted for demographics, comorbidities, and LEA foot risk. The study included 18,759 (1.21%) Veterans with incident LEA and foot exams, 2,234 (0.14%) Veterans with incident LEA without foot exams. Median age range was 65-75 years old. Gangrene, osteomyelitis, foot ulcers, and neuropathy were the covariates with the highest risk of incident LEA with foot exam. Foot exams did not reduce the risk of LEA when examining Veterans with incident LEA (unadjusted OR of 1.62 (CI 1.56 - 1.69), p<.0001 and adjusted OR was 1.77 (CI 1.69 -1.86), p<.0001. Annual foot exams were not protective for LEA in Veterans with foot exams and incident LEA. Additional research is warranted to examine this relationship considering the effect of early intervention on LEA risk.
Preliminary Results of MyCog, a Brief Assessment for the Detection of Cognitive Impairment in Primary Care
Authors: Curtis Laura , Opsasnick Lauren , Benavente Julia Yoshino , Nowinski Cindy , O’Conor Rachel , Stoeger Jordan , Wolf Michael , Gershon Richard
Published: December 2020

Early detection of Cognitive impairment (CI) is imperative to identify potentially treatable underlying conditions or provide supportive services when due to progressive conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease. While primary care settings are ideal for identifying CI, it frequently goes undetected. We developed ‘MyCog’, a brief technology-enabled, 2-step assessment to detect CI and dementia in primary care settings. We piloted MyCog in 80 participants 65 and older recruited from an ongoing cognitive aging study. Cases were identified either by a documented diagnosis of dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or based on a comprehensive cognitive battery. Administered via an iPad, Step 1 consists of a single self-report item indicating concern about memory or other thinking problems and Step 2 includes two cognitive assessments from the NIH Toolbox: Picture Sequence Memory (PSM) and Dimensional Change Card Sorting (DCCS). 39%(31/80) participants were considered cognitively impaired. Those who expressed concern in Step 1 (n=52, 66%) resulted in a 37% false positive and 3% false negative rate. With the addition of the PSM and DCCS assessments in Step 2, the paradigm demonstrated 91% sensitivity, 75% specificity and an area under the ROC curve (AUC)=0.82. Steps 1 and 2 had an average administration time of <7 minutes. We continue to optimize MyCog by 1) examining additional items for Step 1 to reduce the false positive rate and 2) creating a self-administered version to optimize use in clinical settings. With further validation, MyCog offers a practical, scalable paradigm for the routine detection of cognitive impairment and dementia.
Severity of Cognitive Impairment Moderates the Effect of Depression on Motivation
Authors: Growney Claire , Zhu Xianghe , Sorensen Julia , Smith Emily , Neupert Shevaun
Published: December 2020

Motivation to engage in cognitive activities is a critical feature of cognitive health, especially for older adults. A growing body of literature demonstrates that personal resources such as mental health contribute to older adults’ motivation. However, little is known about factors that contribute to motivation for cognitive engagement in older adults already experiencing significant decline, a population for whom engagement may be uniquely consequential. In the present study, older adults (age 61-85) with cognitive impairment (Short Blessed scores of 7+) and/or dementia diagnoses completed a series of assessments of cognitive ability, well-being, and motivation to engage in cognitively demanding activities as a part of a larger project. Linear regression analyses revealed that cognitive ability moderated the effect of depression on motivation to engage in cognitively demanding activities. For those with relatively mild levels of cognitive impairment, depression was associated with lower levels motivation, whereas depression was unrelated to motivation for those with more severe cognitive impairment. Notably, results were unchanged when controlling for physical health, suggesting that depression has unique effects on motivation for these individuals. Results contribute to a growing body of literature demonstrating that mental health is particularly consequential for individuals in earlier stages of cognitive decline. We suggest that interventions targeting mental health in individuals beginning to experience cognitive decline may be effective in increasing motivation to engage in activities that are beneficial for cognitive health and that such interventions may be most effective when implemented at the earliest stages of dementia.
Measuring Supreme Court Case Complexity
Authors: Goelzhauser Greg , Kassow Benjamin J , Rice Douglas
Published: December 2020

