cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Lost Story of Iqbal

The Supreme Court’s 2009 decision in Ashcroft v. Iqbal, which transformed pleading standards across civil litigation, is recognized as one of the most important cases of contemporary civil procedure. Despite the abundant attention the case has received on procedural grounds, the Court’s representations of Javaid Iqbal, the plaintiff in the case, and the post-9/11 detentions out of which his claims arose have received far less critique than they deserve. The decision presented a particular narrative of the detentions that may affect readers’ perceptions of the propriety of law enforcement practices, the scope of the harm they impose on minority communities, and their ultimate legality. This Article contests that narrative by recovering the lost story of Iqbal. It first retells the story of Iqbal himself — the Pakistani immigrant and cable repair technician whom the opinion presented only categorically as a foreigner, a terrorist suspect, and, at best, a victim of abuse. Drawing on the author’s interview of Iqbal in Lahore, Pakistan, in 2016 and other available evidence, the Article reconstructs the facts of Iqbal’s immigrant life, his arrest and detention in the wake of the September 11 attacks, and the enduring consequences of being labeled a suspected terrorist. Second, the Article recounts the role of race and religion in the post-9/11 immigrant detentions, challenging the Court’s account of the detentions as supported by an “obvious” legitimate explanation. Juxtaposing the lost story of Iqbal and the detentions against the Court’s decision ultimately sheds light on the ability of procedural decisions to propagate particular normative visions and understandings of substantive law without the full recognition of legal audiences. Nearly fifteen years after the September 11 attacks and the ensuing mass detentions, Iqbal demands attention to its substance — to the profound questions of race, law, and security that have become even more urgent in the face of new calls for the exclusion of individuals on racial and religious grounds.
Toward the Mechanism of Perchlorinated Cyclopentasilane (Si5Cl10) Ring Flattening in the [Si5Cl10·2Cl]2– Dianion

We report the detailed computational study of flattening of the puckered Si5 ring by suppression of the pseudo-Jahn–Teller (PJT) effect through coordination of two Cl– anions to the molecule forming an inverse sandwich dianion [Si5Cl10·2Cl]2– complex. The PJT effect that causes nonplanarity of the Si5Cl10 structure (Cs) results from vibronic coupling of pairs of occupied molecular orbitals (OMOs) and unoccupied molecular orbitals (UMOs). It was shown that filling the intervenient molecular orbitals of puckered Si5Cl10 with valent electron pairs of Cl– donors suppresses the PJT effect, with the Si5 ring becoming planar (D5h) upon complex formation. In this paper, the stabilization energy E(2) associated with donor–acceptor charge transfer (delocalization) was estimated using NBO analysis for all studied inverse sandwich compounds [Si5Cl10·2X]2– (where X = F, Cl, Br). It was found that the polarizability of the donor ion might significantly affect the stabilization energy value and should be taken into acco...
The Role of Interest Groups and Group Interests on Gun Legislation in the U.S. House

Objective I examine the differential effects on legislative behavior of organized and unorganized subgroups related to gun policy. Methods Using various data sources on campaign contributions, voter characteristics, and legislative behaviors, I estimate logit models of the decision to co-sponsor or vote for gun bills in the U.S. House of Representatives. Results Both interest group contributions and the percentage of hunters in a district are independently predictive of legislative behavior, above and beyond district ideology and party affiliation. These findings are robust and substantively meaningful. Conclusions Those involved in the politics surrounding gun policy should take into account the difference between the influence of organized interests like the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the unorganized interests of voter subgroups.
Solubilities and ionic conductivities of ionic liquids containing lithium salts

Abstract Solubilities of six lithium salts were measured at 25 °C in three imidazolium-based ionic liquids: 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([EMIM][TFSI]), 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([EMIM][Tf]) and 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide ([BMIM][DCA]). The lithium salts were LiTFSI, LiNO3, LiI, LiTf, LiPF6 and LiBF4. There were large differences in solubility of lithium salts depending on the anion of the salt and on the ionic liquid. The largest difference in solubility was observed for LiNO3. 7Li NMR spectra of the concentrated salt-containing ionic liquids indicate that Li+ and NO3− are strongly associated in the investigated ionic liquids. The different abilities of the ionic liquids to solubilize these associated salts could explain the solubility differences. The ionic conductivity of each salt-containing ionic liquid was measured in the temperature range 15 to 60 °C up to concentrations close to the solubility limit at 25 °C. The ionic conductivity of the salt-containing ionic liquid decreases with salt concentration. Changing the lithium anion had almost no influence on the conductivity in [BMIM][[DCA] but a noticeable influence on the ionic conductivity in [EMIM][TFSI]. The solubilities in [EMIM][Tf] were too small to detect the effect of the anion of the lithium salt on conductivity.
Designing spatially cohesive nature reserves with backup coverage

Natural habitats continue to dwindle due to a variety of natural and human-induced stressors. In response, sufficient land must be set aside for conservation to preserve long-term biodiversity. In ...
Postemergence Grass Herbicide Activity Changes with Adjuvant and pH and Sodium Level in Spray Solutions

