cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The placenta shed from goats with classical scrapie is infectious to goat kids and lambs.

The placenta of domestic sheep plays a key role in horizontal transmission of classical scrapie. Domestic goats are frequently raised with sheep and are susceptible to classical scrapie, yet potential routes of transmission from goats to sheep are not fully defined. Sparse accumulation of disease-associated prion protein in cotyledons casts doubt about the role of the goat's placenta. Thus, relevant to mixed-herd management and scrapie-eradication efforts worldwide, we determined if the goat's placenta contains prions orally infectious to goat kids and lambs. A pooled cotyledon homogenate, prepared from the shed placenta of a goat with naturally acquired classical scrapie disease, was used to orally inoculate scrapie-nai¨ve prion genotype-matched goat kids and scrapie-susceptible lambs raised separately in a scrapie-free environment. Transmission was detected in all four goats and in two of four sheep, which importantly identifies the goat's placenta as a risk for horizontal transmission to sheep and other goats.
Customization: Ideal Varieties, Product Uniqueness and Price Competition

We study customization in the Hotelling model with two firms. In addition to providing ideal varieties, the perceived uniqueness of a customized product contributes independently to consumer utility. We show that only when consumer preferences for uniqueness are high customization occurs in equilibrium.
International income inequality, 2005–2011: what a difference 6 years can make

While much attention has recently been given to the rising inequality in high-income countries, particularly the US, inequality across countries has received less attention. Based on reports of the International Comparison Program, which provide the most accurate measures of PPP income at the country level, this study computes three highly recommended measures of intercountry income inequality for the years 2005 and 2011. A dramatic, and perhaps unprecedented, fall in intercountry inequality over the relatively short period of 6 years is noted. As a correlate of the fall in intercountry inequality, aggregate PPP GDP for six major high-income countries is compared with that for three large developing countries, and the dramatic increase over the 6-year period in the ratio of the total GDP of the three developing countries to that for the six high-income countries is noted, thus extending, from the most accurate data, the theme of the ‘rise of the South’ articulated in Human Development Report 2013.
THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY OF MODEL MEAT ANALOG SYSTEMS

Model meat analogs composed of soy spun fiber, egg albumen, and wheat gluten were thermally processed at five different temperatures under transient heat transfer conditions. Thermal diffusivity values were obtained during this period using Dickerson's method. The subject samples were held at the final temperature for 1 hr and thermal diffusivity values were obtained using the method of Pflug et al. (1965); values obtained by the two methods matched favorably within the experimental variations. The thermal diffusivities of the system varied with water content in the temperature range 71.1–93.3°C. Above this range, water alone could not reliably predict the thermal diffusivity values. increase in processing temperature lowered the thermal diffusivity values.
Physiological Reactivity to Cognitive Stressors: Variations by Age and Socioeconomic Status

The present study focused on age and SES differences in stress reactivity in response to cognitively challenging tasks. Specifically, we assessed within-person trajectories of cortisol, a steroid hormone released by the adrenal gland in response to stressors, before, during, and after exposure to cognitively challenging tasks. We extend the current literature by simultaneously examining age and SES differences in physiological reactivity. Findings suggest that age and SES both play an important role in reactivity, such that it was the older adults with higher SES who were the most physiologically reactive to cognitive stressors. Implications of these findings for cognitive aging research are discussed.
Advanced Control and Analysis of Cascaded Multilevel Converters Based on P-Q Compensation

This paper introduces new controls for the cascaded multilevel power converter. This converter is also sometimes referred to as a ldquohybrid converterrdquo since it splits high-voltage/low-frequency and low-voltage/pulsewidth-modulation (PWM)-frequency power production between ldquobulkrdquo and ldquoconditioningrdquo converters respectively. Cascaded multilevel converters achieve higher power quality with a given switch count when compared to traditional multilevel converters. This is a particularly favorable option for high power and high performance applications such as naval ship propulsion. This paper first presents a new control method for the topology using three-level bulk and conditioning inverters connected in series through a three-phase load. This control avoids PWM frequency switching in the bulk inverter. The conditioning inverter uses a capacitor source and its control is based on compensating the real and reactive (P-Q) power difference between the bulk inverter and the load. The new control explicitly commands power into the conditioning inverter so that its capacitor voltage remains constant. A unique space vector analysis of hybrid converter modulation is introduced to quantitatively determine operating limitations. The conclusion is then generalized for all types of controls of the hybrid multilevel converters (involving three-level converter cells). The proposed control methods and analytical conclusions are verified by simulation and laboratory measurements.
Employees’ National Culture and Service Quality: An Integrative Review

