cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantifying net staffing costs due to longer-than-average surgical case durations.

Background: Anesthesiology departments incur staffing costs that are not covered by revenue because the operating room (OR) time allocation and case scheduling are not done to maximize OR efficiency and because surgical durations are longer than average. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate a method to quantify net anesthesia staffing costs due to longerthan-average surgical durations and evaluate the factors that influence staffing costs. Methods: Data collected from two anesthesiology departments in academic hospitals for 1 yr included date of surgery, time that patients entered the OR, time that patients exited the OR, surgical service, and the Current Procedural Terminology code for the primary surgical procedure. Anesthesia care performed outside the main surgical suite and services not billed with American Society of Anesthesiologists units were excluded. National average surgical durations were determined from the Current Procedural Terminology code from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ database. Actual surgical durations were then used to determine staffing solutions to maximize OR efficiency; national average surgical durations were then used to determine a second solution. The difference in staffing costs between these two staffing solutions represented the staffing costs attributable to longer surgical durations. Costs were converted to dollar amounts using compensation values reported in a national compensation survey. The differences in revenue were determined by applying conversion factors to the differences in surgical durations. The annual net cost attributable to longer surgical durations equaled the staffing costs minus the revenue produced by longer durations. Net staffing costs were estimated for two hospitals using median staffing compensation and median payer mix. Net staffing costs were then recalculated by varying the parameters (conversion factors, limits on differences between actual and average surgical duration, levels of compensation, surgical service size of OR allocation). Results: Using the median compensation of staff and an average conversion factor, the net annual staffing costs attributable to longer surgical durations were $672,100 for the first hospital. However, if staff members were highly compensated and the payer mix was unfavorable, the net staffing costs were $1,688,000. Reducing the difference between actual and average duration resulted in lower staffing costs. Net staffing costs were less in a second hospital studied that had many low-volume surgical services. Conclusions: Longer-than-average surgical durations can increase net staffing costs for anesthesiology groups. The increase is dependent on factors such as staffing compensation and payer mix.
High speed data cables with lossy material coating

High Speed unshielded differential cables will often have unwanted, but unavoidable, common mode energy in the low GHz frequency range. This work examines a coating of lossy material on the cables and quantifies the amount of loss, and the frequency range of the loss using reverberation chamber measurements.
RESURGENCE OF INFANT CAREGIVING RESPONSES

Two experiments were conducted to identify the conditions likely to produce resurgence among adult human participants. The preparation was a simulated caregiving context, wherein a recorded infant cry sounded and was terminated contingent upon targeted caregiving responses. Results of Experiment 1 demonstrated resurgence with human participants in this negative reinforcement preparation. Results of Experiment 2 showed that responses with a longer history of reinforcement showed a stronger resurgence effect relative to responses with a shorter and more recent history of reinforcement. These results show that the resurgence phenomenon occurs across populations and types of reinforcers. Additionally, results indicate that length of reinforcement history is a variable that may affect the magnitude of resurgence.
A Case of Solitary Neurofibroma of the External Auditory Canal

Neurofibroma is a relatively common neurogenic tumor originating from schwann cells or fibroblasts in peripheral nerve sheaths. It is classified as solitary or multiple. Solitary lesions are not usually associated with neurofibromatosis or von Recklinghausen’s disease. We report a case of solitary neurofibroma occurred in the right external auditory canal (EAC) in a 30-year-old male who complained of progressive hearing loss and earfullness for 5 years. This diffuse painless mass displaced the auricle laterally and obstructed EAC completely. The lesion was partially excised by retroauricular approach and diagnosed as neurofibroma. This patient does not have any other evidences of neurofibromatosis. A complete excision in this case was not mandatory as malignant change is rare; moreover, it would require extensive resection of periauricular skin, subcutaneous tissue, cartilaginous ear canal and temporalis muscle, followed by reconstruction. We present the clinical characteristics and therapeutic methods of a solitary neurofibroma originating from EAC. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2010;53:126-9 Key WordsZZNeurofibroma·External auditory canal.
Generalizability Theory and Achievement Testing

Generalizability theory (G theory) evolved out of the recognition that the concept of undifferentiated error in classical test theory provided too gross a characterization of the multiple sources of error in a measurement (Cronbach, Gleser, Nanda, & Rajaratnam, 1972). The multiple sources of measurement error in test scores can be readily described: for example, one of many possible test forms might be administered on one of many possible occasions by one of many possible examiners. The choice of test form, occasion and examiner are all potential sources of error. G theory attempts to assess each source of error to characterize the measurement and improve its design.2
A Competitive Market Analysis of the United States Shiitake Mushroom Marketplace

ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. Lentinus edodes, Porter’s five forces model, agroforestry, forest farming, log-grown mushrooms SUMMARY. Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes) have many nutritional and medicinal benefits. The cultivation of log-grown shiitake mushrooms encourages forest farming and can be an opportunity for farmers interested in developing an additional enterprise. In 2006, the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry conducted a nationwide survey of shiitake mushroom producers to analyze the U.S. shiitake mushroom industry by taking into consideration the forces that influence competition based on Porter’s five forces model. Shiitake mushrooms are grown primarily as a side business, especially those produced exclusively outdoors. Indoor production on sawdust generates higher income than outdoor production on logs, but log production is more suitable for a small-scale operation in an agroforestry setting. Barriers to entry are created by relationships in the market, economies of scale, and the learning curve effect. Although there are a limited number of spawn suppliers in the market, they produce quality inoculum and maintain good relationships with shiitake mushroom producers. The majority of respondents sell their shiitake mushrooms locally. Gourmet restaurants, farmers markets, and on-farm outlets are the main markets for shiitake mushrooms. Trends in demand are increasing and prices are high. Shiitake mushrooms can be replaced with other common or gourmet mushroom types, but also have their own identity for numerous nutritional and medicinal properties. Competition for log-grown shiitake mushrooms arises from shiitake mushrooms produced on sawdust and from imports. To successfully survive in the market, firms create competitive advantages through quality, customer service, and consistent supply. Barriers to success in the shiitake mushroom business include demanding work requirements, the need for a serious commitment to produce and market shiitake mushrooms, a 1-year time lag between investment and a return on investment, and insufficient production and marketing information. Grower associations, universities, and state and federal agencies must join their efforts to fund and support shiitake mushroom research and industry development.
Can't see the trees for the forest: complex factors influence tree survival in a temperate second growth forest

Forest decline is a widespread, well-recognized problem, but studies reporting decreases in tree survival have been largely limited to relatively rare old-growth forests or low-diversity systems, and to models which are species-aggregated or cannot easily accommodate yearly climate variables. We created survival models for a multispecies second-growth forest in the Sierra Nevada of California using a hierarchical state-space framework. We accounted for a mosaic of measurement intervals and random plot variation, and we directly included yearly stand development variables alongside climate variables and topographic proxies for nutrient, water, and light availability. Our model captured the expected dependence of survival on tree size, but revealed different relationships between size and survival for each species. At the community level, including stand development variables accounted for decreasing survival time trends, but species-specific models demonstrated a diversity of factors influencing survival, including time trends, fundamental niche limitations, and the impact of competition. Our results on time trends and competitive performance showed local exceptions to existing theories of Sierran forest dynamics, with some shade-tolerant species increasing in survival over time and others performing better than expected under more crowded conditions. Within species, low survival was concentrated in susceptible subsets of our population and single estimates of annual survival rates did not reflect this heterogeneity in survival.
Seismic Hazard Analysis of Lifelines

Methods for assessing the seismic safety of a lifeline system are developed; with part of the study being devoted to the development of a relation between the earthquake intensity and the distance for near-source regions. The attenuation of maximum ground motion intensity with distance is examined. Specific attenuation relations are developed and compared with the existing empirical attenuation equations. On this basis, the importance of the source parameters are examined. With regard to the safety analysis of lifeline systems, it is assumed that earthquakes originate as ruptures along geologic faults. Two types of hazards from earthquakes are considered; namely, the hazard of a fault rupture strike on the links of a lifeline system, and the hazard of damage caused by severe ground shaking. The application of the methods presented herein are demonstrated for a specific lifeline system.
What to expect when measuring high-sensitivity troponin: practical advice for clinicians.

Everything must be made as simple as possible. But not simpler. —Albert Einstein [(1)][1] The path to the high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays has taken more than 2 decades. Historically, after early studies showing superior diagnostic and prognostic performance compared with
Winning is not everything: Public perceptions of losers and non-voters in South Africa

Which factor – being an electoral loser or being a non-voter – has a greater negative influence on perceptions of democratic institutions in South Africa? Employing four waves of Afrobarometer data, this analysis finds that both negatively correlate with evaluations of democracy and parliament in particular, with weaker results after controlling for demographic and geographic factors. However, little consistency emerges as to which has the greater negative influence on perceptions. Furthermore, disaggregating non-voters finds that those preferring parties that lost have the lowest evaluations overall.
Parity and Components of the Metabolic Syndrome Among US Hispanic/Latina Women Results From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Background— Physiological adaptations occurring across successive pregnancies may increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular health outcomes in later life. Methods and Results— The association between parity and metabolic syndrome was examined among 7467 Hispanic/Latina women of diverse backgrounds, aged 18 to 74 years, who participated in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) from 2008 to 2011. Metabolic syndrome components were defined according to American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute criteria and included abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high blood pressure, and elevated fasting glucose. Logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (ORs) adjusting for sociodemographic, behavioral, and reproductive characteristics. At HCHS/SOL baseline, women reported none (21.1%), 1 (19.9%), 2 (25.7%), 3 (18.6%), 4 (8.8%), and ≥5 (5.9%) live births. When compared with women with 1 birth, those with 4 births had the highest odds of abdominal obesity (OR, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.5–2.8) and overall metabolic syndrome (OR, 1.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.0–2.0) and those with ≥5 births had the highest odds of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–2.0) and elevated fasting glucose (OR, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–2.4), after adjusting for age, background, education, marital status, income, nativity, smoking, physical activity, menopause, oral contraceptive use, hormone therapy, and field center. Further adjustment for percent body fat attenuated these associations. No associations were observed between parity and elevated triglycerides or high blood pressure. Conclusions— Higher parity is associated with an increased prevalence of selected components of the metabolic syndrome among Hispanic/Latina women in the US. High parity among Hispanics/Latinas with a high prevalence of abdominal obesity suggests high risk for metabolic dysregulation.
Hatch of eggs of overwintering blackheaded fireworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in response to duration of winter

