bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring Commuting and Economic Activity inside Cities with Cell Phone Records
Authors: Kreindler Gabriel E. , Miyauchi Yuhei
Published: August 2021

We show how to use commuting flows to infer the spatial distribution of income within a city. A simple workplace choice model predicts a gravity equation for commuting flows whose destination fixed effects correspond to wages. We implement this method with cell phone transaction data from Dhaka and Colombo. Model-predicted income predicts separate income data, at the workplace and residential level, and by skill group. Unlike machine learning approaches, our method does not require training data, yet it achieves comparable predictive power. We show that hartals (transportation strikes) in Dhaka reduce commuting more for high model-predicted wage and high skill commuters.
Decomposing the Wedge between Projected and Realized Returns in Energy Efficiency Programs
Authors: Christensen Peter , Francisco Paul , Myers Erica , Souza Mateus
Published: August 2021

Evaluations of energy efficiency programs reveal that realized savings consistently fall short of projections. We decompose this “performance wedge” using data from the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) and a machine learning-based event study research design. We find that bias in engineering models can account for up to 41% of the wedge, primarily from overestimated savings in wall insulation. Heterogeneity in workmanship can also account for a large fraction (43%) of the wedge, while the rebound effect can explain only 6%. We find substantial heterogeneity in energy-related benefits from IHWAP projects, suggesting opportunities for better targeting of investments.
Relaxed Optimization: How Close Is a Consumer to Satisfying First-Order Conditions?
Authors: de Clippel Geoffroy , Rozen Kareen
Published: August 2021

We propose relaxing the first-order conditions in optimization to approximate rational consumer choice. We assess the magnitude of departures with a new, axiomatically founded measure that admits multiple interpretations. Standard inequality tests of rationality for any given reference class of preferences can be conveniently repurposed to measure goodness-of-fit with that class. Another advantage of our approach is that it is applicable in any context where the first-order approach is meaningful (e.g., convex budget sets arising from progressive taxation). We apply these ideas to shed new light on existing portfolio-choice data.
The Economic Consequences of Political Hierarchy: Evidence from Regime Changes in China, 1000-2000 C.E.
Authors: Bai Ying , Jia Ruixue
Published: August 2021

We study how political hierarchy shapes regional development in China, using variations driven by regime changes during the 1000–2000 period. We find that changes in the status of the provincial capital led to the rise and decline of different prefectures as measured by population and urbanization. Two other novel findings stand out: (1) the economic advantages of the provincial capitals did not persist if they lost their political status, and (2) political hierarchy shaped economic development not only through public employment but also through the development of important infrastructure, such as transportation networks. Our findings highlight the importance of politics in determining the locations of economic activities.
The Distribution of Households' Indebtedness and the Transmission of Monetary Policy
Authors: Cumming Fergus , Hubert Paul
Published: August 2021

We investigate whether the dynamic response of aggregate consumption to monetary policy depends on the distribution of household debt relative to income. Using U.K. loan-level microdata, we propose a novel approach to isolate the fraction of households with a limited ability to smooth consumption. By exploiting time and cross-sectional variation, we show that consumption responds more to monetary policy when the share of highly indebted households is large, but find no state contingency with respect to the overall level of debt-to-income. Our results highlight the role of household heterogeneity for understanding monetary transmission to aggregate consumption.
Neural Basis of the Sound-Symbolic Crossmodal Correspondence Between Auditory Pseudowords and Visual Shapes
Authors: McCormick Kelly , Lacey Simon , Stilla Randall , Nygaard Lynne C. , Sathian K.
Published: August 2021

Sound symbolism refers to the association between the sounds of words and their meanings, often studied using the crossmodal correspondence between auditory pseudowords, e.g., ‘takete’ or ‘maluma’, and pointed or rounded visual shapes, respectively. In a functional magnetic resonance imaging study, participants were presented with pseudoword–shape pairs that were sound-symbolically congruent or incongruent. We found no significant congruency effects in the blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal when participants were attending to visual shapes. During attention to auditory pseudowords, however, we observed greater BOLD activity for incongruent compared to congruent audiovisual pairs bilaterally in the intraparietal sulcus and supramarginal gyrus, and in the left middle frontal gyrus. We compared this activity to independent functional contrasts designed to test competing explanations of sound symbolism, but found no evidence for mediation via language, and only limited evidence for accounts based on multisensory integration and a general magnitude system. Instead, we suggest that the observed incongruency effects are likely to reflect phonological processing and/or multisensory attention. These findings advance our understanding of sound-to-meaning mapping in the brain.
A new species of small Eptesicus Rafinesque (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) from northern South America
Authors: RAMÍREZ-CHAVES HÉCTOR E. , MORALES-MARTÍNEZ DARWIN M. , PÉREZ WEIMAR A. , VELÁSQUEZ-GUARÍN DANIELA , MEJÍA-FONTECHA INGRITH Y. , ORTIZ-GIRALDO MATEO , OSSA-LÓPEZ PAULA A. , PÁEZ FREDY A. RIVERA
Published: August 2021

