bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence trends of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) in the aging population––A SEER‐based analysis from 2000 to 2016
Authors: Taylor Melissa A. , Switchenko Jeffery , Stokes William , Patel Mihir R. , McDonald Mark , Steuer Conor , Aiken Ashley , Beitler Jonathan J. , Shin Dong M. , Saba Nabil F.
Published: July 2021

Background

Tobacco and alcohol use are risk factors for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN); however, there is growing recognition of HPV as a risk factor for SCCHN. HPV‐related SCCHN is thought to affect mostly middle‐aged individuals but as the US population ages, it is important to evaluate the change in incidence of HPV‐ and non‐HPV‐related SCCHN in individuals who are ≥65 years old.

Methods

This was a retrospective study using data from a population‐based cancer registry (SEER) to identify individuals ≥65 years old diagnosed with SCCHN between 2000 and 2016 also stratified by sex, race, and birth cohort. The subgroups of HPV‐associated and non‐HPV associated sites were analyzed independently. The incidence per year was calculated and joinpoint detection was used to identity significant changes in incidence trends and annual percent change (APC).

Results

For HPV‐associated sites from 2000 to 2016, there was an average annual rate of 10.8 per 100,000 individuals with an APC of 2.92% (p = <0.05). For HPV‐ and non‐HPV‐related SCCHN males had a higher annual rate compared to females, 54.5 versus 18.0 in non‐HPV‐related and 19.1 versus 4.4 in HPV‐related sites. For non‐HPV‐related sites there was a decrease in APC across all stratified groups. For HPV‐related sites there was an increase in APC across all stratified groups, especially males (APC 8.82% 2006–2016 p < 0.05) and White individuals (APC 8.19% 2006–2016 p < 0.05). When stratified by birth cohort, HPV‐related SCCHN sites had a higher APC in ages 65–69 (8.38% p < 0.05) and 70–74 (8.54% p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Among the population ≥65 years old from 2000 to 2016, the incidence rate for HPV‐related SCCHN sites has increased across all stratified groups, especially in White individuals, males, and age groups 65–74. The incidence rate for non‐HPV‐related sites has decreased across all stratified groups during this time.
Chemical Variability of Moroccan Myrtle Oil
Authors: Bakhy Khadija , Belhachmi Touria , Benabdelouahab Tarik , Tomi Félix , Casanova Joseph , Paoli Mathieu
Published: July 2021

Thirty‐three oil samples isolated from aerial parts of Myrtus communis L. harvested in seven localities, from Northern to Central Morocco, have been analyzed by combination of chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. The 33 compositions have been subjected to statistical analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Two groups have been differentiated on the basis of their myrtenyl acetate and α‐pinene contents and each one was sub‐divided in two sub‐groups according to the contents of 1,8‐cineole and linalool. The compositions of our 33 myrtle oil samples may be named as follow by their main components: sub‐group IA (13/33): α‐pinene/1,8‐cineole/linalool; sub‐group IB (6/33): 1,8‐cineole/α‐pinene; sub‐group IIA (10/33): 1,8‐cineole/myrtenyl acetate; sub‐group IIB (4/33): myrtenyl acetate.
CTRP1 decreases ABCA1 expression and promotes lipid accumulation through the miR‐424‐5p/FoxO1 pathway in THP‐1 macrophage‐derived foam cells
Authors: Zhang Zi‐Zhen , Chen Jiao‐Jiao , Deng Wen‐Yi , Yu Xiao‐Hua , Tan Wei‐Hua
Published: July 2021

Prevention of ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1)‐dependent cholesterol efflux leads to lipid accumulation in macrophages and atherosclerosis development. C1q tumor necrosis factor‐related protein 1 (CTRP1), a conserved paralog of adiponectin, has been shown to aggravate atherosclerosis via its proinflammatory property. However, very little is known about its effects on ABCA1 expression and macrophage lipid accumulation. In the current studies, we found that CTRP1 downregulated ABCA1 expression, inhibited cholesterol efflux to apoA‐I and promoted lipid accumulation in THP‐1 macrophage‐derived foam cells. Forkhead box O1 (FoxO1), a transcriptional repressor of ABCA1, was identified as a direct target of miR‐424‐5p. Mechanistically, CTRP1 attenuated miR‐424‐5p levels and then augmented FoxO1 expression in the nucleus, which led to downregulation of ABCA1 expression and inhibition of cholesterol efflux. In conclusion, these findings suggest that CTRP1 restrains cholesterol efflux and facilitates macrophage lipid accumulation through the miR‐424‐5p/FoxO1/ABCA1 signaling pathway, thereby providing a novel mechanistical insight into its proatherosclerotic action.
Exosomal miR‐21‐5p derived from cisplatin‐resistant SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells promotes glycolysis and inhibits chemosensitivity of its progenitor SKOV3 cells by targeting PDHA1
Authors: Zhuang Liangwu , Zhang Binbin , Liu Xiaomei , Lin Lan , Wang Lingli , Hong Zhejing , Chen Jie
Published: July 2021

