cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automatic Measurement of Positive and Negative Voice Onset Time.

Previous work on automatic VOT measurement has focused on positive-valued VOT. However, in many languages VOT can be either positive or negative (“prevoiced”). We present a discriminative algorithm that simultaneously decides whether a stop is prevoiced and measures its VOT. The algorithm operates on feature functions designed to locate the burst and voicing onsets in the positive and negative VOT cases. Tested on a database of positiveand negative-VOT voiced stops, the algorithm predicts prevoicing with >90% accuracy, and gives good agreement between automatic and manual measurements.
Applicability of noncardioplegic coronary bypass to high-risk patients. Selection of patients, technique, and clinical experience in 3000 patients.

Although some surgeons still prefer noncardioplegic coronary bypass, most surgeons are skeptical of its suitability for high-risk patients. We analyzed the first 3000 patients who had primary coronary bypass without cardioplegia since our program's inception. Patients with reoperations, valve operations, or carotid endarterectomies were excluded. Multivariate predictors of operative death included age, sex, left ventricular dysfunction, preoperative intraaortic balloon pumping, and urgency of operation. Eight hundred seventy-nine patients (29 %) were more than 70 years of age; 795 (27%) were female; 290 (9.7%) had an ejection fraction less than 0.30, and another 77 (2.6%) had left ventricular aneurysms; 196 (6.5%) had an acute myocardial infarction, and another 397 (13%) had a myocardial infarction less than 1 week preoperatively; 917 (31%) had rest pain in the hospital (preinfarction angina). Only 790 (26%) had elective operations. The overall operative mortality rate was 1.47% (44/3000): The mortality rate for elective operations was 0.5% (4/790); urgent 1.7% (28/1687); emergency 2.3% (12/523). In patients with an ejection fraction less than 0.30 the mortality rate was 6.2% (18/290); with age more than 70 years, it was 3.9% (34 of 879); with acute myocardial infarction it was 3.1% (6/196); and with left ventricular aneurysmectomy it was 1.3% (1/77). Inotropic support after leaving the operating room was needed in 6.6% (199 patients), and 1% (30 patients) required new intraaortic balloon pumping postoperatively (two of these 30 patients died). These results provide reassurance that noncardioplegic coronary artery bypass grafting provides excellent myocardial protection and operating conditions for primary coronary bypass and is particularly suitable for high-risk patients. (J T horac C ardiovasc S urg 1992;103:230—7)
Non‐Precious Metal Catalysts Prepared By Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks: The Ligand Influence to Morphology and Performance

A new, “one-pot” synthesis to produce highly active non-PGM electrocatalysts for PEM fuel cells was previously developed by pyrolyzing Fe doped zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) materials prepared by solid-state interaction. Excellent catalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities were found through rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) and single fuel cell tests. In this study, we compared the ORR activities and structural properties of two catalysts derived from ZIFs containing imidazole and methyl imidazole ligands, respectively. Our results indicate that alkyl group substitution in the imidazolate ligand has a profound effect on the final catalyst performance.
Why are Selectively Responsive and Multireceptive Neurons both Present in Somatosensory Pathways

It is a particular privilege to join in this symposium honoring Yngve Zotterman. His gracious hospitality and enthusiasm for science was an inspiration to me as to so many others. My invitation asked for an overview for the presentations to follow in this session, a rather difficult task because of the scope of the topics involved. I have chosen instead to offer a theory about a feature of the organization of the somatosensory system that touches on the several topics, with the realization that while speculation in science is a precarious game, it would have pleased Yngve Zotterman; he loved to practice it.
Synthesis and characterization of poly[(2-dimethylsilyl-2-cyclopentene-1,4-diyl) vinylene]

Ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of 2-dimethylsilylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2,5-diene (I) cocatalyzed by tungsten hexachloride/terramethyltin yields poly[(2-dimethyl-silyl-2-cyclopentene-1,4-diyl) vinylene] (II). This is the first example of ROMP of a monomer which contains a reactive Si-H bond. 1H, 13C, 29Si and IR spectroscopy were utilized to characterize II. The molecular weight distribution of II has been determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), its thermal stability by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and its glass transition temperature (Tg) by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).
Numerical Algorithm for Pólya Enumeration Theorem

Although the Polya enumeration theorem has been used extensively for decades, an optimized, purely numerical algorithm for calculating its coefficients is not readily available. We present such an algorithm for finding the number of unique colorings of a finite set under the action of a finite group.
Proposing a Compartmental Model for Leprosy and Parameterizing Using Regional Incidence in Brazil

