cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distinguishing Partisanship from Inattention in Aggregate Opinion

Within the field of public opinion, there is a growing awareness that the public as a whole does not make decisions in accord with strict notions of rationality. The public, like individuals, is subject to the influence of partisanship and inattention. Distinguishing between these effects has important normative consequences, yet it is difficult to disentangle their empirical effects in aggregate behavior. Both partisanship and inattention can lead people to be slow to update their opinions in light of new information. In this study, I use an important and underutilized dataset, the German Socio-Economic Panel, to isolate the effects of partisanship and inattention on aggregate opinion. Because this is a longitudinal study (1984-2009) with questions about partisanship, economic evaluations, and several policy evaluations, it is possible, through dynamic factor models, to identify when individuals exhibit partisanship and inattention and trace this impact to the aggregate level.
Multimodal MRI Evaluation of the MitoPark Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease

The MitoPark mouse, a relatively new genetic model of Parkinson’s disease (PD), has a dopaminergic neuron-specific knock-out that inactivates the mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam), a protein essential for mitochondrial DNA expression and maintenance. This study used multimodal MRI to characterize the neuroanatomical correlates of PD-related deficits in MitoPark mice, along with functional behavioral tests. Compared with age-matched wild-type animals, MitoPark mice at 30 weeks showed: i) reduced whole-brain volume and increased ventricular volume, indicative of brain atrophy, ii) reduced transverse relaxation time (T2*) of the substantia nigra and striatum, suggestive of abnormal iron accumulation, iii) reduced apparent diffusion coefficient in the substantia nigra, suggestive of neuronal loss, iv) reduced fractional anisotropy in the corpus callosum and substantia nigra, indicative of white-matter damages, v) cerebral blood flow was not significantly affected, and vi) reduced motor activity in open-field tests, reduced memory in novel object recognition tests, as well as decreased mobility in tail suspension tests, an indication of depression. In sum, MitoPark mice recapitulate changes in many MRI parameters reported in PD patients. Multimodal MRI may prove useful for evaluating neuroanatomical correlates of PD pathophysiology in MitoPark mice, and for longitudinally monitoring disease progression and therapeutic interventions for PD.
Dispersion-Weighted Explicitly Correlated Coupled-Cluster Theory [DW-CCSD(T**)-F12].

We propose a procedure denoted dispersion-weighted explicitly correlated coupled-cluster [DW-CCSD(T**)-F12] which mixes CCSD(T**)-F12a and CCSD(T**)-F12b so as to correct the small errors exhibited by each of the approximations in a small basis set, allowing for a black-box method that can provide high-quality interaction energies for a variety of nonbonded interactions. Relative to CCSD(T**)-F12a and CCSD(T**)-F12b, DW-CCSD(T**)-F12 reduces the mean absolute deviation by a factor of 2 and the maximum error by a factor of 3 (formic acid dimer) and 4 (stacked adenine–thymine) for the aug-cc-pVDZ basis set.
Willow Beaked-Gall Midge: Control by Insecticides and Pruning

Immature larvae of Mayetiola rigidae (Osten Sacken) in galls on Salix caprea L. and S. cinerea L. were destroyed in the late spring by painting concentrated systemic insecticides on the bark of 3-to-4-year-old branches of infested trees or by spraying the foliage with diluted water sprays of the same systemics. Infestations were reduced 97% by winter pruning of the 1-year-old shoots with buds on which early spring emerging adults deposit their eggs.
Which sectoral FDI flows crowd in domestic entrepreneurship

This study examines the impact of several sector- and industry-level FDI inflows - mining, manufacturing, total services, and financial services - on domestic entrepreneurship, which is measured as the density of newly registered firms. We use a unique dataset of sectoral FDI coupled with data from the World Bank Doing Business Indicators for a panel of up to 96 countries and the period 2004-2012. Our model controls for fixed capital formation, quality of institutions, as well as several cost of doing business indicators: the cost of starting a business, tax rates, and export costs. We use a dynamic panel estimator that allows us to exploit the time-varying characteristics of the data and to control for omitted variable biases and endogeneity issues in the data. We find that although services and mining FDI are related to crowding-in of domestic entrepreneurship, manufacturing FDI is associated with a crowding-out effect.
Review of the Development of Measuring Techniques for 3 D Compound Free Surface(II)

This is the first part of the paper.Based on the definition of 3 D compound free surface,the scanning measurement techniques for 3 D compound free surface,including the definition,classification and features are described.
A new type of inflammasome mediated by p200 family proteins human AIM2 and murine Aim2

Human absent in melanoma 2(AIM2) and murine Aim2 belong to the interferon-inducible protein 200 family(p200) members.Mutations in AIM2 are closely related to the process of melanoma,colorectal cancer and other tumors.A series of studies indicates that,as a new type of DNA sensor,AIM2 and Aim2 are equally sensitive to endogenous and the pathogen's dsDNA.AIM2 recognizes cytoplasmic dsDNA and forms a type of dsDNA/AIM2/ASC/pro-caspase-1 multi-proteins inflammasome to activate the immune response relative to caspase-1.In this paper,the structural features and the expression of p200 family protein(especially AIM2,Aim2 and p202) are introduced,the mechanism and latest progress of autoimmune response mediated by AIM2 are expounded,and the clinical significance is prospected at last.
[Immunogenicity for different formulation of influenza A (H1N1) 2009 vaccines: a meta-analysis of seven randomized clinical trials].