Eptesicus diminutus Osgood, 1915 is the smallest species of the subgenus Eptesicus found in South America. It has a discontinuous distribution, with northern populations in Colombia and Venezuela, and southern populations in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. We reviewed specimens assigned to the northern populations of E. diminutus and compared them to these from the southern populations. Based on morphologic, morphometric, and molecular analyses, we support the recognition of the northern populations of E. diminutus as a new species. This new species is distributed in the Llanos of the Orinoco region in Colombia and Venezuela (and likely in Guyana). Eptesicus sp. nov. is morphologically similar to E. diminutus and E. furinalis, from which it can be distinguished by its intermediate size. This taxon increases to 11 the number of species of bats of the subgenus Eptesicus in South America.
Resveratrol on the Inflammatory Environment of Rat Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Cells
Authors: Tang Shaofeng , Yao Nvzhao , Qin Dahai
Published: August 2021

Our study assesses the mechanism of Sirt-1 signaling pathway and inflammation changes after spinal cord injury (SCI). SD rats were assigned into Sham group and SCI group. The Sham group only received bites off the corresponding vertebral lamina without the blow operation. The Western
Blot method was used to detect Sirt-1 level, ELISA analyzed IL-1β and IL-6 level in the spinal cord tissues along with measuring Sirt-1 and TNF-α level by immunofluorescence staining. Sirt-1 changed with the time after SCI and was significantly higher than sham operation
group at 1 day after injury, reaching the highest level at 3 days followed by a decrease. IL-1β and IL-6 after SCI was significantly higher than sham operation group at 1 day after injury. Immunofluorescence double staining showed that Sirt-1 and TNF-α expression in
spinal cord tissue after injury were upregulated. The expression of Sirt-1 changed with time after SCI, and was consistent with the trend of changes in inflammatory factors. In conclusion, Sirt-1 is related to the changes of inflammatory factors after SCI, indicating that Sirt-1 may be involved
in inflammation after SCI.
Correlation of N-Ras Gene Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Color Doppler Ultrasound Findings
Authors: Wei Yuguo , Lv Donglai
Published: August 2021

Objective: This study aims to study the N-ras gene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its correlation with color Doppler imaging manifestations. Methods: The tumors of 145 HCC patients were evaluated via color Doppler ultrasonography before operation and
N-ras level in tissue specimens obtained after operation were detected via RT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry along with correlation analysis. Results: N-ras mRNA in para-carcinoma tissues was significantly reduced compared with carcinoma tissues (P < 0.05).
Western blotting and immunohistochemistry showed a significant difference of N-ras protein level between para-carcinoma tissues and carcinoma tissues (P < 0.05). Moreover, N-ras gene expression was siginificantly correlated with the number of tumor nodules, the integrity of tumor
capsule, vascular invasion, blood flow classification, RI (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our data demonstrate the elevation of N-ras in the carcinoma tissues of HCC patients and its correlation with color Doppler imaging manifestations, which lays foundation for the development of
the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Hsp22 Inhibits Oxidative Stress-Induced Endplate Chondrocyte Apoptosis by Regulating Mitochondrial Pathway
Authors: Ye Yi , Wang Xucan , Yang Zhenqing , Xu Qian , Zhang Bo
Published: August 2021

Background:Facet joint degeneration (FJD), which is also called facet joint syndrome (FJS), has become one of the most commonly seen etiological factors for lumbago. Cartilage lesion triggered by lumbar facet joint (LFJ) degeneration might be related to mitochondrial impairment, but the its underlying mechanism remains unclear.Materials and methods:The endplate chondrocytes were induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to mimic the pathological conditions of oxidative stress. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used for the evaluation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) level was assessed using ATP detection, along with the detection the expression of cytochrome C in mitochondria (mito-cyt c) and in cell cytoplasm (cyto-cyt c) and cleaved caspase 3 by Western blot analysis. TUNEL assay was conducted for the measurement of cell apoptosis in endplate chondrocytes. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to verify the expression of heat shock protein 22 (HSP22) and the transfection efficiency of HSP22 interference plasmid.Results:It was found that H2O2promoted the mitochondrial dysfunction, ROS generation and cell apoptosis in endplate chondrocytes. Moreover, HSP22 was down-regulated in H2O2-induced endplate chondrocytes, and interference of HSP22 decreased the ROS production, increased the ATP level and promoted the cell apoptosis, resulting in the enhanced impairment of endplate chondrocytes. Additionally, mitochondrial ROS inhibitor (Mito-TEMPO) ameliorated the injury effects of HSP22 silencing in the H2O2-induced endplate chondrocytes.Conclusion:In conclusion, HSP22 inhibits oxidative stress-induced endplate chondrocyte apoptosis by regulating mitochondrial pathway, possibly providing novel guidance direction for the treatment of LFJ degeneration.
SRY-Box Transcription Factor 9 (SOX9) Affects the Proliferation, Invasion and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma by Regulating Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ)/Smad Signaling
Authors: Dai Ling , Lu Yuqing , Jiang Lu , Zhu Liping , Zhang Jing , Wang Fang , Gao Yuanyuan , Xin Wenwei
Published: August 2021