Hansen's disease (HD), or leprosy, is still considered a public health risk in much of Brazil. Understanding the dynamics of the infection at a regional level can aid in identification of targets to improve control. A compartmental continuous-time model for leprosy dynamics was designed based on understanding of the biology of the infection. The transmission coefficients for the model and the rate of detection were fit for each region using Approximate Bayesian Computation applied to paucibacillary and multibacillary incidence data over the period of 2000 to 2010, and model fit was validated on incidence data from 2011 to 2012. Regional variation was noted in detection rate, with cases in the Midwest estimated to be infectious for 10 years prior to detection compared to 5 years for most other regions. Posterior predictions for the model estimated that elimination of leprosy as a public health risk would require, on average, 44-45 years in the three regions with the highest prevalence. The model is easily adaptable to other settings, and can be studied to determine the efficacy of improved case finding on leprosy control.
Maternal arsenic exposure and gestational diabetes and glucose intolerance in the New Hampshire birth cohort study

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a major pregnancy complication with detrimental effects for both mothers and their children. Accumulating evidence has suggested a potential role for arsenic (As) exposure in the development of GDM, but current studies have not assessed As exposure from water, urine or toenail samples. We investigated the association between As exposure and risk of glucose intolerance and GDM among 1151 women enrolled in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. Arsenic was measured in home well water and via biomarkers (i.e., maternal urine collected ~24–28 weeks gestation and toenail clippings collected 2 weeks postpartum). A total of 105 (9.1 %) of women were diagnosed with glucose intolerance and 14 (1.2 %) of women were diagnosed with GDM. A total of 10.3 % of women had water As levels above 10 μg/L, with a mean As level of 4.2. Each 5 μg/L increase in As concentration in home well water was associated with a ~10 % increased odds of GDM (OR: 1.1, 95 % CI 1.0, 1.2). A positive and statistically significant association also was observed between toenail As and GDM (OR: 4.5, 95 % CI 1.2, 16.6), but not urinary arsenic (OR: 0.8, 95 % CI 0.3, 2.4). In a stratified analysis, the association between water As and GDM and glucose intolerance was largely limited to obese women (OR: 1.7, 95 % CI 1.0, 2.8). Our findings support the role of As exposure via water from private wells in the incidence of GDM and that this association may be modified by body composition.
Parameter space for microbubble wall interaction estimated from gel phantom

Mechanisms for permeability enhancement using contrast ultrasound are not fully understood, although the successful use of contrast agents for drug and gene delivery has been demonstrated. Here, we aim to elucidate mechanisms for vascular permeability enhancement by directly observing microbubble contrast agents in a tissue-like gel phantom. The phantom used in these experiments allows us to flow microbubbles through a small channel (230 mum in diameter) and observe microbubble interaction with a compliant wall during an acoustic pulse at center frequencies ranging from 1 MHz to 2.25 MHz using laser-based strobe microscopy. The phantom is made of agarose gel that has similar rigidity to in vivo tissue. During a 1-MHz pulse with peak rarefactional pressure of 1.2 MPa and 10 msec pulse duration, fluid jets were observed as the bubbles disrupted the gel and created tunnels beyond the lumen of the flow vessel. The degree of gel disruption was greatly reduced using short pulse length (10 musec) and a pulse repetition frequency relevant to diagnostic imaging (10 kHz), despite matched duty cycle. Using a transmission frequency of 2.25 MHz (pulse duration of 10 msec), the amount of damage increased as bubble concentration increased from no gel disruption at diagnostic concentrations (1 times 105 bubble/mL) to significant disruption at high concentrations (1 times 107 bubbles/mL). Observations of microbubbles and their effects on a gel phantom help identify the mechanisms and important parameters for optimizing drug delivery with contrast agents.
Cyclotron Splittings in the Plasmon Resonances of Electronically Doped Semiconductor Nanocrystals Probed by Magnetic Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy.

A fundamental understanding of the rich electronic structures of electronically doped semiconductor nanocrystals is vital for assessing the utility of these materials for future applications from solar cells to redox catalysis. Here, we examine the use of magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy to probe the infrared localized surface plasmon resonances of p-Cu2–xSe, n-ZnO, and tin-doped In2O3 (n-ITO) nanocrystals. We demonstrate that the MCD spectra of these nanocrystals can be analyzed by invoking classical cyclotron motions of their excess charge carriers, with experimental MCD signs conveying the carrier types (n or p) and experimental MCD intensities conveying the cyclotron splitting magnitudes. The experimental cyclotron splittings can then be used to quantify carrier effective masses (m*), with results that agree with bulk in most cases. MCD spectroscopy thus offers a unique measure of m* in free-standing colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, raising new opportunities to investigate the influ...
Surgical Therapies for Management

Surgeons have played a role in the management of portal hypertension since Eck performed the first end-to-side portacaval shunt (the Eck fistula) in dogs at the end of the 19th century (1). Several surgeons in the early 1900s attempted to manage variceal bleeding with various procedures, but it was in the 1940s that there was the first systematic use of surgical shunts to control variceal bleeding by the Columbia Presbyterian Group in New York.
Limb Amputation Versus Limb Salvage

Several studies have compared outcomes after limb salvage and amputation in an attempt to define objective criteria to guide the decision of whether and when to amputate or reconstruct a severely injured leg. Most of this research is based on experience at civilian level I trauma centers. More recently, investigations in the military setting shed some new light on the results of earlier civilian studies. In this chapter, we review the current literature from both civilian and military perspectives and discuss the factors that influence outcomes beyond the decision to amputate or reconstruct.
Geographic Distribution of Scorpion Exposures in the United States, 2010-2015.

