What politicians don’t know can hurt you: the effects of information on politicians’ spending decisions

Do well-informed politicians make more effective spending decisions? In experiments with 70% of all elected politicians in Malawi (N=460), we tested the effects of information on public spending. Specifically, we randomly provided information about school needs, foreign aid, and voting patterns prior to officials making real decisions about the allocation of spending. We show that these information interventions reduced inequalities in spending: treatment group politicians were more likely to spend in schools neglected by donors and in schools with greater need. Some information treatment effects were strongest in remote and less populated communities. These results suggest information gaps partially explain inequalities in spending allocation and imply social welfare benefits from improving politicians’ access to information about community needs

Bioresorbable Polylactide Interbody Implants in an Ovine Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Model: Three-Year Results

Study Design. In vivo study of anterior discectomy and fusion using a bioresorbable 70:30 poly(l-lactide-co-d,l-lactide) interbody implant in an ovine model. Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of the polylactide implant to function as an interbody fusion device, and to assess the tissue reaction to the material during the resorption process. Summary of Background Data. The use of polylactide as a cervical interbody implant has several potential advantages when compared with traditional materials. Having an elastic modulus very similar to bone minimizes the potential for stress shielding, and as the material resorbs additional loading is transferred to the developing fusion mass. Although preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the suitability of polylactide implants for lumbar interbody fusion, detailed information on cervical anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with polylactide devices is desirable. Methods. Single level ACDF was performed in 8 skeletally mature ewes. Bioresorbable 70:30 poly (l-lactide-co-d,l-lactide) interbody implants packed with autograft were used with single-level metallic plates. Radiographs were made every 3 months up to 1 year, and yearly thereafter. The animals were killed at 6 months (3 animals), 12 months (3 animals), and 36 months (2 animals). In addition to the serial plain radiographs, the specimens were evaluated by nondestructive biomechanical testing and undecalcified histologic analysis. Results. The bioresorbable polylactide implants were effective in achieving interbody fusion. The 6-month animals appeared fused radiographically and biomechanically, whereas histologic sections demonstrated partial fusion (in 3 of 3 animals). Radiographic fusion was confirmed histologically and biomechanically at 12 months (3 of 3 animals) and 36 months (2 of 2 animals). A mild chronic inflammatory response to the resorbing polylactide implant was observed at both 6 months and 12 months. At 36 months, the operative levels were solidly fused and the implants were completely resorbed. No adverse tissue response was observed in any animal at any time period. Conclusion. Interbody fusion was achieved using bioresorbable polylactide implants, with no evidence of implant collapse, extrusion, or adverse tissue response to the material. The use of polylactide as a cervical interbody device appears both safe and effective based on these ACDF animal model results

Transient Local Bone Remodeling Effects of rhBMP-2 in an Ovine Interbody Spine Fusion Model

Background: Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) is a powerful osteoinductive morphogen capable of stimulating the migration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to the site of implantation and inducing the proliferation and differentiation of these MSCs into osteoblasts. Vertebral end-plate and vertebral body resorption has been reported after interbody fusion with high doses of rhBMP-2. In this study, we investigated the effects of 2 rhBMP-2 doses on peri-implant bone resorption and bone remodeling at 7 time points in an end-plate-sparing ovine interbody fusion model. Methods: Twenty-one female sheep underwent an end-plate-sparing discectomy followed by interbody fusion at L2-L3 and L4-L5 using a custom polyetheretherketone (PEEK) interbody fusion device. The PEEK interbody device was filled with 1 of 2 different doses of rhBMP-2 on an absorbable collagen sponge (ACS): 0.13 mg (1·) or 0.90 mg (7·). Bone remodeling and interbody fusion were assessed via high-resolution radiography and histological analyses at 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, and 20 weeks postoperatively. Results: Peri-implant bone resorption peaked between 3 and 8 weeks in both the 1· and the 7· rhBMP-2/ACS-dose group. Osteoclastic activity and corresponding peri-implant bone resorption was dose-dependent, with moderate-tomarked resorption at the 7·-dose level and less resorption at the 1·-dose level. Both dose (p \u3c 0.0007) and time (p \u3c 0.0025) affected bone resorption significantly. Transient bone-resorption areas were fully healed by 12 weeks. Osseous bridging was seen at all but 1 spinal level at 12 and at 20 weeks. Conclusions: In the ovine end-plate-sparing interbody fusion model, rhBMP-2 dose-dependent osteoclastic resorption is a transient phenomenon that peaks at 4 weeks postoperatively. Clinical Relevance: Using the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved rhBMP-2 concentration and matching the volume of rhBMP-2/ACS with the volume of desired bone formation within the interbody construct may limit the occurrence of transient bone resorption

