International Trade and Labor Markets: Theory, Evidence, and Policy Implications

Davidson and Matusz develop simple yet compelling models that allow for documented differences in labor markets across countries in order to investigate the impact of trade and trade policies on society\u27s underclass.https://research.upjohn.org/up_press/1042/thumbnail.jp

Genomic characterization of Gli-activator targets in sonic hedgehog-mediated neural patterning

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) acts as a morphogen to mediate the specification of distinct cell identities in the ventral neural tube through a Gli-mediated (Gli1-3) transcriptional network. Identifying Gli targets in a systematic fashion is central to the understanding of the action of Shh. We examined this issue in differentiating neural progenitors in mouse. An epitope-tagged Gli-activator protein was used to directly isolate cis-regulatory sequences by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). ChIP products were then used to screen custom genomic tiling arrays of putative Hedgehog (Hh) targets predicted from transcriptional profiling studies, surveying 50-150 kb of non-transcribed sequence for each candidate. In addition to identifying expected Gli-target sites, the data predicted a number of unreported direct targets of Shh action. Transgenic analysis of binding regions in Nkx2.2, Nkx2.1 (Titf1) and Rab34 established these as direct Hh targets. These data also facilitated the generation of an algorithm that improved in silico predictions of Hh target genes. Together, these approaches provide significant new insights into both tissue-specific and general transcriptional targets in a crucial Shh-mediated patterning process

Depression and Clinical Inertia in Patients With Uncontrolled Hypertension

Depression is a known risk factor for poor prognosis among patients with cardiovascular disease.1 Numerous biological and behavioral mechanisms have been proposed.2 However, few studies have investigated the association between depression and “clinical inertia,” or lack of treatment intensification in individuals not at evidence-based goals for care.3 To address this gap, we assessed whether a diagnosis of depression is associated with clinical inertia in patients with uncontrolled hypertension

Oral hygiene effects verbal and nonverbal displays of confidence

Although oral hygiene is known to impact self-confidence and self-esteem, little is known about how it influences our interpersonal behavior. Using a wearable, multi-sensor device, we examined differences in consumers’ individual and interpersonal confidence after they had or had not brushed their teeth. Students (N = 140) completed nine one-to-one, 3-minute “speed dating” interactions while wearing a device that records verbal, nonverbal, and mimicry behavior. Half of the participants brushed their teeth using Close-Up toothpaste (Unilever) prior to the interactions, whilst the other half abstained from brushing that morning. Compared to those who had not brushed their teeth, participants who had brushed were more verbally confident (i.e., spoke louder, over-talked more), showed less nonverbal nervousness (i.e., fidgeted less), and were more often perceived as being “someone similar to me.” These effects were moderated by attractiveness but not by self-esteem or self-monitoring

Neutrino masses in the Lepton Number Violating MSSM

We consider the most general supersymmetric model with minimal particle content and an additional discrete Z_3 symmetry (instead of R-parity), which allows lepton number violating terms and results in non-zero Majorana neutrino masses. We investigate whether the currently measured values for lepton masses and mixing can be reproduced. We set up a framework in which Lagrangian parameters can be initialised without recourse to assumptions concerning trilinear or bilinear superpotential terms, CP-conservation or intergenerational mixing and analyse in detail the one loop corrections to the neutrino masses. We present scenarios in which the experimental data are reproduced and show the effect varying lepton number violating couplings has on the predicted atmospheric and solar mass^2 differences. We find that with bilinear lepton number violating couplings in the superpotential of the order 1 MeV the atmospheric mass scale can be reproduced. Certain trilinear superpotential couplings, usually, of the order of the electron Yukawa coupling can give rise to either atmospheric or solar mass scales and bilinear supersymmetry breaking terms of the order 0.1 GeV^2 can set the solar mass scale. Further details of our calculation, Lagrangian, Feynman rules and relevant generic loop diagrams, are presented in three Appendices.Comment: 48 pages, 7 figures, v2 references added, typos corrected, published versio

Evaluation of Emergency Medicine Community Educational Program

Out-of-hospital emergencies occur frequently, and laypersons are often the first to respond to these events. As an outreach to our local communities, we developed “Basic Emergency Interventions Everyone Should Know,” a three-hour program addressing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator use, heart attack and stroke recognition and intervention, choking and bleeding interventions and infant and child safety. Each session lasted 45 minutes and was facilitated by volunteers from the emergency department staff. A self-administered 13-item questionnaire was completed by each participant before and after the program. A total of 183 participants completed the training and questionnaires. Average score pre-training was nine while the average score post-training was 12 out of a possible 13 (P< .0001). At the conclusion of the program 97% of participants felt the training was very valuable and 100% would recommend the program to other members of their community

Relations Between Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, and T Wave Abnormalities in Subjects Without Clinically-Apparent Cardiovascular Disease (from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis [MESA])

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that depression and anxiety are associated with electrocardiographic (ECG) repolarization abnormalities in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a cohort free of symptomatic cardiovascular disease. Depressive symptoms were assessed by using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and trait anxiety symptoms by using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; both were categorized according to uppermost quartile. T-wave inversions in ECG leads other than V1 to V3 were obtained from electrocardiograms obtained at rest during the baseline examination. Participants with major intraventricular conduction abnormalities and those taking antiarrhythmics, antidepressants, and/or antipsychotics were excluded. Logistic regression models were estimated with multivariable adjustment for traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. Among 5,906 participants, elevated depressive symptoms were associated with increased odds of T-wave inversion after multivariable adjustment (odds ratio 2.02, 95% confidence interval 1.33 to 3.06, p = 0.001), whereas greater trait anxiety was associated with reduced odds of T-wave inversion (odds ratio 0.47, 95% confidence interval 0.29 to 0.77, p = 0.003). The divergent associations of depressive symptoms and trait anxiety with ECG T-wave inversions were similar in men and women, and these associations were present across the racial and ethnic subgroups (non-Hispanic white, African-American, Hispanic, and Chinese). In conclusion, symptoms of depression and anxiety were independently yet oppositely associated with ECG T-wave inversions. Negative emotions may have a differential impact on cardiovascular mortality through unique relations with cardiac repolarization

Calculation of droplet deformation at intermediate Reynolds number using a Volume of Fluid technique

The deformation of a droplet or bubble in simple extensional flow fields is investigated at intermediate Reynolds number using a Volume-of-Fluid (VOF) numerical algorithm (MAC2) developed by Rudman. The results of an evaluation study of the MAC2 algorithm for such flows are presented. The final steady shapes of droplets in axisymmetric extensional flow fields determined by MAC2 are compared with the published numerical results of Ramaswamy and Leal. This work forms the initial stage of a more comprehensive study of droplet deformation in time-dependent shear fields experienced by drops flowing through devices (e.g.\ homogenisers) designed for droplet breakup