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) develops rapidly with a high malignancy. SOX9 expression is increased in several tumors. However, its expression and role in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma have not yet been elucidated. Real time PCR and Western blot were done to assess SOX9 expression
in tumor tissues and adjacent tissues of ICC. ICC cell line QBC939 cells were separated into control group, SOX9 overexpression group and SOX9 siRNA group followed by analysis of cell survival by MTT assay, cell migration by cell scratch assay, cell invasion by transwell chamber, E-cadherin
and Vimentin level by western blot, TGFβ/Smad signaling protein level by real time PCR. SOX9 level in tumor tissues was significantly increased compared to adjacent tissues (P < 0.05) and it was associated with TNM stage, tissue type and metastasis, and survival time
(P < 0.05). Transfection of pcDNA3.1-SOX9 upregulated SOX9, promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion, downregulated E-cadherin, upregulated Vimentin, TGF-β1 and Smad4 (P < 0.05). SOX9 siRNA transfection into QBC939 cells could significantly reverse
the above mentioned changes (P < 0.05). SOX9 level is increased in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and targeting SOX9 can inhibit cell migration and invasion, and EMT via regulating TGFβ/Smad signaling.
Water Extract of Gallnut Reduces the Injury of Alveolar Epithelial Cells Induced by Streptococcus pneumoniae by Up-Regulating miRNA-338-3p
Authors: Ji Chenhui , Wang Min , Fan Xiaocheng
Published: August 2021

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is the primary pathogen causing pneumonia, in addition to lobar pneumonia, meningitis, bronchitis, and other diseases. Inhibiting the apoptosis and inflammation of alveolar epithelial cells is essential for the treatment of pneumonia caused
by S. pneumoniae. Traditional Chinese medicine has the characteristics of multiple components, multiple targets, and few adverse reactions. It is recognized by doctors and patients in the treatment of pneumonia and other diseases. We conducted this study to explore the effect of the
water extract of gallnut on alveolar epithelial cells affected by S. pneumoniae. Studies have found that the water extract of gallnut can increase the optical density value, Bcl-2 protein expression, IL-10 content, and miRNA-338-3p levels of alveolar epithelial cells affected by S.
pneumoniae. Additionally, it can reduce the rate of cell apoptosis, Bax protein expression, and IL-6 content. Further, its effect is dose-dependent: the higher the concentration of gallnut water extract, the more evident its effect on alveolar epithelial cells. Through nano PCR detection,
it was found that overexpression of miRNA-338-3p can increase the activity of alveolar epithelial cells affected by S. pneumoniae and promote cell growth. Knockdown of miRNA-338-3p reduced the impact of the water extract of gallnut on the growth of alveolar epithelial cells and the
expression of inflammatory factors affected by S. pneumoniae. Therefore, our findings suggest that the water extract of gallnut could inhibit the apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells affected by S. pneumoniae by up-regulating the expression of miRNA-338-3p.
A Time-Resolved-Fluorescence Lateral Flow Assay for Rapid Detection of Cholyglycine Acid for the Diagnosis of Liver Diseases
Authors: Zhang Wang , Zhou Yujun , Xu Xiuli , Tian Yaping , Zhang Chunyan
Published: August 2021

Liver disease is a great danger to human health. The determination of blood level of Cholyglycine acid (CG) is a vital biomarker for the assessment of liver function in clinic, which is contribute to the diagnosis of liver diseases. Thus, establishing accuracy, rapid and convenient
method for the detection of glycolic acid is of great significance. In this study, a time-resolved-fluorescence (TRF) lateral flow assay for rapid detection of CG was development. The analytical detection limit (mean of zero-2 SD) was 0.06 μg/mL The method showed good linearity in
the range of 0.2–40 g/mL and was not affected by biomolecules with similar structure to CG. The analytical mean recovery of control was between 90–110% and the imprecision of intra- and inter-assay of CVs was less than 10%. No significant matrix effect was observed in saline, serum,
plasma or whole blood. A good correlation was found with the homogeneous enzyme immunoassay (HEIA) assay (slopes 1.0463, y-intercepts 0.2721 μg/mL, R = 0.989, n = 50, P < 0.001). The CG TRF analysis could provide reproducible and quantitative information
about the state of liver in a few minutes, which is suitable for the detection of liver diseases in point-of-care-testing (POCT) conditions.
Expression of Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Deleted on Chromosome Ten on the Development of Cisplatin Resistance in Breast Cancer by TGF-β1 Signal Pathway
Authors: Zhang Yuan-Ding , Wang Zhen-Xia , Zhang Yan , Pei Jin
Published: August 2021

