cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outward FDI from the USA and host country financial transparency

AbstractExtant research has focused on the role of host country corruption as either an attractant or deterrent to foreign investment. These studies generally contend that corruption acts more like a ‘grabbing hand’ than as a ‘helping hand’. However, it is plausible that a significant component of foreign investment may be attracted to locales that offer opaque financial environments. Specifically, we hypothesize that money laundering opportunities may encourage illicit capital flows into certain jurisdictions. Using the USA as the ‘source’ country, we investigate the effect of corruption and money laundering opportunities on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows. The empirical findings indicate that corruption deters foreign investment, while money laundering opportunities attract it. We also show that the effect of money laundering and corruption vary based on the host country's level of development. Our findings bolster the contention that FDI into certain host countries is motivated by a facilitation ...
The Life Pattern of Incarcerated Women: The Complex and Interwoven Lives of Trauma, Mental Illness, and Substance Abuse.

PROBLEM The fastest growing population in the U.S. prisons consists of women whose rate rose nearly twice that of men (Sipes, 2012). Incarcerated women are oftentimes victims of abuse and have high reported rates of mental illness and substance abuse, yet their life pattern is not well understood. PURPOSE The purpose of the study was to develop the life pattern of incarcerated women to gain a better understanding of the life situations that have led to their incarceration and gain a better understanding of their needs during their imprisonment. METHOD In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 incarcerated women. Margaret Newman's (1994) Theory of Health as Expanding Consciousness was used as the theoretical framework and research method to develop the community pattern. FINDINGS The life pattern that evolved for the women was a complex and interwoven life filled with childhood trauma, mental illness, substance abuse, unhealthy relationships, and disorganized family situations that led to the women's incarceration. The women gained a better understanding of their pathway to prison. IMPLICATIONS Correctional nurses are in a unique position to address the traumas women in prison have experienced and to assist them with the healing process. Addressing the traumas the women have endured could improve their health and better prepare them for release from prison.
Endogenous and exogenous depressions.

(1954). Endogenous and Exogenous Depressions. Postgraduate Medicine: Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 330-333.
GLYCOGENIC HEPATOPATHY: A COMPLICATION OF UNCONTROLLED DIABETES

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe a case of hepatomegaly and elevated transaminases in a patient with glycogenic hepatopathy (GH) as a complication of uncontrolled diabetes. Methods: Clinical, laboratory, and pathological information are described. Results: An 18-year-old male with uncontrolled type 1 diabetes and recurrent diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) presented with abdominal distention and severe hyperglycemia. Physical examination revealed massive hepatomegaly. Laboratory evaluation showed anion-gap metabolic acidosis, ketonuria, and markedly elevated aspartate and alanine amino transaminases (AST = 1,162 IU/L and ALT = 598 IU/L, respectively). Despite resolution of DKA with insulin infusion, transaminases continued to increase (peak AST = 3,725 U/L, ALT = 1,049 U/L) with no signs of liver failure (normal coagulation profile and albumin level). Abdominal ultrasonography revealed an enlarged liver with moderate echogenicity, consistent with steatosis. Extensive evaluation for causes of hepatitis including ...
Orographic Land–Atmosphere Interactions and the Diurnal Cycle of Low-Level Clouds and Fog

AbstractPrevious work illuminated landform controls on moisture convergence in the southern Appalachian Mountains (SAM) promoting heterogeneity in the vertical structure of low-level clouds (LLC) and seeder–feeder interactions (SFI) that significantly impact warm season precipitation. Here, the focus is on elucidating orographic land–atmosphere interactions associated with the observed diurnal cycle of LLC and fog in the region. Three distinct hydrometeorological regimes during the Integrated Precipitation and Hydrology Experiment (IPHEx) are examined using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model. Sensitivity to the choice of planetary boundary layer parameterization was investigated in the light of IPHEx observations. Simulations using the Mellor–Yamada–Nakanishi–Niino scheme exhibit LLC and fog patterns most consistent with observations, albeit without capturing SFI. Independently of synoptic regime, the simulations reveal two distinct modes of orographic controls on atmospheric moisture convergence ...
The intestinal specific transcription factor Cdx2 can antagonize β-catenin target gene activation