Eggs of overwintering blackheaded fireworm, Rhopobota naevana (Hubner), were collected from cranberry marshes in Wisconsin and Washington. Eggs were held at a naturally progressing photoperiod (for 45 degrees latitude) and constant cold temperatures representing winter conditions in the two states: -2 degrees C for Wisconsin and 5 degrees C for Washington. On five different dates in March, April, and May, sets of eggs were incubated at 18 degrees C while natural photoperiod was maintained. The first three groups of eggs from Wisconsin showed no difference in development rate upon incubation. The fourth group, transferred about mid-April, developed faster than previous groups. The fifth group developed fastest. The first group of eggs from Washington, incubated in early March, developed slowest. The remaining groups, incubated about mid-March and thereafter, developed and hatched at the same, more rapid, rate.
Rate-determining water-assisted O-O bond cleavage of an Fe III-OOH intermediate in a bio-inspired nonheme iron-catalyzed oxidation

Hydrocarbon oxidations by bio-inspired nonheme iron catalysts and H2O2 have been proposed to involve an Fe(III)-OOH intermediate that decays via a water-assisted mechanism to form an Fe(V)(O)(OH) oxidant. Herein we report kinetic evidence for this pathway in the oxidation of 1-octene catalyzed by [Fe(II)(TPA)(NCCH3)](2+) (1, TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine). The (TPA)Fe(III)(OOH) intermediate 2 can be observed at -40 °C and is found to undergo first-order decay, which is accelerated by water. Interestingly, the decay rate of 2 is comparable to that of product formation, indicating that the decay of 2 results in olefin oxidation. Furthermore, the Eyring activation parameters for the decay of 2 and product formation are identical, and both processes are associated with an H2O/D2O KIE of 2.5. Taken together with previous (18)O-labeling data, these results point to a water-assisted heterolytic O-O bond cleavage of 2 as the rate-limiting step in olefin oxidation.
Maximum capacity of the bovine liver to remove manganese from portal plasma and the effect of the route of entry of manganese on its rate of removal.

The rate of uptake of manganese by the liver was measured during infusions of manganese into either the visceral or the systemic circulation of four cows surgically prepared with cannulae in a mesenteric vein, the portal vein and a hepatic vein and in one carotid artery. In three experiments the maximum capacity of the liver to remove manganese from plasma was measured by infusing manganese chloride solution into a mesenteric vein at increasing rates for six hours. In two experiments the rate of uptake of manganese by the liver was determined during infusions of manganese chloride solution into a jugular vein for six hours at a constant rate. Virtually all the manganese infused into a mesenteric vein was cleared during its first pass through the liver, up to a maximum rate (mean ± SEM) of 97 · 1 ± 14-1 μmol per minute or 12·7 ± 2·3 μmol per minute per kg of liver weight. However, when manganese was infused into a jugular vein at rates less than this maximum rate of uptake only approximately 50 per cent of the manganese in portal plasma was removed during a single passage through the liver.
Brief paper: Measurement updating using the U-D factorization

The discrete linear filtering problem is treated by factoring the filter error covariance matrix as P = UDU^T. Efficient and stable measurement updating recursions are developed for the unit upper triangular factor, U, and the diagonal factor, D. This paper treats only the parameter estimation problem; effects of mapping, inclusion of process noise and other aspects of filtering are treated in separate publications. The algorithm is simple and, except for the fact that square roots are not involved, can be likened to square root filtering. Like the square root filter our algorithm guarantees nonnegativity of the computed covariance matrix. As is the case with the Kalman filter, our algorithm is well suited for use in real time. Attributes of our factorization update include: efficient one point at a time processing that requires little more computation than does the optimal but numerically unstable conventional Kalman measurement update algorithm; stability that compares with the square root filter and the variable dimension flexibility that is enjoyed by the square root information filter. These properties are the subject of this paper.
Incidence of Wolbachia in aquatic insects