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate the expression of PTEN on the development of cisplatin resistance in breast cancer by TGF-β1 signal pathway in order to investigate the prognostic value of PTEN and TGF-β1 for breast cancer.
Material and Methods: In this study, HE staining, Immunohistochemical staining, Immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of PTEN and TGF-β1 in breast cancer MCF-7 cells to explain clearly the relationship between PTEN and TGF-β1
on TGF-β1 treated MCF-7 Cells. Results: The experiment results showed the expression of PTEN and TGF-β1 in Human breast cancer increased obviously compared with paracancerous tissues (P < 0.05). The expression of PTEN and TGF-β1
was closely correlated with tumor size, distant metastasis, pathological stage and progesterone receptor status, but not with age and lymph node status. At the same time, the expression of PTEN and TGF-β1 in cisplatin-treated MCF-7 Cells reduced as compared with untreated
breast cancer cells (P < 0.05). In addition, the expression of PTEN increased by TGF-β1 inducer treated Human Breast Cancer Cells. However, the expression of PTEN in TGF-β1 inhibitor treated Human Breast Cancer Cells was lower than in
untreated breast cancer cells (P < 0.05). Conclusions: PTEN and TGF-β1 played an important role in Human Breast cancer. In addition, the expression of PTEN could be regulated by TGF-β1 in Cisplatin and TGF-β1
treated Human Breast Cancer Cells.
Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSCs)-Derived MicroRNA-378a-3p (miR-378a-3p) Inhibits the Migration of Gestational Trophoblast Cells and Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition via Regulating X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein (XIAP) Pathway
Authors: Du Juan , Ji Qinghong , Dong Lihua , Meng Yanping , Xin Gang
Published: August 2021

The components of the in vivo microenvironment are BMSCs and miRNAs that have a critical role in the development of pregnancy. Our aim was to further investigate the effect of the miRNAs of BMSC origin on pregnancy injury. Exosomal miR-378a-3p secreted by BMSCs was identified
by electron microscopy and miR-378a-3p expression was measured during gestational injury. Target scan detects the correlation of XIAP and miR-378a-3p which was confirmed by luciferase activity along with analysis of cell growth by MTT assay and cell invasion by Transwell and EMT expression.
Exosomal miR-378a-3p derived from BMSCs promoted proliferation and migration and invasion of trophoblast. miR-378a-3p targeted XIAP and its overexpression could significantly increase EMT switching. The miR-378a-3p/XIAP axis is critical in trophoblastic cell migration and EMT and is involved
in pregnancy injury progression, indicating that it might be a novel potential target for the treatment of pregnancy injury.
Impacts of Arctic Sea Ice on Cold Season Atmospheric Variability and Trends Estimated from Observations and a Multi-model Large Ensemble
Authors: Liang Yu-Chiao , Frankignoul Claude , Kwon Young-Oh , Gastineau Guillaume , Manzini Elisa , Danabasoglu Gokhan , Suo Lingling , Yeager Stephen , Gao Yongqi , Attema Jisk J. , Cherchi Annalisa , Ghosh Rohit , Matei Daniela , Mecking Jennifer V. , Tian Tian , Zhang Ying
Published: August 2021

To examine the atmospheric responses to Arctic sea-ice variability in the Northern Hemisphere cold season (October to following March), this study uses a coordinated set of large-ensemble experiments of nine atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs) forced with observed daily-varying sea-ice, sea-surface temperature, and radiative forcings prescribed during the 1979-2014 period, together with a parallel set of experiments where Arctic sea ice is substituted by its climatology. The simulations of the former set reproduce the near-surface temperature trends in reanalysis data, with similar amplitude, and their multi-model ensemble mean (MMEM) shows decreasing sea-level pressure over much of the polar cap and Eurasia in boreal autumn. The MMEM difference between the two experiments allows isolating the effects of Arctic sea-ice loss, which explain a large portion of the Arctic warming trends in the lower troposphere and drives a small but statistically significant weakening of the wintertime Arctic Oscillation. The observed interannual co-variability between sea-ice extent in the Barents-Kara Seas and lagged atmospheric circulation is distinguished from the effects of confounding factors based on multiple regression, and quantitatively compared to the co-variability in MMEMs. The interannual sea-ice decline followed by a negative North Atlantic Oscillation-like anomaly found in observations is also seen in the MMEM differences, with consistent spatial structure but much smaller amplitude. This result suggests that the sea-ice impacts on trends and interannual atmospheric variability simulated by AGCMs could be underestimated, but caution is needed because internal atmospheric variability may have affected the observed relationship.
Ocean Dynamics are Key to Extratropical Forcing of El Niño
Authors: Chakravorty Soumi , Perez Renellys C. , Anderson Bruce T. , Larson Sarah M. , Giese Benjamin S. , Pivotti Valentina
Published: August 2021

El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) has been recently linked with extratropical Pacific Ocean atmospheric variability. The two key mechanisms connecting the atmospheric variability of the extratropical Pacific with ENSO are the heat flux–driven “seasonal footprinting mechanism” (SFM) and the ocean dynamics–driven “trade wind charging” (TWC) mechanism. However, their relative contributions to ENSO are still unknown. Here we present modeling evidence that the positive phase of the SFM generates a weaker, short-lived central Pacific El Niño–like warming pattern in the autumn, whereas the TWC positive phase leads to a wintertime eastern Pacific El Niño–like warming. When both mechanisms are active, a strong, persistent El Niño develops. While both mechanisms can trigger equatorial wind anomalies that generate an El Niño, the strength and persistence of the warming depends on the subsurface heat content buildup by the TWC mechanism. These results suggest that while dynamical coupling associated with extratropical forcing is crucial to maintain an El Niño, thermodynamical coupling is an extratropical source of El Niño diversity.
Bias Correction, Anonymization, and Analysis of Smartphone Pressure Observations Using Machine Learning and Multiresolution Kriging
Authors: McNicholas Callie , Mass Clifford F.
Published: August 2021

