cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Geographical Location of Foreign Direct Investment and Wage Inequality in China

This paper examines the relationships between distance and the transportation costs of international trade on the location-specific effects of foreign direct invest-ment and provincial per capita income in China. Applying the economic geography model proposed by Redding and Venables (2004), it traces the increasing wage inequality among the coastal and inland provinces by focusing on the distance of foreign-owned firms from access to international markets and to suppliers of intermediate inputs. First, a gravity-type equation is used to construct the ‘market access’ and ‘supplier access’ variables. Then, the effect of market and supplier access on provincial wage rates is estimated. The results indicate that distance does affect international trade and geography explains roughly one-third of the wage differential. Greater market access increases the provincial wage gap, while larger supplier access increases the wage difference in trade destined for the foreign market but decreases the wage difference in trade targeted for the domestic market. Similar findings also result from applying the estimations to two local firm types: state-owned enterprises and collective-owned enterprises.
Magnesium in the Central Nervous System: Intracellular free Mg2+ and MgATP2− in coordinate control of protein synthesis and cell proliferation

Specific and non-specific mitogens stimulate the proliferation of cultured fibroblasts. They also stimulate other responses that are part of a coordinate response, some members of which are essential for proliferation and others that are not. The synthesis of protein is an early response to mitogens and its continuation through the G1 period drives the accumulation of protein which is required for the initiation of DNA synthesis hours later. The parabola-like curve for dependence of protein synthesis on intracellular Mg2+ concentration is similar to that of cell-free ribosome preparations, and is later reflected in the initiation of DNA synthesis. Hence, DNA synthesis is dependent on the rate of protein synthesis which is regulated by the concentration of intracellular Mg2+. Presumably free Mg2+ is an indicator of the fraction of ATP4- that is complexed with Mg2+ as MgATP2-, which is the immediate regulatory form. Uridine uptake is determined by its phosphorylation, which is also dependent on intracellular Mg2+ in the coordinate response, but unlike protein synthesis, neither influences DNA synthesis nor exhibits downturn at a high Mg2+ concentration. Intracellular free Mg2+ determines the onset of protein synthesis in activated frog oocytes and its rate in lymphocytes. Mg2+ regulation of protein synthesis is effected through the PI 3-K pathway at mTOR phosphorylation of two translation-regulating proteins. Regulation of proliferation by Mg2+ is lost in transformed cells. Mg2+ and MgATP2- apparently play a central role in the regulation of metabolism in a wide variety of cells and developmental stages across the animal kingdom.
The palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve and the approach to the carpal tunnel. An anatomical study.

As documented by dissection of twelve cadaver hands, the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve may be injured by a transverse incision at the wrist, while the terminal fibers of this branch, passing through the substance of the transverse carpal ligament on their way to the palmar skin, may be injured by longitudinal division of the ligament. To avoid such injury during decompression of the carpal tunnel, a curved longitudinal incision located on the ulnar side of the axis of the ring-finger ray and extending through the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and the ligament is recommended, followed by elevation of a radial flap keeping all three tissue layers and the palmar cutaneous branch intact.
Verifying Launch Vehicle Conceptual Designs Using First Principles and Historical Trends

of engineering models and designs can be prohibitively expensive to use consistently. This paper uses the rocket equation, orbital mechanics, and historical trends in rocket propulsion systems to develop simple and evaluate tests for use as part of the verication process for launch vehicle designs. These tests are then applied to sample designs from literature to demonstrate their utility. Results show these tests oer the ability to automatically verify key aspects of launch vehicle designs.
Chemotactic separation of enzymes.

We demonstrate a procedure for the separation of enzymes based on their chemotactic response toward an imposed substrate concentration gradient. The separation is observed within a two-inlet, five-outlet microfluidic network, designed to allow mixtures of active (ones that catalyze substrate turnover) and inactive (ones that do not catalyze substrate turnover) enzymes, labeled with different fluorophores, to flow through one of the inlets. Substrate solution prepared in phosphate buffer was introduced through the other inlet of the device at the same flow rate. The steady-state concentration profiles of the enzymes were obtained at specific positions within the outlets of the microchannel using fluorescence microscopy. In the presence of a substrate concentration gradient, active enzyme molecules migrated preferentially toward the substrate channel. The excess migration of the active enzyme molecules was quantified in terms of an enrichment coefficient. Experiments were carried out with different pairs of...
Technical Characteristics and Solution of Smart High-Voltage Equipment

This paper proposes a solution of smart high-voltage (HV) equipment. The core of the proposed solution is that an intelligent component is added in which all intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) for measurement, control, monitoring, etc. are congregated and connected to the HV equipment through sensors and controllers, thus HV equipment possess such technical features as digital measurement, network control, condition self-evaluation, function integration and information interaction. The essential technical features of smart HV equipment and the principle solution of intelligent components are described in brief.
Community structure of Great Gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) parasitic fleas in Junggar Basin focus and related epizootiological characteristics on plague

