cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Below-the-knee compared with above-the-knee amputation.

To The Editor: Recently my attention was directed to the article “Functional Outcomes Following Trauma-Related Lower-Extremity Amputation” (2004;86:1636-45, 2503), by MacKenzie et al. This multicenter study included a monumental mass of data and imparts valuable information about the psychological impact of traumatic amputations, but the authors also offered two major, unsupported conclusions. First, the outcome of above-the-knee amputations was presented as superior to those of below-the-knee amputations, but this conclusion is contradicted by other data. The SIP (Sickness Impact Profile) scores showed that the outcomes of the above-the-knee amputations equaled or exceeded those of the below-the-knee amputations. This interpretation, however, is refuted by a statement in the text that “none of the differences... was significant at the p < 0.05 level.” Another contradiction is found in the statement: “the walking speed of the patients with a below-the-knee amputation was significantly faster than that of the patients with an above-the-knee amputation.” Sixty-two percent of the patients with a below-the-knee amputation had a walking speed equal to or faster than 4 ft/sec compared with 43.5% of those with an above-the-knee amputation, and 23.1% of those with an above-the-knee amputation were unable to walk independently over uneven ground compared with 11.3% of those with a below-the-knee amputation. The statistical significance of the findings is challenged by the threefold difference between the number of subjects with an above-the-knee amputation (thirty-four) and the number with a below-the-knee amputation (109). Also, failure to identify the age distribution in each group introduces the high probability that nonmatched groups, particularly in reference to patients with an above-the-knee amputation, were being … Corresponding author: Ellen J. MacKenzie, PhD Center for Injury Research and Policy Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 624 North Broadway, Room 554 Baltimore, MD 21205 emackenz{at}jhsph.edu
The Overworked American or the Overestimated Workweek? Trend and Bias in Recent Estimates of Weekly Work Hours in the United States

Individuals' estimates of their paid working hours in response to the Current Population Survey (CPS) are biased upward. The bias is demonstrated here using two independent alternative sources of work-hour estimates: time-diary studies and the BLS Current Employment Statistics (CES) survey, based on payroll records. Comparison of the CPS and CES suggests that the individual overestimation of hours increased substantially between 1965 and 1990, an increase that cannot be attributed to obvious differences between the CPS and CES in coverage or treatment of moonlighting. Examination of the distribution of reported hours in the CPS shows that the increase in bias is not a consequence of the "heaping" of individual hours responses on the 40-hour week. Crosssection analysis of 1985 time-diary data indicates that hours overestimation varies systematically by gender, education level, and presence of young children. The changing composition of the workforce by schooling can explain about half the increase in the overestimation of hours.
Accounting quality, governance standards, and syndicated loan contracts: Evidence from emerging markets

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how firms’ accounting quality affects bank loan contracting in seven emerging markets and whether these relationships are affected by borrowers’ governance standards. Design/methodology/approach – The study sample period is 1999-2007 because the syndicated loan market was severely affected by the East Asian financial crisis of 1998 and the US financial crisis of 2008. The final sample includes 719 loan observations for 75 firms in seven emerging markets. Findings – The authors find that syndicated lenders provide loans with more favorable terms such as larger amounts, longer maturity and lower interest spread to borrowers in emerging markets with higher accounting quality. The authors also find that the influences of accounting quality on syndicated loan contracting for borrowers in emerging markets exist only with higher country- and firm-level governance rankings. The results of this paper suggest that lenders place more value on accounting numbers gener...
Use of melengestrol acetate-based treatments to induce and synchronize estrus in seasonally anestrous ewes

Ten experiments utilizing 1,659 ewes were conducted to determine the potential of melengestrol acetate (MGA)-based treatments in inducing and synchronizing estrous activity in ewes during the nonbreeding season. In May or June, ewes were given .25 mg of MGA.ewe-1.d-1 or control diet and(or) a subsequent i.m. injection of zeranol, estradiol-17 beta, or oil vehicle. Fertile rams were introduced, and estrous and(or) lambing responses were determined. In Exp. 1, more (P < .01) ewes given MGA for 14 d followed by 5 mg of zeranol (i.m.) were in estrus than controls. Melengestrol acetate and zeranol independently induced estrus in Exp. 2, with MGA-treated ewes exhibiting the greatest lambing response (P < .05). The optimum duration of feeding MGA was 8 d vs 11 or 14 d (Exp. 3). In Exp. 4, as the dose of zeranol increased, synchrony of estrus increased but lambing response decreased. A dose of 1.25 mg of zeranol represented a compromise in estrous and lambing response and was determined to be optimally effective when given 54 h after the last feeding of MGA (Exp. 5). Shortcomings in lambing responses were treated in Exp. 6 by supplementing ewes with MGA after breeding, which proved unsuccessful, and in Exp. 7 by substituting estradiol-17 beta for zeranol, which proved effective when given 54 h after the last feeding of MGA (Exp. 8). In Exp. 9, use of MGA + estradiol increased (P < .05) the estrous and subsequent lambing response of 30-d postpartum ewes temporarily weaned of their lambs. In contrast, lambing response of 90-d postpartum ewes treated with MGA + estradiol was not increased by temporary removal of lambs (Exp. 10). These data collectively support the hypothesis that treatment of ewes with MGA + estradiol is an effective and practical approach for inducing and synchronizing a fertile estrus in ewes during the non-breeding season.
Industrial Structure and Party Competition in the New Deal: A Reply to Webber

