cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bilateral Testicular Tumors of Germ Cell Origin

AbstractFour cases of primary testicular tumor of germ cell origin are reported. Three cases were bilateral, while the remaining case involved a unilateral tumor in a non-twin brother of 1 patient with bilateral tumors. Because of the increased likelihood of a second primary tumor developing in a patient who has had a malignant germinal cell tumor and because the changes may be subtle, localized to the testis and occur after a tumor-free interval of many years, careful examination of the contralateral testis and long-term followup are indicated even when systemic chemotherapy for malignancy has been used. This is the seventh time familial occurrence of testis tumors in rum-twin Frothers has been reported but the first time that one of the brothers had bilateral tumors.
Introduction: Capitalism, Markets, and Industrial Change

The 2004 general elections in India produced some dramatic outcomes. The incumbent government, led by the Hindu fundamentalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was unexpectedly thrown out and the Congress Party was returned to power. In forming a government the mildly left-of-center Congress party secured the alliance of India’s communist parties. Neither defeating the incumbent party nor forming unusual political alliances are unfamiliar in India’s anti-incumbent voting behavior and coalition politics. What was jolting, however, was that the BJP could not cash in on the goodwill it had generated during its five-year tenure marked by a high economic growth rate, the rapidly emerging information technology sector, and India’s larger presence in the global economy. The class revolt indicates that a large segment of Indian society has not benefited from economic growth and India’s integration with the global economy. At the same time, India’s long-established Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), which won its sixth consecutive victory in the state of West Bengal, has been enthusiastically embracing globalization and its attendant capitalist imperatives such as multinational investments, shopping malls, and middle class consumerism. Recently the Chief Minister of West Bengal, who is also a senior politburo member of the CPM, argued that “globalization is a must” and proceeded to meet with several multinational business leaders (Rohde 2004).
Framework of Automated Construction-Safety Monitoring Using Cloud-Enabled BIM and BLE Mobile Tracking Sensors

AbstractConstruction sites need to be monitored continuously to detect unsafe conditions and protect workers from potential injuries and fatal accidents. In current practices, construction-safety monitoring relies heavily on manual observation, which is labor-intensive and error-prone. Due to the complex environment of construction sites, it is extremely challenging for safety inspectors to continuously monitor and manually identify all incidents that may expose workers to safety risks. There exist many research efforts applying sensing technologies to construction sites to reduce the manual efforts associated with construction-safety monitoring. However, several bottlenecks are identified in applying these technologies to the onsite safety monitoring process, including (1) recognition and registration of potential hazards, (2) real-time detection of unsafe incidents, and (3) reporting and sharing of the detected incidents with relevant participants in a timely manner. The objective of this study was to c...
Advanced Characterization of Electrocatalyst Interfaces

In PEM fuel cells, electrocatalyst interfaces including Pt-C, Pt-ionomer, C-ionomer interfaces, play a critical role for both performance and durability.1-3 Pt-C interface influences the stability and activity of Pt dramatically; electrocatalyst/ionomer interfaces4 in fuel cell catalyst layers determine the electrochemical surface area (ECSA), local transport, and structural stability of catalyst layer. Delineating the structure evolution of the interfaces in response to PEM fuel cell operating environment will provide the science foundation for new electrocatalyst/catalyst layer design therefore improve the performance and durability of PEM fuel cells. We have developed an aberration corrected environmental transmission electron microscopy (ETEM), which allows unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution in the relevant gas environment, such as O2, H2, H2O, CO, CH4, and CO2. With customized intelligent gas delivery system, the gas environment relevant to PEM fuel cell anode and cathode (H2/H2O, O2/H2O) can be simulated and precisely controlled through the residual gas analyzer (RGA). The ETEM opens new avenue to study the dynamic changes of electrocatalyst interfaces. In order to study the surface chemistry of catalysts under different environment, a specially-designed pre-treatment system is integrated into X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which allows us to move catalysts seamlessly between the pre-treatment system and XPS chamber so that surface contamination from external environment will be eliminated. In this talk, we will present our recent progress on identifying both structure and surface chemistry evolution and their correlation in electrocatalysts under PEM fuel cell relevant environment through the combination of ETEM and XPS capabilities. 1. Y. Y. Shao, G. P. Yin and Y. Z. Gao, J. Power Sources, 2007, 171, 558-566. 2. S. Park, Y. Y. Shao, H. Y. Wan, V. V. Viswanathan, S. A. Towne, P. C. Rieke, J. Liu and Y. Wang, J. Phys. Chem. C, 2011, 115, 22633-22639. 3. R. Kou, Y. Y. Shao, D. H. Mei, Z. M. Nie, D. H. Wang, C. M. Wang, V. V. Viswanathan, S. Park, I. A. Aksay, Y. H. Lin, Y. Wang and J. Liu, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2011, 133, 2541-2547. 4. A. Z. Weber and A. Kusoglu, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014, 2, 17207-17211.
Nationwide Scorpion Exposures Reported to US Poison Control Centers from 2005 to 2015

Introduction Previous studies of scorpion envenomation in the United States (US) have focused on Arizona and the bark scorpion, Centruroides sculpturatus. Although many other scorpion species live in the US, information about envenomations in other states is lacking.
The association between beliefs about vitamin D and skin cancer risk-related behaviors.

