cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Visible inequality, status competition, and conspicuous consumption: evidence from rural India

If individuals care about their status, defined as their rank in the distribution of conspicuous consumption, a fall in the level of visible inequality is likely to cause them to spend more on conspicuous goods due to increased status competition. I examine this hypothesis using micro data from rural India. Employing an identification strategy based on instrumental variables, I find robust evidence that visible inequality has a negative and significant impact on household conspicuous consumption. Further, my results indicate that the increase in conspicuous expenditure in response to a fall in visible inequality is diverted from education spending which is perceived to have positive social externalities. This suggests that traditional redistributive policies that seek to reduce the level of economic inequality, by encouraging ‘wasteful’ spending of households, might have adverse welfare consequences.
Gedanken experiments to destroy a black hole. II. Kerr-Newman black holes cannot be overcharged or overspun

We consider gedanken experiments to destroy an extremal or nearly extremal Kerr-Newman black hole by causing it to absorb matter with sufficient charge and/or angular momentum as compared with energy that it cannot remain a black hole. It was previously shown by one of us that such gedanken experiments cannot succeed for test particle matter entering an extremal Kerr-Newman black hole. We generalize this result here to arbitrary matter entering an extremal Kerr-Newman black hole, provided only that the nonelectromagnetic contribution to the stress-energy tensor of the matter satisfies the null energy condition. We then analyze the gedanken experiments proposed by Hubeny and others to overcharge and/or overspin an initially slightly nonextremal Kerr-Newman black hole. Analysis of such gedanken experiments requires that we calculate all effects on the final mass of the black hole that are second-order in the charge and angular momentum carried into the black hole, including all self-force effects. We obtain a general formula for the full second order correction to mass, ${\ensuremath{\delta}}^{2}M$, which allows us to prove that no gedanken experiments of the generalized Hubeny type can ever succeed in overcharging and/or overspinning a Kerr-Newman black hole, provided only that the nonelectromagnetic stress-energy tensor satisfies the null energy condition. Our analysis is based upon Lagrangian methods, and our formula for the second-order correction to mass is obtained by generalizing the canonical energy analysis of Hollands and Wald to the Einstein-Maxwell case. Remarkably, we obtain our formula for ${\ensuremath{\delta}}^{2}M$ without having to explicitly compute self-force or finite size effects. Indeed, in an appendix, we show explicitly that our formula incorporates both the self-force and finite size effects for the special case of a charged body slowly lowered into an uncharged black hole.
Vagrancy in paradise: documentation of the chevron butterflyfish Chaetodon trifascialis in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaiian islands

The chevron butterflyfish Chaetodon trifascialis is an obligate corallivore found on Indo-Pacific coral reefs. The typical northern extent of the distributional range of the chevron butterflyfish overlaps with the occurrence of one of its preferred corals Acropora cytherea on reefs of French Frigate Shoals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Here I document the occurrence of a single C. trifascialis in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu outside its typical range and discuss the role of biogeographic vagrants as potential colonizers that provide direct evidence of inter-island larval connectivity in the Central Pacific Ocean.
3D Printing a Bio-Polymer Cap for the Articular Femoral Condyles: A Feasibility Study

With approximately 12% of adults in the United States affected by osteoarthritis (OA), constant research is being performed to advance treatment techniques for this ailment. 3D printed bio-polymer caps have been proposed as a potential treatment for severe cases of OA, and are an alternative to traditional implants. This report considers the feasibility of one such bio-polymer cap using a simplified, linear, finite element analysis (FEA) model. Material properties for both Bionate 80A and articular cartilage are considered for comparison. The simulation modeled joint loading for a 195 lb, 867.4 N, adult male squatting from 0 to 90-degrees flexion with a mathematical model governing the changing contact area on the medial and lateral condyles. Menisci effects were neglected as a part of the model reduction. For Bionate 80A, minimum and maximum stress values of 1.124 MPa and 3.555 MPa were obtained, with corresponding deflections of 126.8 μm and 316.8 μm. The articular cartilage model gave stress values of 1.102 MPa and 3.623 MPa, with deflections of 170.2 μm and 420.8 μm. A maximum shear stress value of 1.988 MPa was obtained in the Bionate 80A simulation. From these results, it was determined that the Bionate cap is comparable to articular cartilage and could be a viable replacement in the cases of advanced OA, but the Bionate cap may have limitations on joint flexibility due to the relatively small 1.65 factor of safety at 90-degree. The maximum shear stress value indicates it would be viable to use specific biocompatible cements as a method of fixture.© 2017 ASME
CRT-100.47 Fractional Flow Reserve-Guided Complete Revascularization in Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have compared the strategies of culprit-only revascularization (CoR) versus complete revascularization (CR) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel disease (MVD). The role of fractional flow reserve (FFR) guided complete
Presynaptic Effects of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors Enhance Parvalbumin Cell-Mediated Inhibition of Pyramidal Cells in Mouse Prefrontal Cortex.