Ovarian cancer (OC) is a common reason for gynecologic cancer death. Standard treatments of OC consist of surgery and chemotherapy. However, chemoresistance should be considered. Exosomal miR‐21‐5p has been shown to regulate the chemosensitivity of cancer cells through regulating pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit alpha 1 (PDHA1). However, the role of miR‐21‐5p/PDHA1 in OC is unclear. The levels of miR‐21‐5p and PDHA1 in clinical samples and cells were investigated. Exosomes derived from SKOV3/cisplatin (SKOV3/DDP) cells (DDP‐Exos) were isolated and used to treat SKOV3 cells to test DDP‐Exos effects on SKOV3 cells. Extracellular acidification rate and oxygen consumption rate were tested with a Seahorse analyzer. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by a flow cytometer. PDHA1 was overexpressed and miR‐21‐5p was silenced in SKOV3 cells to study the underlying mechanism of miR‐21‐5p in OC. Quantitative real‐time PCR and immunoblots were applied to measure gene expression at mRNA and protein levels. The levels of PDHA1 in DDP‐resistant SKOV3 or tumor tissues were significantly decreased while the levels of miR‐21‐5p were remarkably upregulated. miR‐21‐5p in DDP‐Exos was sharply increased compared to that of Exos. Data also indicated that DDP‐Exos treatment suppressed the sensitivity of SKOV3 cells to DDP and promoted cell viability and glycolysis of SKOV3 cells through inhibiting PDHA1 by exosomal miR‐21‐5p. miR‐21‐5p derived from DDP‐resistant SKOV3 OC cells promotes glycolysis and inhibits chemosensitivity of its progenitor SKOV3 cells by targeting PDHA1. Our data highlights the important role of miR‐21‐5p/PDHA1 axis in OC and sheds light on new therapeutic development.
Flat, Ferrocenyl‐Conjugated Peptides: A Combined Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Study
Authors: Biondi Barbara , Cardena Roberta , Bisello Annalisa , Schiesari Renato , Cerveson Laura , Facci Martino , Rancan Marzio , Formaggio Fernando , Santi Saverio
Published: July 2021

We synthesized two homo‐peptide series, based on the Cα,β‐didehydroalanine residue. One series was functionalized with a ferrocene (Fc) moiety at the N‐terminus, the other series with a Fc at the C‐terminus. These conjugates adopt the flat, fully extended conformation, also known as 2.05‐helix. Cyclic voltammetry measurements revealed that the peptide length does not affect the redox behavior of Fc, independently on the peptide end at which it is appended. This outcome perfectly fits with the presence of fully‐extended peptides, as in this 3D‐structure the dipole moment is negligible. Thus, we confirm the results of our previous study with two Fc pendants: fully‐extended, α‐peptide stretches prevent or reduce the charge transfer along the peptide chain.
Redox Isomerism in the S3 State of the Oxygen‐Evolving Complex Resolved by Coupled Cluster Theory
Authors: Drosou Maria , Pantazis Dimitrios A.
Published: July 2021

The electronic and geometric structures of the water‐oxidizing complex of photosystem II in the steps of the catalytic cycle that precede dioxygen evolution remain hotly debated. Recent structural and spectroscopic investigations support contradictory redox formulations for the active‐site Mn4CaOx cofactor in the final metastable S3 state. These range from the widely accepted MnIV4 oxo‐hydroxo model, which presumes that O−O bond formation occurs in the ultimate transient intermediate (S4) of the catalytic cycle, to a MnIII2MnIV2 peroxo model representative of the contrasting “early‐onset” O−O bond formation hypothesis. Density functional theory energetics of suggested S3 redox isomers are inconclusive because of extreme functional dependence. Here, we use the power of the domain‐based local pair natural orbital approach to coupled cluster theory, DLPNO‐CCSD(T), to present the first correlated wave function theory calculations of relative stabilities for distinct redox‐isomeric forms of the S3 state. Our results enabled us to evaluate conflicting models for the S3 state of the oxygen‐evolving complex (OEC) and to quantify the accuracy of lower‐level theoretical approaches. Our assessment of the relevance of distinct redox‐isomeric forms for the mechanism of biological water oxidation strongly disfavors the scenario of early‐onset O−O formation advanced by literal interpretations of certain crystallographic models. This work serves as a case study in the application of modern coupled cluster implementations to redox isomerism problems in oligonuclear transition metal systems.
Analyzing Anisotropic Exchange in a Pentanuclear Os2Ni3 Complex
Authors: Heimermann Andreas , van Wüllen Christoph
Published: July 2021

Spin Hamiltonian parameters of a pentanuclear Os
Ni
cyanometallate complex are derived from ab initio wave function based calculations, namely valence‐type configuration interaction calculations with a complete active space including spin‐orbit interaction (CASOCI) in a single‐step procedure. While fits of experimental data performed so far could reproduce the data but the resulting parameters were not satisfactory, the parameters derived in the present work reproduce experimental data and at the same time have a reasonable size. The one‐centre parameters (local
matrices and single‐ion zero field splitting tensors) are within an expected range, the anisotropic exchange parameters obtained in this work for an Os−Ni pair are not exceedingly large but determine the low‐T part of the experimental χT curve. Exchange interactions (both isotropic and anisotropic) obtained from CASOCI have to be scaled by a factor of 2.5 to obtain agreement with experiment, a known deficiency of such types of calculation. After scaling the parameters, the isotropic Os−Ni exchange coupling constant is
 cm−1 and the D parameter of the (nearly axial) anisotropic Os−Ni exchange is
−1, so anisotropic exchange is larger in absolute size than isotropic exchange. The negative value of the isotropic J (indicating antiferromagnetic coupling) seemingly contradicts the large‐temperature behaviour of the temperature dependent susceptibility curve, but this is caused by the negative g value of the Os centres. This negative g value is a universal feature of a pseudo‐octahedral coordination with
configuration and strong spin‐orbit interaction. Knowing the size of these exchange interactions is important because Os(CN)
is a versatile building block for the synthesis of
/
magnetic materials.
Recovery of sums of sparse and dense signals by incorporating graphical structure among predictors
Authors: Luo Yiyun , Liu Yufeng ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: July 2021