Objectives. To determine the geographic distribution of scorpion envenomations in the United States by zip code, with particular attention to the neurotoxic Centruroides sculpturatus (Arizona bark scorpion), for which an antivenom is available.Methods. We obtained scorpion exposure cases for 2010 to 2015 from the National Poison Data System. Using geographic information systems software, we mapped total exposures and incidence rates for 9 states that reported more than 100 annual calls. We also mapped cases that reported fasciculations and nystagmus (unique to C. sculpturatus among native scorpions).Results. The highest exposure incidences occurred in Phoenix (up to 677 per 100 000 population) and Tucson (584), both in Arizona. Elsewhere, high incidences were found in El Paso, Texas (213); Oklahoma City (209) and Tulsa (178), Oklahoma; and Las Vegas, Nevada (170). Fasciculations and nystagmus were reported in Arizona and southeastern Nevada, with small numbers in surrounding states, including Utah.Conclus...
Methods: Data Analysis for Disaster Epidemiology

Abstract Data collection and analysis is a core function of epidemiology and an important component in disaster epidemiology. Disaster epidemiology focuses on the preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation phases of the disaster management cycle. Data can be collected during the preparedness phase to determine the level of community resilience and capacity prior to a disaster and during the response phase to ascertain the current health status of the population including emergency responders. Data can also be collected during the recovery and mitigation phases to understand the risk factors and the short- and long-term health outcomes of a disaster. Data collection and analysis is an important mechanism for relaying information to decision-makers and emergency managers to maintain situational awareness and inform the decision-making process. This chapter will discuss common methods of data analysis in descriptive and analytic epidemiology that are utilized in disaster epidemiology.
A chronology of nostalgia: memories of former Angolan and Mozambican worker trainees to East Germany

This article discusses the chronology of nostalgia expressed by former Angolan and Mozambican worker trainees in East Germany. By shedding light on the different forms in which nostalgia was expres...
Evaluation of Multimedia Medication Reconciliation Software: A Randomized Controlled, Single-Blind Trial to Measure Diagnostic Accuracy for Discrepancy Detection

Background The Veterans Affairs Portland Healthcare System developed a medication history collection software that displays prescription names and medication images. Objective This article measures the frequency of medication discrepancy reporting using the medication history collection software and compares with the frequency of reporting using a paper-based process. This article also determines the accuracy of each method by comparing both strategies to a best possible medication history. Study Design Randomized, controlled, single-blind trial. Setting Three community-based primary care clinics associated with the Veterans Affairs Portland Healthcare System: a 300-bed teaching facility and ambulatory care network serving Veteran soldiers in the Pacific Northwest United States. Participants Of 212 patients with primary care appointments, 209 patients fulfilled the study requirements. Intervention Patients randomized to a software-directed medication history or a paper-based medication history. Randomization and allocation to treatment groups were performed using a computer-based random number generator. Assignments were placed in a sealed envelope and opened after participant consent. The research coordinator did not know or have access to the treatment assignment until the time of presentation. Main Outcome Measures The primary analysis compared the discrepancy detection rates between groups with respect to the health record and a best possible medication history. Results Of 3,500 medications reviewed, we detected 1,435 discrepancies. Forty-six percent of those discrepancies were potentially high risk for causing an adverse drug event. There was no difference in detection rates between treatment arms. Software sensitivity was 83% and specificity was 91%; paper sensitivity was 81% and specificity was 94%. No participants were lost to follow-up. Conclusion The medication history collection software is an efficient and scalable method for gathering a medication history and detecting high-risk discrepancies. Although it included medication images, the technology did not improve accuracy over a paper list when compared with a best possible medication history. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02135731.
In-hospital and subsequent mortality among lung transplant recipients with a prolonged initial hospitalization.

