cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Social and emotional processing in Prader-Willi syndrome: genetic subtype differences

People with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) demonstrate social dysfunction and increased risk of autism spectrum disorder, especially those with the maternal uniparental disomy (mUPD) versus paternal deletion genetic subtype. This study compared the neural processing of social (faces) and nonsocial stimuli, varying in emotional valence, across genetic subtypes in 24 adolescents and adults with PWS. Upright and inverted faces, and nonsocial objects with positive and negative emotional valence were presented to participants with PWS in an oddball paradigm with smiling faces serving as targets. Behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) data were recorded. There were no genetic subtype group differences in accuracy, and all participants performed above chance level. ERP responses revealed genetic subtype differences in face versus object processing. In those with deletions, the face-specific posterior N170 response varied in size for face stimuli versus inverted faces versus nonsocial objects. Persons with mUPD generated N170 of smaller amplitude and showed no stimulus differentiation. Brain responses to emotional content did not vary by subtype. All participants elicited larger posterior and anterior late positive potential responses to positive objects than to negative objects. Emotion-related differences in response to faces were limited to inverted faces only in the form of larger anterior late positive potential amplitudes to negative emotions over the right hemisphere. Detection of the target smiling faces was evident in the increased amplitude of the frontal and central P3 responses but only for inverted smiling faces. Persons with the mUPD subtype of PWS may show atypical face versus object processes, yet both subtypes demonstrated potentially altered processing, attention to and/or recognition of faces and their expressions.
Price Behavior on a Declining Terminal Market

The relationship of prices of choice steers on the Denver terminal market to comparable prices on the Omaha market apparently was influenced by the sharp decline in saleable receipts in Denver. But price effects of the volume of trading were measurable only when the volume in Denver became extremely small in 1967 and 1968. These results are consistent with defining a thin market place by using sampling concepts. Some subtleties of using Chebyschev's inequality to define a thin market are discussed.
The cHS4 insulator increases the probability of retroviral expression at random chromosomal integration sites.

Retroviruses are highly susceptible to transcriptional silencing and position effects imparted by chromosomal sequences at their integration site. These phenomena hamper the use of recombinant retroviruses as stable gene delivery vectors. As insulators are able to block promoter-enhancer interactions and reduce position effects in some transgenic animals, we examined the effect of an insulator on the expression and structure of randomly integrated recombinant retroviruses. We used the cHS4 element, an insulator from the chicken β-like globin gene cluster, which has been shown to reduce position effects in transgenic Drosophila. A large panel of mouse erythroleukemia cells that bear a single copy of integrated recombinant retroviruses was generated without using drug selection. We show that the cHS4 increases the probability that integrated proviruses will express and dramatically decreases the level of de novo methylation of the 5′ long terminal repeat. These findings support a primary role of methylation in the silencing of retroviruses and suggest that cHS4 could be useful in gene therapy applications to overcome silencing of retroviral vectors.
Temperature- and wind-induced air flow patterns in a staircase. Computer modelling and experimental verification

Abstract The typical infiltration load for a residential building has been found to range from one-third to one-half of the total space conditioning load. However, most infiltration measurements have been made on single-family houses. Information about the role of infiltration in the energy consumption of large buildings is limited. Furthermore, the prediction of infiltration rates in high-rise buildings is a complex problem. The forces that drive this flow result from the superposition of wind pressure on the faces of the building and the stack effect across the height of the building. Infiltration models have shown the latter effect to be significant in single-family residences, particular in colder climates and, consequently, the stack effect is even greater in high-rise buildings. For this work, we performed tracer gas and fan pressurization measurements on a 30 m tall University of California dormitory in order to determine the importance of both wind and stack effect upon infiltration. Measured pressure and tracer gas distributions were compared with those from a predictive infiltration computer model for high-rise buildings. To study the influence of the air flow pattern around the building, this model uses various wind velocity profiles characteristic of urban areas and different sets of surface pressure coefficients derived from wind tunnel experiments.
Integrating simulation into a busy residency program.

A mandatory program of computer‐driven simulation training was instituted in a medium‐sized surgical training program in order to achieve the goal of increased resident performance outside the setting of direct patient care. Postgraduate year (PGY) 1–5 residents received mentored instruction on a virtual reality (VR) laparoscopic surgical trainer in performance of specific tasks appropriate to training level. Training for PGY 1–2 residents consisted of basic manipulative VR tasks. Training for PGY 3–5 residents consisted of VR suturing and intracorporeal knot‐tying tasks. Each resident received two to four mentored one‐hour sessions, and was instructed to return for self‐directed practice during blocked and unscheduled time. PGY 3–5 residents had laparoscopic suturing and knot‐tying skills evaluated in an animal model prior to onset of VR training and two to four months after start of training. After seven months of availability of training, PGY 1–2 residents had undertaken significantly more training ses...
Postoperative oxygen saturation following propofol–nitrous oxide versus halothane–nitrous oxide anaesthesia in children

