cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Periprosthetic Infection Recurrence After 2-Stage Exchange Arthroplasty: Failure or Fate?

Abstract Background Two-stage exchange arthroplasty remains the preferred method for treating a chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in North America. However, infection recurrence may occur. Previously, recurrent infections have been classified as persistent (same isolated pathogen) or new (different pathogen identified). We sought to determine (1) recurrence rates among patients with chronic hip and knee PJI, treated with 2-stage exchange arthroplasty; (2) risk factors for infection recurrence; and (3) risk factors for developing persistent vs new infection. Methods We retrospectively reviewed clinical characteristics of patients with chronic hip and knee PJI, treated with 2-stage revision between January 1998 and March 2014. Minimum follow-up was 24 months. Two multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to determine independent predictors for infection recurrence and persistence. Results In total, 548 patients were identified (283 men, 265 women). Forty-eight had a recurrent infection (8.76%). Men had 54.8% lower odds of PJI recurrence than women (odds ratio [OR] = 0.452; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.235-0.869). Patients with heart disease had 109% higher odds of infection recurrence than patients without heart disease (OR = 2.09; 95% CI, 1.097-3.081). The risk of infection recurrence was 119% higher in patients with psychiatric disorders than in patients without psychiatric disorders (OR = 2.19; 95% CI, 1.011-4.761). Patients with recurrent knee PJI had 84.6% lower odds of persistent infection (OR = 0.154; 95% CI, 0.034-0.696) compared to hip PJI. Patients with heart disease had 5-fold increased odds for persistent PJI (OR = 5.068; 95% CI, 1.38-22.56). Conclusion Female gender, heart disease, and psychiatric disorders increase the risk of hip and knee PJI recurrence. Patients with PJI of the hip and with heart disease are at higher risk of infection persistence.
Natural allelic variation in blueberry TERMINAL FLOWER 1

A blueberry (Vaccinium sp.) germplasm collection was screened for allelic variation in TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) that could be used in breeding flowering or architecture traits. TFL1 has been found to repress the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth in diverse plant species, with mutations leading to altered flowering and form. The VcTFL1 gene sequence was determined from the draft genome sequence of diploid V. corymbosum line W8520. VcTFL1 is a member of a PEBP gene family and it could be distinguished from its family members by sequence comparison with PEBP family genes from other plants. High-resolution DNA melting analysis of 160 Vaccinium accessions detected VcTFL1 exons that differed in sequence from the W8520 control. DNA sequence analysis confirmed the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and identified haplotypes of tetraploid accessions. A total of 18 SNP sites were detected in VcTFL1 coding sequences of the Vaccinium germplasm screened. A SNP causing an alanine-to-valine change in exon 4 (A159V) was determined by multiple bioinformatic tools to be deleterious to VcTFL1 function. A diploid V. corymbosum accession heterozygous for the VcTFL1 mutation was identified as a candidate for breeding novel traits for blueberry.
What Should Planners Do to Address Unethical Political Pressure

AbstractThis paper presents the case study of three planners who risked their jobs to oppose unethical political pressures in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. It attempts to understand what was done by these planners to address those pressures and what lessons could we learn from their experiences. This research found that in a hostile political environment where unethical political pressure is strong, and voicing is of little help, unique actions of procedural planning (exit, deny-exit-and-expose, and defend), deontological in nature, may have to be adopted. If that is not adequate one should also consider de-communicating or manipulative actions, teleological in approach.
Deterministic Time Markov Chain Modelling of Simultaneous Multipath Transmission Schemes

The increase in the availability of multimode devices for ubiquitous network access and the need for larger bandwidth have created a thrust for the utilization of simultaneous network connections. Unfortunately, the standard transport layer protocols such as the transmission control protocol and user datagram protocol have structural constraints. As a result, an Internet application can use only one interface at a time. The stream control transmission protocol (SCTP) provides support for concurrent multipath transfer (SCTP-CMT). In this paper, we present the mathematical modeling of simultaneous multipath transmission (SMT) schemes using the deterministic time Markov chain (DTMC) model. In this DTMC model, receiver buffer size is used for the first time to estimate the sending data rate. The DTMC model of SMT schemes are compared with the SCTP-CMT using probability-based packet dropped scenarios. DTMC modeling is used to mathematically verify simulation results of SMT Schemes i.e., modified fast retransmit (SMT-MFR) and adaptive modified fast retransmit (SMT-AMFR). The analytical model results revealed that SMT-MFR outperformed SCTP-CMT by 8.54% gain in average throughput. SMT-AMFR outperformed the SCTP-CMT and SMT-MFR by 19.65% and 11.15% gain in average throughput, respectively.
The sensitivity of economic gains from high-speed planting