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 45, 2004 2823 In the human colon, proliferation and differentiation are counter regulated. β-catenin is thought to stimulate proliferation through upregulation of myc and cyclin D1 in the base of the crypt while expression of APC down regulates these genes via repression of β-catenin in the upper region of the crypt. Coincidentally, the caudal-related homeodomain protein cdx2, which has important roles in regulating gastrointestinal development in vertebrates, is highly expressed in the upper region of the crypt. Thus, expression of β-catenin is associated proliferation in the base of the crypt and expression of the cdx proteins are correlated with the differentiated phenotype in the upper crypt. Interestingly, it has been shown that re-introduction of cdx2 into HT29 colon carcinoma cells promoted characteristics of differentiation as well as down regulation of Cyclin D1. This suggests that cdx2 can both induce differentiation and inhibit proliferation, however there is not currently a molecular explanation for how cdx2 accomplishes this dual function. Since colon tumors are characterized by increased proliferation and lack of differentiation, and cdx2 expression is lost in many colon nepotistic tissues, we used gene expression patterns in colon neoplasia as a starting point to investigate the role of cdx2 in regulating proliferation and differentiation related gene expression. Specifically, genes expressed at a lower level in colon neoplasia, relative to normal colon, were potential targets for cdx2 activation while genes expressed at a higher level were considered potential targets for β-catenin induction and cdx2 repression. Promoters of the most consistently over and under expressed genes were cloned in front of a luciferase reporter gene and assayed for responsiveness to β-catenin and cdx2. Several novel β-catenin and cdx2 targets were identified. Interestingly it was also found that cdx2 could inhibit β-catenin induction of the β-catenin responsive promoters but β-catenin did not inhibit cdx2 induction of cdx2 responsive promoters. Further, cdx2 responsive promoters were induced at a higher level by co-expression of cdx2 and APC than by cdx2 alone. These results suggest that the β-catenin /APC and cdx2 transcriptional programs can counter regulate each other which in turn may be responsible for the counter regulation of the proliferative and differentiated nature in both the development of the normal colon and colonic neoplasia.
Combining Word2Vec with revised vector space model for better code retrieval

API example code search is an important application in software engineering. Traditional approaches to API code search are based on information retrieval. Recent advance in Word2Vec has been applied to support the retrieval of API examples. In this work, we perform a preliminary study that combining traditional IR with Word2Vec achieves better retrieval accuracy. More experiments need to be done to study different types of combination among two lines of approaches.
Oil Exposure Impairs In Situ Cardiac Function in Response to β-Adrenergic Stimulation in Cobia (Rachycentron canadum).

Aqueous crude oil spills expose fish to varying concentrations of dissolved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which can have lethal and sublethal effects. The heart is particularly vulnerable in early life stages, as PAH toxicity causes developmental cardiac abnormalities and impaired cardiovascular function. However, cardiac responses of juvenile and adult fish to acute oil exposure remain poorly understood. We sought to assess cardiac function in a pelagic fish species, the cobia (Rachycentron canadum), following acute (24 h) exposure to two ecologically relevant levels of dissolved PAHs. Cardiac power output (CPO) was used to quantify cardiovascular performance using an in situ heart preparation. Cardiovascular performance was varied using multiple concentrations of the β-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol (ISO) and by varying afterload pressures. Oil exposure adversely affected CPO with control fish achieving maximum CPO’s (4 mW g–1 Mv) greater than that of oil-exposed fish (1 mW g–1 Mv) at ISO...
MyLARC: A Theory-Based Interactive Smartphone App to Support Adolescents’ Use of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception

Abstract Study Objective Develop and test the feasibility of a Health Belief Model theory-based interactive smartphone application (app) aimed at providing information and support to adolescents with long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). Design, Setting, Participants, and Interventions Using a mixed-method design, we conducted 30 in-person interviews with adolescent LARC users who were enrolled in school-based health centers in New York City. Interviews were conducted in 2 phases: during phase 1, 12 participants viewed a pilot version of the app (MyLARC); during phase 2, 18 additional participants interacted with an expanded version of the app. Phase 2 participants downloaded MyLARC onto their smartphone and app usage was tracked. Main Outcome Measures Participants' responses to the in-person interviews and data usage of MyLARC from phase 2 determined the feasibility and acceptability of using MyLARC to support young women's satisfaction and continuation of LARC methods. Results Noneducational games were recommended as an approach to provide information to adolescents in an engaging way, as well as educational graphics and visually appealing content. Data tracking of MyLARC usage among phase 2 participants revealed a total of 67 unique logins to the app with 18 average page visits per unique login. The total amount of times MyLARC was opened was 1197. The most frequented features were ‘Info about LARC’ (95 unique visits) and ‘Games’ (80 unique plays). Conclusion A theory-based interactive smartphone app with LARC-specific information and support is an appropriate and appealing medium to provide information and support to adolescents using LARC. Games represented a novel opportunity to engage adolescents with health information.
The impact of screening on cancer incidence and mortality in Missouri, USA, 2004-2013.