Objective To understand the community structure ofRhombomys opimus parasitic fleas in the natural plague focus in Junggar Basin,so as to explain the relationship between the community structure and the prevalence of animal plague in this area.Methods The body fleas of R.opimus which were collected in 2005-2010 from the Junggar Basin was analysed by community ecology method,an each clustered flea community was compared with information of pathogenic and serological indicators of animal plague epidemic by statistic method.Results The community structure of R.opimus parasitic fleas included 19 species and was very complicated,with only 3 were identified as ‘common' species but the others belonged to ‘rare' species.Both the average richness and diversity of flea community were higher,as 1.66 and 1.5556,with dominance not obvious (0.332) and the homogeneity as moderate (0.5283).The community structure of R.opimus parasitic fleas could be changed by the following factors as:the rates of flea parasitic/flea index and the proportions of main fleas etc.The flea community could be divided into 5 clusters according to the above said elements.All these data showed that the fleas of R.opimus parasitic fleas possess the nature of multi-parasitism.Conclusions The community of R.opimus parasitic fleas existed heterogeneous of geographic region,and this phenomenon associated with the animal plague epidemic strength. Key words: Plague; Great Gerbils; Parasitic fleas; Community; Junggar Basin
Splenic rupture due to extraperitoneal gunshot wound : use of peritoneal lavage in the low-tech environment

The upsurge in armed conflicts and civil unrest around the world will result in the need to treat gunshot wounds in austere conditions. This report details a splenic injury that resulted from a gunshot of the torso that did not penetrate the peritoneum. The author made the diagnosis using peritoneal lavage, which can be adapted to field conditions.
Nearing the Clinical End: A Female Perspective

“Where to start?” is a ubiquitous and rather annoying question when asked to give opinions about oneself. “Should I tell you my life story?” “Do you want to hear how I could have done it differently?” “Shall I tell you my regrets or my successes?” “Does the information I tell you ultimately make a difference in your life choices and your personal odyssey?” The questions could go on, but I’ll choose to give you my truths from a retrospect of 28 years of professional life, 30 years of married life, and 60 years of “being female.” In my opinion, none of these questions is more important or dominates the other – my professional life, my married life, my years as a mother of three children, and my life as a woman make up who am I. I could not imagine becoming me or being me – having one without the other.
Can a computer think? Part II

Roger Penrose is beyond doubt the deepest and most profound critic of what he has termed the "strong AI (artificial intelligence) hypothesis". Put simply this states that the human mind is just a computer program that one day – probably within the next century – will be emulated by programs run on standard computer hardware. His best-selling book The Emperors's New Mind outlined his reasons for doubting that human consciousness could be coded in any program whatsoever, and Shadows of the Mind develops his thesis further.
Soft Tissue Necrotizing Infection Due to Perforated Colon

Necrotizing soft tissue infection caused by bowel perforation is uncommon. Failure to diagnose and treat it in a timely manner adds to the already significant associated mortality and morbidity. As with necrotizing soft tissue infections resulting from other causes, the initial presentation can be subtle. Laboratory studies and imaging may supplement clinical judgement to improve diagnostic accuracy. Once diagnosed antibiotics are promptly administered and urgent surgery performed. Prolonged resuscitation should not delay surgery. Spread to the gluteal region and thigh can occur. Evaluation with careful examination, imaging, and/or exploration might be required. Extensive debridements are the rule rather than the exception. Multiple procedures aimed at source control, removal of dead and infected tissue followed by wound stabilization are necessary. Long intensive care unit and hospital stays are standard. Post discharge rehabilitative services are required in all but a few patients. With comprehensive care that includes nutritional and physical therapy acceptable outcomes can be achieved.
High levels of antibiotic tolerance and persistence are induced by the commercial anti-microbial triclosan

Antimicrobial tolerance and bacterial persistence are confounding factors in the treatment of recurrent and chronic infections. Here we report that the anti-microbial additive triclosan renders Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus tolerant to a panel of bactericidal antibiotics. Triclosan treatment increased antimicrobial tolerance up to 10,000 fold, amplified persister populations by several orders of magnitude, and in one instance, rendered E. coli refractile to the cell wall active antibiotic, ampicillin.
Stimulation of P2U purinergic or alpha 1A adrenergic receptors mobilizes Ca2+ in lens cells.

