Changes In Ranking Research Articles

Curriculum Innovation: Interactive Educational Workshop Improves Neurology Resident Knowledge of Multiple Sclerosis

IntroductionEstablishing a solid resident knowledge of multiple sclerosis (MS) during neurology residency is crucial for independent clinical practice. We created a case-based and interactive educational workshop on MS with the aim of improving neurology resident clinical and theoretical knowledge of various aspects of MS diagnosis and care. MethodsMS neurologists from the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine designed a 4-hour in-person case-based interactive educational workshop for all neurology residents. Covered topics included: MS definition, epidemiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, MS clinical course/ disease phenotypes, MS diagnostic criteria and differential diagnosis, acute MS attack treatment, symptomatic therapy, disease modifying therapy. Case-based and knowledge-based questions with multiple-choice questions were utilized using interactive online polls that residents participated in during the workshop. Additionally, a 10-question pre- and post-workshop test was administered and the change in exam results was analyzed using paired t-tests. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of percentile rank changes in Residency In-Service Training Examination (RITE) exam scores by UNC Neurology residents 2022 - 2023 (pre-MS Workshop) and 2023-2024 (post- MS Workshop). ResultsA total of 21 residents completed the workshop and pre- and post-workshop exam.Pre-workshop scores (mean, 6.14/10; standard deviation [SD], 1.20; range, 4-9) and post-workshop test scores (mean, 8.67/10; SD, 0.97; range, 7-10) were compared. There was a mean improvement of 2.52 points between pre- and post-workshop test results (t-ratio 8.97 [95% confidence interval 1.94-3.11]; p<.0001). Percentile rank on RITE exam scores by UNC Neurology residents (postgraduate years 2-4) after attending MS Workshop improved by 136.8% compared with the prior academic year when the traditional virtual didactic program on MS was conducted. ConclusionInteractive workshops for residents can improve resident education on MS, creating a solid basis for future continuing education activities in the rapidly developing field of MS with a goal of improving patient outcomes. Residency programs may consider incorporating interactive, case-based MS workshops into their educational curricula.

Do Changes in Journal Rank Influence Publication Output? Evidence from China

AbstractDespite considerable progress in understanding the journal evaluation system in China, empirical evidence remains limited regarding the impact of changes in journal rank (CJR) on scientific output. By employing the difference-in-differences (DID) framework, we exploit panel data from 2015 to 2019 to examine the effect of changes in journal ranks on the number of publications by Chinese researchers. Our analysis involves comparing two groups—journals that experienced a change in ranking and journals that did not—before and after the change in ranking. Our analysis reveals a statistically significant negative effect. The results suggest that CJR has led to a 14.81% decrease in the number of publications per 100, relative to the sample mean value. The observed negative impact is consistently confirmed through robustness tests that involve excluding journals that do not adhere to best practices, removing retracted publications from the calculation of publication numbers, and randomly selecting journals with changed ranks for estimation. We also observed that CJR exhibits a widespread but unequal effect. The negative effect is particularly pronounced in the academic domains of life sciences and physical sciences, in journals that experience declines in rank, and in less-prestigious universities. We contribute to the literature on how changes in journal rankings affect researchers’ academic behavior and the determinants of scholarly publication productivity.

How brand CSR responses to the pandemic impact brand value, growth, and rank

The top 100 brands globally in 2020 have responded to the coronavirus pandemic by donating cash, donating in kind, providing special services to their customers, and supporting their employees. The research investigates if their actions reflected on the brand value, brand growth, or brand rank change and which of the four actions, if any, significantly impacted brand performance indicators. The research showed that donations in kind and customer service responses affected brand growth. Both brand value and rank are more long-term and cannot be changed significantly by short-term responses in one year. The authors conclude with a discussion of the insights, research limitations, theoretical and managerial implications, and directions for future research.