Abstract Objectives Population-based evidence regarding impact of cancer screenings and cancer rates in Missouri is lacking. This study examined whether screenings of breast cancer, cervical cancer, and colorectal cancer impact early-stage cancer incidence and mortality in Missouri. Study design This is an ecological study based on county-specific estimates of selected cancer screening prevalence and early-stage cancer incidence and cancer mortality. Methods County-specific prevalence of clinical breast examination, mammography, Pap test, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, and fecal occult blood test (FOBT) were generated from Missouri County-Level Study (2003, 2007, and 2011). County-specific crude incidence and mortality were calculated (2004–2013). Pearson's correlation and Poisson regression were used to test association between cancer rate and screening prevalence. Covariates included county-level mean age, percentage of whites, percentage with low income, percentage with less than high school education high school, percentage with no insurance, and percentage having difficulties accessing care. Results In the adjusted model, ‘ever had Pap test’ was significantly associated with an increase of 8% in early-stage cervical cancer incidence. Having clinical breast examination or Pap test in the past was also associated with decreases in mortality by 3% and 4%, respectively, although the association was not significant for Pap test. In addition, having mammography was statistically significantly associated with early-stage breast cancer incidence, and having FOBT or sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy was associated with decreased colorectal cancer mortality; however, magnitude for these associations was only around 1%. Conclusions This study provides ecological evidence of the effectiveness of screening services in predicting early stage cancer incidence and in reducing mortality across Missouri counties. Further incentive to promote these screenings in Missouri is needed.
Natural history of neurological abnormalities in cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis.

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare inherited neurodegenerative disorder in bile acid synthesis. The natural history of neurological abnormalities in CTX is not well understood. The object of this study was to determine neurological progression in CTX. A literature search on PubMed for “cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis” yielded 91 publications that reported cases of CTX patients. Two independent reviewers abstracted information about the presence and age of onset of neurological abnormalities in published CTX cases. For each neurological abnormality, we estimated the probability of its onset at any given age using cumulative incidence function analysis. We also present our own case series, in which five CTX patients were evaluated. The literature search yielded 194 CTX cases (ages ranging from newborn to 67 years old). The most common neurological abnormalities were corticospinal tract abnormalities including weakness, hyperreflexia, spasticity, Babinski sign (59.8%), ataxia (58.8%), cognitive decline (46.4%), and gait difficulty (38.1%); 68 (35.0%) had baseline cognitive problems. Cumulative incidence function analysis revealed that ataxia, gait difficulties, and corticospinal tract abnormalities developed throughout life, while cognitive decline tended to develop later in life. Of the less common neurological abnormalities, seizures, psychiatric changes and speech changes developed throughout life, while parkinsonism and sensory changes tended to develop later in life. Our case series corroborated this temporal pattern of neurological abnormalities. We provide estimates for the neurological progression of CTX, categorizing neurological abnormalities according to time and probability of development. Our approach may be applicable to other rare disorders.
Tuxedo: A Peer-to-Peer Caching System.

We are witnessing two trends in Web content access: (a) increasing amounts of dynamic and personalized Web content, and (b) a significant growth in “on-the-move” access using various mobile resource-constrained devices by nomadic users. Web caching and the content distribution network (CDN) are popular solutions for improving Web access latency and have the effect of moving content closer to the client. However, these solutions typically do not work well with dynamically generated and personalized content. Transcoding is a popular solution to resolve server-client mismatches (device heterogeneity), but is unable to benefit from caching in general. These trends necessitate revisiting the traditional Web caching and CDN approaches. In this paper, we proposed Tuxedo, a peer-to-peer caching system, that complements to existing hierarchical-based Web caching for efficient delivery of Web content and value-added edge services. Tuxedo allows multiple caches (peers) to efficiently share not only original Web documents, but also computing resources for transcoding (by sharing transcoded versions) and other value-added edge services. The novelty of Tuxedo includes an adaptive neighbor set algorithm for different Web servers, and a hierarchical cache digest for sharing of transcoded versions and value-added services. Together, these two protocols contribute to the scalable and decentralized features of the Tuxedo system.
Privacy-preserving location tracking of lost or stolen devices: cryptographic techniques and replacing trusted third parties with DHTs

We tackle the problem of building privacy-preserving device-tracking systems--or private methods to assist in the recovery of lost or stolen Internet-connected mobile devices. The main goals of such systems are seemingly contradictory: to hide the device's legitimately-visited locations from third-party services and other parties (location privacy) while simultaneously using those same services to help recover the device's location(s) after it goes missing (device-tracking). We propose a system, named Adeona, that nevertheless meets both goals. It provides strong guarantees of location privacy while preserving the ability to efficiently track missing devices. We build a version of Adeona that uses OpenDHT as the third party service, resulting in an immediately deployable system that does not rely on any single trusted third party. We describe numerous extensions for the basic design that increase Adeona's suitability for particular deployment environments.
Quantum Boosts and Quantum Beats

