cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adolescent oxycodone self administration alters subsequent oxycodone-induced conditioned place preference and anti-nociceptive effect in C57BL/6J mice in adulthood.

Abstract Adolescent and young adult abuse of short-acting MOP-r agonists such as oxycodone is a pressing public health issue. Few preclinical studies have examined how adolescent exposure to oxycodone impacts its effects in the transition to adulthood. Objective To determine in mice how chronic adolescent oxycodone self-administration (SA) affects subsequent oxycodone-induced conditioned place preference (CPP), locomotor activity, and anti-nociception once mice reach early adulthood. Methods Adolescent C57BL/6J male mice (4 weeks old, n = 6–11) and adult mice (10 weeks old, n = 6–10) were surgically implanted with indwelling jugular catheters. Mice then acquired oxycodone self-administration (14 consecutive 2-hr daily sessions; 0.25 mg/kg/infusion) followed by a 14-day drug-free (withdrawal) period in home cage. After the 14-day drug-free period, mice underwent a 10-day oxycodone CPP procedure (0, 1, 3, 10 mg/kg i.p.) or were tested for acute oxycodone-induced antinociception in the hot plate assay (3.35, 5, 7.5 mg/kg i.p.). Results Mice that self-administered oxycodone during adolescence exhibited greater oxycodone-induced CPP (at the 3 mg/kg dose) than their yoked saline controls and mice that self-administered oxycodone during adulthood. Oxycodone dose-dependently increased locomotor activity, but sensitization developed only to the 3 mg/kg in the mice that underwent oxycodone self-administration as adolescents. Mice that self-administered oxycodone as adolescents decreased in the anti-nociceptive effects of oxycodone in one dose (5 mg/kg), whereas animals that self-administered oxycodone as adults did not show this effect. Conclusion Chronic adolescent oxycodone self-administration led to increased oxycodone-induced CPP (primarily 1 and 3 mg/kg, i.p.) and reduced antinociceptive effect of oxycodone (5 mg/kg, i.p.) in adulthood.
Prevention of Infection Due to Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile is one of the foremost nosocomial pathogens. Preventing infection is particularly challenging. Effective prevention efforts typically require a multifaceted bundled approach. A variety of infection control procedures may be advantageous, including strict hand decontamination with soap and water, contact precautions, and using chlorine-containing decontamination agents. Additionally, risk factor reduction can help reduce the burden of disease. The risk factor modification is principally accomplished though antibiotic stewardship programs. Unfortunately, most of the current evidence for prevention is in acute care settings. This review focuses on preventative approaches to reduce the incidence of Clostridium difficile infection in healthcare settings.
Examining racial bias as a potential factor in pedestrian crashes

INTRODUCTION: In the US people of color are disproportionately affected by pedestrian crashes. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential for racial bias in driver yielding behaviors at midblock crosswalks in low and high income neighborhoods located in the sprawling metropolitan area of Las Vegas, NV. METHODS: Participants (1 white, 1 black female) crossed at a midblock crosswalk on a multilane road in a low income and a high income neighborhood. Trained observers recorded (1) number of cars that passed in the nearest lane before yielding while the pedestrian waited near the crosswalk at the curb (2) number of cars that passed through the crosswalk with the pedestrian in the same half of the roadway. RESULTS: The first car in the nearest lane yielded to the pedestrian while they waited at the curb 51.5% of the time at the high income and 70.7% of the time at the low income crosswalk. Two way ANOVAs found an interaction effect between income and race on yielding behaviors. Simple effects for income revealed that at the high income crosswalk, drivers were less likely to yield to the white pedestrian while she waited at the curb (F(1,122)=11.18;p=0.001), and were less likely to yield to the black pedestrian while she was in the same half of the roadway at the high income crosswalk (F(1,124)=4.40;p=0.04). Simple effects for race showed significantly more cars passed through the crosswalk while the black pedestrian was in the roadway compared to the white pedestrian at the high income crosswalk (F(1,124)=6.62;p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Bias in driver yielding behavior may be one influencing factor in higher rates of pedestrian crashes for people of color.Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Language: en
Restricted Hip Rotation Is Correlated With an Increased Risk for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury.