Recent technological progress in high-speed planting (HSP) warrants economic analysis of its potential. A whole farm optimization model of a 1000 ha Kentucky, USA corn and soybean operation finds that operating cost savings (labor, fuel, tractor repairs) and yield increases couple in recovering annual ownership costs of HSP technology. Changes in farm net returns are positive for all 12-row planter scenarios and all double speed cases for the 16-row planter but not for a 50% increase in speed with the 16-row planter. The greatest profit potential occurred when adopting the combination of HSP and variable rate application (VRA), with increased net returns of up to 6.57% compared to conventional speed no VRA for the 12-row planter.
Information systems security job advertisement analysis: Skills review and implications for information systems curriculum

The authors' focus was the assessment of skill requirements for information systems security positions to understand expectations for security jobs and to highlight issues relevant to curriculum ma...
Placebo Problems: Boundary Work in the Psychedelic Science Renaissance

The revitalization of clinical trials with psychedelics has produced an array of studies investigating different combinations of therapeutic substances and diagnoses. In addition to the bureaucratic negotiations to gain approval for this research, this new wave of studies is also negotiating a new methodological landscape of clinical research. Mid-twentieth century research with drugs like LSD and psilocybin involved both case studies and double-blind studies. However, today, placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the institutional standard for research with psychopharmaceuticals. Because psychedelic therapy seeks to induce a radical change in consciousness—to make a subject feel different from her everyday self—blinding these studies using placebo controls has emerged as a methodological sticking point. However, this chapter argues, it is also a rich site for interrogating boundary work around science and psychedelics. While anthropologists have examined placebos as examples of the power of symbolic healing within Western medicine, or as ethically fraught territory of nontreatment, this chapter examines placebos as a research technique around which the scientific status of a study is negotiated. While psychedelic therapy challenges the model of pharmaceutical intervention used in psychiatry today, it must do so while also working within psychopharmacology’s evidentiary norms.
Close Margins and Adjuvant Radiotherapy in Acinic Cell Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland.

Importance The precise indications and oncologic effects of adjuvant radiotherapy in acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland are not well known, particularly in patients with negative, but close (≤1 mm), margins without other high-risk histopathologic factors. Objective To evaluate the oncologic outcomes of patients with acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland and the results of adjuvant therapy for those with close (≤1-mm) margins. Design, Setting, and Participants In a retrospective case series with medical record review at a single academic tertiary referral center, patients treated surgically from January 2000 to December 2014 for acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland were identified from an institutional database. All data analysis was performed in September 2017. Exposures All patients underwent parotidectomy with or without adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was locoregional control. Secondary end points included recurrence patterns and survival. Results Forty-five patients were identified in this case series (23 [51%] female), with a mean (SD) age of 47.1 (19.5) years. The median follow-up in surviving patients was 56.7 months (range, 18.5-204 months). Four patients (9%) experienced recurrence (1 local and 3 distant) at a median of 67.3 months (range, 12.7-136 months) after surgery. Thirteen patients (29%) had at least one high-risk histopathologic factor (advanced T category, nodal disease, lymphovascular or perineural invasion, high-grade, or positive margins). The remaining 32 patients (71%) without these high-risk factors had significantly improved disease-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01-0.71). Of patients without high-risk factors, those with close (≤1-mm) margins were significantly more likely to receive adjuvant radiotherapy (10 [56%] vs 1 [7%]; difference, 49%; 95% CI, 16%-82%), although this was not associated with disease control. At a median follow-up of 64.3 months (range, 33-204 months) in the 18 patients with close (≤1-mm) margins without other high-risk factors (10 with adjuvant radiotherapy and 8 without adjuvant therapy), only 1 patient (who had received adjuvant radiotherapy) experienced a recurrence, at 136 months after surgery. Conclusions and Relevance Patients with acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland whose only histopathologic risk factor is a close (≤1 mm) but negative margin do not appear to benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy. Recurrent disease is rare but may occur many years after initial treatment, and patients with acinic cell carcinoma could benefit from lifelong clinical surveillance.
Unmixed Reforming: A Novel Autothermal Cyclic Steam Reforming Process

Unmixed Reforming, or UMR, is a novel autothermal cyclic steam reforming process for converting hydrocarbons to hydrogen. The process operates in a three-step cycle that involves heating the reactor, reducing the catalyst to the metallic state, and finally steam reforming. UMR is being developed mainly for small-scale generation of hydrogen where it can economically compete with conventional steam reforming. UMR produces synthesis gas with higher concentrations of hydrogen and lower concentrations of carbon oxides when compared with conventional steam reforming. In addition, the process is more robust than conventional steam reforming, as it can readily be used with feed stocks containing heavy hydrocarbons and sulfur.
Fitting Percentage of Body Fat to Simple Body Measurements

Percentage of body fat, age, weight, height, and ten body circumference measurements (e.g., abdomen) are recorded for 252 men. Body fat, one measure of health, has been accurately estimated by an u...
Correlates of overweight and obesity in a Hispanic sample