We have seen in preceding chapters that the potential for quantum interference exists whenever a particle can propagate from its source to the detector by alternative spatial pathways under experimental conditions such that the exact pathway taken cannot be known. The archetypal example is the Young’s two-slit experiment in which the particle, when probed, passes through one slit or the other. Unprobed, the resulting particle distribution is explicable only in terms of probability amplitudes that seemingly propagate through both slits. There is a direct temporal analogue to the two-slit experiment in which the linearly superposed amplitudes represent—not alternative spatial pathways—but rather the evolution of alternative indistinguishable events in time.
Use of Wavelets for Numerical Solution of Differential Equations

In contrast to the traditional trigonometric basis functions which have infinite support, wavelets may have compact support, thus being able to approximate a functions not by cancellation, but through placement of the right wavelets at appropriate locations. The multi-resolution analysis (MRA) properties of wavelets render them attractive candidates for functions in terms of which numerical solutions of differential equations can be represented. In particular, Mallat’s MRA algorithm applied on orthonormal or semi-orthogonal wavelets can be used to generate adaptive grid methods. In this work, two classes of compactly supported wavelets, namely, Daubechies’ orthonormal wavelet bases and Chui-Wang’s semi-orthogonal B-spline wavelets, are used with the method of weighted residuals for numerical solution of differential equations. A variation relying on Laplace transform is also examined. Based on the MRA properties of wavelet bases, two-scale multi-level methods are proposed, which generate higher level approximate wavelet solutions from the results of lower level calculations. Adaptive grid refinement can be applied only to regions where the residual at lower level is relatively large. The proposed methods may be advantageous when solutions exhibit abrupt changes. Several numerical examples based on these methods are given. Comparisons with traditional methods for numerical solution of differential equations are made and directions for further development are given.
A Mobile Robot for Automated Civil Infrastructure Inspection and Evaluation

Ahstract- The objective of civil infrastructure inspection is to evaluate and periodically perform maintenance. This involves properly collecting data on structures, documenting the data, and analyzing the quantitative inspection data over an extended period of operating time, all in order to maintain the structures properly. Recent research on civil infrastructure inspection is mainly based on manual visual inspections, which are often influenced and limited by a professional inspector's knowledge and experience. Thus, the accuracy and reliability of their results are affected. These inspection processes require significant individual labor, which can become quite costly as the inspection areas often require traffic to be limited or evacuation of certain business parking areas while the inspections are performed. In this paper, we present a new development of the autonomous mobile robotic system for automated data collection and inspection. A 4 degree of freedom (DoF) arm is designed and developed then integrated with the robot for efficient image capture using both visual and thermal cameras. The robotic system performs crack detection on the collected data using a state-of-the-art method involving convolutional neural networks (CNN), which is validated on a variety of test images. As inspection results, the robot can output several condition maps of the inspected infrastructure including crack map, thermal map and deterioration map to provide the overall picture of the structure health condition. Our robotic system reduces the overall inspection time compared to the current robotic inspection methods. We further validate our data collection process through showing the correlation between the data collected by each sensor in the system.
Endings and Beginnings: On Terminating Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis

In this second edition of Endings & Beginnings (Routledge, 2006), Herbert J. Schlesinger explores endings and beginnings within psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic therapy; both the obvious main endings and beginnings of any course in treatment, and the many little endings and beginnings that permeate analysis. The second edition contains new chapters including one on transference and counter-transference as sources of information about the process of therapy and as sources of difficulty in ending. It deals especially with the impact of prospective ending on the therapist, which if not understood and well handled, might interfere with working through and impede termination, if not ending itself. Another new chapter deals with the difficulties in terminating with especially narcissistic patients. One of the main criticisms against psychoanalysis and the psychotherapies derived from it is that it lacks criteria for when the patient has had enough. Herbert J. Schlesinger shows how we may view the process as a series of episodes each with an ending and possibly with a new beginning. He presents the way patients signal, even before they are aware of it, that ending is "in the air," and how it organizes how they experience the therapy. If alerted, the therapist can make use of these signals to locate self and patient in the process. So informed, the therapist is better able to discern when the therapy should end and help the patient work through the issues of separation and loss to terminate the treatment constructively. All patients tend to end psychotherapy in the way they end all other relationships. In several chapters on the problems related to severe regression, therapists can learn how to help vulnerable patients, for whom attachment is problematic, deal with separation non-traumatically. In Endings & Beginnings 2nd Edition, the theory of the continuous experience of ending and beginning and the array of landmarks that parse the clinical process are distinct advances to the technique of psychoanalysis and the psychotherapies derived from it. Schlesinger offers many clinical examples of ending and beginning with their technical problems and solutions. This contribution to the technique of ending and beginning psychotherapy electively will be useful to practicing psychotherapists and psychoanalysts, and to undergraduate and post-graduate students in clinical psychology, psychiatry and social work.
Providing an Academic APPE Elective via Videoconference Between Off-campus Faculty and Students