Purpose The primary purpose was to compare ipsilateral hip internal rotation (IR) in male and female athletes with or without an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. A secondary purpose was to compare radiographic markers of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in patients with or without an ACL tear. Methods In this prospective case-control study, based on a power analysis, a convenience sample of 25 ACL-injured and 25 control patients matched by age and gender were examined over 14 months. The ACL injury group included preoperative patients 12-40 years old with an ACL rupture within the previous 3 months with no prior lower extremity injuries, ligamentous laxity, or arthralgias. Controls included patients presenting with an upper extremity complaint with no history of knee injury. In the outpatient clinic, hip axial rotation range of motion was measured with a goniometer on physical examination and hip radiographs were evaluated for morphologic variations consistent with FAI. Univariate analysis of variance was used to examine differences between groups. Results Each group had 13 males and 12 females, average ages of 22.8 ± 7.2 years (ACL group) versus 24.5 ± 7.9 years (controls; P = .439). The average sum of hip rotation (internal plus external) in patients with an ACL tear was 60.3 ± 12.4° compared with 72.6 ± 17.2° in controls ( P = .006). ACL-injured patients had decreased hip IR compared with controls, with respective mean measurements of 23.4 ± 7.6° versus 30.4 ± 10.4° ( P = .009). For every 10° increase in hip IR, the odds of having an ACL tear decreased by a factor of 0.419 ( P = .015). Conclusions Risk of ACL injury is associated with restricted hip IR, and as hip IR increases, the odds of having an ACL tear decreases. In addition, ACL injury is associated with FAI in a generalized population of male and female athletes, although causality cannot be determined and most ACL-injured patients do not exhibit hip complaints. Level of Evidence Level II, prognostic, prospective cohort study.
Biomarkers of diet and nutritional health

Dietary biomarkers are biological specimens that may serve as functional, biochemical, or clinical indicators of nutrient intake or metabolism. The majority of research studies utilize self-report methodologies for the measurement of diet. These include food diaries, repeat 24-h recalls, and food frequency questionnaires. While collecting dietary data by self-report can be cost-effective, it is subject to misreporting. Dietary biomarkers serve as objective measures of nutrient intake and metabolism and markedly increase the validity of diet–disease-related associations, while reducing participant bias due to misreporting. Dietary biomarkers can be classified into one of four groups: recovery, predictive, concentration, and replacement biomarkers. A variety of specimens can be collected for the measurement of dietary biomarkers, including but not limited to sweat, blood, urine, and exhaled gases.This chapter describes various methods for collecting self-reported diet information as well as the different classifications of dietary biomarkers, their relationship to health risk, as well as important considerations when collecting and analyzing biosamples.
Green composites made from cellulose nanofibers and bio-based epoxy: Processing, performance, and applications

Abstract Fiber-reinforced polymer composites have been used in recent years as an alternative to the conventional materials because of their low weight, high mechanical properties, and low processing temperatures. Most polymer composites are traditionally made using reinforcing fibers such as carbon or glass fibers. However, there has been recent interest in making these reinforcing fibers from natural resources. The plant-derived cellulose nanofibers (CNF) are a material with remarkable mechanical properties at the nanoscale that are much superior to the mechanical properties of the traditional natural fibers (such as jute, hemp, kenaf, etc.) used in the natural fiber-based polymer composites. Because CNF is bio-based and biodegradable, it is an attractive “green” alternative for use as a polymer reinforcement in automotive, aerospace, and other engineering applications. However, the efforts to produce CNF-based nanocomposites, after successfully scaling-up of the remarkable nanoscale properties of CNF, have not met with much success and form an active area of research.
Activity Based Costing in Intercollegiate Athletic Departments: Is There Value in Using It?

The unstable financial landscape of intercollegiate athletics is an issue that many institutions struggle with on a yearly basis. Most research in this area has focused on financial inequalities (Lawrence, 2013; Zimbalist, 2013). Specifically, Lawrence (2010) has proposed a solution that the NCAA and its members consider adopting the Activity-Based Costing (ABC) management tool to manage the financial information accumulated by athletic departments, which they believe would help make costs more transparent. Athletic administrators of NCAA institutions are unclear about the broad financial inequities issues in intercollegiate athletics and the athletic accounting practices of their institutions. Given that Lawrence, Gabriel and Tuttle (2010) and Lawrence (2013) offer a solution to the problem by implementing ABC, it is unknown what athletic administrators think about this possibility. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to ask NCAA athletic administrators their perspectives on NCAA accounting practices. Specifically whether or not their athletic department uses ABC to help them understanding their costs and then to determine why or why they do not use ABC. Our results demonstrate that most athletic departments do not use ABC and the main reason they do not is that they don’t need the detailed information that ABC would provide. This paper helps to us get a better understanding of what athletic departments are doing to understand their costs and it helps to refute prior research claims that ABC would be useful for athletic departments.
Activated carbon-mediated base hydrolysis of alkyl bromides

Abstract Activated carbon (AC) is widely used as an adsorbent in water and air purification, but recent studies show that AC can also mediate chemical reactions at ambient temperature, including electron-transfer, redox, free radical, and dehydrohalogenation. Here, we expand the repertoire of such reactions to SN2 base hydrolysis of alkyl bromides. Detailed studies were carried out on the quarantine and pre-shipment fumigant, methyl bromide (MeBr), whose removal from fumigation vent streams is sought due to its ozone-depleting potential. Mixed with a 1 M solution of NaOH, ACs are effective adsorbents, but also participate in hydrolysis of MeBr to bromide, methanol, and dimethyl ether. MeBr decay is first order in MeBr and obeys a two-term rate law corresponding to aqueous- and adsorbed-state reactions. The adsorbed-state reaction is, i) unassisted by surface groups, as shown by cycling experiments; ii) 0.83 order in aqueous hydroxide concentration suggesting participation of adsorbed hydroxide; iii) accelerated by pre-adsorption of quaternary ammonium surfactants, which also shift the zeta potential into the positive region; and iv) inhibited by competing inert anions in the order of their chromatographic retention time on ion-exchange resins: Br− ethyl > propyl.
Use and Misuse of Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Thresholds in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Trends in Cost-per-DALY Studies.