Theoretically-based correlates of weight and waist circumference in an overweight/obese Hispanic sample were assessed. Two-hundred thirty-one participants completed questionnaires assessing constructs from self-determination theory and the transtheoretical model. Height, weight, and waist circumference were also measured. Hierarchical regression models predicted weight and waist circumference. Lower weight was associated with greater perceived competence for diet and exercise (β = − .176, p = .054; β = − .202, p = .040), environmental reevaluation (β = − .254, p = .009), reduced pros of weight loss (β = .246, p = .007), stimulus control (β = − .200, p = .054), helping relationships (β = .234, p = .005), and social liberation (β = .226, p = .019). Lower waist circumference was associated with the maintenance stage for exercise (β = − .304, p = .028). Exploration of the transtheoretical model and self-determination theory in relation to reductions in overweight/obesity within Hispanic populations is warranted.
What Even Constitutes Religion

From either a legal or sociological perspective, defining what constitutes religion is extremely challenging, and often contentious. For many, “religion” likely resembles their own, or widely known, religious beliefs and practices, and they are often unaware of just how amorphous the legal definition has to be to avoid Establishment Clause concerns.
Help for the Helper: Mental Health Concerns, Supports, and Stigma in School Counselors

Self-stigma prohibits many from seeking mental health support, and those in helping professions are not immune to this phenomenon. In this study, we investigated types of mental health concerns, fr...
Dried Plum's Unique Ability to Prevent and Reverse Bone Loss in Ovarian Hormone Deficiency: Efficacy and Possible Mechanisms

Osteoporosis is a chronic disorder associated with aging that is characterized by a loss of bone mass and quality leading to an increased risk of fragility fractures. Postmenopausal women are at th...
Augmented generic flow visualization and aggregation for a multi-product semiconductor fab

Modern semiconductor foundry business involves dozens of different products sharing the same production line. With each of them having distinct flows with potentially different mask layers, process steps and dedicated tools, it is not easy to get a good overview. Furthermore, analyzing simulation results is difficult because the flow of material on the shopfloor inside the simulation is difficult to understand. We describe a dynamic approach of automated, interactive, aggregated flow visualization based on nodes and edges graphs, augmented by current state and simulation data like waiting and upcoming material, tool states and line holds. This allows for a profound analysis of the current state of the production line and the material flow anticipated by the simulation considering all constraints.
RIGHT HEART FAILURE FROM A MISSED ANOMALOUS PULMONARY VEIN CONNECTION: BACK FOR MORE

Sinus venosus atrial septal defects (ASD) are frequently seen with anomalous pulmonary vein connections (APVC) and are often repaired together. 69-year-old male with a prior history of CABG in 2002 was diagnosed with a sinus venosus ASD in the setting of worsening pulmonary hypertension and
An ultrasound surface wave elastography technique for non-invasive measurement of scar tissue

Hypertrophic scars and keloids are characterized by excessive fibrosis and can be functionally problematic. Indeed, hypertrophic scarring is characterized by wide, raised scars that remain within the original borders of injury and have a rapid growth phase. There is a need for quantitative scar measurement modalities to effectively evaluate and monitor treatments. We aim to assess the role of the non-invasive scar-measuring device, ultrasound surface wave elastography (USWE), in accurately evaluating scar metrics. Two sites of breast tissue were tested control and scar portions. In USWE, a small, local, and 0.1-s harmonic vibration at three excitation frequencies (100, 150, and 200 Hz) was generated on these sites, and the resulting surface wave speed was measured via an ultrasound probe with a central frequency of 6.4 MHz. There was a statistically significant difference in the wave speed at three frequencies of the scar portion between prior and after treatment, suggesting that the scar portion was softener after treatment. USWE provides an objective assessment of the reaction of the scar to injury and treatment response.Hypertrophic scars and keloids are characterized by excessive fibrosis and can be functionally problematic. Indeed, hypertrophic scarring is characterized by wide, raised scars that remain within the original borders of injury and have a rapid growth phase. There is a need for quantitative scar measurement modalities to effectively evaluate and monitor treatments. We aim to assess the role of the non-invasive scar-measuring device, ultrasound surface wave elastography (USWE), in accurately evaluating scar metrics. Two sites of breast tissue were tested control and scar portions. In USWE, a small, local, and 0.1-s harmonic vibration at three excitation frequencies (100, 150, and 200 Hz) was generated on these sites, and the resulting surface wave speed was measured via an ultrasound probe with a central frequency of 6.4 MHz. There was a statistically significant difference in the wave speed at three frequencies of the scar portion between prior and after treatment, suggesting that the scar portion was soft...
Utilization of Minimally Invasive Surgery and Its Association with Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer.