Postoperative haemoglobin oxygen saturation values (Spo2) may be decreased after even minor surgical procedures. Therefore, we evaluated the incidence of postoperative hypoxaemia in children randomized to receive either halothane–nitrous oxide (N2O) or propofol–N2O, during a standardized anaesthetic technique for superficial surgery. After tracheal extubation, all patients received 100% oxygen for at least 3 min and then were transported to the Postanaesthetic Care Unit (PACU) in the left lateral position. The Spo2 values were monitored in the PACU and supplemental oxygen was administered to all patients with Spo2 < 90%. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics or in the times to tracheal extubation and transport to the PACU between the two groups. While Spo2 values decreased in both groups during transport, they did not differ significantly at any time in the PACU. In addition, no significant differences in Spo2 values were noted at any point between subgroups of patients who did or did not undergo surgical procedures associated with postoperative pharyngeal bleeding. We conclude that the use of propofol does not decrease the incidence of postoperative hypoxaemia in this patient population.
Social dominance in childhood and its evolutionary underpinnings: why it matters and what we can do

Bullying is a common and familiar manifestation of power differentials and social hierarchy. Much has been written lately about bullying in schools, in the workplace, and even in the National Football League. Such hierarchies are pervasive in nature. They can be subtly, almost imperceptibly, managed (by glances, gestures, or implicit cultural expectations), brutally enforced (authoritarian rule, vicious attacks, or explicit edicts), or anything in between. These power differentials affect our daily behavior and thought processes, are a large source of our psychosocial stress, and influence our health and well-being. As an evolutionary developmental psychologist focusing on aggression and peer relationships in childhood, I present for this article an evolutionary view to children’s social functioning as it relates to power differentials. First, 3 common errors in thinking about dominance are dispelled. The discussion next focuses on social dominance in childhood, including how humans appear to be prepared to think about and navigate these relationships, how aggression plays a starring role, and the unfortunate costs associated with competitive losses. (Bullying is a case in point.) The more positive side to power is then introduced; namely, the counterintuitive role of prosocial (other-oriented, friendly) behavior. Finally, in closing, some thoughts about remediation are offered. ### Error #1: Because Hierarchies Are Natural (ie, Pervasive in Nature), They Must Be Good In this context, “good” can have at least 2 distinct meanings: “morally correct” or “good for us” (as in bestowing well-being benefits). It is both fallacious and dangerous, however, to equate what is natural with what is good in either sense of the word. There are at least 2 classes of argument, 1 philosophical and 1 practical, which show why this assumption is incorrect. #### The Naturalistic Fallacy The philosophical angle involves the naturalistic fallacy (as compared with appeal to nature); it is fallacious to conclude that simply because something is found in nature, it must also be inherently good. The flipside is also … Address correspondence to Patricia H. Hawley, PhD, 3008 18th St, Box 41071, Lubbock, TX 79409-41071. E-mail: patricia.hawley{at}ttu.edu
Diversification to Achieve Scale and Scope: The Strategic Implications of Resource Management for Value Creation

Research on diversification has produced insights into possible linkages between organizational scale and scope and firm performance. However, the paucity of research on strategy implementation has hindered our understanding of the broader performance implications of diversification. We extend the resource-based view and diversification research by examining how firms can exploit diversifying investments designed to achieve scale and scope economies. Successful firms more effectively structure their resource portfolio, bundle resources into capabilities, and leverage these capabilities when implementing a diversification strategy. We develop a model linking strategies by which firms expand product and geographic market scope to the actions they take to manage resources. We examine three actions – internal development, acquisitions, and strategic alliances – and discuss the implications of these actions using the resource management framework.
ODYSSEUS UNBOUND: sovereignty and sacrifice in hunger and the dialectic of enlightenment

:This essay provides a reading of Steve McQueen's critically acclaimed movie Hunger, which tells the story of the hunger strike of Bobby Sands in light of contemporary hunger strikes around the world and especially in Guantanamo (ongoing at the time of writing). The central concern of the essay is to read Hunger together with Horkheimer and Adorno's Dialectic of Enlightenment, showing how both works problematize the sacrificial subjectivity of enlightenment, its instrumental rationality, and sovereign temporality, while advancing a devastating critique of Western civilization. I argue that Hunger situates the high-security prison within the self-destructive tendency of enlightenment and depicts how self-sacrificial resistance emerges as a response to sovereign domination. Interpreting the figure of Bobby Sands as the reversal of Odysseus in the encounter with the Sirens, I explore how insurgent sacrifice interrupts the dialectic of enlightenment and points to a new configuration of subjectivity an...
Drug-induced apoptosis is delayed and reduced in XPD lymphoblastoid cell lines : possible role of TFIIH in p53-mediated apoptotic cell death