Abstract Objectives To determine what thresholds are most often cited in the cost-effectiveness literature for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), given various recommendations proposed and used in the literature to date, and thereafter to assess whether studies appropriately justified their use of threshold values. Methods We reviewed the contents of the Tufts Medical Center Global Health Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry, a repository of all English language cost-per-disability-adjusted life-year averted studies indexed in PubMed. Our review included all catalogued cost-per-disability-adjusted life-year studies published from 2000 through 2015. We restricted attention to studies that investigated interventions in LMICs. Results Our analysis identified 381 studies (80%) focused on LMICs. Of these studies, 250 (66%) cited the World Health Organization's 1 to 3 times gross domestic product per capita threshold. A full-text review of 60 (24%) of these articles (randomly selected) revealed that none justified use of this threshold in the particular country or countries studied beyond citing (generic) guideline documents. Conclusions Cost-effectiveness analysis can help inform health care spending, but its value depends on incorporating assumptions that are valid for the applicable setting. Rather than rely on commonly used, generic economic thresholds, we encourage authors to use context-specific thresholds that reflect local preferences.
Structural and Functional Analysis of E. coli Cyclopropane Fatty Acid Synthase.

Cell membranes must adapt to different environments. In Gram-negative bacteria, the inner membrane can be remodeled directly by modification of lipids embedded in the bilayer. For example, when Escherichia coli enters stationary phase, cyclopropane fatty acid (CFA) synthase converts most double bonds in unsaturated inner-membrane lipids into cyclopropyl groups. Here we report the crystal structure of E. coli CFA synthase. The enzyme is a dimer in the crystal and in solution, with each subunit containing a smaller N-domain that associates tightly with a larger catalytic C-domain, even following cleavage of the inter-domain linker or co-expression of each individual domain. Efficient catalysis requires dimerization and proper linkage of the two domains. These findings support an avidity-based model in which one subunit of the dimer stabilizes membrane binding, while the other subunit carries out catalysis.
Inactivation of Salmonella in liquid egg albumen by antimicrobial bottle coatings infused with allyl isothiocyanate, nisin and zinc oxide nanoparticles

Aims: To develop an antimicrobial bottle coating effective at inhibiting the growth of Salmonella in liquid egg albumen (egg white) and reduce the risk of human Salmonellosis. Methods and Results: Four-ounce glass jars were coated with a mixture of polylactic acid (PLA) polymer and antimicrobial compounds containing 100–500 μl allyl isothiocyanate (AIT), 250 mg nisin, 250 mg zinc oxide nanoparticles per jar or their combinations. The coated jars contained 100 ml of liquid egg white (LEW) inoculated with a three-strain Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica cocktail at populations of 103 or 107 CFU ml−1 and stored at 10°C for 28 days. The PLA coating with 500 μl AIT completely inactivated 3 and 7 log CFU ml−1 of Salmonella after 7 and 21 days of storage, respectively. The PLA coating with 200 μl AIT in combination with 250 mg nisin reduced Salmonella populations to an undetectable level (<10 CFU ml−1) after 21 days of storage. Conclusions: PLA coatings containing AIT alone or in combination with nisin effectively inactivated salmonellae in LEW. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study demonstrated the commercial potential of applying the antimicrobial bottle coating method to liquid eggs and possibly other fluid food products.
How I treat ichthyosis vulgaris.

The genetic defect responsible for the skin disease known as ichthyosis vulgaris has not been identified. The dry, rough, scaly skin usually appears in the first year of life; the lesions may involute during the late teens. The goal of treatment is control rather than cure. A combination of topical therapy, personal hygiene, and atmospheric control can achieve improvement. Systemic therapy is unsatisfactory.
Planning using a temporal world model

Current problem solving systems are constrained in their applicability by inadequate world models. We suggest a world model based on a temporal logic. This approach allows the problem solver to gather constraints on the ordering of actions without having to commit to an ordering when a conflict is detected. As such, it generalizes the work on nonlinear planning by Sacerdoti and Tate. In addition, it allows more general descriptions of actions that may occur simultaneously or overlap, and appears promising in supporting reasoning about external events and actions caused by other agents.
Changes in the chemistry of groundwater reacted with CO2: Comparison of results from laboratory experiments and the ZERT field site, Bozeman, Montana, USA