Objective. To describe students' experiences and learning outcomes of an academic advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) elective provided via videoconference. Faculty preceptor and experiential administration's perspectives also are described. Methods. This 5-week APPE was developed using backward design and delivered starting in 2015 via videoconferencing, with the faculty preceptor and students physically located in different locations throughout the state. After the APPE, students completed a retrospective survey comparing their perspectives and learning outcomes before and after the rotation. They also provided feedback on the experience. Students completed the standard APPE evaluation. Faculty preceptor's self-reflections and experiential administration's perspectives were documented. Results. Six students completed this unique APPE over three academic years. After the rotation, five students (83%) stated that their interest in a full-time academic career increased, while one student's (17%) interest stayed the same. All students stated there was "no hindrance" with this rotation being conducted via videoconference or with the geographical distance between the faculty preceptor and them. Student ratings of nine learning outcomes increased after completing the APPE, demonstrating their perception of their knowledge improved in all topic areas. Conclusion. Students, the faculty preceptor, and experiential administration deemed this videoconference academic APPE effective and successful. This experience affords students, without regard for physical location, the opportunity to pursue interests in academia, adds to the variety of APPEs offered by the school, and allows students to learn about careers in academic pharmacy, an area of growing need in the pharmacy profession.
A curriculum model for cybersecurity master’s program: A survey of AACSB-accredited business schools in the United States

AbstractThere is an increasing recognition of cybersecurity’s importance to organizations, and business schools are in a unique position to meet industry’s demand for cybersecurity professionals. U...
Second-harmonic generation microscopy analysis reveals proteoglycan decorin is necessary for proper collagen organization in prostate

Collagen remodeling occurs in many prostate pathologies; however, the underlying structural architecture in both normal and diseased prostatic tissues is largely unexplored. Here, we use second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy to specifically probe the role of the proteoglycan decorin (Dcn) on collagen assembly in a wild type (wt) and Dcn null mouse (Dcn − / − ). Dcn is required for proper organization of collagen fibrils as it regulates size by forming an arch-like structure at the end of the fibril. We have utilized SHG metrics based on emission directionality (forward–backward ratio) and relative conversion efficiency, which are both related to the SHG coherence length, and found more disordered fibril organization in the Dcn − / − . We have also used image analysis readouts based on entropy, multifractal dimension, and wavelet transforms to compare the collagen fibril/fiber architecture in the two models, where all these showed that the Dcn − / − prostate comprised smaller and more disorganized collagen structures. All these SHG metrics are consistent with decreased SHG phase matching in the Dcn − / − and are further consistent with ultrastructural analysis of collagen in this model in other tissues, which show a more random distribution of fibril sizes and their packing into fibers. As Dcn is a known tumor suppressor, this work forms the basis for future studies of collagen remodeling in both malignant and benign prostate disease.
The National Village Health Guide Scheme in India: lessons four decades later for community health worker programs today and tomorrow

Based in part on the success of India’s early community health worker (CHW) programs, the Government of India launched in 1977 a national CHW scheme—the Village Health Guides (VHGs)—to provide preventive, promotive, and basic curative care to rural populations. Although this program had promising origins in smaller demonstration projects, it failed to deliver the hoped-for impact at scale and was abandoned. Based on extensive evidence and experience, the World Health Organization and the World Health Assembly have strongly endorsed the value of national CHW programs and their integration into national health systems. Surprisingly, given the scale and importance of the VHG program and its pioneering nature as a national CHW program, little has been published describing this experience. This article is the second in a series that focuses on critical issues that face the effectiveness of large-scale CHW programs. Several systemic factors emerge as main contributors to the failure of the VHG Scheme, namely, a lack of support from the formal health sector, an overly hasty implementation of the scheme, and poor communication between the government and health centers about the role of the VHGs. The remuneration structure and the VHG selection process were at the root of the program’s shortcomings at the implementation level. National CHW schemes are an increasingly important tool for achieving universal health coverage and ending maternal and child deaths by 2030. Although the VHG Scheme was initiated over 40 years ago, the lessons described in this case highlight important considerations to help both current and future large-scale CHW programs avoid the same pitfalls.
Treating Center Volume and Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Outcomes in California.