Case complexity is central to the study of judicial politics. The dominant measures of Supreme Court case complexity use information on legal issues and provisions observed postdecision. As a result, scholars using these measures to study merits stage outcomes such as bargaining, voting, separate opinion production, and opinion content introduce posttreatment bias and exacerbate endogeneity concerns. Furthermore, existing issue measures are not valid proxies for complexity. Leveraging information on issues and provisions extracted from merits briefs, we develop a new latent measure of Supreme Court case complexity. This measure maps with the prevailing understanding of the underlying concept while mitigating inferential threats that hamper empirical evaluations. Our brief-based measurement strategy is generalizable to other contexts where it is important to generate exogenous and pretreatment indicators for use in explaining merits decisions. (JEL K00, K40)
GJ 436b and the stellar wind interaction: simulations constraints using Ly α and H α transits
Authors: Villarreal D’Angelo Carolina , Vidotto Aline A , Esquivel Alejandro , Hazra Gopal , Youngblood Allison
Published: December 2020

The GJ 436 planetary system is an extraordinary system. The Neptune-sized planet that orbits the M3 dwarf revealed in the Ly α line an extended neutral hydrogen atmosphere. This material fills a comet-like tail that obscures the stellar disc for more than 10 h after the planetary transit. Here, we carry out a series of 3D radiation hydrodynamic simulations to model the interaction of the stellar wind with the escaping planetary atmosphere. With these models, we seek to reproduce the ${\sim}56{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ absorption found in Ly α transits, simultaneously with the lack of absorption in H α transit. Varying the stellar wind strength and the EUV stellar luminosity, we search for a set of parameters that best fit the observational data. Based on Ly α observations, we found a stellar wind velocity at the position of the planet to be around [250–460] km s−1 with a temperature of [3–4] × 105 K. The stellar and planetary mass-loss rates are found to be 2 × 10−15 M⊙ yr−1 and ∼[6–10] × 109 g s−1, respectively, for a stellar EUV luminosity of [0.8–1.6] × 1027 erg s−1. For the parameters explored in our simulations, none of our models present any significant absorption in the H α line in agreement with the observations.
A Machine Learning Approach For Classifying Low-mass X-ray Binaries Based On Their Compact Object Nature
Authors: Pattnaik R , Sharma K , Alabarta K , Altamirano D , Chakraborty M , Kembhavi A , Mendez M , Orwat-Kapola J K
Published: December 2020

Low Mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) are binary systems where one of the components is either a black hole or a neutron star and the other is a less massive star. It is challenging to unambiguously determine whether a LMXB hosts a black hole or a neutron star. In the last few decades, multiple observational works have tried, with different levels of success, to address this problem. In this paper, we explore the use of machine learning to tackle this observational challenge. We train a random forest classifier to identify the type of compact object using the energy spectrum in the energy range 5-25 keV obtained from the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer archive. We report an average accuracy of 87±13% in classifying the spectra of LMXB sources. We further use the trained model for predicting the classes for LMXB systems with unknown or ambiguous classification. With the ever-increasing volume of astronomical data in the X-ray domain from present and upcoming missions (e.g., SWIFT, XMM-Newton, XARM, ATHENA, NICER), such methods can be extremely useful for faster and robust classification of X-ray sources and can also be deployed as part of the data reduction pipeline.
Effects of codon usage on gene expression are promoter context dependent
Authors: Yang Qian , Lyu Xueliang , Zhao Fangzhou , Liu Yi
Published: December 2020

Codon usage bias is a universal feature of all genomes. Although codon usage has been shown to regulate mRNA and protein levels by influencing mRNA decay and transcription in eukaryotes, little or no genome-wide correlations between codon usage and mRNA levels are detected in mammalian cells, raising doubt on the significance of codon usage effect on gene expression. Here we show that gene-specific regulation reduces the genome-wide codon usage and mRNA correlations: Constitutively expressed genes exhibit much higher genome-wide correlations than differentially expressed genes from fungi to human cells. Using Drosophila S2 cells as a model system, we showed that the effect of codon usage on mRNA expression level is promoter-dependent. Regions downstream of the core promoters of differentially expressed genes can repress the codon usage effects on mRNA expression. An element in the Hsp70 promoter was identified to be necessary and sufficient for this inhibitory effect. The promoter-dependent codon usage effects on mRNA levels are regulated at the transcriptional level through modulation of histone modifications, nucleosome densities and premature termination. Together, our results demonstrate that promoters play a major role in determining whether codon usage influences gene expression and further establish the transcription-dependent codon usage effects on gene expression.
Moral Acrobats
Authors: Rochat Philippe
Published: December 2020