With the abundance of high‐dimensional data, sparse regularization techniques are very popular in practice because of the built‐in sparsity of their corresponding estimators. However, the success of sparse methods heavily relies on the assumption of sparsity in the underlying model. For models where the sparsity assumption fails, the performance of these sparse methods can be unsatisfactory and misleading. In this article, we consider the perturbed linear model, where the signal is given by the sum of sparse and dense signals. We propose a new penalization‐based method, called Gava, to tackle this kind of signal by making use of a graphical structure among model predictors. The proposed Gava method covers several existing methods as special cases. Our numerical examples and theoretical studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed Gava for estimation and prediction.
Coil‐to‐Stretch Transition of Binder Chains Enabled by “Nano‐Combs” to Facilitate Highly Stable SiOx Anode
Authors: Xue Shida , Fu Yanda , Song Zhibo , Chen Shiming , Ji Yuchen , Zhao Yan , Wang Huizhi , Qian Guoyu , Yang Luyi , Pan Feng
Published: July 2021

The commercialized binder carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC‐Na) is considered unsuitable for micro‐sized SiOx anode as it cannot endure the large volume change to retain the conductive network during repeated charge/discharge cycles. Herein, a small amount of silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) is added during slurry preparation process as “nano‐combs” to unfold the convoluted CMC‐Na polymer chains so that they undergo a coil‐to‐stretch transition by interaction between polar groups (e.g., –OH, –COONa) of polymer and SiNPs’ large surface. Through maximizing the utilization of binders, a uniform conductive network is constructed with increased interfacial contact with micro‐sized SiOx. As a result, the SiOx electrode with optimized (10 wt%) SiNPs addition shows significantly improved initial capacity and cycling performance. Through revisiting CMC‐Na, a currently deemed unqualified binder in SiOx anode, this work gives a brand‐new perspective on the failing mechanism of Si‐based anode materials and an improving strategy for electrode preparation.
Feasibility of patient‐performed lung ultrasound self‐exams (Patient‐PLUS) as a potential approach to telemedicine in heart failure
Authors: Chiem Alan T. , Lim George W. , Tabibnia Amir P. , Takemoto Andrea S. , Weingrow Daniel M. , Shibata Jacqueline E.
Published: July 2021

Aims

Patient‐performed lung ultrasound (LUS) in a heart failure (HF) telemedicine model may be used to monitor worsening pulmonary oedema and to titrate therapy, potentially reducing HF admission. The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of training HF patients to perform a LUS self‐exam in a telemedicine model.

Methods and results

A pilot study was conducted at a public hospital involving subjects with a history of HF. After a 15 min training session involving a tutorial video, subjects performed a four‐zone LUS using a handheld ultrasound. Exams were saved on a remote server and independently reviewed by two LUS experts. Studies were determined interpretable according to a strict definition: the presence of an intercostal space, and the presence of A‐lines, B‐lines, or both. Subjects also answered a questionnaire to gather feedback and assess self‐efficacy. The median age of 44 subjects was 53 years (range, 36–64). Thirty (68%) were male. Last educational level attained was high school or below for 31 subjects (70%), and one‐third used Spanish as their preferred language. One hundred fifty of 175 lung zones (85%) were interpretable, with expert agreement of 87% and a kappa of 0.49. 98% of subjects reported that they could perform this LUS self‐exam at home.

Conclusions

This pilot study reports that training HF patients to perform a LUS self‐exam is feasible, with reported high self‐efficacy. This supports further investigation into a telemedicine model using LUS to reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations associated with HF.
Efficient Synthesis of Quinazolines from Aryl Imidates and N‐Alkoxyamide by Ir(III)‐Catalyzed C−H Amidation/Cyclization
Authors: Fan Wei‐Tai , Huang Zhibin , Xu Xu , Tu Guangliang , Geng Jingyao , Ji Shun‐Jun , Zhao Yingsheng
Published: July 2021

An Ir(III) catalyst was used for the first time to realize the synthesis of quinazolines by C−H bond activation/cyclization with N‐alkoxyamides as amidation reagents. This reaction has the advantages of wide substrate adaptability, good to excellent yields under mild conditions, short reaction times, and no need for an inert atmosphere. Importantly, several quinazolines from bioactive compounds were obtained, which highlights the importance of this new method.
A Solid‐Phase Assisted Flow Approach to In Situ Wittig‐Type Olefination Coupling
Authors: Tadros Joseph , Dankers Christian , Aldrich‐Wright Janice R. , Polyzos Anastasios , Gordon Christopher P.
Published: July 2021