为有效控制甲型H1N1流感疫情,接种疫苗是当前最为经济、科学的手段.当前已有研究报道了前期甲型H1N1流感疫苗人群免疫效果和安全性评估的研究情况,WHO也肯定了其效果.但目前对于不同剂型疫苗免疫效果结论不尽一致,缺乏全面、系统的权威报道.为此,本研究对国内外报道的不同剂型新型甲型H1N1流感疫苗免疫效果进行Meta分析,以提高研究的统计学效力,为下一步探索最佳的甲型H1N1流感疫苗免疫策略的循证决策提供科学数据[1,2]。
Trace elements and teratology: an interactional perspective.

Congenital malformations and developmental defects are at the present time the leading cause of infant mortality in the United States and Europe. Only about 30% of the causes of developmental defects are known, including those of genetic transmission. The biochemical mechanisms responsible for the remaining 65–70% of the developmental defects in humans are unknown (38). Several papers in this volume provide evidence of how congenital malformations may arise as a consequence of mutagenic agents in the environment.
Incorporating Web accessibility into the design process

It was discovered that setting up an accessibility compliance program was challenging but rewarding work. Some valuable lessons are discussed about handling large-scale accessibility initiatives which include: get the high-level stakeholders identified and contacted as soon as possible because gaining their buy-in is critical for the success of the project, conduct a very basic accessibility review of the current products and provide the management team with information they can use for establishing sizings and priorities, the accessibility lead needs to stay involved with every stage of the redevelopment process; pull other resources in as needed, and an accessibility advocate and champion is important for the success of the project. Usability specialists can play a vital role in promoting the importance of accessible web design. Knowing that the efforts would benefit real people trying to use the Travelers by Design (TBD) sites was gratifying. The chapter concludes that TBD beat out the competition and won the government contract! The bottom line is that accessible design benefits the company and its customers.
Clustering and jamming in epithelial-mesenchymal co-cultures.

Collective behaviors emerge from coordinated cell–cell interactions during the morphogenesis of tissues and tumors. For instance, cells may display density-dependent phase transitions from a fluid-like “unjammed” phase to a solid-like “jammed” phase, while different cell types can “self-sort”. Here, we comprehensively track single cell dynamics in mixtures of sheet-forming epithelial cells and dispersed mesenchymal cells. We find that proliferating epithelial cells nucleate multicellular clusters that coarsen at a critical density, arresting migration and strengthening spatial velocity correlations. The addition of mesenchymal cells can slow cluster formation and coarsening, resulting in more dispersed individual cells with weak spatial velocity correlations. These behaviors have analogies with a jamming–unjamming transition, where the control parameters are cell density and mesenchymal fraction. This complex interplay of proliferation, clustering and correlated migration may have physical implications for understanding epithelial–mesenchymal interactions in development and disease.
Diversity, taxonomic composition, and functional aspects of fungal communities in living, senesced, and fallen leaves at five sites across North America

National Science Foundation [DEB0640996, DEB072825]; National Science Foundation (NSF); Mycological Society of America
Retroperitoneal Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy Allows Continuation of Peritoneal Dialysis in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

Patient outcomes for retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (RLRN) in adults on peritoneal dialysis (PD) have not been described in the literature. This is the first series on the successful application of RLRN for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) among adults with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on PD. In our series of 5 patients, all were able to promptly resume PD, no wound complications were noted at postoperative visits, and no evidence of recurrence was identified on surveillance imaging at follow-up. We propose that RLRN should be considered in PD patients as it allows immediate reinstitution of PD and prevents the morbidity and complications associated with interim hemodialysis.
Medicolegal cases involving periviable births from a major United States legal database

Objective: The management of expectant mothers and infants born at the threshold of viability is challenging. We describe medicolegal cases from a major United States legal database involving periv...
Smart Cities, Transparency, Civic Technology and Reinventing Government

This chapter looks at the potential of the civic technology movement to enhance the development of smart cities and the smart city movement. Civic technology combines open civic data, technology, and a new set of collaborative civic technology practices in order to facilitate effective government. What distinguishes civic technology from traditional uses of technology to improve urban administration is its reliance on open and voluntary sharing of information, ideas, and initiatives among governments and other stakeholders. This has the potential to change the relationship between government and other sectors, and blur the boundaries between them. In the best case, this might promote creativity, education, innovation, and learning; remove barriers to participation, knowledge, and services; and build intellectual, social, and human capacities. This is a qualitatively different proposition from viewing smart cities as simply a continuation of urban politics and management as usual, but with some efficiency and effectiveness gains enabled by improved technology. In a less inspiring possibility, business and technically proficient elites might use the tools of civic technology to capture urban governance and direct it to their own purposes. While it is still too soon to tell whether smart cities will realize a civic-technology utopia, dystopia, or something in between, it is clear that the blurring of boundaries will happen in some form. Urban public management practice and education must therefore work proactively to develop informed strategies that will preserve core values of democratic administration, democracy and efficiency.
Frequency-domain analysis of atmospherically forced versus intrinsic ocean surface kinetic energy variability in GFDL's CM2-O model hierarchy