The tumor suppressor gene product p53 can bind to and inhibit the helicase activity of the multisubunit transcription-repair factor TFIIH. We previously reported that p53-mediated apoptosis is attenuated in primary human fibroblasts from individuals with Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) that harbor mutations in the TFIIH DNA helicases XPD or XPB. In this study we show that apoptosis is reduced and delayed in three XPD lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs), but not in an XPD heterozygote LCL, after exposure to doxorubicin, a DNA-damaging agent and topoisomerase II inhibitor frequently used in cancer therapy. Apoptosis was assessed by quantitation of Annexin V binding to exposed phosphatidylserine residues and by caspase-mediated cleavage of Poly(ADP)Ribose Polymerase (PARP). Apoptosis induced by doxorubicin was suppressed in LCLs retrovirally transduced with the Human Papillomavirus 16 E6 oncoprotein, consistent with the hypothesis that this is a p53-dependent process. PARP cleavage was not delayed in XPD LCLs in response to anti-Fas (CD95) antibody-mediated apoptosis, thus, the defect in the apoptotic pathway in these cells lies upstream of caspase activation. Similar changes in the expression of apoptosis-effector genes, p53, and p53-responsive genes p21Cip1/WAF-1/Sid1 (p21), gadd45, bcl-2 and bax were observed in normal and XPD LCLs after treatment with doxorubicin, indicating that delayed apoptosis was not a consequence of defective transcription of these genes. Thus, our studies provide further support to the hypothesis that XPD and p53 can functionally interact in a p53-mediated apoptotic pathway.
Privileging Conscientious Dissent: Another Look at Sherbert v. Verner

Since they can involve a collision of competing ultimates, the relations between law and conscience have always been delicate and controversial in American constitutional law, and the Su preme Court's most recent major decision on the meaning of the free exercise of religion clause of the First Amendment is not likely to lessen this controversy. In Wisconsin v. Y oder,1 an nounced in May 1972, the Court ruled that a state must allow a special exemption from its compulsory school attendance poli cies for Amish youths of high school age whose parents have strong scruples against the secular learning promoted by these policies. Neither the decision in this case nor the facts were so controversial in themselves.2 Indeed, the decision seemed long overdue in ending the distressing harassment of a nonconforming but respected and obviously conscientious minority. What was controversial, however, and indeed most significant about the Y oder ruling was that it reasserted and gave new force to an earlier and more important decision, S Herbert v. Verner.3 No doubt because it had attempted a radical reinterpretation of the free exercise clause, Sherbert had remained a rather lonely prece dent and had virtually lain fallow for a decade. Thus the heavy reliance of Yoder upon Sherbert has momentous implications in the development of constitutional doctrine in the area of freedom of conscience.4
Russia's Industry in 2008

The paper is based on the data of surveys conducted among the managers of industrial enterprises. These surveys have been conducted by the IET according to the European harmonized methodology on a monthly basis since September 1992 and encompass the whole territory of the Russian Federation. The panels’ size is approximately 1100 enterprises, which employ more than 15% of those employed in the industry. The panel has a shift towards large-scale enterprises in each of the specified subindustries of the national economy. The return of questionnaires makes 65-70%.
Preliminary Application of China Infectious Disease Automated-alert and Response System in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture

Objective To analyze the operational aspect of the China Infectious Diseases Automated-alert and Response System(CIDARS)in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture,and to provide the scientific evidence for improving and extending the system. Methods Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the operational aspect of CIDARS(temporal models) in Xiangxi Autonomous Prefecture from July 1, 2008 to June 30,2010. Results A total of 1,612 signals were generated by the system,among these,the fixed-value detection method signals were 10,the moving percentile method signals were 1,602,the responsivity of signal was 100%,and the positive rate was 0.620%.The main way of 1,602 signals preliminary verification was through the review of surveillance data(account for 60.61%).The median of time interval on signals verification feedback was 0.36 h(P25～P75:0.05～1.04).Among all the signals,11 of signals(0.69%)were considered to be suspected event,10 outbreak cases were verified through field investigation.In the 10 outbreak cases,2 cases were dysentery and 8 cases were influenza,the positive rates of signal were 0.34% and 8.42%,respectively.The data of distribution in different areas were that 6 cases in Baojing County,3 cases in Longshan County and 1 case in Jishou County,the positive rates of signal were 4.72%,1.05%,and 0.25%,respectively. Conclusions CIDARS could be used to detect possible outbreaks of the infectious diseases at the early stage.However,the effectiveness is different depending on the regions and disease.
Assessment on Emergency Capacity Dealing with Influenza Pandemic for Disease Control Agencies at All Levels in Anhui Province