Morality, psychologically speaking, is essentially the balancing of opposite propensities that co-exist and are co-defined within us as individuals, but also as groups of individuals: the propensity to do good or bad, act selfishly or for the common good. The good always tends to hide the bad, and vice versa. We juggle multiple hats on a single head, making the issue of morality particularly complex. We switch from being Dr. Jekyll in one moment to Mr. Hyde the next; from loving father to abusive boss, for example. Our ability to switch moral codes depending on people and situations is the most unsettling issue of moral psychology. The main moral rule is the fact that our moral compass is instantly recalibrated depending on people and situations.
Exclusivity Instinct
Authors: Rochat Philippe
Published: December 2020

The main function of the mind is to parse and contrast between things to reconstruct what they might mean. We segregate what is or is not of the “same.” What we are constantly doing in our head is tracking what is of the same and, hence, also what is different. We are born with what we might call an “exclusivity instinct,” in the broad sense of sorting things by exclusion of what is not of the same, which also necessarily results in the detection of what is of the same category. Both are inseparable and co-determined processes, yet psychologically and particularly in the social and moral realm, the former (exclusion) tends to have precedence over the latter (inclusion).
Love as Exclusion
Authors: Rochat Philippe
Published: December 2020

Inscribed into our psychic system are affective imprinting processes. These processes are the original source of differential investment and quick binding toward certain things over others. It always takes place in favor of a selected few. Inversely, and by extension, it is also the source of our dislikes and potential for dehumanizing of unfamiliar people. We draw strict, categorical lines in our valuation of people, from sacred to trash. If we love our children and immediate family, it is by exclusion. The fact is that love, by definition, is selective. It is always to the detriment of others outside of the particular sphere of infatuation. The simple rule is that things in our mind can only exist via a process of exclusion and the enhancement of contrast in relation to all others. Exclusion is the seed of why we think the world in black and white. Alliance exists because of rejection in the same way that love exists inversely because of hate—no contrast, no existence.
Belonging Instinct
Authors: Rochat Philippe
Published: December 2020

People do need people, in particular they need to belong and be recognized as integral member of a group or community. Nothing is worse than being transparent to the gaze of others. We affirm and constantly probe our place via the co-existing and co-defining proclivities of inclusion and exclusion of the self in relation to others (dual centripetal and centrifugal forces). This process is universal. It applies equally for those protecting their inclusion privilege, such as belonging to a select group, or trying to acquire membership privilege. Both forces are complementary, under the same fundamental umbrella drive: the need to belong. This need drives relations of self to others from birth, and it is not just motivated by breast or access to food.
Self-Consciousness in Development
Authors: Rochat Philippe
Published: December 2020

We are not born in a blooming, buzzing, self–world confusion. We come to the world already equipped with an implicit sense of who we are in relation to the world. Children in their development become a person proper when they begin to construe themselves as an entity that not only is public in relation to others, who is entrusted with the capacity to judge and evaluate, but also accountable, entrusting others to judge and evaluate the self. The explicit sense of what’s right or wrong, acceptable or not acceptable—hence, what we typically understand by morality—is rooted in self-consciousness as described here. Of importance is the fact that at one point in our development we begin to construe ourselves as characters perceived and evaluated by others. These characters are embodied in our actions and acted out in dispositions, beliefs, and thoughts. We become persons and, ultimately, moral persons. This development is the necessary prerequisite for the corollary development of lying and deception.
Natural Roots of Moral Hypocrisy
Authors: Rochat Philippe
Published: December 2020

The human ontogenetic (developmental) unique bifurcation compared to other animal ontogenies is the emergence of make beliefs. It is when, from around two years of age, children start seamlessly to switch from discriminating and categorizing, as well as recombining categories in the here and now of perception and action, to start doing the same thing but in the realm of realities that exist only in their heads, the internal products of their own imagination. From this point on and at an exponential rate, the engagement of the basic process of discrimination and categorization operates on “decoupled” realities. This is what primarily set us apart in Nature from a general psychological and cognitive perspective. The natural roots of moral hypocrisy and other blatant moral inconsistencies are to be found not only in the categorical discrimination process embedded in our brains, a process that—from the outset—we share with all other mindful animals. These roots are also and more specifically to be found in the bootstrapping and recursive inference mechanisms that feed onto themselves. These mechanisms bring children by the second year to the incomparable symbolic and decoupled levels of our own self-conscious imagination. It is this imagination that parses the world in essential clusters as a function of particular spherical alliances, each defining particular moral contexts. These contexts call for character roles that are often deeply irreconcilable, only manageable for those endowed with a compartmentalized mind. This compartmentalization is at the origins of our moral acrobatics and the human propensity to think about the world in black and white.
Men’s Free Will
Authors: Margolin Leslie
Published: December 2020