Abstract Water quality is known to affect herbicide efficacy. Nursery well water containing naturally high pH and sodium levels was evaluated as spray solution for the postemergence grass herbicides Poast (sethoxydim), Fusilade (fluazifop P) and Acclaim (fenoxapropethyl). Using crabgrass as a test plant, high pH & sodium solution water reduced the effectiveness of all herbicides in one study. Other studies revealed that Poast (sethoxydim) was influenced the most with high pH & sodium water while the activity of Fusilade (fluazifop-P) and Acclaim (fenoxaprop-ethyl) was less affected. The solution water inhibition of Poast (sethoxydim) was overcome when Dash (a proprietary blend of surfactants used as a replacement for oil concentrate) was used as an adjuvant.
Increased fetal epicardial fat thickness: A novel ultrasound marker for altered fetal metabolism in diabetic pregnancies

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether fetal epicardial fat thickness (EFT) differs in diabetic and nondiabetic pregnant women. METHODS Retrospective case-control study of pregnancies between 24 and 36 weeks complicated by preexisting (PDM) or gestational (GDM) diabetes mellitus, matched one to one with controls for body mass index and gestational age (GA). Epicardial fat was identified as the hypoechogenic area between myocardium and visceral pericardium over the right ventricle and its thickness was measured by a single observer blinded to clinical condition and outcomes. A linear regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between GA and EFT, and regression lines were compared between diabetics and controls. RESULTS 53 PDM and 53 GDM pregnant women were matched with controls. With the exception of maternal age, the demographics were similar among groups. EFT increased significantly with advancing gestation in both diabetics and controls (P < 0.0001) and was significantly greater in diabetics than in controls (P < 0.0001). The best fit lines were different between diabetics (EFT = 0.05 × GA + 0.07 mm; R2 = 0.70) and controls (EFT = 0.07 × GA + 0.04 mm; R2 = 0.93) (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Fetal EFT was greater in diabetics than in nondiabetics, and even greater in pregestational diabetics. EFT maybe an additional and/or earlier marker to identify early changes in fetal metabolism before accelerated fetal growth and polyhydramnios is apparent.
Detection of Uncoupling Protein-2 (UCP2) As a Mitochondrial Modulator of Apoptosis

There is an increasing evidence that uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2), a recently identified molecular sensor and suppressor of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), plays an important role in -regulating apoptosis in different cell systems. A great technical difficulty that many groups have encountered is the reliable detection of endogenously or exogenously expressed UCP2 protein. The goal of this -chapter is to introduce the reader to techniques that we have successfully used over the years to detect UCP2 protein in various mouse and human specimens. These techniques include mitochondrial isolation and submitochondrial fractionation followed by Western blotting and UCP2 immunohistochemistry. We find that sample preparation is a key to success and it allows one to produce relevant and important data using commercially available antibodies.
Dysregulation of G Protein-Coupled Receptor Signaling in Cancer

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of signaling receptors in the mammalian genome and elicit responses to a plethora of extracellular stimuli. Moreover, nearly half the drugs currently in use for the treatment of a variety of human diseases target GPCRs either directly or indirectly. A role for dysregulated GPCR signaling in tumor progression is supported by a substantial amount of literature. GPCRs are overexpressed in various types of malignant cancers. In certain endocrine tissues, mutations in specific GPCRs and G proteins result in aberrant signaling, which contributes to cancer progression. In other tissue types, GPCR overexpression coupled with the abundance of activating ligands generated in the tumor microenvironment drives tumor progression. Desensitization and receptor trafficking control the magnitude, duration and spatial aspects of GPCR signaling. Most GPCRs are internalized through clathrin-coated pits and recycled back to the plasma membrane or sorted to lysosomes and degraded. Recent studies suggest that defects in GPCR trafficking contribute to receptor overexpression and aberrant signaling. Recent work also indicates that dysregulation of the trafficking machinery, due in part to aberrant ubiquitination, alters GPCR trafficking and signaling, and thereby contributes to tumor progression.
Immunomodulation Therapy for Alcoholic Hepatitis

Alcohol is a widespread, socially-accepted hepatoxin in most countries. Approximately two-thirds of the adult U.S. population drinks at least 18 drinks a year (1), and 7 to 10% of the US population meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or alcoholism (2). In industrialized countries, up to 66% of all chronic liver disease is related to alcohol use (3). Alcohol accounts for 40 to 50% of all deaths owing to cirrhosis (1) and remains the most common cause of liver-related mortality (4). However, alcoholic liver disease (ALD) represents a spectrum of histologic changes and clinical outcomes, as shown in Fig. 1.
Oxidation Adjacent to Nitrogen

Oxidation of carbon adjacent to nitrogen refers to the introduction of either an oxygen atom or a carbon atom next to a nitrogen atom, since either raises the oxidation state of the carbon atom attached to the nitrogen group. Sometimes, the nitrogen functionality is then lost on work-up or in a further hydrolysis step.
Reversing the Queue: Performance, Legitimacy, and Minority Hiring

