cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An improved fluorometric leukocyte [beta]-glucosidase assay for Gaucher's disease

Summary Three fluorometric leukocyte P-glucosidase assays were compared for their ability to diagnose Gaucher’s disease and identify carriers of the disorder: the acid P-glucosidase assay of Beutler and Kuhl[2], a pH 5.5sodium taurocholate-dependent assay and a new procedure which employs conduritol B epoxide, an active-site specific inhibitor of glucocerebrosidase. All three assays unambiguously identified patients with Gaucher’s disease. With regard to identifying carriers the bile saltdependent assay of Peters et al. and the conduritol B epoxide-dependent procedure gave the greatest discrimination between the mean P-glucosidase values for the control and heterozygote samples when evaluated using Student’s t test. The most reliable assay for the identification of the carrier state was the conduritol B epoxide-dependent procedure which can be expected to provide the fewest false negative results when classifying heterozygotes (5%). However, the fact that none of these methods will completely separate control and heterozygote samples indicates that their use in screening programs will result in a significant number of incorrect assignments.
Hierarchical den selection of Canada lynx in western Montana

Abstract We studied den selection of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis; hereafter lynx) at multiple ecological scales based on 57 dens from 19 females located in western Montana, USA, between 1999 and 2006. We considered 3 spatial scales in this analysis, including den site (11-m-radius circle surrounding dens), den area (100-m-radius circle), and den environ (1-km radius surrounding dens). Lynx denned in preexisting sheltered spaces created by downed logs (62%), root-wads from wind-thrown trees (19%), boulder fields (10%), slash piles (6%), and live trees (4%). Lynx preferentially selected den sites with northeasterly aspects that averaged 24°. Average distance between dens of 13 females monitored in consecutive years was 2,248 m, indicating low den site fidelity. Lynx exhibited habitat selection at all 3 spatial scales. Based on logistic regression, den sites differed from the surrounding den areas in having higher horizontal cover and log volume. Abundant woody debris from piled logs was the dominant habita...
Trans-Saharan trade: the routes of 'African sexuality'

The idea that homosexuality is ‘un-African’ is widely regarded, at least among Western scholars, as a myth concocted during the colonial era. The evidence adduced to support this consensus is largely convincing, but it does not account for all the features of contemporary African leaders’ homophobic discourses. In particular, it does not account for differences between Christian and Muslim rhetorics with respect to a putative ‘African sexuality’. Historical, ethnographic, and literary evidence suggests these differences can be traced in part to the trans-Saharan slave trade, which gave rise to racialized sexual tropes of blacks and Arabs that circulated and continue to circulate on both sides of the Sahara. In Nigeria and perhaps elsewhere, it seems that sexual stereotypes of Arabs and black Africans derived from both the trans-Saharan trade and European colonial rule have been respectively, if unevenly, mapped onto Muslims and Christians, in a way that hinders national integration. This is so even when the leaders of both groups seem to be in agreement, as when they join forces to condemn homosexuality. To ignore such religious, racial, and sexual contradictions is to ignore some of the major cultural faultlines within contemporary African nation-states and the continent overall.
A Pure-Play Timberland Return Index Based On Securitized Timber Firms

Based on asset values of different business segments, I derive a pure-play timberland return index using monthly data of public timber firms for the 2010–2014 period. Returns on public timber firms...
Thermodynamic Limit of the Free Energy and Correlation Functions of Spin Systems

We give simple proofs of the existence of the thermodynamic limit of the free energy and of equilibrium states for continuous spin systems with “bounded” boundary conditions. For spin-½ Ising systems we show that the infinite volume limit of a state in which there is a field hb > O on the boundaries is the same as that obtained from + boundary conditions (independent of the magnitude of hb). In an appendix with E. Presutti we present stronger results about the existence and uniqueness of equilibrium states for continuous spin systems.
A Drosophila model to investigate the neurotoxic side effects of radiation exposure.