Because of the interactive role employees play in service operations, their behaviors often affect the customer’s experience directly. Employee behaviors, in turn, are often a function of the culture in which they are born and raised. To that end, it is critical to develop a national culture theory for service firms that need to operate in an increasingly global business environment and to study the extent of the impact of employees’ national culture on a service firm’s quality outcomes. Our review of the literature aims to increase the understanding of such links. We trace the impact of major cultural characteristics (adopted from the work of Geert Hofstede and the GLOBE project) on three dimensions of service operations: physical surroundings and products, employee behavioral aspects, and service supply chain operations. We also study the extent to which these relationships change in different segments of the same market. We develop a research framework, offer testable propositions for additional resear...
Distribution, abundance, and feeding ecology of decapods in the Arabian Sea, with implications for vertical flux

Macrozooplankton and micronekton samples were collected on two cruises in the Arabian Sea conducted during the Spring Intermonsoon period (May) and the SW Monsoon period (August) of 1995. Discrete depth samples were collected down to depths of 1000}1500 m. Quantitative gut content analyses were performed on four species of decapod shrimps, Gennadas sordidus, Sergia xlictum, Sergia creber, and Eupasiphae gilesii, as well as on the pelagic crab Charybdis smithii. Of the shrimps, only S. xlictum and S. creber increased signi"cantly in abundance between the Spring Intermonsoon and SW Monsoon seasons. These four species were found at all depths sampled, and most did not appear to be strong vertical migrators. G. sordidus and S. xlictum did appear to spread upward at night, especially during the SW Monsoon, but this movement did not include the entire population. S. creber showed signs of diel vertical migration only in some areas. All four shrimp species except, to some degree, S. creber lived almost exclusively within the oxygen minimum zone (150}1000 m), and are likely to have respiratory adaptations that allow them to persist under such conditions. Feeding occurred at all depths throughout these species’ ranges, but only modest feeding occurred in the surface layer (0}150 m). G. sordidus appeared to feed continuously throughout the day and night. Estimated contribution of fecal material to vertical #ux ranged from (0.01}2.1% of particulate #ux at 1000 m for the shrimps and 1.8}3.0% for C. smithii. ( 2000 Published by
A versatile element for gene addition in bacterial chromosomes

The increasing interest in genetic manipulation of bacterial host metabolic pathways for protein or small molecule production has led to a need to add new genes to a chromosome quickly and easily without leaving behind a selectable marker. The present report describes a vector and four-day procedure that enable site-specific chromosomal insertion of cloned genes in a context insulated from external transcription, usable once in a construction series. The use of rhamnose-inducible transcription from rhaBp allows regulation of the inserted genes independently of the commonly used IPTG and arabinose strategies. Using lacZ as a reporter, we first show that expression from the rhamnose promoter is tightly regulatable, exhibiting very low leakage of background expression compared with background, and moderate rhamnose-induced expression compared with IPTG-induced expression from lacp. Second, the expression of a DNA methyltransferase was used to show that rhamnose regulation yielded on-off expression of this enzyme, such that a resident high-copy plasmid was either fully sensitive or fully resistant to isoschizomer restriction enzyme cleavage. In both cases, growth medium manipulation allows intermediate levels of expression. The vehicle can also be adapted as an ORF-cloning vector.
Congestion-oriented shortest multipath routing

We present a framework for the modeling of multipath routing in connectionless networks that dynamically adapt to network congestion. The basic routing protocol uses a short-term metric based on hop-by-hop credits to reduce congestion over a given link, and a long-term metric based on end-to-end path delay to reduce delays from a source to a given destination. A worst-case bound on the end-to-end path delay is derived under three architectural assumptions: each router adopts weighted fair queueing (or packetized generalized processor sharing) service discipline on a per destination basis, a permit-bucket filter is used at each router to regulate traffic flow on a per destination basis, and all paths are loop free. The shortest multipath routing protocol regulates the parameters of the destination-oriented permit buckets and guarantees that all portions of a multipath are loop free.
Semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis for hypoxia in human tumors.

Abstract Objective: The goal of this study was to develop a semiquantitative scoring system for measuring hypoxia in human tumors by an immunohistochemical marker approach. Methods and Materials: Eighteen patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix or head and neck were infused intravenously with a solution of pimonidazole hydrochloride at a dose of 0.5 gm/m 2 . Twenty-four hours later, four biopsies on average from each tumor were fixed in formalin, processed into paraffin blocks, and sectioned. Tissue sections were immunostained for the presence of pimonidazole adducts. Microscopic images (×200) of immunostaining were captured and quantitated by standard image analysis. Images with known amounts of hypoxia spanning ranges of > 0% to 5%, > 5% to 15%, > 15% to 30%, and >30% were assigned scores of +1, +2, +3, and +4, respectively. Three observers then used this calibrated scoring system to analyze hypoxia in tumor sections in a blinded fashion. Results: Excellent interobserver reproducibility was obtained with the calibrated, semiquantitative, immunohistochemical assay for hypoxia in squamous cell carcinomas. Conclusion: The calibrated, semiquantitative assay shows promise as an approach to simplifying the quantitation of human tumor hypoxia by immunohistochemical techniques.
Durability of Endothelial Cell Monolayers Inside a Beating Cardiac Prosthesis