Major health organizations recommend obtaining most of one's vitamin D through dietary sources rather than from sun exposure, given the link between sun exposure and increased skin cancer risk. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between beliefs about vitamin D and skin cancer risk-related behaviors, a topic on which research is limited. We analyzed cross-sectional online survey data collected in the summer of 2015 from 4127 U.S. adults aged 18 years and older. Overall, 19.7% of adults believed that sun protection would put them at risk of not getting enough vitamin D. However, less than half (43.1%) thought they could get enough vitamin D from dietary sources. Individuals with this belief were more likely to protect their skin when spending time outdoors (71.3%) compared with those who were neutral or disagreed (56.5%; P < 0.001). Only 5.1% of adults believed that indoor tanning is an effective way to get vitamin D. Compared to those who disagreed or were neutral, those who thought it was effective were more likely to be outdoor tanners (45.1% vs. 28.5%; P < 0.001) and indoor tanners (13.8% vs 1.9%; P < 0.001). Beliefs about vitamin D were associated with skin cancer risk-related behaviors. Including information about vitamin D in skin cancer prevention messages may be beneficial.
New data on the representation of women in philosophy journals: 2004–2015

This paper presents new data on the representation of women who publish in 25 top philosophy journals as ranked by the Philosophical Gourmet Report (2015) for the years 2004, 2014, and 2015. It also provides a new analysis of Schwitzgebel’s 1955–2015 journal data (women-in-philosophy.org). The paper makes four points while providing an overview of the current state of women authors in philosophy. In all years and for all journals, the percentage of female authors was extremely low, in the range of 14–16%. The percentage of women authors is less than the percentage of women faculty in different ranks and at different kinds of institutions. In addition, there is great variation across individual journals, and the discrepancy between women authors and women faculty appears to be different in different subfields. Interestingly, journals which do not practice anonymous review seem to have a higher percentage of women authors than journals which practice double anonymous or triple anonymous review. This paper also argues that we need more data on academic publishing to better understand whether this can explain why there are so few full-time female faculty in philosophy, since full-time hiring and tenuring practices presumably depend on a candidate’s academic publishing.
Computing Different Versions of Atom-bond Connectivity Index of Dendrimers

Atom-bond connectivity index has a prominent place among the topological indices because it is excellently correlated with the thermodynamic properties of alkanes, especially with their heats of formation. In this paper, we compute closed formulae of different versions of ABC index of two classes of perylenediimide-cored dendrimers.
Discovery and the Disciplines: An Inquiry into the Role of Subject Databases through Citation Analysis

Libraries have adopted web scale discovery services with the goal of providing their users with a streamlined research experience. However, the single search box that characterizes web scale discovery is one option among many that libraries continue to provide, including subject databases and other legacy tools. Libraries lack evidence regarding which of these tools are best suited to the various stages and levels of expertise that may characterize a user’s research process. A case study approach, focusing on the field of academic history, is employed to test the discoverability of a subset of scholarly work across several search platforms.
Coisas são nós! Um comentário sobre as relações humano/coisas sob a bandeira da Arqueologia Social

Qual papel desempenha o adjetivo “social” em Arqueologia Social? Qual o carater das relacoes humano/coisas sob a rubrica da arqueologia social? Levantamos essas questoes em relacao ao recente “A Companion to Social Archaeology” de Meskell e Preucel. Enquanto o corretivo “social” tem sido extremamente produtivo, com o levantamento destas questoes entramos em aguas muito turvas. Nossa tarefa neste artigo e mostrar onde os sentidos do “social” faliram e como os quadros de referencia para o entendimento das relacoes pessoas/coisas se tornaram lamacentos. Construindo sobre a forca da arqueologia no que diz respeito as coisas, buscamos revisitar a questao: o que e ser humano?
Dispensing cosmeceuticals from the office.

A physician explains that the sale of nonprescription cosmeceuticals from a dermatology office should be done in a manner that is educational but non-threatening to patients. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Complex Analysis and Topology

Since the square of a non-zero real number is always positive, there can be no real square root of −1. Inventing such a square root i and adjoining it to the real numbers, as in §IV.10, leads to extensive and important developments. On the one hand, the resulting complex numbers x + iy represent well the properties of the Euclidean x−y plane and derive part of their “reality” from the geometric reality of the plane. On the other hand, well behaved functions f of such a complex number z = x + iy are those functions f which have a complex derivative, and the properties of these functions are truly remarkable. The resulting study of “complex variables”, that is, of differentiable functions of a complex number z, leads to deep mathematical theorems with unexpected practical connections, for example to electrostatic potential and to the steady flow of fluids as well as to aerodynamics. This chapter will introduce these concepts of differentiation and the corresponding integrals and will indicate some of these connections, all with a view to seeing how the apparently simple algebraic device of inventing a “number” i with i2 = −1 has both geometric and analytic consequences—all a striking instance of the remarkable interconnections of formal ideas.
3D Printed Coaxial Transmission Line Using Low Loss Dielectric and Liquid Metal Conductor