Studies of minority hiring have found that poor-performing firms or firms in highly competitive contexts are more likely to hire minority candidates. However, most work has examined hiring for entry and mid-level positions, not senior management. Management positions differ in terms of the amount of uncertainty in identifying candidates qualified for the job; in the intensity of external evaluations of both managerial and firm performance; and in the level of accountability for that performance. Furthermore, the influence of senior minority managers on hiring practices may differ substantially, depending on where a manager sits in the firm’s hierarchy. Examining hiring practices on coaching staffs of teams in America’s National Football League, from 1970-2007, we find that better-performing teams are less likely to hire minorities to fill lower-level and mid-level coaching positions (as predicted by prior literature on labor queues), but that such teams are more likely to hire minorities into leadership positions. We also find that minority head coaches hire more minorities for subordinate coaching jobs, but that the presence of a minority offensive or defensive coordinator (with a white head coach) is a significant, negative predictor of minority hiring in junior and mid-level positions.
Local Properties of Holomorphic Mappings

The main purpose of this paper is to study local properties of holo-morphic mappings between complex spaces using tangent spaces1 to complex spaces.
Two Battles and a Massacre

President Abraham Lincoln issued the final version of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which stated that free black men “…will be received into the armed service of the United States” [119]. That momentous decision inspired General Stephen G. Burbridge, Federal Governor of the District of Kentucky, in 1864 to promulgate General Order No. 24 authorizing the recruitment of freedmen and slaves into black units for service under his overall command (Fig. 9.1). On June 30 white officers assigned to lead the newly instituted 5th United States Colored Cavalry (USCC) obtained permission to begin enlisting volunteers for the regiment. When fully assembled later that fall, nearly all of the soldiers were former slaves, at last able to join the fight for freedom.
Sex-Specific Ventricular and Vascular Adaptations to Exercise.

Increasing data suggest that there are sex differences in ventricular and vascular adaptations to aerobic (endurance) exercise, which may be attributed to different physical and physiological features in men and women. Despite that cardiovascular control during acute exercise at the same relative work rate (e.g., the percentage of peak oxygen uptake) appears to be similar between the sexes, women have blunted responses or adaptations to prolonged (e.g., ≥1 year) exercise training compared with men. Currently, there is little evidence to suggest that exercise-induced vascular adaptations are different between men and women. Furthermore, sex differences in skeletal muscle adaptations to exercise, and how this influences cardiovascular function, remain unclear. Identifying potential differences and the mechanisms behind such exercise-induced adaptations is important for the optimization of exercise interventions between men and women across the life span.
Twenty-five year trends (1986-2011) in hospital incidence and case-fatality rates of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation complicating acute myocardial infarction

Background Long-term trends in the incidence rates (IRs) and hospital case-fatality rates (CFRs) of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) among patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have not been recently examined. Methods We used data from 11,825 patients hospitalized with AMI at all 11 medical centers in central Massachusetts on a biennial basis between 1986 and 2011. Multivariable adjusted logistic regression modeling was used to examine trends in hospital IRs and CFRs of VT and VF complicating AMI. Results The median age of the study population was 71 years, 57.9% were men, and 94.7% were white. The hospital IRs declined from 14.3% in 1986/1988 to 10.5% in 2009/2011 for VT and from 8.2% to 1.7% for VF. The in-hospital CFRs declined from 27.7% to 6.9% for VT and from 49.6% to 36.0% for VF between 1986/1988 and 2009/2011, respectively. The IRs of both early ( Conclusions The hospital IRs and CHRs of VT and VF complicating AMI have declined over time, likely because of changes in acute monitoring and treatment practices. Despite these encouraging trends, efforts remain needed to identify patients at risk for these serious ventricular arrhythmias so that preventive and treatment strategies might be implemented as necessary.
Occlusal overload with dental implants: a review.

Controversy persists as to the role of occlusal overload in peri-implantitis. Animal studies have not revealed the biological threshold for fatigue failure in the peri-implant bone. On the other hand, clinical studies have demonstrated a link between parafunction and implant failure, although variables such as intensity and frequency of loads, as well as bone density, have led to different outcomes. The absence of specific engineering “building codes” for the clinician has relegated prosthetic design planning to intuitive guidelines for all patients. For example, higher crown to implant ratios (2–3:1), implant cantilever prostheses and non-splinted restorative designs have been avoided because of the concern for overload. However, evidence has not supported this general approach. A call for preclinical research to establish specific patient load thresholds is in order to establish a customized treatment plan.
Polyester-Polyurethane Interactions with Chromium Dioxide

The chemistry of polyester-polyurethanes adsorbed on high surface area, magnetic particles of chromium dioxide is reported. Understanding this chemistry is crucial to the successful use of polyester-polyurethane materials as binders for magnetic recording tape coatings containing chromium dioxide.
Reply to Zadpoor: Fatigue mechanisms observed in bone provide insight to microarchitectured materials.