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is increasingly used to treat gastric cancer in the USA. A potential benefit of MIS is increased likelihood of receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Our objectives were (1) to assess trends and predictors of MIS for gastric cancer, (2) to evaluate the association between MIS and postoperative chemotherapy, and (3) to investigate the relationship between MIS and survival. Patients with T3 or greater and/or N+ gastric adenocarcinoma were identified from the National Cancer Database from 2010 to 2015. Patients aged ≥ 85, with metastatic disease, treated with only preoperative chemotherapy, or with contraindications to chemotherapy were excluded. Hierarchical logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards were used to assess associations between MIS and postoperative chemotherapy and survival. Of 21,872 gastric resections, 6083 (27.8%) were MIS and 15,789 (72.2%) open. The majority were partial/subtotal (68.3%). Utilization of MIS increased from 18 to 37% from 2010 to 2015 (p < 0.01). Predictors of MIS were Asian race, any insurance coverage, and treatment at high-volume centers. Among 7540 patients with locally advanced disease, MIS was associated with receiving postoperative chemotherapy compared to open surgery (77.7% vs. 71.9%; OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.11–1.54). MIS was associated with improved survival before adjusting for postoperative chemotherapy (HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.72–0.97) but not after (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.75–1.01). Utilization of MIS for locally advanced gastric cancer approximately doubled during the study period. Compared to open surgery patients, MIS patients were more likely to receive postoperative chemotherapy. The increased utilization of postoperative chemotherapy may explain the associated survival advantage observed with MIS.
Mortality and Operational Attributes Relative to Feral Horse and Burro Capture Techniques Based on Publicly Available Data From 2010-2019.

Management of excessive feral horse (Equus ferus caballus) and burro (Equus asinus) populations in the United States and globally has been a controversial subject for decades. I reviewed all available US federal feral horse and burro daily gather reports from 2010 to 2019 to extract equine species, technique (bait trapping or helicopter gathering), reason (emergency or other), number gathered, number of mortalities, and mortality attributes (acute or chronic/pre-existing condition, specific cause). I found 70 reports (bait trapping burros n = 10, bait trapping horses n = 24, helicopter gathering horses n = 21) from 9 states (AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WY) representing 28,821 horses and 2,005 burros. For bait trapping, 100 animals died (4 burros, 96 horses) with 16 acute causes (1 burro, 15 horses) and 84 chronic/pre-existing causes (3 burros, 81 horses). For helicopter gathering, 268 horses died with 62 acute causes and 206 chronic/pre-existing causes. Mortality ratios did not differ by capture technique (P > .05) for broken necks, emaciation, acute causes, or chronic/pre-existing causes. The most common mortality-causing problems were structural deformations, club foot, blindness, and emaciation. The more horses gathered per day resulted in a greater proportion of chronic/pre-existing mortalities for both trapping techniques, but only an increase of acute mortalities for helicopter gathering. The slope suggests 1 acute mortality for every 300 horses gathered. The capture mortality rate across all gathers [1.1% (368 mortalities out of 30,826 horses and burros captured)] is below a general threshold of 2% suggested for wildlife studies.
Automated morphometric measurement of the retinal pigment epithelium complex and choriocapillaris using swept source OCT.

We report the development of an automated method to measure morphological features of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), Bruch’s membrane (BM) and choriocapillaris (CC) using a commercially available swept source OCT (SS-OCT) system. The locations of the inner segment/outer segment (IS/OS), RPE and CC were determined by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) A-scan intensity profiles, which were used to calculate the mean IS/OS-to-RPE distance, mean RPE-to-CC distance, mean RPE-to-CC outer boundary distance, mean RPE thickness and mean CC thickness across the entire scan volume. The automated method was tested on two groups of normal subjects: younger age group (n=20, 30.3 ± 5.72 years, axial length = 24.2 ± 0.96 mm) and older age group (n=20, 80.8 ± 4.12 years, axial length = 23.5 ± 0.93 mm). The 6×6 mm macular scans were acquired from one eye of each subject. Repeatability of the measurements showed a coefficient of variance < 5% for all the cases. CC locations were confirmed qualitatively with pixel-by-pixel moving of the en face OCT/OCTA images. Relative distance and thickness maps of the RPE-BM-CC complex were generated for visualization of regional changes. We observed thinner CC, thinner RPE and increased RPE-to-CC distance in the older age group. Correlation between CC thickness and choroid thickness suggests that the CC thins with the overall thinning of the choroid. These metrics should be useful to reveal more morphological details of RPE-BM-CC complex, provide a better understanding of the CC in three dimensions, and further investigate potential functional relationships between RPE, BM and CC, and their involvement in age-related ocular diseases.
Spatially resolved density measurements of singlet delta oxygen in a non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma jet by molecular beam mass spectrometry

Singlet delta oxygen (O2(a1Δg)), the first electronically excited state of O2, plays an important role in many applications. In this letter, we report the first measurements of absolute densities of O2(a1Δg) in an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) by molecular beam mass spectrometry (MBMS). The ability to measure axial and radial profiles of O2(a1Δg) impinging on a substrate in the effluent of the APPJ is a key advantage of the MBMS diagnostic method over previously reported optical methods. The measured large O2(a1Δg) densities in the APPJ effluent, up to one order of magnitude higher than the O density, underline the potential importance of O2(a1Δg) in many applications using APPJs.
Diagnosis of the downward displacement of the posterior leaflet of tricuspid valve from apical right heart two chamber view by echocardiography