This paper introduces an innovative method to fabricate a coaxial transmission line using a low-loss 3D printed dielectric and a liquid metal conductor. The dielectric part is 3D printed from a low loss factor resin, cyanate ester $(\tan\delta=0.0046)$ . The inner conductor is formed by pumping eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) through the empty channel of the dielectric part, and the outer conductor is electrolessly plated with silver and then coated with EGaIn. An implemented 2-inch straight coaxial line shows a measured insertion loss of 0.26 dB/cm at 10 GHz, which is 1/3 of that of a coaxial line using a common 3D printing material, Visi.let Crystal M3. In addition, a 2-ns 3D printed coaxial delay line was fabricated and it achieved a low dispersion at the measured group delay of $\pmb{2}\mathbf{ns}\pm \pmb{88}\mathbf{ps}$ , as 4.4% variation from 0 to 10 GHz.
Prison Nurseries: A Way to Reduce Recidivism:

There have been eight U.S. states that have implemented prison nurseries in women’s correctional facilities. This article examines the second oldest U.S. prison nursery program located in the Nebra...
A fluorescence-based approach to probing the immediate/early molecular mechanisms of photobiomodulation in vitro

Photobiomodulation (PBM) describes the use of low levels of visible to near infrared light to induce positive biological effects. While there is a growing body of research demonstrating therapeutic and protective benefits of PBM, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. The putative chromophore for PBM effects is cytochrome c oxidase, also known as complex IV (C-IV) of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. It is believed that via action on C-IV, light absorption initiates a cascade of events involving nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and increased mitochondrial function, leading to improved cellular robustness. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which these signaling pathways are initiated and how they establish the observed beneficial outcomes. We have conducted in vitro analyses of living human cells to probe changes in NO, ROS, and mitochondrial function, particularly focusing on the immediate and early effects of light exposure. This analysis utilizes a novel multi-channel laser assembly, integrated with a fluorescence microscope, and collimated for a sub-field-of-view beam diameter. By combining this apparatus with specific vital stains, we can visualize production of NO, ROS, and changes in mitochondrial morphology and dynamics in real-time, during and immediately following light exposure. Additionally, we are able to compare these effects to unexposed cells within the same field-of-view. Moving forward, future studies will examine additional vital stains in cells and isolated mitochondria, allowing us to distinguish direct mitochondrial effects from those requiring cellular feedback. In summary, this research provides a new window into the molecular underpinnings of the PBM response.
Colonial Relics: Unearthing the Lingering of Tyranny of Colonial Discourse in U.S. – Caribbean Immigration Law and Policy

Immigration law is constantly evolving. It is one of the most dynamic and multi-faceted areas of law. Specifically, in the space of asylum and refugee law, practitioners, immigration judges and our appellate courts face a daunting task of reconciling the law with the plethora of human misery that flock to our shores. The laws are plagued with ambiguity and complexity, and the task of interpretation is a daunting one. As a result, legal interpretation by our immigration courts can leave immigrants to languish in “a field of pain and death.”This article will examine the politics of location inherent in U.S. immigration policy. I will explore the disparate treatment of Caribbean nationals in our immigration courts and the systemic discrimination that constrains the discretion of our immigration judges. My analysis will draw upon historical narratives that are steeped in the European-derived epistemology that constructed the Caribbean identity. The Caribbean basin has been more thoroughly colonized than any other area in the world. Over centuries of European colonialism, the Caribbean peoples were subject to the dehumanizing and emasculating effects of having transplanted values and laws imposed upon them, often through the most horrific means. In this historical context, this paper will demonstrate that the language employed during that era to maintain the twin demons of slavery and colonialism in the region, still informs the social construction of identity that permeates the rhetoric of “otherness” in United States immigration jurisprudence.
An Overview of Protein–Nucleic Acid Interactions

One of the major problems in contemporary molecular biology concerns the interplay of two key macromolecular species, the nucleic acids and the proteins. Although there has been considerable work in this general area, very little of a detailed and fundamental nature is known about the type of interactions and the way that these contribute to the total organization of biological systems. Here we intend to make a brief survey of the varied and diverse character of protein-nucleic acid interactions.
Evaluation of Dedicated Lanes for Automated vehicles at Roundabouts with Various Flow Patterns