An observational, spatially explicit, stability-based estimate of the wind resource off the shore of North Carolina

As part of ongoing studies of the feasibility of utility-scale wind energy off the shore of North Carolina, winds at 80-m elevation are estimated with a stability-based height-adjustment scheme. Data sources are level-3 daily Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) 10-m wind fields as measured by the MetOp-A satellite, North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) estimates of near-surface atmospheric temperature and humidity, and the National Climatic Data Center's optimally interpolated Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR-OI) sea surface temperature (SST). A height-adjustment assuming neutral atmospheric stability provides reference conditions. The SST from AVHRR-OI was more accurate than SST from NARRand was used withNARRatmospheric data to represent atmospheric stability in the study region. The 5-yr average of the ASCAT 10-m winds is 6.5-9.0 ms-1 off the shore of North Carolina, with the strongest winds found over the Gulf Stream. Neutral-scheme 80-m windspeeds are 7.5-10.5 ms-1 and follow the same spatial pattern. The stability-based scheme produces an 80-m wind field with significantly different spatial wind patterns, with greater wind speeds than the neutral scheme in coastal regions where stable atmosphere conditions occur and lesser wind speeds than the neutral scheme farther offshore where unstable conditions are prevalent. The largest differences between the schemes occur in winter and spring when and where stable atmospheric conditions are most common. Estimated power inshore from the 100-m isobath with the neutral scheme yields average values of 400-800 W m-2, whereas the stability-based-scheme values are 600-800 W m-2. Capacity factors vary between 30% and 55%, with values in excess of 40% common in coastal areas off North Carolina

Implementing quality control of high-frequency radar estimates and application to gulf stream surface currents

Quality control procedures based on nonvelocity parameters for use with a short-range radar system are applied with slight modification to long-range radar data collected offshore of North Carolina. The radar footprint covers shelf and slope environments and includes a segment of the Gulf Stream (GS). Standard processed and quality controlled (QCD) radar data are compared with 4 months of acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) time series collected at three different sites within the radar footprint. Two of the ADCP records are from the shelf and the third is on the upper slope and is frequently within the GS. Linear regression and Bland-Altman diagrams are used to quantify the comparison. QCD data at all sites have reduced scatter and improved correlation with ADCP observations relative to standard processed data. Uncertainty is reduced by approximately 20%, and linear regression slopes and correlation coefficients increase by about 0.1. At the upper slope site, the QCD data also produced a significant increase in the mean speed. Additionally, a significant increase, averaging roughly 20%, in mean speed in the GS is apparent when comparing standard processed data and QCD data, concentrated at large range and at the azimuthal extremes of radial site coverage. Shifts in the distributions of the standard processed and QCD velocity estimates are consistent with the removal of zero-mean noise from the observations, which has minimal impact where the radial site range is < 70 km and a large impact at greater range in the GS where mean currents exceed 1 m s-1

A compact laboratory transmission X-ray microscope for the water window

In the water window (2.2-4.4 nm) the attenuation of radiation in water is significantly smaller than in organic material. Therefore, intact biological specimen (e.g. cells) can be investigated in their natural environment. In order to make this technique accessible to users in a laboratory environment a Full-Field Laboratory Transmission X-ray Microscope (L-TXM) has been developed. The L-TXM is operated with a nitrogen laser plasma source employing an InnoSlab high power laser system for plasma generation. For microscopy the Ly α emission of highly ionized nitrogen at 2.48 nm is used. A laser plasma brightness of 5 × 1011 photons/(s × sr × μm2 in line at 2.48 nm) at a laser power of 70 W is demonstrated. In combination with a state-of-the-art Cr/V multilayer condenser mirror the sample is illuminated with 106 photons/(μm2 × s). Using objective zone plates 35-40 nm lines can be resolved with exposure times < 60 s. The exposure time can be further reduced to 20 s by the use of new multilayer condenser optics and operating the laser at its full power of 130 W. These exposure times enable cryo tomography in a laboratory environment