Spatialization and Analysis of China’s GDP Based on NPP/VIIRS Data from 2013 to 2023

The quality of nighttime light (NTL) data is an important factor affecting the estimation of gross domestic product (GDP), but most studies do not use the latest NPP/VIIRS V2 annual composite product, and there is a lack of China’s GDP estimation products in recent years. To address this problem, this paper studies the NPP/VIIRS remote sensing estimation method for the GDP in mainland China from 2013 to 2023. First, the remote sensing data are preprocessed, and the noise masking method is used to remove outliers. The total amount of NTL, average NTL value, and comprehensive NTL index data are extracted. Combined with the GDP data from the Statistical Yearbook, a fitting model of the GDP and NTL index is constructed. The differences between different GDP estimation models are compared and analyzed, and the optimal model is selected as the estimation model. In addition, through the optimal fitting model, GDP spatial estimation products from 2013 to 2023 are produced. Moreover, the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of the GDP in mainland China are analyzed, with a focus on the spatiotemporal variation of GDP decline regions and the changes in the GDP rankings of provinces and cities. The main conclusions include the following: (1) In the time regression analysis, the linear model MNL has a strong correlation with the GDP, with an R2 of 0.972. This model is selected as the optimal fitting model to calculate the spatial data of the GDP. (2) The spatial distribution of the GDP in mainland China is high in the east and low in the west, and it shows a characteristic of extending from the provincial capital to the surrounding cities. The connectivity between adjacent high-GDP areas continues to increase. (3) From 2013 to 2023, the GDP in most parts of China showed an upward trend, with 98.56% of pixels growing and only 0.99% of pixels declining. The declining pixels are mainly distributed in heavy industrial cities supported by fossil fuel resources, such as Ordos, Daqing, Aksu, etc. (4) Compared with statistical data, the overall difference of the GDP estimated by NTL data is not large, and the relative error is between 0.04% and 1.95%. From the perspective of the GDP ranking of each province, the ranking of most provinces is not much different, fluctuating between ±2. A small number of provinces have large ranking differences due to reasons such as dominant industries and power supply. By spatializing the GDP data of mainland China in the past 11 years, the spatiotemporal changes of the GDP within mainland China were analyzed. The research results can provide support for government economic decisions such as urban development.

Falling Fortunes: The Contingent and Asymmetric Effect of Rankings on Organizational Outcomes

As rankings of organizations have proliferated in recent decades, much research has focused on organizational efforts to maintain a high position in rankings. A common theme in this literature is that changes in rank affect evaluations by external audiences and, consequently, organizational outcomes. Yet, accumulating evidence suggests that rankings sometimes have little effect on audience assessments and organizational outcomes, a finding that calls into question the power of rankings. Instead of asking whether rankings matter, this study adopts a contingency approach and investigates when rankings matter. I develop theory about contextual and organizational factors that shape the salience and information value of shifts in rankings: the direction of the change, the availability of information from other intermediaries, the sophistication of the audience, and the focal organization’s previous ranking position. Panel data analysis and a natural experiment focused on the Fortune 500 rankings support this theory. This article provides a framework to help scholars understand the contingent and asymmetric consequences of rankings on organizational outcomes, with implications for research on evaluation systems.

Postsynaptic lncRNA Sera/Pkm2 pathway orchestrates the transition from social competition to rank by remodeling the neural ensemble in mPFC

Individuals’ continuous success in competitive interactions with conspecifics strongly affects their social hierarchy. Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is the key brain region mediating both social competition and hierarchy. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying the neural ensemble in the mPFC remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that in excitatory neurons of prelimbic cortex (PL), lncRNA Sera remodels the utilization of Pkm Exon9 and Exon10, resulting in a decrease in the Pkm1/2 ratio in highly competitive mice. By employing a tet-on/off system, we disrupt or rebuild the normal Pkm1/2 ratio by controlling the expression of Pkm2 in PL excitatory neurons. We find that long-term Pkm2 modulation induces timely competition alteration and hysteretic rank change, through phosphorylating the Ser845 site of GluA1. Together, this study uncovers a crucial role of lncRNA Sera/Pkm2 pathway in the transition of social competition to rank by remodeling neural ensemble in mPFC.