Thromboembolic complications associated with the use of cardiac prostheses might be alleviated by lining the blood-contacting surfaces of these devices with a functional monolayer of endothelial cells. In the current study, we tested our hypothesis that precoating textured surfaces of artificial ventricles with various plasma proteins could enhance the resistance of endothelial cell monolayers to hemodynamic forces generated within an in vitro mock circulatory loop system. Bovine jugular vein endothelial cells were grown to confluence on the luminal surface of artificial ventricles constructed of textured, medical grade polyurethane (Biospan), which had been precoated with either fibronectin or plasma cryoprecipitate. Following 7 days of culturing under static conditions, the endothelialized ventricles were connected to a mock loop system, and exposed to pulsatile flow for 6 and 24h (60bpm, 3.21/min mean flow rate, 150mmHg ejection pressure). Retention of endothelial cells was evaluated by Alamar Blue assay before and after each run. Monolayer integrity and additional morphometric parameters were also assessed by direct visualization, employing various light and electron microscopic techniques. In ventricles which had been precoated with fibronectin, Alamar Blue assay indicated cellular retention to be 77% ± 4% and 72% ± 5% of static controls, after 6 and 24h, respectively. In marked contrast, cryoprecipitate-coated ventricles retained over 90% of their endothelial cell lining through 24 h of exposure to physiological hemodynamic conditions. These findings were confirmed by visual inspection. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of maintaining an intact endothelial surface in a beating ventricular prosthesis, and that the durability of the cell layer is highly dependent upon the selection of biomaterial surface topography and protein coating.
Manual Batchwise Sequencing Methods

Until recently the rate-limiting step in protein structural determination was the purification of peptides, so sequencing efforts focused on long degradations of large fragments. With the advent of HPLC methods the sequencer has been confronted with a host of suitable material mostly of small to moderate size. Improvements in procedure for automatic instruments like the spinning cup have extended their applicability, range and sensitivity, but have only slightly increased their speed: one day’s worth of HPLC runs can easily produce enough peptides to occupy an automatic sequenator for half a year.
An assessment of the effects of glucocorticoids on degranulation, chemotaxis, binding to vascular endothelium and formation of leukotriene B4 by purified human neutrophils.

Glucocorticoids exert their actions through a time-dependent, receptor-mediated, protein synthesis- and RNA synthesis-dependent mechanism. We have assessed the effects of 24-h culture of human neutrophils with dexamethasone on degranulation, chemotaxis, binding to vascular endothelium and formation of leukotriene B4. Purified neutrophils contained an average of 2896 [3H]dexamethasone binding sites per cell with a Kd of 4.1 X 10(-9) M for [3H]dexamethasone binding. Cells exposed to dexamethasone (10(-6) M) released equal or greater quantities of the lysosomal enzymes, lysozyme and beta-glucuronidase in response to formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, serum activated zymosan, and the tumor promoting phorbol diester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate compared to controls. Culture with dexamethasone also did not inhibit neutrophil chemotaxis in response to a range of concentrations of formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, or did it inhibit binding of neutrophils to cultured endothelial cells stimulated by either leukocyte activators (formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and platelet-activating factor) or endothelial activators (interleukin-1, lipopolysaccharide or 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate). Spontaneous adherence of neutrophils to endothelial cells was inhibited (82.9 +/- 6.8% of control, P less than .025, n = 18). Neither in vitro or in vivo glucocorticoids inhibited neutrophil leukotriene B4 formation induced by either the calcium ionophore A23187 or serum activated zymosan. We conclude that human neutrophils are not functionally inactivated by glucocorticoids and suggest that the mechanism by which glucocorticoids inhibit neutrophil accumulation at inflammatory sites may be by inhibition of the production of chemoattractants and endothelial activators rather than inhibition of their actions.
Clinical problems with developmental anomalies of the biliary tract

Cholestatic jaundice defined as conjugated hyperbilirubinemia is a typical feature of neonatal liver disease. Biliary atresia is the most common disorder producing cholestasis during the first 2 months of life. Syndromic and non-syndromic paucity of the intralobular bile ducts and choledochal cysts can also present with cholestasis during early life. Liver dysfunction from obstruction of the biliary tree must be differentiated from numerous disorders affecting hepatocytes such as congenital infection and inborn errors of metabolism. Early recognition and a stepwise diagnostic evaluation of the cholestatic infant are essential in successfully treating many metabolic and infectious liver diseases of the infant as well as surgically relieving obstruction in patients with biliary atresia.
Influence of immune activation on the risk of allograft rejection in human immunodeficiency virus-infected kidney transplant recipients.