This paper is a response to Webber's (1991) critique of Thomas Ferguson's (1983, 1984, 1986) essays on the New Deal and his “investment theory” of political parties. It argues that Webber's evidence is invalid and that his statistical design is conceptually flawed. The sample is defective: it includes many people it should not and it excludes others who should have been reckoned in, notably many Texas oilmen. His procedure for ascertaining corporate partisanship is inadequate, since, among other problems, it excludes large payments made to the 1936 Democratic campaign by firms such as Standard Oil of New Jersey and General Electric. The campaign finance data he relies upon are also far less complete than he implies.An entirely new data analysis is presented, incorporating not only Webber's data, but much new material from archives. The results confirm Ferguson's central thesis about the 1936 election: contributions to the Democrats in 1936 do indeed come from firms that are more internationally-oriented a...
Effect of metals upon the conversion of adenosine triphosphate to adenosine 3',5'monophosphate in lipocytes.

SummaryInvestigations with isolated lipocytes were conducted concerning the effects of Mg, Ca, Zn, and K upon the formation of c-AMP-14C from ATP-14C. The Mg markedly increased the production of c-AMP-14C. The Ca stimulated a smaller increment, but reduced that caused by Mg. When the cells were preincubated with Ca, and then repeatedly washed with Tris-glycerophosphate buffer, no effect was produced by Mg unless EGTA was also used, suggesting a stronger affinity of the lipocytes for Ca than for Mg. A similar level of c-AMP-14C was found whether Ca was used alone, or in each combination tested with Mg, isopropylnorepinephrine, K, or insulin. The Zn markedly reduced the increments of c-AMP-14C when used alone or with Mg. The K alone had no effect and influenced the results with Ca and/or Mg relatively little. The NaF, used alone or with Ca, produced no changes, but caused tenfold increments with Mg. Isopropylnorepinephrine had no effect alone, or with Ca or Zn, but it produced marked additional increments w...
Direct imaging of free carrier and trap carrier motion in silicon nanowires by spatially-separated femtosecond pump-probe microscopy.

We have developed a pump–probe microscope capable of exciting a single semiconductor nanostructure in one location and probing it in another with both high spatial and temporal resolution. Experiments performed on Si nanowires enable a direct visualization of the charge cloud produced by photoexcitation at a localized spot as it spreads along the nanowire axis. The time-resolved images show clear evidence of rapid diffusional spreading and recombination of the free carriers, which is consistent with ambipolar diffusion and a surface recombination velocity of ∼104 cm/s. The free carrier dynamics are followed by trap carrier migration on slower time scales.
A Computational Study on Mixing of Two-Phase Flow in Microchannels

The passive mixing of water and alcohol, as two fluids with different densities, is carried out computationally in three-dimensional microchannels. Four designs of microchannels are considered to investigate the efficiency of mixing for Reynolds numbers ranging between 6 and 96. In a straight-type microchannel, mixing is very poor. In a square-wave-type microchannel, mixing is marginally better than the straight one. Mixing in the serpentine-type and twisted-type microchannels develops considerable better than the first two microchannels, especially at higher Reynolds numbers. However, in the twisted microchannel, the mixing index is substantially larger compared to the serpentine microchannel for the Reynolds number of 35. The higher mixing index implies the occurrence of spatially chaotic flows with a higher degree of chaos compared to the case of the serpentine microchannel. The results are compared quantitatively and qualitatively in Eulerian and Lagrangian frameworks and a correlation between Lagrangian chaos and Eulerian chaos is concluded.© 2003 ASME
Space-time interactions and the perceived location of cold stimuli

The objective of this experiment was to determine whether illusions of space and time that have been demonstrated for mechanical stimulation on the skin also occur for thermal stimuli within the innocuous range of temperatures. Four cooling pulses were presented on the forearm in varying spatial and temporal sequences. Participants indicated the perceived location of the first two pulses in the four-pulse sequence after each trial. The results indicate that the position of the second pulse changed substantially in the direction of the third pulse when the interval between the pulses was brief (0.2 s) and the distance between the second and third pulse was larger. At longer intervals and shorter distances there was no change in perceived location. These findings demonstrate that the tau effect does occur with thermal stimuli, and that the temporal interval between thermal stimuli applied to the skin can influence their perceived location.
Molecular biology and the development of AIDS therapeutics.