Purpose To identify agonists that elevate cytosolic Ca2+ (Cai2+) in lens cells and to characterize their mechanism of action. Methods Digital imaging and the Ca(2+)-reporting dye fura-2 were used to study the effects of agonists and their antagonists of Cai2+ in sheep lens primary cell cultures. Results Exposing cells to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and epinephrine increased Cai2+, whereas dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, acetylcholine, histamine, kassinin, bradykinin, and glutamate did not elevate Cai2+. The ATP response was mediated by P2U purinergic receptors based on inhibition by the P2 antagonist suramin and the agonist rank potency order ATP = UTP = ATP gamma S > ADP > AMP > > adenosine; adenine, AMP-CPP, and AMP-PCP were inactive. The epinephrine response was mediated by alpha 1 adrenergic receptors based on the greater potency of the alpha 1 adrenergic selective antagonist prazosin compared to that of the alpha 2 adrenergic selective antagonist yohimbine. More specifically, the epinephrine response was mediated by the alpha 1A adrenergic receptor subtype based on the greater potencies exhibited by the alpha 1A subtype selective competitive antagonists WB 4101 and 5-methylurapidil compared to the alpha 1B and alpha 1D selective antagonists spiperone and BMY 7378, respectively. The agonist-mediated Cai2+ increase was dependent on intracellular Ca2+ stores and was inhibited by the phospholipase C inhibitor U73122. ATP or epinephrine could desensitize the cells to either agonist because of both the depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores and the downregulation of a common intermediate in the signal transduction pathway. Conclusions Ca2+ is mobilized from intracellular stores in the sheep lens by ATP and epinephrine acting through P2U purinergic and the alpha 1A adrenergic receptors, respectively. This confirms previous reports of P2U receptors in lens and provides the first report of alpha 1A adrenergic receptors in the lens.
Mechanics of Glycoprotein Organization in the Glycocalyx

In living systems, proteins and carbohydrates called glycans are concentrated on the cell surface in a complex structure called the glycocalyx. The glycocalyx includes cell surface receptors essential for interrogating the biophysical and biochemical landscape of the local microenvironment. How forces imposed on the glycocalyx influence the diffusion, arrangement, and signaling of receptors is largely unknown. Towards the goal of illuminating the complex biomaterial that is the glycocalyx, we developed a physical model that describes the mechanics of its load-bearing glycoproteins and applied our model to predict the equilibrium response to mechanical forces from the microenvironment. The model consists of long, stiff glycoproteins, the cell membrane, and the cortical cytoskeleton network. We model the glycocalyx as a continuum of glycoproteins embedded, yet able to migrate laterally, in the membrane, where each glycoprotein is modeled as a structural beam. We consider the cytoskeleton to transmit compression from the cell body to the glycocalyx by pushing on the membrane. Force and moment balances for large bending deformations of individual elements in the model yield governing equations, which are simulated in a coupled manner along with a potential-energy dependent Boltzmann distribution for glycoprotein concentration to predict the mechanical response of the glycocalyx. We predict that the glycocalyx is able to sustain substantial pressures without significant deformations, but above a critical pressure it experiences a pressure-sensitive collapse. The critical pressure for collapse increases with the stiffness of glycoproteins and with the glycoprotein density. Furthermore, we predict the formation of load-bearing clusters of glycoproteins in energetically-favorable regions away from the cytoskeleton. Together, our results demonstrate how the bulk material properties of the glycocalyx emerge from the physical properties of its molecular constituents. The understanding that we develop has broad relevance in cell adhesion, cell-cell contact, and juxtacrine signaling.
Investigating students' perceptions of motivating factors of online class discussions

One of the goals of teacher education is to prepare our citizens to communicate in a variety of ways. In our present society, communication using digital media has become essential. Although online discussions are a common component of many online courses, engaging students in online discussions has been a challenge. This study queried 86 educators in a math/science teacher education graduate program to examine their perceptions on the factors that motivate them to participate in online discussions.The results revealed a pragmatic outlook on online education. In terms of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, the participants’ main motivation to participate in online class discussions was extrinsic (85.88%), specifically so that they could earn an acceptable participation grade. With regards to discussion grouping formats, they preferred small group discussions (81%) which could facilitate their ability to develop rapport with a small group of fellow classmates over whole class discussion (38.83%). With respect to discussion facilitation, they focused on the practical need to have the instructor to answer their questions about course assignments (67.06%) over online open discussion without a given topic (35.72%). Next, when asked about discussion question types based on Bloom’s taxonomy, their strongest preference reflected a desire for application (89.54%) questions which would facilitate their ability to use theories discussed in class in their daily work as educators. Through collaboration with twenty-first-century learners, online education can use data-driven decision making to help transform online discussion from being the least desirable component of online courses to a more relevant, instructional medium.
ESTUDO COMPARATIVO DO GASTO ENERGÉTICO E DA FREQUÊNCIA CARDÍACA DE MULHERES DURANTE A PRÁTICA DE UMA AULA DE RITMOS E DO JOGO DE VIDEOGAME JUST DANCE