The care of lung transplant recipients with prolonged index hospitalizations can be ethically complex, with conflicts arising over whether the expected outcomes justify ongoing intensive interventions. There are limited data to guide these conversations. The objective of this study was to evaluate survival to discharge for lung transplant recipients based on length of stay (LOS). This was a retrospective cohort study of adult lung transplant recipients in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. For each day of the index hospitalization the mortality rate among patients who survived to that length of stay or longer was calculated. Post-discharge survival was compared in those with and without a prolonged hospitalization (defined as the 97th percentile [>90 days]). Among the 19 250 included recipients, the index hospitalization mortality was 5.4%. Posttransplant stroke and need for dialysis were the strongest predictors of index hospitalization mortality. No individual or combination of available risk factors, however, was associated with inpatient mortality consistently above 50%. Recipients with >90 day index hospitalization had a 28.8% subsequent inpatient mortality. Their 1, 3 and 5 year survival following discharge was 53%, 26%, and 16%. These data provide additional context to goals of care conversations for transplant recipients with prolonged index hospitalizations.
Transgenic Manipulation of SERCA and PLB Levels and their Effect on Cardiac Contractility

Myocardial contractility is determined by the regulated release and removal of Ca2+. Altered calcium handling is a common feature observed both in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Especially a defective calcium transport into the SR due to decreased expression and activity of SERCA pump seems to be responsible for impaired function of the failing heart. There have been also studies showing a decreased phosphorylation status of PLB and defective Ca2+ transport in human heart failure. Advances in genetic technology over the past decade have significantly improved our knowledge and understanding of the role of SERCA and PLB in myocardial contractility. This review highlights recent data from transgenic animal models, where the SERCA and PLB protein expression and activity are altered. In particular we discuss how changes in SR Ca2+ transport through SERCA and PLB, affect myocardial function in mouse models.
In-Situ Surface Mount Process Characterization Using Digital Image Correlation

Surface mount technologies (SMT) are widely used in the electronic industry to mount integrated circuit (IC) component packages onto printed circuit boards (PCB). Increasing miniaturization and form factor reduction drives the need for improved tools and techniques to better understand and quantify the fundamentals of the surface mount process A novel application of the digital image correlation (DIC) method, a non-contact, full-field optical measuring technique for quantifying displacements and strains on a surface of interest, is employed for in-situ lab-based SMT investigations to characterize solder joint collapse. A case study is presented to examine key phenomena during the SMT process illustrating the effect of package tilt on solder joint collapse as a result of asymmetric solder ball array pattern on BGA.
Market Failure and Regulatory Reform: Energy and Telecommunication Networks as a Case Study

The deregulation of public utilities continues to be a source of controversy and debate. Economic regulation has traditionally been justified on the grounds that the provision of necessary services for all sectors of society at just and reasonable rates requires control of the firm’s ability to set exploitative prices and restrict or denigrate basic service. Proponents of deregulation argue that such regulatory intervention constitutes a barrier to innovation, protectionism for special interests, and a disincentive to minimize the cost of service. Furthermore, they insist that replacing regulation with free markets will force prices toward costs, control excess profits, and sweep aside residual pockets of monopoly power in a grand Schumpeterian manner. However, experience over the past decade has shown that these arguments are seriously flawed. This paper will examine these defects and point to institutionalist oriented reforms.
Form versus Function: Using Technology to Develop Individualized Education Programs for Students with Disabilities

This article discusses the use of IEP software applications from the perspectives of form (i.e., legally correct documents) and function (i.e., educationally appropriate individualized programs). T...
Superconductivity (and Magnetism) in the Nickel Borocarbides

An overview of superconductivity in the rare-earth nickel borocarbides (RNi2B2C, where R represents a rare earth element or Y) is presented, with an emphasis on the interplay between magnetism and superconductivity in general and the behavior of the nonmagnetic superconductors YNi2B2C and LuNi2B2C, in particular. Some open questions are identified.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Motivational Interviewing in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder in a College Woman: A Case Study:

Alcohol abuse is common among college students. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is widely supported as a treatment of alcohol abuse. However, little research has examined how ACT may be pai...
Meta-analysis on a Decade of Testing Corridor Efficacy: What New Have we Learned?

Corridors are widely considered as a strategy to mitigate effects of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity. There are, however, lingering concerns about whether corridors work as intended and whether managing for connectivity in fragmented landscapes is even important for biodiversity conservation. In response, numerous manipulative and natural experiments have been conducted to test the effectiveness of corridors. Gilbert-Norton et al. Conserv Biol. 2010;24(3):660-8 (2010) reviewed such studies published between 1985 and 2008 and concluded that corridors are generally effective at increasing inter-patch movement. The authors noted a lack of studies measuring responses at the population and community levels, responses that would better approximate corridor effects on population persistence and aspects of biodiversity. Here I explored what new insights can be gained on corridor effectiveness from studies published in the last decade, particularly with an eye toward insights going beyond effects on inter-patch movement. Following the same selection criteria as Gilbert-Norton et al. Conserv Biol. 2010;24(3):660-8 (2010), I reviewed studies published between 2008 and 2018 that tested corridor effectiveness by comparing ecological response variables from patches connected and not connected by corridors. Analysis of effect sizes showed that corridors increase response variables, reinforcing earlier conclusions that corridors function as intended. Whereas the previous review mainly included corridor effects on dispersal, recent research shows support for corridor efficacy at a variety of levels of organization, from individuals to communities. These findings provide further support for the conclusion that efforts spent creating and maintaining corridors are worthwhile for biodiversity conservation.
TMC: Pay-as-you-Go Distributed Communication

