cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preoperative Patient Profile in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: Predictive of Increased Medicare Payments in a Bundled Payment Model.

Abstract Background The shift toward value-based bundled payment models in total joint arthroplasty highlights the need for identification of modifiable risk factors for increased spending as well as opportunities to mitigate perioperative treatment of chronic disease. The purpose of this study was to identify preoperative comorbidities that result in an increased financial burden using institutional data at a single institution. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of total joint arthroplasty patients and collected payment data from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services for each patient up to 90 days after surgery in accordance with the regulations of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement initiative. Statistical analysis and comparison of preoperative profile and Medicare payments as a surrogate for cost were completed. Results Six hundred ninety-four patients were identified over a 4-year time period who underwent surgery before adoption of the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement but that met criteria for inclusion. The median total payment per patient episode of care was $20,048. Preoperative diagnosis of alcoholism, anemia, diabetes, and obesity was found to have a statistically significant effect on total payments. The model predicted a geometric mean increase from $1425 to $9308 for patients bearing these comorbidities. Conclusion With Medicare payments as a surrogate for cost, we demonstrate that specific patient comorbidities and a cumulative increase in comorbidities predict increased costs. This study was based on institutional data rather than administrative data to gain actionable information on an institutional level and highlight potential flaws in research based on administrative data.
Chapter 5: States in the Hands of Oligarchy

Each organization represents a means to achieve a particular set of goals. That is why each organization is structured in a way that, given its understanding of cause and effect, leads to the best possible path toward these goals. As this understanding can change and depends on a number of variables, we cannot assume that a particular organization is the only possible or best structure to achieve these goals.
Modeling the response of groundwater levels in wells to changes in barometric pressure

For many practical situations, the effect of barometric pressure variations on the water level in a well has been ignored. However, in many cases, water levels in wells are observed to fluctuate significantly in response to changes in barometric pressure. In this study, a physically based conceptual model for the influence of barometric pressure on groundwater wells was developed and tested. It is proposed that water level fluctuations in response to barometric pressure are due, in large part, to the different manner in which the pressure is propagated through the water column in the well and the porous media outside the well. Changes in pressure transmit through the water column in the well to the screened region with essentially negligible loss in pressure. On the contrary, pressure changes transferred through the porous media to the screened elevation outside the well undergo an irreversible transformation of fluid potential (head loss). Consequently, the loss in pressure head through the porous medium causes a lateral hydraulic head gradient to be developed around the well-screen region, as well as a vertical one through the porous medium. In response to the head gradient developed due to changes in barometric pressure, groundwater flows are induced through the well screen, with subsequent changes in well-casing storage. In the proposed model the well itself is an essential element. The well-water flux across the screen and the consequent change in wellcasing storage were appropriately linked with groundwater flow in the surroimding porous medium and estimated through an iteration technique. This approach incorporates the traditional governing theories on groundwater flow: conservation of mass and Darcy's law. Groundwater flow was modeled as two-dimensional (radial and vertical) unsteady flow, and
Fossil calibration dates for molecular phylogenetic analysis of snakes 1: Serpentes, Alethinophidia, Boidae, Pythonidae

Snakes possess a dense fossil record through the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic and are an important clade for studies of molecular phylogenetics. The use of the snake fossil record has historically been a limited and inaccurate source of temporal data in molecular studies due to taxonomic and phylogenetic ambiguities. Here I provide 10 fossil calibration dates for phylogenetic analysis of higher-order interrelationships of snakes. Calibration points include apomorphy-based systematic justifications and precise dates for hard minimum divergence timings. Calibrated nodes are for the snake total clade, Alethinophidia, and boid and pythonid taxa. Hard minimum divergence timings range from earliest late Cretaceous to middle Miocene. These dates provide precise minima for constraining the early evolutionary history of Serpentes. Comparisons of phylogenetically justified calibrations with published studies that employed form-taxon assignments suggests greatly younger divergences for justified nodes and indicates that deep-time divergence estimates that have been correlated with tectonic histories may be considerably too old and reliant on presumptions of Early Cretaceous Gondwanan vicariance as a mechanism of speciation. Jason J. Head. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Nebraska State Museum of Natural History University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-04340. Jhead2@unl.edu.
Patterns of care and outcomes of postoperative radiation for low-grade gliomas in United States hospitals.