Objective To evaluate the value of echocardiography method for diagnosis of the downward displacement of the posterior leaflet of tricuspid valve with apical right heart two chamber view (AP-RH-2CV). Methods Rotating the probe clockwise from apical four chamber view(AP-4CV) to AP-RH-2CV at the septial and posterior leaflet of tricuspid valve, the shape, moving and position of the posterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve were observed by displaying the degree of downward displacement of the septial and posterior leaflet of tricuspid valve. The location of the orifice of tricuspid regurgitation was examined by color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI). Results In 15 patients with Ebstein's anomaly from the AP-RH-2CV, the downward displacement of posterior leaflet of tricuspid valve was clearly observed at the AP-RH-2CV. These results of echocardiography were confirmed by surgery except one ease missing out mild downward displacement of the anterior leaflet of tricuspid valve. Moreover, all 15 patients showed the obvious downward displacement of the location of the orifice of tricuspid regurgitation from AP-RH-2CV by CDFI. Conclusions The AP-RH-2CV is an ideal view in diagnosis of the downward displacement of the posterior leaflet of tricuspid valve by echocardiography. The downward displacement of the location of the orifice of tricuspid regurgitation is a critical character for diagnosis of the downward displacement of the posterior leaflet of tricuspid valve by CDFI. Key words: Echocardiography; Ebstein's anomaly
The small intestine shields the liver from fructose-induced steatosis

Per capita fructose consumption has increased 100-fold over the last century1. Epidemiological studies suggest that excessive fructose consumption, and especially consumption of sweet drinks, is associated with hyperlipidaemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity and diabetes2–7. Fructose metabolism begins with its phosphorylation by the enzyme ketohexokinase (KHK), which exists in two alternatively spliced forms8. The more active isozyme, KHK-C, is expressed most strongly in the liver, but also substantially in the small intestine9,10 where it drives dietary fructose absorption and conversion into other metabolites before fructose reaches the liver11–13. It is unclear whether intestinal fructose metabolism prevents or contributes to fructose-induced lipogenesis and liver pathology. Here we show that intestinal fructose catabolism mitigates fructose-induced hepatic lipogenesis. In mice, intestine-specific KHK-C deletion increases dietary fructose transit to the liver and gut microbiota and sensitizes mice to fructose’s hyperlipidaemic effects and hepatic steatosis. In contrast, intestine-specific KHK-C overexpression promotes intestinal fructose clearance and decreases fructose-induced lipogenesis. Thus, intestinal fructose clearance capacity controls the rate at which fructose can be safely ingested. Consistent with this, we show that the same amount of fructose is more strongly lipogenic when drunk than eaten, or when administered as a single gavage, as opposed to multiple doses spread over 45 min. Collectively, these data demonstrate that fructose induces lipogenesis when its dietary intake rate exceeds the intestinal clearance capacity. In the modern context of ready food availability, the resulting fructose spillover drives metabolic syndrome. Slower fructose intake, tailored to intestinal capacity, can mitigate these consequences. Modulating the capacity of the intestinal epithelium to catabolize fructose is shown to alter fructose-induced lipogenesis in the mouse liver, suggesting that fructose clearance in the small intestine protects from steatosis.
Sex is associated with differences in gut microbial composition and function in hepatic encephalopathy

Background & Aims Altered microbiota can affect the gut-liver-brain axis in cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy (HE), but the impact of sex on these changes is unclear. We aimed to determine differences in fecal microbiota composition/functionality between men and women with cirrhosis and HE on differing treatments. Methods Cross-sectional stool microbiome composition (16s rRNA sequencing) and microbial functional analyses were performed in men and women with cirrhosis, and controls. Patients with HE on rifaximin+lactulose (HE-Rif), patients with HE on lactulose only (HE-Lac) and those with cirrhosis without HE (No-HE) were compared to controls using random forest classifier. Men and women were also compared. Results A total of 761 individuals were included, 619 with cirrhosis (466 men, 153 women) and 142 controls (92 men, 50 women). Men were older and more frequently used proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), but model for end-stage liver disease score, No-HE (n = 319), HE-lac (n = 130) and HE-Rif (n = 170) proportions were similar. PPI/age-adjusted AUC of differentiation between controls vs. all cirrhosis, and controls vs. No-HE were higher within women than men, but the adjusted AUC for No-HE vs. HE-Rif was higher in men. Control vs. HE-Rif differentiation was similar across sexes. Men vs. women were different in all cirrhosis, No-HE and HE-Lac but not HE-Rif on PERMANOVA and AUC analyses. Autochthonous taxa decreased and pathobionts increased with disease progression regardless of sex. In men, Lactobacillaceae were higher in HE-Lac but decreased in HE-Rif, along with Veillonellaceae. Pathways related to glutamate and aromatic compound degradation were higher in men at all stages. Degradation of androstenedione, an estrogenic precursor, was lower in men vs. women in HE-Rif, likely enhancing feminization. Conclusions There are differences in gut microbial function and composition between men and women with cirrhosis, which could be implicated in differential responses to HE therapies. Further studies linking these differences to sex-specific outcomes are needed. Lay summary Patients with cirrhosis develop changes in their brain function, and men often develop feminization with disease progression. However, the interaction between sex, microbiota and disease severity is unclear. We found that as disease progressed in men, their microbial composition began to approach that observed in women, with changes in specific microbes that are associated with male hormone metabolism.
Noise Increases Anchoring Effects