Objective To examined outcomes for infants born with congenital diaphragmatic hernias (CDH), according to specific treatment center volume indicators. Study design A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted involving neonatal intensive care units in California. Multivariable analysis was used to examine the outcomes of infants with CDH including mortality, total days on ventilation, and respiratory support at discharge. Significant covariables of interest included treatment center surgical and overall neonatal intensive care unit volumes. Results There were 728 infants in the overall CDH cohort, and 541 infants (74%) in the lower risk subcohort according to a severity-weighted congenital malformation score and never requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The overall cohort mortality was 28.3% (n = 206), and 19.8% (n = 107) for the subcohort. For the lower risk subcohort, the adjusted odds of mortality were significantly lower at treatment centers with higher CDH repair volume (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.23-0.75; P = .003), ventilator days were significantly lower at centers with higher thoracic surgery volume (OR, 0.56; 9 5% CI, 0.33-0.95; P = .03), and respiratory support at discharge trended lower at centers with higher neonatal intensive care unit admission volumes (OR, 0.51; 9 5% CI, 0.26-1.02; P = .06). Conclusions Overall and surgery-specific institutional experience significantly contribute to optimized outcomes for infants with CDH. These data and follow-on studies may help inform the ongoing debate over the optimal care setting and relevant quality indicators for newborn infants with major surgical anomalies.
Parental Influence on Youth Media Use

Children and adolescents are frequent media users and research regularly examines the consequences of such use. This research, however, often does not examine parental factors relating to youth media use. Framed by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, this study examines the role of media in the child’s ecological system by describing how parent attitudes, behaviors, and own personal media use are related to child media use. This study used data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. parents of 8- to 18-year-olds (N = 1819). This study documented that parents’ attitudes toward technology are mixed, suggesting that while parents are worried about certain aspects of technology use, they also see the positive outcomes of use for both their children and their own lives as parents. Further, the data indicated that parents of children and adolescents were heavy and regular media users themselves and that parent media use and media attitudes were strongly related to youth media use, even during adolescent years. These findings shed light on youth media use and suggest that, to fully understand media use among young people, researchers must also consider how parent factors influence the media ecology of the child’s home environment.
Neighbourhood inequity: Exploring the factors underlying racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 testing and infection rates using ZIP code data in Chicago and New York

This paper compares ZIP code-level data on observed COVID-19 testing and case rates for the City of Chicago and New York City to better understand both: (i) the extent to which racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 testing and case rates exist at the neighbourhood level;and (ii) the most important neighbourhood-level drivers of these observed disparities Through exploratory spatial mapping and econometric approaches, the paper finds that, across both cities, Hispanic-majority neighbourhoods have significantly lower testing rates than other racial/ethnic neighbourhood types, even when controlling for observed infection rates-which are also significantly higher for Hispanic-majority neighbourhoods At the same time, White-majority neighbourhoods have significantly higher testing rates and lower observed infection rates Given this observed disparity, the paper also examines a range of underlying factors that are potentially driving observed neighbourhood-level COVID-19 case rates The findings suggest that higher socio-economic status and the provision of healthy, active built environments are significantly negatively associated with COVID-19 infection rates, while several aspects of social vulnerability are significant positive predictors of COVID-19 infection rates These findings suggest that the health benefits from higher density, walkable built environments may play a larger "protective" role from observed COVID-19 case rates at the neighbourhood-level than previously assumed, while at the same time indicating that the increased prevalence of COVID-19 in Hispanic- and Black-majority neighbourhoods may be in part due to their greater risk of occupational exposure and multi-generational household structure (particularly for Hispanic-majority neighbourhoods)
An Equity Lens for Identifying and Addressing Social Needs Within Pediatric Value-Based Care.

* Abbreviations: SDOH — : social determinant of health VBC — : value-based care Socioeconomic disparities in health outcomes have proven to be persistent in the United States. For example, the mortality rate for Black infants is twice as high as it is for white infants, and low-income children are more likely to experience developmental delays as compared with their peers.1 Emerging data reveal striking racial and socioeconomic inequities in coronavirus disease 2019 outcomes. Healthy People, the national framework for population health, has identified reduction of health disparities and achievement of health equity as crucial goals. However, despite substantial investments, the nation is no closer to achieving these key societal aims, with alarming evidence of widening health disparities in recent years.2 Over the past decade, the US health care delivery system has undertaken a large-scale transformation aligned with achieving the triple aim (improving quality, reducing costs, and enhancing experience of care).3 Pediatricians have made important investments in quality improvement, medical home certification, primary care redesign, and electronic health record adoption to advance these aims. The financing of pediatric care has also evolved with a rapid movement toward value-based care (VBC), whereby pediatricians receive incentives for lowering costs and improving quality. In 2016, approximately half of pediatricians participated in VBC, and that amount has likely increased in recent years.4 Pediatric VBC programs are often focused on addressing the social determinants of health (SDOHs) that strongly correlate with adverse physical, emotional, and … Address correspondence to Alon Peltz, MD, MBA, MHS, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Harvard University, 401 Park Dr, Suite 401 East, Boston, MA 02215. E-mail: alon_peltz{at}harvardpilgrim.org
Exact continuum model for low-energy electronic states of twisted bilayer graphene

Twisted bilayer graphene has been the focus of many research efforts since the discovery of its superconducting phase. However, due to its size and large-scale atomic reconstruction, obtaining an accurate electronic model is computationally demanding. In this work, first-principles calculations are connected to an updated continuum model, allowing for thorough analysis of how band structure in real devices depends on the twisting angle. The model is made publicly available, providing a reliable foundation for ongoing studies of correlated phases.
The effect of life history events on carcass merit and price of cull dairy cows.