We revisit the gap between what distributed systems need from the transport layer and what protocols in wide deployment provide. Such a gap complicates the implementation of distributed systems and impacts their performance. We introduce Tunable Multicast Communication (TMC), an abstraction that allows developers to easily specialize communication channels in distributed systems. TMC is presented as a deployable and extensible user-space library that exposes high-level tunable guarantees. TMC has the potential of improving the performance of distributed applications with minimal-to-zero development and deployment effort.
Pairs Trading Strategy with Geolocation Data—The Battle between Under Armour and Nike

In this article, the authors examine fundamental linkages between geolocation (human movement) data and financial market equity price behavior. The geolocation positions were recorded intraday and cover the period from January 1, 2018 to July 17, 2018. The authors concentrate their study on a popular hedge fund trading strategy known as pairs trading. First, the authors collect data regarding Under Armour (UA) and Nike’s stock market price and volume. Second, they investigate the volume of people visiting each physical store of UA and Nike, as proxied from anonymous cell phone geolocation traffic. Third, they monitor the relative activities for tweets related to UA and Nike. Fourth, after combining all the data, the authors glean the following fascinating results: (1) Geolocation information is proven to be an important factor in a pairs trading strategy between UA and Nike, according to the results of feature selection and prediction accuracy for price ratio change; (2) both ensemble methods of machine learning and rolling analysis could significantly raise the prediction accuracy; and (3) a pairs trading strategy incorporating geolocation information can have a cumulative return of 13.72% from January 2018 to June 2018, with an annualized Sharpe ratio of 3.88. TOPICS:Statistical methods, simulations, big data/machine learning Key Findings • Geolocation data can encapsulate the relative influx and outflux of consumers from department stores. This is an extremely useful feature in training machine learning models that can be used in lucrative pairs-trading strategies. • In the era of big data, it is tempting to throw every feature into a model and assume that the model will always figure out which features are most important. However, the model will usually perform better when trained on a subset of distinct features. • Ensemble methods are an effective means of eliminating bias in machine learning models because they use the output from a series of independently trained submodels to generate one balanced result.
Learning Mixtures of Separable Dictionaries for Tensor Data: Analysis and Algorithms

This work addresses the problem of learning sparse representations of tensor data using structured dictionary learning. It proposes learning a mixture of separable dictionaries to better capture the structure of tensor data by generalizing the separable dictionary learning model. Two different approaches for learning mixture of separable dictionaries are explored and sufficient conditions for local identifiability of the underlying dictionary are derived in each case. Moreover, computational algorithms are developed to solve the problem of learning mixture of separable dictionaries in both batch and online settings. Numerical experiments are used to show the usefulness of the proposed model and the efficacy of the developed algorithms.
Whole-body lymphangioscintigraphy and SPECT/CT in children with lymphatic complications after surgery for complex congenital heart disease

The number of patients surviving repair of complex congenital heart disease (CCHD) has increased due to improved surgical techniques, post operative management and outpatient care. Likewise, this growing patient population has demonstrated an increasing number and complexity of complications involving the lymphatic system. To evaluate the peripheral and central lymphatic system, whole-body lymphangioscintigraphy (LAS) is considered as the initial imaging evaluation of choice. To date, very few publications exist on the value of lymphatic imaging techniques in infants and small children with lymphatic complications following surgery for congenital heart disease. A retrospective review of medical records from 2008 to 2018 was performed for pediatric patients referred for lymphatic complications after CCHD surgery at an academic medical center. LAS and SPECT/CT was performed using intradermal bipedal injections of Tc 99m labeled filtered sulfur colloid, and in some patients also bilateral hand injections, followed by dynamic imaging and whole- body planar imaging typically up to 180 minutes post injection. Clinical decision making and outcomes were recorded. LAS and SPECT/CT were performed without complication in pediatric patients with prior surgery for CCHD. LAS successfully localized various lymphatic abnormalities such as lymphatic obstruction, reflux, and leaks, which were further delineated by SPECT/CT. LAS findings directed further evaluation with more definitive studies, management and prognosis. Five of the ten patients had follow up outcome data - 2 years and up to 10 years. LAS and SPECT/CT are safe and effective techniques for the initial evaluation of lymphatic abnormalities in pediatric patients with CCHD. LAS, particularly with further 3D localization by SPECT/CT, provides functional imaging of peripheral and central lymphatic flow and thus provides guidance for medical therapy, non operative interventional management, and surgical therapy for these diverse, debilitating, and often life threatening disorders.
CEO: Cost-Aware Energy Efficient Mobile Data Offloading via Opportunistic Communication