Abstract Systematic measurements of surface displacements associated with longwall mining made by British Coal (formerly National Coal Board - NCB) are compared with NCB results calculated in the present study. Three aspects of subsidence are considered: maximum subsidence, surface configuration and applicability of two-dimensional models to three-dimensional cases. The model presented in this paper is based on elementary solution presented by Golecki (1978, 1979) for stresses and displacements in an infinite homogeneous elastic halfplane or half space, subjected at its boundary by a discontinuous uniform displacement. Two and three dimensional models were developed using those solutions. The model was used for an analysis of ground subsidence as a function of the span and height of the mined openings, assuming various Poisson’s ratios. Results of two-dimensional models, representing openings of infinite length were compared with measurements compiled by the NCB which correspond to longwall mines. The comparison shows that for deep mines, use of small Poisson’s ratios renders close agreement between calculated and measured subsidence, whereas for shallow mines use of large Poisson’s ratios gives the best agreement. These results lead to the conclusion that subsidence in shallow mines is associated with a state of failure extending to the ground surface. This entails an increase in volume (dilatancy) and is therefore best represented by a model with a large Poisson’s ratio. On the other hand failure in deep mines is confined to a relatively limited zone above the subsiding roof. Computed subsidence over the longwall face (rib subsidence) appears to be consistently larger than that measured in the field. This may be attributed to one fundamental difference between the model and the prototype; while the model assumes closure over the entire longwall span (using a step function) actual closure occurs only at some distance behind the longwall face. Results of the three dimensional model indicate that subsidence associated with a square groundplan is smaller than that associated with a two dimensional opening. Subsidence over square openings amounts to less than 70% of that calculated in two dimensional models of equal relative span. For openings with a rectangular groundplan, subsidence increases rapidly with increasing length. For shallow openings with a length to width ratio exceeding 2.5, maximum subsidence is more than 95% of that in an opening of equal width but of infinite length.
Introduction: Looking for Black Miami

Conceptualizing Miami as the “Hemispheric South” captures the hemispheric collision of peoples, practices, and prejudices that have transformed understandings of whiteness, Blackness, Latinx and power in this city. The essay argues that Black migrants are foundational to Miami’s hemispheric history. Using the life writings of Black academics, it demonstrates that a hemispheric angle on Miami revises understandings of U.S. migration, Civil Rights, and the sounds of Blackness. The city speaks in different grammars of Blackness, thereby rendering more layers of the Black experience legible, usable, and cautionary. Miami’s Black histories speak to our present moment where global migration is rapidly becoming the defining issue of the era. Because Miami’s history presaged a wider set of civil rights reversals for Black Americans, the city’s Black history provides a new lens on familiar questions of race and incorporation thus enabling us to see a different narrative arc of the United States. Reframing Miami in terms of Black hemispheric movement reorients key debates in Black Studies, Caribbean Studies, American Studies around race, migration, whiteness, and civil rights.
Chapter 7 – Bioenergy Crops

There are a number of bioenergy crops that can be grown in America. Annual and perennial crops that are well adapted locally are being pursued in research programs at state and regional levels. First-generation ethanol crops include corn, sorghum, and sugarcane. Second generation crops include switchgrass, miscanthus, corn stover, and various woody species. One of the biggest challenges with second generation crops is handling, storing, and transporting the quantity of cellulosic biomass needed to achieve federal production mandates. There is a great deal of research going on now to address these challenges, but we are not there yet. Each bioenergy crop has its own set of niches and challenges. Ultimately, if we could grow a high-yielding crop with little or no inputs, we would have an ideal situation. However, each crop responds differently to soil, climate, and management conditions. The highest-yielding crops tend to require the most inputs.
A History and Analysis of Laws Protecting Native American Cultures

III. FEDERAL ACTS IMPACTING AND/OR PROTECTING NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES 49 A. Antiquities Act of 1906 49 B. National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 50 C. American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 51 D. Archaeological Resources Preservation Act of 1979 55 E. Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1991 56
Clustering of alkanols confined in chabazite zeolites: Kinetic implications for dehydration of methanol-ethanol mixtures

Abstract Methanol-ethanol mixtures enable simultaneous quantification of bimolecular dehydration turnover rates (373 K, per H+) to dimethyl ether (DME) and methyl ethyl ether (MEE) on chabazite zeolites. Coverage terms for protonated alkanol clusters rigorously cancel in DME and MEE formation rate expressions, and enables isolating the kinetic relevance of trimer-mediated pathways to form DME, but not MEE, at high coverage (373 K, 2–50 kPa CH3OH). The kinetics of parallel product formation provide experimental evidence that DME formation rates are inhibited when larger protonated CH3OH clusters form (>3 CH3OH/H+) because they must desorb CH3OH to form kinetically-preferred trimer-mediated transition states.
Osteoprotective effect of green tea polyphenols and annatto-extracted tocotrienol in obese mice is associated with enhanced microbiome vitamin K2 biosynthetic pathways.