Background : Although promising, current AIDS therapies are limited by their toxicity, their cost, and by the emergence of drug-resistant variants. Argument : The molecular study of HIV replication can Ilean to the discovery of better treatments, by identifying unexplored targets and facilitating the development of novel classes of antivirals. Demonstration : Major insights were recently gained in the areass of HIV entry and nuclear transport, suggesting new approaches for the control of viral replication. Agenda for the future : Intensifying the support to basic HIV research, and promoting interactions between academic scientists and the pharmaceutical industry.
Myosin heavy chain synthesis is increased in a rabbit model of heart failure

Chronic ventricular tachycardia (chronic VT) causes left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and is associated with increased LV wall stress and neurohormonal activation, but no LV hypertrophy. The mechanisms responsible for the lack of myocardial growth with chronic VT are unknown. Accordingly, this study examined contractile protein [myosin heavy chain (MHC)] synthesis in a rabbit model of chronic VT. MHC mRNA levels, protein concentration, and synthesis rates were examined in control rabbits (n = 18) and in rabbits with chronic VT (400 beats/min, 3 wk, n = 18). With chronic VT, LV end-diastolic volume increased (8.2 +/- 0.8 vs. 5.3 +/- 0.6 ml, P < 0.05), ejection fraction decreased (12 +/- 3 vs. 38 +/- 4%, P < 0.05) and peak systolic wall stress increased (963 +/- 93 vs. 262 +/- 42 g/cm2, P < 0.05). Plasma catecholamine and endothelin levels also increased threefold, and renin activity increased twofold. Despite these stimuli for hypertrophy, LV mass-to-body weight ratio was unchanged (1.15 +/- 0.07 vs. 1.25 +/- 0.05 g/kg). At the myocyte level, chronic VT caused myocyte lengthening (159.6 +/- 1.8 vs. 121.6 +/- 1.4 microm, P < 0.05), but a reduction in myocyte cross-sectional area (199 +/- 6 vs. 249 +/- 7 microm2, P < 0.0001), as well as a reduced velocity of shortening (42.6 +/- 1.6 vs. 74.1 +/- 2.8 microm/s, P < 0.05). Chronic VT resulted in a significant increase in the rate of MHC synthesis, but paradoxically, there was no change in LV MHC content. Despite increased MHC synthesis, relative levels of MHC mRNA were not increased in chronic VT (2.79 +/- 0.23 vs. 2.44 +/- 0.20 AU, relative to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase), suggesting an increase in MHC translational efficiency. These unique findings suggest accelerated degradative processes must contribute to the failure of myocardial growth in this model of LV dysfunction in which increased LV wall stress, neurohormonal activation, and increased protein synthesis occurred.
Assessing electronic interruptions experienced by an anesthesiology clinical director.

Abstract Study Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the workflow interruptions on an anesthesiology clinical director (CD). By assessing the interruptions on the CD, we hypothesize that these frequent interruptions would prohibit the CD from medical direction of residents or certified nurse anesthetists in operating rooms. Design Cellular phone data were obtained from Verizon Wireless statements over 10 months, August 2012 through May 2013. These data were from a single cellular phone carried by the anesthesia CD and subsequent overnight anesthesiologist 24 hours a day. The data obtained from the billing records included number of calls, date and time call occurred, number of minutes per call, and number of texts received. Setting These calls occurred in the operating room. Patients Not applicable. Intervention Not applicable. Measurements Phone calls, texts, and pager interruptions. Main Results A total of 19,924 calls and 19,803 texts were received by the CD. The phone calls minutes for this period were 31,236 minutes. A total of 15,831 (80%) of the calls occurred during this period (0600-1800). A total of 24 489 minutes (78%) of the total minutes occurred during this time. Conclusion This study revealed that distracting events are frequent for an anesthesiology CD. The quantity of cellular phone interruptions, both calls and texts, by the anesthesiology CD was considered high. These calls occurred mainly during prime operating room time and utilization. As the CD is an integral part of the perioperative management team, they are expected to answer and return calls and texts promptly. Operating room efficiency and staff satisfaction decline if responses to these calls and texts are delayed. Although the nature of these distractions and interruptions can be viewed as having a positive or negative effect, many of these events are necessary to efficiently run the operating rooms.
Benjamin, Benson, and the child’s gaze: childhood desire and pleasure in the David Blaize books

AbstractWalter Benjamin’s writings on children and their books reflect a desire to imagine different possibilities in perceiving and engaging with the world. Benjamin’s child, like the flâneur, experiences a particular way of seeing unfettered by instrumentality and characterised by a sense of wonder, aimlessness of path or purpose, and keen interest in triviality and detritus. Benjamin’s interest in the imaginative work of the child’s gaze, of his wanderings through fantastical cityscapes, and of his manipulation of toys and objects provides a way of reading the children’s works of E.F. Benson: the 1916 school story David Blaize and the 1918 nonsense fantasy David Blaize and the Blue Door. Benson represents a tradition in children’s literature of using the child to reconfigure adult systems or expectations. For both Benjamin and Benson, the child stands poised to defy instruction, and in Benson’s children’s books, David uses sight and touch to enact a different model for experiencing pleasure and consumm...
On computing probabilities of dismissal of 10b-5 securities class-action cases