Abstract The Zero Emission Research and Technology (ZERT) field experiment at Bozeman, Montana, USA, was a multi-disciplinary field pilot designed to evaluate near-surface CO2 transport and monitoring technologies applicable to its potential leakage from deep storage reservoirs. As part of this program, sediment cores from two wells at the site were reacted with a solution having the approximate composition of groundwater from the site. A total of 50 water samples were collected from 7 containers, one with its sediments saturated with Na, placed for 15 days in a glove box with 1 atm of food-grade CO2. The objective of this laboratory study is to investigate the changes in the concentrations of major, minor and trace inorganic compounds, and to compare these changes with those observed in groundwater at the site following CO2 injection. The aim of the Na saturated experiment was to investigate the role of sorption/ion exchange on the observed chemical changes. Laboratory results showed rapid changes in pH (8.6–5.7), alkalinity (243–1295 mg/L as HCO3), and electrical conductance (539–1822 μS/cm) following CO2 exposure. Results showed an increase in concentrations of Ca (28–297 mg/L), Mg (18–63 mg/L) and Mn (2–837 μg/L) following CO2 injection. Results for the sodium saturated sample showed a significant role for sorption/ion exchange indicated by lower increases in the concentrations of Ca (32–189 mg/L), Mg (2–14 mg/L), Fe (7–28 μg/L) and Mn (3–465 μg/L) following CO2 exposure. These easily monitored chemical species could provide early detection of CO2-leakage into shallow groundwater. These experimental results, with the exception of Fe, are also in general agreement with those obtained from sampling the ZERT monitoring wells. The main geochemical processes responsible for the observed increases in the concentrations of solutes include: Dissolution of calcite and dolomite; dissolution/reduction of Mn-oxyhydroxides; and desorption-ion exchange from clays and Fe-oxyhydroxieds due to lowered pH values upon CO2 exposure. The trace metal concentrations in samples from both the laboratory experiments and ZERT wells are all significantly below the maximum contaminant levels (MCLs).
Sex Differences in Escalated Methamphetamine Self-Administration and Altered Gene Expression Associated With Incubation of Methamphetamine Seeking.

Background Methamphetamine (METH) use disorder is prevalent worldwide. There are reports of sex differences in quantities of drug used and relapses to drug use among individuals with METH use disorder. However, the molecular neurobiology of these potential sex differences remains unknown. Methods We trained rats to self-administer METH (0. 1 mg/kg/infusion, i.v.) on an fixed-ratio-1 schedule for 20 days using two 3-hour daily METH sessions separated by 30-minute breaks. At the end of self-administration training, rats underwent tests of cue-induced METH seeking on withdrawal days 3 and 30. Twenty-four hours later, nucleus accumbens was dissected and then used to measure neuropeptide mRNA levels. Results Behavioral results show that male rats increased the number of METH infusions earlier during self-administration training and took more METH than females. Both male and female rats could be further divided into 2 phenotypes labeled high and low takers based on the degree of escalation that they exhibited during the course of the METH self-administration experiment. Both males and females exhibited incubation of METH seeking after 30 days of forced withdrawal. Females had higher basal mRNA levels of dynorphin and hypocretin/orexin receptors than males, whereas males expressed higher vasopressin mRNA levels than females under saline and METH conditions. Unexpectedly, only males showed increased expression of nucleus accumbens dynorphin after METH self-administration. Moreover, there were significant correlations between nucleus accumbens Hcrtr1, Hcrtr2, Crhr2, and Avpr1b mRNA levels and cue-induced METH seeking only in female rats. Conclusion Our results identify some behavioral and molecular differences between male and female rats that had self-administered METH. Sexual dimorphism in responses to METH exposure should be considered when developing potential therapeutic agents against METH use disorder.
Orientation-Dependent Intercalation Channels for Lithium and Sodium in Black Phosphorus

Black phosphorus (BP) with unique 2D structure enables the intercalation of foreign elements or molecules, which makes BP directly relevant to high-capacity rechargeable batteries and also opens a promising strategy for tunable electronic transport and superconductivity. However, the underlying intercalation mechanism is not fully understood. Here, a comparative investigation on the electrochemically driven intercalation of lithium and sodium using in situ transmission electron microscopy is presented. Despite the same preferable intercalation channels along [100] (zigzag) direction, distinct anisotropic intercalation behaviors are observed, i.e., Li ions activate lateral intercalation along [010] (armchair) direction to form an overall uniform propagation, whereas Na diffusion is limited in the zigzag channels to cause the columnar intercalation. First-principles calculations indicate that the diffusion of both Li and Na ions along the zigzag direction is energetically favorable, while Li/Na diffusion long the armchair direction encounters an increased energy barrier, but that of Na is significantly larger and insurmountable, which accounts for the orientation-dependent intercalation channels. The evolution of chemical states during phase transformations (from Lix P/Nax P to Li3 P/Na3 P) is identified by analytical electron diffraction and energy-loss spectroscopy. The findings elucidate atomistic Li/Na intercalation mechanisms in BP and show potential implications for other similar 2D materials.
Investigating Surficial Geologic Controls on Soil Properties, Inorganic Nutrient Uptake, and Northern Hardwood Growth in Western Massachusetts, USA