Described herein is the development of a continuous flow, solid‐phase triphenylphosphine (PS‐PPh3) assisted protocol to facilitate the in situ coupling of reciprocal pairs of halogen and carbonyl functionalised molecular pairs by a Wittig olefination within 15 mins. The protocol entails injecting a single solution (1 : 1 CHCl3 : EtOH) containing the halogenated and carbonyl‐based substrates into a continuously flowing stream of CHCl3 : EtOH (1 : 1), passed through a fixed bed of K2CO3 and PS‐PPh3. With advancement to the previous PS‐PPh3 coupling procedures, the method employs a traditional polystyrene‐based immobilisation matrix, the substrate scope of the protocol extended to substituted ketones, secondary alkyl chlorides, and an unprotected maleimide scaffold.
Transcutaneous electrical stimulation in neck pain: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Rampazo Érika Patrícia , Martignago Cintia Cristina Santi , de Noronha Marcos , Liebano Richard Eloin
Published: July 2021

Background and objective

The objective of this systematic review was to investigate the effectiveness of electrical stimulation (ES) for neck pain (NP).

Databases and data treatment

The databases CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE (via OVID), PEDro and Web of Science were searched, with no date restrictions. Two independent reviewers selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting pain, range of motion or psychosocial factors in people with NP, in which ES was applied. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to evaluate the quality of evidence. Thirty studies met eligibility criteria.

Results

Main results showed evidence of moderate quality that ES combined with other intervention significantly decreases the pain intensity compared to other intervention immediately post‐treatment and at short‐term follow‐up; evidence of low quality showed significant effects of ES combined with other intervention in decreasing neck disability compared to other intervention immediately post‐treatment; evidence of very‐low quality that ES increased the pressure pain threshold compared to placebo immediately post‐treatment and that ES + other intervention also increased the pressure pain threshold compared to other intervention at short‐term follow‐up.

Conclusions

ES combined with other intervention seems to be useful to relieve pain and to improve disability in people with NP, however, more studies are needed.

Significance

Electrical stimulation seems to be effective for improving pain intensity, immediately post‐treatment in people with neck pain, mainly as an adjunct therapeutic modality. Nevertheless, high‐quality RCTs are still needed to investigate the efficacy of electrical stimulation in neck pain.
Organometallic Au(III) Based Electrochemical Sensor with Wide Anodic Potential Window for Sensitive and Selective Detection of Ochratoxin A
Authors: Xiang Yuan , Huang Hao , Wang Dan , Du Juan , Wu Dongping , Xiong Wanming , Hong Yanping , Chen Jinyin , Liao Xiaoning
Published: July 2021

Herein, an organometallic Au(III) catalyst was easily prepared via self‐assembly method using chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The electrode fabricated by the catalyst not only shows extended anodic potential window compared to that of Au nanoparticle‐based electrode, but also possess the high electrocatalytic activity in the selective oxidation of Ochratoxin A. Under optimized conditions, the modified electrode exhibits a wide linearity range from 1.0×10−7 to 1.0×10−5 mol/L and a low detection limit of 2.9×10−8 mol/L (S/N=3). Furthermore, the electrochemical sensor possesses good recoveries between 93.5 % and 98.2 % in real sample analysis, indicating high accuracy in real sample analysis.
Longitudinal neural connection detection using a ferritin‐encoding adeno‐associated virus vector and in vivo MRI method
Authors: Cai Aoling , Zheng Ning , Thompson Garth J. , Wu Yang , Nie Binbin , Lin Kunzhang , Su Peng , Wu Jinfeng , Manyande Anne , Zhu LingQiang , Wang Jie , Xu Fuqiang
Published: July 2021

The investigation of neural circuits is important for interpreting both healthy brain function and psychiatric disorders. Currently, the architecture of neural circuits is always investigated with fluorescent protein encoding neurotropic virus and ex vivo fluorescent imaging technology. However, it is difficult to obtain a whole‐brain neural circuit connection in living animals, due to the limited fluorescent imaging depth. Herein, the noninvasive, whole‐brain imaging technique of MRI and the hypotoxicity virus vector AAV (adeno‐associated virus) were combined to investigate the whole‐brain neural circuits in vivo. AAV2‐retro are an artificially‐evolved virus vector that permits access to the terminal of neurons and retrograde transport to their cell bodies. By expressing the ferritin protein which could accumulate iron ions and influence the MRI contrast, the neurotropic virus can cause MRI signal changes in the infected regions. For mice injected with the ferritin‐encoding virus vector (rAAV2‐retro‐CAG‐Ferritin) in the caudate putamen (CPu), several regions showed significant changes in MRI contrasts, such as PFC (prefrontal cortex), HIP (hippocampus), Ins (insular cortex) and BLA (basolateral amygdala). The expression of ferritin in those regions was also verified with ex vivo fluorescence imaging. In addition, we demonstrated that changes in T2 relaxation time could be used to identify the spread area of the virus in the brain over time. Thus, the neural connections could be longitudinally detected with the in vivo MRI method. This novel technique could be utilized to observe the viral infection process and detect the neural circuits in a living animal.
Cortical and white matter correlates of language‐learning aptitudes
Authors: Novén Mikael , Olsson Hampus , Helms Gunther , Horne Merle , Nilsson Markus , Roll Mikael
Published: July 2021