With the surging demand of data access, end users of mobile devices are increasingly facing the tradeoff between delay, energy efficiency, and monetary cost. Although delayed data offloading is seen as a promising solution, a coherent data offloading framework which simultaneously considers all three aspects is still missing. To fill this gap, we study the problem of cost-aware energy efficient offloading. We formulate the problem as a discrete time optimal control problem, and show that the optimal policy has a threshold-based structure. We further propose the Cost-aware Energy efficient Offloading (CEO) policy, which approximates the optimal policy and can be calculated efficiently. Through extensive simulations, we demonstrate that CEO adapts well to users’ preference of monetary cost and to the network environment. When compared to the state-of-art protocol, CEO can achieve up to 64% PDR improvement when cellular usage is to be avoided, and it can achieve a reduction of up to 23% in energy consumption, when the energy consumption is to be minimized.
17 Persuasion and Attitude Change

Attitudes refer to people's general evaluations. Attitudes vary in whether they have a primarily affective or cognitive basis, and whether they come to mind automatically or only with some degree of reflection. After articulating these features of attitudes, we present an organizing framework for understanding the processes responsible for persuasion. These processes are divided into those that emphasize effortful thinking about the merits of the attitude object versus those that rely on less cognitively demanding processes. This allows understanding and prediction of what variables affect attitudes and in what situations. In addition, this framework helps to place the various specific theories of attitude change in their proper domain of operation. For example, high-effort processes such as cognitive responses or dissonance account for attitude change when thinking is high, whereas lower-effort processes such as classical conditioning or the use of simple heuristics account for attitude change when thinking is low. Finally, recognition of high- versus low-effort mechanisms of change permits predictions about the strength of attitudes modified by different processes. Attitudes that are changed as a result of considerable mental effort tend to be more durable and impactful than attitudes changed with low effort. Keywords: attitude change; persuasion; elaboration; evaluation
Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) colonisation and infection among livestock workers and veterinarians: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an increasing public health concern worldwide. The objective of this study was to calculate a summary odds ratio (OR) of livestock-associated MRSA colonisation and infection in humans, and to determine specific risk factors in livestock production contributing to MRSA colonisation. Methods We screened PubMed and Embase for studies published from 2005 to 2019 inclusive, reporting livestock-associated (LA)-MRSA colonisation and infection among livestock workers/veterinarians, their families, and community members not regularly exposed to livestock. The primary outcome of interest was the OR of LA-MRSA colonisation comparing exposed and control groups. Quality was assessed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. A meta-analysis using a random-effects model was conducted to calculate a pooled OR. The heterogeneity in the meta-analysis was assessed using the I² method, and publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots. Results A total of 3490 studies were identified by the search, with 37 studies including 53 matched exposed-control groups and 14 038 participants eligible for the meta-analysis. The pooled OR for LA-MRSA among livestock workers and veterinarians is 9.80 (95% CI 6.89 to 13.95; p=0.000; I2=73.4), with no significant publication bias (Egger’s p=0.66). The OR for swine workers was highest at 15.41 (95% CI 9.24 to 25.69), followed by cattle workers (11.62, 95% CI 4.60 to 29.36), veterinarians (7.63, 95% CI 3.10 to 18.74), horse workers (7.45, 95% CI 2.39 to 23.25), livestock workers (5.86, 95% CI 1.14 to 30.16), poultry workers (5.70, 95% CI 1.70 19.11), and industrial slaughterhouse workers (4.69, 95% CI 1.10 to 20.0). Conclusions Livestock workers, particularly swine farmers, are at significantly higher risk for LA-MRSA colonisation and subsequent infection. These results support the need for preventive practices to reduce LA-MRSA risk among those who handle and treat livestock. Trial registration number CRD42019120403.
Finite-time stability of polyhedral sweeping processes with application to elastoplastic systems

We use the ideas of Adly-Attoych-Cabot [Adv. Mech. Math., 12, Springer, 2006] on finite-time stabilization of dry friction oscillators to establish a theorem on finite-time stabilization of differential inclusions with a moving polyhedral constraint (known as polyhedral sweeping processes) of the form $C+c(t).$ We then employ the ideas of Moreau [New variational techniques in mathematical physics, CIME, 1973] to apply our theorem to a system of elastoplastic springs with a displacement-controlled loading. We show that verifying the condition of the theorem ultimately leads to the following two problems: (i) identifying the active vertex ``A'' or the active face ``A'' of the polyhedron that the vector $c'(t)$ points at; (ii) computing the distance from $c'(t)$ to the normal cone to the polyhedron at ``A''. We provide a computational guide to implement steps (i)-(ii) in the case of an arbitrary elastoplastic system and apply the guide to a particular example. Due to the simplicity of the particular example, we can solve (i)-(ii) by the methods of linear algebra and minor combinatorics.
Level of Comfort With Pediatric Trauma Transports: Survey of Prehospital Providers