AbstractLow-frequency variability at the ocean surface can be excited by both atmospheric forcing, such as in exchanges of heat and momentum, and by the intrinsic nonlinear transfer of energy between mesoscale ocean eddies. Recent studies have shown that nonlinear eddy interactions can excite an energy transfer from high to low frequencies analogous to the transfer of energy from high to low wavenumbers (small to large spatial scales) in quasi-twodimensional turbulence. As the spatial inverse cascade is driven by oceanic eddies, the process of energy exchange across frequencies may be sensitive to ocean model resolution. Here a cross-spectrum diagnostic is applied to GFDLs CM2-O hierarchy of fully coupled ocean-atmosphere models to address the transfer of ocean surface kinetic energy between high and low frequencies. The cross-spectral diagnostic allows for a comparison of the relative contributions of coupled atmospheric forcing through wind stress and the intrinsic advection to low-frequency ocean surfa...
Hydrogen-Bond Networks near Supported Lipid Bilayers from Vibrational Sum Frequency Generation Experiments and Atomistic Simulations

We report vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) spectra in which the C–H stretches of lipid alkyl tails in fully hydrogenated single- and dual-component supported lipid bilayers are detected along with the O–H stretching continuum above the bilayer. As the salt concentration is increased from ∼10 μM to 0.1 M, the SFG intensities in the O–H stretching region decrease by a factor of 2, consistent with significant absorptive–dispersive mixing between χ(2) and χ(3) contributions to the SFG signal generation process from charged interfaces. A method for estimating the surface potential from the second-order spectral lineshapes (in the OH stretching region) is presented and discussed in the context of choosing truly zero-potential reference states. Aided by atomistic simulations, we find that the strength and orientation distribution of the hydrogen bonds over the purely zwitterionic bilayers are largely invariant between submicromolar and hundreds of millimolar concentrations. However, specific interactio...
Implementation of information technology in a job shop manufacturing company: a focus on ManuSoft

A.B.C. Engineering is a Melbourne-based job shop manufacturing company. The company attempted a major improvement in the information technology area by implementing and enhancing the capability of a MIS software package called 'ManuSoft'. The General Manager of A.B.C Engineering felt that the implementation of this commercially available package would enhance the productivity and help managers in the planning process. The company carried out a detailed study on various IT tools and information systems softwares that are applicable to the job shop manufacturing situation. Considering the prevailing company situations, it was decided that 'ManuSoft' would satisfy the information requirements. A project team was set up to study the scope of IT improvements and implement the required IT/IS system.
MANAGED CARE: Evolution and Distinguishing Features

Managed care is a system of health care delivery that aims to provide health care that is cost-effective, accessible, and of high quality. The popularity of managed care has grown tremendously in the United States in the past decade in response to demands by payers (employers and government) that these aims be met, particularly that of cost containment. There are now more than 58 million people enrolled in approximately 575 health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and millions more in the other two prominent types of managed care organizations (MCOs): preferred provider organizations (PPOs) and managed fee-for-service (FFS) plans. 11 The percentage of workers in private companies who enrolled in some form of managed care increased from 29% in 1988 to 70% in 1995. 12 As a result of this change, employer spending on health benefits increased only by 0.1% from June 1995 to June 1996, 20 and the rise in national health care costs slowed to the lowest rate in three decades. 13 In addition, major shifts to managed care are underway in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Although the increasing emphasis on managed care has been fueled by changing demands in the marketplace and the health care reform debates of 1993 and 1994, the concepts are far from new. In this article, a review of the evolution of managed care and an explanation of its distinguishing features set the stage for more in-depth presentations of specific managed care topics in subsequent articles in this issue.
New Streamfunction Approach for Magnetohydrodynamics

We apply the finite element method to two-dimensional, incompressible MHD, using a streamfunction approach to enforce the divergence-free conditions on the magnetic and velocity fields. This problem was considered by Strauss and Longcope [SL98]. In this paper, we solve the problems with magnetic and velocity fields instead of the velocity stream function, magnetic flux, and their derivatives. Considering the multiscale nature of the tilt instability, we study the effect of domain resolution in the tilt instability problem. We use a finite element discretization on unstructured meshes and an implicit scheme. We use the PETSc library with index sets for parallelization. To solve the nonlinear MHD problem, we compare two nonlinear Gauss-Seidel type methods and Newton’s method with several time step sizes. We use GMRES in PETSc with multigrid preconditioning to solve the linear subproblems within the nonlinear solvers. We also study the scalability of this program on a cluster.
Sex bias: Is it pervasive in otolaryngology clinical research?