People learn new languages with varying degrees of success but what are the neuroanatomical correlates of the difference in language‐learning aptitude? In this study, we set out to investigate how differences in cortical morphology and white matter microstructure correlate with aptitudes for vocabulary learning, phonetic memory, and grammatical inferencing as measured by the first‐language neutral LLAMA test battery. We used ultra‐high field (7T) magnetic resonance imaging to estimate the cortical thickness and surface area from sub‐millimeter resolved image volumes. Further, diffusion kurtosis imaging was used to map diffusion properties related to the tissue microstructure from known language‐related white matter tracts. We found a correlation between cortical surface area in the left posterior‐inferior precuneus and vocabulary learning aptitude, possibly indicating a greater predisposition for storing word‐figure associations. Moreover, we report negative correlations between scores for phonetic memory and axial kurtosis in left arcuate fasciculus as well as mean kurtosis, axial kurtosis, and radial kurtosis of the left superior longitudinal fasciculus III, which are tracts connecting cortical areas important for phonological working memory.
The effects of income fluctuations on undernutrition and overnutrition across the lifecycle
Authors: Kosec Katrina , Song Jie
Published: July 2021

This study uses individual level data from a 13‐year, nationally representative rotating panel survey of Kyrgyzstan to estimate the effects of fluctuations in predicted income on health and nutrition outcomes from early childhood to adulthood. We consider impacts on both undernutrition and overnutrition side‐by‐side, and carefully consider the mechanisms at work. We address the endogeneity of income following Bartik (1991): We construct a measure of predicted income, obtained using the household's initial period share of income from different sources and aggregate national growth rates over time in each source. We find that young children (under age 5) exposed to reductions in predicted income experienced reductions in important measures of health and nutrition: weight, weight‐for‐age Z‐scores, and weight‐for‐height Z‐scores. We further identify reductions in both weight and height among older children (aged 5–18). Declines in child health and nutrition are most pronounced among households most dependent on agriculture and those living in rural areas. Reduced consumption of healthy foods and reduced parental time spent with children may help explain the results. A channel possibly offsetting negative impacts is increased use of contraceptives. At the same time, older children and adults experienced decreases in body mass index and—for adults—decreases in the incidence of overweight and obesity, suggesting selective health benefits for some groups.
Financial and social impacts of drug price changes: Evidence from 2017 healthcare reform in Liaoning Province, China
Authors: Gu Fulai , Liu Xiaobing , Qi Lian , Xu Xiaowei , Zeng Zheng
Published: July 2021

Healthcare reform was launched in China in 2017 to reduce the financial burden on both patients and the government by terminating the 15% markup on drug prices at public hospitals. To evaluate this reform's impacts, we conduct a quantitative study based on the operational data from one of the top 10 hospitals in Liaoning, China. Specifically, we utilize log‐linear and logistic regression models to examine the policy's impacts on patients' total healthcare expenditures and the hospital's adjustments of its offering list that consists of western medicine (WM), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and non‐medicine (NM). We find that the reform effectively alters the patients' spending structure and the hospital's profit model: (1) it decreases patients' average per‐visit expenditure on WM and TCM while increases their average NM expenditure; (2) it differently affects patients from various socioeconomic groups and leaves space to target on groups that may demand extra financial and healthcare assistance; (3) it slows down the hospital's revenue increase and incentivizes the hospital to shift the WM revenue from margin‐driven to volume‐driven and to weigh more on NM revenue and (4) it encourages the hospital to keep WMs with steady price and drop WMs whose price keeps rising.
Characteristics, stage at presentation, and status of women with cervical cancer at a major referral center in western Kenya
Authors: Mungo Chemtai , Randa Magdalene , Shauri Alice , Serem Davis , Stephen Ndei Ian , Kipkoech Kevin , Ganda Gregory
Published: July 2021

Synopsis

The majority of women (69.4%) referred to a regional hospital in Western Kenya for cervical cancer had late‐stage disease. Access to radiation was low and loss to follow‐up was high.
Preoperative planning for jugular‐foramen tumors: Preparation of a three‐dimensional surgical drawing
Authors: Yang Zhirong , Zhang Wenchuan
Published: July 2021

The goal of the article shows a new technique to provide three‐dimensional (3D) atlas to be used for a preoperative planning for safe resection of jugular‐foramen tumor. A surgical‐planning drawing was created based on the test results to provide precise guidance to neurosurgeons. Using magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans of the head as guide images, we generated a 3D surgical atlas. We first read the MRI and CT data into Mimics 10.0 (Materialize, Leuven, Belgium) and matched the orientation of the imaging with the actual head position. Anatomical structures captured on the scans were segmented into target areas, and then reconstructed using segmentation and model‐building tools. All 3D models were imported into 3ds Max11.0 (Autodesk, Inc., The United States) to generate a surgical atlas. We used the 3D atlas for surgical simulation to identify the optimal surgical approach, and then prepared a surgical drawing for surgery. The atlas was created using scans of one patient. We generated a 3D digital atlas of anatomical structures of the jugular‐foramen region for visualization, manipulation, and interaction in a virtual 3D environment and prepared a surgical drawing for jugular‐foramen tumors. The 3D atlas contained MRI information. In 3D atlas, a mouse can be used to actively interact with the model by manipulating viewer orientation, changing model transparency, matching 2D image with 3D reconstructions, removing or adding structures sequentially to show complex anatomical pathways or relationships. The atlas could be subjected to surgical simulation. We create a 3D atlas and surgical planning drawing of a jugular foramen tumor. The 3D surgical‐planning atlas may provide precise guidance for surgical operations.
Optimal Taxation in a Federal System of Governments
Authors: Sobel Russell S.
Published: July 2021