The main goal of this paper is to propose a probability model for computing probabilities of dismissal of 10b-5 securities class-action cases filed in United States Federal district courts. By dismissal, we mean dismissal with prejudice in response to the motion to dismiss filed by the defendants, and not eventual dismissal after the discovery process. The proposed probability model is a hybrid of two widely-used methods: logistic regression, and nave Bayes. Using a dataset of 925 10b-5 securities class-action cases filed between 2002 and 2010, we show that the proposed hybrid model has the potential of computing better probabilities than either LR or NB models. By better, we mean lower root mean square errors of probabilities of dismissal. The proposed hybrid model uses the following features: allegations of generally accepted accounting principles violations, allegations of lack of internal control, bankruptcy filing during the class period, allegations of Section 11 violations of Securities Act of 1933, and short-term drop in stock price. Our model is useful for those insurance companies which underwrite Directors and Officers liability policy. A model for computing probability of dismissal of class-action cases is proposed.The prediction model is a hybrid model of nave Bayes and logistic regression.Hybrid model predicts better than the nave Bayes and logistic regression model.Features that are significant for dismissal are also identified.This model is useful for insurance underwriters, risk managers, policy-makers and researchers.
Introduction to Polycomb Group Mechanisms

Abstract Polycomb ( Pc ) mutations were first described by Ed Lewis in 1978, and the gene was characterized as a repressor of the Drosophila homeotic genes, which are key developmental genes that determine the anterior–posterior identity of embryonic domains. The name, as usual in Drosophila , comes from a common phenotype of the mutation. In this case, the dominant phenotype of flies heterozygous for a Pc loss of function mutation is the appearance of a sex comb—a row of thick bristles usually found only on the anterior legs of male flies, on the second and sometimes third legs. This is due to a decreased repression of homeotic genes owing to reduced levels of Pc protein. Pc mechanisms are now known to control not just homeotic genes but as a general chromatin-modifying mechanism that generates a repressive state and controls the expression of most key genes that control growth and differentiation in metazoans.
Gene regulatory network plasticity predates a switch in function of a conserved transcription regulator

The rewiring of gene regulatory networks can generate phenotypic novelty. It remains an open question, however, how the large number of connections needed to form a novel network arise over evolutionary time. Here, we address this question using the network controlled by the fungal transcription regulator Ndt80. This conserved protein has undergone a dramatic switch in function—from an ancestral role regulating sporulation to a derived role regulating biofilm formation. This switch in function corresponded to a large-scale rewiring of the genes regulated by Ndt80. However, we demonstrate that the Ndt80-target gene connections were undergoing extensive rewiring prior to the switch in Ndt80’s regulatory function. We propose that extensive drift in the Ndt80 regulon allowed for the exploration of alternative network structures without a loss of ancestral function, thereby facilitating the formation of a network with a new function.
Sympathetic neural and hemodynamic responses to head-up tilt during isoosmotic and hyperosmotic hypovolemia.

Interactions of volume regulation with control of vascular sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) have important implications for blood pressure regulation. Here, we demonstrate that SNA and heart rate (...
“Wie süß ist es, sich zu opfern” Gender, Violence, and Agency in Döblin’s Berlin Alexanderplatz

Trotz seines radikalen Bruchs mit traditionellen Erzahlweisen hat Berlin Alexanderplatz harmonisierende Deutungen hervorgerufen, in denen die ‘widerspenstigen’ Textstellen ignoriert werden. Dieser Aufsatz hingegen setzt sich mit den Geschlechterbeziehungen im Roman auseinander und ruckt den Bruch mit dem humanistischem Bildungsideal, das Verfahren der Fragmentarisierung, die Problematik der Heterogenitat sowie das Verhaltnis zwischen Sexualitat und Gewalt in den Mittelpunkt.
Quantifying Losses in Photoelectrode Performance Due to Single Hydrogen Bubbles

Oxygen (O2) and hydrogen (H2) gas bubbles are the desired products from photoelectrochemical water splitting, but they are also a common source of efficiency losses in photoelectrochemical cells (PECs) that are poorly understood and often difficult to quantify. When attached to the surface of a photoelectrode, a gas bubble can induce optical, kinetic, ohmic, and mass-transport losses. The operating conditions and dynamic behavior that underlie these bubble-induced losses are complex and convoluted, but understanding these dynamics would be invaluable for selecting operating conditions and engineering photoelectrode surfaces to minimize those losses. Toward this end, we employ in situ scanning photocurrent microscopy (SPCM) to investigate the local photocurrent losses associated with isolated H2 bubbles attached to the surface of a photoelectrode. For the first time, we are able to quantify and resolve local bubble-induced photocurrent losses on a photoelectrode at the sub-bubble level. As a basis for this...
Mechanical and thermal performance of transverse flux machines