Abstract It is unclear whether there is a survival benefit with postoperative radiation for low-grade gliomas deemed to be high-risk. We sought to analyze patterns of care and outcomes of radiation use. We accessed the National Cancer Database to identify patients with WHO grade II oligodendroglioma or astrocytoma between 2010 and 2012. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of radiation use and multivariable Cox regression was used to identify covariables associated with differences in survival. There were 1952 patients included in this study, of which 518 (26.5%) received postoperative radiation. The majority had oligodendroglioma histology (n = 1121, 57.4%) compared to astrocytoma (n = 831, 42.6%). There were 1626 patients who were either ≥40 years old or underwent a subtotal resection (“high-risk”), and from these 495 (30.4%) received postoperative radiation. On multivariable logistic regression treatment at an academic facility (OR 0.72) was associated with a lower likelihood of receiving postoperative radiation. Astrocytoma histology (OR 2.08), age ≥40 years (OR 2.23), tumor size ≥6 cm (OR 1.64), subtotal resection (OR 1.55), and chemotherapy use (OR 3.93) were associated with an increased likelihood of postoperative radiation. On multivariable analysis, astrocytoma histology (HR 3.49, p
Laparoscopic Femoral Hernia Repair

Femoral hernia accounts for 3–5% of groin hernias and are often diagnosed incidentally during inguinal hernia repair. Because of their increased risk of incarceration, all FH should be repaired when identified, using a mesh to completely cover the myopectineal orifice. A laparoscopic “critical view” of groin hernia anatomy has been recently defined and includes exposure of Hesselbach’s triangle, the pubic tubercle, the space of Retzius, the Iliac vessels, the psoas muscle, and the anterosuperior iliac spine (ASIS). Laparoscopic techniques provide excellent exposure and coverage of both femoral and inguinal hernias.
Traceless Protection for More Broadly Applicable Olefin Metathesis

An operationally simple in situ protection/deprotection strategy that significantly expands the scope of kinetically controlled catalytic Z- and E-selective olefin metathesis is introduced. Prior to the addition of a sensitive Mo- or Ru-based complex, treatment of a hydroxy- or a carboxylic-acid-containing olefin with commercially available HB(pin) or readily accessible HB(trip)2 (pin=pinacolato, trip=2,4,6-tri(isopropyl)phenyl) for 15 min is sufficient for efficient generation of a desired product. Routine workup leads to quantitative deprotection. A range of stereochemically defined Z- and E-alkenyl chlorides, bromides, fluorides, and boronates or Z-trifluoromethyl-substituted alkenes with a hydroxy or carboxylic acid group were thus prepared in 51-97 % yield with 93 to >98 % stereoselectivity. We also show that, regardless of whether a polar functional unit is present or not, a small amount of HB(pin) may be used to remove residual water, significantly enhancing efficiency.
MP05-16 TSC1 EXPRESSION AS A PREDICTIVE BIOMARKER OF BLADDER CANCER RESPONSE TO HSP90 INHIBITORS

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:The molecular chaperone Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90) is essential for the folding, stability and activity of several drivers of oncogenesis. Hsp90 inhibitors are curren...
The Settler Order Framework: Rethinking Canadian Working-Class History

Canadian labour and working-class history has, to a great extent, been bedevilled in its attempts to understand national trends by the cleavages of gender, region, industry, race, language, and culture. This article argues that one possible way out of this impasse lies in foregrounding the particular relationship between colonial exploitation and class exploitation in our settler colonial economy, both in terms of class formation and in the ongoing project of social reproduction. The adoption of a “settler order framework” seeks to build on important recent works attempting to understand Indigenous peoples’ participation in the ranks of those who toil, struggle, and dream of freedom from capitalism, by integrating the fundamental reality of settler workers’ ongoing theft of Indigenous land and resources into the story of the Canadian working class.
Phonetic lapse in American English - ative

This article argues that constraints regulating the distribution of metrical prominence must be able to reference fine-grained durational information. Evidence comes from an apparent segmental effect on stress in American English -ative: stress on -at- is more likely when it is preceded by an obstruent or a cluster (as in irrigative, integrative) than when it is preceded by a vowel or a sonorant consonant (as in palliative, speculative; Nanni 1977). I propose that this pattern should be understood as an effect of phonetically evaluated *LAPSE: longer lapses are penalized more severely than shorter ones. Results from two studies of speaker preferences for stress placement in nonce -ative forms support this proposal.
The infantile cutaneous microbiome: A review

Recent focus on the neonatal intestinal microbiome has advanced our knowledge of the complex interplay between the intestinal barrier, the developing immune system, and commensal and pathogenic organisms. Despite the parallel role of the infant skin in serving as both a barrier and an interface for priming the immune system, large gaps exist in our understanding of the infantile cutaneous microbiome. The skin microbiome changes and matures throughout infancy, becoming more diverse and developing the site specificity known to exist in adults. Delivery method initially determines the composition of the cutaneous microbiome, though this impact appears transient. Cutaneous microbes play a critical role in immune system development, particularly during the neonatal period, and microbes and immune cells have closely intertwined, reciprocal effects. The unique structure of newborn skin influences cutaneous microbial colonization and the development of dermatologic pathology. The development of the infantile skin barrier and cutaneous microbiome contributes to future skin pathology. Atopic dermatitis flares and seborrheic dermatitis have been linked to dysbiosis, while erythema toxicum neonatorum is an immune response to the establishment of normal bacterial skin flora. Physicians who care for infants should be aware of the impact of the infantile skin microbiome and its role in the development of pathology. A better understanding of the origin and evolution of the skin microbiome will lead to more effective prevention and treatment of pediatric skin disease.
Political Economy of Exclusion: State-Based Incitement of Intolerance as a Distraction from a Downturn in the Economy