Objective To study the Emergency capacity dealing with Influenza(Flu) Pandemic of disease control agencies in Anhui Province,and provide a basis for the establishment of Health emergency response capacity and disease control system.Methods The Emergency ability dealing with Flu Pandemic of disease control agencies in Anhui Province were Investigated by questionnaire method and on-site assessment.Results There were 69.0% who had developed a guiding project for dealing with influenza-like illness or outbreak of influenza in all disease control agencies.94.1% of municipal agencies had checked on the epidemic reporting of the lower or the local hospitals regularly.29.4% of the municipal agencies could use the kit to make a diagnosis of flu rapidly.Quick Detection of Influenza Virus nucleic acid had been done in 23.5% of the municipal agencies,and Isolation and Identification of flu viruses had been done in 17.6% of the municipal agencies.There were 17 county-level agencies could use the kit to make a diagnosis of flu rapidly.The internet-based reporting rate of the Influenza-like illness outbreaks reached 23.5%.Only fewer samples of influenza-like were sent to county-level disease control agencies for testing.Part of the disease control agencies could write the investigation reports,summarize the experience and store all the materials in time.Conclusion All disease control agencies should intensify the training of professionals.The county-level disease control agencies need to strengthen the ability of collection,preservation and detection,and the municipal agencies should strengthen the ability of quick diagnosis of flu and quick detection of flu virus nucleic acid.
Examination of the Divergence in Trends for Adolescent Marijuana Use and Marijuana-Specific Risk Factors in Washington State.

Abstract Purpose As marijuana laws have become more permissive, survey data on adolescents in the United States have shown an increase in marijuana-specific risk factors, particularly in the proportion of youth who do not perceive marijuana use as harmful. Prevalence of marijuana use among youth, however, has changed little. Using representative data from Washington State, which has legalized medical and nonmedical marijuana for adults, we examined two competing hypotheses to account for this divergence in population trends. Methods Data were from 2000 to 2014 biennial Washington State surveys of 10th-grade students. First, we assessed whether associations between marijuana use and marijuana-specific risk factors have weakened over time. Second, we examined whether decreases in alcohol and cigarette use can account for the lack of expected increase in marijuana use prevalence. Results Despite stability in marijuana use prevalence, there were increases in marijuana-specific risk factors of low perceived harm, youth favorable attitudes about use, and perceived community attitudes favorable to use. Associations between marijuana use and marijuana use predictors varied little across time; if anything, the positive association between low perceived harm and marijuana use grew stronger. Decreases in prevalence of alcohol and cigarette use largely accounted for stability in marijuana use during a period when marijuana risk factors increased. Conclusions Decreases in other types of substance use or in the underlying, common risk for substance use may have mitigated effects of increases in marijuana-specific risk factors.
WE‐G‐209‐04: MRI

Digital radiography, CT, PET, and MR are complicated imaging modalities which are composed of many hardware and software components. These components work together in a highly coordinated chain of events with the intent to produce high quality images. Acquisition, processing and reconstruction of data must occur in a precise way for optimum image quality to be achieved. Any error or unexpected event in the entire process can produce unwanted pixel intensities in the final images which may contribute to visible image artifacts. The diagnostic imaging physicist is uniquely qualified to investigate and contribute to resolution of image artifacts. This course will teach the participant to identify common artifacts found clinically in digital radiography, CT, PET, and MR, to determine the causes of artifacts, and to make recommendations for how to resolve artifacts. Learning Objectives: 1. Identify common artifacts found clinically in digital radiography, CT, PET and MR. 2. Determine causes of various clinical artifacts from digital radiography, CT, PET and MR. 3. Describe how to resolve various clinical artifacts from digital radiography, CT, PET and MR.
Naively Perfect: A Note on the Image of the Boat in Zhang Jiuling's Poems

By means of close readings of several poems written by the High Tang official Zhang Jiuling 張九齡 (678–740), a discussion of the image of the boat is offered. The boat is an image so prevalent and va...
Redox Potential and Electronic Structure Effects of Proximal Nonredox Active Cations in Cobalt Schiff Base Complexes.

Redox inactive Lewis acidic cations are thought to facilitate the reactivity of metalloenzymes and their synthetic analogues by tuning the redox potential and electronic structure of the redox active site. To explore and quantify this effect, we report the synthesis and characterization of a series of tetradentate Schiff base ligands appended with a crown-like cavity incorporating a series of alkali and alkaline earth Lewis acidic cations (1M, where M = Na+, K+, Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+) and their corresponding Co(II) complexes (2M). Cyclic voltammetry of the 2M complexes revealed that the Co(II/I) redox potentials are 130 mV more positive for M = Na+ and K+ and 230–270 mV more positive for M = Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+compared to Co(salen–OMe) (salen–OMe = N,N′-bis(3-methoxysalicylidene)-1,2-diaminoethane), which lacks a proximal cation. The Co(II/I) redox potentials for the dicationic compounds also correlate with the ionic size and Lewis acidity of the alkaline metal. Electronic absorption and infrared spectra ...
Radiocesium in migratory aquatic game birds using contaminated U.S. Department of Energy reactor-cooling reservoirs: A long-term perspective.