O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar se ha diferencas no gasto energetico (GE) medio e na frequencia cardiaca (FC) media de mulheres durante a pratica de uma aula de ritmos conduzida por um professor de Educacao Fisica e durante a pratica do exergame (EXG) Just Dance ® para Nintendo Wii ® . Participaram voluntariamente 17 mulheres fisicamente ativas e praticantes da modalidade de ritmos ha, pelo menos, tres meses e sem experiencia previa no EXG. Os dados de FC media foram coletados e registrados durante uma unica aula de ritmos e uma unica sessao de jogo Just Dance ® , ambas com duracao aproximada de 49 minutos, com intervalo de uma semana entre as duas praticas. O GE medio foi estimado por meio de uma calculadora online, a qual fornece uma estimativa do GE absoluto durante exercicio aerobico, com base nas variaveis sexo, idade, peso, duracao da atividade e FC media. Para verificar se houve diferencas entre as duas situacoes (aula de ritmos e pratica do EXG) com relacao as variaveis FC media e GE medio foi utilizado o teste “t” de Student para amostras pareadas (p < 0,05), cujo resultado nao evidenciou diferencas estatisticamente significativas. Apesar disso, durante a pratica da aula de ritmos observou-se tanto GE medio como FC media ligeiramente mais elevados do que durante a mesma quantidade de tempo de pratica do EXG Just Dance ® .
Supplier-consumer relations in crisis period

The supplier – customer relation is one of the key part in the national economy of any country. Evaluation of these negotiations could be one of key positive effect in any business in any line of business.
Sex-specific plasticity and the nutritional geometry of insulin-signaling gene expression in Drosophila melanogaster.

BACKGROUND Sexual-size dimorphism (SSD) is replete among animals, but while the selective pressures that drive the evolution of SSD have been well studied, the developmental mechanisms upon which these pressures act are poorly understood. Ours and others' research has shown that SSD in D. melanogaster reflects elevated levels of nutritional plasticity in females versus males, such that SSD increases with dietary intake and body size, a phenomenon called sex-specific plasticity (SSP). Additional data indicate that while body size in both sexes responds to variation in protein level, only female body size is sensitive to variation in carbohydrate level. Here, we explore whether these difference in sensitivity at the morphological level are reflected by differences in how the insulin/IGF-signaling (IIS) and TOR-signaling pathways respond to changes in carbohydrates and proteins in females versus males, using a nutritional geometry approach. RESULTS The IIS-regulated transcripts of 4E-BP and InR most strongly correlated with body size in females and males, respectively, but neither responded to carbohydrate level and so could not explain the sex-specific response to body size to dietary carbohydrate. Transcripts regulated by TOR-signaling did, however, respond to dietary carbohydrate in a sex-specific manner. In females, expression of dILP5 positively correlated with body size, while expression of dILP2,3 and 8, was elevated on diets with a low concentration of both carbohydrate and protein. In contrast, we detected lower levels of dILP2 and 5 protein in the brains of females fed on low concentration diets. We could not detect any effect of diet on dILP expression in males. CONCLUSION Although females and males show sex-specific transcriptional responses to changes in protein and carbohydrate, the patterns of expression do not support a simple model of the regulation of body-size SSP by either insulin- or TOR-signaling. The data also indicate a complex relationship between carbohydrate and protein level, dILP expression and dILP peptide levels in the brain. In general, diet quality and sex both affect the transcriptional response to changes in diet quantity, and so should be considered in future studies that explore the effect of nutrition on body size.
Macrophage migration inhibitory factor mediates protease-activated receptor 4-induced bladder pain through urothelial high mobility group box 1.

Abstract Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) mediates pain although the mechanisms are not well understood. Urothelial activation of protease activated receptor 4 (PAR4) results in urothelial MIF release, urothelial high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) release and bladder pain in mice without bladder inflammation. All three effects are prevented by MIF inhibition while intravesical disulfide HMGB1 alone can induce bladder pain. This study utilizes genetic MIF deletion to determine whether MIF mediates PAR4‐induced bladder pain and is upstream of HMGB1‐induced bladder pain. Wild type (C57/BL6) and MIF knockout (KO) mice were treated with intravesical PAR4 activating peptide or disulfide HMGB1 and tested for abdominal mechanical hypersensitivity at baseline (before treatment) and 24 h after injection. Micturition parameters and bladder histology were examined after behavioral test. Real‐time PCR and western blotting measured HMGB1 mRNA and protein levels in the bladders of naive wild type and MIF KO mice, while immunofluorescence measured HMGB1 protein levels in the urothelium of both strains. Intravesical PAR4 activation resulted in abdominal mechanical hypersensitivity in wild‐type mice but not MIF KO mice. Intravesical disulfide HMGB1 induced abdominal mechanical hypersensitivity in both strains. Neither treatment resulted in significant changes in micturition or bladder histology in either strain. HMGB1 mRNA and protein levels were higher in MIF KO mouse bladders and the urothelium of MIF KO bladder had greater immunostaining than the wild‐type strain. MIF is a pivotal molecule mediating PAR4‐induced bladder pain and regulating urothelial HMGB1 production and release to elicit bladder pain.
A theoretical value of KIIIc for a crack in a work-hardening solid