Middle East scholars have traditionally attributed the survival of monarchs in the Gulf to the use of financial appeasements fueled by oil revenues. With rampant political insecurity in the region and the revolutionary fervor present after the Arab Spring, leaders have gone beyond the traditional rentier state system to ensure political survival by playing on the sentiments of sectarianism and identity politics. This paper argues that religious sectarianism is not only a question of attitudes and sentiments toward a religious minority but also a politically motivated state mechanism used to maintain the status quo and ensure an extended legitimation of power. We argue that the state often capitalizes on people's fear of economic adversities to incite sectarian exclusions of religious minorities, this is especially evident in times of economic hardships. With survey data from the Arab Barometer, we examined such political psychology in Saudi Arabia in 2011, at the onset of the Arab Spring. We found that Sunni Muslim sentiments of sectarian exclusion toward the Shi‘a minority could be attributed to not just religiosity but also state crafted incitement by the Saudi government. In particular, our results show that state-based sectarian intolerance was in part fueled by the government's scapegoating of the Shi‘a communities during times of economic downturns.
Machine Learning and Student Performance in Teams

This project applies a variety of machine learning algorithms to the interactions of first year college students using the GroupMe messaging platform to collaborate online on a team project. The project assesses the efficacy of these techniques in predicting existing measures of team member performance, generated by self- and peer assessment through the Comprehensive Assessment of Team Member Effectiveness (CATME) tool. We employed a wide range of machine learning classifiers (SVM, KNN, Random Forests, Logistic Regression, Bernoulli Naive Bayes) and a range of features (generated by a socio-linguistic text analysis program, Doc2Vec, and TF-IDF) to predict individual team member performance. Our results suggest machine learning models hold out the possibility of providing accurate, real-time information about team and team member behaviors that instructors can use to support students engaged in team-based work, though challenges remain.
The thought that counts is the one we ignore: How givers overestimate the importance of relative gift value

Abstract Gift-recipients typically receive multiple gifts in the same sitting, yet little is known about the impact of other gifts on givers’ and recipients’ evaluations of any one gift. Across 12 studies, we demonstrate that givers overestimate how much a recipient’s liking of their (i.e., the giver’s) gift [increases/decreases] when it compares [favorably/unfavorably] to other gifts. This appears to be driven by givers not appreciating that, for recipients, it is the thought that counts. However, this is not due to the roles givers and recipients assume; rather, it is driven by a self-other asymmetry, wherein all people involved focus on thoughtfulness but incorrectly believe others focus on relative gift value. As a result of this misconception, when givers know beforehand that others will be giving gifts that compare favorably to their own, they are more likely to spend additional money upgrading their gifts or even to skip the gift-giving occasion altogether.
The Political Spirituality of Buddhist Volunteerism in Contemporary Vietnam

This article examines the role of religion in global trends toward economic privatization by analyzing Buddhist volunteerism in Vietnam. Government officials in Vietnam propose that policy shifts t...
Fluoroscopic Navigation for a Surgical Robotic System including a Continuum Manipulator

We present an image-based navigation solution for a surgical robotic system with a Continuum Manipulator (CM). Our navigation system uses only fluoroscopic images from a mobile C-arm to estimate the CM shape and pose with respect to the bone anatomy. The CM pose and shape estimation is achieved using image intensity-based 2D/3D registration. A learning-based framework is used to automatically detect the CM in X-ray images, identifying landmark features that are used to initialize and regularize image registration. We also propose a modified hand-eye calibration method that numerically optimizes the hand-eye matrix during image registration. The proposed navigation system for CM positioning was tested in simulation and cadaveric studies. In simulation, the proposed registration achieved a mean error of 1.10 0.72 mm between the CM tip and a target entry point on the femur. In cadaveric experiments, the mean CM tip position error was 2.86 0.80 mm after registration and repositioning of the CM. The results suggest that our proposed fluoroscopic navigation is sufficient to guide the CM for orthopedic applications.
Time-efficient, high-resistance inspiratory muscle strength training for cardiovascular aging