This paper demonstrates that the optimal structure of taxation in a federal system of governments is one in which only lower level governments are allowed to tax, and the higher level of government receives its revenues as contributions from the lower level governments. The central inefficiency created when multiple levels are allowed to tax is a revenue externality between governments that is analogous to a common pool problem. A federal system with multiple levels of taxing authority results in combined tax rates higher than would be optimal, a higher excess burden of taxation, and an inefficiency bias in government spending.
Public Policy and Youth Smokeless Tobacco Use
Authors: Chaloupka Frank J. , Tauras John A. , Grossman Michael
Published: July 2021

Much is known about the effects of prices and tobacco control policies on cigarette smoking, but little is known about their impact on smokeless tobacco use. This paper uses data from the Monitoring the Future Surveys, augmented with tobacco tax and policy‐related measures, to estimate smokeless tobacco demand equations for young males. The estimates indicate that higher smokeless tobacco taxes would significantly reduce the number of young men using smokeless tobacco and the frequency of smokeless tobacco use. In addition, the estimates imply that strong limits on youth access to tobacco products reduce smokeless tobacco use by young males.
Historical Decomposition of Aggregate Demand and Supply Shocks in a Small Macro Model
Authors: Fackler James S. , McMillin W. Douglas
Published: July 2021

We estimate and analyze the impact of multiple aggregate demand and aggregate supply shocks in a small macroeconomic model of the economy. The analysis serves two purposes. First, we assess the relative importance of the various shocks in explaining the path of output over the past three decades. Second, we conduct counterfactual policy experiments which show the effects of alternative policies on key macro variables. We find that using the monetary policy tool (reserves or the base) such that constant money growth occurs would have produced superior economic results.
Welfare Consequences of Alternative Insurance Contracts in the Mixed For‐Profit/Nonprofit Hospital Market
Authors: Dor Avi , Watson Harry
Published: July 2021

With the advent of managed competition, contingent insurance contracts are replacing traditional fee‐for‐service plans that were based on pooling principles. Under contingent contracts, insurance is tied to particular providers, while under pooling contracts, insurance is provided for services rendered by all competing providers. To examine the implications of such contracts in hospital care, we model two competing hospitals, a for‐profit and a nonprofit, within the framework of a two‐stage game. With various assumptions concerning the objectives of the nonprofit, we are able to explore the welfare implications of different insurance contracts and the overprovision problem.
Do Real Estate Brokers Choose to Discriminate? Evidence from the 1989 Housing Discrimination Study
Authors: Ondrich Jan , Stricker Alex , Yinger John
Published: July 2021

Discrimination is systematic unfavorable treatment based solely on group membership. This study focuses on racial and ethnic discrimination in qualitative actions by real estate brokers, such as showing an advertised house, based on 2000 audits conducted in 1989. Each audit consists of a visit to a broker by a white person and a black or Hispanic person with equal qualifications. The audit data are used to measure the incidence of discrimination and to test hypotheses about its causes. The results reveal widespread discrimination and indicate that brokers discriminate based on personal prejudice and the prejudice of white clients.
Persuasive Advertising and Product Differentiation
Authors: von der Fehr Nils‐Henrik M. , Stevik Kristin
Published: July 2021

We suggest a simple framework for characterizing alternative ways that “persuasive advertising” may affect consumer preferences. We illustrate the implications of our theory—and contrast it with results from models of informative advertising—by analyzing the relationship between the degree of product differentiation and equilibrium levels of advertising. The analysis suggests that a positive relationship between equilibrium levels of advertising and (inherent) product substitutability is consistent only with advertising that “increases perceived product differences.”
Imperfect Labor Mobility and Unemployment in LDCs: Reply
Authors: Parai Amar K. , Beladi Hamid
Published: July 2021

In a recent paper (Parai and Beladi 1997; PB hereafter), we have analyzed the implications of growth and trade policies for a small open economy facing imperfect labor mobility and unemployment of the Harris‐Todaro variety. We have used the Casas (1984) specification of the labor immobility phenomenon for a Harris‐Todaro type economy, and have shown that most of the results in Harris‐Todaro framework remain unaltered even under imperfect labor mobility, provided that the elasticity of labor mobility parameter exceeds a critical minimum value. On the optimal tariff issue, Gilbert and Mikic (1997; GM hereafter) find our results counterconventional. In GM's view, the nonconventional result in PB is due to our simplification of the labor mobility specification given by Casas. In this note, we offer our response to GM's comments.
Mixed Oligopoly, Privatization, and Strategic Trade Policy
Authors: Pal Debashis , White Mark D.
Published: July 2021