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are about to be used in transportation systems in the near future. To increase the level of safety and throughput of these vehicles, dedicated lanes for AVs have been suggested in past studies as exclusive mobility infrastructure for these types of vehicles. Although these lanes can bring obvious advantages in a transportation network, overall performance of these lanes, especially in urban areas and in micro level sight, is not clear. This study aims to examine the efficiency of dedicated lanes for AVs in roundabout with an unbalanced traffic flow pattern. Four factors of travel time, delay time, speed of vehicles, and queue of vehicles have been selected as variables of traffic performance at the roundabout. Two microscopic traffic simulation software, AIMSUN and SIDRA Intersection, were used to examine the impact of the AV dedicated lanes at the roundabout. This study shows that the effects of an imbalanced traffic pattern in a roundabout are higher when the penetration rate of AVs is lower and also dedicated lanes in roundabout's leg may improve traffic performance indicators when the penetration rate of AVs is higher, but this improvement is not significant.
Speckle free laser imaging

Speckle and related coherent artifacts limit the use of lasers for imaging, despite their potential advantages (i.e. brightness). We demonstrate speckle-free laser imaging using a random laser designed to produce spatially incoherent emission.
Beta Adrenergic Agonists

Beta adrenergic agonists are the most widely used agents in the management of bronchospasm as a result of their rapid onset of action and predictable efficacy. Administration of these agents by inhalation provides several advantages, including rapid effect, decreased adverse effects, and fewer drug interactions. The newer agents have greater beta-2 selectivity, which contributes to improved tolerance of these agents. Tremor is usually the dose-limiting side effect for the beta-2 selective agents. Other adverse effects include tachycardia, increased blood pressure, headache, anxiety, abnormal glucose metabolism, and hypokalemia. Controversy surrounding the use of beta adrenergic agonists includes reports of an increased mortality rate with increased use of these agents. Current information is inconclusive and should not limit the use of these agents in the management of acute bronchospasm. The significance of tolerance with prolonged administration is also an unresolved issue.
THE INFLUENCE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS ON M-COMMERCE PERFORMANCE IN KENYA’S COMMERCIAL BANKS

Purpose : The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of information systems strategy implementation on Mobile-Commerce (M-Commerce) performance in Kenya’s commercial banks. Methodology: The study adopted a positivism research philosophy and explanatory research design as appropriate methodology for the study. The units of analysis for the study comprised of five managers from different management levels and departments from each of the 40 commercial banks in Kenya. Questionnaires were used for data collection. The collected data was analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistics. Findings The study findings indicated that there was positive and statistically significant relationship between information systems and m-commerce performance. The path coefficient was positive and significant at 0.05 level, t-value of 2.031, p-value =0.043. Unique Contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study informs commercial banks in Kenya, Central Bank of Kenya, Communication Authorities and the scholars on the opportunities in the development of appropriate strategy implementation process and the risk of not adopting the right strategy.
Outcome expectancy and suboptimal risky choice in nonhuman primates.

Animals will favor a risky option when a stimulus signaling reward bridges the choice and the outcome. The present experiments investigated signal-induced risky choices and reward-outcome expectations in rhesus and capuchin monkeys. Risky choice was assessed by preference for a large-probabilistic reward over a modest-certain reward. Outcome expectancy was assessed by providing a truncation-response to shorten the delay period. In Experiment 1 both species generally favored the risky option compared to a safe option when the outcomes were signaled and generally shortened the delays except when a signaled-loss stimulus was presented. The use of the delay-truncation response suggested that the monkeys were sensitive to the information conveyed by the stimulus. Experiments 2 and 3 were designed to investigate whether the delay-truncation response used by capuchin monkeys was strategically used reflecting explicit decision-making versus a conditioned response to reward stimuli. A perceptual judgment task was included and the selective use of the delay-truncation response on unsignaled correct trials may suggest the involvement of metacognitive processes. The capuchin monkeys generally truncated the delays except under conditions where reward would not be expected (risky-loss or incorrect-judgment). When the outcomes were unsignaled during the delay some capuchin monkeys were less likely to truncate the delay following an incorrect task response. Overall, the monkeys: (1) made more risky choices when the outcomes were signaled – consistent with gambling-like behavior. (2) selectively truncated the unsignaled delays when rewards could be anticipated (even when metacognitive-like awareness guided anticipation) – suggesting that delay truncation responses reflect explicit outcome expectancy.
A Review of Generalizable Transfer Learning in Automatic Emotion Recognition

Automatic emotion recognition is the process of identifying human emotion from signals such as facial expression, speech, and text. Collecting and labelling such signals is often tedious and many times requires expert knowledge. An effective way to address challenges related to the scarcity of data and lack of human labels, is transfer learning. In this manuscript, we will describe fundamental concepts in the field of transfer learning and review work which has successfully applied transfer learning for automatic emotion recognition. We will finally discuss promising future research directions of transfer learning for improving the generalizability of automatic emotion recognition systems.
Chinese Surplus: Biopolitical Aesthetics and the Medically Commodified Body

Post-Mao China has seen the embrace of a neoliberal market logic that has brought the objectification and commodification of human bodies and body parts to its logical conclusion—kidneys, livers, a...
Effect of blood transfusion on cerebral blood flow and oxygen extraction measured by diffuse optical spectroscopies

We employ diffuse correlation spectroscopy and frequency-domain diffuse optical spectroscopy to demonstrate that blood transfusion decreases cerebral blood flow and oxygen extraction in pediatric sickle cell disease.
Addressing Health Inequities Exacerbated by COVID-19 Among Youth With HIV: Expanding Our Toolkit.