Abstract Background Testing hypotheses regarding the role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hypofunction in schizophrenia requires understanding the mechanisms of NMDAR regulation of prefrontal cortex (PFC) circuit function. NMDAR antagonists are thought to produce pyramidal cell (PC) disinhibition. However, inhibitory parvalbumin-positive basket cells (PVBCs) have modest NMDAR-mediated excitatory drive and thus are unlikely to participate in NMDAR antagonist–mediated disinhibition. Interestingly, recent studies demonstrated that presynaptic NMDARs enhance transmitter release at central synapses. Thus, if presynaptic NMDARs enhance gamma-aminobutyric acid release at PVBC-to-PC synapses, they could participate in NMDAR-dependent PC disinhibition. Here, we examined whether presynaptic NMDAR effects could modulate gamma-aminobutyric acid release at PVBC-to-PC synapses in mouse PFC. Methods Using whole-cell recordings from synaptically connected pairs in mouse PFC, we determined whether NMDA or NMDAR antagonist application affects PVBC-to-PC inhibition in a manner consistent with a presynaptic mechanism. Results NMDAR activation enhanced by ∼40% the synaptic current at PVBC-to-PC pairs. This effect was consistent with a presynaptic mechanism given that it was 1) observed with postsynaptic NMDARs blocked by intracellular MK801, 2) associated with a lower rate of transmission failures and a higher transmitter release probability, and 3) blocked by intracellular MK801 in the PVBC. NMDAR antagonist application did not affect the synaptic currents in PVBC-to-PC pairs, but it reduced the inhibitory currents elicited in PCs with simultaneous glutamate release by extracellular stimulation. Conclusions We demonstrate that NMDAR activation enhances PVBC-to-PC inhibition in a manner consistent with presynaptic mechanisms, and we suggest that the functional impact of this presynaptic effect depends on the activity state of the PFC network.
Social Network Database Querying Based on Computing with Words

Fuzzy relationships and their role in modeling weighted social relational networks are discussed. We describe how the idea of computing with words can provide a bridge between a network analyst’s linguistic description of social network concepts and the formal model of the network. We then turn to some examples of taking an analyst’s network concepts and formally representing them in terms of network properties. We first do this for the concept of clique and then for the idea of node importance. Finally we introduce the idea of vector–valued nodes and begin developing a technology of social network database theory.
Associations between clinic-referred boys and their fathers on childhood inattention-overactivity and aggression dimensions.

The question asked in this study of 70 clinically referred 6- to 12-year-old boys with behavior problems was whether or not childhood inattention-overactivity and aggression are transmitted specifically from biological fathers to sons. Fathers' self-reported childhood inattention-overactivity on a retrospectively valid measure was exclusively associated with parents' ratings of their sons' current attention problems on the Mothers' Operational Measure for Sub-grouping (MOMS), the Revised Child Behavior Checklist (RCBCL), and an approximated DSM-IV inattention dimension. Fathers' self-reported childhood aggression was not associated with ratings of their sons' aggression on the MOMS or DADS (a parallel instrument for fathers), nor on DSM-III oppositional or conduct disorder dimensions, but it was exclusively associated with RCBCL ratings of sons' aggressive and delinquent behavior. None of the nonspecific correlations (father inattention-overactivity with son aggression or father aggression with son inattention-overactivity) was significant.
Kooperationen im Betrachtungsteilfeld Elektronischer Markt

Fur den Elektronischen Markt wird fur die nachsten funf bis zehn Jahre ein hohes Marktpotential prognostiziert. Aufgrund der hohen Prognoseunsicherheit, die Schatzungen uber einen vollig neu entstehenden Markt beinhalten, und den unterschiedlichen Erhebungsmethoden schwanken die von den verschiedenen Marktforschungsinstituten veroffentlichten Markt- und Wachstumsdaten sehr stark. Gleichzeitig differieren die Begriffsauslegungen fur den Elektronischen Markt erheblich.
Prenatal inflammation and risk for schizophrenia: A role for immune proteins in neurodevelopment

Prenatal inflammation is an established risk factor for schizophrenia. However, the specific inflammatory pathways that mediate this association remain unclear. Potential candidate systems include inflammatory markers produced by microglia, such as cytokines and complement. Accumulating evidence suggests that these markers play a role in typical neurodevelopmental processes, such as synapse formation and interneuron migration. Rodent models demonstrate that altered marker levels during the prenatal period can cause lasting deficits in these systems, leading to cognitive deficits that resemble schizophrenia. This review assesses the potential role of prenatal cytokine and complement elevations on the etiology of schizophrenia. The current neurobiological understanding of the development of schizophrenia is reviewed to identify candidate cellular mechanisms that may be influenced by prenatal inflammation. We discuss the functions that cytokines and complement may play in prenatal neurodevelopment, review evidence that links exposure to these factors with risk for schizophrenia, and consider how these markers may interact with genetic vulnerabilities to influence the neurodevelopment of schizophrenia. We consider how prenatal inflammatory exposure may influence childhood and adolescent developmental risk trajectories for schizophrenia. Finally, we identify areas of further research needed to support the development of anti-inflammatory treatments to prevent the development of schizophrenia in at-risk neonates.
Reverse Power Flow Protection in Grid Connected PV Systems