Abstract The role of the gut microbiome in bone health has received significant attention in the past decade. We investigated the effects of green tea polyphenols (GTP) and annatto-extracted tocotrienols (AT) on bone properties and gut microbiome in obese mice. Male mice were assigned to a two (no AT vs. 400 mg/kg diet AT) × two (no GTP vs. 0.5% w/v GTP) factorial design, namely control, G, T, and G+T group respectively, for 14 weeks. The 4th lumbar vertebra (LV-4) and femur were harvested for bone microstructural analysis using μ-CT. Microbiome analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of cecal feces was performed. AT increased bone volume at distal femur. GTP increased serum procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide concentration, bone volume at the distal femur and the LV-4, and trabecular number at distal femur; whereas GTP decreased trabecular separation at distal femur. Interactions between GTP and AT were observed in serum C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen level (control>G=T=G+T) as well as the cortical bone area (control
Multifocused Ultrasound Therapy for Controlled Microvascular Permeabilization and Improved Drug Delivery

Focused ultrasound (FUS) exposure of micro-bubble (MB) contrast agents can transiently increase microvascular permeability allowing anticancer drugs to extravasate into a targeted tumor tissue. Either fixed or mechanically steered in space, most studies to date have used a single element focused transducer to deliver the ultrasound (US) energy. The goal of this study was to investigate various multi-FUS strategies implemented on a programmable US scanner (Vantage 256, Verasonics Inc.) equipped with a linear array for image guidance and a 128-element therapy transducer (HIFUPlex-06, Sonic Concepts). The multi-FUS strategies include multi-FUS with sequential excitation (multi-FUS-SE) and multi-FUS with temporal sequential excitation (multi-FUS-TSE) and were compared to single-FUS and sham treatment. This study was performed using athymic mice implanted with breast cancer cells ( ${N} = 20$ ). FUS therapy experiments were performed for 10 min after a solution containing MBs (Definity, Lantheus Medical Imaging Inc.) and near-infrared (NIR, surrogate drug) dye were injected via the tail vein. The fluorescent signal was monitored using an in vivo optical imaging system (Pearl Trilogy, LI-COR) to quantify intratumoral dye accumulation at baseline and again at 0.1, 24, and 48 h after receiving US therapy. Animals were then euthanized for ex vivo dye extraction analysis. At 48 h, fluorescent tracer accumulation within the tumor space for the multi-FUS-TSE therapy group animals was found to be 67.3%, 50.3%, and 36.2% higher when compared to sham, single-FUS, and multi-FUS-SE therapy group measures, respectively. Also, dye extraction and fluorescence measurements from excised tumor tissue found increases of 243.2%, 163.1%, and 68.1% for the multi-FUS-TSE group compared to sham, single-FUS, and multi-FUS-SE therapy group measures, respectively. In summary, experimental results revealed that for a multi-FUS sequence, increased microvascular permeability was considerably influenced by both the spatial and temporal aspects of the applied US therapy.
Mining for Tourists: An Analysis of Industrial Tourism and Government Policy in Wales

Wales was an epicenter of industrial activity during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Following deindustrialization in the 1960s and 1970s, Wales emerged as a destination for industrial tour...
Examination of mercury contamination from a recent coal ash spill into the Dan River, North Carolina, United States.

Abstract Coal ash spills occasionally occur due to the accidental failure of surface impoundments, and toxic metal-laden ash can pose a serious health threat to adjacent aquatic ecosystems. Here, we performed an investigation into longitudinal variations of mercury (Hg) contamination in the Dan River (North Carolina, United States) about 17 and 29 months after a February 2014 coal ash spill incident, in which the reported Hg concentrations in the spilled coal ash (210 ng/g) were 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than the river sediments (2–61 ng/g). We examined total Hg (THg) and methyl Hg (MeHg) in sediments from 0 to 65 km downstream of the spill, and found that most of the variations of THg and MeHg in surface sediments (0–16 cm) could be well accounted by the organic matter content and appeared to be not contaminated by Hg derived from coal ash. In examining MeHg bioaccumulation in invertebrates (aquatic and riparian) and fish in the Dan River and fish in a reservoir downstream of Dan River, we found no evidence of elevated MeHg bioaccumulation due to the 2014 coal ash spill. Thus, we concluded that Hg contamination from the coal ash spill is largely absent in the Dan River for both surface sediments and biota within the first three years of spill (until 2017), even though the majority of coal ash may be buried deeper in the sediment in the river channel and/or the downstream reservoir. Alternatively, the Hg associated with the coal ash is largely not bioavailable for extensive microbial Hg methylation. The findings provide useful insights into remediation strategies for this incident and other coal ash spills.
Aqueous Uranium Speciation on U/Ca in Foraminiferal Calcite: The Importance of Minor Species—UO2(CO3)22–

The decrease of uranium to calcium ratios (U/Ca) in biogenic CaCO3 with increasing pH and/or [CO32–] is being explored as a proxy to reconstruct past seawater carbonate chemistry. This inverse rela...
Unprotected discharge: absence of stroke prevention strategies in patients with atrial fibrillation admitted for bleeding

Patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF) on anticoagulation (AC) for stroke prevention are at an increased risk of bleeding. A common clinical dilemma is deciding when to safely restart AC following a bleed. Although studies have shown better outcomes with re-initiation of AC after hemostasis, there are clinical barriers to restarting AC. Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a safe and efficacious alternative for patients who are unable to tolerate AC following major bleeding. We aimed to evaluate the rate of stroke prevention strategies instituted at time of discharge in patients with AF on AC who had been hospitalized for a bleeding event. We retrospectively identified patients with AF on AC admitted for bleeding between January 2016 and August 2019. The type of AC, form of bleeding, and CHA2DS2VASc were collected. Stroke prevention strategies upon discharge and at 3 months were noted. One hundred seventy-four patients with AF on AC were hospitalized with a bleeding event, of which 10.9% died. Among patients who survived, AC was restarted in 45.2% of patients, 9.7% were referred for LAAO, and 45.1% were discharged without stroke prevention strategy. At 3 months, 32.6% of patients still had no documented stroke prophylaxis. Those referred for LAAO had, on average, higher CHA2DS2VASc (5 ± 1 vs 4 ± 1, p = 0.007). A significant number of patients with AF hospitalized for bleeding were discharged with no plan for stroke prophylaxis. Despite its safety and efficacy, LAAO appears to be an underutilized alternative in AF patients with high bleeding risk.
Stabilization of the Hinge Region of Human E-selectin Enhances Binding Affinity to Ligands Under Force

E-selectin is a member of the selectin family of cell adhesion molecules expressed on the plasma membrane of inflamed endothelium and facilitates initial leukocyte tethering and subsequent cell rolling during the early stages of the inflammatory response via binding to glycoproteins expressing sialyl LewisX and sialyl LewisA (sLeX/A). Existing crystal structures of the extracellular lectin/EGF-like domain of E-selectin complexed with sLeX have revealed that E-selectin can exist in two conformation states, a low affinity (bent) conformation, and a high affinity (extended) conformation. The differentiating characteristic of the two conformations is the interdomain angle between the lectin and the EGF-like domain. Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations we observed that in the absence of tensile force E-selectin undergoes spontaneous switching between the two conformational states at equilibrium. A single amino acid substitution at residue 2 (serine to tyrosine) on the lectin domain favors the extended conformation. Steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations of E-selectin and PSGL-1 in conjunction with experimental cell adhesion assays show a longer binding lifetime of E-selectin (S2Y) to PSGL-1 compared to wildtype protein. The findings in this study advance our understanding into how the structural makeup of E-selectin allosterically influences its adhesive dynamics.
Population-level impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on breast cancer screening and diagnostic procedures.

Background To understand how health care delays may affect breast cancer detection, the authors quantified changes in breast-related preventive and diagnostic care during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods Eligible women (N = 39,444) were aged ≥18 years and received a screening mammogram, diagnostic mammogram, or breast biopsy between January 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020, at 7 academic and community breast imaging facilities in North Carolina. Changes in the number of mammography or breast biopsy examinations after March 3, 2020 (the first COVID-19 diagnosis in North Carolina) were evaluated and compared with the expected numbers based on trends between January 1, 2019 and March 2, 2020. Changes in the predicted mean monthly number of examinations were estimated using interrupted time series models. Differences in patient characteristics were tested using least squares means regression. Results Fewer examinations than expected were received after the pandemic's onset. Maximum reductions occurred in March 2020 for screening mammography (-85.1%; 95% CI, -100.0%, -70.0%) and diagnostic mammography (-48.9%; 95% CI, -71.7%, -26.2%) and in May 2020 for biopsies (-40.9%; 95% CI, -57.6%, -24.3%). The deficit decreased gradually, with no significant difference between observed and expected numbers by July 2020 (diagnostic mammography) and August 2020 (screening mammography and biopsy). Several months after the pandemic's onset, women who were receiving care had higher predicted breast cancer risk (screening mammography, P Conclusions Pandemic-associated deficits in the number of breast examinations decreased over time. Utilization differed by breast cancer risk and insurance status, but not by age or race/ethnicity. Long-term studies are needed to clarify the contribution of these trends to breast cancer disparities.
Migratory cortical interneuron-specific transcriptome abnormalities in schizophrenia.

Abstract Cortical interneurons (cINs) are substantially affected in Schizophrenia (SCZ) and enriched for SCZ heritability during development. To understand SCZ-specific changes in these cells during development, we isolated migratory cINs from cIN spheres derived from 5 healthy control (HC) and 5 SCZ induced pluripotent stem cell lines (iPSCs). Transcriptome analyses show dysregulation in extracellular matrix pathways as the major disturbances in SCZ migratory cINs, whereas sphere cINs show dysregulation in immune pathways. This result suggests the importance of using homogeneous cell populations to identify stage-specific abnormalities and provides a platform to further study the biology of schizophrenia pathogenesis during early development.
Influence of interlocking thread screws to repair simulated adult canine humeral condylar fractures