Adolescents and young adults, aged 13-24 years, are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States. Youth with HIV (YHIV) face many psychosocial and structural challenges resulting in poor clinical outcomes including lower rates of medication adherence and higher rates of uncontrolled HIV. The Johns Hopkins Intensive Primary Care clinic, a longstanding HIV care program in Baltimore, Maryland, cares for 76 YHIV (aged 13-24 years). The multidisciplinary team provides accessible, evidenced-based, culturally sensitive, coordinated and comprehensive patient and family-centered HIV primary care. However, the ability to provide these intensive, in-person services was abruptly disrupted by the necessary institutional, state, and national coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mitigation strategies. As most of our YHIV are from marginalized communities (racial/ethnic, sexual, and gender minorities) with existing health and social inequities that impede successful clinical outcomes and increase HIV disparities, there was heightened concern that COVID-19 would exacerbate these inequities and amplify the known HIV disparities. We chronicle the structural and logistic approaches that our team has taken to proactively address the social determinants of health that will be negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, while supporting YHIV to maintain medication adherence and viral suppression.
Late summer temperature variability for the Southern Rocky Mountains (USA) since 1735 CE: applying blue light intensity to low-latitude Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm

Our study examines the application of using blue intensity (BI) methods to develop a late summer maximum temperature (Tmax) reconstruction for the Southern Rocky Mountains—a mid-latitude (i.e., 36° N), arid region in North America. We reconstruct August–September (AS) Tmax for the period 1735–2015 CE using a composite latewood BI (LWB) Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.) chronology from multiple sites across the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in Northern New Mexico, USA. This study presents the first BI-derived temperature reconstruction for the lower mid-latitudes (30–45° N) of North America. We compare the climate response of multiple tree-ring parameters: LWB, earlywood BI (EWB), ∆BI (earlywood BI minus latewood BI), ring width (RW), and maximum latewood density (MXD). Of all parameters, the site-composite LWB and ∆BI chronologies show the strongest correlations with AS Tmax. Reconstructed AS Tmax demonstrates fluctuating warm and cool periods during the latter portion of the Little Ice Age (ca. 1730–1850) and pronounced warming through the early to mid-twentieth century (ca. 1920–1950s). The reconstruction also documents substantial warming over the last decade, the trend of which appears to be anomalous within the context of the past ca. 280 years. We highlight the potential for BI methods to be successfully used at high-elevation, mid-latitude locations where temperature proxy datasets are scarce or non-existent. As many places across the mid-latitudes lack contiguous, temporally resolved, decadal-scale paleotemperature proxies, we suggest here that BI methods can be effective at improving the spatial gaps in the Northern Hemisphere temperature proxy network.
G-quadruplex formation on specific surface-exposed regions of the human ribosomal RNA

Profound similarities and critical differences mark ribosomes across phylogeny. The ribosomal core, approximated by the prokaryotic ribosome, is universal, yet mammalian ribosomes are nearly twice as large as those of prokaryotes. Differences in size are due in part to rRNA expansion segments. Here we show rRNA tentacles of Expansion Segment 7 (ES7) of Homo sapiens can form G-quadruplexes in vitro. G-quadruplex-forming regions are located on the most surface-exposed regions of the ribosome, near the termini of rRNA tentacles. We characterized rRNA of the large ribosomal subunit by computation, circular dichroism, gel mobility, fluorescent probes, nuclease accessibility, electrophoretic mobility shifts and blotting. We investigated ES7 and oligomers derived from ES7, intact 28S rRNA, and 80S ribosomes and polysomes. We used mass spectrometry to identify proteins that bind to rRNA G-quadruplexes in cell lysates. Proteins that associate with rRNA G-quadruplexes include helicases (DDX3, CNBP, DDX21, DDX17) and heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs). And finally, by multiple sequence alignments, we observed that G-quadruplex-forming sequences appear to be a general feature LSU rRNA of the phylum Chordata but not in other phyla. It is known that G-quadruplexes form in telomeres, promoters, and untranslated regions of mRNA but, to our knowledge, they have not been reported previously in ribosomes.
Serum Metabolites Associated with Healthy Diets in African Americans and European Americans