With over a billion smartphones capable of measuring atmospheric pressure, a global mesoscale surface pressure network based on smartphone pressure sensors may be possible if key technical issues are solved, including collection technology, privacy, and bias correction. To overcome these challenges, a novel framework was developed for the anonymization and bias correction of smartphone pressure observations (SPOs) and was applied to billions of SPOs from the Weather Company (IBM). Bias correction using machine learning reduced the errors of anonymous (ANON) SPOs and uniquely identifiable (UID) SPOs by 43% and 57%, respectively. Applying multiresolution kriging, gridded analyses of bias-corrected smartphone pressure observations were made for an entire year (2018), using both anonymized (ANON) and nonanonymized (UID) observations. Pressure analyses were also generated using conventional Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System (MADIS) surface pressure networks. Relative to MADIS analyses, ANON and UID smartphone analyses reduced domain-average pressure errors by 21% and 31%, respectively. The performance of smartphone and MADIS pressure analyses was evaluated for two high-impact weather events: the landfall of Hurricane Michael and a long-lived mesoscale convective system. For these two events, both anonymized and nonanonymized smartphone pressure analyses better captured the spatial structure and temporal evolution of mesoscale pressure features than the MADIS analyses.
Weather risk management in marine survey campaigns for the offshore investment projects in the Polish Exclusive Economic Zone
Authors: Kubacka Maria , Matczak Maciej , Kałas Maciej , Gajewski Lucjan , Burchacz Marcin
Published: August 2021

Weather is a crucial factor and the most unpredictable of all the factors determining success or failure of any offshore activity, such as investments in seabottom grid connectors (gas, energy or communication), oil & gas drilling facilities development as well as erection of offshore wind farms. Weather conditions cannot be foreseen accurately over a time horizon longer than a few days, and so arranging a realistic work schedule for such an enterprise poses a great challenge. This paper identifies and analyzes the greatest risks associated with weather conditions at sea. The importance and impact of weather on the project implementation were assessed and mitigating measures were proposed. As part of the work, a review of scientific literature was conducted, while the core conclusions were reached using the information-gathering techniques and a documentation review of the offshore projects implemented in cooperation with the Maritime Institute. The authors based their analysis on experience from survey campaigns conducted in the Baltic Sea in the areas of the investments planned for implementation. The analysis of risks associated with weather conditions is based on the statistical weather data obtained using the WAM4 model.

The research reveals that it is impossible to create an accurate survey schedule for long-term offshore projects, however, using statistics for each individual hydrodynamic parameter can, to some extent, facilitate the creation of survey schedules for maritime projects.
Comparison of Survival Outcomes of Chemotherapy Plus Surgery vs Chemotherapy Alone for Patients With Isolated Liver Metastases From Gallbladder Carcinoma
Authors: Zhu Jisheng , Hu Wang , Zhang Yang , Du Peng , Xiao Weidong , Li Yong
Published: August 2021

Background

Chemotherapy is the standard of treatment for metastatic gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). It is unclear whether chemotherapy plus surgery improves the survival outcomes of patients with isolated liver metastases from GBC. We aimed to investigate the survival benefits of chemotherapy plus surgery in GBC with isolated liver metastases compared to those of chemotherapy alone.

Methods

We identified 406 patients with isolated liver metastases from GBC who underwent chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy plus surgery between 2010 and 2015 from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results. Patients were divided into 3 subgroups: group I, chemotherapy alone (n = 263); group II, chemotherapy combined with cholecystectomy (n = 116); and group III, chemotherapy combined with cholecystectomy plus hepatectomy (n = 27). The cancer-specific survival and overall survival were evaluated.

Results

Compared with group I, group II revealed a longer survival time (P < .001). In addition, the survival time of the group III was also prolonged (P < .001). Multivariate cox analysis showed that treatment strategy was an independent prognostic factor.

Conclusion

Chemotherapy combined with resection of the primary tumor plus or not plus resection of the metastatic lesions may be beneficial in GBC with isolated liver metastases.
Implementing Work Scheduling Regulation: Compliance and Enforcement Challenges at the Local Level
Authors: Lambert Susan J. , Haley Anna
Published: August 2021

Employment legislation intended to establish scheduling standards in hourly jobs is spreading across US cities. Yet the well-documented role that cost-focused business models play in shaping manager practices forecasts uneven compliance. Joining perspectives from labor and public policy studies, the authors examine variation in the organizational arena—local workplaces—where implementation of scheduling regulation is set to play out. Analyses draw on surveys and interviews with 52 retail and food service managers on the eve of enactment of Seattle’s Secure Scheduling Ordinance. By capturing the full range of variation in managers’ scheduling practices prior to enactment, and their distance from legal compliance, the authors contribute unique insight into the prospects of establishing universal work hour standards in service industries and the varying pathways employers will likely pursue toward regulatory compliance. Findings suggest targets for enforcement and manager training and offer insight into the implementation challenges posed by municipal-level regulation.
Burden on caregivers of schizophrenia outpatients in Brazil: Relationship to symptomatology and functioning
Authors: Di Sarno Elaine , Napolitano Isabel , Louzã Mario Rodrigues
Published: August 2021

Background:

To investigate the objective and subjective burden on caregivers of schizophrenia outpatients and their associations with sociodemographic factors, symptomatology, and functioning.