Abstract Low-level releases of radiocesium into former nuclear reactor cooling-reservoirs on the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina, USA, dating primarily to the late 1950s and early 1960s, have allowed examination of long-term contaminant attenuation in biota occupying these habitats. Periodic collections of migratory game birds since the 1970s have documented 137Cs (radiocesium) activity concentrations in birds of SRS reservoirs, including mainly Par Pond and Pond B. In this study, during 2014 and 2015 we released wild-caught American coots (Fulica americana) and ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris) onto Pond B. We made lethal collections of these same birds with residence times ranging from 32 to 173 days to examine radiocesium uptake and estimate the rate of natural attenuation. The two species achieved asymptotic whole-body activity concentrations of radiocesium at different times, with ring-necked ducks requiring almost three times longer than the 30–35 days needed by coots. We estimated ecological half-life (Te) for Pond B coots over a 28-yr period as 16.8 yr (95% CI = 12.9–24.2 yr). Pond B coot Te was nearly four times longer than Te for coots at nearby Par Pond where radiocesium bioavailability had been constrained for decades by pumping of potassium-enriched river water into that reservoir. Te could not be estimated from long-term data for radiocesium in Pond B diving ducks, including ring-necked ducks, likely because of high variability in residence times of ducks on Pond B. Our results highlight the importance: (1) for risk managers to understand site-specific bio-geochemistry of radiocesium for successful implementation of countermeasures at contaminated sites and (2) of residence time as a critical determinant of observed radiocesium activity concentrations in highly mobile wildlife inhabiting contaminated habitats.
Data Retrieval for Heterogeneous Data Models

Retrieving data from a heterogeneously modeled database is understandably complex because the same conceptual operation requires different types of queries depending on how the class of data that you wish to retrieve is physically organized. Thus: 1. For conventional (columnar)-structured data, the conceptual operation and the query mechanism are identical. A a query that fetches only attributes of interest (i.e., without aggregates), even across multiple tables, can usually be effected with a single SQL statement that has a simple structure – that is, it has no subqueries. 2. For EAV-structured data, query of data based on combinations of values of attributes takes many more steps than for columnar (traditionally modeled) data: the AND, OR and NOT operations must be substituted respectively by the set operations of intersection, union and difference. 3. For hybrid classes, a combination of approaches would be necessary, based on whether the attributes you are fetching are columnar or EAV-modeled. 4. Querying a mixture of conventional, EAV, and hybrid classes is the most difficult. It requires decomposing the query task into individual operations on each class, and then combining the results.
Monitoring Banking Sector Fragility

This article explores how a multivariate logit model of the probability of a banking crisis can be used to monitor banking sector fragility. The proposed approach relies on readily available data, and the fragility assessment has a clear interpretation based on insample statistics. The model has better in-sample performance than currently available alternatives, and the monitoring system can be tailored to fit the preferences of dedsionmakers regarding type I and type II errors. The framework can be useful as a preliminary screen to economize on precautionary costs.
Effect of Alpinia galanga on Mental Alertness and Sustained Attention With or Without Caffeine: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study.

ABSTRACTObjective: Although Alpinia galanga has been reported to improve cognitive performance in animals, it has not been thoroughly studied for its potential psychostimulant effect in humans. A randomized, double-dummy, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study was conducted to determine the effect of A galanga on mental alertness and sustained attention in comparison with caffeine and placebo in participants with a habitual caffeine intake. Methods: Fifty-nine participants (18–40 years and body mass index of ≥18.5 and <25.00 kg/m2) with moderate caffeine consumption were enrolled. The participants had a Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 score ≤7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ≤14 and a Jin Fan's Attention Network Test alertness score of 50 ± 20 ms. The interventional product (placebo, A galanga proprietary extract [E-AG-01], caffeine, and a combination of E-AG-01 with caffeine) was administered to the participants, followed by sequential administration of the remaining interventions on the ...
Anti-symmetric shear-extensional AlN lamb-wave resonators with k t 2 > 4%

This paper presents a waveguide-based aluminum nitride resonator that simultaneously exploit transverse (d 31 ) and shear (d 15 ) piezoelectric constants to realize a large electromechanical coupling factor (k t 2), while having a frequency defined by lateral dimensions. An anti-symmetric Lamb wave with co-existing in-plane extensional and thickness-shear elastic energy distribution is used along with proper dispersive energy trapping to simultaneously exploit transverse and shear electromechanical coupling of AlN film. Specifically, the shear transduction (k t,15 2) benefits from the large d 15 constant (due to the columnar single crystallinity) as well as low in-plane relative permittivity (due to the in-plane poly crystallinity) of the AlN film, and hence significantly improves the overall k t 2. A proof-of-concept device operating at 733MHz with a Q of ∼1400 and k t 2 of ∼4.4% is demonstrated.
Strategies for comprehending and integrating texts and videos

Abstract This study examines students’ strategic processing when participants were asked to comprehend and integrate information presented via two texts or two videos. Evidence was found for strategies being both consistent (e.g., connecting content with prior knowledge) and distinct (e.g., vocabulary) across modalities of information presentation. No differences in comprehension and integration performance were identified across conditions, a variety of strategies (e.g., directing attention, connecting with prior knowledge) were associated with measures of both comprehension and integration. As this is among the first studies to compare strategies supporting video versus text integration, directions for future research are discussed.
The Sunshine Act and Surgeons: A Nation-Wide Analysis of Industry Payments to Physicians.