The plastic strain in the plastic zone along the plane of the crack for the growing mode III crack in work-hardening material is used for an estimate of the stress for catastrophic crack propagation. The plastic strain is found through the method of moving non-redundant dislocations. The critical 67-1 where 67-2, Kgc is the critical K for a Griffith crack, po is the yield stress, and pts is the theoretical strength of the solid. The constant 67-3 for a linear work-hardening solid where S is the dimensionless slope of the stress strain curve and 67-4 for a non-linear work-hardening solid where h is the work-hardening coefficient.
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic marker for metastatic pancreatic cancer.

251Background: Metastatic pancreatic cancer is a deadly disease, with a median survival that remains less than 12 months. However, more patients than ever before are surviving for more than 1 year,...
Mitoprotection preserves the renal vasculature in porcine metabolic syndrome

New findings What is the central question of this study? We hypothesized that chronic mitoprotection would decrease renal vascular remodelling and dysfunction in swine metabolic syndrome. What is the main finding and its importance? This study shows that experimental metabolic syndrome exerts renal microvascular and endothelial cell mitochondrial injury, which were attenuated by mitoprotection, underscoring the contribution of mitochondrial injury to the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome-induced vascular damage. Abstract The metabolic syndrome (MetS) induces intrarenal microvascular disease, which may involve mitochondrial injury. The mitochondrial cardiolipin-targeting peptide elamipretide (ELAM) improves the microcirculation in post-stenotic kidneys, but its ability to attenuate MetS-induced renal vascular damage is unknown. We hypothesized that chronic treatment with ELAM would decrease renal vascular remodelling and function in swine MetS. Pigs were studied after 16 weeks of diet-induced MetS, MetS treated for the last 4 weeks with daily injections of ELAM (0.1 mg kg-1 ), and lean control (Lean) animals (n = 6 each). Single-kidney regional perfusion, blood flow and glomerular filtration rate were measured with multi-detector computed tomography (CT). Peritubular capillary (PTC) endothelial cell (EC) mitochondrial density and cardiolipin content were assessed in situ, as were PTC-EC apoptosis and oxidative stress. The spatial density of PTCs (Haematoxylin and Eosin staining) and renal microvessels (micro-CT), and renal artery endothelial function (organ bath) were characterized. Regional perfusion and serum creatinine were preserved in MetS pigs, but renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate were higher compared with Lean. Mitochondrial density and cardiolipin content were diminished in MetS PTC-ECs, but improved in ELAM-treated pigs, as did PTC density. Elamipretide also attenuated PTC-EC oxidative stress and apoptosis. Furthermore, ELAM improved renal microvascular density, decreased microvascular remodelling and restored endothelial nitric oxide expression and endothelium-dependent relaxation of renal artery segments. In conclusion, MetS-induced mitochondrial alterations might contribute to renal PTC and microvascular loss and might impair renal artery endothelial function in pigs. Mitoprotection with ELAM preserved a hierarchy of renal vessels, underscoring its potential to ameliorate renal vascular injury in MetS.
Elevated Optic Disc Height and Increased Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter on Bedside Ultrasound in a Pediatric Patient With Orbital Cellulitis: More Than Meets the Eye.

Abstract Background Orbital cellulitis is an uncommon ophthalmological emergency in children, but rapid emergency department (ED) diagnosis is essential. Case Report A 13-year-old boy presented to our pediatric ED with left orbital cellulitis secondary to pansinusitis. Emergency bedside ocular ultrasonography was used to evaluate and expedite his management. Besides inflammatory changes observed on ultrasound of his affected orbit, the patient had an elevated optic disc height and increased nerve sheath diameter, which were not commonly reported in published literature on orbital cellulitis. Emergent computed tomography of the orbits and head showed orbital cellulitis without complications of orbital abscess or cavernous sinus thrombosis. Despite initiating early appropriate antibiotics, there was rapid progression of his disease and he developed intraconal abscess and cavernous sinus thrombosis the following day. After emergency surgical drainage of his pansinusitis, antibiotics, and anticoagulation, he was discharged well after a 2-week hospitalization. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? There are important advantages of using bedside ultrasonography for diagnosis of pediatric orbital cellulitis in the ED setting. Further research should be done to evaluate the clinical significance of an enlarged optic nerve sheath diameter and raised optic disc height in pediatric orbital cellulitis.
Editorial on "Biochemical and Epigenetic Insights into L-2-Hydroxyglutarate, a Potential Therapeutic Target in Renal Cancer".