Children undergoing cranial radiation therapy (CRT) for pediatric central nervous system malignancies are at increased risk for neurological deficits later in life. We have developed a model of neurotoxic damage in adult Drosophila following irradiation during the juvenile stages with the goal of elucidating underlying neuropathological mechanisms and of ultimately identifying potential therapeutic targets. Wild-type third-instar larvae were irradiated with single doses of γ-radiation, and the percentage that survived to adulthood was determined. Motor function of surviving adults was examined with a climbing assay, and longevity was assessed by measuring lifespan. Neuronal cell death was assayed by using immunohistochemistry in adult brains. We also tested the sensitivity at different developmental stages by irradiating larvae at various time points. Irradiating late third-instar larvae at a dose of 20 Gy or higher impaired the motor activity of surviving adults. A dose of 40 Gy or higher resulted in a precipitous reduction in the percentage of larvae that survive to adulthood. A dose-dependent decrease in adult longevity was paralleled by a dose-dependent increase in activated Death caspase-1 (Dcp1) in adult brains. Survival to adulthood and adult lifespan were more severely impaired with decreasing larval age at the time of irradiation. Our initial survey of the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel demonstrated that differences in genotype can confer phenotypic differences in radio-sensitivity for developmental survival and motor function. This work demonstrates the usefulness of Drosophila to model the toxic effects of radiation during development, and has the potential to unravel underlying mechanisms and to facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic interventions.
Assessing the jobs-environment relationship with matched data from US EEOC and US EPA

Using matched facility-level data from the US EPA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) and the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EEO-1 database, we assess (1) the trade-off between jobs and environmental quality and (2) the extent to which the distribution of the benefits of employment in industrial production mirrors the distribution of the costs of exposure to hazardous byproducts of industrial activity in the dimension of race and ethnicity. We find no evidence that facilities that create higher pollution risk for surrounding communities provide more jobs in aggregate. The share of pollution risk accruing to ethnic or racial minority groups typically exceeds the share of employment and substantially exceeds the share of good jobs held by members of those groups.
A Simple Aspirator for Collecting Small Arthropods Directly into Alcohol

The collection of free-living and ectoparasitic mites and small insects has been accomplished by a variety of methods. Most often the method employed involves the use of a moistened brush and/or forceps in transferring specimens into alcohol. The amount of time and effort involved in this procedure, together with a high incidence of specimen damage and loss, prompted attempts to develop new collecting techniques. Various types of aspirators have come to the attention of this writer (Peterson 1953; Beirne 1955). However, no device could be found which would satisfy the following requirements:
Blood and Urine Concentrations of Cyclizine by Nitrogen-Phosphorus Gas-Liquid Chromatography

Gas-liquid chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection was used to analyze blood and urine from a volunteer who ingested 50 mg of cyclizine hydrochloride. A peak blood cyclizine concentration of 69 ng/mL was observed 2 hr after drug administration, and the levels declined thereafter in a biphasic manner, with estimated half-lives of 7 and 24 hr for the early and late phases, respectively. The peak urine cyclizine concentration of 12.5 ng/mL was achieved at 4 hr after administration; only 0.01% of the dose was excreted in the 24 hr urine. Norcyclizine was not observed in blood or urine; however, the detectability of the method for this metabolite is poor relative to the parent drug.
Application of Genetic Testing for Childhood Cancers in Emerging Countries

Contemporary molecular and imaging technologies have increased the accuracy and precision of pediatric cancer diagnosis, recognition of residual disease, and treatments in some parts of the world. Risk factors such as exposure to Epstein-Barr, hepatitis B and C, and human immunodeficiency viruses and radiation vary in children globally. Optimal individualization of pediatric cancer care requires the resources and organization to have a health care system capable of providing care for all children with focused attention and supports addressing childhood cancers. Genetic knowledge and technologies will play an increasing role in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric cancers as countries and programs partner in clinical care, education, and research. This chapter discusses childhood cancer epidemiology, genetic testing, and recommendations for regional, national, and international collaborations in light of resource, utility, ethical, palliative care, and social issues.
Cardiac reflex effects of intracoronary bradykinin in humans.

BACKGROUND Endogenous production of bradykinin (BK) has been postulated to cause hemodynamic changes and cardiac pain during myocardial ischemia, presumably because of the stimulation of cardiac afferent fibers. METHODS To test the hypothesis that BK results in cardiac reflex responses and can cause the sensation of angina, 10 patients with and without coronary atherosclerosis had BK injected into their right (RCA) and left (LCA) coronary arteries in graded concentrations up to 10(-5) m. Patients were monitored for hemodynamic changes and the presence and quality of pain. RESULTS Intracoronary BK 10(-5) m caused a significant reduction in blood pressure in most patients with either injection into the RCA or LCA (RCA: 151 +/- 10/90 +/- 5 mm Hg to 119 +/- 11/70 +/- 6 mm Hg, LCA: 161 +/- 11/88 +/- 6 mm Hg to 118 +/- 10/65 +/- 6 mm Hg) that began 12 to 14 seconds after injection. Injection into the LCA also resulted in a significant increase in heart rate (69 +/- 4 to 81 +/- 7 beats/minute), while injection into the RCA did not. Pain occurred after changes in blood pressure in all but one patient, which was present in 5 of 9 patients with RCA injection and 8 of 9 patients with LCA injection, and was often associated with flushing and nausea. Pain caused by BK was not similar to previous clinical ischemic pain in the patients with coronary atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS The absence of a chronotropic response associated with arterial hypotension following injection of BK into the RCA is consistent with activation of cardiac vagal afferents in the left ventricle. The latency and quality of pain in these patients following injection of BK suggests that, while BK is nociceptive, it likely is not the cause of angina in patients with myocardial ischemia.
Gillian Rose, Philosopher of Law