Methods:

This study included 60 schizophrenic outpatients aged 18 to 65 years who were clinically stable for at least 6 months, and 60 caregivers aged 18 to 80 years who were in contact with the patient for ⩾30 hours/week. The patients were assessed using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Clinical Global Impression Scale for Schizophrenia (CGI-SCH), and the Personal and Social Performance scale (PSP). The caregivers were assessed using a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Family Burden Interview Schedule, Brazilian version (FBIS-BR).

Results:

The objective burden was positively correlated with CGI-SCH cognitive symptom scores ( p = .032) and number of hours spent weekly with the patient ( p = .028), and negatively correlated with PSP score ( r = −.346, p = .007). The subjective burden showed a negative correlation with age of disease onset ( r = −.338, p = .08). The independent variables included in the regression model were family income ( p = .005), PSP score ( p = .009), patient marital status ( p = .012), patient gender ( p = .046), and reception of financial benefit ( p = .027) for objective burden; and disease duration ( p = .045) and father/mother or sibling relationship ( p = .001) for subjective burden. The coefficient of determination ( R2) of the linear regression model for objective burden was 39.4%; subjective burden, 21.6%.

Conclusion:

Caring for female, single patients with longer disease duration, more severe cognitive symptoms, impaired functioning, and more caregiving time required per week were associated with higher caregiver burden levels.
A Tale of Twin Dependence: A New Multivariate Regression Model and an FGLS Estimator for Analyzing Outcomes With Network Dependence
Authors: An Weihua
Published: August 2021

In this article, I present a new multivariate regression model for analyzing outcomes with network dependence. The model is capable to account for two types of outcome dependence including the mean dependence that allows the outcome to depend on selected features of a known dependence network and the error dependence that allows the outcome to be additionally correlated based on patterned connections in the dependence network (e.g., according to whether the ties are asymmetric, mutual, or triadic). For example, when predicting a group of students’ smoking status, the outcome can depend on the students’ positions in their friendship network and also be correlated among friends. I show that analyses ignoring the mean dependence can lead to severe bias in the estimated coefficients while analyses ignoring the error dependence can lead to inefficient inferences and failures in recognizing unmeasured social processes. I compare the new model with related models such as multilevel models, spatial regression models, and exponential random graph models and show their connections and differences. I propose a two-step, feasible generalized least squares estimator to estimate the model that is computationally fast and robust. Simulations show the validity of the new model (and the estimator) while four empirical examples demonstrate its versatility. Associated R package “fglsnet” is available for public use.
How Do Caregiving Responsibilities Affect Women’s Work–Family Spillovers Over the Life Course?
Authors: Duan Haoshu
Published: August 2021

Using three waves of data from the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS 1995–2014, N =1,123), this study investigates the linkage between caregiving and women’s positive and negative work–family spillovers over the life course. Results show that women’s work–family experiences are not only shaped by caregiving itself but also depend on the timing when they take these roles: the effect of raising school-aged children on negative family-to-work spillover (FWS) is the highest in the 40s, and the effect of raising adolescent children on positive work-to-family spillover (WFS) is the lowest in the 50s. Providing financial support to parents increases both negative FWS and negative WFS, and the effects are highest in their 20s and 65+, respectively. Providing emotional care and unpaid assistance to parents can enhance women’s positive FWS in their 40s. This study’s findings suggest that timing and linked-lives both play strong roles in shaping women’s work–family experiences.
Cytomegalovirus seroprevalence among blood donors: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Adane Tiruneh , Getawa Solomon
Published: August 2021

Background

Screening for cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific antibodies is not routine in some settings. Thus, transfusion of blood products poses risks for susceptible individuals.

Objectives

To investigate the global pooled CMV seroprevalence among volunteer blood donors.

Methods

This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. The databases searched included Embase, Google Scholar, Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Data were extracted independently and analyzed using STATA version 11.

Results

The global seroprevalence of CMV IgG, CMV IgM, and both CMV IgM and IgG was 83.16% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 78.55–87.77%, I2 = 99.5%), 13.77% (95% CI: 11.59–15.95%, I2 = 98.8%), and 23.78% (95% CI: 10.50–37.06%, I2 = 98.7), respectively.