Renal cell carcinoma remains a common entity with approximately 65,340 new cases diagnosed in 2018. Given the insidious onset of disease, approximately 25–30% of patients will present with metastatic disease and require systemic therapy (1). Fortunately, the last two decades has seen the development of a number of targeted therapies including mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors as well as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) which are commonly used as first and second line therapies.
Pa’lante, siempre pa’lante: pedagogies of the home among Puerto Rican college educated families

AbstractResearch focused on Latinas/os in higher education often examines patterns of failure, while neglecting factors that contribute to Latina/o generational familial success. This article focus...
Networking Arguments: Rhetoric, Transnational Feminism, and Public Policy, by Rebecca Dingo

Multidisciplinary from the start, Rebecca Dingo's Networking Arguments provides a new methodology that can be adopted by individuals working in the field of rhetoric as well as those in political s...
Comparative prognostic accuracy of sepsis scores for hospital mortality in adults with suspected infection in non-ICU and ICU at an academic public hospital

BACKGROUND Sepsis is a global healthcare challenge and reliable tools are needed to identify patients and stratify their risk. Here we compare the prognostic accuracy of the sepsis-related organ failure assessment (SOFA), quick SOFA (qSOFA), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and national early warning system (NEWS) scores for hospital mortality and other outcomes amongst patients with suspected infection at an academic public hospital. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS 10,981 adult patients with suspected infection hospitalized at a U.S. academic public hospital between 2011-2017 were retrospectively identified. Primary exposures were the maximum SIRS, qSOFA, SOFA, and NEWS scores upon inclusion. Comparative prognostic accuracy for the primary outcome of hospital mortality was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). Secondary outcomes included mortality in ICU versus non-ICU settings, ICU transfer, ICU length of stay (LOS) >3 days, and hospital LOS >7 days. Adjusted analyses were performed using a model of baseline risk for hospital mortality. 774 patients (7.1%) died in hospital. Discrimination for hospital mortality was highest for SOFA (AUROC 0.90 [95% CI, 0.89-0.91]), followed by NEWS (AUROC 0.85 [95% CI, 0.84-0.86]), qSOFA (AUROC 0.84 [95% CI, 0.83-0.85]), and SIRS (AUROC 0.79 [95% CI, 0.78-0.81]; p 3 days (SOFA AUROC 0.84 [95% CI, 0.83-0.85; qSOFA AUROC, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.83-0.84]; SIRS AUROC, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.74-0.76]; p<0.002 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS Multivariate prediction scores, such as SOFA and NEWS, had greater prognostic accuracy than qSOFA or SIRS for hospital mortality, ICU transfer, and ICU length of stay. Complex sepsis scores may offer enhanced prognostic performance as compared to simple sepsis scores in inpatient hospital settings where more complex scores can be readily calculated.
Big Data in the Banking Sector from a Transactional Cost Theory (TCT) Perspective—The Case of Top Lebanese Banks

The Voluminous data are being exchanged during banking transactions internally and externally. In the current information era, big data can help firms reveal hidden information and achieve competitive advantages, translating into higher productivity, lower operating costs, and a greater supply curve shift. In fact, the integration of big data analytics in the banking operations in England and Singapore enhanced customer services’ efficiency, reduced transaction costs, increased number of users, and boosted demand. This article discusses challenges and role of Big Data in the banking sector through the transaction cost theory approach of Williamson [1]. Following a qualitative approach, this paper reveals the actions currently undertaken by the two leading banks in the Lebanese market in order to optimize big data integration in their internal and external transactions.
Factors associated with long-term survival following stem cell transplantation (SCT) for non-Hodgkin lymphoma

18504 Background: Psychosocial variables have been associated with survival in stem cell transplantation recipients. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between clinical, psyc...
Sequence Alignment and Sex Determination

What determines the sex of an individual organism? It turns out there are different answers for different species. In many vertebrates, including mammals and birds, sex is determined by chromosomes. In other groups, sex is not determined genetically but instead by environmental conditions. For example, in alligators the temperature of the egg during a several-week period determines the sex of the resulting hatchling. In other species, such as clownfish, the sex of an individual may change during the course of its lifetime. A fundamental question in evolutionary biology is how such different sex-determination systems arose. In this part of the book we address one specific piece of this very big question: The origin of the avian and mammalian sex-determination systems. While both systems are chromosomal, they use different chromosomes. Did the two sex-determination systems evolve independently or arise from a single common ancestral system? Surprisingly, this question can be addressed using a computational analysis of the genes of mammals and birds. In this chapter, we’ll develop a number of widely applicable biological and computational techniques. In the homework problems you’ll then use these to explore the origins of the mammalian and avian sex-determination systems.
Chapter 2 – COMPLEX INTEGRATION