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of death in developed and developing societies and aging is the primary risk factor for CVD. Much of the increased risk of CVD in midlife/older adults (i.e., adults aged 50 years and older) is due to increases in blood pressure, vascular endothelial dysfunction and stiffening of the large elastic arteries. Aerobic exercise training is an effective lifestyle intervention to improve CV function and decrease CVD risk with aging. However,
The Impact of COVID-19 on Sports Betting Markets

We investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the betting markets of professional and college sports. We find that during the pandemic, the moneyline betting markets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) became very inefficient. During this period, if one bet uniformly on underdog teams in the NBA, one could achieve a 16.7% profit margin. It is hypothesized that this inefficiency is due to the absence of live audiences during the NBA games. Such inefficiencies are not seen for any other sport. Much of the inefficiency comes from a small fraction of games with moneyline odds in the 233 to 400 range. We find that with clever strategies, one is able to achieve a 26-fold gain on an initial investment by betting on NBA underdogs during this time period.
Assessment of Discrimination, Bias, and Inclusion in a United States Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program.

Importance Medical trainees frequently experience discrimination. Understanding their experiences is essential to improving learning environments. Objective To characterize trainee experiences of discrimination and inclusion to inform graduate medical education (GME) policies. Design, Setting, and Participants This qualitative study used an anonymous telephone interview technique to gather data from hematology and oncology fellows. All current trainees and recent graduates were eligible. Interviews were conducted anonymously with interviewer and participant in separate locations and recorded and transcribed. Data were analyzed in an iterative process into major themes using a general inductive analysis approach. Demographic information was obtained via anonymous survey. Data collection and analysis were conducted from July 2018 to November 2019. Main Outcomes and Measures Emergent themes illustrating bias and inclusion in a GME program. Results Among 34 fellows and recent graduates who were approached for this study, 20 consented and 17 were interviewed. Of those interviewed, 10 were men, and the median (range) age was 32 (29-53) years. The racial and ethnic distribution included 6 Asian individuals, 2 Black individuals, 3 Hispanic individuals, 2 multiracial individuals, and 4 White individuals. All fellows reported having experienced and/or witnessed discriminatory behavior. The themes elucidated were (1) foreign fellows perceived as outsiders, (2) US citizens feeling alien at home, (3) gender role-typing, (4) perception of futility of reporting, (5) diversity and inclusion, and (6) coping strategies. The majority of reported biases were from patients. Only 1 trainee reported any incidents. Reasons for not reporting were difficulty characterizing discrimination and doubt action would occur. Participants reported that diversity of cotrainees, involvement in committees, and open discussions promoted inclusivity. Conclusions and Relevance In this study, reports of discriminatory behavior toward trainees were common. The anonymous hotline methodology cultivated a safe environment for candid discussions. These findings suggest that GME programs should assess their learning climate regarding bias and inclusivity anonymously and develop processes to support trainees.
On Regularizability and its Application to Online Control of Unstable LTI Systems

Learning, say through direct policy updates, often requires assumptions such as knowing a priori that the initial policy (gain) is stabilizing, or a persistently exciting (PE) input-output data, is available. In this paper, we examine online regulation of (possibly unstable) partially unknown linear systems with no prior access to an initial stabilizing controller nor a PE input-output data; we instead leverage the knowledge of the input matrix for online regulation. First, we introduce and characterize the notion of "regularizability" for linear systems that gauges the extent by which a system can be regulated in finite-time in contrast to its asymptotic behavior (commonly characterized by stabilizability/controllability). Next, having access only to the input matrix, we propose the Data-Guided Regulation (DGR) synthesis procedure that---as its name suggests---regulates the underlying state while also generating informative data that can subsequently be used for data-driven stabilization or system identification. We further improve the computational performance of DGR via a rank-one update and demonstrate its utility in online regulation of the X-29 aircraft.
CONTROL OF POWER FLOWS ON LARGE INTERCONNECTED POWER SYSTEMS BY USE OF COHERENCY DERIVED MODELS

As a keynote address, this presentation aims to bring about a fundamental understanding of the control problem of power flows on large interconnected systems through a tutorial review of techniques from classical and optimal system control.
Characterization of estrogen-binding proteins in sex steroid target cells growing in long-term culture.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes characterization of estrogen-binding proteins in sex-steroid target cells growing in long-term culture. A comparison of the relative efficiencies of different techniques for determining the amount and properties of estrogen receptors (ER) is summarized with the help of data in a tabulated form. It is apparent that, in the presence of 0.5 M KCl used to extract nuclear ER (receptor II), a slight decrease in the number of moles of recovered receptor II is noted if ER is retrieved by its adsorption to diethylaminoethyl, and a more significant (2-fold) decrease is observed if the charcoal adsorption method is followed. The effect of high-ionic strength in reducing the amount of receptor that can be determined by the charcoal method is particularly distressing in the study of receptor II, because high KCl concentrations are often used to extract the latter ER.
Management of diabetic macular edema