Electricity demand is increasing day by day. To satisfy this increasing demand, it is essential to expand power generation. One easy solution is to integrate distributed generation (DG) such as solar photovoltaic, wind energy to electric power grid. The interconnection of DG with conventional power network may cause many technological challenges. To provide proper power quality to consumer and ensure grid performance stability, these problems should be identified and resolved. In this paper, a protection scheme against reverse power flow concerning PV integrated grid system are being discussed. This paper aims to explore recourses to modify the existing protective schemes and investigate reverse power relay (RPR) operation against bi-directional power flow to accommodate PV-DG in distribution networks. Reverse power flow scenario is observed in MATLAB/Simulink design of 100kW PV-DG connected to grid and different operating conditions of distribution network are considered. The primary objective of this research is to simulate a system that provides a solution to avoid reverse power flow using RPR in the presence of a PV-DG resource on a distribution network.
Cracking the US Market

Progress in the North American markets, particularly in the US, moved much slower for AO than it did in Europe. The adoption of the AO philosophy had usually occurred through contacts in the medical community, in addition to the recruiting of eager surgeons committed to the new technique. The entire US market and Canada had been allocated to Straumann, as part of the Olten agreement, but if the AO methodology were not adopted by a sufficient number of surgeons, sales of implants would be very slow.
Impact of intraoperative remifentanil on postoperative pain and opioid use in thyroid surgery

Background and objectives Remifentanil infusion is used as an intraoperative anesthetic for thyroidectomy, but has been associated with acute opioid tolerance and hyperalgesia. A national shortage of remifentanil provided an opportunity to study postoperative pain in patients undergoing thyroidectomy. Methods Retrospective review of prospectively collected data from an outpatient surgery center. Primary analysis compared patients treated before and after remifentanil shortage. Results Median postoperative opioid consumption was 20 morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) among those treated in the high-dose period and 15 MMEs in the low-dose period. Remifentanil/weight received was a significant predictor of requiring a postoperative narcotic (P = .006). Total non-remifentanil narcotics administered were equivalent but patients in the low dose period received higher amounts of intraoperative long-acting narcotics. Conclusions Remifentanil infusion for thyroid surgery is associated with higher postoperative pain and postoperative narcotics requirement. While a hyperalgesia state is possible, shifting of longer-acting narcotics from intraoperative to postoperatively is also supported.
When Does GDPR Act as a Blocking Statute: The Relevance of a Lawful Basis for Transfer

This paper addresses an important practical topic – when does the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) act as a “blocking statute,” to prohibit transfers of personal data in response to requests by non-EU law enforcement agencies? Since the GDPR went into effect in 2018, there has been considerable discussion of this issue, most notably when there is a request from US law enforcement for emails and other records held by cloud service providers. This paper builds upon Theodore Christakis’ recent article on the effects of Article 48 and 49 of GDPR on when the GDPR acts as a blocking statute. This paper expands the discussion by addressing the full set of GDPR legal provisions that govern such transfers of personal data from the EU to a non-member country, including the lawful bases for transfer under Articles 45 and 46 of GDPR. This paper concludes, in certain circumstances, that there is a “lawful basis” for transferring personal data out of the EU, without a blockage by Article 48. This article examines the text and legislative history of the GDPR, and provides an overall interpretation that is consistent with all of the GDPR provisions that govern such cross-border transfers. The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) and European Data Protection Board (EDPB), by contrast, omitted any analysis of GDPR Articles 45 and 46 from their “initial legal assessment” of these issues. Part 1 of this paper presents the relevant EU and US legal texts. Part 2 explains why a US court order would be effective on a company headquartered in the US when the data is already in the US. Part 3 presents insights from the legislative history of Article 48. The GDPR narrowed the earlier proposed version of the blocking provision in at least five respects. Part 4 explains one significant blocking effect that does exist under Article 48 as adopted – where there is no pre-existing lawful basis for transfer, then Article 48 clearly acts as a blocking statute. Part 5 provides a 2x2 table that summarizes the legal conclusions. Overall, the paper supports the conclusion that Article 48 likely blocks in situations where there is a lawful basis for transfer but the data is in the EU. By contrast, there are strong reasons why Article 48 does not block when there is a lawful basis for transfer but the data is in the US, including the lack of extra-territoriality when a US court orders a US company to produce evidence held in the US. Part 6 examines a separate piece of the EDPS/EDPB initial legal assessment, concerning GDPR Article 6. That legal assessment took a surprisingly narrow view of what constitutes legal processing under GDPR with respect to transfers to third countries. The discussion here queries whether this narrow view is consistent with Article 6. In sum, overall, the GDPR has a narrower blocking effect than prior analysis have suggested.
The Impact of COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Orders on Health Behaviors in Adults.