BACKGROUND High diet quality is associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases. Metabolomics can be used to identify objective biomarkers of diet quality. OBJECTIVES We used metabolomics to identify serum metabolites associated with 4 diet indices and the components within these indices in 2 samples from African Americans and European Americans. METHODS We studied cross-sectional associations between known metabolites and Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015, Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI)-2010, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Trial (DASH) diet, alternate Mediterranean diet (aMED), and their components using untargeted metabolomics in 2 samples (n1 = 1,806, n2 = 2,056) of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study (aged 45-64 y at baseline). Dietary intakes were assessed using an FFQ. We used multivariable linear regression models to examine associations between diet indices and serum metabolites in each sample, adjusting for participant characteristics. Metabolites significantly associated with diet indices were meta-analyzed across 2 samples. C-statistics were calculated to examine if these candidate biomarkers improved prediction of individuals in the highest compared with lowest quintile of diet scores beyond participant characteristics. RESULTS Seventeen unique metabolites (HEI: n = 6; AHEI: n = 5; DASH: n = 14; aMED: n = 2) were significantly associated with higher diet scores after Bonferroni correction in sample 1 and sample 2. Six of 17 significant metabolites [glycerate, N-methylproline, stachydrine, threonate, pyridoxate, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)lactate)] were associated with ≥1 dietary pattern. Candidate biomarkers of HEI, AHEI, and DASH distinguished individuals with highest compared with lowest quintile of diet scores beyond participant characteristics in samples 1 and 2 (P value for difference in C-statistics <0.02 for all 3 diet indices). Candidate biomarkers of aMED did not improve C-statistics beyond participant characteristics (P value = 0.930). CONCLUSIONS A considerable overlap of metabolites associated with HEI, AHEI, DASH, and aMED reflects the similar food components and similar metabolic pathways involved in the metabolism of healthy diets in African Americans and European Americans.
Behavior of iodate substituted ettringite during aqueous leaching

Abstract Ettringite [Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12·26H2O] found in cementitious waste forms (CWFs) is known to immobilize iodate (IO3−) via sulfate (SO42-) substitution; however, limited studies have investigated the effects of leaching on the long-term fate and behavior of IO3− retained in ettringites. In this study, ettringite mineral transformation and iodine release from IO3−-incorporated ettringite ((IO3−)-Ett) were investigated using batch experiments to determine the mechanisms likely to drive IO3− release/retention within ettringite in environmentally relevant solutions of varying composition, pH, and alkalinity. (IO3−)-Ett was leached in six simulated solutions relevant to the Hanford Site (Washington State, USA) for a period of 56 days: double deionized water, 24 ppm CO32-, 1400 ppm SO42-, Hanford groundwater, Hanford vadose zone porewater and a cement-equilibrated solution. By monitoring IO3− uptake and removal and characterizing changes in the solid material, incongruent dissolution of ettringite to calcite and oxyanion substitution into the ettringite structure (e.g., SO42- or CO32-) were identified as contributing IO3− release mechanisms. However, the formation of calcium carbonates, e.g., calcite, may re-incorporate IO3− (pH
Does an electronic stock exchange need an upstairs market

Abstract We examine the Paris Bourse, whose electronic limit order market closely resembles the downstairs markets envisioned by theorists, to test several theoretical predictions regarding upstairs trading. We present direct evidence in support of the Grossman (J. Business (1992) 509) prediction that upstairs brokers lower execution costs by tapping into unexpressed liquidity, as actual execution costs upstairs are on average only 20% (35%) as large as they would be if block trades were executed against displayed (displayed and hidden) liquidity in the downstairs limit order book. Consistent with prior analyses, the Paris data also support the Seppi (J. Finance (1990) 73) hypothesis that upstairs brokers certify trades as uninformed. We also find that participants in stocks with less restrictive crossing rules agree to outside-the-quote executions for more difficult trades and at times when downstairs liquidity is lacking. These likely represent trades that could not have been otherwise completed, suggesting that market quality can be enhanced by allowing participants more flexibility to execute blocks at prices outside the quotes.
On the Development of a Local FDR-Based Approach to Testing Two-Way Classified Hypotheses

Multiple testing of two-way classified hypotheses controlling false discoveries is a commonly encountered statistical problem in modern scientific research. Nevertheless, not much progress has been made yet towards improving existing multiple testing procedures by adequately adjusting them to such structural settings. This paper makes contributions to the development of local false discovery rate (Lfdr) based methodologies under these settings. More specially, it extends the two-component mixture model (Efron et al. J. Am. Statist. Assoc. 96, 1151–1160, 2001) from un-classified to two-way classified hypotheses, which captures the underlying two-way classification structure of the hypotheses and provides the foundational framework for the development of newer and potentially powerful Lfdr-based multiple testing procedures for the hypotheses.
Epidural blood patch for a post-dural puncture headache in a COVID-19 positive patient following labor epidural analgesia.

Abstract There is a growing concern regarding the epidural blood patch (EBP) safety in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positive patients. We are reporting our experience with an EBP for post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) management in COVID-19 positive parturient following an inadvertent dural puncture caused by a Tuohy needle while providing labor epidural analgesia. Our patient has benefited from the EBP; she has not reported any short-term neurological complications within the 12 weeks of follow up. However, the long-term complications are still unknown.
Urine staining intensity and observation of intraoperative ureteral jets among oral agents.