This research examines the vibration and thermal characteristics of double-sided flux concentrating Transverse Flux Machines (TFM), designed for direct drive application. Two TFM prototypes with different stator cores, one with Quasi U-Core and the other with E-Core, has been used for the study. 3D Finite Element Analysis (FEA) has been carried out to determine the no-load and with load performance of the TFMs along with their fluctuating axial electromagnetic force densities acting on the stator teeth. The deformation response of the stator cores was observed in the static structural analysis. Thermal analysis for the TFM was performed through FEA based on copper and iron losses in the machine to examine the temperature rise in different parts of the machine structure. Acceleration and noise measurements were experimentally obtained to characterize the vibrational performance of the prototypes.
Chapter 20 Applications of SSEP recordings in the evaluation of the peripheral nervous system

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the various methods of somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) recordings using electrical as well as various natural stimuli, and discusses the usefulness and limitations of various modes of stimulation used to evaluate the central sensory pathways and function of peripheral nerves. Because SSEPs track the functional integrity of the peripheral and central nervous system, a lesion affecting any part of somatosensory pathway may alter the recorded SSEP. SSEP components, especially far-field potentials of short latency, prove useful in localizing lesions that affect the spinal cord, brainstem, subcortical, and cortical regions. SSEPs are conventionally elicited by electrical stimulation of either mixed or cutaneous nerves. Although more natural stimulations, such as pain, temperature, and pressure, can elicit SSEPs, the early responses are much smaller than those of electrically elicited SSEPs, because the onset and offset of natural stimuli are more gradual and the natural stimulus devices are more complicated. Thus, the use of SSEP studies to evaluate pain and temperature function has not been popularized as clinical diagnostic tests.
Alcohol and Aldehyde Metabolism in Brain

The brain is highly sensitive to the effects of an array of drugs, which includes ethanol and its metabolite, acetaldehyde. Although the problem of alcoholism is an old one, little definitive data has emerged from research on the metabolism of ethanol in the central nervous system (CNS). In contrast, peripheral metabolism is fairly well documented, particularly in the case of liver where the greatest ethanol metabolism takes place. Other peripheral tissues such as kidney (1), intestine, lung (2) and blood (3) have been shown to also metabolize ethanol. In the case of liver the metabolism of ethanol to acetate has been shown to alter many homeostatic mechanisms (for review see 5), and such results would be expected to stimulate a search for a similar phenomenon in the central nervous system (CNS). It is specifically this qualitative effect of ethanol metabolism on the normal equilibrium in the CNS that is important, for the metabolism of ethanol by the brain would not contribute a great deal quantitatively to the overall disposition of ethanol and its metabolites in the mammal.
History of the West Coast groundfish trawl fishery: Tracking socioeconomic characteristics across different management policies in a multispecies fishery

Abstract The Pacific groundfish fishery management plan was first approved in 1982, formalizing what would become one of the most economically important fisheries on the West Coast of the U.S. In 2015, the fishery as a whole generated approximately $170 million in income and supported almost 3,000 jobs. Since its inception, the fishery management plan has been amended more than 30 times, transforming a fishery characterized by high discards and overcapacity into one managed under a catch share program that was designed to reduce fishing capacity, help rebuild overfished stocks, and provide for a viable, profitable, and efficient fishery. This paper reviews historical management measures as well as changes in both the fishery resource and the operational characteristics of fishery participants, such as rebuilding stocks, reduced bycatch, seasonality of catch, diversification, and revenues. Observed changes vary across sector and target species, but economic data highlight, among other findings, that consolidation has occurred across shorebased sectors, the seasonality of landings has shifted for whiting sectors, and fleet-wide days at sea have decreased for the non-whiting groundfish fleet. Though these changes cannot be directly attributed to any single management measure, the transition to catch shares coincided with increasing economic benefits to many harvesters and communities in a fishery that was declared an economic disaster less than two decades ago. This review can serve as a resource for managers, stakeholders, and researchers involved in developing, implementing, and analyzing regulations in complex multispecies fisheries.
Efficiency of capital markets: a new perspective on the value premium and day-of-the-week effect

Investigating a much greater breadth of markets than ever before using daily data, we find no evidence of a value premium in either developed or emerging markets since the last studies were performed over a decade and a half ago, suggesting the previously documented anomaly has been exhaustively exploited. Also, using value-growth style investing preferences for the first time in examining the day-of-the-week effect, we find support for the previously documented anomaly in emerging markets only and primarily for value stocks. These results suggest that investment strategies based on the value premium no longer are effective and that day-of-the-week strategies should focus on emerging market value stocks only in the quest to generate risk adjusted profits.
Children of Alcoholics--At Risk and Unserved: A Review of Research and Service Roles for School Psychologists.