Abstract Background HIV infection is associated with high rates of acute rejection following kidney transplantation. The underlying mechanisms for such predisposition are incompletely understood. Pathological immune activation is a hallmark of chronic HIV infection that persists despite effective antiretroviral therapy. We hypothesized that the baseline levels of T cell activation in HIV+ candidates would correlate with their risk of acute rejection following kidney transplantation. Methods Single-center retrospective cohort analysis of HIV+ adult kidney transplants performed between October 2006 and September 2013. The frequency of CD3+ HLA-DR+ cells measured by flow cytometry served as a surrogate marker of immune activation. Patients were categorized into tertiles of activation, and the rates of biopsy-proven acute rejection were compared across groups. Results (1) Compared to matched HIV− controls, the baseline number of CD3+ HLA-DR+ cells was higher in HIV+ kidney transplant candidates. (2) Abnormally high levels of activation did not decrease with transplant-associated immunosuppression. (3) Patients categorized within the lower and middle CD3+ HLA-DR+ tertiles had higher probability of rejection during the first 3 years post-transplant compared to those in the higher activation tertile (36.9% vs. 0%; log-rank P = 0.04). Conclusions Pathological immune activation in HIV+ transplant candidates does not explain their increased susceptibility to allograft rejection. Paradoxically, those with the highest levels of immune activation seem to be less prone to rejection.
Alpha adrenergic and cholinergic-muscarinic regulation of adenosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate levels in the rat parotid.

(-)-Isoproterenol caused a dose-dependent rise in cyclic AMP concentration in rat parotid slices. Preincubation of rat parotid slices with carbamylcholine or an alpha adrenergic agonist, methoxamine, markedly inhibited the rise of cyclic AMP following stimulation with a beta adrenergic agonist, (-)-isoproterenol. This effect of carbamylcholine was blocked by preincubation with atropine and the effect of methoxamine was blocked by preincubation with phenoxybenzamine. The effects of methoxamine or carbamylcholine were partly reversed by subsequent addition of phentolamine or atropine. Carbamylcholine produced an almost maximal inhibition when added simultaneously with (-)-isoproterenol, while methoxamine required more than 8 min of preincubation to achieve its maximal effect. Carbamylcholine was active either in the absence of exogenous Ca ++ or in the presence of Ca ++ and the divalent cation ionophore A23187. Methoxamine was inactive in the absence of added Ca ++ and failed to reduce further the (-)-isoproterenol stimulated concentrations of cyclic AMP in the presence of Ca ++ and A23187. Methoxamine, A23187, and carbamylcholine each caused a shift to the right in (-)-isoproterenol dose-response curve. The non-hyperbolicity of the dose response curve to (-)-isoproterenol prevented a simple analysis of the resulting inhibition patterns. Both carbamylcholine and methoxamine produced their effects in the presence of cyclic AMP diesterase inhibitors. Carbamylcholine had little, if any, effect on the rate of disappearance of cyclic AMP. These findings strongly indicate a different mechanism of action for the alpha adrenergic and cholinergic agonists in the rat parotid, which previously have been reported to act via independent receptors, to produce apparently identical physiological and biochemical effects.
Patient activation and the use of information to support informed health decisions

Abstract Objectives Patients and consumers make many choices that affect their health and their health care. Some of these decisions are informed by evidence, but many are not. A growing body of research indicates that those who are more activated or engaged in their health are more likely to seek out and use information to inform their health decisions. In this paper we review the evidence about patient activation and information seeking, health behaviors, and health outcomes. We also review what is known about how to increase patient activation, and how best to support patients who are at different levels of activation to use information to support their choices. Discussion Strategies can be tailored to support and information for patients at different levels of activation. These strategies might be implemented in different clinical settings and situations, tailored and targeted approaches for care transitions, health coaching, and in the use of shared-decision-making. Conclusions Efforts to support informed consumer choices have largely been a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Understanding consumers, and trying to meet them where they are, is likely to be the focus of the ‘next generation’ of interventions to support informed consumer choices.
Causal necessity and sufficiency in implicativity

Karttunen's (1971) implicative verbs are notable for generating inferences over their complements. English manage to X , for instance, entails the truth of X : the entailment reverses with matrix negation and seems tied to the elusive presuppositional contribution of the implicative predicate (Coleman 1975). Building on Baglini & Francez (2015), and drawing on insights provided by implicative data from Finnish, I propose an account of the implicative class which links the lexical presuppositional content of an implicative verb to inferences over the truth-value of its complement via a model of causal necessity and sufficiency between contextually-salient variables (Schulz 2011). The proposal also provides a natural explanation for the commonalities between manage and weaker one-way implicatives like Finnish jaksaa 'have.strength', which only entail under one matrix polarity.
Disputing Together: Conflict Resolution and the Search for Community