Abstract Background The Physician Payments Sunshine Act mandates the submission of payment records between medical providers and industry. We used the Open Payments Program database to compare industry payments to surgeons and nonsurgeons, as well as among surgical specialties, and to identify geographic distribution of payments. Materials and methods We included all reported industry payments in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Open Payments Program in the United States, 2014-2015. Multivariable regression fixed effects panel analysis of total payments was conducted among surgeons, adjusting for surgeon specialty, payor type, payment category, and state. A geographic heat map was created. Results Of 2,097,150 subjects meeting criteria, 1,957,528 (45.66%) were physicians. The mean standard deviation (SD) payment overall was $232.64 ($6262.00), and the state with the highest mean (SD) payment was Vermont at $2691.61 ($11,508.40). Surgeons numbered 153,916 (7.86%). The specialty with the highest mean (SD) payment was orthopedic surgery at $2811.50 ($33,632.71, P Conclusions There are significant differences in industry payments to surgeons versus nonsurgeons and among surgical specialties, as well geographic distribution of payments. These data may prompt further investigation into trends and their causality and effects on research and practice.
Safety-Related Risks and Opportunities of Key Design-Aspects for Industrial Human-Robot Collaboration

For several years, sensitive robots are used in industry and in some cases perform collaborative tasks directly with humans on shared workplaces. At first glance, this type of human-machine interaction is associated with high risks. However, additional devices, advanced functionalities and risk mitigation activities can ensure that such collaborative scenarios are safe for humans. The essential aspects are the collaborative operation methods, workspace layout, end effectors, human machine interfaces and ergonomics. In this work we shed light on these important aspects of human-robot collaboration and discuss its facets. By adequately reducing and communicate potential indiscernible risks a robot is made trustworthy for a human being.
Demonstration of Fowler-Nordheim Tunneling in Simple Solution-Processed Thin Films

The production of high-quality thin-film insulators is essential to develop advanced technologies based on electron tunneling. Current insulator deposition methods, however, suffer from a variety of limitations, including constrained substrate sizes, limited materials options, and complexity of patterning. Here, we report the deposition of large-area Al2O3 films by a solution process and its integration in metal-insulator-metal devices that exhibit I- V signatures of Fowler-Nordheim electron tunneling. A unique, high-purity precursor based on an aqueous solution of the nanocluster flat-Al13 transforms to thin Al2O3 insulators free of the electron traps and emission states that commonly inhibit tunneling in other films. Tunneling is further confirmed by the temperature independence of device current.
Scarlet fever associated with hepatitis in pediatrics. A case report.

Introduction: Scarlet fever is a common illness in pediatrics caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GABHS), which usually occurs after an episode of pharyngitis, and has an overall excellent prognosis. Hepatitis secondary to scarlet fever is a rare complication described in adults and even less frequently in children. Our objective was to describe a case of hepatitis secondary to scarlet fever in a pediatric patient. Clinical Case: A 12-year-old male with scarlet fever presented with a 4-day history of jaundice, dark urine, and decreased appetite. Laboratory tests revealed elevated liver enzymes and total and direct bilirubin levels, and negative studies for hepatitis A, B and C, Epstein Barr virus, parvovirus B19, adenovirus, cytomegalovirus, human herpes virus-6, and herpes simplex virus 1 and 2. Abdominal ultrasound examination was normal. Discussion: The pathogenesis of scarlet fever associated hepatitis remains unclear. Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin mediated cellular injury via cytokine production has been proposed as a possible mechanism of hepatotoxicity in GABHS infections. Conclusion : Hepatitis secondary to scarlet fever remains a rare but benign entity, with complete recovery expected over weeks to months.
Prioritising fuels reduction for water supply protection