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Recent initiatives highlight substantial sex bias in biomedical research. The objective was to determine whether sex bias is present in otolaryngology and whether sex is appropriately analyzed as an independent variable in otolaryngology clinical research. STUDY DESIGN Literature review. METHODS We systematically reviewed all 2016 articles in three major otolaryngology journals: The Laryngoscope, JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Extracted data included study origin, location, subspecialty, number/sex of subjects, ≥50% sex matching (SM≥50 ), and sex-based statistical analysis. RESULTS Six hundred of 1,209 articles comprising original clinical research were reviewed including 8,997,345,495 subjects (males: 3,898,559,264 [43.3%]; females: 5,095,592,583 [56.6%]; and unknown: 3,193,648 [0.04%]). There were 533/600 (88.8%) studies that included both sexes, eight (1.3%) included females only, five (0.8%) included males only, and 56 (9.3%) did not document participant sex. Only 280 studies (46.7%) analyzed data by sex, and 330 studies (60.7%) had SM≥50 . Sex-based statistical analysis and SM≥50 were similar in domestic and international studies (48.7% vs. 42.8% and 60.9% vs. 62%, respectively). Database studies performed sex-based statistical analysis more frequently than single and multi-institutional studies (79.1% vs. 40.4% and 43.4%, P < .00001). Analysis by sex was more frequently performed in head and neck surgery (53.6%) and pediatric otolaryngology (51.3%), whereas SM≥50 was highest in pediatric otolaryngology (86.8%) and otology (82.4%). CONCLUSIONS Sex bias exists in the clinical otolaryngology literature, with less than half the studies analyzing sex. Acknowledging the intertwinement of sex with disease pathophysiology and outcomes is important. Eliminating sex bias in research and clinical care should become a major focus for otolaryngologists. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE NA Laryngoscope, 129:858-864, 2019.
A Case of Rapidly Deteriorating Lymphangitic Carcinomatosis in a Patient with Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer

Pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis (PLC) is defined as a tumor in the lung lymphatic vessels. It is rarely seen as a result of malignancy and generally carries a poor prognosis. Proper knowledge of the clinical presentation is important for physicians to be aware of in order to consider a diagnosis of PLC. We present the case of a 52-year-old Caucasian gentleman who initially came to the hospital with a three-week history of dyspnea. In the hospital, a diagnosis of Stage 4 pancreatic cancer with a lymphangitic spread of the tumor to the lungs was made. Despite optimal treatment, the patient required mechanical ventilation for acute hypoxic respiratory failure. PLC is a relatively rare manifestation of malignancy; yet, it generally carries a poor prognosis. It may occur during the course of malignancy or may represent as the first findings in malignancy. It is important for physicians to be aware of the clinical presentations of PLC in order to ensure timely treatment. Oftentimes, PLC can be diagnosed through clinical judgment alone without the need for radiological support and other invasive measures.
The effects of simulated knee arthrodesis on gait kinematics and kinetics.

Knee arthrodesis is commonly performed to treat joint pain and instability in cases of multiple failed knee replacement surgeries, bone loss, traumatic injury, infection, or loss of the quadriceps ...
Slip partitioning along an idealized subduction plate boundary at deep slow slip conditions

Abstract Below the base of many subduction seismogenic zones, the plate interface periodically slips at rates 1 to 2 orders of magnitude faster than tectonic plate velocities. A number of competing hypotheses exist to explain the mechanisms for these slow slip events (SSEs), but they remain incompletely tested because we do not know how deformation is partitioned across the lithologically complex plate boundary interface. We use the deepest exposure of the Arosa zone, a ∼520 m-thick exhumed subduction interface, as a case study to evaluate the partitioning of strain between lithologic units throughout the SSE cycle. We review and synthesize published constitutive relations for the five lithologic units present to express shear stress as a function of deformation rate. We use these results to predict (1) the shear stress across the plate boundary as a function of slip velocity and (2) the partitioning of deformation among the different lithologic units for SSE and aseismic creep velocities. We conduct this analysis for pore fluid pressures from hydrostatic to near-lithostatic. Our results show that, at pore fluid pressure close to hydrostatic, aseismic creep and SSE velocities occur by viscous deformation of calcareous and quartzose units. However, once the pore fluid pressure increases above 80% of lithostatic, plate boundary slip migrates from the calcareous and quartzose rocks during aseismic creep to frictional deformation of talc schist during slow slip. This result is insensitive to differences in the thicknesses of metasedimentary units that may be present along subduction plate boundaries and, therefore, may apply to subduction plate boundaries in general.
Dietary Relationship with 24 h Urinary Iodine Concentrations of Young Adults in the Mountain West Region of the United States.