Wolbachia is a genus of intracellular bacteria typically found within the reproductive systems of insects that manipulates those systems of their hosts. While current estimates of Wolbachia incidence suggest that it infects approximately half of all arthropod species, these estimates are based almost entirely on terrestrial insects. No systematic survey of Wolbachia in aquatic insects has been performed. To estimate Wolbachia incidence among aquatic insect species, we combined field-collected samples from the Missouri River (251 samples from 58 species) with a global database from previously published surveys. The final database contained 5,598 samples of 2,687 total species (228 aquatic and 2,459 terrestrial). We estimate that 52% (95% CrIs: 44%-60%) of aquatic insect species carry Wolbachia, compared to 60% (58%-63%) of terrestrial insects. Among aquatic insects, infected orders included Odonata, Coleoptera, Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, and Plecoptera. Incidence was highest within aquatic Diptera and Hemiptera (69%), Odonata (50%), and Coleoptera (53%), and was lowest within Ephemeroptera (13%). These results indicate that Wolbachia is common among aquatic insects, but incidence varies widely across orders and is especially uncertain in those orders with low sample sizes such as Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera.
Representation of speech variability

Speech signals provide both linguistic information (e.g., words and sentences) as well as information about the speaker who produced the message (i.e., social-indexical information). Listeners store highly detailed representations of these speech signals, which are simultaneously indexed with linguistic and social category membership. A variety of methodologies-forced-choice categorization, rating, and free classification-have shed light on listeners' cognitive-perceptual representations of the social-indexical information present in the speech signal. Specifically, listeners can accurately identify some talker characteristics, including native language status, approximate age, sex, and gender. Additionally, listeners have sensitivity to other speaker characteristics-such as sexual orientation, regional dialect, native language for non-native speakers, race, and ethnicity-but listeners tend to be less accurate or more variable at categorizing or rating speakers based on these constructs. However, studies have not necessarily incorporated more recent conceptions of these constructs (e.g., separating listeners' perceptions of race vs ethnicity) or speakers who do not fit squarely into specific categories (e.g., for sex perception, intersex individuals; for gender perception, genderqueer speakers; for race perception, multiracial speakers). Additional research on how the intersections of social-indexical categories influence speech perception is also needed. As the field moves forward, scholars from a variety of disciplines should be incorporated into investigations of how listeners' extract and represent facets of personal identity from speech. Further, the impact of these representations on our interactions with one another in contexts outside of the laboratory should continue to be explored. WIREs Cogn Sci 2017, 8:e1434. doi: 10.1002/wcs.1434 This article is categorized under: Linguistics > Language Acquisition Linguistics > Language in Mind and Brain Psychology > Language.
Scenic landscapes, visual accessibility and premium values in a single family housing market: A spatial hedonic approach:

This article uses a hedonic modelling approach to assess the implicit willingness to pay for the visual accessibility of voluntarily protected, privately owned, scenic lands based on single family ...
Considering Cultural Factors in Emerging Adult Use of Communication Technologies: Culture in Technology Use

Focus groups with young adult college students N = 13, 8 females, 5 males, Mage = 20.46, SD = 1.27 from different ethnic and generational backgrounds were conducted to examine how Asian American an...
Rapidly growing Mycobacterium infections after cosmetic surgery in medical tourists: the Bronx experience and a review of the literature

Abstract Background Medical tourism is increasingly popular for elective cosmetic surgical procedures. However, medical tourism has been accompanied by reports of post-surgical infections due to rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM). The authors' experience working with patients with RGM infections who have returned to the USA after traveling abroad for cosmetic surgical procedures is described here. Methods Patients who developed RGM infections after undergoing cosmetic surgeries abroad and who presented at the Montefiore Medical Center (Bronx, New York, USA) between August 2015 and June 2016 were identified. A review of patient medical records was performed. Results Four patients who presented with culture-proven RGM infections at the sites of recent cosmetic procedures were identified. All patients were treated with a combination of antibiotics and aggressive surgical treatment. Conclusions This case series of RGM infections following recent cosmetic surgeries abroad highlights the risks of medical tourism. Close monitoring of affected patients by surgical and infectious disease specialties is necessary, as aggressive surgical debridement combined with appropriate antibiotic regimens is needed to achieve cure. Given the increasing reports of post-surgical RGM infections, consultants should have a low threshold for suspecting RGM, as rapid diagnosis may accelerate the initiation of targeted treatment and minimize morbidity.
Arginine mutations in antibody complementarity-determining regions display context-dependent affinity/specificity trade-offs