The influence of glacial geologic materials on soil properties, tree nutrient acquisition, and tree growth rates in New England is not well-constrained. Here, our research investigates the effect of two dominant surficial deposits, glacial till and glaciofluvial deposits, on soils and northern hardwood trees in western Massachusetts. We investigated sixteen paired glaciofluvial and glacial till sites located on the perimeters of glacial lake Hitchcock sediments, which drained 12,400 years ago. At each site, a 12.2-m-radius circular plot was selected, a soil pit was excavated, and all trees within the plot were sampled for foliage and cored with an increment borer. Our analyses found glaciofluvial soils to have significantly higher pH, clay fraction, and water field capacity than glacial till soils. Glaciofluvial soils also had less rock fragments and lower sand content than glacial till soils. We observed significantly higher pseudo-total K, Ca, Mg, and Mn concentrations in glacial till soils, but found similar foliar concentrations for five of the six tree species. Tree cores showed Black Birch, Red Maple, and Red Oak grew 1.3 to 2.1 times faster on glaciofluvial soils. Our study found that glaciofluvial soils, which exhibit greater water retention, less rocks, more fine particles, and higher soil pH than glacial till soils, promote faster growth of Black Birch, Red Maple, and Red Oak. However, the growth of American Beech, White Oak, and Eastern Hemlock was not impacted by surficial deposits, implying adaptation to nutrient limitations, coarser rocky soils, and potential water stress. Thus, the growth of some common tree species is affected by geologic materials, but others are not affected.
Body Mass Index and Lymphedema Morbidity: Comparison of Obese versus Normal-Weight Patients.

BACKGROUND Obesity is a risk factor for the development of secondary lymphedema after axillary lymphadenectomy and radiation therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether obesity influences the morbidity of lymphedema in patients who have the condition. METHODS Two cohorts of patients were compared: group 1, normal weight (body mass index ≤25 kg/m); and group 2, obese (body mass index ≥30 kg/m). Inclusion criteria were patients aged 21 years or older with lymphedema confirmed by lymphoscintigraphy. Covariates included age, sex, lymphedema type (primary or secondary), location, comorbidities, lymph node dissection, radiation therapy, lymphoscintigram result, and disease duration. Outcome variables were infection, hospitalization, and degree of limb overgrowth. The cohorts were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test, and multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS Sixty-seven patients were included: group 1, n = 33; and group 2, n = 34. Disease duration did not differ between groups (p = 0.72). Group 2 was more likely to have an infection (59 percent), hospitalization (47 percent), and moderate or severe overgrowth (79 percent), compared to group 1 (18, 6, and 40 percent, respectively; p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression showed that obesity was an independent risk factor for infection (OR, 7.9; 95 percent CI, 2.5 to 26.3; p < 0.001), hospitalization (OR, 30.0; 95 percent CI, 3.6 to 150.8; p < 0.001), and moderate to severe limb overgrowth (OR, 6.7; 95 percent CI, 2.1 to 23.0; p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS Obesity negatively affects patients with established lymphedema. Obese individuals are more likely to have infections, hospitalizations, and larger extremities compared to subjects with a normal body mass index. Patients with lymphedema should be counseled about the negative effects of obesity on their condition. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Risk, II.
Temporomandibular Joint Prosthesis Revision and/or Replacement Survey and Review of the Literature.

Purpose The purpose of the present study was to report the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) alloplastic reconstruction (TMJR) revision and/or replacement rates and associated complication outcomes data gathered from experienced TMJ surgeons and to review the recent relevant data. Materials and Methods A 21-question anonymous on-line survey was sent to all Commission on Dental Accreditation–approved oral and maxillofacial surgery program directors and to members of the European Society of TMJ Surgeons and the American Society of Temporomandibular Joint Surgeons. Results Of the surgeons sent the survey, 22% completed the full questionnaire. Most responses were from surgeons who routinely perform TMJR surgery (93.5%). Of the respondents, 28.3% had more than 30 years of experience and 73.9% were full-time academic faculty. A total of 4638 TMJR procedures were recorded and analyzed. The incidence of TMJR revision (keeping the same device) was 3% and that of replacement (placing a new device) was 4.9%. The most common reason for revision was heterotopic ossification (27.5%). The most common reason for replacement was infection (21.1%). Revision was successful in 86.7% and replacement in 94.6% of the patients at the longest follow-up reported. Conclusions The data from the present study have shown that the incidence is low and the success rate is high for TMJR revision and replacement.
Does sustainability index matter to the hospitality industry

Abstract Employing the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DJSI) as a proxy for a firm's socially responsible investments, this research analyzes whether DJSI generates short- and long-run impacts on hospitality firms' financial values. Results indicate that due to characteristics intrinsic to the hospitality industry, hospitality firms' financial performance is more sensitive to addition or deletion events, as compared with the performance of non-hospitality firms, whether measured over the short run or long run. In addition, some firm features, including size, Tobin's Q, and institutional ownership, might also intensify the abnormal returns of firms. The findings would throw some light on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) literature and pave the way to develop new socially responsible investment strategies and ESG-oriented practices that help consolidate tourism-related firms' financial performance and positively benefit society.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Critical Care Transfers for ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, and Aortic Emergencies.