This paper investigates the effects of privatization in the presence of strategic trade policies within an international mixed oligopoly serving a single market. If the government uses a domestic production subsidy, then welfare is always increased with privatization, while the optimal subsidy falls. If the government uses an import tariff, privatization increases welfare over much of the parameter space. The optimal tariff, however, may rise or fall.
Delaying Inter Vivos Transmissions Under Asymmetric Information
Authors: Cremer H. , Pestieau P.
Published: July 2021

This paper develops a model of bequeathing based on a moral hazard type of argument. This model explains why altruistic parents prefer late bequests to early inter‐vivos gifts; it also analyzes whether or not they ought to leave rather equal bequests to their children even when the children end up with quite different incomes.
Efficiency Wages, Partial Wage Rigidity, and Money Nonneutrality
Authors: Lin Chung‐Cheng , Lai Ching‐Chong
Published: July 2021

The efficiency wage theory is generally regarded as a plausible explanation as to why wages do not fall to clear labor markets in the presence of involuntary unemployment. At the current stage of its development, not much is said concerning the role of nominal money and the fluctuations in aggregate employment and output. Adopting the efficiency wage theory, this paper uses the idea of partial rigidity of wages in an attempt to explain why changes in money supply and other demand management policies can cause fluctuations in aggregate employment and output.
The Political Economy of Trade Liberalization and Environmental Policy
Authors: Fredriksson Per G.
Published: July 2021

A pressure group model where environmental and industry lobby groups offer political support in return for favorable pollution tax policies is used to explain and predict the equilibrium pollution tax in sectors protected by tariffs. The political economy effects of trade liberalization are investigated. The pollution tax is shown to decrease if the lobbying effort by the environmental lobby decreases more rapidly than by the industry lobbyceteris paribus.The level of political conflict falls with trade liberalization. Pollution may increase because of a reduction of the pollution tax, and tax revenues may fall simultaneously as pollution increases.
Do Community Characteristics Influence Environmental Outcomes? Evidence from the Toxics Release Inventory
Authors: Arora Seema , Cason Timothy N.
Published: July 2021

This research uses neighborhood characteristics (at the zip code level) in 1990 to explain toxic releases in 1993. It combines the Toxics Release Inventory data with demographic data from the 1990 U.S. Census. We first analyze the location of manufacturing facilities in a particular neighborhood using a sample selection model, and then estimate the relationship between releases in 1993 and the demographic characteristics of the neighborhood in 1990. We conduct the analysis for the entire U.S. as well as for different geographic regions to study regional differences in determinants of environmental outcomes. Releases in nonurban areas of the southeastern U.S. exhibit a pattern suggesting that race might be an important determinant of release patterns. Economic characteristics of neighborhoods (such as income levels and unemployment) also affect releases. Our variables that proxy the propensity for communities to engage in political action exert greater influence on environmental outcomes in nonurban areas.
Mean Reversion of Real Exchange Rates in High‐Inflation Countries
Authors: Bleaney Michael F. , Leybourne Stephen J. , Mizen Paul
Published: July 2021

We test for mean reversion in real exchange rates using data from five countries, four of which have experienced episodes of high inflation. Using monthly data for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Israel, we find that a stochastic unit root model is typically appropriate (Brazil is the exception). Kalman filter estimates of the stochastic unit roots show sharp deviations from unity associated with high inflation episodes. This suggests that stochastic unit root models are a more appropriate way to model mean reversion in real exchange rates for high inflation countries than models with fixed rates of mean reversion.
The Role of Innovation in the Postentry Performance of New Small Firms: Evidence from Italy
Authors: Arrighetti Alessandro , Vivarelli Marco
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this paper is to relate the start‐up decision to the postentry performance of new small firms. We use a database of 147 newly founded Italian firms that have spun‐off from existing firms. The quantitative questionnaire analysis studied the relationship between the original factors shaping the decision to start a new firm, including learning in the “mother” firm, and the postentry performance of the new initiatives. The evidence suggests that innovative motivation, innovative learning, and a higher managerial position in the original mother firm tend to be related to a superior postentry performance.
Static and Dynamic Externalities, Industry Composition, and State Labor Productivity: A Panel Study of States
Authors: Partridge Mark D. , Rickman Dan S.
Published: July 2021

Endogenous growth models have reignited interest in regional economic growth. Recent regional growth studies focus on dynamic externalities related to localization and urbanization economies. Yet, these studies typically attempt to observe externality‐induced productivity effects indirectly through examination of employment growth. Also, issues of regional differences in concentrations of nationally productive industries and distinguishing between static and dynamic externalities have received little attention. This study directly relates measures of externalities to productivity differences, decomposing them into those due to differences in industry composition and those due to average productivity differences in each industry. A two‐step procedure is used to distinguish static from dynamic externalities.
The Trade‐Off Between Supervision and Wages: Evidence of Efficiency Wages from the NLSY
Authors: Ewing Bradley T. , Payne James E.
Published: July 2021