Antibodies commonly accumulate charged mutations in their complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) during affinity maturation to enhance electrostatic interactions. However, charged mutations can mediate non-specific interactions, and it is unclear to what extent CDRs can accumulate charged residues to increase antibody affinity without compromising specificity. This is especially concerning for positively charged CDR mutations that are linked to antibody polyspecificity. To better understand antibody affinity/specificity trade-offs, we have selected single-chain antibody fragments specific for the negatively charged and hydrophobic Alzheimer's amyloid β peptide using weak and stringent selections for antibody specificity. Antibody variants isolated using weak selections for specificity were enriched in arginine CDR mutations and displayed low specificity. Alanine-scanning mutagenesis revealed that the affinities of these antibodies were strongly dependent on their arginine mutations. Antibody variants isolated using stringent selections for specificity were also enriched in arginine CDR mutations, but these antibodies possessed significant improvements in specificity. Importantly, the affinities of the most specific antibodies were much less dependent on their arginine mutations, suggesting that over-reliance on arginine for affinity leads to reduced specificity. Structural modeling and molecular simulations reveal unique hydrophobic environments near the arginine CDR mutations. The more specific antibodies contained arginine mutations in the most hydrophobic portions of the CDRs, whereas the less specific antibodies contained arginine mutations in more hydrophilic regions. These findings demonstrate that arginine mutations in antibody CDRs display context-dependent impacts on specificity and that affinity/specificity trade-offs are governed by the relative contribution of arginine CDR residues to the overall antibody affinity.
Sharpening Focus on a Global Low-Carbon Future

To characterize achieving a decarbonized global energy system as "challenging" is a heroic understatement. One key challenge is doing this globally, for countries with wildly diverse energy resource options and varying levels of existing infrastructure and societal readiness to support low-carbon energy systems. Another important challenge is decarbonizing all economic sectors, not just single sectors (e.g., transportation or electric power).
Death on the Dome: Epidemiology of Recreational Deaths on Half Dome in Yosemite National Park.

Introduction One of the most popular destinations in Yosemite National Park is Half Dome. Overcrowding at the turn of the 21st century prompted a restriction of hiker access to cable handrails to the summit without technical rock climbing equipment. Prior epidemiological study of Half Dome deaths is not known to the authors. Our goal was to identify trends among all Half Dome–related fatalities in Yosemite National Park. Methods Multimedia sources were searched for deaths involving the cable handrails, subdome, summit, technical climbing, or base jumping. Results are reported as mean±SD (range). Results Twenty-nine confirmed deaths occurred on Half Dome, with 2 additional deaths likely on Half Dome. Age was 32±14 (16–86) y; 4 were female. Activity at time of death included technical climbing (36%), suicide (26%), utilizing cable handrails (16%), hiking (16%), and base jumping (6%). Of the cable handrail-related fatalities, only 2 were due to weather. There were 3 medically related deaths due to cardiac disease and altitude. Conclusions We identified 31 Half Dome deaths over 85 y. A minority were attributable to unfavorable weather or unskilled hiking participants. Climber registration could provide dependable denominators for accident incidence statistics. A renewed focus on suicide prevention is warranted.
Immediate Effects of the Mindful Body Scan Practice on Risk-Taking Behavior

Training in mindfulness has been shown to improve a variety of psychological disorders as well as physical conditions. Additionally, mindfulness training has been shown to reduce risk-taking behaviors following several weeks of training. Reducing risk-taking behaviors is of particular importance in regard to specific mental health problems, such as substance use and eating disorders. Many studies that examine the effects of mindfulness utilize training programs that are several weeks in duration. However, some evidence indicates that brief, single-use mindfulness practices can have substantial effects on changing emotion and cognition in laboratory settings. The present study examined the immediate effects of a brief, single-use mindful body scan practice on risk-taking behavior in a laboratory setting. Participants included 153 undergraduate students at a major university in the southern USA. The experimental design was a randomized trial using an active control group, which engaged in a mind-wandering exercise. Results indicated that there was no significant interaction of condition by time on scores from the state mindfulness measure or the risk-taking task, yet main effects of time were observed for both variables. Findings suggest that the brief mindful body scan practice did not differentially effect mindfulness or risk-taking compared to the mind-wandering control exercise. However, there was a small, significant correlation observed between change in state mindfulness and change in risk taking for the full sample, suggesting a relationship between the variables of interest, albeit in the opposite direction as expected. Implications and limitations of the present study are discussed.
The central nervous system, pancreatic hormones, feeding, and obesity.