Conclusion

The global seroprevalence of CMV was high among blood donors. Therefore, regular CMV screening should be conducted to identify CMV-seronegative blood donors.
Mind wandering and musical creativity in jazz improvisation
Authors: Palhares Pedro T. , Branco Diogo , Gonçalves Óscar F.
Published: August 2021

Mind wandering is a prevalent and ubiquitous phenomenon. Several studies suggest that mind wandering benefits creativity if it occurs in the incubation period of a creative problem-solving task. However, it could be impairing real-time expression of creative behavior if it occurs during the course of a creative task. This dissociation between incubation and performance suggests that mind wandering poses a double-edged sword to creative cognition. Jazz improvisation provides an ecologically useful framework for studying the effects of mind wandering on creativity. Here we hypothesized that mind wandering during a musical improvisation task would be associated with higher levels of musical creativity, compared with on-task attention. Nine experienced musicians performed several jazz improvisation tasks interleaved with the presentation of random thought probes. The results showed that musical improvisation during unintentional mind wandering was associated with higher musical creativity when compared with improvisation during on-task attention. However, mind wandering did not impact overall improvisational quality. Altogether, these data suggest that the positive relationship between mind wandering and creativity also extends to artistic performance domains.
Assessing Trustworthiness of Crowdsourced Flood Incident Reports Using Waze Data: A Norfolk, Virginia Case Study
Authors: Praharaj Shraddha , Zahura Faria Tuz , Chen T. Donna , Shen Yawen , Zeng Luwei , Goodall Jonathan L.
Published: August 2021

Climate change and sea-level rise are increasingly leading to higher and prolonged high tides, which, in combination with the growing intensity of rainfall and storm surges, and insufficient drainage infrastructure, result in frequent recurrent flooding in coastal cities. There is a pressing need to understand the occurrence of roadway flooding incidents in order to enact appropriate mitigation measures. Agency data for roadway flooding events are scarce and resource-intensive to collect. Crowdsourced data can provide a low-cost alternative for mapping roadway flood incidents in real time; however, the reliability is questionable. This research demonstrates a framework for asserting trustworthiness on crowdsourced flood incident data in a case study of Norfolk, Virginia. Publicly available (but spatially limited) flood incident data from the city in combination with different environmental and topographical factors are used to create a logistic regression model to predict the probability of roadway flooding at any location on the roadway network. The prediction accuracy of the model was found to be 90.5%. When applying this model to crowdsourced Waze flood incident data, 71.7% of the reports were predicted to be trustworthy. This study demonstrates the potential for using Waze incident report data for roadway flooding detection, providing a framework for cities to identify trustworthy reports in real time to enable rapid situation assessment and mitigation to reduce incident impact.
An Interpretable Pipeline for Identifying At-Risk Students
Authors: Pei Bo , Xing Wanli
Published: August 2021

This paper introduces a novel approach to identify at-risk students with a focus on output interpretability through analyzing learning activities at a finer granularity on a weekly basis. Specifically, this approach converts the predicted output from the former weeks into meaningful probabilities to infer the predictions in the current week for maintaining the consecutiveness among learning activities. To demonstrate the efficacy of our model in identifying at-risk students, we compare the weekly AUCs and averaged performance (i.e., accuracy, precision, recall, and f1-score) over each course with the baseline models (i.e., Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, and Decision Tree), respectively. Furthermore, we adopt a Top- K metric to examine the number of at-risk students that the model is able to identify with high precision during each week. Finally, the model output is interpreted through a model-agnostic interpretation approach to support instructors to make informed recommendations for students’ learning. The experimental results demonstrate the capability and interpretability of our model in identifying at-risk students in online learning settings. In addition to that our work also provides significant implications in building accountable machine learning pipelines that can be used to automatically generated individualized learning interventions while considering fairness between different learning groups.
The ongoing project of Irish sociology
Authors: Ó Riain Seán
Published: August 2021

This short article provides an auto-ethnographic perspective on the history of Irish sociology. It is based on the author's experience of Irish sociology, including: experiences as an undergraduate student in the late 1980s and later as a research assistant; a PhD in the US during the 1990s, starting during mass emigration but completed as the ‘Celtic Tiger’ emerged and sociology grew; 5 years in Ireland as a head of department, leading up to the financial crash and the decade between crash and COVID-19. Finally, the article concludes with some general observations about sociology in Ireland today, its promise and the perils that face it.
Assessing the Impact of Online Health Education Interventions From 2010-2020: A Systematic Review of the Evidence
Authors: Claflin Suzi B. , Klekociuk Shannon , Fair Hannah , Bostock Emmanuelle , Farrow Maree , Doherty Kathleen , Taylor Bruce V.
Published: August 2021

Objective:

Systematically review the evaluation and impact of online health education interventions: assess approaches used, summarize main findings, and identify knowledge gaps.

Data Source:

We searched the following databases: EMBASE, ERIC, MEDLINE, and Web of Science.

Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria:

Studies were included if (a) published in English between 2010-2020 in a peer-reviewed journal (b) reported an online health education intervention aimed at consumers, caregivers, and the public (c) evaluated implementation OR participant outcomes (d) included ≥ 100 participants per study arm.

Data Extraction:

Two authors extracted data using a standardized form.

Data Synthesis:

Data synthesis was structured around the primary outcomes of the included studies.

Results:

26 studies met the inclusion criteria. We found substantial heterogeneity in study population, design, intervention, and primary outcomes, and significant methodological issues that resulted in moderate to high risk of bias. Overall, interventions that were available to all (e.g., on YouTube) consistently attained a large global reach, and knowledge was consistently improved. However, the impact on other outcomes of interest (e.g., health literacy, health behaviors) remains unclear.