Parental alcoholism is a form of psychological maltreatment of children. It promotes unhealthy patterns of parent-child and family relations that negatively affect children's development, and it le...
Eye-Tracking Analysis of Attention to an Electronic Storybook for Minimally Verbal Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

E-books may be particularly useful for differentiating instruction across a wide range of learners including those with autism spectrum disorder who are minimally verbal (MV-ASD). But the extent to...
Cingulum bundle abnormalities and risk for schizophrenia.

Abstract Background The cingulum bundle (CB) is a major white matter fiber tract of the limbic system that underlies cingulate cortex, passing longitudinally over the corpus callosum. The connectivity of this white matter fiber tract plays a major role in emotional expression, attention, motivation, and working memory, all of which are affected in schizophrenia. Myelin related CB abnormalities have also been implicated in schizophrenia. The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not CB abnormalities are evident in individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis, and whether or not cognitive deficits in the domains subserved by CB are related to its structural abnormalities. Methods Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) was performed on a 3 T magnet. DT tractography was used to evaluate CB in 20 individuals meeting CHR criteria (13 males/7 females) and 23 healthy controls (12 males/11 females) group matched on age, gender, parental socioeconomic status, education, and handedness. Fractional anisotropy (FA), a measure of white matter coherence and integrity, radial diffusivity (RD), thought to reflect myelin integrity, trace, a possible marker of atrophy, and axial diffusivity (AD), thought to reflect axonal integrity, were averaged over the entire tract and used to investigate CB abnormalities in individuals at CHR for psychosis compared with healthy controls. Results Significant group differences were found between individuals at CHR for psychosis and controls for FA (p = 0.028), RD (p = 0.03) and trace (p = 0.031), but not for AD (p = 0.09). We did not find any significant correlations between DTI measures and clinical symptoms. Conclusion These findings suggest abnormalities (possibly myelin related) in the CB in individuals at CHR for psychosis.
Seasonal dynamics of influenza viruses and age distribution of infected individuals across nine seasons covering 2009–2018 in Taiwan

Background/Purpose A swine-origin influenza A/H1N1 virus (termed A/H1N1pdm) caused a pandemic in 2009 and has continuously circulated in the human population. To investigate its possible ecological effects on circulating influenza strains, the seasonal patterns of influenza viruses and the respective age distribution of infected patients were studies. Methods The data obtained from national influenza surveillance systems in Taiwan from July 2009 to June 2018 were analyzed. Results The A/H1N1pdm and A/H3N2 strains usually caused a higher ratio of severe to mild cases than influenza B. New variants of A/H1N1pdm and A/H3N2 emerged accompanied by a large epidemic peak. However, the new influenza B variants intended to circulate for several seasons before causing a large epidemic. The major group of outpatients affected by A/H1N1pdm were aged 13–23 years in the pandemic wave, and the age range of infected individuals gradually shifted to 24–49 and 0–6 years across seasons; A/H1N1pdm-infected inpatients were aged 24–49 years in 2009–2011, and the age range gradually switched to older groups aged 50–65 and >65 years. Individuals aged 0–6 or 24–49 years accounted for the majority of A/H3N2-infected outpatients across seasons, whereas most of the inpatients affected by A/H3N2 were aged >65 years. Conclusion Understanding the effects of new variants and changes in dominant circulating viral strains on the age distribution of the affected human population, disease severity and epidemic levels is useful for the establishment of fine-tuned strategies for further improvement of influenza control.
Atypical Schwannoma: A 10-year experience.

Abstract Objective The goal of this study was to describe the clinical presentation associated with atypical schwannoma of the cerebellopontine angle, characterize the pathologic findings and describe the long-term outcome. Materials and methods The study design was retrospective case review of patients with the histopathologic diagnosis of atypical and benign schwannoma of the cerebellopontine angle diagnosed at the study institution over a 10-year period. Setting Tertiary referral center. Main outcomes measure Demographic data of the cohort were recorded. Findings on pathology were evaluated. Initial treatment and post-operative course was recorded. Main outcome measures were clinical presentation, including cranial nerve deficits at the time of presentation, complication and recurrence rates. Results At presentation, a somewhat accelerated course of cranial nerve deficit was noted among patients with atypical schwannoma as compared to benign schwannoma. In the immediate post-operative period, there were no differences noted in the complication rate. Atypical schwannomas appear to have higher recurrence rate compared to benign schwannomas. Conclusions Atypical schwannoma is an intermediate disease process with an accelerated clinical course and higher recurrence rate as compared to vestibular schwannoma. Traditional operative approaches may be employed without increased concern for post-operative complications. Thorough counseling and close follow-up should be offered to these patients given the higher recurrence rate. Larger studies are required to determine if these patients need more frequent MRIs for long-term surveillance.
Craters as sand traps: Dynamics, history, and morphology of modern sand transport in an active martian dune field