Publisher Summary The chapter reviews neural regulation, particularly of the endocrine pancreas, and some of the related research on feeding behavior. The major functions of the neural effector system are to adjust body metabolism to the fed and fasted states, to signal central controllers that regulate food-seeking behavior, and to respond to environmental stress. Insulin and glucagon are secreted from the B and A cells of the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas. In concert with other hormonal controllers, they act as a regulatory couple to determine the relative rates of anabolism and catabolism. A- and B-cell pancreatic hormone secretion is under several types of regulatory control: substrate regulation, direct and indirect hormonal regulation, and neural regulation. The islets of most vertebrate species contain both cholinergic and adrenergic axons, and the terminals of these axons are in association with the membranes of all islet secretory cell types, including A, B, and D cells. The innervation of the islets, coupled with the effects upon insulin and glucagon secretion of stimulation of the nerves to the pancreas, suggests that the central nervous system normally exerts an influence upon the islet function.
The Manifest Image and the Scientific Image

Let me begin with a question: how well does science represent the world? How well does it describe nature, us, and our relation to nature? Does it give an adequate, exact, accurate picture, which shows what there is in the world and what it is like?
DIRECT ANALYSIS OF THE INVASIVENESS OF XANTHOMONAS CAMPESTRIS MUTANTS GENERATED BY Tn4431. A TRANSPOSON CONTAINING A PROMOTERLESS LUCIFERASE CASSETTE FOR MONITORING GENE EXPRESSION

Difficulties in the detection and quantification of small numbers of bacteria have long been apparent. In most cases, detection of invading bacteria is not possible prior to the onset of visible symptoms. Even in the presence of symptoms, sampling is done by extracting bacteria from the invaded tissues. The procedure is always disruptive of the ongoing disease process and the information obtained is dated as it often depends on the formation of colonies. The same difficulties apply in studying bacterial genetics in planta.
Identifying Users and Their Tasks

The first step towards the introduction of a new social network is the definition of its scope and the identification of the added value of the proposed network. What is the gap in the market that the proposed social network will cover? What social and communication needs does this network address? Why will people use this social network instead an existing one? What are the differentiation attributes that will be valued by the potential users? What is the main social object that the network will focus on? What will be the activities derived from the identified social object? Answering these questions at a primary stage will help the designer to focus the design on the appropriate mechanisms and components in the network facilitating future users and social interaction.
Political Polarization and Income Inequality

Politics in the United States can now be characterized as an ideologically polarized two party system. The economy features increased income inequality. While the literature on comparative political economy has focused on the links between economic inequality and political conflict, the relationship between these trends in the United States remains essentially unexplored. Using National Election Study data from 1952 to 2000, we explore the relationship between income and voter partisan self-identification. We find that partisanship has become more stratified by income. We argue that this trend is largely the consequence of polarization of the parties on economic issues and the development of a two-party system in the South. The trend is much less a reflection of increased economic inequality. The partisanship results replicate for presidential vote choice. We also find that the two-party system has adjusted to remain competitive in spite of the large increases in real income on the last half of the twentieth century. If voters in 2000 were voting as if real average income were only that of 1960, partisanship would have swung strongly in the Republicans favor.
Indoor mold exposure associated with neurobehavioral and pulmonary impairment: a preliminary report

Recently, patients who have been exposed indoors to mixed molds, spores, and mycotoxins have reported asthma, airway irritation and bleeding, dizziness, and impaired memory and concentration, all of which suggest the presence of pulmonary and neurobehavioral problems. The author evaluated whether such patients had measurable pulmonary and neurobehavioral impairments by comparing consecutive cases in a series vs. a referent group. Sixty-five consecutive outpatients exposed to mold in their respective homes in Arizona, California, and Texas were compared with 202 community subjects who had no known mold or chemical exposures. Balance, choice reaction time, color discrimination, blink reflex, visual fields, grip, hearing, problem-solving, verbal recall, perceptual motor speed, and memory were measured. Medical histories, mood states, and symptom frequencies were recorded with checklists, and spirometry was used to measure various pulmonary volumes and flows. Neurobehavioral comparisons were made after individual measurements were adjusted for age, educational attainment, and sex. Significant differences between groups were assessed by analysis of variance; a p value of less than 0.05 was used for all statistical tests. The mold-exposed group exhibited decreased function for balance, reaction time, blink-reflex latency, color discrimination, visual fields, and grip, compared with referents. The exposed group's scores were reduced for the following tests: digit-symbol substitution, peg placement, trail making, verbal recall, and picture completion. Twenty-one of 26 functions tested were abnormal. Airway obstructions were found, and vital capacities were reduced. Mood state scores and symptom frequencies were elevated. The author concluded that indoor mold exposures were associated with neurobehavioral and pulmonary impairments that likely resulted from the presence of mycotoxins, such as trichothecenes.
Topology Optimization of Diffusive Transport Problems

This lecture covers topology optimization methods for solving diffusive transport problems, in particular heat conduction in solids. The importance of understanding the underlying physical phenomena to properly define the optimization problem is emphasized. Numerical issues arising from large gradients in the diffusion coefficients along with remedies for mitigating theses problems will be discussed.
Electric Space Charges and Human Health

Evaluation of the physiological action of certain atmospheric elements encounters great difficulties. The biological influence of atmospheric electricity and, in particular, of air ions was studied...
Students’ model-based explanations about natural selection and antibiotic resistance through socio-scientific issues-based learning

Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is a significant contemporary socio-scientific issue. To engage in informed reasoning about ABR, students need to understand natural selection. A secondary science unit ...
Computing Traces, Determinants, and \(\zeta \)-Functions for Sturm–Liouville Operators: A Survey

The principal aim of this contribution is to survey an effective and unified approach to the computation of traces of resolvents (and resolvent differences), (modified) Fredholm determinants, \(\zeta \)-functions, and \(\zeta \)-function regularized determinants associated with linear operators in a Hilbert space. In particular, we detail the connection between Fredholm and \(\zeta \)-function regularized determinants. Concrete applications of our formalism to general (i.e., three-coefficient) regular Sturm–Liouville operators on bounded intervals with various (separated and coupled) boundary conditions, and Schrodinger operators on a half-line, are provided and further illustrated with an array of examples. In addition, we consider a class of half-line Schrodinger operators \((- d^2/dx^2) + q\) on \((0,\infty )\) with purely discrete spectra. Roughly speaking, the class considered is generated by potentials q that, for some fixed \(C_0 > 0\), \(\varepsilon > 0\), \(x_0 \in (0, \infty )\), diverge at infinity of the type \(q(x) \ge C_0 x^{(2/3) + \varepsilon _0}\) for all \(x \ge x_0\). We treat all self-adjoint boundary conditions at the left endpoint 0. This manuscript surveys our recent two papers [19, 20].
Personality and Negotiation Performance: The People Matter

This study addresses three deficiencies in personality effects and negotiation performance research. First, few studies have addressed all Big Five dimensions simultaneously. Second, no study has examined the outcomes of distributive, integrative, and compatible negotiations concurrently. Finally, the interdependence of negotiation dyads has not been analyzed appropriately. Using an undergraduate student sample of 138 dyads, the IPIP-NEO, Neale’s New Recruit simulation, and Actor-Partner Interdependence Modeling, we address these concerns. Findings indicate that the negotiator’s agreeableness and openness to experience positively impact the negotiator’s distributive outcomes. This is contrary to prior findings and our expectations. We also found that the negotiating partner’s neuroticism positively, and the joint effect of the two parties’ neuroticism negatively, impacts distributive negotiation outcomes. Contrary to our predictions we found no personality effects for integrative and for compatible negotiation outcomes. All findings were after controlling for age and gender similarity.
Comparison of surgical payer costs and implication on the healthcare expenses between laparoscopic magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) and laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) in a large healthcare system

Magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) is a promising antireflux surgical treatment. The cost associated with the device may be perceived as a drawback by payers, which may limit the adoption of this technique. There are limited data regarding the cost of MSA in the management of reflux disease. The aims of the study were to report the clinical outcome and quality of life measures in patients after MSA and to compare the pharmaceutical and procedure payer costs and the disease-related and overall expense of MSA compared to laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF) from a payer perspective. This prospective observational study was performed in conjunction with the region’s largest health insurance company. Data were collected on patients who underwent MSA over a 2-year period beginning in September 2015 at the study network hospitals. The LNF comparison group was procured from members’ claims data of the payer. Inclusion was predicated by patients having continuous coverage during study period. The total procedural reimbursement and the disease-related and overall medical claims submitted up to 12 months prior to surgery and up to 12 months following surgery were obtained. The payer reimbursement data are presented as allowed cost per member per month (PMPM). These values were then compared between groups. There were 195 patients who underwent MSA and 1131 that had LNF. MSA results in comparable symptom control, PPI elimination rate, and quality of life measures compared to values reported for LNF in the literature. The median (IQR) reimbursement of surgery was $13,522 (13,195–14,439) for those who underwent MSA and $13,388 (9951–16,261) for patients with LNF, p = 0.02. In patients who underwent MSA, the median reimbursement related to the upper gastrointestinal disease was $ 305 PMPM, at 12 months prior to surgery and $ 104 at 12 months after surgery, representing 66% decrease in cost. These values were $ 233 PMPM and $126 PMPM for patients who underwent LNF, representing a 46% decrease (p = 0.0001). At 12 months following surgery, the reimbursement for overall medical expenses had decreased by 10.7% in the MSA group and 1.4% in the LNF group when compared to the preoperative baseline reimbursement. The reimbursement for PPI use after surgery showed a 95% decrease in the MSA group and 90% among LNF group when compared to the preoperative baseline (p = 0.10). When compared with LNF, MSA results in a reduction of disease-related expenses for the payer in the year following surgery. While MSA is associated with a higher procedural payer cost compared to LNF, payer costs may offset due to reduction in the expenses after surgery.
Distinguishing (the) right from wrong: knowledge, curriculum, and intellectual responsibility

ABSTRACTGiven the political Right's attacks on U.S. academics as too liberal, we broach questions about knowledge production and curriculum development. We first explore how the Right has used argu...
Introns Control Intrinsic Noise