To determine if administration of a standard 400 mg oral dose of riboflavin (vitamin B2) was comparable to phenazopyridine (pyridium) for evaluating ease of visualization of ureteral jets at the time of cystoscopy. A three-arm double-blinded, randomized controlled study was performed consisting of thiamine as placebo, phenazopyridine, and riboflavin. Agents were administered the morning of surgery prior to surgical procedure. The primary outcome was the ease of visualization of the ureteral jets based on a grading of urine stain intensity on a 7-point color scale, where 1–2 were minimal yellow staining, 3–4 were moderate yellow staining, and 5–7 defined as intense yellow staining. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used with pairwise comparison to characterize urine stain intensity as a continuous variable among the three groups controlling for age, BMI, creatinine, and time from ingestion of medication to first cystoscopy. Eighty-four subjects were randomized with a mean ± SD age of 46.25 + 11.36 and BMI of 32.46 + 6.59. Riboflavin did have moderate or intense staining in 57% of cases; however, there was no significant difference between urine staining intensity compared to placebo (p = 0.21). There was a statistically significant increased urine staining intensity for phenazopyridine compared to placebo (p = 0.001) and for phenazopyridine compared to riboflavin (p = 0.001). Phenazopyridine provided statistically significantly greater urine staining compared to both riboflavin and placebo and should be considered primarily for ease of ureteral jet visualization.
The novel ORFV protein ORFV113 activates LPA-p38 signaling

Viruses have evolved mechanisms to subvert critical cellular signaling pathways that regulate a wide range of cellular functions, including cell differentiation, proliferation and chemotaxis, and innate immune responses. Here, we describe a novel ORFV protein, ORFV113, that interacts with the G protein-coupled receptor Lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPA1). Consistent with its interaction with LPA1, ORFV113 enhances p38 kinase phosphorylation in ORFV infected cells in vitro and in vivo, and in cells transiently expressing ORFV113 or treated with soluble ORFV113. Infection of cells with virus lacking ORFV113 (OV-IA82Δ113) significantly decreased p38 phosphorylation and viral plaque size. Infection of cells with ORFV in the presence of a p38 kinase inhibitor markedly diminished ORFV replication, highlighting importance of p38 signaling during ORFV infection. ORFV113 enhancement of p38 activation was prevented in cells in which LPA1 expression was knocked down and in cells treated with LPA1 inhibitor. Infection of sheep with OV-IA82Δ113 led to a strikingly attenuated disease phenotype, indicating that ORFV113 is a major virulence determinant in the natural host. Notably, ORFV113 represents the first viral protein that modulates p38 signaling via interaction with LPA1 receptor.
Finding Users we Trust: Scaling up Verified Twitter Users Using their Communication Patterns

We present a technique to identify Twitter users we trust to be regular Twitter users and not spam or fake accounts. The technique starts with an initial set of trusted users based on Twitter's verified users and recursively includes other users the trusted users communicate with. Conversations must be initiated by trusted users. We show that this technique produces a set of users that is over 200 times larger than Twitter's verified users. Our evaluation shows that the share of non-spam users within the resulting set of trusted users is more than 92% while the share of non-spam users within all tweeting users is 74%.
Mathematical encounters of the second kind

Philip Davis is one of America's outstanding writers on the philosophy of science, and in this text he provides an informative portrayal of an occupation that is either not well understood or misconceived by those outside the profession.
Distributed Computing in Asynchronous Networks with Byzantine Edges

A very basic property of fault-tolerant distributed computing, shown by Fischer, Lynch and Paterson, is that in the most general asynchronous network model, even in the presence of only one faulty processor it is impossible to achieve consensus. Thus, in the fault-tolerance context when processors may fail, the general model of distributed computing is anathema. In this work we investigate this totally asynchronous model in the presence of edge faults rather than processor ones.
Clinical experience with the single-plate Molteno implant in complicated glaucomas. Update of a pilot study.

Ninety-six patients who had undergone single-plate Molteno implantation for glaucomas with poor surgical prognoses were re-evaluated for long-term results. Control of intraocular pressure was achieved with one single-plate implant to a level less than 22 mmHg (but >5 mmHg) without reoperation or devastating complications in 46% of the aphakic/pseudophakic eyes, 25% of eyes after failed filters, 25% of eyes with neovascular glaucomas, and 26% of eyes in patients younger than 13 years of age (lifetable analysis at 5 years). Five-year success rates improved to 53%, 71%, 40%, and 56%, respectively, when data from second plates were included. Visual acuities improved or remained the same after one or two plates were implanted in 47% of aphakic/pseudophakic eyes, 17% of eyes after failed filters, 65% of eyes with neovascular glaucomas, and 63% of eyes in patients younger than 13 years of age on whom Snellen acuity was available. The most frequent overall complications after implantation of one or two plates included: corneal edema (19%), corneal graft decompensation (13%), and corneatube touch, retinal detachment, and cataract (8% each).
Comparative human pharmacokinetics and metabolism of single-dose oral and intravenous sildenafil.