Shortly before her death, Gillian Rose was asked to name a few philosophers whose work she admired, whose work evaded the neo-Kantian problematic which she found in the work of so many philosophers. ‘I don‘t think there are any. I think that’s what is missing from philosophy at the moment and what I’m trying to restore with my work’ (Rose 2008).1 Over the last several years the philosophical landscape has changed considerably: French post-structuralism, if there ever was such a thing, is beginning to sound passe and new philosophical currents are taking hold: a renewed interest in theology, in ontology, in technology. Given this shifting landscape, what is the status of Rose’s project, both critical and constructive? It is the contention of this chapter, and this book, that Rose’s work still offers invaluable resources for recognizing avatars of an invidious neo-Kantianism, and for beginning to think beyond the neo-Kantian problematic.
Temperatures and Pressures in the Upper Atmosphere

The stratosphere was discovered in the pioneering days of high-altitude balloon research. Between 1899 and 1902 experiments performed by Assmann and Teisserenc de Bort revealed a cold isothermal layer extending upwards from the top of the troposphere. The initial height of the layer appeared to vary from about 6 km in the polar regions to 18 km above the equator. As a result of such balloon measurements, it was long supposed that beyond the troposphere the temperature ceased to change with altitude. In the presence of the earth’s gravitational field such an isothermal region would, of course, be characterized by a diffusive separation of its various constituents, with the heavier gases settling out and the lighter ones predominating at the higher altitudes. The name stratosphere aptly describes such an atmosphere.
Syndrome-Related Stigma in the General Social Environment as Reported by Women with Classical Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Stigma defined as “undesired differentness” (Goffman, 1963) and subtyped as “experienced” or “enacted,” “anticipated,” and “internalized” has been documented for patients with diverse chronic diseases. However, no systematic data exist on the association of stigma with somatic intersexuality. The current report concerns women with classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), the most prevalent intersex syndrome, and provides descriptive data on CAH-related stigma as experienced in the general social environment (excluding medical settings and romantic/sexual partners) during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. A total of 62 adult women with classical CAH [41 with the salt-wasting (SW) variant and 21 with the simple-virilizing (SV) variant] underwent a qualitative retrospective interview, which focused on the impact of CAH and its medical treatment on many aspects of women’s lives. Deductive content analysis was performed on the transcribed texts. The women’s accounts of CAH-related stigma were identified and excerpted as vignettes, and the vignettes categorized according to social context, stigma type, and the associated features of the CAH condition. Nearly two-thirds of women with either variant of CAH provided stigma vignettes. The vignettes included all three stigma types, and most involved some somatic or behavioral feature related to sex or gender. Stigma situations were reported for all ages and all social contexts of everyday life: family, peers, colleagues at work, strangers, and the media. We conclude that there is a need for systematic documentation of stigma in intersexuality as a basis for the development of improved approaches to prevention and intervention.
MicroRNA-302b targets Mcl-1 and inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in malignant pleural mesothelioma cells