OBJECTIVE: Stay-at-home orders in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have forced abrupt changes to daily routines. This study assessed lifestyle changes across different BMI classifications in response to the global pandemic. METHODS: The online survey targeting adults was distributed in April 2020 and collected information on dietary behaviors, physical activity, and mental health. All questions were presented as "before" and "since" the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: In total, 7,753 participants were included; 32.2% of the sample were individuals with normal weight, 32.1% had overweight, and 34.0% had obesity. During the pandemic, overall scores for healthy eating increased (P < 0.001), owing to less eating out and increased cooking (P < 0.001). Sedentary leisure behaviors increased, while time spent in physical activity (absolute time and intensity adjusted) declined (P < 0.001). Anxiety scores increased 8.78 ± 0.21 during the pandemic, and the magnitude of increase was significantly greater in people with obesity (P ≤ 0.01). Weight gain was reported in 27.5% of the total sample compared with 33.4% in participants with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has produced significant health effects, well beyond the virus itself. Government mandates together with fear of contracting the virus have significantly impacted lifestyle behaviors alongside declines in mental health. These deleterious impacts have disproportionally affected individuals with obesity.
Towards a Wireless Force Sensor Based on Wave Backscattering for Medical Applications

In medical applications, sensing forces along surgical tools is of high importance in order to avoid collateral damage of tissue and surrounding structures. However, the space available in their central lumen limits the routing of wired sensors that are widely available today, and thus their integration into such tools. In this paper, we present a new wireless force sensor based on wave backscattering that reflects electromagnetic waves with phase changes that are directly related to the applied force magnitude and location. The proposed sensor can sense force magnitudes with an average error of 0.01 N and a standard deviation of 0.49 N, and their application location with an average error of −0.33 mm and a standard deviation of 0.82 mm. The sensor also has the potential to be translated to applications beyond medical instruments, including applications involving a large number of sensors and situations where wire routing is challenging due to the environment in which they are used.
Patient and Caregiver Considerations and Priorities When Selecting Hospitals for Complex Cancer Care.

Healthcare policies have focused on centralizing care to high-volume centers in an effort to optimize patient outcomes; however, little is known about patients’ and caregivers’ considerations and selection process when selecting hospitals for care. We aim to explore how patients and caregivers select hospitals for complex cancer care and to develop a taxonomy for their selection considerations. This was a qualitative study in which data were gathered from in-depth interviews conducted from March to November 2019 among patients with hepatopancreatobiliary cancers who were scheduled to undergo a pancreatectomy (n = 20) at a metropolitan, urban regional, or suburban medical center and their caregivers (n = 10). The interviews revealed six broad domains that characterized hospital selection considerations: hospital factors, team characteristics, travel distance to hospital, referral or recommendation, continuity of care, and insurance considerations. The identified domains were similar between participants seen at the metropolitan center and urban/suburban medical centers, with the following exceptions: participants receiving care specifically at the metropolitan center noted operative volume and access to specific services such as clinical trials in their hospital selection; participants receiving care at urban/suburban centers noted health insurance considerations and having access to existing medical records in their hospital selection. This study delineates the many considerations of patients and caregivers when selecting hospitals for complex cancer care. These identified domains should be incorporated into the development and implementation of centralization policies to help increase patient access to high-quality cancer care that is consistent with their priorities and needs.
Impact of hepatic steatosis on outcomes after left ventricular assist device implantation.

BACKGROUND This single-center, retrospective study evaluates the impact of hepatic steatosis on outcomes after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. METHODS Adults undergoing LVAD implantation between 2004 and 2018 with a preoperative noncontrast-enhanced chest and abdominal computed tomography scan were included in the study. Patients were stratified as with and without radiographic signs of hepatic steatosis. The primary outcome was survival, and secondary outcomes included rates of postimplant adverse events. RESULTS A total of 203 patients were included in the study. 27.6% (n = 56) had radiographic signs of hepatic steatosis. Hepatic steatosis group had a higher body mass index (30.1 vs. 27.0, p .05). Unadjusted survival was comparable between the groups at 30-days, 90-days, 1-year, and 2-year following LVAD implantation (all, p > .05). In addition, hepatic steatosis did not impact risk-adjusted overall mortality when modeled as a categorical variable (odds ratio [OR]: 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.46-1.13; p = .15). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that the presence of preoperative hepatic steatosis on imaging is not predictive of increased morbidity or mortality following LVAD implantation. Despite the association with obesity, metabolic diseases, and heart failure, hepatic steatosis on imaging appears to have a limited role in patient selection or prognostication in LVAD patients.
The Effects of Local, State, and Federal Minimum Wage on Employment Growth among Teenagers in the Restaurant Industry