There are an estimated 18 million individuals in the United States afflicted with diabetes mellitus and approximately 4 % have diabetic macular edema (DME) [1]. This translates to about 700,000 individuals with DME [2]. The likelihood of DME development has been associated with longer duration of disease [3], poor glycemic control [4] and possibly, conversion to insulin therapy for type 2 diabetics [5]. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) reported that just over one-fourth of patients with type 1 diabetes developed DME within 9 years of disease onset [6]. Patients with type 2 diabetes have a similarly high rate, with 28 % of individuals developing DME at 20 years after diagnosis [7].
Conservation and Behaviour

Conservation behaviour is an area of conservation biology particularly suited to investigate problems of species endangerment associated with managing animals in fragmented habitats and isolated parks. It employs a theoretical framework that examines the mechanisms, development, function and phylogeny of behavioural variation in order to develop practical tools for preventing extinction. This framework can be used to attract animals to suitable habitat, restore migratory movements, identify individual reproductive strategies affecting conservation and focus protection on species most susceptible to extinction. The future success of conservation behaviour requires that behaviourists link individual variation in behaviour to processes that determine population viability. Key concepts Animal conservation will require active management. Behavioural problems must be examined from four perspectives (mechanisms, ontogeny, adaptive function, phylogeny) simultaneously. Behavioural strategies of individual animals change as habitat and populations are altered, and those changes could harm population viability. Animal behaviourists must participate in conservation planning to protect the future of biodiversity. Keywords: conservation; extinction; wildlife management; ethology
Two new isoflavones from the heartwood of Cladrastis lutea

Abstract The isolation and structural elucidation of the two new isoflavones cladrastin (I) and cladrin (XI) from Cladrastis lutea (Michx. f.) K. Koch are described. Other isoflavones also present are formononetin (XIV) and afrormosin (XV), both of which were previously known.
Absence of perilipin results in leanness and reverses obesity in Lepr(db/db) mice

Obesity is a disorder of energy balance. Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) mediates the hydrolysis of triacylglycerol, the major form of stored energy in the body. Perilipin (encoded by the gene Plin), an adipocyte protein, has been postulated to modulate HSL activity. We show here that targeted disruption of Plin results in healthy mice that have constitutively activated fat-cell HSL. Plin -/- mice consume more food than control mice, but have normal body weight. They are much leaner and more muscular than controls, have 62% smaller white adipocytes, show elevated basal lipolysis that is resistant to beta-adrenergic agonist stimulation, and are cold-sensitive except when fed. They are also resistant to diet-induced obesity. Breeding the Plin -/- alleles into Leprdb/db mice reverses the obesity by ncreasing the metabolic rate of the mice. Our results demonstrate a role for perilipin in reining in basal HSL activity and regulating lipolysis and energy balance; thus, agents that inactivate perilipin may prove useful as anti-obesity medications.
Abordagem da vida sexual feminina nos cuidados de saúde primários

WOMENS ATTITUDES TO ATTENTION TO SEXUALITY IN PRIMARY CARE CONSULTATIONS Objective:To identify womens attitudes to attention to sexuality in womens health consultations in the Castelo Family Health Unit(USF do Castelo), in order to develop strategies to promote attention to this issue. Study type: Cross-sectional study. Setting: USF do Castelo - ACES Seixal e Sesimbra Population:Women over 18 years of age, attending womans health consultations in USF do Castelo Methods:Anonymous questionnaires were distributed to women attending womans health consultations between March 15th and May 15th, 2010. Data entry and analysis were performed using Microsoft® Office Excel 2007. Results: Completed questionnaires were received from 161 women. In 5%, women referred to sexual problems. In the sample, 76% consider it important to address sexuality in the medical consultation, but only 19.2% discuss this frequently. Barriers identified include embarrassment (42.3%), fear that the doctor finds the theme unimportant (12.4%) and lack of time in the consultation (10.3%). Conclusions: Given the barriers identified by patients of USF do Castelo to the discussion of sexuality in the consultation, we suggest that doctors should demonstrate confidence and willingness to discuss sexuality with their patients.
A closer look at the evidence for sex differences in the genetic and environmental influences on gambling in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent health: from disordered to ordered gambling