Background: Iodine deficiency is not seen as a public health concern in the US. However certain subpopulations may be vulnerable due to inadequate dietary sources. The purpose of the present study was to determine the dietary habits that influence iodine status in young adult men and women, and to evaluate the relationship between iodine status and thyroid function. Methods: 111 participants (31.6 ± 0.8 years, 173.2 ± 1.0 cm, 74.9 ± 1.7 kg) provided 24 h urine samples and completed an iodine-specific Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) for assessment of urinary iodine content (UIC) as a marker of iodine status and habitual iodine intake, respectively. Serum Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) concentration was evaluated as a marker of thyroid function. Spearman correlational and regression analysis were performed to analyze the associations between iodine intake and iodine status, and iodine status and thyroid function. Results: 50.4% of participants had a 24 h UIC < 100 µg/L). Dairy (r = 0.391, p < 0.000) and egg intake (r = 0.192, p = 0.044) were the best predictors of UIC, accounting for 19.7% of the variance (p ≤ 0.0001). There was a significant correlation between UIC and serum TSH (r = 0.194, p < 0.05) but TSH did not vary by iodine status category (F = 1.087, p = 0.372). Discussion: Total dairy and egg intake were the primary predictors of estimated iodine intake, as well as UIC. Iodized salt use was not a significant predictor, raising questions about the reliability of iodized salt recall. These data will be useful in directing public health and clinical assessment efforts in the US and other countries.
Template-assisted synthesis of Ni–Co bimetallic nanowires for urea electrocatalytic oxidation

Nickel–cobalt bimetallic nanowire electrocatalyts (NCNE), synthesized through anodic aluminium oxide templates, were evaluated for urea electro-oxidation in alkaline medium for their applications in wastewater remediation, hydrogen production, and fuel cells. Compared to bulk nickel film electrocatalysts (NFE), the NCNE resulted in a ca. 110 mV decrease in the overpotential of urea electro-oxidation. In addition, the NCNE exhibited higher oxidation current density and current efficiency for urea electrolysis than those of NFE and nickel–cobalt bimetallic film electrocatalysts (NCFE). The maximum current efficiency for urea electro-oxidation on the NCNE reached up to 81 %, which is ~25 % higher than those of the NFE and NCFE.
Modeling the Development of Permanent Deformation in Asphalt Interlayers of Unbonded Concrete Overlays of Concrete Pavements

Unbonded concrete overlay of concrete pavement (UBOL) is an effective rehabilitation method involving the construction of a new concrete pavement over a deteriorated concrete pavement, separated by...
Are There Differences in Surgical Outcomes Among Patients Operated on By Female Versus Male Surgeons in North America? (A Systematic Review)

Study Objective There continues to be concern about gender bias in the surgical profession especially in subspecialties such as general surgery that are male dominated. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize data comparing the outcomes of patients operated on by male surgeons to that of female surgeons. Design We followed PRISMA guidelines in conducting this systematic review including registration of the review in PROSPERO. Our search initially yielded 46 articles. After detailed screening, we found two articles that reported on surgical outcomes of patients operated on by female versus male surgeons. The data from these two articles were then abstracted and synthesized using the DistillerSR software. Setting N/A Patients or Participants N/A Interventions N/A Measurements and Main Results The two articles synthesized together covered all surgical subspecialties, and were both population based retrospective cohort studies. Both studies used commercially available databases containing hospital discharge data. They both employed matching at level of the surgeon and together involved patients across four regions (Ontario, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania). Their analyses incorporated a total of 74,759 patients operated on by female surgeons and 75,709 patients operated on by male surgeons. For operative mortality, there was no difference between female and male surgeons (pooled RR=0.97; 95% CI=0.89-1.06). For ‘any postoperative complication’ there was no difference between male and female surgeons (pooled RR=0.97; 95% CI=0.94-1.00). Conclusion This quantitative systematic review shows that patients operated on by female surgeons are no more likely to experience operative mortality or postoperative complications, than patients operated on by male surgeons. This study provides further evidence that patients should not consider gender when choosing their surgeon. The authors of this study also hope that our results will help reduce gender bias and stereotypes.
Classification and Staging of Oral Cancer

Summary The ultimate intention of classification and staging is to determine appropriate treatment and prognosis for the individual patient. Although the TNM system of defining malignant disease of the head and neck has served reasonably well to standardize, record, and communicate the particulars of oral malignant disease internationally, it is in several ways flawed and in need of revision. Improved imaging and an ever-expanding understanding of malignant disease biology will lead to increased prognostic accuracy in the medium and long terms. As new parameters are refined and substantiated, so will treatment be improved. Discussion of these evolving parameters is the essence of this article.
Founding team homogeneity and network positioning: The moderating role of environmental and organizational factors

Organizations with homogeneous founding teams have strong motivation to reach out to diverse network resources by occupying a structural hole position to overcome the lack of heterogeneity within t...
Patient reported outcomes in ALS: characteristics of the self-entry ALS Functional Rating Scale-revised and the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale.