Standard efficiency wage models suggest that workers employed in places with lower probabilities of identifying shirking will earn more, as will workers who have better alternative opportunities. This paper provides new empirical evidence in support of efficiency wage theory using the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth data. The empirical results support the prediction of the model that workers employed in larger work groups are paid more, a finding consistent with a supervision‐wage trade‐off. Additional evidence supports the prediction that workers with better alternative opportunities earn more.
Welfare Reform and the Race to the Bottom: Theory and Evidence
Authors: Brueckner Jan K.
Published: July 2021

Economists have argued that welfare migration leads to a race to the bottom in the choice of welfare benefits. Although a system of federal matching grants can remedy this problem, the recent welfare reform law replaced the existing matching‐grant structure with block grants, a policy change that appears undesirable. To judge whether this critique of welfare reform is justified, this paper evaluates the evidence in favor of a race to the bottom. After explaining the theoretical effects of welfare migration, the paper surveys the empirical evidence on the occurrence of such migration, concluding that the evidence is mixed. The discussion also considers recent empirical tests for strategic interaction, which show that benefit levels in nearby states affect a given state's benefit choice. The most plausible source of such interaction is a concern about welfare migration, which leads policymakers to look at benefits in neighboring states when making their own choices. Judging that the evidence appears consistent with the existence of a race to the bottom, the paper concludes that the demise of matching grants may be undesirable from a policy perspective.
Labor Market Discrimination Against Men with Disabilities in the Year of the ADA
Authors: Baldwin Marjorie L. , Johnson William G.
Published: July 2021

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides civil rights protections to persons with disabilities, but the debate that preceded passage of the Act was not based on empirical estimates that could be used to measure its performance. This article estimates the extent of wage discrimination against men with disabilities in 1990, providing a reference that can be used to evaluate the impact of the ADA. The results show large productivity‐standardized wage differentials between disabled and nondisabled men that are weakly correlated with the strength of prejudice against different impairments. Physical limitations explain part, but not all, of the wage differentials. The results also show that low employment rates are a more serious problem than wage discrimination for workers with disabilities.
The Economics of Animal Farm
Authors: Hamlen William A.
Published: July 2021

This paper uses George Orwell's fictional story Animal Farm to make a comparison between Orwell's predictions and the Chinese experience with communism. An analogy is made between two characters from his novel, Napoleon the Boar, who attains power, and Boxer the horse, who does not. These are analogous to members and nonmembers of the Communist party, respectively. Readily available data by Griffen and Renwei (1988) are then used to compare the economic conditions of approximately 22,000 individuals. The empirical results strongly support many of Orwell's predictions. A theoretical predatory growth model that potentially explains the results is also introduced.
The Life Cycle of the U.S. Tire Industry
Authors: Carree Martin A. , Thurik A. Roy
Published: July 2021

We introduce a new theory of industry evolution. According to our model, the nonmonotonicity in firm numbers found in many young industries is a consequence of the gradual decline in unit costs. Early stages of the industry life cycle, when unit costs and profit margins are high, display positive net entry rates. In later stages, declining unit costs and increasing competition limit the market room for (fringe) firms accumulating in a shakeout. The model explains paths of output, price level, and firm numbers using a recursive system of equations. We apply the model to the U.S. tire industry.
Variation in the Effects of Aggregate Demand Shocks: Evidence and Implications across Industrial Countries
Authors: Kandil Magda
Published: July 2021

Over a sample of nineteen industrial countries, more variable aggregate demand and/or higher mean inflation attenuates (augments) the effect of aggregate demand shocks on real output growth (wage and price inflation) while having no effect on the response of the real wage to such shocks. In all countries examined, aggregate demand shocks are positively (negatively) correlated with nominal variables (real output). Among explanations of the business cycle based on shocks to aggregate demand, this evidence favors the new Keynesian sticky wage explanation over the sticky price and the new classical imperfect information explanations.
Foreign Aid and Domestic Politics: Voting in Congress and the Allocation of USAID Contracts across Congressional Districts
Authors: Fleck Robert K. , Kilby Christopher
Published: July 2021

This paper investigates the relationship between congressional support for foreign aid and the distribution of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) contract spending across congressional districts within the United States. The extent to which such a relationship matters has become increasingly important in recent years, as the end of the Cold War and the advent of the Republican‐controlled Congress have eroded the traditional base of support for foreign aid. We develop a model to illustrate how the distribution of contract spending could be used to increase support for foreign aid, but at the expense of development impact, in effect trading quality for quantity. Data on domestic foreign aid contract spending and votes in the 104th Congress House of Representatives allow us to test whether the geographic distribution of USAID contract spending within the United States is consistent with a systematic attempt to build support for foreign aid in Congress. Econometric results provide little evidence of such attempts, apparently because voting on this issue is insensitive to the distribution of contract spending.
Long‐Run Implications of Social Security Taxation for Growth and Fertility
Authors: Zhang Jie
Published: July 2021

This paper compares long‐run implications for growth and fertility of four types of taxation for social security with positive bequests. A tax rise under lump‐sum taxation enhances growth but lowers fertility, while other types of taxation do so under additional restrictions. A tax rise under consumption taxation is less likely to stimulate growth and to reduce fertility than under payroll taxation. A rise in an interest income tax raises fertility, reduces both savings and human capital investment, and hence is harmful for growth. The case with zero bequests is also discussed.