Background Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in pediatric patients. Despite a heavy burden of pediatric trauma, prehospital transport and triage of pediatric trauma patients are not standardized. Prehospital providers report anxiety and a lack of confidence in transport, triage, and care of pediatric trauma patients. Materials and methods Prehospital transport providers with 3 organizations across southeast Georgia and northeast Florida were contacted via email (n = 146) and asked to complete 2 Web-based surveys to evaluate their comfort level with performing tasks in the transport of pediatric and adult trauma patients. Bivariate statistics and qualitative thematic analyses were performed to assess comfort with pediatric trauma transports. Results Survey 1 (N = 35) showed that mean comfort levels of prehospital providers were significantly lower for pediatric patients than adult trauma patients in 7 out of 9 tasks queried, including airway management and interpreting children's physiology. The following themes emerged from survey 2 (N = 14) responses: additional clinical knowledge resources would be beneficial when caring for pediatric trauma patients, pediatric medication administration is a source of uncertainty, prehospital transport teams would benefit from additional pediatric trauma training, infrequent transport of pediatric trauma patients affects provider comfort level, and pediatric trauma generates higher levels of anxiety among providers. Discussion Prehospital transport of pediatric trauma patients is infrequent and a source of anxiety for prehospital providers. Rigs should be equipped with a reference tool addressing crucial tasks and deficiencies in training.
Males can't afford to be choosy: Male reproductive investment does not influence preference for female size in Limia (Poeciliidae).

Abstract Reproductive investment was initially thought to be the key selective force behind male mate preference for female characters, like size or ornamentation (i.e., the preference by males for certain females). Yet, evidence of polygynous species, where male reproductive investments are often inexpensive compared to those of females, have also been described to possess male preference. Our study aims to understand how reproductive investment influences the selection of choosy males in polygynous systems using two species of livebearing fishes varying in reproductive investment: Limia perugiae, in which males invest heavily into reproduction, and L. zonata in which males invest minimally into reproduction. We hypothesized that male reproductive investment when combined with fecundity selection will favour the evolution of male mate preference and thereby lead to males that invest heavily into reproduction being choosier than males that invest minimally. When male Limia were exposed to two females simultaneously, one from the small size class and one from the large size class, L. zonata chose large females over small ones, whereas L. perugiae allocated the same amount of time regardless of female size class. Although we fail to find support for our original hypotheses, our study highlights the need for a more thorough examination of non-model species like Limia. We suggest future studies analyse reproductive investment as it interacts with cryptic choice, multiple sensory cues as well as expand comparisons to multiple Limia species, especially those endemic to Cuba, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica.
Improved methods for protein and single-molecule RNA detection in C. elegans embryos

ABSTRACT Visualization of gene products in Caenorhabditis elegans has provided insights into the molecular and biological functions of many novel genes in their native contexts. Single-molecule Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (smFISH) and Immunofluorescence (IF) visualize the abundance and localization of mRNAs and proteins, respectively, allowing researchers to elucidate the localization, dynamics, and functions of many genes. Here, we describe several improvements and optimizations to existing IF and smFISH approaches specifically for use in C. elegans embryos. We present 1) optimized fixation and permeabilization steps to preserve cellular morphology while maintaining probe and antibody accessibility, 2) a streamlined, in-tube approach that negates freeze-cracking, 3) the smiFISH (single molecule inexpensive FISH) adaptation that reduces cost, 4) an assessment of optimal anti-fade products, and 5) straightforward quantification and data analysis methods. Most importantly, published IF and smFISH protocols have predominantly been mutually exclusive, preventing exploration of relationships between an mRNA and a relevant protein in the same sample. Here, we present methods to combine IF and smFISH protocols in C. elegans embryos including an efficient method harnessing nanobodies. Finally, we discuss tricks and tips to help the reader optimize and troubleshoot individual steps in each protocol.
Abstract 16811: In-Utero Coxsackievirus Type B Infection is Associated With Congenital Pulmonary Atresia

Introduction: Maternal exposure to various pathogens during pregnancy has been well established as a cause of congenital heart defects (CHD). Suggestive, although inconclusive, data exists of an as...
What Drives the 'Smart-Money' Effect? Evidence from Investors' Money Flow to Mutual Fund Classes

The literature proposes two competing explanations — the “smart-money” and “persistent-flow” hypotheses — for the positive relation between mutual fund flow and future fund performance. We examine the flow-performance relation for different classes of U.S. domestic equity mutual funds. Our results show a stronger positive relation for the retail class than for the institutional class. More importantly, the significant relation for the retail class is mainly driven by funds with net outflow. This evidence is inconsistent with the smart-money hypothesis. We further show that retail funds exhibit greater persistence than institutional funds in net outflow. Once we control for expected fund flows, the flow-performance relation is no longer significant. We also perform robustness checks based on international funds and bond funds. The findings are supportive of the persistent-flow explanation.
Three-dimensional stochastic simulation of chemoattractant-mediated excitability in cells.