MicroRNAs belonging to the miR-302 family are emerging as key players in the control of cell growth, and maintaining pluripotency during cell fate determination and differentiation in embryonic stem cells. However, the mechanisms whereby ephA2/ephirnA1 signaling regulates miR-302b expression and attenuates malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cell growth are not known. Our study identified a novel mechanism of ephrin-A1 mediated anti-oncogenic signaling in MPM. Ephrin-A1 treatment up regulates miR-302b expression in MPM cells and attenuates cell proliferation and tumorsphere formation via repression of myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1). The expression of miR-302b was analyzed by qPCR, the expression of Mcl-1 was analyzed by RT-PCR, immuno-blotting and Immunofluorescence staining. To confirm that ephrin-A1 regulates the expression of Mcl-1 mRNA through miR-302b up regulation, cells were transfected with and without miR-302b and miR-302b inhibitor prior to ephrinA1 treatment. The cell proliferation and tumorsphere formation was measured by WST-1 and matrigel assays respectively. In addition, to confirm the binding of miR-302b to the 3'UTR of Mcl-1 Luciferase assay was performed. Ephrin-A1 treatment induced several fold increases of miR-302b expression in MM cells. In ephrin-A1 treated MM cells, Mcl-1 expression was significantly down regulated when compared to control. Moreover, ephrin-A1 activation significantly inhibited MM cell proliferation and tumorsphere growth. Furthermore, ephrinA1 and miR-302b induced apoptosis in MM cells. The present data suggests that ephrin-A1 induces the expression of miR-302b in MM cells which targets Mcl-1 thereby inhibits MM tumorsphere growth by inducing apoptosis.
Evaluation of immune activation following neoadjuvant sipuleucel-T in subjects with localized prostate cancer.

178 Background: Sipuleucel-T is an FDA-approved autologous cellular therapy that has been demonstrated to prolong overall survival in subjects with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Methods: Subjects with localized prostate cancer were enrolled in an open-label, Phase 2 study (P07-1; NCT00715104) in which they received 3 infusions of sipuleucel-T at approximately 2-week intervals, beginning 6–7 weeks prior to radical prostatectomy. All samples were evaluated for cellular composition and antigen presenting cell (APC) activation pre- and post-culture with PA2024, a fusion protein comprising prostatic acid phosphatase and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor. Additionally, cytokines within the culture supernatant were assessed, and T and B cell activation were evaluated pre- and post-culture using flow cytometry. Results: Of the 42 enrolled subjects (median age: 61 years; 98% Caucasian), 38 received all 3 infusions of sipuleucel-T. Consis...
Improved neutron-gamma discrimination for a 3He neutron detector using subspace learning methods

Abstract 3 He gas based neutron Linear-Position-Sensitive Detectors (LPSDs) have been used for many neutron scattering instruments. Traditional Pulse-height Analysis (PHA) for Neutron-Gamma Discrimination (NGD) resulted in the neutron-gamma efficiency ratio (NGD ratio) on the order of 10 5 –10 6 . The NGD ratios of 3 He detectors need to be improved for even better scientific results from neutron scattering. Digital Signal Processing (DSP) analyses of waveforms were proposed for obtaining better NGD ratios, based on features extracted from rise-time, pulse amplitude, charge integration, a simplified Wiener filter, and the cross-correlation between individual and template waveforms of neutron and gamma events. Fisher Linear Discriminant Analysis (FLDA) and three Multivariate Analyses (MVAs) of the features were performed. The NGD ratios are improved by about 10 2 –10 3 times compared with the traditional PHA method. Our results indicate the NGD capabilities of 3 He tube detectors can be significantly improved with subspace-learning based methods, which may result in a reduced data-collection time and better data quality for further data reduction.
Demethylation of H3K27 Is Essential for the Induction of Direct Cardiac Reprogramming by miR Combo.

Rationale: Direct reprogramming of cardiac fibroblasts to cardiomyocytes has recently emerged as a novel and promising approach to regenerate the injured myocardium. We have previously demonstrated the feasibility of this approach in vitro and in vivo using a combination of 4 microRNAs (miR-1, miR-133, miR-208, and miR-499) that we named miR combo. However, the mechanism of miR combo mediated direct cardiac reprogramming is currently unknown. Objective: Here, we investigated the possibility that miR combo initiated direct cardiac reprogramming through an epigenetic mechanism. Methods and Results: Using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction array, we found that histone methyltransferases and demethylases that regulate the trimethylation of H3K27 (H3K27me3), an epigenetic modification that marks transcriptional repression, were changed in miR combo–treated fibroblasts. Accordingly, global H3K27me3 levels were downregulated by miR combo treatment. In particular, the promoter region of cardiac transcription factors showed decreased H3K27me3 as revealed by chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Inhibition of H3K27 methyltransferases or of the PRC2 (Polycomb Repressive Complex 2) by pharmaceutical inhibition or siRNA reduced the levels of H3K27me3 and induced cardiogenic markers at the RNA and protein level, similarly to miR combo treatment. In contrast, knockdown of the H3K27 demethylases Kdm6A and Kdm6B restored the levels of H3K27me3 and blocked the induction of cardiac gene expression in miR combo–treated fibroblasts. Conclusions: In summary, we demonstrated that removal of the repressive mark H3K27me3 is essential for the induction of cardiac reprogramming by miR combo. Our data not only highlight the importance of regulating the epigenetic landscape during cell fate conversion but also provide a framework to improve this technique.
Low-rank physical model recovery from low-rank signal approximation