Over the last twenty years, local municipalities have been implementing minimum wage ordinances at an accelerated rate. These local changes, along with state and federal minimum wage increases, are included in the examination of the impact of minimum wage hikes on employment growth of teenagers in the food services and drinking places subsector. While most minimum wage research focuses on employment levels, recent contributions highlight the importance of analyzing employment growth. This study follows the new approach aforementioned, focusing on teenagers within the restaurant industry to test for the impact of minimum wages on inexperienced workers. Using a distributed-lag model, the results show that an increase in a minimum wage reduces employment growth for teenagers within this subsector. The findings suggest that the effects of minimum wages within this demographic are most strongly felt in the first three years following an increase in minimum wage. Specifically, the results show that a 10% increase in a minimum wage decreases the employment growth rate by approximately 2.27% over a period of three years.
Evaluation of open and minimally invasive spinal surgery for the treatment of thoracolumbar metastatic epidural spinal cord compression: a systematic review

Metastatic epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) is a debilitating sequela of cancer that results in pain, disability, and neurologic deficits. Surgical techniques have included open surgical (OS) techniques with anterior and/or posterior decompression and fusion procedures. Further technical evolution has led to minimally invasive spinal (MIS) decompression and fusion. The objective of this study is to compare MIS to OS techniques in the treatment of thoracolumbar MESCC. A review of the literature was performed using PubMed database. Inclusion criteria included patients 18 years or older, thoracolumbar MESCC, and surgeries with instrumented fusion. A total of 451 articles met the inclusion criteria and further analysis narrowed them down to 81 articles. Variables collected included blood loss, length of stay, operative time, pre- and postoperative Frankel grade, and complications. A total of 5726 papers were collected, with a total of 81 papers meeting final inclusion criteria: 26 papers with MIS technique and 55 with OS. A total of 2267 patients were evaluated. They were split into three surgical subtypes of MIS and OS: posterior decompression and fusion, partial corpectomy, and complete corpectomy. Overall, MIS had lower operative time, blood loss, and complications compared to OS. A timeline analysis showed reduction of complication rates in MIS surgery between papers published over a 28-year period. MESCC carries significant morbidity and mortality. Surgical approaches for palliative treatment should account for this fact. We conclude that MIS techniques offer a viable alternative to traditional OS approaches with lower overall morbidity and complications.
Effect of SLCO1B1 T521C on Statin-Related Myotoxicity With Use of Lovastatin and Atorvastatin.

The association between the c.521T>C variant allele in SLCO1B1 (reference single nucleotide polymorphism (rs)4149056) and simvastatin-induced myotoxicity was discovered over a decade ago; however, whether this relationship represents a class effect is still not fully known. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between rs4149056 genotype and statin-induced myotoxicity in patients taking atorvastatin and lovastatin. Study participants were from the Genetic Epidemiology Research on Adult Health and Aging (GERA) cohort. A total of 233 statin-induced myopathy + rhabdomyolysis cases met the criteria for inclusion and were matched to 2,342 controls. To validate the drug response phenotype, we replicated the previously established association between rs4149056 genotype and simvastatin-induced myotoxicity. In particular, compared with homozygous T allele carriers, there was a significantly increased risk of simvastatin-induced myopathy + rhabdomyolysis in homozygous carriers of the C allele (CC vs. TT, odds ratio [OR] 4.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.58-11.90, P = 0.003). For lovastatin users, homozygous carriers of the C allele were also at increased risk of statin-induced myopathy + rhabdomyolysis (CC vs. TT, OR 4.49, 95% CI 1.68-10.80, P = 0.001). In atorvastatin users, homozygous carriers of the C allele were twice as likely to experience statin-induced myopathy, though this association did not achieve statistical significance (CC vs. TT, OR 2.00, 95% CI 0.44-6.59, P = 0.30). In summary, our findings suggest that the association of rs4149056 with simvastatin-related myotoxicity may also extend to lovastatin. More data is needed to determine the extent of the association in atorvastatin users. Altogether, these data expand the evidence base for informing guidelines of pharmacogenetic-based statin prescribing practices.
Book embeddings of graphs and a theorem of Whitney

It is shown that the number of pages required for a book embedding of a graph is the maximum of the numbers needed for any of the maximal nonseparable subgraphs and that a plane graph in which every triangle bounds a face has a two-page book embedding. The latter extends a theorem of H. Whitney and gives two-page book embeddings for $X$-trees and square grids.
Evaluation of Changes in Grams of Sugar Sold After the Implementation of the Seattle Sweetened Beverage Tax.