Cull dairy cows contribute almost 10% of national beef production in the United States. However, different factors throughout the life of dairy cows affect their weight and overall body condition as well as carcass traits, and consequently affect their market price. Therefore, the objectives of this study were: (1) to assess relationships between price ratio and carcass merit of cull dairy cows sold through several sites of an auction market and (2) to investigate the effect of animal life history events and live weight on sale barn price (BP) and price ratio (as a measure of relative price), as an indicator of carcass merit. Data from 4 dairy operations included 3,602 cull dairy cow records during the period of 2015 to 2019. Life history events data were collected from each dairy operation through Dairy Comp software; live weight and price were obtained periodically from the auction market, and the carcass data were provided by a local packing plant. Cow price in dollars per unit of live weight ($/cwt) and price ratio were the 2 outcome variables used in the analyses. Price ratio was created aiming to remove seasonality effects from BP (BP divided by the national average price for its respective month and year of sale). The association between price ratio and carcass merit traits was investigated using canonical correlation analysis, and the effect of life history events on both BP and price ratio was inferred using a multiple linear regression technique. More than 70% of the cows were culled in the first 3 lactations, with an average live weight of 701.5 kg, carcass weight of 325 kg, and dressing percentage of 46.3%. On average, cull cows were sold at $57.0/cwt during the period considered. The canonical correlation between price ratio and carcass merit traits was 0.76, indicating that price ratio reflected carcass merit of cull cows. Later lactations led to lower BP compared with cows culled during the first 2 lactations. Injury, and leg and feet problems negatively affected BP. Productive variables demonstrated that the greater milk production might lead to lower cow prices. A large variation between farms was also noted. In conclusion, price ratio was a good indicator of carcass merit of cull cows, and life history events significantly affected sale BP and carcass merit of cull cows sold through auction markets.
Atomic Ordering in Self-assembled Epitaxial and Endotaxial Compound and Element Semiconductor Quantum Dot Structures: The First Review

Although the main international research thrust on self-assembled epitaxial semiconductor quantum dots is currently being directed towards random alloy quantum dots, the suggestion is made that atomically ordered quantum dots which are grown by either epitaxy or endotaxy may in addition to their larger quantum confinement potentials possess superior long term structural stability. Such atomically ordered quantum dots should, therefore, be superior to random alloy quantum dots as far as prospective device applications are concerned. The basis for this suggestion is simple thermodynamic considerations. These considerations seem to explain our transmission electron microscopical observations of epitaxially grown atomically ordered In(Sb,As), (In,Ga)Sb, (Cd,Zn)Se, (Cd,Mn,Zn)Se quantum dots and Pb(Se,Te) quantum dot predecessor islands. Atomic ordering in (In,Ga)P quantum dot structures, as recently observed by other authors, does not seem to contradict our thermodynamic considerations. Endotaxially grown atomically ordered (In,Si,As) and (Sn,Si) quantum dots in Si matrices are briefly discussed as an even more unconventional approach to nanostructures with applications in electronics, photonics, information storage, and sensing.
Multiple Short Daily Periods of Normal Binocular Vision Preserve Stereopsis in Strabismus.

Purpose Infantile strabismus impedes the development of stereopsis. In optically strabismic monkeys, 2 continuous hours of normal binocular vision per day has been shown to preserve near-normal stereopsis. In this study, we investigated whether, as in learning, multiple shorter periods of intervention would further boost performance. Methods To simulate infantile esotropia, infant monkeys were reared with 30 prism diopters base-in starting at 4 weeks of age. Daily periods of normal binocular vision were provided by replacing prisms with plano lenses. Altogether, 14 monkeys were prism reared: 2 with continuous prism, 2 with 2 continuous hours of normal binocular vision per day, 6 with 2 noncontinuous hours, and 4 with 1 noncontinuous hour of binocular vision each day. Seven normally reared monkeys provided control data. Behavioral methods were employed to measure spatial contrast sensitivity, eye alignment, and stereopsis. Results One monkey reared with continuous prism had poor stereopsis, and the other had no stereopsis. Ten of the 12 monkeys reared with periods of normal binocular vision had stereopsis, and those with longer and more continuous periods of binocular vision had stereopsis approaching that of normally reared monkeys. Conclusions During early development, multiple short periods of binocular vision were effective in preserving clinically significant stereopsis in monkeys. These results suggest that by providing relatively short multiple daily intervention periods, stereopsis may be preserved in strabismic human children.
Not “falling for the okey-doke”: #BlackLivesMatter as resistance to disinformation in online communities