Measurement of bullying in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study 2021 cohort: Evidence for model misspecification

We evaluated the use of the Rasch model in the scoring and scaling of the context questionnaire scales from the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study 2021 cohort. Focusing on the bullying scale of the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, we contrasted polytomous item response theory models using free (two-parameter logistic modeling) and fixed (Rasch modeling) discrimination parameters. Our analyses included data from 354,074 students from 63 countries or entities. Across all countries and entities, the Rasch-based model significantly distorted levels of bullying. The rank ordering of countries was consistent between models in 32 of the cases (50.8%), while in other cases there were changes in rank of up to five places. This study provides a robust basis for evidence-based decisions on whether a country is lagging or exceeding the global norm in aberrant behaviors such as bullying.

Autonomic modulation by SGLT2i or DPP4i in patients with diabetes favors cardiovascular outcomes as revealed by skin sympathetic nerve activity.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) are important second-line treatments for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Patients taking SGLT2i have favorable cardiovascular outcomes via various mechanisms, including autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation. This study aimed to use neuro-electrocardiography (neuECG) to test the effects of SGLT2i or DPP4i on the ANS. Patients with T2DM, who did not reach target hemoglobin (Hb)A1C levels despite metformin treatment, were enrolled. SGLT2i or DPP4i were prescribed randomly unless a compelling indication was present. NeuECG and heart rate were recorded for 10min before and after a 3-month treatment. The patients were treated according to standard practice and the obtained data for skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) and ANS entropy were analyzed offline. We enrolled 96 patients, of which 49 received SGLT2i and 47 received DPP4i. The baseline parameters were similar between the groups. No adverse event was seen during the study period. In the burst analysis of SKNA at baseline, all parameters were similar. After the 3-month treatment, the firing frequency was higher in SGLT2i group (0.104 ± 0.045 vs 0.083 ± 0.033 burst/min, p < 0.05), with increased long firing duration (7.34 ± 3.66 vs 5.906 ± 2.921, p < 0.05) in 3-s aSKNA scale; the other parameters did not show any significant change. By symbolic entropy, the most complex patterns (Rank 3) were found to be significantly higher in SGLT2i-treated patients than in DDP4i-treated group (0.084 ± 0.028 vs 0.07 ± 0.024, p = 0.01) and the direction of change in Rank 3, after SGLT2i treatment, was opposite to that observed in the DDP4i group (0.012 ± 0.036 vs. -0.005 ± 0.037, p = 0.024). Our findings demonstrated the favorable autonomic modulation by SGLTi and the detrimental effects of DPP4i on ANS. We demonstrated the autonomic modulation by SGLTi and DPP4i using SKNA in patients with DM, which might provide insights into the favorable outcomes of SGLT2i. Furthermore, we refined the analytical methods of neuECG, which uses SKNA to evaluate autonomic function.

Incentive hierarchies intensify competition for attention: A study of online reviews

While many online platforms use incentive hierarchies to stimulate consumers to generate more online reviews, the extent to which these hierarchies influence reviewer behavior is not fully understood. This study, drawing on image motivation theory and consumer attention theory, takes a novel approach to investigate whether reviewers strategically adjust their review behavior after reaching higher ranks in a hierarchy. We use data from rank change timestamps on platforms to accurately identify reviewers' ranks when posting reviews and then employ a quasi-natural experimental design for causal inference. Additionally, we use Fisher's permutation test to explore the different effects at various ranks. The empirical results reveal that reviewers tend to increase their review length and insert more pictures into their reviews after they reach higher ranks. Reviewers at lower ranks tend to submit more extreme ratings upon rank advancement, whereas their higher-ranking counterparts do not demonstrate significant change. Unlike ratings, reviewers tend to consistently increase the sentiment intensity of their expressions in text after reaching higher ranks. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the magnitude of changes in reviewing behavior only shows an increasing trend in the early stages of rank progression. These insights contribute to a better understanding of the efficacy of incentive hierarchies and offer practical implications for decision-making by platform managers.

Validation of the Residual Feed Intake Model in Brangus Heifers: Determination of the Optimal Days on Feed Interval to Estimate Dry Matter Intake and Average Daily Gain.