Aims To characterize the absorption, metabolism and excretion of an oral and intravenous (IV) dose of radiolabelled [14C]-sildenafil citrate in healthy male subjects. Specific objectives were to measure the cumulative amount of drug-related radiolabelled material excreted in the urine and faeces to characterize urinary and faecal radioactivity as unchanged sildenafil or its metabolites, and to quantify blood and plasma total radioactivity and unchanged drug concentrations.
Electrochemical, Spectroscopic, and Thermal Investigations of LiSn2 ( PO4 ) 3 and Sn3 ( PO4 ) 2 Anodes during the First Discharge

The first discharge of crystalline LiSn 2 (PO 4 ) 3 and Sn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 is investigated with infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and impedance spectroscopy. Prior to discharging, both compounds have a rich vibrational structure in the mid- and far-IR; however, discharging to 1.00 V completely destroys this structure. Specifically, the PO 3 - 4 intramolecular stretching and bending vibrations collapse into broad bands while the lattice modes vanish for both compounds. The resulting mid- and far-IR spectra are consistent with the formation of highly disordered Li 3 PO 4 . Carbonate bands appear in the mid-IR spectra when either compound is discharged to 1.00 V. These bands are assigned to the products of an electrolyte decomposition reaction catalyzed by the metallic tin that forms in these electrodes. The infrared spectra suggest that Li + ions do not strongly interact with the Li 3 PO 4 or Li 2 CO 3 during the Li-Sn alloying process. Residual amounts of unalloyed metallic tin are detected with XRD and DSC. The Sn 3 (PO 4 ) 2 electrodes result in considerably larger amounts of residual tin than LiSn 2 (PO 4 ) 3 . These differences may be explained by considering the relative concentration of tin produced when each compound is discharged. Slow Li + ion diffusion probably causes a small amount of tin in the center of the larger aggregates to remain unalloyed.
Cloud Computing with iPlant Atmosphere

Cloud Computing refers to distributed computing platforms that use virtualization software to provide easy access to physical computing infrastructure and data storage, typically administered through a Web interface. Cloud-based computing provides access to powerful servers, with specific software and virtual hardware configurations, while eliminating the initial capital cost of expensive computers and reducing the ongoing operating costs of system administration, maintenance contracts, power consumption, and cooling. This eliminates a significant barrier to entry into bioinformatics and high-performance computing for many researchers. This is especially true of free or modestly priced cloud computing services. The iPlant Collaborative offers a free cloud computing service, Atmosphere, which allows users to easily create and use instances on virtual servers preconfigured for their analytical needs. Atmosphere is a self-service, on-demand platform for scientific computing. This unit demonstrates how to set up, access and use cloud computing in Atmosphere.
Ageing: A message from the gonads

Theories of ageing have it that there may be trade-offs between an individual's reproductive success and its life span. Work with the nematode wormCaenorhabditis elegansis revealing the mechanisms behind that principle — the latest studies show how signals from the worm's reproductive system influence its longevity.
Amodiaquine as a prodrug: importance of metabolite(s) in the antimalarial effect of amodiaquine in humans.

Abstract Existing analytical methods for assaying the 4-aminoquinoline antimalarial amodiaquine in body fluids are nonspecific and obscure the fact that little or no amodiaquine is present in the blood of dosed persons. We have isolated four metabolites of amodiaquine. The two major metabolites have been identified; one is desethyl-amodiaquine, and the other has been tentatively identified on the basis of proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as 2-hydroxydesethylamodiaquine. We developed a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method that separates the two major metabolites from each other and from amodiaquine, allowing separate quantification. The impact of these findings on in vitro sensitivity testing and blood analysis of persons dosed with amodiaquine is discussed.
Contingency management reduces injection-related HIV risk behaviors in heroin and cocaine using outpatients☆

Intravenous drug use is a major vector of HIV transmission. We assessed whether contingency management (CM), in which participants earn reinforcers for drug abstinence, reduces HIV risk behaviors in methadone-maintained opiate- and cocaine-using outpatients. Participants (n=116) were randomly assigned to prize-based CM or to receipt of prize draws noncontingently on a schedule yoked to the CM group. Both groups received methadone and individual counseling throughout treatment. The HIV-Risk Taking Behaviour Scale was administered in written questionnaire form at 2-week intervals (HRBS; [Darke, S., Hall, W., Heather, N., Ward, J., & Wodak, A. (1991). The reliability and validity of a scale to measure HIV risk-taking behaviour among intravenous drug users. AIDS, 5, 181-185]). A mediation analysis was conducted to determine whether abstinence from opiates and cocaine mediated the effect of CM on HRBS scores. Changes in HRBS scores over time differed significantly by treatment (F(9,334)=2.4, p<0.05), with HRBS scores decreasing over time in the CM group to a greater extent than in the noncontingent control group. Participants in the CM group had significantly lower rates of simultaneous cocaine/opiate-positive urine specimens than those in the noncontingent control group during CM treatment (F(1,111)=6.8, p=0.01). The relationship between treatment condition and HRBS scores was mediated by abstinence. CM targeted toward cocaine and heroin use produces significant reductions in injection-related drug-taking behaviors associated with heightened risk for getting or transmitting HIV.