During the last decade, a consensus has emerged that the stochastic triggering of an excitable system drives pseudopod formation and subsequent migration of amoeboid cells. The presence of chemoattractant stimuli alters the threshold for triggering this activity and can bias the direction of migration. Though noise plays an important role in these behaviors, mathematical models have typically ignored its origin and merely introduced it as an external signal into a series of reaction-diffusion equations. Here we consider a more realistic description based on a reaction-diffusion master equation formalism to implement these networks. In this scheme, noise arises naturally from a stochastic description of the various reaction and diffusion terms. Working on a three-dimensional geometry in which separate compartments are divided into a tetrahedral mesh, we implement a modular description of the system, consisting of G-protein coupled receptor signaling (GPCR), a local excitation-global inhibition mechanism (LEGI), and signal transduction excitable network (STEN). Our models implement detailed biochemical descriptions whenever this information is available, such as in the GPCR and G-protein interactions. In contrast, where the biochemical entities are less certain, such as the LEGI mechanism, we consider various possible schemes and highlight the differences between them. Our stimulations show that even when the LEGI mechanism displays perfect adaptation in terms of the mean level of proteins, the variance shows a dose-dependence. This differs between the various models considered, suggesting a possible means for determining experimentally among the various potential networks. Overall, our simulations recreate temporal and spatial patterns observed experimentally in both wild-type and perturbed cells, providing further evidence for the excitable system paradigm. Moreover, because of the overall importance and ubiquity of the modules we consider, including GPCR signaling and adaptation, our results will be of interest beyond the field of directed migration.
The major histocompatibility complex of tassel-eared squirrels

The extent of polymorphism and the rate of divergence of class I and class II sequences mapping to the mammalian major histocompatibility complex (MHC) have been the subject of experimentation and speculation. To provide further insight into the evolution of the MHC we have initiated the analysis of two geographically isolated subspecies of tassel-eared squirrels. In the preceding communication we described the number and polymorphism of TSLA class I and class II sequences in Kaibab squirrels (S. aberti kaibabensis), which live north of the Grand Canyon. In this report we present a parallel analysis of Abert squirrels (S. aberti aberti), which live south of the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona. Genomic DNA from 12 Abert squirrels was digested with restriction enzymes, electrophoresed, blotted, and hybridized with DR α , DR β , DQ α , DQ β , and HLA-B7 probes. The results of these hybridizations were remarkably similar to those obtained in Kaibab squirrels. The majority of class I and class Il bands were identical in size and number, suggesting that Abert and Kaibab squirrels have not significantly diverged in the TSLA complex despite their geographical separation. Relative polymorphism of class 11 sequences was similar to that observed with Kaibab squirrels: β sequences exhibited higher polymorphism than a sequences. As in Kaibab squirrels, a number of α and β sequences were apparently carried on the same fragments. In comparison to class II β sequences, there was limited polymorphism in class I sequences, although a diverse number of class I genotypes were observed. Attempts to identify segregating TSLA haplotypes were futile in that the only families of sequences with concordant distributions were DQα and DQ β . These observations and those obtained with Kaibab squirrels suggest that the present-day TSLA haplotypes of both subspecies are derived from a limited number of common, progenitor haplotypes through repeated intra-TSLA recombination.
Accountability and Motivation.

Successful reform policy-making commonly involves correct policy choices followed by quality implementation. When political decision makers carry out these decisions, office-holding motives may prevent them from acting in the most appropriate way. I build a formal model to examine how a decision maker with conflicting policy and office-holding motives makes reform policies across several salient information environments. My model highlights the difficulty of fine-tuning the decision maker's motives in a context where pandering is inevitable. I show that backing away from full transparency often helps -- not by eliminating pandering, but by lending credibility to a retention rule that is pivotal on reform outcomes -- to provide a high-powered incentive for implementation. Excessively stringent or lenient transparency requirements direct the decision maker's attention to acting congruently without taking the policy consequences seriously.
Stem Cells in the Cornea

The cornea is the tough, transparent tissue through which light first enters the eye and functions as a barrier to debris and infection as well as two-thirds of the refractive power of the eye. Corneal damage that is not promptly treated will often lead to scarring and vision impairment. Due to the limited options currently available to treat corneal scars, the identification and isolation of stem cells in the cornea has received much attention, as they may have potential for autologous, cell-based approaches to the treatment of damaged corneal tissue.