Brangus cattle are gaining popularity in the Southeast U.S. due to the desirable heat tolerance from their Brahman influence combined with the superior carcass merit aspects of Angus genetics. However, little is known about the optimal evaluation conditions for this hybrid breed when placed on test for Residual Feed Intake (RFI), a heritable measure of feed efficiency that allows improvement in performance without altering carcass traits. To address this, dry matter intake (DMI) was measured on Brangus heifers for 70-d to determine the optimal days on feed required to estimate feed intake and ADG and assess if inclusion of ultrasound measures of carcass merit into the model impact RFI rankings for this breed. The 56-d test period had a regression coefficient of 0.96 (p < 0.0001), R2 = 0.94, rp = 0.97 (p < 0.0001), and rs = 0.97 (p < 0.0001), indicating little change in rank of cattle for DMI compared to a 70-d test. ADG was the limiting factor in determining test duration. Based upon examining only heifers that calved, ultrasound backfat measures should be included in the RFI model to normalize for differences in heifer maturity. Results from this study indicate that a test duration of 56-d is sufficient to accurately estimate DMI in this population. This data indicates on-test duration can be shortened, enhancing the rate of genetic change by reducing cost and increasing the number of animals that can be tested annually.

Analysis Of The Internal Control System Over Payroll And Wages At Pt.Roda Teknindo Purajayah

The payroll and wage accounting system needs to be carried out control activities to ensure that the implementation of the payroll and wage system runs according to established standards, including at PT. Roda Teknindo Purajaya. This company has implemented internal control over the payroll and wage system. The research objective is to determine the internal control system over the payroll and wage system at PT. Roda Teknindo Purajaya. This research includes comparative descriptive research, which describes the actual characteristics and conditions of a research object by comparing the internal control system over payroll and wages carried out at PT. Roda Teknindo Purajaya with Mulyadi's theory. Data is collected by documentation and interview methods, while data analysis uses comparative analysis. The results showed that the internal control system over payroll and wages at PT. Roda Teknindo Purajaya was in accordance with Mulyadi's theory. First organization, there has been a strict separation of functional responsibilities between the payroll maker function and the finance function. Second, the authorization system, the employee appointment letter is signed by the main director, in order to avoid paying salaries to fictitious employees, as well as changes in employee salaries, both due to changes in rank, changes in salary and wage rates, and additional families are always based on the director's decision letter. In addition to the separation of responsibilities, it is known that all documents used are always authorized by the authorized person. Third, the recording procedure has included salary and wage rates in the attendance card and is checked for accuracy by the bookkeeping department. Fourth, healthy practices, that supervision has been carried out, compared and verified against attendance cards and employee income tax calculations. Thus it can be conveyed that the internal control system over the payroll and wage system at PT. Roda Teknindo Purajaya is in accordance with the theory by Mulyadi.

Effects of input data accuracy, catchment threshold areas and calibration algorithms on model uncertainty reduction

AbstractLow resolution of input data and equifinality in model calibration can lead to inaccuracy and insufficient reflection of spatial differences, thereby increasing model errors. However, the impact of input data accuracy, catchment threshold area, and calibration algorithm on model uncertainty reduction has not yet been well understood. The sequential uncertainty fitting version 2 (SUFI‐2) that is linked with the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) in the package called SWAT Calibration Uncertainty Programs (SWAT‐CUP) was introduced to quantify the effects of different input data resolutions on parameter sensitivity and model uncertainty in the Jinghe River watershed, and the effects of different sub‐basin delineations and other two calibration algorithms on model uncertainty were also comparatively analysed. (i) USLE_C, EPCO, ALPHA_BNK, and CN2 are the most sensitive parameters among all SWAT projects. When the change of digital elevation model (DEM) resolution is small, the sensitivity of parameters does not change obviously. When the DEM resolution changes significantly, BIOMIX, LAT_SED, USLE_K, and CH_N1 become highly sensitive parameters by replacing OV_N, SMTMP, SURLAG, and USLE_P. However, the change in land use resolution has little impact on parameter sensitivity, with only a slight change in the sensitivity ranking of specific parameters. (ii) Model uncertainty responded to changes in the resolution of DEM more than land use. Most of the runoff simulations had smaller uncertainties (P factor, R factor, percentage of bias [PBIAS]) than sediment. High resolution DEM data reduced model uncertainty, but the models with 2000 m DEM resolution also achieved small uncertainty. Small catchment threshold area leads to high uncertainty of the model, and large catchment threshold areas decrease the model uncertainty. The model has relatively good simulation effects in runoff and sediment when the catchment threshold area was 2000 km2. (iii) The SWAT model has different simulation deviations and uncertainties in different calibration algorithms, the SUFI‐2 and generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) algorithms show better applicability than particle swarm optimization (PSO). The NSE indicators of the three algorithms are in the following order: SUFI‐2 &gt; GLUE &gt; PSO for runoff, and GLUE &gt; SUFI‐2 &gt; PSO for sediment. This study helps us understand the cause, knowledge of which moves from the particular to the general by the comprehension of essence, power, and nature in reducing model uncertainty.