Objective: This study characterized two patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs): a patient-facing adaptation of the revised amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Functional Rating Scale (“self-entr...
A Nationwide Study Examining Deafness Among Hospitalized Adults

Background It is unknown whether hospital outcomes differ among nonspeaking deaf patients compared to those without this disability. Objective This article aims to compare clinical outcomes and utilization data among patients with and without deafness. Design This study used a retrospective cohort study. Setting and Participants The participants included Nationwide Inpatient Sample, year 2017, hospitalized adults with and without diagnostic codes related to deafness and inability to speak. Method Multiple logistic and linear regression were used to compare in-hospital outcomes. Results Thirty million four hundred one thousand one hundred seventeen adults were hospitalized, and 7,180 had deafness and inability to speak related coding. Patients with deafness were older (mean age ± SEM: 59.2 ± 0.51 vs. 57.9 ± 0.09 years, p = .01), and less likely female (47.0% vs. 57.7%, p < .01) compared to controls. Those with deafness had more comorbidities compared to the controls (Charlson comorbidity score ≥ 3: 31.2% vs. 27.8%, p < .01). Mortality was higher among deaf versus controls (3.6% vs. 2.2%; p < .01); this translated into higher adjusted odds of mortality (adjusted odds ratio = 1.7. [confidence interval (CI) 1.3-2.4]; p = .01). Deaf patients had lower odds of being discharged home compared to controls {aOR} = 0.6, (CI) 0.55-0.73]; p < .01. Length of stay was longer (adjusted mean difference = 1.5 days CI [0.7-2.3]; p < .01) and hospital charges were higher, but not significantly so (adjusted mean difference = $4,193 CI [-$1,935-$10,322]; p = .18) in patients with deafness. Conclusions Hospitalized nonspeaking deaf patients had higher mortality and longer hospital stays compared to those without this condition. These results suggest that specialized attention may be warranted when deaf patients are admitted to our hospitals in hopes of reducing disparities in outcomes. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14336663.
Buy the Dip

The increasing role of social media in financial markets has encouraged retail traders to "buy the dip" (BTD). We present a simple paradigm describing this strategy in terms of dip size and purchase smoothing. The empirical investigation considers different specifications and testing periods. While BTD does not necessarily maximize investors' terminal wealth and is sensitive to market conditions at the beginning year of investment, it does provide a heuristic approach to improve risk-adjusted performance over a passive investment policy. Overall, BTD provides a simple, intuitive approach in dealing with portfolio selection over time.
In situ treatment of H. pylori infection in mice stomach with bioengineered probiotic bacteria releasing guided Antimicrobial peptides

Objectives: Targeted therapies seek to selectively eliminate a pathogen without disrupting the resident microbial community. This is even more important when a pathogen like H. pylori resides in stomach, a sensitive microbial ecosystem. Using a probiotic like Lactococcus lactis and bioengineering it to release a guided Antimicrobial Peptide (AMP) targeted towards the pathogen offers a pathway to specifically knock-out the deleterious species and not disturbing the stomach microbiome. Results: Three AMPs, Alyteserin, CRAMP and Laterosporulin, were genetically fused to a guiding peptide MM1, which selectively binds to Vacuolating Toxin A (VacA) of H. pylori and cloned into an excretory vector pTKR inside L. lactis. The probiotics were then fed to mice infected with H. pylori, both as a therapeutic and prophylactic measure, and the samples were collected using a novel gavage method and analyzed using qPCR and Illumina sequencing of the extracted stomach samples over a 10-day period. Microbiome analysis with Next-Gen sequencing also revealed a dysbiosis created by H. pylori, determined by creating a Correlation network model with the relative abundances of taxa across the samples, and this dysbiosis was palliated by the bioengineered probiotics which preserved and boosted key microbiome species and reducing the load of deleterious ones. The bioengineered probiotic also significantly improved the OTU diversity compared to antibiotics and L. lactis cloned with empty vector, with gAMP-L. lactis faring the best. Conclusions: Probiotics bioengineered to excrete guided AMPs can be a novel and useful approach for combating pathogens without endangering the natural microbial flora. Given the wealth of AMPs and guiding ligands, both natural and synthetic, this approach can be adapted to develop a diverse array of chimeric guided AMPs and can be cloned into probiotics to create a safe and effective alternative to conventional chemical antibiotics.
“A purer form of government”: African American constitutionalism in the founding of Liberia

The African Americans who wrote the Liberian constitution of 1847 represent one of the few instances where Americans engaged national constitution-making after 1787. While the Liberians adopted many aspects of the American constitution, they also made substantial changes implicitly critiquing the American original and forging a uniquely African American constitutionalism. Examining the Liberian constitution contributes to three fields of study: comparative constitutionalism, American political development, and African American political thought. In comparative constitutionalism, the Liberians show the adaptability of American constitutional principles to the west coast of Africa. In American political development, the Liberians provide a snapshot of what a subset of Americans disliked about the American constitution and what they changed when given the chance. Finally, the Liberians demonstrate how ideas of black nationalism and American constitutionalism may be intertwined in African American political thought.
Modified Technique for Retrograde Cerebral Perfusion during Hemiarch Aortic Replacement.