We introduce a theoretical framework distinguishing between anchoring effects, anchoring bias, and judgmental noise: Anchoring effects require anchoring bias, but noise modulates their size. We test it by manipulating stimulus magnitudes. As magnitudes increase, psychophysical noise due to scalar variability widens the perceived range of plausible values for the stimulus. This increased noise, in turn, increases the influence of anchoring bias on judgments. In eleven preregistered experiments (N = 3,552), anchoring effects increased with stimulus magnitude for point estimates of familiar and novel stimuli (e.g., reservation prices for hotels and donuts, counts in dot arrays). Comparisons between relevant and irrelevant anchors showed noise itself did not produce anchoring effects. Noise amplified anchoring bias. Our findings identify a stimulus feature predicting the size and replicability of anchoring effects––stimulus magnitude. More broadly, we show how to use psychophysical noise to test relationships between bias and noise in judgment under uncertainty.
Introduction: The Dynamic Region of Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is one of the most dynamic regions in the world given its political, cultural, and economic diversity. Part of its emergence as a region is due to the role of its regional organization, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and ASEAN’s guiding principle: the ASEAN Way. As the 11 countries of Southeast Asia (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam) have become increasingly interconnected economically and politically, the workforces of these countries have also become interconnected. A collective vision for human resource development (HRD) at the regional level (i.e., Regional HRD) is emerging with ASEAN playing a key role. Surrounding and influencing this vision is an evolving and sophisticated Regional HRD ecosystem made up of macro dimensional components such as government policy, meso dimensional components such as professional networks, and micro dimensional components such as individual workers. While these three dimensions make up the content dimensions of the ecosystem, there are also process dimensions that include emergence, convergence, divergence, and adaptation. This chapter introduces the region of Southeast Asia and ASEAN, discusses the concept of Regional HRD, and presents an ecosystems perspective of Regional HRD in Southeast Asia.
Soil Surface Compaction with a Foam-Type Explosive

A proposed new method for soil surface compaction based on the principle of pressure waves as a source of energy is described. This method, which has been termed the foamed propellant method for soil compaction, has a formulation containing hydrazine, ammonium perchlorate, and a foaming agent, hydrolized protein base foam liquid. The mechanics of this new compaction technique are relatively simple, with a blanket of the foamed propellant system placed on the surface of the soil to be compacted and then detonated. The results of using the foamed propellant system to compact loose cohesionless soils are presented and evaluated. This includes some preliminary investigation of the influence of both surface area and multiple detonation on compaction control parameters. The results of this investigation to date (1964) show conclusively that this new compaction is effective in increasing the density of the soil to depths of as much as 15 in. below the surface for sandy soils, sand-gravel mixtures, and predominantly silty soil containing little clay. Laboratory blast pressure measurements are also examined and presented.
Self-disclosure in online media

Researchers with a technological, deterministic perspective have long argued that computermediated communications channels are inherently lean in conveying information quality (i.e. Media Richness Theory). However, by adopting an active audience perspective from Uses and Gratification Theory, this empirical study provides evidence that online media can be either lean or rich, depending upon media use and communication motives. In Study 1, some differences between a lean medium (i.e. text-based chatting) and a rich medium (i.e. voice-based chatting) are found. For instance, the results suggest that voice chatting is appropriate for an equivocal task, since it provides specific benefits (e.g. immediacy of feedback). In Study 2, an online survey method is used to show how a particular communication medium is used, based on consumers’ communication motivations. For example, it is found that a rich medium (i.e. voice chat) is appropriate for instrumental motivations. In contrast, consumers who participate in a...
The multituberculate Catopsalis from the early Paleocene of the Crazy Mountains Basin in Montana

A new species of the taeniolabidid multituberculate Catopsalis is described from the Simpson Quarry fauna of the Puercan age Bear Formation of the Crazy Mountains Basin, south-central Montana. The molars retain a conservative cusp formula, yet are distinct from those of other early members of the genus in their extremely large size, which is approximately the same as that of C. calgariensis from the late Torrejonian to early Tiffanian. The combination of apomorphic and plesiomorphic features in the new species indicates a greater degree of complexity in the evolution of the genus than previously recognized.
Media coverage and children's reactions to disaster with implications for primary care and public health.