The use of dispute resolution processes and techniques conducive to the building of community is the subject of this article. It will explore, in Section II, the desirability of employing processes and techniques to manage conflict in a manner conducive to the building of community, and in Section III, the use of conflict resolution systems to build and maintain social capital. Section IV will thereafter examine various conflict resolution processes and techniques, elaborating upon the following themes regarding the relationship between dispute resolution processes and the advancement of community.
Factors Influencing Patients’ Sleep in the Intensive Care Unit: Perceptions of Patients and Clinical Staff

Background Multiple factors are believed to contribute to disruption of patients' sleep and negatively affect clinical outcomes in the intensive care unit. Achieving restorative sleep for critically ill patients remains a challenge. Objectives To explore the perceptions and beliefs of staff, patients, and surrogates regarding the environmental and nonenvironmental factors in the medical intensive care unit that affect patients' sleep. Methods This qualitative study included 24 medical intensive care unit staff (7 physicians, 5 respiratory therapists, 10 nurses, and 2 patient-care assistants), 8 patients, and 6 patient surrogates. Semistructured interviews were conducted, and qualitative analysis of content was used to code, categorize, and identify interview themes. Results Interview responses revealed 4 themes with related subthemes: (1) The overnight medical intensive care unit environment does affect sleep, (2) nonenvironmental factors such as difficult emotions and anxiety also affect sleep, (3) respondents' perceptions about sleep quality in the medical intensive care unit were highly variable, and (4) suggestions for sleep improvement included reassuring patients and care-clustering strategies. Conclusions Results of this study suggest that environment is not the only factor influencing patients' sleep. Decreases in environmental sources of disturbance are necessary but not sufficient for sleep improvement. Guideline-recommended clustered care is needed to provide adequate sleep opportunity, but patients' emotions and anxiety also must be addressed.
19 – MONOPOLISTIC COMPETITION, PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION, AND LOW BARRIERS TO ENTRY

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses monopolistic competition. Monopolistically competitive firms face a downward-sloping demand curve. They use product quality, style, convenience of location, advertising, and price as competitive weapons. Because rivals are free to duplicate the product of the monopolistic competitor, the demand for his product is elastic. Because price searchers must reduce price to expand sales, their marginal revenue from the sale of additional units would be less than the price. The marginal revenue curve for a price searcher would lie inside of the demand curve. Traditional economic theory emphasizes that monopolistic competition is inefficient because price exceeds marginal cost at the long-run equilibrium output level, long-run average cost is not minimized and excessive advertising is sometimes encouraged. However, other economists have argued that this criticism is misdirected in a dynamic world. Under monopolistic competition, firms have an incentive to produce efficiently, undertake production if their actions would increase the value of resources used, and offer a variety of products.
Exercise Oscillatory Ventilation: Interreviewer Agreement and a Novel Determination.

Introduction Determination of exercise oscillatory ventilation (EOV) is subjective, and the interreviewer agreement has not been reported. The purposes of this study were, among patients with heart failure (HF), as follows: 1) to determine the interreviewer agreement for EOV and 2) to describe a novel, objective, and quantifiable measure of EOV. Methods This was a secondary analysis of the HEART Camp: Promoting Adherence to Exercise in Patients with Heart Failure study. EOV was determined through a blinded review by six individuals on the basis of their interpretation of the EOV literature. Interreviewer agreement was assessed using Fleiss kappa (κ). Final determination of EOV was based on agreement by four of the six reviewers. A new measure (ventilation dispersion index; VDI) was calculated for each test, and its ability to predict EOV was assessed with the receiver operator characteristics curve. Results Among 243 patients with HF (age, 60 ± 12 yr; 45% women), the interreviewer agreement for EOV was fair (κ = 0.303) with 10-s discrete data averages and significantly better, but only moderate (κ = 0.429) with 30-s rolling data averages. Prevalence rates of positive and indeterminate EOVs were 18% and 30% with the 10-s discrete averages and 14% and 13% with the 30-s rolling averages, respectively. VDI was strongly associated with EOV, with areas under the receiver operator characteristics curve of 0.852 to 0.890. Conclusions Interreviewer agreement for EOV in patients with HF is fair to moderate, which can negatively affect risk stratification. VDI has strong predictive validity with EOV; as such, it might be a useful measure of prognosis in patients with HF.
Arthroscopic Management of Transchondral Talar-Dome Fractures (Osteochondritis Dissecans) and Anterior Impingement Lesions of the Ankle Joint

The frequent use of arthroscopy has increased the orthopedic community’s awareness of meniscoid lesions of the ankle and its ability to treat these lesions. This article defines the pathologic lesion and reviews the literature and case reports.
Meat Consumption and Cancer