Black lives have continually been subject to historical and contemporary harassment campaigns attempting to disrupt and usurp Black engagement in a multitude of institutional arenas. Black folks ha...
Deals or No Deals: Contract Design for Online Advertising

We present a formal study of first-look and preferred deals that are a recently introduced generation of contracts for selling online advertisements, which generalize traditional reservation contra...
Social media within the contexts of public sphere and civic engagement: the case of ‘My Oga at the Top'

YouTube readers’ comments have evolved into the public sphere, allowing readers to participate in the public sphere and civic engagement. This case study explores public reactions generated from a ...
Natural Progression and Symptomatic Management of Tarsal-Carpal Coalition Syndrome: A Case Report.

Case Tarsal-carpal coalition syndrome (TCCS) is a disorder identified by fusion of the carpals, tarsals, and phalanges of the hands and feet. We describe a case of an 11-year-old girl who has been followed at our outpatient clinic from the age of 8 months. Conclusion Although patients with TCCS can experience a wide range of symptoms, the primary complaint arises from the foot deformity and associated pain. Using advanced imaging such as 3D computed tomography reconstruction and genetic testing, this report details the clinical, genetic, and radiographic characteristics of the disorder. We highlight the natural progression and symptomatic management of TCCS.
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common malignancy of the pancreas. PDAC is an aggressive and difficult malignancy to treat. Complete surgical removal of the tumor remains the only chance for cure, however 80-90% of patients have disease that is surgically incurable at the time of clinical presentation (15). Despite our advancing knowledge of the tumor biology of PDAC, improvement in diagnosis and management, and the rise of centers specialized in the care of patients with PDAC, the prognosis remains strikingly poor (4,17). The following overview will discuss the epidemiology and tumor biology of PDAC, as well as important information for patients and family including diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. This overview will not discuss cancer that arises in cystic lesions of the pancreas, nor will it discuss pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, as these variants have a different biology and prognosis.
The Behavior of the Active Site Salt Bridge of Bovine Neurophysins As Monitored by 15N NMR Spectroscopy and Chemical Substitution. Relationship to Biochemical Properties

The active site of liganded neurophysin contains a salt bridge that involves the side chains of Arg-8 and Glu-47 of the protein and the alpha-amino group of bound hormone or related peptide. The extent to which the Arg-8-Glu-47 salt bridge persists in the absence of peptide, or to which the environment of Arg-8 in the unliganded state differs in monomers and dimers, is relevant to an understanding of allosteric mechanism in this system. In the present study, the behavior of the salt bridge was investigated by 15N NMR and chemical replacement of Arg-8. Bovine neurophysin-I was converted to its des 1-8 derivative, and Arg-8 was replaced by 15N-substituted Arg or by other residues using chemical semisynthesis. The relative abilities of different amino acids to restore peptide affinity to the des 1-8 protein were in good accord with the view of the salt bridge in the liganded state obtained from crystals of bovine neurophysin-II complexes. In the unliganded state, comparison of the 15N and proton NMR signals from Arg-8 with those in smaller arginine systems suggested the absence of significant interactions between the guanidinium of Arg-8 and Glu-47 or between the amino terminal region of Arg-8 and other elements of the protein. No evidence of a difference in Arg-8 environment between unliganded monomers and dimers was found. Marked spectral changes accompanying the binding of oxytocin indicated changes in the environment of both the side chain and amino terminal region of Arg-8. The NMR results were in good agreement with a recently emerging comparison of bovine neurophysin-II derivatives in the liganded and unliganded states, with the notable exception of the extent of salt bridge formation in the unliganded state. The results are shown to be consistent with, and to help explain, significant differences between the two bovine neurophysins in the susceptibility to tryptic cleavage at Arg-8 in the unliganded state and in the pH dependence of peptide binding and additionally constrain potential allosteric mechanisms underlying neurophysin ligand-facilitated dimerization.
Volatility of Bitumen Prices and Implications for the Industry

Sustained crude oil price increases have led to increased investment in and production of Canadian bitumen to supplement North American oil supplies. For new projects, the evaluation of profitability is based on a prediction of the future price path of bitumen and ultimately light/medium crude oil. This article examines the relationship between the bitumen and light crude oil prices in the context of a simple error-correction economic-adjustment model. The analysis shows bitumen prices to be significantly more volatile than light crude prices. Also, the dominant effect of an oil price shock on bitumen prices is immediate and is amplified, both in absolute terms and percentage price changes. It is argued that the bitumen industry response to such market risks will likely be a realignment toward vertical integration via new downstream construction, mergers, or on a de facto basis by the establishment of alliances.