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted healthcare delivery worldwide. In hotspot areas such as Wuhan, Lombardy, and New York City, the disease has forced hospitals to focus on COVID-19 patients. Anecdotal reports have suggested that the pandemic has led to a decrease in patients presenting to these hospitals with serious cardiovascular and neurologic diseases such as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and stroke. We sought to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency transfers for STEMI, stroke, and acute aortic emergencies within our regional health system.
125-P: QUANTITATIVE PCR CHIMERISM METHOD DETECTING MULTIPLE HSCT DONORS

Aim Engraftment monitoring is crucial step for patients after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT). STR-PCR is currently the most widely used technique, but the interpretation is difficult due to the existence of stutter bands, amplicons containing one less repeat than the normal allele, especially in double-cord or multiple donor tranplants. The idea of using pooled umbilical cord blood (CB) as an universal donor for marrow reconstitution is not new. The aim of this study was to test if qPCR method is able to detect multiple chimera generated from 6 different DNA samples. Methods We generated several DNA mixes with known ratio (50, 5, 1 and 0.1%) to mimic HSCT postransplant situation using 5 different donors, each at an equal concentration. STR-PCR (ABI) and qPCR (Celera) methods were compared using modified calculations. We asked if biallelic indels were enough to distinguish 6 individual DNA. Was qPCR sensitive enough to detect lower amounts of DNA (1,5 and 0.1%) and how easy it was to quantify each individual DNA. Results Screening: Average number of informative STR vary 3-7 for each DNA (n = 16 loci). Only 3/6 DNA had unique Indel (n = 34 loci) markers. We decided to use combination of Indel markers; 4 Indels were unique for 4 different pair. Quantification: Both STR-PCR and qPCR were able to estimate each component, however, in case of STR-PCR stutter bands were completely excluded from the calculation, otherwise it was impossible to analyze. 50% of DNA was detected as 57-58% using STR-PCR or qPCR. 10% of each donor was detected with the range of 6-15% (STR) and 7-11% (qPCR). However, qPCR was able to detect 0.1; 1 and 5% of one DNA, in which case STR results were 3,6%; 4,4% and 9.3% resp. Conclusions As expected, STR-PCR is more informative but less sensitive than qPCR. Interpretation of these data could be adapted and used in cases of multiple donors. Pooled CB in culture should be used as donor sample to test the same hypothesis.
A simple experiment on global warming.

A simple experiment has been developed to demonstrate the global warming potential of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas in the Earth's atmosphere. A miniature electric resistance heating element was placed ...
Defining events of 2020

Add your voice to Science ! Our new NextGen Voices survey is now open: What new word or phrase would you add to the dictionary to help scientists explain the events of 2020 to future generations? To submit, go to [www.sciencemag.org/nextgen-voices][1] Deadline for submissions is 20 November. A selection of the best responses will be published in the 1 January 2021 issue of Science . Anonymous submissions will not be considered. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/nextgen-voices
The Impact of Institutional Differences on Derivatives Usage: a Comparative Study of US and Dutch Firms

This paper tests the influence of institutional differences on risk management practices.Several survey studies have investigated derivatives usage for risk management purposes in the US (see, among others, Bodnar, Hayt, Marston and Smithson, 1995 and Bodnar, Hayt and Marston, 1996, 1998).In this paper, we compare derivative practices of US and Dutch firms.This comparison is interesting because the institutional setting for Dutch firms differs from the US setting with respect to shareholder orientation, international trade, disclosure regulation, and the reliance on financial markets.In a number of survey studies additional countries have been studied, such as New Zealand (Berkman, Bradbury and Magan, 1997), Sweden (Alkeback and Hagelin, 1999) and Germany (Bodnar and Gebhardt, 1999).In contrast with these papers, we facilitate a comparison by applying a matching and a weighting strategy, which corrects for different distributions over industry and size classes in the Dutch and US samples.After these corrections, the remaining results can be attributed to institutional differences.We find that Dutch firms hedge more financial risk. Because of the greater openness of the Netherlands, Dutch firms experience far more foreign exchange exposure and hedge more currency risk.US firms have more concerns regarding derivative usage, which may be linked to the stricter disclosure requirements in the US.US firms also focus more on accounting earnings, which may be attributable to the shareholder orientation in the US versus the stakeholder orientation in the Netherlands.Whereas Dutch firms tend to rely on OTC-transactions, US firms use exchange-traded derivatives and therefore require a higher counter party rating for derivatives transactions. This distinction can be accredited to the differences in the financial environments between the US and the Netherlands.The aforementioned results indicate that institutional differences between the US and the Netherlands have a significant effect on the risk management practices and derivatives use of US and Dutch firms.
Assessment of Residents’ Ability to do Psychotherapy

The authors describe the development of an evaluation instrument constructed to assess residents’ grasp of elements basic to the conduct of psychoanalytically-oriented psychotherapy. They stress assessment of the resident’s ability to employ previously acquired skills and knowledge in the moment-by-moment development of a psychotherapy interview. The instrument employs actual verbatim transcript material taken from psychotherapy conducted by experienced clinicians but makes use of alternative interventions devised after the fact. Although only the group of first year residents could be distinguished by its mean score, the instrument yielded useful information about specific learning problems.
Short-Term Outcomes After Total Shoulder Arthroplasty in Octogenarians: A Matched Analysis.