“Men’s Free Will” examines how differently sex therapy unfolds when a heterosexual male presents with the problem of low sexual desire—how heterosexual men are often treated more respectfully, more attentively, and more generously than heterosexual women. This chapter shows that for sex therapists, a man’s position in his marital orbit need not adapt to his wife’s needs. She must adapt to his. Through examination of contemporary case studies, the chapter examines how heterosexual men with low sexual desire not only present as more sexually intransigent than heterosexual women, but that their intransigence is more likely to be accepted by their spouse and therapist.
Introduction
Authors: Homestead Melissa J.
Published: December 2020

Using Cather and Lewis’s shared gravesite in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, as a touchstone, the introduction describes how biographers have approached the question of Willa Cather’s sexuality, how critics have applied queer theory to readings of her work, and how Lewis’s place in Cather’s life and creative process has been repeatedly ignored or misrepresented. The introduction lays out the terms on which this volume defines Lewis’s relationship with Cather and makes her visible again: it introduces Lewis’s role as Cather’s editor and suggests how models of the history of sexuality have failed to capture the persistence of the so-called Boston marriage into the twentieth century.
“The whole family was so enthusiastic and so colorful and so interesting.”
Authors: Skeel Sharon
Published: December 2020

Catherine Littlefield is born on September 16, 1905, and takes her first dancing lessons from Caroline (Mommie) at the PRR-YMCA in 1908. Mommie also teaches Jeanette MacDonald and stages recitals along with her husband (Big Jim). The Littlefields live for a time in Ambler, Pennsylvania, and later in Philadelphia, and have three more children: Jimmie, Dorothie, and Carl. As a young girl, Catherine also takes lessons with Philadelphia dancing master C. Ellwood Carpenter and performs in his ballet corps. Mommie helps Carpenter teach. Big Jim works as a lifeguard in Ocean City, New Jersey, and operates the Littlefield Riding Academy in Philadelphia. The Littlefields move to Llanerch, Pennsylvania. Big Jim serves with the YMCA in World War I.
Frank Rosenwein
Authors: Fiala Michele
Published: December 2020

Frank Rosenwein joined the Cleveland Orchestra as principal oboe at the beginning of the 2005–2006 season. Since 2006, Rosenwein has been the head of the oboe department at the Cleveland Institute of Music.  He also teaches at the Kent/Blossom Music Festival. In this chapter, Rosenwein shares about his early career and joining the Cleveland Orchestra. He discusses the art of auditioning and how to avoid excerpt burnout. He talks about warming up, phrase shaping, and technical development. He shares his inspirations and his ideas on vibrato, teaching, and advice on keeping a job.
Capitalism Doesn’t Bend
Authors: Friedline Terri
Published: December 2020

This chapter explores how communities advocate for themselves in the midst of large bank mergers, focusing on the KeyBank–First Niagara merger that was completed in 2016 with a $16.5 billion benefits agreement. The concomitant rise of bank mergers and benefits agreements demonstrates how communities are increasingly voicing their opinions and trying to secure economic investments. However, much like the system of securitization, benefits agreements bundle the rights of future revenues into short-term deals that are sold to communities for banks’ and their shareholders’ long-term profits. Benefits agreements can exploit marginalized communities to proffer evidence of the banks’ compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act in exchange for only minimal economic investments.
The Good Witch
Authors: Josselson Ruthellen
Published: December 2020

The Chinese propensity to idealize led them to construe the author as a “Good Witch.” When the author seemed to transform people through her teaching and therapy demonstrations, some people thought she was performing something magical. Rather than learning about therapy technique or conceptualization, they set about trying to get her to magically transform them. These responses reflected the complicated dynamics of idealization and dependency. The didactic effort was to move the students towards self-confidence autonomy, but this was complicated by their relative unfamiliarity with being propelled towards autonomy in their personal histories. The challenge was resolving these issues so that the Chinese could assume control of the training program.
Public Opinion on Inequality
Authors: Bowman Karlyn , O’Neil Eleanor
Published: December 2020

In this chapter, the authors begin with a look at survey data on Americans’ self-perceived social class, what they think it means to be rich, and how they view those who are. They then turn to general perceptions of inequality and opportunity in America, and, finally, they look at opinions about government’s role in addressing inequality. Most US pollsters do not ask questions about inequality regularly, and surveys suggest that few Americans see themselves as rich or poor: most describe themselves as middle class, and they have mixed feelings about the rich. Awareness of inequality is not new, nor is the belief that it is growing. The data are not clear about whether most people believe America is still an opportunity society. Polls show that, in the abstract, people want government to act, but they do not know precisely what they want government to do.