Importance Adults and children routinely exceed recommended intake amounts of added sugars established by dietary guidelines. Taxes are used as a policy tool to reduce demand for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) given consumption-related adverse health outcomes but may induce substitution to other sources of added sugars. Objective To examine the extent to which changes in grams of sugar sold from taxed beverages may be offset by changes in grams of sugar sold from untaxed beverages, sweets, and stand-alone sugar after the implementation of the Seattle, Washington, Sweetened Beverage Tax (SBT) on January 1, 2018. Design, Setting, and Participants This study used difference-in-differences analyses to examine changes in grams of sugar sold from taxed and untaxed products in Seattle compared with Portland, Oregon, at year 1 and year 2 post tax. This study used Nielsen scanner data from supermarkets and mass merchandise as well as grocery, drug, convenience, and dollar stores on unit sales and measurements for beverage and food product universal product codes (UPCs) for each site for the pretax period (January 8-December 30, 2017) and the corresponding weeks in year 1 post tax (2018) and in year 2 post tax (2019). Nutritional analyses assessed grams of sugar for each UPC. The analytical balanced sample included 1326 taxed beverage UPCs, 239 untaxed beverage UPCs, 2054 sweets UPCs, and 81 stand-alone sugar UPCs. Statistical analysis was performed from January to August 2021. Exposures Implementation of the Seattle SBT. Main Outcomes and Measures Changes in grams of sugar sold from taxed beverages, untaxed beverages, sweets, and stand-alone sugar. Results At both year 1 and year 2 post tax in Seattle compared with Portland, grams of sugar sold from taxed beverages decreased 23% (year 2 posttax ratio of incidence rate ratios [RIRR] = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.73-0.80). Sugar sold from untaxed beverages increased at year 1 post tax by 4% (RIRR = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00-1.07) with no change at year 2 post tax. Sugar sold from sweets increased by 4% at both year 1 and year 2 post tax (year 2 posttax RIRR = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03-1.06). There were no changes in stand-alone sugar sold. Conclusions and Relevance This study using difference-in-differences analysis found a net 19% reduction in grams of sugar sold from taxed SSBs at year 2 post tax after accounting for changes in sugar sold from untaxed beverages, sweets, and stand-alone sugar. These results suggest that SSB taxes may effectively yield permanent reductions in added sugars sold from SSBs in food stores.
The Household and the Making of History: A Subversive View of the Western Past

This book argues that a unique late marriage pattern, discovered in the 1960s but originating in the Middle Ages, explains the continuing puzzle of why western Europe was the site of changes that, from about 1500, gave rise to the modern world. Contrary to views that credit upheavals from the late eighteenth century were reponsible for ushering in the contemporary global era, it contends that the roots of modern developments themselves are located in an event more than a millennium earlier, when the peasants in northwestern Europe began to marry their daughters almost as late as their sons. The appearance of this late marriage system, with its unstable nuclear household form, will also be shown to have exposed for the first time the common ingredients whose presence has perpetuated beliefs in the importance of gender difference and of a sexual hierarchy favoring males.
Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium DT104: Successful Subtypes in the Modern World

Decades after the early industrial era, nontyphoidal salmonella emerged as a common cause of illness. Much of this increase is accounted for by two serotypes, Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium, which now account for nearly half of all cases of salmonellosis in the United States and for 82% of all cases of salmoneIlosis in a recent global survey. Mice may play an important role in the barnyard ecosystem, serving as the intermediate host that can pass Salmonella Enteritidis from one chicken flock to the next group of chicks entering the henhouse. Within Salmonella Enteritidis, phage typing defines a handful of dominant subtypes, each of which tends to be remarkably homogeneous. One interesting line of evidence comes from examination of strains that vary in their ability to colonize the ovary of an intact hen after oral feeding. Salmonella Typhimurium has been among the most common of serotypes everywhere ever since serotyping began. The genetic structure of the resistance genes of OTl 04 is beginning to be mapped. All five genes are chromosomally located. The clinical features of DTI 04 infections are similar to those of nontyphoid salmonellosis in general. Prevention of Salmonella Enteritidis and DT104 infections in humans depends on interruption of their flow from farm reservoirs to human foods. The public health challenge by both pathogens described in this chapter illustrates the intimate connection between the microbial ecology of food animals and the health of the consuming public.
Evaluation of the 3D IMF-OSEM algorithm by using data from a high resolution PET scanner

We have evaluated the 3D Ordered Subset Expectation Maximization (OSEM) algorithm for reconstruction of the projection data from a high-resolution 3D PET scanner. For this study, we used the inter-update Metz filtered OSEM (IMF-OSEM) algorithm, which has been developed by PARAPET project. The IMF-OSEM is an implementation of the OSEM algorithm with some additional capabilities such as inter-update filtering and random permutation of the subsets in each iteration. The projection data were acquired with the high-resolution PET camera developed at MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDAPET). This prototype camera, which is a multiring scanner with no septa, has a transaxial resolution of 2.8 mm that allows a better evaluation of the algorithm. We scanned three phantoms: a cylindrical uniform phantom, a cylindrical phantom with four small lesions, and the Hoffman brain phantom. The evaluation of the OSEM algorithm was performed by computing the noise level of the reconstructed images of the uniform phantom and by studying the contrast recovery for the hot lesions in warm background and also by visual inspection of images especially for the Hoffman brain phantom. In addition, the effects of post filtering and filtering during the reconstruction process have been evaluated. We observed that for the high statistics data, a good compromise between contrast recovery and noise level was achieved between 20 to 40 iterations for plain OSEM algorithm. By visually inspecting the images of Hoffman brain phantom and hot lesions, we observed that plain-OSEM algorithm, especially when followed by post-filtering, could also reasonably reproduce the phantom's structure. We also found that inter-update filtering has the potential to reach a noise level and contrast comparable to those from plain-OSEM at a smaller iteration number; however, it also has a higher tendency to develop noise artifacts.
Group Identification and Prejudice: Theoretical and Empirical Advances and Implications