Background and aims To reconcile an inconsistency in the disordered gambling literature by revisiting a previous study that claimed to find evidence for large gender differences in the magnitude of genetic and environmental influences. Design Univariate structural equation twin models were fitted to decompose the variation in gambling behavior into additive genetic, shared environmental and unique environmental influences. Setting United States. Participants Participants were 1196 same-sex and unlike-sex twins (18–28 years of age, 49% male, 51% female) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Measurements Eight questions about normative and problematic gambling involvement were assessed by in-person interview. Although disordered gambling symptoms were assessed, the number of individuals who were administered these questions precluded twin analysis, including analysis of potential gender differences. Of the eight questions, only three were deemed usable for twin analysis—these were all questions about normative gambling involvement. Findings Individual differences in (non-disordered) gambling involvement were explained completely by family [C = 38% (30–46%)] and unique environmental factors [E = 62% (54–70%)]. There was no evidence for genetic factors (A = 0), nor was there evidence for sex differences (Δχ2 = 1.23, d.f. = 2, P = 0.54). Conclusions There appears to be no evidence for gender differences in the genetic contributions to disordered gambling. Family environment appears to play a significant role in explaining individual differences in (non-disordered) gambling involvement among emerging adults.
Corporate Lobbying, Political Connections, and the 2008 Troubled Asset Relief Program

Political involvement has long been shown to be a profitable investment for firms that seek favorable regulatory conditions or support in times of economic distress. But how important are different types of political involvement for the timing and magnitude of political support? To answer this question, we take a comprehensive look at the lobbying expenditures and political connections of banks that were recipients of government support under the 2008 Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). We find that firms that lobbied or had other types of political connections were not only more likely to receive TARP funds, they also received a greater amount of support earlier than firms that were not politically involved through lobbying or direct political connections. For every dollar spent on lobbying during the five years prior to the TARP bailout, firms received between $485.77 and $585.65 in TARP support.
An alternative isomerohydrolase in the retinal Müller cells of a cone-dominant species.

Cone photoreceptors have faster light responses than rods and a higher demand for 11-cis retinal (11cRAL), the chromophore of visual pigments. RPE65 is the isomerohydrolase in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) that converts all-trans retinyl ester to 11-cis retinol, a key step in the visual cycle for regenerating 11cRAL. Accumulating evidence suggests that cone-dominant species express an alternative isomerase, likely in retinal Muller cells, to meet the high demand for the chromophore by cones. In the present study, we describe the identification and characterization of a novel isomerohydrolase, RPE65c, from the cone-dominant zebrafish retina. RPE65c shares 78% amino acid sequence identity with RPE-specific zebrafish RPE65a (orthologue of human RPE65) and retains all of the known key residues for the enzymatic activity of RPE65. Similar to the other RPE-specific RPE65, RPE65c was present in both the membrane and cytosolic fractions, used all-trans retinyl ester as its substrate and required iron for its enzymatic activity. However, immunohistochemistry detected RPE65c in the inner retina, including Muller cells, but not in the RPE. Furthermore, double-immunostaining of dissociated retinal cells using antibodies for RPE65c and glutamine synthetase (a Muller cell marker), showed that RPE65c co-localized with the Muller cell marker. These results suggest that RPE65c is the alternative isomerohydrolase in the intra-retinal visual cycle, providing 11cRAL to cone photoreceptors in cone-dominant species. Identification of an alternative visual cycle will contribute to the understanding of the functional differences of rod and cone photoreceptors. Structured digital abstract • RPE65c colocalizes with Calnexin by cosedimentation (View interaction)
United States Supreme Court Hague Abduction Decisions: Developing a Global Jurisprudence

In this article, Professor Silberman analyzes the three Supreme Court cases interpreting the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction: Abbott v. Abbott, 560 U.S. 1 (2010); Chafin v. Chafin, 133 S.Ct. 1017 (2012); and Lozano v. Montoya Alvarez, 134 S.Ct. 1224 (2014). In addition to discussing each of the cases, Professor Silberman applauds the Court for helping to develop a global jurisprudence for the interpretation of this international treaty. She identifies mechanisms adopted by the Court in furtherance of that objective. She notes the Court’s focus on the object and purpose of the Convention as well as the travaux preparatoires and Explanatory Report. She finds the Court’s recognition of certain “autonomous concepts” in the Convention and the attempt to identify shared principles of interpretation in the decisions of foreign courts as significant steps in creating this global jurisprudence. She hopes the Court’s approach will serve as a model for other national courts in their own interpretations of the Abduction Convention.
TRANSNATIONAL LABOR AND AESTHETIC THEORY IN URSULA BIEMANN'S GEOBODIES VIDEO ESSAYS

In her Geobodies video essay projects—Performing the Border, about the feminization of labor in Ciudad Juarez on the U.S.–Mexico border; Remote Sensing, about transnational sex labor markets; and Sahara Chronicle, about labor migration in Africa and Europe—Ursula Biemann challenges the ways in which transnational labor migrations are apprehended in separate disciplines, social sciences, art, and mass media. Biemann's contribution to the global labor discourse lies in the striking extradisciplinarity of her projects and the attention she brings to the very “work” of discourse that accounts for the diverse conditions under which human bodies travel and labor worldwide. Her video projects show not only that human labor, flows of capital, policy issues, and geographic circumstances are all interrelated and interdependent, but that disciplinary, representational codes which obscure their own subjectivities and biases, effectively wipe out entire regions, populations, and forms of labor from collective consciousness. In her experiments in video and text, Biemann recovers the work of gendered and/or non-Western subjects, illuminating how marginalized transnational laborers transform the social and material spaces they inhabit despite great political and economic odds. Moreover, Biemann recognizes the significance of often ignored kinds of labor–domestic, sexual, illegal, artistic. Finally, she demonstrates that aesthetic theory (and practice) can play a vital role as a labor discourse that produces new topographies of transnational labor.
Transtensional deformation in the central Himalaya and its role in accommodating growth of the Himalayan orogen