Past Imperfect or Present Perfect? How Dynamic Ranks Influence Consumer Perceptions

While ranked lists are ubiquitous, research on how consumers interpret changes in the rank of an entity is limited. Across seven studies (including a study with web data and a Google AdWords field experiment), this investigation shows that consumers reward a rise in rank and penalize a decline in rank, and that psychological momentum associated with the rank change information underlies these effects. Further, rewarding a rise and penalizing a fall are moderated by consumers’ perception of the reason for the rank change, the nature of the entity, and the nature of the ranked list. The impact of changing rank is attenuated when the rank change is attributed to other entities on the list, when entities are considered nonmalleable, or when the list is updated more frequently. The investigation also identifies a specific case in which consumers do not extrapolate the direction of a change in rank into the future. In addition to contributing to theory, this research provides actionable insights and demonstrates practical ways in which managers can communicate dynamic ranks to enhance the benefit of an improvement in rank or attenuate the penalty from a decline.

Preterm Birth, Family Income, and Intergenerational Income Mobility

Preterm birth (PTB) has been associated with lower income in adulthood, but associations with intergenerational income mobility and the role of family socioeconomic status (SES) as modifying factor are unclear. To assess whether the association between PTB and income differs according to family SES at birth and to assess the association between PTB and intergenerational income mobility. This study comprised a matched cohort of live births in Canada between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 1996, with follow-up until December 31, 2018. Statistical analysis was performed between May 2023 and March 2024. Preterm birth, defined as birth between 24 and 37 weeks' gestational age (with gestational age subcategories of 34-36, 32-33, 28-31, and 24-27 weeks) vs early and full term births (gestational age, 37-41 weeks). Associations between PTB and annual adulthood income in 2018 Canadian dollars were assessed overall (current exhange rate: $1 = CAD $1.37) and stratified by family income quintiles, using generalized estimating equation regression models. Associations between PTB and percentile rank change (ie, difference between the rank of individuals and their parents in the income distribution within their respective generations) and upward or downward mobility (based on income quintile) were assessed using linear and multinomial logistic regressions, respectively. Of 1.6 million included births (51.1% boys and 48.9% girls), 6.9% infants were born preterm (5.4% born at 34-36 weeks, 0.7% born at 32-33 weeks, 0.5% born at 28-31 weeks, and 0.2% born at 24-27 weeks). After matching on baseline characteristics (eg, sex, province of birth, and parental demographics) and adjusting for age and period effects, PTB was associated with lower annual income (mean difference, CAD -$687 [95% CI, -$788 to -$586]; 3% lower per year), and the differences were greater among those belonging to families in the lowest family SES quintile (mean difference, CAD -$807 [95% CI, -$998 to -$617]; 5% lower per year). Preterm birth was also associated with lower upward mobility and higher downward mobility, particularly for those born earlier than 31 weeks' gestational age (24-27 weeks: mean difference in percentile rank change, -8.7 percentile points [95% CI, -10.5 to -6.8 percentile points]). In this population-based matched cohort study, PTB was associated with lower adulthood income, lower upward social mobility, and higher downward mobility, with greater differences among those belonging to economically disadvantaged families. Interventions to optimize socioeconomic outcomes of preterm-born individuals would need to define target population considering SES.