Abstract Aeolian transport of sand is abundant on modern-day Mars, as revealed by remote sensing measurements of the motion of dunes, and of the meter-scale ripples that mantle them. We study a large-scale natural sand trap within the Meroe Patera dune field: a 1.8-km diameter crater which features a dune-free “shadow” in its lee. We compare the volume of sand trapped within this crater to the sand volume that would be expected to cover the area of the crater and its dune-free shadow behind it if the crater were not present. We find that the crater holds less sand than this “missing” volume would predict, implying that sand escapes from the crater over time. Modern day imagery shows an apparent lack of sand escaping from the Meroe crater, however, suggesting that changes in the wind regime at the site may have allowed sand to escape in the past. The persistence of an altered dune morphology all the way to the far downwind edge of the dune field suggests consistent wind conditions over the time of the crater-dune field interaction.
Measuring Lexical Diversity for Discourse Analysis in Aphasia: Moving-Average Type-Token Ratio and Word Information Measure

Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the utility of two automated indices of lexical diversity, the Moving-Average Type-Token Ratio (MATTR) and the Word Information Measure (WIM), in predicting aphasia diagnosis and responding to differences in severity and aphasia subtype. Method Transcripts of a single discourse task were analyzed for 478 speakers, 225 of whom had aphasia per an aphasia battery. We calculated the MATTR and the WIM for each participant. We compared the group means among speakers with aphasia, neurotypical controls, and left-hemisphere stroke survivors with mild aphasia not detected by an aphasia battery. We examined whether each measure distinguished levels of aphasia severity and subtypes of aphasia. We used each measure to classify aphasia versus neurotypical control and compared the areas under the curve. Results The WIM and the MATTR differentiated among people with aphasia, neurotypical controls, and people with mild aphasia. Both measures demonstrated moderately high predictive accuracy in classifying aphasia. The WIM demonstrated greater sensitivity to aphasia severity and subtype compared to the MATTR. Conclusions The WIM and the MATTR are promising measures that quantify lexical diversity in different and complementary ways. The WIM may be more useful for quantifying the effect of treatment or disease progression, whereas the MATTR may be more useful for discriminating discourse produced by people with very mild aphasia from discourse produced by neurotypical controls. Further validation is required.
Diagnosing an ancient shallow-angle subduction event from Cenozoic depositional and deformational records in the central Andes of southern Peru

Abstract The spectrum of responses exhibited by upper plates to changes in the subduction zone geometry remains poorly constrained. In the Paleogene, the central Andes in southern Peru potentially experienced an episode of flat or shallow-angle subduction. Presented here are new geochronologic, thermochronologic, basin subsidence backstripping analysis, and 2D flexural modeling results. These are synthesized with existing records on the temporal variation of the volcanic arc position, basin fill chronostratigraphy, deformation style and location, and geophysical constraints on lithospheric architecture to investigate how this segment of the Andes developed during a proposed ancient modification to the subduction zone dip. Basin chronostratigraphy confirms persistent contribution from volcanic arc products during the Eocene–Miocene, arguing against complete cessation of arc magmatism. Sediment accumulation was pulsed and generally more rapid during the late Eocene–Oligocene event. The subsidence curve is generally concave-up, atypical for a foreland basin situated within the compressional central Andes. The tectonic subsidence magnitude observed from backstripping analysis is at least 1 km less than the magnitude of subsidence predicted by 2D flexural model results. This suggests a component of basin uplift, potentially as a dynamic response to subduction shallowing, may have opposed flexural subsidence that was driven by crustal thickening and topographic loading. New geo- and thermochronologic results constrain the timing of Late Triassic pluton emplacement, and initial unroofing that predates the proposed timing of flat or shallow-angle subduction. This new timing suggests initial deformation, with mixed thin- and thick-skinned deformation style, in the Eastern Cordillera may be linked to reactivation of inherited structures rather than inboard deformation advance as a response to subduction flattening. The lack of basement-cored uplifts, preservation of mantle lithosphere beneath this segment of the central Andes, and volcanic arc patterns argue against the occurrence of a flat slab event. Instead, these results point to a shallow-angle subduction event and highlight the diverse behaviors of Cordilleran margins affected by variable subduction zone geometry and upper plates with inherited crustal heterogeneities.
Numerical Modeling of Landfill Processes: Complexity Versus Practicality

Bioreactor landfills are emerging as a sustainable means of municipal solid waste (MSW) management due to enhanced rates of waste decomposition which leads to early waste stabilization in landfills along with other short-term and long-term benefits. Currently, no well-established procedures or design guidelines exist to design and operate such landfills safely and effectively. This largely stems from the fact that there is no clear understanding of the fundamental processes and their interdependencies that influences the behavior of the waste and consequently the overall performance of a bioreactor landfill. Mathematical modeling of the major landfill processes (hydraulic, mechanical, biochemical, thermal) and their interrelated behavior using numerical methods is a useful tool in understanding the landfill performance and has been carried out ever since the late 1980s. Several researchers have developed numerical models to simulate the behavior of MSW in landfills with varying mathematical complexity. However, most of these models don’t find their application in the current state of practice, although many of the simpler models are increasingly welcomed by landfill owners and design professionals. This paper briefly summarizes the important concerns regarding the development of numerical models for modeling of landfill processes and their applicability in practice. Further, the key technical challenges that need to be addressed while developing a numerical model are discussed. The purpose of this paper is to have the landfill modelers embrace the need for a balance between the complexity and practical applicability of the model for the design and operation of bioreactor landfills.
Comparison of Search Optimization Algorithms in Two-Stage Artificial Neural Network Training for Handwritten Digits Recognition