Publisher Summary The Fundamental Theorem of Integration reveals a surprising and useful connection between derivatives and definite integrals. This chapter presents the proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Integration for line integrals in the complex plane. It also presents the proofs of the result that the values of an analytic function inside a piecewise differentiable Jordan curve are completely determined by its values on the curve. Riemann's Theorem presented in the chapter is a useful generalization of the Cauchy Integral Formula and the remarkable fact that the derivative of an analytic function is also an analytic function. The converse to Cauchy's Theorem is often useful in establishing the analyticity of a function, as integration is frequently easier to justify than differentiation. In addition, the chapter presents three useful consequences of the Cauchy Integral Formula and its extension to higher derivatives, which include Liouville's Theorem and the Maximum Principle.
Towards virtual surgery planning: the modified Blalock-Taussig Shunt

A modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (MBTS) is an aortopulmonary shunt to establish or augment pulmonary perfusion in congenital cardiac defects with limited pulmonary blood flow. Proper function of this shunt is of utmost importance. In clinical practice, prediction of flow in an MBTS relies on previous experience. In the research field, computational modeling techniques have been developed to simulate flow in an MBTS and predict its performance. These techniques are promising but also time consuming and prone to uncertainties; therefore not yet suitable for clinical practice. Here we present a simplified, patient-based computational model to predict mean circulatory flow characteristics after MBTS insertion. Simulations performed over a range of pulmonary vascular resistances, were compared to data from: i) previous modeling studies; ii) data from the specific patient modeled, and iii) a cohort of patients with MBTS. Model predictions were within one standard deviation from cohort data; and within 1% from results of previous (more complex) computational models. In comparison to previous studies, our model is computationally stable with significantly shorter computational time to perform simulations. We envision that our approach could be used in the future to perform virtual surgeries, quickly testing different surgical scenarios using the patient own geometrical and physiological characteristics, to aid surgeons in decision making.
Electoral Dis-Connection: The Limits of Reelection in Contexts of Weak Accountability

Holding politicians accountable through reelection has long been a focus of empirical research, yet results are mixed in terms of whether electoral accountability works in practice. I offer a new t...
The Maze of Realizing Empathy with Social Robots

Current trends envisage an evolution of collaboration, engagement, and relationship between humans and devices, intelligent agents and robots in our everyday life. Some of the key elements under study are affective states, motivation, trust, care, and empathy. This paper introduces an empathy test-bed that serves as a case study for an existing empathy model. The model describes the steps that need to occur in the process to provoke meaning in empathy, as well as the variables and elements that contextualise those steps. Based on this approach we have developed a fun collaborative scenario where a user and a social robot work together to solve a maze. A set of exploratory trials are carried out to gather insights on how users perceive the proposed test-bed around attachment and trust, which are basic elements for the realisation of empathy.
Exploring the relation between brain response to speech at 6-months and language outcomes at 24-months in infants at high and low risk for autism spectrum disorder: A preliminary functional near-infrared spectroscopy study.

Abstract Infants at high familial risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at increased risk for language impairments. Studies have demonstrated that atypical brain response to speech is related to language impairments in this population, but few have examined this relation longitudinally. We used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate the neural correlates of speech processing in 6-month-old infants at high (HRA) and low risk (LRA) for autism. We also assessed the relation between brain response to speech at 6-months and verbal developmental quotient (VDQ) scores at 24-months. LRA infants exhibited greater brain response to speech in bilateral anterior regions of interest (ROIs) compared to posterior ROIs, while HRA infants exhibited similar brain response across all ROIs. Compared to LRA infants, HRA + infants who were later diagnosed with ASD had reduced brain response in bilateral anterior ROIs, while HRA- infants who were not later diagnosed with ASD had increased brain response in right posterior ROI. Greater brain response in left anterior ROI predicted VDQ scores for LRA infants only. Findings highlight the importance of studying HRA + and HRA- infants separately, and implicate a different, more distributed neural system for speech processing in HRA infants that is not related to language functioning.
Diabetes in pregnancy and risk of near-miss, maternal mortality and foetal outcomes in the USA: a retrospective cross-sectional analysis.

Background The prevalence of diabetes in pregnant women has increased in the USA over recent decades. The primary aim of this study was to assess the association between diabetes in pregnancy and maternal near-miss incident, maternal mortality and selected adverse foetal outcomes. Methods We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis among pregnancy-related hospitalizations in USA between 2002 and 2014. We examined the association between DM and GDM as exposures and maternal in-hospital mortality, maternal cardiac arrest, early onset of delivery, poor foetal growth and stillbirth as the outcome variables. Results Among the 57.3 million pregnant women in the study population, the prevalence of GDM and DM was 5.4 and 1.3%, respectively. We found that pregnant women with DM were three times more likely to experience cardiac arrest (OR = 3.21; 95% CI = 2.57-4.01) and in-hospital maternal death (OR = 3.05; 95% CI = 2.45-3.79), as compared to those without DM. Among pregnant women with GDM and DM, the risk for early onset of delivery was higher, compared to women without GDM or DM. Conclusion A diagnosis of diabetes prior to pregnancy contributes significantly to the risk of maternal cardiac arrest, maternal mortality and adverse foetal outcomes.
Democracy Administered: How Public Administration Shapes Representative Government