On ranks and risky choices

SummaryWe present a novel theoretical framework to explain the impact of rank positions on decision‐makers' choices between more risky and less risky options. We do so by providing an analysis of the motivational effects of ranks that progresses through three levels of specificity: the broad “motive” level, an intermediate “goal” level, and a low level at which tactical choices are addressed and where the complexity of rank‐driven choices considers a dynamic multiple goal perspective. In particular, we theorize on how more risky versus less risky options are chosen in light of the combined influence of (a) rank goals, (b) rank changes relative to those goals, and (c) other aligned or competing goals. Deriving from our theorizing and review of existing evidence from different fields studying various rank phenomena such as power, status, education, and performance, we articulate seven propositions that specify when rank‐ordered individuals will choose more risky or less risky options.

Transgenerational effects of the maternal gestational environment on the post-natal performance of beef cattle: A reaction norm approach.

In tropical beef cattle production systems, animals are commonly raised on pastures, exposing them to potential stressors. The end of gestation typically overlaps with a dry period characterized by limited food availability. Late gestation is pivotal for fetal development, making it an ideal scenario for inter- and transgenerational effects of the maternal gestational environment. Intergenerational effects occur due to exposure during gestation, impacting the development of the embryo and its future germline. Transgenerational effects, however, extend beyond direct exposure to the subsequent generations. The objective of the present study was to verify these effects on the post-natal performance of zebu beef cattle. We extended the use of a reaction norm model to identify genetic variation in the animals' responses to transgenerational effects. The inter- and transgenerational effects were predominantly positive (-0.09% to 19.74%) for growth and reproductive traits, indicating improved animal performance on the phenotypic scale in more favourable maternal gestational environments. Additionally, these effects were more pronounced in the reproductive performance of females. On average, the ratio of direct additive genetic variances of the slope and intercept of the reaction norm ranged from 1.23% to 3.60% for direct and from 10.17% to 11.42% for maternal effects. Despite its relatively modest magnitude, this variation proved sufficient to prompt modifications in parameter estimates. The average percentage variation of direct heritability estimates ranged from 19.3% for scrotal circumference to 33.2% for yearling weight across the environmental descriptors evaluated. Genetic correlations between distant environments for the studied traits were generally high for direct effects and far from unity for maternal effects. Changes in EBV rankings of sires across different gestational environments were also observed. Due to the multifaceted nature of inter- and transgenerational effects of the maternal gestational environment on various traits of beef cattle raised under tropical pasture conditions, they should not be overlooked by producers and breeders. There were differences in the specific response of beef cattle to variations in the quality of the maternal gestational environment, which can be partially explained by transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Adopting a reaction norm model to capture a portion of the additive variance induced by inter- or transgenerational effects could be an alternative for future research and animal genetic evaluations.

Maternal Characteristics and Rates of Unexpected Complications in Term Newborns by Hospital