Background Uncertainty remains regarding the optimal method of brain protection for procedures that require repair or replacement of the aortic arch. We examined the early outcomes of a technique for brain protection in patients undergoing partial aortic arch (hemiarch) replacement that involves deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) and retrograde cerebral perfusion (RCP) of cold blood from the superior vena cava toward the end of the arrest interval. Methods During a recent 15-year interval, 520 patients underwent elective or urgent/emergent ascending aortic and hemiarch replacement as an isolated (47 patients) or combined (473 patients) procedure employing DHCA (mean nasopharyngeal temperature at circulatory arrest, 17.1°C and mean duration, 19.3 minutes) supplemented with RCP of cold blood from the superior vena cava toward the end of the arrest interval (mean, 6.7 minutes). The mean age of the patients was 59.5 years, and 65% were male. Results The in-hospital and 30-day mortality rates were 1.2% (six patients). Seven patients (1.4%) sustained a stroke and 19 patients (3.7%) had transient neurologic dysfunction that completely resolved by the time of hospital discharge. Four patients (0.77%) developed postoperative renal failure requiring dialysis. Twenty-one patients (4%) required ventilator support for >48 hours and five patients (0.96%) required a tracheostomy. The median hospital length of stay was 6 days. Conclusion DHCA with a brief interval of RCP is a safe and effective technique for brain protection during hemiarch aortic replacement. RCP reduces the duration of brain ischemia and permits removal of particulate matter and air from the arterial circulation.
The Protein Composition of Human Pancreatic Juice

1. Human pancreatic juice contains amylase, lipase, ribonuclease, deoxyribonuclease, proelastase, procarboxypeptidase A, procarboxypeptidase B, chymotrypsinogen, and trypsinogen, as well as a trypsin inhibitor. The level of the inhibitor is such that 1 ml of pancreatic juice containing 4 mg of protein will inhibit about 0.08 mg of bovine trypsin. The inhibitor is a small, basic protein, soluble in 2.5% trichloracetic acid. It differs from the Kunitz bovine inhibitor in its slower migration rate in polyacrylamide gels at pH 4.1 and in its kinetic properties. 2. The proteins of human pancreatic juice have been separated into anionic and cationic fractions at pH 6.5. The cationic proteins include amylase, lipase, RNase, and pancreatic trypsin inhibitor; the anionic proteins include chymotrypsinogen, procarboxypeptidases A and B, and two components showing tryptic activity. 3. The cationic proteins have been separated on polyacrylamide gels and identified by histochemical methods. Zones containing amylase, lipase, RNase, and pancreatic trypsin inhibitor have been localized.
The Treatment of Tinea Capitis with Griseofulvin.

Twenty-seven cases of T. capitis were successfully treated with Griseofulvin. They were followed-up for periods of 4 to 16 months. In 21 cases, subsequent clinical examinations and cultures were consistently negative. In 2 cases, infected hairs persisted for 3 months after there were no clinical signs of infection. Two cases had fresh infections which manifested themselves in previously infected sites. Two cases may have developed transient fresh infection which did not go on to clinical disease. The host-parasite relationship in fungous infections requires further study.
Pottery use-alteration as an indicator of socioeconomic status: An ethnoarchaeological study of the Gamo of Ethiopia.

The use of a pottery vessel leaves markers on the ceramic wall that can inform archaeologists how the vessel functioned in the past. At present, archaeologists have little information for understanding how use-alteration reflects the complex nature of ceramic function and socioeconomic status. I conducted a 2-year ethnoarchaeological research project among the Gamo people of southwestern Ethiopia, who continue to produce and use pottery on a daily basis. This research indicates that interior surface attrition occurs primarily on pottery vessels used in wealthy households because of fermentation processes from high-status foods. Thus, the Gamo example suggests that there is a relationship between ceramic use-alteration and household socioeconomic status.
Identification of a unique membrane receptor for adenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate.

Abstract Adenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate (Ap4A) has been implicated as a modulator of cell stress. We have performed binding studies which indicate that membranes from all tissues tested bind tritium-labeled Ap4A. The characteristics of Ap4A binding were determined on brain membrane homogenates after development of an optimized in vitro filter-binding assay. Ap4A binding is specific for adenylated dinucleotides and for the length of the phosphate bridge. A Kd of 0.71 microM for Ap4A was determined.
Key stages in mammary gland development: The mammary end bud as a motile organ

In the rodent, epithelial end buds define the tips of elongating mammary ducts. These highly motile structures undergo repeated dichotomous branching as they aggressively advance through fatty stroma and, turning to avoid other ducts, they finally cease growth leaving behind the open, tree-like framework on which secretory alveoli develop during pregnancy. This review identifies the motility of end buds as a unique developmental marker that represents the successful integration of systemic and local mammotrophic influences, and covers relevant advances in ductal growth regulation, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and cell adhesion in the inner end bud. An unexpected growth-promoting synergy between insulin-like growth factor-1 and progesterone, in which ducts elongate without forming new end buds, is described as well as evidence strongly supporting self-inhibition of ductal elongation by end-bud-secreted transforming growth factor-β acting on stromal targets. The influence of the matrix metalloproteinase ECM-remodeling enzymes, notably matrix metalloproteinase-2, on end bud growth is discussed in the broader context of enzymes that regulate the polysaccharide-rich glycosaminoglycan elements of the ECM. Finally, a critical, motility-enabling role for the cellular architecture of the end bud is identified and the contribution of cadherins, the netrin/neogenin system, and ErbB2 to the structure and motility of end buds is discussed.
Identification of MltG as a potential terminase for peptidoglycan polymerization in bacteria