This article reviews theoretical perspectives explaining the positive relationship between group identification and perceptions of prejudice. In particular, we focus on the prejudice distribution account, which contends that highly identified minorities report more frequent experiences with prejudice than weakly identified minorities, in part, because majority group members do in fact react more negatively toward highly identified minorities than they do toward the weakly identified. We describe evidence revealing that people accurately detect minority identification, even given minimal information. Further, majority group members use these inferences about identification to guide their attitudes and behaviors toward minorities. We discuss the implications of this research for theoretical perspectives on within-category approaches to the study of prejudice. We also discuss practical implications and offer suggestions for addressing this type of prejudice. Imagine two very different Black men. As you think about these men, you probably imagine that they vary on numerous physical and psychological attributes. For example, one man might be short, humorous, and sensitive, and the other might be tall, intellectual, and shy. One thing we suspect that you did not consider was that these men may also vary with respect to the amount of prejudice and discrimination they experience. When psychologists conceptualize prejudice and discrimination, we tend to think with broad, group-based categories. For instance, we examine racism against Blacks, sexism toward women, and homophobia toward gay men and lesbians. Our language reflects an assumption that prejudice
Effects of Continuous Estradiol Administration by Polydimethylsiloxane and Paraffin Implants on Serum Hormone Levels and Uterine Responses

Since tonic elevated estrogen levels are associated with toxic responses, including tumor promotion, we investigated the effects of continuous estradiol (E2) administration by paraffin or polydimethylsiloxane (Silastic) implants on pituitary and uterine responses. Ovariectomized (OVEX) Sprague-Dawley rats implanted with low-dose (P1) or high-dose (P2) paraffin pellets showed initial high serum E2 levels that decayed rapidly. Silastic implants provided more constant pharmacological serum E2 levels during the 14 days of exposure. Rising serum LH and FSH levels in OVEX controls were suppressed by all E2 implants. Serum prolactin levels, low in OVEX controls, rose after implantation (P1 and P2) but decayed to control values by 14 days. Prolactin induced by pharmacological E2 levels initially rose, dropped by 72 hours, but again rose at later times. Uterine weight, low in OVEX controls, was increased by all implants. At later times, paraffin implants did not appear to release significant amounts of E2. However...
The structure of DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in war veterans

ABSTRACTBackground and Objectives: The present research examined the underlying factor structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as conceptualized in the recently published fifth edition of the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). Design: Participants were 258 trauma-exposed Iraq/Afghanistan war veterans. Methods: A self-report measure of PTSD symptoms was administered to all participants and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to compare several different models of PTSD. Results: CFA revealed that the best-fitting model was a six-factor model in which symptoms loaded onto the factors of intrusion, avoidance, negative affect, anhedonia, dysphoric arousal, and anxious arousal. Conclusions: These findings have important implications for ongoing conceptualization of PTSD and suggest that additional modifications to the diagnostic criteria for PTSD may still be warranted to more accurately reflect the underlying structure of PTSD symptoms.
A Candida albicans Strain Expressing Mammalian Interleukin-17A Results in Early Control of Fungal Growth during Disseminated Infection

Candida albicans is normally a commensal fungus of the human mucosae and skin, but it causes life-threatening systemic infections in hospital settings in the face of predisposing conditions, such as indwelling catheters, abdominal surgery, or antibiotic use. Immunity to C. albicans involves various immune parameters, but the cytokine interleukin-17A (IL-17A) (also known as IL-17) has emerged as a centrally important mediator of immune defense against both mucosal and systemic candidiasis. Conversely, IL-17A has been suggested to enhance the virulence of C. albicans, indicating that it may exert detrimental effects on pathogenesis. In this study, we hypothesized that a C. albicans strain expressing IL-17A would exhibit reduced virulence in vivo. To that end, we created a Candida-optimized expression cassette encoding murine IL-17A, which was transformed into the DAY286 strain of C. albicans. Candida-derived IL-17A was indistinguishable from murine IL-17A in terms of biological activity and detection in standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Expression of IL-17A did not negatively impact the growth of these strains in vitro. Moreover, the IL-17A-expressing C. albicans strains showed significantly reduced pathogenicity in a systemic model of Candida infection, mainly evident during the early stages of disease. Collectively, these findings suggest that IL-17A mitigates the virulence of C. albicans.
Development of a CZE‐ESI‐MS assay with a sulfonated capillary for profiling picolinic acid and quinolinic acid formation in multienzyme system