The Joint Commission Unexpected Complications in Term Newborns measure characterizes newborn morbidity potentially associated with quality of labor and delivery care. Infant exclusions isolate relatively low-risk births, but unexpected newborn complications (UNCs) are not adjusted for maternal factors that may be associated with outcomes independently of hospital quality. To investigate the association between maternal characteristics and hospital UNC rates. This cohort study was conducted using linked 2016 to 2018 New York City birth and hospital discharge datasets among 254 259 neonates at low risk (singleton, ≥37 weeks, birthweight ≥2500 g, and without preexisting fetal conditions) at 39 hospitals. Logistic regression was used to calculate unadjusted hospital-specific UNC rates and replicated analyses adjusting for maternal covariates. Hospitals were categorized into UNC quintiles; changes in quintile ranking with maternal adjustment were examined. Data analyses were performed from December 2022 to July 2023. UNCs were classified according to Joint Commission International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) criteria. Maternal preadmission comorbidities, obstetric factors, social characteristics, and hospital characteristics were ascertained. Among 254 259 singleton births at 37 weeks or later who were at low risk (125 245 female [49.3%] and 129 014 male [50.7%]; 71 768 births [28.2%] to Hispanic, 47 226 births [18.7%] to non-Hispanic Asian, 42 682 births [16.8%] to non-Hispanic Black, and 89 845 births [35.3%] to non-Hispanic White mothers and 2738 births [1.0%] to mothers with another race or ethnicity), 148 393 births (58.4%) were covered by Medicaid and 101 633 births (40.0%) were covered by commercial insurance. The 2016 to 2018 cumulative UNC incidence in New York City hospitals was 37.1 UNCs per 1000 births. Infants of mothers with preadmission risk factors had increased UNC risk; for example, among mothers with vs without preeclampsia, there were 104.4 and 35.8 UNCs per 1000 births, respectively. Among hospitals, unadjusted UNC rates ranged from 15.6 to 215.5 UNCs per 1000 births and adjusted UNC rates ranged from 15.6 to 194.0 UNCs per 1000 births (median [IQR] change from adjustment, 1.4 [-4.7 to 1.0] UNCs/1000 births). The median (IQR) change per 1000 births for adjusted vs unadjusted rates showed that hospitals with low (<601 deliveries/year; -2.8 [-7.0 to -1.6] UNCs) to medium (601 to <954 deliveries/year; -3.9 [-7.1 to -1.9] UNCs) delivery volume, public ownership (-3.6 [-6.2 to -2.3] UNCs), or high proportions of Medicaid-insured (eg, ≥90.72%; -3.7 [-5.3 to -1.9] UNCs), Black (eg, ≥32.83%; -5.3 [-9.1 to -2.2] UNCs), or Hispanic (eg, ≥6.25%; -3.7 [-5.3 to -1.9] UNCs) patients had significantly decreased UNC rates after adjustment, while rates increased or did not change in hospitals with the highest delivery volume, private ownership, or births to predominantly White or privately insured individuals. Among all 39 hospitals, 7 hospitals (17.9%) shifted 1 quintile comparing risk-adjusted with unadjusted quintile rankings. In this study, adjustment for maternal case mix was associated with small overall changes in hospital UNC rates. These changes were associated with performance assessment for some hospitals, and these results suggest that profiling on this measure should consider the implications of small changes in rates for hospitals with higher-risk obstetric populations.

Robustness of Real-World Networks after Weight Thresholding with Strong Link Removal

Weight thresholding (WT) is a method intended to decrease the number of links within weighted networks that may otherwise be excessively dense for network science applications. WT aims to remove links to simplify the network by holding most of the features of the original network. Here, we test the robustness and the efficacy of the node attack strategies on real-world networks subjected to WT that remove links of higher weight (strong links). We measure the network robustness along node removal with the largest connected component (LCC). We find that the real-world networks under study are generally robust when subjected to WT. Nonetheless, WT with strong link removal changes the efficacy of the attack strategies and the rank of node centralities. Also, WT with strong link removal may trigger a more significant change in the node centrality rank than WT by removing weak links. Network science research with the aim to find important/influential nodes in the network has to consider that simplifying the network with WT methodologies may change the node centrality.

Social rank affects the endocrine response to frequent regroupings in grazing dairy heifers