Bacterial cells are fortified against osmotic lysis by a cell wall made of peptidoglycan (PG). Synthases called penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), the targets of penicillin and related antibiotics, polymerize the glycan strands of PG and crosslink them into the cell wall meshwork via attached peptides. The average length of glycan chains inserted into the matrix by the PBPs is thought to play an important role in bacterial morphogenesis, but polymerization termination factors controlling this process have yet to be discovered. Here, we report the identification of Escherichia coli MltG (YceG) as a potential terminase for glycan polymerization that is broadly conserved in bacteria. A clone containing mltG was initially isolated in a screen for multicopy plasmids generating a lethal phenotype in cells defective for the PG synthase PBP1b. Biochemical studies revealed that MltG is an inner membrane enzyme with endolytic transglycosylase activity capable of cleaving at internal positions within a glycan polymer. Radiolabeling experiments further demonstrated MltG-dependent nascent PG processing in vivo, and bacterial two-hybrid analysis identified an MltG-PBP1b interaction. Mutants lacking MltG were also shown to have longer glycans in their PG relative to wild-type cells. Our combined results are thus consistent with a model in which MltG associates with PG synthetic complexes to cleave nascent polymers and terminate their elongation.
Teacher-Child Relationship Quality and Children's Peer Victimization and Aggressive Behavior in Late Childhood

This investigation examines the extent to which characteristics of the teacher-child relationship (closeness, dependency, and conflict) are predictive of changes in children's peer victimization and aggressive behavior over the course of a school year. Relational and physical forms of victimization and aggression were studied, and changes in peer acceptance and number of friendships were tested as possible mediators. Longitudinal data from 410 fourth‐ and fifth‐grade students (193 boys; 217 girls) and their teachers (N = 25) were analyzed. Whereas dependency on the teacher predicted heightened victimization from peers, a close relationship with the teacher forecasted less physical aggression toward peers. Moreover, decreases in number of friendships partially mediated the link between dependency on the teacher and heightened relational victimization for boys. These findings have implications for understanding the continuing influence of teacher-child relationships on children's social development in late childhood and for identifying interpersonal risk factors associated with involvement in peer harassment.
Sharing Gaudium et Spes through Vocation of the Business Leader

The recent Spanish translation of Vocation of the Business Leader serves as a reminder of how little attention theologians have given to the earlier version of the document issued by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace nearly three years ago. The fiftieth anniversary of Gaudium et Spes serves as an opportunity to examine the relationship between Gaudium et Spes and Vocation of the Business Leader in three ways. First, we will examine the way in which Gaudium et Spes’ s methodology of reading the signs of the times illuminates both the origins and structure of Vocation of the Business Leader . Second, we will evaluate Gaudium et Spes’ s advocacy of dialogue and its implications for engaging business leaders. Third, we will consider the contributions of the language of Gaudium et Spes to Vocation of the Business Leader, in relationship both to the latter’s title and to avoiding corporate scandal.
Visual Hallucinations in the Elderly

Visual hallucinations, without auditory hallucinations and in the elderly, are not usually based on previous psychiatric illness. The elderly can, of course, hallucinate as part of severe depression or a life-long schizophrenia, but the clinician should assume that there is an organic basis when an elderly individual begins to develop visual hallucinations for the first time. Representative cases that illustrate visual hallucinations due to ophthalmological, vascular, or degenerative processes are presented. Visual hallucinations can be linked to disorders in multiple parts of the nervous system. Even when related to medications, dementia may also be contributory, as is illustrated by the hallucinations seen in those with Parkinson's disease. Treatment of visual hallucinations is treatment of the underlying cause although some newer drugs such as clozapine may also be helpful for selected patients.
Validation of closed-form compression noise statistics using model observers

Model observers have been used successfully to predict human observer performance and to evaluate image quality for detection tasks on various backgrounds in medical applications. This paper will apply the closed-form compression noise statistics in analytic form to model observers and the derived channelized Hotelling observer (CHO) for decompressed images. The performance of CHO on decompressed images is validated using JPEG compression algorithm and lumpy background images. The results show that the derived CHO performance predicts closely its simulated performance.
Electromagnetic absorption of a pinned Wigner crystal at finite temperatures

We investigate the microwave absorption of a pinned, two-dimensional Wigner crystal in a strong magnetic field at finite temperatures. Using a model of a uniform commensurate pinning potential, we analyze thermal broadening of the electromagnetic absorption resonance. Surprisingly, we find that the pinning resonance peak should remain sharp even when the temperature is comparable or greater than the peak frequency. This result agrees qualitatively with recent experimental observations of the ac conductivity in two-dimensional hole systems in a magnetically induced insulating state. It is shown, in analogy with Kohn's theorem, that the electron-electron interaction does not affect the response of a harmonically pinned Wigner crystal to a spatially uniform external field at any temperature. We thus focus on anharmonicity in the pinning potential as a source of broadening. Using a $1/N$ expansion technique, we show that the broadening is introduced through the self-energy corrections to the magnetophonon Green's functions.