[1] Field mapping, structural analysis, and geochronologic data from northwestern Nepal reveal major normal right-slip motion along a previously unrecognized west-northwest striking system of shear zones that we term the Gurla Mandhata–Humla fault system (GMH). The GMH obliquely cuts across the Greater Himalayan Crystalline sequence and into the Lesser Himalayan imbricate thrust belt via two right-step-over structures. The average slip direction on the GMH parallels the strike of the Himalayan orogen. Motion along this fault system has resulted in an apparent left separation of the South Tibet Detachment, Main Central thrust zone, and Lesser Himalayan imbricate thrust belt along a north striking segment of the fault system. We estimate a minimum of 21 km of net slip on the southern branch of the GMH by restoring the trace of the Main Central thrust zone parallel to the average slip direction on the fault. Taking into account slip estimates from the northern branch of the GMH yields a minimum net slip estimate of 24.4 to 32.4 km for the GMH. The 232Th/208Pb ion microprobe monazite ages from leucogranite bodies indicate that motion on the GMH occurred after 15 Ma. Its initiation immediately followed crustal thickening between the Main Central thrust zone and Indus-Yalu suture zone. Motion on the GMH is contemporaneous with arc-normal contraction in the southernmost Himalayan orogen. These observations can be explained by a model that involves foreland propagating structural systems facilitating arc-normal contraction in the foreland and arc-parallel extension in the hinterland that work together to maintain the arcuate shape of the Himalayan orogen.
The Cornucopia of Signification

AbstractAppeals to consumer's identifications with certain foods and food choices in a variety of media contribute to narratives that focus on the subject of food choices at the exclusion of larger issues in the food system. Rather than focus attention on consumers and the point of consumption, I argue that acknowledging the political nature of the food economy and forging alliances is essential to generating changes that will enable progress toward food democracy. I offer several models of groups with divergent philosophies finding common ground from which to lobby for meaningful, systemic change.
Prior behavioral experience can reverse the effects of morphine

Morphine administration typically decreases responding of squirrel monkeys trained to avoid electric shock. However, the rate-decreasing effects of morphine on avoidance responding were reversed after either concurrent or prior exposure to a condition in which responding was maintained by shock presentation. These findings demonstrate that behavioral experience can play a significant role in, determining the behavioral effects of drugs and that specific types of environmental conditions can completely reverse the usual effects those drugs have on behavior.
Current Methods Employed in the Prevention and Minimization of Surgical Scars

BACKGROUNDPostsurgical scars are of significant concern to patients and surgeons. Many studies have focused on different treatment options for established surgical scars. The prevention and minimization of such aberrant healing responses is more likely to yield better outcomes and require less time
A general nested split-plot analysis of covariance

Abstract We present a general split-plot analysis of covariance (ANOCOVA) model for unbalanced data. The imbalance arises from assigning a different number of experimental units to the levels of the whole-plot factor A. The values of the covariable measurements on each experimental unit are allowed to vary across the levels of the split-plot factor B. Exact test statistics and confidence intervals are derived. Exact F test statistics for the A and B main effects and the A × B interaction each have one less numerator and denominator degree of freedom than for the corresponding analysis of variance (ANOVA). Reduced versions of the general model are given in which the lost numerator degrees of freedom are regained. Competing approximate tests are discussed, including generalized least squares. For the nested split-plot ANOVA model for balanced data, the numerator sums of squares for the A and B main effects and the A × B interaction, together with the A and B error sums of squares, add up to the total sum of...
The political viability of rule-based monetary policy*

We have estimated two models explaining political support for the president as a function of economic performance. One model reflects the assumption characterizing most of the literature, that voters indiscriminately punish inflation and unemployment without regard to the tradeoffs between them. The other represents a more demanding conception of voter sophistication about macroeconomic possibilities and about control of the money supply. While the data do not unambiguously designate a ‘best’ model of behavior, the sophisticated voter hypothesis performs as well as the naive voter hypothesis in the context of our study. Clearly this result is subject to the usual econometric caveats including possible misspecification of the model, multicollinearity among independent variables, etc.. However, there is no particular reason to believe that these problems should favor one model as opposed to the other. Thus, while we cannot conclude that voters really think in terms of rates of growth of velocity and natural output, we can question the conventional wisdom that consistent rule-based monetary policies may not be politically viable.
Two tetrahydrofuran solvates of HN(SePPh2)2