To address the potential for media coverage of traumatic events to generate fear reactions in children, we examined exposure and reactions to media coverage of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing in children attending a middle school 100 miles from the disaster site two and three years after the event. Many of the children studied recalled feeling "afraid," "sad," or "mad" in relation to initial media coverage. Overall exposure and reactions to bomb-related media coverage declined over the three years. However, these reactions persisted for some children and, when they did, the reactions were related to exposure to coverage right after the bombing. Approximately one-fourth of the children recalled that the bombing made them feel "a lot" less safe in their home, school, and/or neighborhood. These perceptions persisted for approximately 10% of the children. Our Findings suggest the importance of primary care and public health interventions to determine and monitor children's reactions. Language: en
Simultaneous Substitution in the Typed Lambda Calculus

The syntax and operational semantics of the named-variable form of the pure typed lambda calculus with simultaneous substitutions is described together with its denotational semantics in a cartesian closed category. It is shown that operationally equivalent terms have the same denotational interpretations and that the expected rule for substituting a composition of simultaneous substitutions is valid.
The autoantibody repertoire: searching for order

The spontaneously occurring autoantibodies that are associated with human diseases bear the hallmarks of a typical immune response. The repertoire of autoantibodies is surprisingly limited, however, and is the same in both humans and mice. Neither molecular mimicry nor immune dysregulation accounts for this unexpectedly narrow focus of specificities. Experimental data on the properties of the target autoantigens--such as their structure, catabolism, exposure to the immune system after cell death and recently described immunostimulatory effects on immature dendritic cells--indicate that these properties, in conjunction with the tissue microenvironment, help to select the autoantibody repertoire.
Purification and Properties of a Fructose-1,6-Diphosphate-Activated Lactate Dehydrogenase from Streptococcus faecalis

An l-(+)-lactate dehydrogenase was purified approximately 35-fold from crude extracts of Streptococcus faecalis. The purified enzyme had an absolute and specific requirement for fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) for catalytic activity. The concentration of FDP required for 50% maximal activity was about 0.045 mm. The activator was bound to the enzyme more effectively at pH 5.8 than it was at a neutral or alkaline pH. Activation appeared to involve a conformational change in the enzyme which made the substrate and coenzyme sites more accessible to the respective reactants. Among the evidence supporting this hypothesis was the fact that FDP lowered significantly the apparent Km for both pyruvate and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. Moreover, the enzyme, which was quite heat stable in the absence of any of the reactants, was rendered heat labile by FDP.
First, Kill the Economists

The Dismal Science . How Thinking Like an Economist Undermines Community. By Stephen A. Marglin . Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 2008. 375 pp. $35, £22.95, €26.50. ISBN 9780674026544. The author argues that his fellow economists' enthusiasm for the market is unwarranted and ignores the corrosive effects market relationships have on communities.
Homoclinic structures in open flows

We study the homoclinic tangle associated with the phase space flow of a particle in a cubic potential, subject to small and temporally periodic forcing. We construct a bifurcation diagram describing the changes in the Birkhoff signature of the tangle as the strength and frequency of the forcing are varied. From this diagram we find special regions in the parameter space for which we can approximate some of the properties of the flow. For example, we approximate the escape rates from the vicinity of the homoclinic tangle and the elongation rate of segments of the unstable manifold. The methods we use can be easily applied to many time periodic, near integrable open flows. These are flows which contain a single loop of broken separatrices, so that once a particle escapes the vicinity of the homoclinic tangle it never comes back. This study is essentially analytical; we use solutions of the autonomous system and do not compute the trajectories of the chaotic, time dependent flow.
Excitation in the Early Solar Nebula — New Experimental Findings

Inferences about the formation of primordial matter in our solar system rest on analysis of the earliest preserved materials in meteorites, of the structure of the solar system today, and of matter in evolving stellar systems elsewhere.
Radiofrequency ablation within the first intercoccygeal disk for coccygodynia: a case report.

Interventional procedures for coccydynia (coccygodynia) are limited. This is a case report of long-term improvement following radiofrequency ablation (RFA) within the 1st intercoccygeal disk. Case Presentation: A 44-year-old female presented with a 1 year history of coccydynia following a fall. Examination under fluoroscopy localized her pain at the disk between the 1st and 2nd coccygeal vertebrae. Provocation with needle entry reproduced the patient's pain, and the 1st intercoccygeal disk was injected with 40 mg of methylprednisolone. This gave the patient excellent relief for about 3 weeks. The procedure was repeated at 4 weeks, providing with the same response. Decision was then made to proceed with RFA. Her symptoms were reproduced in response to stimulation at 50 Hz with 0.9 V, and stimulation at 2 Hz at 2 V did not result in any motor stimulation. RFA was then carried out at 70°C for 80 seconds, followed by injection of 20 mg of methylprednisolone. The patient's Numeric Rating Scale pain score decreased from 9/10 to 3/10 after the RFA. She had about 70% relief for about 6 months. Discussion: There is evidence that intercoccygeal disks can be a source of coccydynia. Immunohistochemistry has shown mechanoreceptors in intercoccygeal disks, and coccygeal discography has been shown to reproduce coccygeal pain. Intercoccygeal disk injection is described as a therapeutic option in the literature. Because various RFA techniques have been successfully used for intervertebral diskogenic pain, the decision was made to attempt RFA at the 1st intercoccygeal disk with resultant significant long-term improvement.
Plants and Pharmaceuticals in the 21st Century