The association between meat consumption and cancer risk has been studied extensively by a range of approaches, from highly controlled animal studies to large prospective epidemiologic studies. Many studies have reported an increased risk for colorectal cancer for those with a diet high in red or processed meat. Less definitive evidence suggests that high meat consumption may also increase the risk of a variety of other cancers, including some of the more prevalent cancers, such as breast and prostate cancers, as well as less common cancers, such as pancreatic, esophageal, and kidney cancers. There are several proposed mechanisms to support an association between meat and cancer, including preservation and processing procedures that can increase exposure to N-nitroso compounds. In addition, high-temperature cooking methods increase the formation of heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, both of which are mutagenic. This article discusses the observational data and then elaborates on the mechanistic data relating meat intake to carcinogenesis.
Labor scarcity, land tenure, and historical legacy: Evidence from Mexico

Abstract How does labor scarcity shape institutional development? We examine the long-term impact of Mexico's 16th-century demographic collapse on landholding patterns through the present day. We show that the collapse, which reduced the indigenous population by between 70 and 90 percent and differed in severity across space, facilitated land concentration and the rise of a landowner class that dominated Mexican political economy for centuries. To identify the impact of the population collapse on land arrangements we use an instrumental-variables identification strategy exploiting climatic shocks associated with an epidemic in the 1570s that roughly halved the indigenous population. Though landholding patterns were transformed following the Revolution of 1910, we also show that disease-impacted areas now have more land in common-property institutions with limited property rights. The population collapse thus had a persistent impact on Mexican political economy, but the nature of this impact has changed radically over time.
Intellectual Networks in Timurid Iran, Sharaf al-Dīn ʿAlī Yazdī and the Islamicate Republic of Letters

Ilker Evrim Binbas’ Intellectual Networks in Timurid Iran is a model of textual scholarship—and a dauntingly difficult book to read. Binbas utilizes a formidable array of Persian, Turkish and Arabi...
Depression, Antidepressants, and Sexual Functioning

Sexual functioning is complex, and sexual dysfunction may involve any component of the sexual response cycle including libido, arousal, or orgasm. The etiology of most forms of sexual dysfunction is multifactorial and may be physical or psychological. Those suffering from depression may note a change in sexual functioning secondary to their underlying psychiatric condition or quite often, to the antidepressants prescribed to treat their depression. In such situations, patients often become noncompliant with their antidepressant treatment, potentially increasing their risk for serious complications of untreated depression. It is therefore of great importance for clinicians to recognize this side effect and treat it appropriately.
Partnerships to prevent deforestation in the Amazon

Abstract Environmental protection, even with strong environmental laws on the books, often fails in developing countries because of limited government ability to monitor and enforce environmental laws. An alternative route to government monitoring and enforcement involves partnerships with private firms and non-governmental organizations. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of the Responsible Soy Project, a partnership between Cargill and The Nature Conservancy, to curb deforestation following the opening of a new soybean export facility in the Brazilian Amazon. We find that the project significantly decreased deforestation rates in properties enrolled in the project, despite its late arrival two years after the opening of the export facility. Theoretical predictions and empirical results show that the impacts of the project were greater on smaller properties that are more likely to be credit-constrained, and on properties initially not in compliance with Brazil's Forest Code that faced binding constraints on deforestation.
A high-throughput sequencing assay to comprehensively detect and characterize unicellular eukaryotes and helminths from biological and environmental samples

Several of the most devastating human diseases are caused by eukaryotic parasites transmitted by arthropod vectors or through food and water contamination. These pathogens only represent a fraction of all unicellular eukaryotes and helminths that are present in the environment and many uncharacterized organisms might have subtle but pervasive effects on health, including by modifying the microbiome where they reside. Unfortunately, while we have modern molecular tools to characterize bacterial and, to a lesser extent, fungal communities, we lack suitable methods to comprehensively investigate and characterize most unicellular eukaryotes and helminths: the detection of these organisms often relies on microscopy that cannot differentiate related organisms, while molecular assays can only detect the pathogens specifically tested. Here, we describe a novel sequencing-based assay, akin to bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing, that enables high-throughput detection and characterization of a wide range of unicellular eukaryotes and helminths, including those from taxonomical groups containing all common human parasites. We designed and evaluated taxon-specific PCR primer pairs that selectively amplify all species from eight taxonomical groups (Apicomplexa, Amoeba, Diplomonadida, Kinetoplastida, Parabasalia, Nematoda, Platyhelminthes, and Microsporidia). We then used these primers to screen DNA extracted from clinical, biological, and environmental samples, and after next-generation sequencing, identified both known and previously undescribed organisms from most taxa targeted. This novel high-throughput assay enables comprehensive detection and identification of eukaryotic parasites and related organisms, from a wide range of complex biological and environmental samples. This approach can be easily deployed to many settings and will efficiently complement existing methods and provide a holistic perspective on the microbiome.
The Role of Voice Therapy and Phonosurgery in Transgender Vocal Feminization.