The objectives of this study were to determine the social behavior response to repeated social regrouping (SR), and if social rank and the changes of social rank affect the growth rate and some metabolites and hormones linked to energy status, in “resident” replacement dairy heifers subjected to SR for 205 d. Fourteen dairy heifers (153.3 ± 16.1 kg; 9 to 11 mo old), maintained under grazing conditions, were regrouped every 21 d with 5 new animals (total = 10 SR). Two days after each SR, heifers were weighed and their withers height was measured, and blood samples for nonesterified fatty acids, glucose, and IGF-1 were taken. Concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids, glucose, and IGF-1 were taken. Social behavior was registered by continuous sampling and social status was calculated by the ETlog software, considering the total number of agonistic interactions on 2 d before and 7 d after each SR. A dominance scale was constructed in each SR, and heifers were categorized as high-ranked (HRA), medium-ranked (MRA), and low-ranked (LRA). In addition, the social rank in the first and the last 5 SR were compared, resulting in 3 categories: heifers that remained in the same social rank (Mai), and heifers that lowered (Low) and raised (Rai) their social ranks. Variables were analyzed by repeated measures using a generalized lineal mixed model, considering the social rank in each SR or the change in social rank, the number of SR and their interaction as main effects, and the farm of origin and animal as random effects. Heifers performed more agonistic (2.6 vs. 1.8 ± 0.6, day of SR and 7 d later, respectively) and total (3.8 ± 1.2 vs. 2.5 ± 0.7, day of SR and 7 d later, respectively) interactions on the day of each SR than 7 d after, whereas the number of interactions decreased after the first 2 SR. Medium-ranked heifers presented greater IGF-1 concentrations than HRA heifers at SR1, SR4, and SR9, and than LRA heifers at SR3 and SR4, whereas IGF-1 concentrations were greater in HRA heifers than MRA heifers at SR3 and SR7. In addition, LRA heifers had greater IGF-1 concentrations than MRA ones at SR3 and compared with HRA heifers at SR9. Heifers that lowered their social had greater IGF-1 concentrations than Mai heifers along the SR (132.5 ± 17.1 vs. 97.8 ± 11.2 ng/mL, Low and Mai heifers, respectively) and at SR1, SR3, and SR9. In conclusion, although regrouping animals according to their characteristics can facilitate farm handling, it should be considered that endocrine profile may be affected according to heifers' position in the social hierarchy.

An nLCA approach to support consumer meal decisions: a New Zealand case study of toppings on toast

IntroductionThis study investigates the development and potential application of a nutritional Life Cycle Assessment (nLCA) method to rank meals, using a case study of a “toppings on toast” (ToTs) meal. Methodological issues are investigated in the context of application to support consumers to make more informed food choices at the meal level.MethodsFourteen selected “toppings on toast” (ToTs) commonly consumed in New Zealand (NZ) were evaluated for their climate change impacts and nutritional value using the serve size of each topping as the functional unit (FU). NZ-specific climate change values were obtained from an existing database and recent literature. Nutritional value was calculated using the NRF family of indices – specifically the NRF9.3 and NRF28.3 indices (the latter constructed for this study to include all nutrients in the selected toppings for which reference values were available) and presented in a separate midpoint nutrition impact category. The NRF and climate change scores were assigned quartile-based weights, and the weight of each index score was averaged with that of the climate change score. Based on these average values, the toppings were ranked in two ranking sets (one for each index). In a sensitivity analysis, two alternative reference units were also used (100 g and 100 kcal) to investigate how different FUs influenced the final rankings.ResultsThe results showed that use of one or other NRF index affected the magnitude of the nLCA results; however, the rankings of the ToTs based on the nLCA results did not change much between the two indices. Avocado and peanut butter performed the best (top two ranks), and bacon, butter, and cheese were the poorest performers (bottom two ranks), for both the ranking sets. The toppings which did change ranks mostly moved up or down by only one position. Thus, the results of this case study suggest that the NRF9.3 index is sufficient to determine overall the best, medium, and worst performing toppings in the ToT meal context. However, the results also showed that water-soluble vitamins and unsaturated fats included in the NRF28.3 index contributed significantly to the nutritional scores for most of the toppings and were instrumental in the rank changes for the toppings which are particularly rich in these nutrients.DiscussionThus, for a more diverse range of toppings/meals, an expanded index including these nutrients can generate more nuanced rankings. This study contributes to the nascent but fast-growing nLCA research field, particularly within the meal context. The method used in this case study could be applied in food composition databases, restaurant menus, and websites/apps that provides recipes for meals. However, the study also highlighted the potentially significant variability in climate change and nutritional values in the toppings associated with different production practices, seasonality, and different varieties of the same product. Any future development of nLCA-based meal level rankings should address this variability and communicate it to the consumer.