Backpropagation is the most common method of training artificial neural networks in use. However, backpropagation has a tendency to get trapped in locally optimum solutions. This paper compares the ability of Barebones Fireworks Algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization, and Cooperative Particle Swarm Optimization to improve upon an artificial neural network trained with backpropagation. The learning ability of the search algorithms and the simulations are hindered by the high dimensionality of the artificial neural network. An analysis of the simulation results shows that the Barebones Fireworks Algorithm outperforms the other two algorithms.
Immobilization of Fungal β-Galactosidase through Self-Assembly of Hierarchical Microflowers under Optimal Activity Conditions

Many enzymes whose optimal activities occur at neutral pH values have been successfully immobilized in biocatalytic nano- and microflowers; however, a need for research on the preparation of these ...
The Heterogeneous Effects of Peer-to-Peer Ride-Hailing on Traffic: Evidence from Uber's Entry in California

Despite their promise, popularity and rapid growth, the transit implications of ride-hailing platforms (e.g., Uber, Lyft) are not altogether clear. On the one hand, ride-hailing services can provide pooling (i.e., traffic reductions) advantages, by efficiently matching customer demand (i.e., trips) with resources (i.e., cars) or by facilitating carsharing. On the other hand, ride-hailing may also induce extra travel due to increased convenience and travel mode substitution, which may create crowding (i.e., traffic increases). We seek to reconcile these divergent perspectives here, exploring the heterogeneous determinants of ride-hailing’s effects. Taking advantage of Uber’s staggered entry into various geographic markets in California, we execute a regression-based difference-in-differences analysis to estimate the impact of ride-hailing services on traffic volumes. Using monthly micro data from more than 9,000 vehicle detector station (VDS) units deployed across California, we show that Uber’s effect (either pooling or crowding) on traffic depends on various contextual factors. We find some evidence of pooling effects on weekdays; however, Uber’s entry leads to significant crowding effects on weekends. Furthermore, the crowding effect is amplified on interior roads and in areas characterized by high population density. While ride-hailing seems to have a substitution effect on public transportation, we find ride-hailing services may have a complementary effect for carpooling users. Finally, we show that premium ride-hailing services (e.g., Uber Black) almost exclusively lead to a crowding effect. We conduct a battery of robustness tests (e.g., propensity score matching, alternative treatment approaches, placebo tests) to ensure the consistency of our findings.
The Effect of IL-18 on Group 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells in Allergic Rhinitis

BACKGROUND Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) promote allergic inflammation by producing interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13. IL-18 can promote T helper 2 cell (Th2) response by inducing IL-4, and IL-13 production from mast cells and basophils. However, the regulation of IL-18 on ILC2s remained unknown. OBJECTIVE To investigate the regulatory role of IL-18 in inducing the type 2 innate lymphoid cells. METHODS Twenty patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and 20 controls were enrolled. The mRNA and protein levels of IL-18 in serum, as well as the frequencies of ILC2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and flow cytometry. The ILC2s were sorted and the mRNA expression of IL-18 receptor in ILC2 was analyzed by real-time PCR. The effects of IL-18 on the proliferation and type 2 cytokine production were detected by tritiated thymidine incorporation test, real-time PCR, and ELISA, respectively. RESULTS The levels of IL-18 mRNA and protein were significantly higher in AR patients than in the controls (P<0.05). The frequency of ILC2 in peripheral blood was elevated in the AR patients than in the controls. After stimulation by IL-18 and house dust mite (HDM), the expression of IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) by ILC2 was significantly up-regulated. The tritiated thymidine incorporation results showed that IL-18 promoted the proliferation of ILC2 in a dose-dependent manner. IL-18 also induced the expression of IL-5 and IL-13 proteins by ILC2. CONCLUSION Our results confirmed -for the first time- the effect of IL-18 in innate immunity, which was demonstrated by direct effect on the differentiation and function of ILC2.
Early failure of a bioprosthetic valve in the pulmonary position causing panic.

ABSTRACT An asymptomatic twenty-six-year-old woman with repaired tetralogy of Fallot and a bioprosthetic pulmonary valve presented with a large thrombosis occluding most of her right ventricular outﬂow tract and main pulmonary arteries. Our Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) was emergently consulted resulting in considerable discussion regarding treatment modality given the large size and high-risk nature of the thrombosis. Ultimately, she was started on a heparin infusion until she could undergo open thrombectomy and pulmonary valve re-replacement. The patient’s asymptomatic presentation despite the considerable clot burden complicated our approach to management but ultimately led to a measured and timely intervention.