This article describes the development of a reliable CZE-ESI-MS method to simultaneously separate and quantitate three specific metabolites (3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAA), quinolinic acid (QA), and picolinic acid (PA)) of the kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan catabolism. Using a covalently bonded sulfonated capillary, the parameters such as pH, type of background electrolyte, type of organic solvent, nebulizer pressure as well as both negative and positive ESI-MS modes were optimized to achieve the best Rs and S/N of three KP metabolites. The developed CZE-ESI-MS assay provided high resolution of PA/QA, high specificity, a total analysis time of 10 min with satisfactory intraday and interday repeatability of migration time and peak areas. Under optimized CZE-ESI-MS conditions, the calibration curves over a concentration range of 19-300 μM for 3-HAA and QA, and 75-300 μM for PA were simultaneously generated. The method was successfully applied for the first time to profile the concentrations of initial substrate, 3-HAA, and its eventual products, PA and QA, formed in the complex multienzyme system. As the ratio of two enzymes, 3-hydroxyanthranilate 3,4-dioxygenase (HAO) and α-amino-β-carboxymuconate-e-semialdehyde decarboxylase (ACMSD) decreases, the concentration of QA approaches essentially zero indicating that all ACMS formed by the action of HAO is consumed by ACMSD rather than its spontaneous decay to QA.
Expanding the Applicability of Curvature Attributes Through Clarification of Ambiguities In Derivation And Terminology

The use of geometrical attributes is becoming common place in modern interpretation, however in many cases the origin and actual use of these attributes is unclear. In the case of curvature there is a lack of understanding of the difference between maximum and minumum curvature and most positive and most negative curvature. A careful examination of the derivation of these two seperate sets of attibutes reveals that what are called the most positive and most megative curvatures are in general not curvature measures, but measures of the second derivative. They are found to be the eigenvalues of the Hessian matrix. Only in the special case of zero dip, when the first derivative is zero, do these second derivative measures give the curvature,at which they are equal to the maximum and minimum curvature. It is also important to recognize that while maximum and minimum curvature are orthogonal in R3, their projections on the x-y plane, are not necessarily orthogonal. Therefore, the angle between the azimuths of maximum and minimum curvature are not necessarily ninety degrees, as is commonly stated. The derivation presented here also corrects previous misrepresentations of the equation of curvature azimuth under a quadratic approximation. Through these observations it becomes apparent that in many cases the curvature attributes may be misused and that the potential exists for a more robust use of curvature azimuths with a better understanding of their meaning. A simple example of curvature as measured at varying azimuths for a series of 3D surveys demonstrates one possible application.
Pulsed electromagnetic heating of microparticles

Abstract The application of pulsed heating by a laser beam to determine the thermal properties of microparticles is explored. Two problems are analyzed : (i) spatially uniform heating of the surface of an absorbing microsphere, and (ii) non-uniform surface heating based on Mie theory computations of the electromagnetic energy source. A parametric study shows that the spatially uniform heating model is sufficient when the thermal conductivity of the microparticle is sufficiently large or the Biot number is sufficiently low, but a more rigorous model is needed to predict the temperature distribution with the microsphere for lower thermal conductivity materials. The resulting analytical solutions are compared with previously published experiments involving infrared heating of single spherocarb particles and are shown to be in good agreement with time-dependent surface temperature measurements.
Syndrome of cocaine-levamisole-induced cutaneous vasculitis and immune-mediated leukopenia.

Objective We describe 4 patients who presented with palpable purpura, arthralgia or arthritis, leukopenia, and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antigen (ANCA) positivity most likely as a result of a hypersensitivity reaction to cocaine-levamisole induced vasculopathy. Methods Cases were seen and reviewed in both the inpatient consult service and the outpatient clinics at Rhode Island Hospital from August 2009 to August 2010. Clinical characteristics as well as pertinent laboratory parameters were also reviewed and corroborated with a review of the present literature. Results We describe 3 cases of cocaine-levamisole-related cutaneous vasculitis with or without associated neutropenia, and 1 case of severe neutropenia with oral mucosal ulceration. Further serologic studies revealed maximum titers of ANCA mostly in a perinuclear pattern. Antimyeloperoxidase tested negative or mildly elevated in our cohort. Three patients with neutropenia had positive antigranulocyte IgM antibody. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were effective as first-line treatment for joint pain. The use of colchicine and systemic corticosteroid was employed to manage severe and persistent skin lesions. Conclusions Cocaine-levamisole-related cutaneous vasculitis with leukopenia is a diagnosis of exclusion, but this diagnosis should be strongly considered in patients with a history of cocaine abuse who present with a tetrad of cutaneous manifestations consisting of palpable purpura or bullae with ear involvement, arthralgias, leukopenia, and positive ANCA in high titers and negative Antimyeloperoxidase, when other infectious or idiopathic vasculitic entities have been excluded.