Concerns over wildfire impacts to water supplies have motivated efforts to mitigate risk by reducing forest fuels. Methods to assess fuel treatment effects and prioritise their placement are needed to guide risk mitigation efforts. We present a fuel treatment optimisation model to minimise risk to multiple water supplies based on constraints for treatment feasibility and cost. Risk is quantified as the expected sediment impact costs to water supplies by combining measures of fire likelihood and behaviour, erosion, sediment transport and water supply vulnerability. We demonstrate the model’s utility for prioritising fuel treatments in two large watersheds in Colorado, USA, that are critical for municipal water supply. Our results indicate that wildfire risk to water supplies can be substantially reduced by treating a small portion of the watersheds that have dense, fire-prone forests on steep slopes that drain to water supply infrastructure. Our results also show that the cost of fuel treatments outweighs the expected cost savings from reduced sediment inputs owing to the low probability of fuel treatments encountering wildfire and the high cost of thinning forests. This highlights the need to expand use of more cost-effective treatments, like prescribed fire, and to identify fuel treatment projects that benefit multiple resources.
An Industrial View of Biological Monitoring

Biological monitoring is required, along with chemical and physical measurements, for complete assessment of the nature of industrial wastewaters and their impact on the quality of receiving waters. Various approaches to biological monitoring are discussed along with several examples of specific concerns of industry. The need and opportunities for industrial participation in development of biological methods are emphasized.
Hazardous or vulnerable? Prisoners and emergency planning in the U.S.

Abstract Within the field of emergency management, prisoners occupy a variety of roles and identities. Across the U.S., emergency management has been shown to utilize labor provided by prisoners to prepare for and respond to various emergencies and disasters. Emergency management and corrections officials alike have traditionally viewed prisoners as a hazardous population, concentrating preparedness efforts to respond to riots, hostage situations, escapes, and general violent disorder within prisons. However, in more recent history, scholars and policymakers have begun to recognize prisoners as a vulnerable population lacking the resources and individual agency necessary to protect themselves in the event of an emergency or a disaster. Should a natural disaster or technological event threaten a corrections institution, prisoners must fully rely on the staff of the institution to provide for their safety and welfare. Additionally, prisoners are viewed as a nuisance population, who fabricate grievances against the Department of Corrections, particularly in a disaster. Despite a major role in disaster planning, there has been little effort to comprehensively examine the differences in how prisoners are viewed by emergency management. This analysis examines the different roles and identities invoked within emergency management operations (source of labor, hazard, vulnerable population, or nuisance) and how these roles and identities vary across states and the implications of these differences. Differences in how prisoners are identified prompt questions about their role within the disaster context as well as a need for further research
Downstream evolution of wastewater treatment plant nutrient signals using high‐temporal monitoring

Wastewater treatment plants are major point‐sources of nutrients to streams globally, but the impact on receiving streams is not always clear. Previous research has shown mixed responses in receiving streams, with some showing no net retention through in‐stream processing for large distances below plants and some showing high rates of processing and retention. This study focuses on Sandy Run, a small, suburban stream in Montgomery County, PA, that receives effluent from two plants, where effluent makes up an estimated 50% of outlet discharge at baseflow. Two sites were monitored in late summer baseflow using high‐temporal loggers to evaluate nitrate and phosphate retention with distance below the plants. Effluent quantity was monitored immediately below the effluent outfalls using specific conductivity as a conservative signal of solute fluctuations throughout the day. A site 1 km downstream showed diel nitrate changes, but despite moderate gross primary productivity and ecosystem respiration rates, there was little net retention of nutrients and the diel nitrate signal can be attributed to advection and dispersion of variable upstream effluent. A site 5.4 km below the plant showed a diel nitrate signal as well, but baseflow daily hysteresis plots of nitrate and specific conductivity showed the effluent and nitrate peaks did not coincide. Instead, the effluent input signal was seen overnight, but there was in‐stream removal and release processes during the day. Over the distance to this site, the stream was metabolizing some of the high nutrient loads, although gross primary productivity and ecosystem respiration rates were lower. It is important to understand subdaily changes in nutrient processing to fully quantify the impacts of effluent on small streams at different scales. Furthermore, looking at the diel signal without considering conservative transport would overestimate in‐stream processing.
A Multimodal Soft Crawling-Climbing Robot with the Controllable Horizontal Plane to Slope Transition *

Most of the existing soft locomotive robots are capable of moving on horizontal planes and small-angled slopes, but few of them can accomplish the large-angled slope climbing or wall climbing. We introduce an inchworm inspired soft crawling-climbing robot capable of continuous motion from a horizontal plane to a slope of up to 75 degrees and it can perform multiple locomotion including crawling, climbing, and the transition between them. This soft crawling-climbing robot is powered by three pneumatic actuators connected in series that deforms with two degrees of freedom, negative pressure sucker feet that generate periodical adhesion, and a semi-automatic controlling system synchronizing the body shape and anchoring of the feet. The robot mimics the body deformation and feet anchoring pattern exhibited by inchworms and can be applied in inspection, surveillance, and rescuing.
Corporate Diversification and Overinvestment: Evidence from Asset Write-Offs