The 20th century became a triumph for the synthetic chemistry-dominated pharmaceutical industry that rapidly proceeded to replace natural extracts with synthetic molecules, which often had no connection to natural products. The spectacular rise of the pharmaceutical industry tremendously benefited disease treatment and prevention, saved countless lives and truly became one of the most outstanding achievements of the 20th century. Human medicines prescribed today still contain phytochemicals valued at $22,608 million in 1997 and projected to reach a value of $30,688.5 million in 2002 with prescription products and OTC herbal remedies each comprising approximately 50% of the market (Anonymous, 1998).
Effect of pH and the Role of N-Methylol Hydrolysis in Formaldehyde Release from Durable Press Fabric:

A series of experiments are reported that demonstrate the effects of fabric pH on the release of formaldehyde from fabrics treated for durable press with formaldehyde- containing resins. Release, as measured by the AATCC sealed jar procedure, is a minimum in the neutral pH range; it increases as residual fabric acidity increases because of increased crosslink (C—O) hydrolysis, which produces N-methylol groups that hydrolyze in turn to form formaldehyde; release increases to even a greater extent as the fabric becomes increasingly alkaline because of the hydrolytic sensitivity of the C—N bond in pendant N-methylol groups at high pH. Similar pH effects are observed with methylated ("capped") resin. To determine the degree to which formaldehyde release results from N-methylol hydrolysis, a series of fabrics containing pendant N-methylol groups over a considerable range of concentrations were analyzed for N-methylol content before and after the AATCC measurement of formaldehyde release. In general, release is...
Effect of pre-versus postpubertal castration on aggression between male gerbils

Male gerbils castrated before or after puberty and gonadally intact males and females were tested for agressiveness toward male conspecifics intruding into their living areas. The subjects were exposed to intruders for 10 min or less (if a fight occurred) twice a day for 2 weeks, or until the resident attacked the intruder within 1 min on five of six consecutive tests. Using this paradigm, females and prepubertally castrated males were more aggressive than intact males or males castrated as adults. The different effects of pre- versus postpubertal castration may account for some of the discrepancies in the literature concerning the direction of changes in aggression after castration in this species.
An Anomaly in the Pricing of Bank Non-Interest Mortgage Charges

This paper uses a monopolistically competitive model to study the determinants of bank mortgage charges. The study shows that concentration and the loan-price ratio do not have significant effects on the bank mortgage charges. Significantly, the charges are found to be positively related to the number of banks and bank offices in a given market and inversely related to the market size or population. (JEL L130, G210)
Storage costs and heuristics interact to produce patterns of aphasic sentence comprehension performance.

Background: Aphasic individuals exhibit greater difficulty understanding complex sentences, but there is little consensus regarding what makes one sentence more complicated than another. In addition, aphasic individuals might make use of heuristic strategies for understanding sentences. This research is a comparison of specific predictions derived from two approaches to the quantification of sentence complexity, one based on the hierarchical structure of sentences (trees), and the other based on Dependency Locality Theory (DLT). Complexity metrics derived from these theories are evaluated under various assumptions of heuristic use. Method: A set of complexity metrics was derived from each general theory of sentence complexity. Each metric was paired with assumptions of heuristic use. Probability spaces were generated that summarized the possible patterns of performance across 16 different sentence structures. The maximum likelihood of comprehension scores of 42 aphasic individuals was then computed for each probability space and the expected scores from the best-fitting points in the space were recorded for comparison to the actual scores. Predictions were then compared using measures of fit quality derived from linear mixed effects models. Results: All three of the metrics that provide the most consistently accurate predictions of patient scores rely on storage costs based on the DLT. Patients appear to employ an Agent-Theme heuristic, but vary in their tendency to accept heuristically generated interpretations. Furthermore, the ability to apply the heuristic may be degraded in proportion to aphasia severity. Conclusion: The results suggest that “storage” (i.e., allocation of cognitive resources for anticipated syntactic constituents) is a key resource degraded by aphasia, but aphasic individuals may vary in their tendency to use or accept heuristically generated interpretations.
Scalable spectral transforms at petascale

In this paper, I describe a framework for spectral transforms called P3DFFT, and its extended features and applications. I discuss the scaling seen on petascale platforms, and directions and some results of the ongoing work on improving performance, such as overlap of communication with computation and hybrid MPI/OpenMP implementation.