The X-ray crystal structures of P,P′-imino­bis­(di­phenyl­seleno­phosphine) tetra­hydro­furan solvate, C24H21NP2Se2·C4H8O, (I), and bis­(tetra­hydro­furan) solvate, C24H21NP2Se2·2C4H8O, (II), have been determined; (I) has twofold crystallographic symmetry. In each compound, the O atom of one mol­ecule of tetra­hydro­furan is hydrogen bonded to the amide-H atom of HN(SePPh2)2. The conformation of the Se—P—N—P—Se chains in (I), (II), and the crystal structure of the unsolvated HN(SePPh2)2 are different.
On the statistics of binned neural point processes: the Bernoulli approximation and AR representation of the PST histogram

Neural point processes are often approximated by partitioning time into bins, each with a Bernoulli distribution of firing, in order to simplify the mathematical description of their properties. Some of the basic statistics of a neural process are compared using the Bernoulli approximation and the actual Poisson representation. It is seen that in general the Bernoulli approximation is an accurate model only for small?Δ where? is the intensity andΔ is the width of the time bin. This discrete representation leads to a model of the PST histogram as an AR system, where the parameters depend upon the driving signals(t), the refractory effectr(t) and the binwidthΔ. This AR representation is used to predict the PST histogram givens(t),r(t) andΔ. Estimates ofs(t) andr(t) are derived within this parameterization and results discussed for several types of recovery functions given a constants(t). AR techniques are used to estimate the AR parameters from the PST histogram of a simulated point process, from which boths(t) andr(t) are estimated.
Abstract C42: Development and validation of an IHC-based detection method for studying indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) expression in human cancers.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) mediates oxidative cleavage of tryptophan, an amino acid essential for cell proliferation and survival. The depletion of tryptophan and the generation of tryptophan metabolites have been demonstrated to be an important regulator of immune function. IDO1 is induced by interferons and TLR agonists and is expressed in a wide variety of human cancers as well as in the tumor-draining lymph nodes. High IDO1 expression is significantly associated with more rapid disease progression and poor prognosis in multiple cancer types. Numerous studies have shown that IDO1 negatively regulates immune functions via several potential cellular mechanisms, which in turn allows tumor escape from host immune surveillance. Therefore, inhibition of IDO1 may have therapeutic potential in cancer and IDO1 expression may serve as a selective marker of a responsive population. INCB024360, a novel IDO1-selective inhibitor, is currently being evaluated in clinical trials of cancer patients. To support the clinical development of INCB024360, we have developed and validated an immunohistochemistry (IHC)-based method using rabbit polyclonal antisera that specifically detects IDO1 protein expression. The method has been used to determine IDO1 expression in primary biopsies from patients studied in INCB024360 clinical trials. The method can be used to determine the prevalence of IDO1 expression in a variety of human cancers, identify histologic subtypes that might be associated with IDO1 expression and examine IDO1 coexpression with other immune modifying pathways. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):C42. Citation Format: Xiangdong Liu, Gengjie Yang, Alexander Margulis, Rich Wynn, Peggy Scherle, Robert Newton. Development and validation of an IHC-based detection method for studying indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) expression in human cancers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr C42.
Water absorption in a refractive index model for bacterial spores

The complexity of biological agents can make it difficult to identify the important factors impacting scattering characteristics among variables such as size, shape, internal structure and biochemical composition, particle aggregation, and sample additives. This difficulty is exacerbated by the environmentally interactive nature of biological organisms. In particular, bacterial spores equilibrate with environmental humidity by absorption/desorption of water which can affect both the complex refractive index and the size/shape distributions of particles - two factors upon which scattering characteristics depend critically. Therefore accurate analysis of experimental data for determination of refractive index must take account of particle water content. First, spectral transmission measurements to determine visible refractive index done on suspensions of bacterial spores must account for water (or other solvent) uptake. Second, realistic calculations of aerosol scattering cross sections should consider effects of atmospheric humidity on particle water content, size and shape. In this work we demonstrate a method for determining refractive index of bacterial spores bacillus atropheus (BG), bacillus thuringiensis (BT) and bacillus anthracis Sterne (BAs) which accounts for these effects. Visible index is found from transmission measurements on aqueous and DMSO suspensions of particles, using an anomalous diffraction approximation. A simplified version of the anomalous diffraction theory is used to eliminate the need for knowledge of particle size. Results using this approach indicate the technique can be useful in determining the visible refractive index of particles when size and shape distributions are not well known but fall within the region of validity of anomalous dispersion theory.