OBJECTIVE To determine the influence of interlocking screw threads on the biomechanical properties of repaired canine humeral condylar fractures. STUDY DESIGN Ex vivo biomechanical study. SAMPLE POPULATION Thirty-six humeral condyles. METHODS Simulated fractures of the lateral aspect of the humeral condyle were stabilized by a 3.5 mm interlocking thread screw (ITS) or 3.5 mm buttress thread screw placed in lag (BTS-L) or positional fashion (BTS-P) and axially loaded at a walk, trot, 2-mm displacement, and failure cycles. Compact flute drill bits (CFBs) were used for ITS constructs and standard flute drill bits (SFB) for BTS constructs. The effects of bit type on drilling parameters and screw type on screw insertion properties and fragment stability were assessed. RESULTS CFB produced a 6°C greater temperature increase (p = .042) and required 20 N higher torque (p = .003) than SFB. Insertional torque was greater for ITS than BTS-P (p = .001) and BTS-L (p = .001). Condylar fragment rotation at failure was lower in ITS (lsmean ± SE, 8.3° ± 1.9°) than BTS-L constructs (14.5° ± 2.3°, p = .011). ITS resisted greater loads (1503 ± 105 N) than BTS-P (1189 ± 99 N, p = .038) but not BTS-L (1249 ± 123 N, p = .121) constructs. CONCLUSION Biomechanical performance of constructs was improved with ITS rather than BTS fixation. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE ITS can be considered for stabilization of humeral condylar fractures in adult dogs.
Exploring outdoor play: a mixed-methods study of the quality of preschool play environments and teacher perceptions of risky play

Risky play, accompanied by thrilling feelings with real or perceived risks, is beneficial for children’s development. Playground quality and teachers’ attitudes about risk can influence preschooler...
New strategies for fluorescently labeling proteins in the study of amyloids.

Abstract Amyloid proteins are widely studied, both for their unusual biophysical properties and their association with disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Fluorescence-based methods using site-specifically labeled proteins can provide information on the details of their structural dynamics and their roles in specific biological processes. Here, we describe the application of different labeling methods and novel fluorescent probe strategies to the study of amyloid proteins, both for in vitro biophysical experiments and for in vivo imaging. These labeling tools can be elegantly used to answer important questions on the function and pathology of amyloid proteins.
Adherence to Telemonitoring Therapy for Medicaid Patients With Hypertension: Case Study.

Background: Almost 50% of the adults in the United States have hypertension. Although clinical trials indicate that home blood pressure monitoring can be effective in managing hypertension, the reported results might not materialize in practice because of patient adherence problems. Objective: The aims of this study are to characterize the adherence of Medicaid patients with hypertension to daily telemonitoring, identify the impacts of adherence reminder calls, and investigate associations with blood pressure control. Methods: This study targeted Medicaid patients with hypertension from the state of Texas. A total of 180 days of blood pressure and pulse data in 2016-2018 from a telemonitoring company were analyzed for mean transmission rate and mean blood pressure change. The first 30 days of data were excluded because of startup effects. The protocols required the patients to transmit readings by a specified time daily. Patients not transmitting their readings received an adherence reminder call to troubleshoot problems and encourage transmission. The patients were classified into adherent and nonadherent cohorts; adherent patients were those who transmitted data on at least 80% of the days. Results: The mean patient age was 73.2 (SD 11.7) years. Of the 823 patients, 536 (65.1%) were women, and 660 (80.2%) were urban residents. The adherent cohort (475/823, 57.7%) had mean transmission rates of 74.9% before the adherence reminder call and 91.3% after the call, whereas the nonadherent cohort (348/823, 42.3%) had mean transmission rates of 39% and 58% before and after the call, respectively. From month 1 to month 5, the transmission rates dropped by 1.9% and 10.2% for the adherent and nonadherent cohorts, respectively. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure values improved by an average of 2.2 and 0.7 mm Hg (P<.001 and P=.004), respectively, for the adherent cohort during the study period, whereas only the systolic blood pressure value improved by an average of 1.6 mm Hg (P=.02) for the nonadherent cohort. Conclusions: Although we found that patients can achieve high levels of adherence, many experience adherence problems. Although adherence reminder calls help, they may not be sufficient. Telemonitoring lowered blood pressure, as has been observed in clinical trials. Furthermore, blood pressure control was positively associated with adherence.
The 3'tsRNAs are aminoacylated: Implications for their biogenesis.

Emerging evidence indicates that tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are involved in fine-tuning gene expression and become dysregulated in various cancers. We recently showed that the 22nt LeuCAG tsRNA from the 3´ end of tRNALeu is required for efficient translation of a ribosomal protein mRNA and ribosome biogenesis. Inactivation of this 3´tsRNA induced apoptosis in rapidly dividing cells and suppressed the growth of a patient-derived orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma in mice. The mechanism involved in the generation of the 3´tsRNAs remains elusive and it is unclear if the 3´-ends of 3´tsRNAs are aminoacylated. Here we report an enzymatic method utilizing exonuclease T to determine the 3´charging status of tRNAs and tsRNAs. Our results showed that the LeuCAG 3´tsRNA, and two other 3´tsRNAs are fully aminoacylated. When the leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LARS1) was inhibited, there was no change in the total tRNALeu concentration but a reduction in both the charged tRNALeu and LeuCAG 3´tsRNA, suggesting the 3´tsRNAs are fully charged and originated solely from the charged mature tRNA. Altering LARS1 expression or the expression of various tRNALeu mutants were also shown to affect the generation of the LeuCAG 3´tsRNA further suggesting they are created in a highly regulated process. The fact that the 3´tsRNAs are aminoacylated and their production is regulated provides additional insights into their importance in post-transcriptional gene regulation that includes coordinating the production of the protein synthetic machinery.
Venous thromboembolism in patients with surgically treated ankle fractures.