Introduction Studies have shown that the use of total shoulder arthroplasty is increasing every year in the United Stated at a rate higher than that of total hip or total knee arthroplasty. As the population of the United States continues to age, it is becoming more important for surgeons to understand the true impact of age on outcomes and complications following procedures such a total shoulder arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to determine if octogenarians have poorer outcomes after total shoulder arthroplasty compared to a younger, matched control group. Methods Data was obtained through the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (ACS NSQIP). Patients who had undergone total shoulder arthroplasty were identified by Current Procedural Terminology code (23472). Indication for arthroplasty was determined by ICD9/10 code (osteoarthritis, fracture, other). Each octogenarian was matched 1:1 to a non-octogenarian based on sex, BMI, ASA class, medical comorbidities, functional status, and surgical indication for arthroplasty by propensity scoring. A subgroup analysis was performed to compare outcomes between only those patients who underwent TSA for osteoarthritis.Outcomes of interest were assessed between the two groups for statistical significance using a chi-squared test or fisher exact test for expected values of less than 5. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results After matching, octogenarians were found to be at higher risk of readmission (4.7% vs. 3.3%, p=0.046), non-home discharge (27.1% vs. 9.4%, p<0.001), and overall surgical (4.4% vs. 2.5%, p=0.006) and medical complications (3.7% vs. 2.4%, p=0.039). In the setting of TSA for osteoarthritis only, however, octogenarians were only at higher risk for non-home discharge (22.4% vs. 7.5%, p<0.001). Conclusions Octogenarians are at higher risk of some complications following total shoulder arthroplasty but fewer than has been previously reported, particularly in the setting of arthroplasty for the treatment of arthritis.
The Impact of Obesity on Renal Trauma Outcome: An Analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank from 2013 to 2016

The obesity paradox has been recently demonstrated in trauma patients, where improved survival was associated with overweight and obese patients compared to patients with normal weight, despite increased morbidity. Little is known whether this effect is mediated by lower injury severity. We aim to explore the association between body mass index (BMI) and renal trauma injury grade, morbidity, and in-hospital mortality. A retrospective cohort of adults with renal trauma was conducted using 2013–2016 National Trauma Data Bank. Multiple regression analyses were used to assess outcomes of interest across BMI categories with normal weight as reference, while adjusting for relevant covariates including kidney injury grade. We analyzed 15181 renal injuries. Increasing BMI above normal progressively decreased the risk of high-grade renal trauma (HGRT). Subgroup analysis showed that this relationship was maintained in blunt injury, but there was no association in penetrating injury. Overweight (OR 1.02, CI 0.83–1.25, p = 0.841), class I (OR 0.92, CI 0.71–1.19, p = 0.524), and class II (OR 1.38, CI 0.99–1.91, p = 0.053) obesity were not protective against mortality, whereas class III obesity (OR 1.46, CI 1.03–2.06, p = 0.034) increased mortality odds. Increasing BMI by category was associated with a stepwise increase in odds of acute kidney injury, cardiovascular events, total hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit LOS, and ventilator days. Increasing BMI was associated with decreased risk of HGRT in blunt trauma. Overweight and obesity were associated with increased morbidity but not with a protective effect on mortality. The obesity paradox does not exist in kidney trauma when injury grade is accounted for.
A one-shot next best view system for active object recognition

Active vision is the ability of intelligent agents to dynamically gather more information about their surroundings by physical motion of the camera. In the case of object recognition, active vision enables improved performance by incorporating classification decisions from new viewpoints when there is some degree of uncertainty in the current recognition result. A natural question in an autonomous active vision system is, nonetheless, how to determine the new viewpoint, i.e. in what pose should the camera be moved? This is the traditional question of next best view in active perception systems. Current approaches to the next best view problem either need construction of occupancy grids or require training datasets of 3D objects or multiple captures of the same object in specified poses. Occupancy grid methods are usually dependent on multiple camera movements to perform well, which make them more useful for 3D reconstruction applications than object recognition. In this paper, a next best view method for active object recognition based on object appearance and surface direction is proposed that decides on the next cameras pose without requiring any specifically structured training datasets of 3D objects. It is also designed for single-shot deductions of next viewpoint and is able to determine next best views without the need for substantial knowledge of 3D voxels in the environment around the camera. The experimental results illustrate the efficiency of the proposed method, while showing large improvements in accuracy and F1 score.
Multimorbidity and Inpatient Utilization Among Older Adults with Opioid Use Disorder in New York City.