Conclusion:

Evidence around the impacts of the type of online health education interventions assessed in this review is sparse. A greater understanding of who online interventions work for and what outcomes can be achieved is crucial to determine, and potentially expand, their place in health education.
Modeling of penetration process of fragments in ballistic gelatin
Authors: Liu Li , Wan Anping , Wang Pengfei , Lu Qianqian , Zuo Qiang
Published: August 2021

Modeling the penetration process in soft tissue simulant is the basis for evaluating the damaging efficiency of projectiles. To investigate the penetration dynamics of fragments in gelatin, this paper presented a model describing both the penetration resistance and the temporary cavity dynamics. The modeling process was set up using the law of energy conversion and conservation. The equations for the movement of the penetrator and the movement of the target medium are closely combined through sharing the same set of parameters. Penetration experiments were conducted using fragments of two different shapes: cylinder and rhombus. By comparing with the experimental results, the parameters in the present model were estimated and discussed thoroughly. The present model can predict the movement of the penetrator and the cavity expansion in the target with satisfactory accuracy.
Eumycetoma and disseminated phaeohyphomycosis in a Sumatran tiger
Authors: Schaff Amanda R. , Ferguson Sylvia , Phair Kristen , Ferris Rachel , Goe Alexandra
Published: August 2021

A 16-y-old female Sumatran tiger ( Panthera tigris sumatrae) was evaluated for hyporexia. Examination revealed chronic kidney disease and a large subcutaneous axillary mass with draining tracts that contained numerous small black grains. Histologic examination revealed the presence of intralesional fungal hyphae. Persistent hyporexia and pyogranulomatous disease, as well as progressive cachexia and azotemia occurred despite treatment, and euthanasia was performed. Disseminated phaeohyphomycosis was diagnosed on postmortem examination, additionally affecting various lymph nodes, the nasal cavity, mesenteric adipose tissue, abdominal aorta, pericardium, and kidney. Fungal culture from a deep-tissue sample isolated a pure growth of Curvularia sp., a dematiaceous opportunistic fungus able to cause eumycetomas and/or phaeohyphomycosis. Phaeohyphomycosis is a rare but emerging condition, not previously reported as disseminated disease in an exotic carnivore, to our knowledge. Aggressive systemic antifungal treatment was unsuccessful, likely complicated by diagnostic challenges and concurrent renal disease. The presence of a swelling with abundant grains exiting draining tracts should direct clinicians to the diagnosis of a mycetoma, warranting early and aggressive treatment.
On the Importance of the Americans with Disabilities Act at 30
Authors: Blanck Peter
Published: August 2021

This article offers a glimpse of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) of 1990, as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (“ADAAA”), at its 30th anniversary. It considers current issues before the courts, primarily legal cases from 2020 and 2021, and new questions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, such the latitude of the ADA’s antidiscrimination protections and its definition of disability. It provides a quick primer on the basics of the ADA: employment discrimination under Title I, antidiscrimination mandates for state and local governments under Title II, and commands to places of accommodation offering services to the public under Title III. The ADA at 30 remains a beacon for a future in which all people, regardless of individual difference, will be welcomed as full and equal members of society.
Development of Novel Video-Based First Responder Opioid Hazard Refresher Training
Authors: Cerles Audrey A. , Dinh Nathan N. L. , MacMillan Laurel , Kemp Daniel C. , Rush Margaret Andrews
Published: August 2021

First responders encounter many hazards in the execution of their duties, and exposure to hazardous materials such as opioids is a primary safety concern. The ongoing opioid crisis in the United States continues to be a major public health issue, with overdose deaths from opioids reaching epidemic levels. Although responders frequently encounter opioids, available data on safety and risk are not always well-communicated, and we identified a need for refresher and just-in-time training products on this topic. In response, we created a training video series that is informative, concise, and visually appealing. The video series, available on YouTube, was tested with a small initial population, with findings suggesting key questions for a larger study focused on integration of the refresher training with existing programs to optimize retention and adoption of safety practices.
Mental Health Professionals’ Positions in Relation to Advance Statements: A Foucauldian Discourse Analysis
Authors: Gumley Andrew , Glasgow Angela , McInnes Gordon , Jackson Calum
Published: August 2021

Advance Statements enable mental health patients to have their preferences considered in treatment decisions in the event of losing capacity, but their uptake is poor. This is for complex and often conflicting reasons and factors related to service user, clinician, and institutional priorities, which influence clinical practice. A Foucauldian discourse analysis approach was used to explore how 13 mental health clinicians positioned their role in relation to Advance Statements. Five positions emerged from the data: taking account of peoples’ wishes, enabling people to have their say (to a point), we know what’s best, firefighting with risk, and leverage and liability. Discursive practices demonstrated and reinforced power relations between patients, clinicians, and wider systems. These findings highlight the challenge of legitimizing the knowledge of patients and need for a cultural shift at a systems level, which recognizes the ways Advance Statements meet the needs of all stakeholders.