Summary Understanding sources of variation in gene expression is important because they underlie variation in traits. Studies in microbes and cell culture have revealed significant, intrinsic nongenetic, nonenvironmental axes of variation in gene expression. Stochastic autosomal allele bias (including monoallelic expression), which can be quantified as intrinsic noise, is one of these natural axes. Higher intrinsic noise means a higher chance of observing a cell with allelically biased expression. Here, we surveyed intrinsic noise in the tissues of C. elegans using fluorescent reporter alleles controlled by the hsp-90 promoter. We saw visually striking allele bias present in several distinct cell types, including nerves, muscles and intestines. Because intron sequences can both alter chromatin markings and increase expression level, we hypothesized that introns increase the probability of fully expressing both alleles of a gene, thereby decreasing intrinsic noise. We found that intrinsic noise decreases by an order of magnitude when alleles contain synthetic or natural introns. We found that this is true in both diploid muscle cells and polyploid intestine cells. Our results show introns control intrinsic noise for other distinctly regulated genes (vit-2 and hsp-16.2). As in prior studies in yeast, we found these distinct promoters also control intrinsic noise. Finally, we found that introns control intrinsic noise using a 5’-position dependent mechanism. Intron control of intrinsic noise may help explain why some genes have lost introns, why so many genes have introns, and why deep intronic mutations can result in allele silencing and disease.
Invasive hemodynamic assessment of patients with submassive pulmonary embolism.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the invasive hemodynamics in patients with intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) and the change that occurs with catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT). BACKGROUND Intermediate-risk PE is associated with right ventricular strain and worse outcomes yet the invasive hemodynamics have not been well described. METHODS Ninety-two consecutive patients with intermediate-risk PE referred for CDT at two tertiary medical centers with Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams were included in this prospective cohort study. Hemodynamics at baseline and after CDT therapy was measured. Patients with cardiac index (CI) ≤1.8 L min-1 m-2 were compared to those without shock (CI > 1.8). Linear regression analysis was performed to study the relationship between clinical variables and low CI. RESULTS Thirty-seven out of 92 (40%) had a CI less than 1.8 L min-1 m-2 . When comparing the low CI to the normal CI groups, most demographics, vital signs, biomarkers, and PE severity index (PESI) scores were similar. The low CI group had more females and slightly lower systolic blood pressures although still in the normal range (122 vs. 132 mmHg, p = .026). Treatment with CDT was associated with significant improvement in CI, heart rate, and pulmonary artery pressures in both groups. Linear regression analysis did not reveal a strong correlation between CI and noninvasive metrics such as heart rate, blood pressure, or PESI score. CONCLUSIONS Forty percent of patients with submassive PE had a depressed CI and treatment with CDT lead to hemodynamic improvements. Invasive hemodynamics may help better identify higher risk patients and guide therapy.
Comparison Of Surgical Outcomes Between Excisional Goniotomy Using The Kahook Dual Blade And iStent Trabecular Micro-Bypass Stent In Combination With Phacoemulsification.

Purpose To compare 6-month surgical outcomes of patients who underwent phacoemulsification (Phaco) combined with iStent implantation (iStent) versus excisional goniotomy using Kahook Dual Blade (KDB). Methods Retrospective comparative case series of 58 iStent-Phaco eyes and 44 KDB-Phaco eyes operated upon by a single surgeon between 2016 and 2018. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and IOP-lowering medication data were collected. The primary outcome was the proportion of eyes using ≥1 fewer IOP-lowering medication at Month 6 while maintaining IOP ≤ 18 mmHg. Results Baseline IOP was 17.2 (standard error 0.7) in the KDB-Phaco group using a mean of 1.9 (0.2) medications; at Month 6, mean IOP was 14.8 mmHg P=0.002) on 1.0 (0.2) medications (P 0.05). Significantly more KDB-Phaco eyes than iStent-Phaco eyes (43.2% vs 17.2%, P=0.004) were using ≥1 fewer medications while maintaining IOP ≤18 mmHg at Month 6. Adverse events were uncommon and similar in nature and frequency between groups with the exception that more KDB-Phaco eyes than iStent-Phaco eyes (8 [18.2%] versus 1 [1.7%]) experienced an IOP elevation presumed to be related to steroid use. Conclusion KDB-Phaco and iStent-Phaco provided comparable IOP and medication reductions. The proportion of eyes able to discontinue 1 or more medications while maintaining IOP ≤ 18 mmHg was significantly greater in eyes undergoing KDB-Phaco.
Frontier Feminist: Clarina Howard Nichols and the Politics of Motherhood

Review of: "Frontier Feminist: Clarina Howard Nichols and the Politics of Motherhood," by Marilyn S. Blackwell and Kristen T. Oertel.
C-Reactive Protein Guidance Safely Reduces Antibiotic Use in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of COPD.

CRP guidance, regarding the likelihood that antibiotics will be helpful for patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, safely reduces antibiotic use (number needed to treat = 5).