Nationally, there is a sharp increase in older adults with opioid use disorder (OUD). However, we know little of the acute healthcare utilization patterns and medical comorbidities among this population. This study describes the prevalence of chronic conditions, patterns of inpatient utilization, and correlates of high inpatient utilization among older adults with OUD in New York City (NYC). Retrospective longitudinal cohort study. Patients aged ≥55 with OUD hospitalized in NYC in 2012 identified using data from New York State’s Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System (SPARCS). The prevalence of comorbid substance use diagnoses, chronic medical disease, and mental illness was measured using admission diagnoses from the index hospitalization. We calculated the ICD-Coded Multimorbidity-Weighted Index (MWI-ICD) for each patient to measure multimorbidity. We followed the cohort through September 30, 2015 and the outcome was the number of rehospitalizations for inpatient services in NYC. We compared patient-level factors between patients with the highest use of inpatient services (≥7 rehospitalizations) during the study period to low utilizers. We used multiple logistic regression to examine possible correlates of high inpatient utilization. Of 3669 adults aged ≥55 with OUD with a hospitalization in 2012, 76.4% (n=2803) had a subsequent hospitalization and accounted for a total of 22,801 rehospitalizations during the study period. A total of 24.7% of the cohort (n=906) were considered high utilizers and had a higher prevalence of alcohol and cocaine-related diagnoses, congestive heart failure, diabetes, schizophrenia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Multivariable predictors of high utilization included being a Medicaid beneficiary (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.37–2.11), alcohol-related diagnoses (aOR=1.43, 95% CI: 1.21–1.69), and increasing comorbidity measured by MWI-ICD (highest MWI-ICD quartile: aOR=1.98, 95% CI=1.59–2.48). Among older adults with OUD admitted to the hospital, multimorbidity is strongly associated with high inpatient utilization.
Keplerian Restraints on General Quantized Theories of Gravity and the Emergence of Anomalous Electro-Gravitic Couplings at the Compton Scale

Anastasovki and Hamilton have argued that the shell energy structure of nuclear matter maybe be bounded to a gravitational constant with magnitude...
Bioactive Coatings On Ti And Ti-6A1-4V Alloys For Medical Applications

Hydroxyapatite (HA), Ca10(P04)6(OH)2), coatings on metallic medical implants present several advantages: they facilitate joining between the prosthesis and the osseous tissue, and they increase the long term stability and integrity of the implants presently used by medical practitioners and discussed in the literature. The coating techniques provide inadequate adherence of the HA to Ti alloys. More promising coating approaches are based on coating with bioactive glasses that can form HA layers “in vivo”.
Chapter 60 Delayed stereotactic transplantation technique in non-human primates

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the technique and equipment modifications for stereotactically placing reproducible guide trajectories into the brain parenchyma, and compares this technique with the standard intraparenchymal stereotactic transplantation technique by performing quantitative cell counts of tyrosine hydroxylase-like immunoreactive (TH-IR) cells in paired transplant sites. There are a number of advantages in using stereotactic techniques for neural transplantation into large, deep brain nuclei, such as the caudate-putamen, especially in primates. The data suggests that the delayed stereotactic transplantation may hold promise as a technique to increase cell survival in intraparenchymal brain grafts, and the technique could potentially be used for solid or suspension grafts of either fetal or adrenal tissue in methylphenyltetrahydropyridine (MPTP) non-human primate models of Parkinsonism. Although, further study is needed, but so far, it appears that the delayed technique may not increase the risk of immunological rejection of the graft, or reactive gliosis at graft site. The chapter concludes that the delayed transplantation technique may help provide an optimal environment for enhancing intraparenchymal graft survival.
La crisis cambiaria chilena de 1982

Chile's devaluation of 1982 has been the source of much commentary. By far the most widely held view is that the underlying policy mistake was the fixing of the price of the dollar at 39 pesos in July of 1979. According to this view, Chile's exchange rate
Intraseasonal variations in the surface layer heat balance of the central equatorial Indian Ocean: The importance of zonal advection and vertical mixing

[1] We examine the ocean mixed layer response to intraseasonal atmospheric forcing using moored time series data in the central equatorial Indian Ocean for October 2004 to March 2005, a period coincident with two active phases of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). Both MJO events were accompanied by a sea surface temperature decrease that was partially the consequence of reduced net surface heat flux. In addition, during the first event in October–November 2004, advection by an enhanced Wyrtki Jet contributed substantial cooling, while during the second event in December 2004 to January 2005, vertical processes, most likely related to entrainment mixing, were pronounced. Heavy rainfall at the mooring location during the first event may have contributed to the formation of a 30–40 m thick barrier layer that limited turbulent vertical transfers between the mixed layer and the thermocline. There was no barrier layer present during the second event, which presumably allowed for much freer vertical turbulent exchanges.