Objective Nonsurgical and surgical options are available for transgender vocal feminization. This systematic review explores the efficacy of feminizing voice therapy and phonosurgery. Methods A systematic review was performed using PubMed, Cinahl Plus, Ovid SP, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar with terms related to transgender phonosurgery and voice therapy. Included studies were outcomes-based vocal feminization interventions for transgender women. Data were collected on pre- and postintervention fundamental frequency (F0), externally measured vocal femininity, patient satisfaction, and complications. Results Two hundred twelve studies were identified and 20 met inclusion criteria. Postintervention patient satisfaction was approximately 80% to 85% for voice therapy, endoscopic shortening, and cricothyroid approximation. Complications were reported for each phonosurgery technique, most commonly decreased mean phonation time and loudness. Of the 20 studies, 17 were used for meta-analysis of F0 change. F0 increased by 31 Hz with voice therapy alone, 26 Hz with laser reduction glottoplasty, 39 Hz with cricothyroid approximation, and 72 Hz with endoscopic shortening. Conclusion The literature supports both voice therapy and phonosurgery, depending on a patient's magnitude of desired pitch change and tolerance for cost and potential complications. Most will likely benefit from voice therapy, as it is highly satisfactory, raises vocal pitch, and is noninvasive. However, endoscopic shortening is also highly satisfactory and provides the greatest absolute increase in vocal pitch. If surgery is chosen, postoperative voice therapy may additionally increase F0, stabilize the voice, and create a more female timbre. However, further studies will be necessary to provide definitive clinical recommendations.
A Historical Defense of State Protection of Private Conscience

Utilizing legal history, this paper examines the treatment and protection of individual conscience dating from ancient philosophers to the American founding and urges states to likewise protect individuals' conscience-based actions today.
Perinatal Micro-Bleeds and Neuroinflammation in E19 Rat Fetuses Exposed to Utero-Placental Ischemia.

Offspring of preeclampsia patients have an increased risk of developing neurological deficits and cognitive impairment. While low placental perfusion, common in preeclampsia and growth restriction, has been linked to neurological deficits, a causative link is not fully established. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that placental ischemia induces neuroinflammation and micro-hemorrhages in utero. Timed-pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were weight-matched for sham surgery (abdominal incision only) or induced placental ischemia (surgical reduction of utero-placental perfusion (RUPP)); n = 5/group on gestational day 14. Fetal brains (n = 1–2/dam/endpoint) were collected at embryonic day (E19). Placental ischemia resulted in fewer live fetuses, increased fetal demise, increased hematocrit, and no difference in brain water content in exposed fetuses. Additionally, increased cerebral micro-bleeds (identified with H&E staining), pro-inflammatory cytokines: IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18, eotaxin (CCL11), LIX (CXCL5), and MIP-2 (CXCL2) were observed in RUPP-exposed fetuses. Microglial density in the sub-ventricular zone decreased in RUPP-exposed fetuses, with no change in cortical thickness. Our findings support the hypothesis that exposure to placental ischemia contributes to microvascular dysfunction (increased micro-bleeds), fetal brain inflammation, and reduced microglial density in proliferative brain areas. Future studies will determine whether in utero abnormalities contribute to long-term behavioral deficits in preeclampsia offspring through impaired neurogenesis regulation.
Disappearance of Superconductivity in the Overdoped Cuprates

Experimental studies of the endpoint of the superconducting dome for (Bi,Pb)2Sr2CuO6+δ (Bi2201) and La2−xSrxCuO4 (LSCO) have raised questions regarding the nature of the cuprate pairing mechanism. Motivated by these experiments, we examine the results of dynamic cluster approximation (DCA) calculations and find that a spin-fluctuation interaction can provide a framework for understanding this end point behavior.
The role of university students’ wellness in links between homelessness, food insecurity, and academic success

In recent years there has been a steep increase in attention among higher education professionals to the prevalence of unmet basic needs among college students. There is also growing acknowledgemen...
The sequential order and quality of ideas in electronic brainstorming

Abstract A widely accepted ideation assumption is that the quality of ideas improves as the number of unique ideas increases. In many situations, this assumption also means that better ideas tend to come later in a brainstorming process, which indicates an order effect. We conduct an observational study with 215 electronic brainstorming sessions to explore the following research questions: 1) whether or not the quality of ideas improves as the number of ideas increases and 2) whether better ideas tend to come later in the brainstorming process. This research contributes to the existing literature by providing a rigorous test and strong support that better ideas emerge later in brainstorming sessions and that more ideas lead to better ideas.
Case report of surgical management of a locally invasive colostomy adenocarcinoma.