This paper documents that diversified firms are more likely to overinvest than undiversified firms. Prior research on inefficient investment in diversified firms has been criticized on the measurement errors in measuring the unobservable marginal investment opportunities. Using an ex post measure of overinvestment that does not rely on investment opportunity set-asset write-offs, we find that diversified firms are more likely to incur tangible write-offs as well as goodwill write-offs and that the extent of the write-offs increases as firms become more diversified. In addition, we show that the diversification discount is related to subsequent asset write-offs, suggesting that diversified firms trade at a discount because investors expect overinvestment and correctly anticipate future write-offs.
Thinking Beyond the “Epidemic of Epidemics”

One of the major challenges of any historical science is the role of forecasting. Biology is a historical science, because organisms can only be understood in a temporal, phylogenetic and ontogenetic, perspective. In particular, the time of biology, and therefore of correlated sciences (ecology etc.), is a time of change in the "space of possibilities" (of "phases" as we say in physics, of ecosystems and species in biology), punctuated by rare events-evolutionary novelties, speciation. In physics, the space (of phases) is fixed as "a priori" of knowledge, as "condition of possibility" for "writing equations", explain Newton and Kant: it a priori contains all possible trajectories-unpredictability is within these trajectories (the randomness of a die concerns six possibilities, no more, no less). In biology, to physical randomness is added the unpredictability of changes of the space of possibilities and of rare events, to which one cannot even assign probability values, see (1). The historian of human affairs will recognize there elements of his theorization, although, of course, symbolic culture, in all its forms, imposes an important change in the tools of analysis. Faced with the intrinsic unpredictability of the history of the living, should we remain silent? No, science is not (or not only) the analytical game of "experience/observation, theory, prediction, verification/ falsification", but first of all a construction of objectivity, or even objects of knowledge, through difficult operations of "carving-out" (separating/distinguishing) and "qualification" of reality. This is how Darwinian theory offers us a remarkable historical theory of the living, of "species", a notion that is constantly being re-carved-out and re-qualified. This theory does not allow us to predict, but, by making us understand, it allows us to act, if we assume the risk of relying on the best available knowledge. We then decide to measure "biodiversity", an admittedly arbitrary partition of species and life forms, which is always open to discussion and revision; to assess the impact of man on an ecosystem, a difficult qualification of the consequences of activities that are sometimes centuries old. We can also give ourselves a measure of the notion of 'epidemic' and draw the historical diagram shown here (''The Evolution of the number of epidemics of infectious diseases in the world from 1950 to 2010'').
Crowd-Sourced and Attending Assessment of General Surgery Resident Operative Performance Using Global Ratings Scales.

Objective We sought to assess the extent to which both crowd and intraoperative attending ratings using objective structured assessment of technical skill (OSATS) or global objective assessment of laparoscopic skills (GOALS) would correlate with the system for improving procedural learning (SIMPL) Zwisch and Performance scales. Design Comparison of directly observed versus crowd sourced review of operative video. Setting Operative video captured at 2 institutions. Participants Six (6) core general surgery procedures, 3 open and 3 laparoscopic, were selected from the American Board of Surgery's Resident Assessments list. Thirty-two cases performed by General Surgery residents across all training levels at 2 institutions were filmed. Videos were condensed using a standardized protocol to include the critical portion of the procedure. Condensed videos were then submitted to crowd-sourced assessment of technical skills (C-SATS), an online crowd source-driven assessment service, for assessment using the appropriate resident assessment form (GOALS or OSATS) as well as with the SIMPL Zwisch and Performance scales. Crowd workers watched an educational tutorial on how to use the Zwisch and SIMPL Performance rating scales prior to participating. Attendings scored residents using the same tools immediately after the shared operative experience. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results Crowd raters evaluated 32 procedures using GOALS/OSATS, Zwisch and Performance (35-50 ratings per video). Attendings also evaluated all 32 procedures using GOALS/OSATS and 26 of the procedures using SIMPL Zwisch and Performance. Pearson correlation coefficients with 95% confidence intervals for crowd ratings were: GOALS and Zwisch −0.40 [−0.73 to 0.10], OSATS and Zwisch 0.11 [−0.41 to 0.57], GOALS and Performance −0.06 [−0.44 to 0.35], and OSATS and Performance 0.22 [−0.46 to 0.20]. Pearson correlation coefficients for attendings were: GOALS and Zwisch (0.77), OSATS and Zwisch (0.65), GOALS and Performance (0.93), and OSATS and Performance (0.59). Conclusions Overall, correlations between crowd-sourced ratings using GOALS/OSATS and SIMPL global operative performance ratings tools were weak, yet for attendings, they were strong. Direct attending assessment may be required for evaluation of global performance while crowd sourcing may be more suitable for technical assessment. Further studies are needed to see if more extensive crowd training would result in improved ability for global performance evaluation.
A research agenda for housing, edited by Markus Moos: Cheltenham, UK, Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, 2019

This is a deceptively small volume packed with a lot of ideas. While I am eager to agree that housing touches all aspects of human societies the challenge of tackling such a broad number of issues ...