How does representative government function when public administration can reshape democracy? The traditional narrative of public administration balances the accountability of managers, a problem of control, with the need for effective administration, a problem of capability. The discretion modern governments give to administrators allows them to make tradeoffs among democratic values. This book challenges the traditional view with its argument that the democratic values of administration should complement the democratic values of the representative government within which they operate. Control, capability and value reinforcement can render public administration into democracy administered. This book offers a novel framework for empirically and normatively understanding how democratic values have, and should be, reinforced by public administration. Bertelli's theoretical framework provides a guide for managers and reformers alike to chart a path toward democracy administered.
Massively Parallel GPU-Accelerated String Method for Fast and Accurate Prediction of Molecular Diffusivity in Nanoporous Materials

The diffusivity of guest molecules in nanoporous materials is instrumental for practical applications ranging from gas separation to catalysis and energy storage. Conventional methods to predict di...
Prompting More Relevant and Reliable Audit Evidence Ideation With a Counterfactual Mindset

Regulator concerns about the amount or type of audit evidence obtained by auditors are among some of the most pervasive and long-standing criticism of the profession. While prior literature has investigated many potential causes of suboptimal audit evidence selection, I examine whether the subconscious mechanism of design fixation is also contributing to auditors’ tendency to rely on similar audit evidence year-over-year. Design fixation is a phenomenon in which knowledge of how a problem was solved in the past blocks new ideas from coming to mind (Jansson and Smith 1991). Relying on associative memory theory (Nijstad and Stroebe 2006), I predict and find that priming a counterfactual mindset improves the quantity, relevance, and reliability of audit evidence ideation when auditors plan familiar audit areas, but not for unfamiliar audit areas. I also find the benefits of a counterfactual mindset on ideation are robust to the source of the design fixation (i.e., own knowledge vs. an inherited example). Supplemental analyses suggest that the improved list of audit evidence resulting from a counterfactual mindset subsequently allowed auditors to generate more efficient audit programs for familiar audit areas.
Sino-Japanese Engagement in the Making of China’s National Champions

Japan’s rapid post-war economic growth prompted Chinese leaders to look to their neighbour as they initiated market reforms from the late 1970s. How did movements of people and ideas between China ...
The duration dilemma in opioid agonist therapy.

Objective: Studies dating back to 1964 consistently support the effectiveness of methadone as a maintenance treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), and since 2003, the effectiveness of buprenorphine. Short-term detoxification has not proven to be an effective treatment, as it results in high relapse rates when compared with maintenance treatment with an opioid agonist therapy (OAT). The question about the duration of maintenance treatment for OUD has been debated with recommendations ranging from a minimum of 1 year, 2 years, to indefinitely. Other factors such as misconceptions, regulations, and insurance barriers also have an impact on the duration dilemma of OAT. Design: There were no a priori criteria for article inclusion and this is not a structured literature review. It is a review of articles of convenience from 1964 to 2018. Main outcome measure: This paper aims to address the dilemma of the ideal duration of OAT and to discuss the factors that could affect this decision. Results: Sustained OAT has had significantly better long-term outcomes than short-term detoxification or time limited maintenance. Optimal outcomes are dependent on adequate treatment duration. Conclusions: Addiction is a chronic brain disease and its treatment should be similar to the treatment of other chronic medical and psychiatric diseases. Long-term, sometimes lifetime, continuation of OAT for the treatment of OUD results in optimal outcomes when measuring morbidity and mortality. The accumulated evidence does not support any arbitrary limitation to the duration of OAT.
Prickle promotes the formation and maintenance of glutamatergic synapses by stabilizing the intercellular planar cell polarity complex.

Whether there exists a common signaling mechanism that assembles all glutamatergic synapses is unknown. We show here that knocking out Prickle1 and Prickle2 reduced the formation of the PSD-95–positive glutamatergic synapses in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex in postnatal development by 70–80%. Prickle1 and Prickle2 double knockout in adulthood lead to the disassembly of 70 to 80% of the postsynaptic-density(PSD)-95–positive glutamatergic synapses. PSD-95–positive glutamatergic synapses in the hippocampus of Prickle2E8Q/E8Q mice were reduced by 50% at postnatal day 14. Prickle2 promotes synapse formation by antagonizing Vangl2 and stabilizing the intercellular complex of the planar cell polarity (PCP) components, whereas Prickle2 E8Q fails to do so. Coculture experiments show that the asymmetric PCP complexes can determine the presynaptic and postsynaptic polarity. In summary, the PCP components regulate the assembly and maintenance of a large number of glutamatergic synapses and specify the direction of synaptic transmission.