Cold-water coral growth under extreme environmental conditions, the Cape Lookout area, NW Atlantic

The Cape Lookout cold-water coral area off thecoast of North Carolina forms the shallowest and northernmostcold-water coral mound area on the Blake Plateau inthe NW Atlantic. Cold-water coral habitats near Cape Lookoutare occasionally bathed in the Gulf Stream, which is characterisedby oligotrophic warm water and strong surface currents.Here, we present the first insights into the mound distributionand morphology, sedimentary environment and coralcover and near-bed environmental conditions as recordedby bottom landers from this coral area. The mounds occurbetween 320 and 550m water depth and are characterisedby high acoustic backscatter indicating the presenceof hard structure. Three distinct mound morphologies wereobserved: (1) a mound with a flattened top at 320 m, (2)multi-summited mounds with a teardrop shape in the middlepart of the area and (3) a single mound at 540m water depth.Echosounder profiles show the presence of a strong reflectorunderneath all mound structures that forms the base of themounds. This reflector cropped out at the downstream side ofthe single mound and consists of carbonate slabs. Video analysisrevealed that all mounds are covered by Lophelia pertusaand that living colonies only occur close to the summitsof the SSW side of the mounds, which is the side that facesthe strongest currents. Off-mound areas were characterisedby low backscatter and sediment ripples, indicating the presenceof relatively strong bottom currents. Two bottom landerswere deployed amidst the coral mounds between December2009 and May 2010. Both landers recorded prominentevents, characterised by large fluctuations in environmentalconditions near the seabed as well as in the overlyingwater column. The period between December and April wascharacterised by several events of increasing temperature andsalinity, coinciding with increased flow and near-bed acousticbackscatter. During these events temperature fluctuatedby up to 9 ?C within a day, which is the largest temperaturevariability as measured so far in a cold-water coral habitat.Warm events, related to Gulf Stream meanders, had the durationof roughly 1 week and the current during these eventswas directed to the NNE. The consequences of such eventsmust be significant given the strong effects of temperature on the metabolism of cold-water corals. Furthermore, elevatedacoustic backscatter values and high mass fluxes werealso recorded during these events, indicating a second stressorthat may affect the corals. The abrasive nature of sand incombination with strong currents might sand blast the corals.We conclude that cold-water corals near Cape Lookout liveunder extreme conditions that limit mound growth at present

Time for global scale-up, not randomized trials, of uterine balloon tamponade for postpartum hemorrhage.

Maternal death is the greatest health disparity globally, with postpartum hemorrhage the most common cause. As senior leaders in obstetrics and maternal health from Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Honduras, India, Kenya, Nepal, Niger, Norway, Peru, Tanzania, the UK, the USA, and Zambia, we are deeply disturbed by recent calls for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of uterine balloon tamponade (UBT) in women with uncontrolled postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). Our collective experience, in combination with mounting evidence, unequivocally supports the effectiveness of commercial and condom UBTs in averting death and disability from PPH associated with atonic uterus. We believe it would be highly unethical to embark on an RCT of UBT, now or in the future, unless compared with a proven equivalent intervention. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Genomics of post-bottleneck recovery in the northern elephant seal.

Populations and species are threatened by human pressure, but their fate is variable. Some depleted populations, such as that of the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), recover rapidly even when the surviving population was small. The northern elephant seal was hunted extensively and taken by collectors between the early 1800s and 1892, suffering an extreme population bottleneck as a consequence. Recovery was rapid and now there are over 200,000 individuals. We sequenced 260 modern and 8 historical northern elephant seal nuclear genomes to assess the impact of the population bottleneck on individual northern elephant seals and to better understand their recovery. Here we show that inbreeding, an increase in the frequency of alleles compromised by lost function, and allele frequency distortion, reduced the fitness of breeding males and females, as well as the performance of adult females on foraging migrations. We provide a detailed investigation of the impact of a severe bottleneck on fitness at the genomic level and report on the role of specific gene systems. [Abstract copyright: © 2024. The Author(s).