Abstract Introduction This case report involves the presentation and management of a locally invasive adenocarcinoma at the site of a colostomy in a patient with multiple comorbidities and anatomic constraints. Presentation of case 63 year-old woman with a complicated medical and surgical history, including imperforate anus and permanent colostomy, who presented with a fungating mass at the site of her colostomy. Evaluation revealed a locally invasive adenocarcinoma requiring surgical management for symptom control and oncologic treatment. Discussion Due to the patient’s medical comorbidities, body habitus, prior surgery, prior radiation and locally invasive cancer, there were numerous physiologic and anatomic issues that required a multi-disciplinary approach. Specifically, consideration of the patient’s prior radiation to the left chest, history of cystectomy and ileal conduit, history of prior colon resection, as well as her short stature and severe kyphosis required input from urology, plastic surgery and colorectal surgery for operative planning. The patient's chronic renal insufficiency, recurrent urinary tract infections and history of thromboembolic disease further complicated her perioperative management. Oncologic resection with wide local excision at the skin and abdominal wall were performed with mass closure of the midline and peristomal abdominoplasty, using mesh underlay. The patient's postoperative course was complicated by gastric outlet obstruction and recurrent urosepsis. Conclusions Patients with chronic colostomies require colon cancer screening similar to their non-stoma peers, in accordance with national guidelines. Oncologic resection of cancers involving colostomies is feasible, but may require multi-disciplinary planning to manage complicated anatomic concerns.
Flip Technology for Assessing Esophageal Structural and Motor Disorders: a Skeptic’s View

Functional lumen impedance (FLIP) technology has become commercially available to assess structural and motor abnormalities of the esophagus. Increasing numbers of papers have described novel findings with this technology. This review examines the validity of the FLIP technique, how it compares with existing diagnostic modalities, and evidence to date on diagnostic accuracy. FLIP studies require deep sedation at the time of endoscopy to complete. They assess a simulated state of esophageal obstruction in only a distal part of the esophagus rather than deglutitive motor function of the entire esophagus. The available normative dataset is small and not matched to the older age of patients typically being evaluated. The test-retest agreement in health and disease is unknown, as is the operator dependence on performing and interpreting findings. Studies to date have largely excluded patients with structural disorders, which FLIP cannot reliably distinguish from motor disorders. FLIP is an expensive technology that has been made clinically available without its true utility being established. For FLIP to be deemed a device ready for widespread clinical use, additional studies on validity, diagnostic accuracy, and outcomes need to be performed. Prospective clinical studies need to include all patients and assess the incremental cost-effectiveness of FLIP over more innovative use of existing technology, such as high-resolution manometry with provocative challenges.
Assessment of the Effects of Altered Amyloid-Beta Clearance on Behavior following Repeat Closed-Head Brain Injury in Amyloid-Beta Precursor Protein Humanized Mice.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases the risk for dementias including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Further, both human and animal model data indicate that amyloi...
Simulation of flow induced by single-dielectric-barrier-discharge plasma actuator using a high-order flux-reconstruction scheme

The starting vortex flow generated by a single-dielectric-barrier-discharge (SDBD) plasma actuator in still air is investigated numerically by direct numerical simulation (DNS) using a 4th order Navier–Stokes solver and Suzen's model for the plasma actuator. The Navier–Stokes equations and the equations for the electric field and the charge density distribution in the plasma body force model are solved by the same high-order method based on the flux reconstruction algorithm on arbitrary mixed grids, allowing easy extension to configurations of complex geometry. The computational method and its high orders of accuracy are verified for the problem of the translation of an isentropic vortex and validated for the vortex shedding problem behind a circular cylinder. The plasma body force model is then implemented in the Navier–Stokes code to perform highly resolved DNS of the starting vortex generated by an SDBD plasma actuator. The computed vortex pattern and its trajectory with time are compared with available experimental data. The computational results confirm similarity laws on the motion of the vortex.
The Puzzle of Protest Policing Over Time: Historicizing Repression Research Using Temporal Moving Regressions:

Research attempting to predict repression, including the policing of protest, has tended to rely on pooled time series data, which statistically produces coefficients that estimate the average rela...
Learning Polynomial Neural Networks via Low Rank Tensor Recovery

In this paper, we study connections between training neural networks and low rank tensor recovery. We focus on two-layer neural networks with polynomial activation functions, where the number of hidden units is smaller than the dimension of the input. We leverage the fact that the relationship between network input and output can be described in terms of the inner product between two tensors, one depending on input and another solely on the weights. Based on this relationship, we propose an iterative algorithm to learn the neural network. The algorithm consists of two main steps: bias correction and low rank tensor projection. The proposed method is faster than those based on convex relaxation and generalizes previous approaches for training polynomial neural network with quadratic non-linearity.1