Objectives In patients with rotational ankle fracture, we compare the rate of venous thromboembolism development between patients who received chemoprophylaxis vs those patients that received none. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Level I trauma center. Patients/participants Between 2014 and 2018, we identified 483 patients with rotational ankle fracture that had no VTE risk factors, were under 70 years of age, and had an isolated injury. Intervention Chemoprophylaxis vs no chemoprophylaxis after open reduction internal fixation of a rotational ankle fracture. Main outcome measurements Development of VTE was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included wound problems, infection, hematoma, or non-union. Results There were 313 patients that received no prophylaxis and 170 patients that received chemoprophylaxis after operative fixation of an isolated ankle fracture. Demographics including age, gender, body mass index, and ASA class were similar between groups. The rate of DVT/PE was 3.5% in those without DVT prophylaxis, and 4.1% in those on DVT prophylaxis with no significant differences found (p = 0.8). There was no significant difference in wound complication (no VTE prophylaxis-3.7% vs VTE prophylaxis-2.5%, p = 0.7) or infection rates (no VTE prophylaxis-3.8% vs VTE prophylaxis 4.1%, p = 1.0) between groups. Conclusions No difference was detected in the rate of symptomatic DVT or PE in patients based on chemoprophylaxis. Our results support the conclusion that the use of chemoprophylaxis may remain surgeon preference and based on patient risk factors for VTE development. Level of evidence Level III-retrospective cohort study.
Artificial Life of Agents

The research in virtual reality initiated by Carl Eugene Loeffler, Research Director at SIMLAB, NASA/Robotics Engineering Consortium, Carnegie Mellon University, investigates existence within networked simulation environments. To date research efforts have been conducted in the area of tele-existence, where multiple users share or co-inhabit a common distributed space. As the research progresses, the environments have become populated by agents of varied classes: people, animals, objects, which are assigned prescribed behaviors as varied as themselves. New research directions study the nature of agents, and their emergence into the classification of life forms. Artificial life, or A-Life when assigned to agents, is the investigation of agents as actual living organisms in silico that possess the properties of living organisms in vitro. They are for all intent and purposes alive. This paper describes general direction in the growing field of agent research, and the current research conducted at SIMLAB in the area of the artificial life of agents.
Measuring Service Quality in a Medical Setting in a Developing Country

Abstract Service quality has been a concept of major interest among academicians and practitioners alike. Even though the appropriateness of a popular conceptualization of service quality (i.e., SERVQUAL-Parasuraman, Zeithaml, and Berry, 1988) has been questioned, the scale has been adopted for many studies in services research. The current study is an attempt to test the applicability of the SERVQUAL conceptualization to a less studied areamedical service in a developing country. Specifically, the study empirically investigated the usefulness of SERVQUAL conceptualization by testing both the presence of five SERVQUAL factors (tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy) and the stability of those factors as evidenced by the scale's reliability. Additionally, the relative importance of the variables in SERVQUAL among hospital customers in the country was noted. Data have been collected in a major city in Ukraine. Data analyses failed to yield the five-factor solution proposed by the orig...
Modular equations for the Rogers-Ramanujan continued fraction and the dedekind eta-function

S. Ramanujan recorded five beautiful identities providing relations between the Rogers-Ramanujan continued fraction R(q) and the five continued fractions R(−q), R(q2), R(q3), R(q4), and R(q5), summarized on page 365 of his Lost Notebook. We give new proofs for two of them by using new eta-function identities, and we also present a new relation between R(q) and R(q7).
Screening Bovine Carcass Sponge Samples for Escherichia coli O157 Using a Short Enrichment Coupled with Immunomagnetic Separation and a Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based (BAX) Detection Step

A bovine carcass sponge sample screening protocol for detecting Escherichia coli O157:H7 was composed of a short selective enrichment followed by an immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and target detection using the BAX E. coli 0157 polymerase chain reaction assay. This screening protocol was compared to a culture-based method for detection of the organism in carcass sponge samples. Enriched samples were subjected to IMS; the bead suspension was divided and plated on selected media or stored at -20°C, then subjected to BAX analysis. The results showed a high degree of agreement between the plating method and the BAX system. Fifty-two of the 59 culture-positive samples were also positive using the BAX system (88.1% sensitivity). Of the 76 samples that appeared negative for the presence of E. coli O157:H7 by the culture method, 66 were determined as negative using the BAX system (86.8% specificity). Four of the 10 samples found negative by the initial culture method and positive by the BAX method were subsequently found to be culture positive upon reanalysis. Based on these data, the BAX system combined with a short, selective enrichment and IMS may be a rapid, reliable, and simple method to screen for E. coli O157:H7 in carcass sponge samples. Our data indicate that optimization and subsequent testing of this protocol for use as a carcass screening tool are warranted. Un protocole de detection d'E. coli O157:H7: prelevement a l'eponge, enrichissement, separation immunomagnetique (anti O157), et detection par PCR (systeme BAX) est compare au protocole standard par etalement et BAX. Les resultats montrent que cette nouvelle methode est rapide et fiable pour detecter E.coli O157:H7.