This work presents a mathematical approach for recovering a physical model from a low-rank approximation of measured data obtained via the singular value decomposition (SVD). The general form of a low-rank physical model of the data is often known, so the presented approach learns the proper rotation and scaling matrices from the singular vectors and singular values of the SVD in order to recover the low-rank physical model of the data from the SVD approximation. By recovering the low-rank physical model, it becomes possible to exploit specific knowledge of the model to extract meaningful information for the physical application being studied. This work is useful for processing wide-band electromagnetic induction data—the motivating application.
Correction to: Similar Feed-forward Loop Crosstalk Patterns may Impact Robust Information Transport Across E. coli and S. Cerevisiae Transcriptional Networks

Evolved biological network topologies may resist perturbances to allow for more robust information transport across larger networks in which their network motifs may play a complex role. Although the abundance of individual motifs correlate with some metrics of biological robustness, the extent to which redundant regulatory interactions affect motif connectivity and how this connectivity affects robustness is unknown. To address this problem, we applied machine learning based regression modeling to evaluate how feed-forward loops interlinked by crosstalk altered information transport across a network in terms of packets successfully routed over networks of noisy channels via NS-2 simulation. The sample networks were extracted from the complete transcriptional regulatory networks of two well-studied bacteria: E.coli and Yeast. We developed 233 topological features for the E.coli subnetworks and 842 topological features for the Yeast subnetworks which distinctly account for the opportunities in which two feed-forward loops may exhibit crosstalk. Random forest regression modeling was used to infer significant features from this modest configuration space. The coefficient of determination was used as a primary performance metric to rank features within our regression models. Although only a handful of features were highly ranked, we observed that, in particular, feed-forward loop crosstalk patterns correlated substantially with an improved chance for successful information transmission. Additionally, both E.coli and Yeast subnetworks demonstrate very similar FFL crosstalk patterns that were considered significant in their contribution to information transport robustness in these two organisms. This finding may potentially allude to common design principles in transcriptomic networks from different organisms.
Electrical Injury Drills: Approaches, Information, and Best Practices

Occupational electrical injuries are low-frequency/high-consequence events. For an industrial facility's electrical safety resource, this means that the facility's emergency response team (ERT) may never have responded to an electrical injury case. If an electrical incident did occur, however, an electrical injury is more likely to be fatal than most other types of occupational injuries. This highlights the need for facilities to have a specific electrical emergency response plan in place to ensure that timely and appropriate actions are taken if an incident occurs. Conducting periodic electrical injury drills will test a facility's emergency readiness and identify learning and growth opportunities. When planning an electrical injury drill, the scenario and type of drills will vary depending on the type and frequency of electrical activities performed at the site, ERT training, and facility resources. Using data and observations from emergency drills conducted at different industrial sites, this article examines a variety of approaches to electrical injury drills and the information and best practices that resulted.
Off-Path TCP Exploits of the Challenge ACK Global Rate Limit

In this paper, we report a subtle yet serious side channel vulnerability (CVE-2016-5696) introduced in a recent transmission control protocol (TCP) specification. The specification is faithfully implemented in Linux kernel version 3.6 (from 2012) and beyond, and affects a wide range of devices and hosts. In a nutshell, the vulnerability allows a blind off-path attacker to infer if any two arbitrary hosts on the Internet are communicating using a TCP connection. Further, if the connection is present, such an off-path attacker can also infer the TCP sequence numbers in use, from both sides of the connection; this in turn allows the attacker to cause connection termination and perform data injection attacks. We illustrate how the attack can be leveraged to disrupt or degrade the privacy guarantees of an anonymity network such as Tor, and perform web connection hijacking. Through extensive experiments, we show that the attack is fast and reliable. On average, it takes about 40 to 60 s to finish and the success rate is 88% to 97%. Finally, we propose changes to both the TCP specification and implementation to eliminate the root cause of the problem.
Convective structures in nematic hydrodynamic instabilities

ABSTRACT This review is based on two instabilities in nematics which we have recently studied: a thermal convection experiment; an elliptical shear flow instability. Through the two examples we stress the interest of using nematics to characterize the bifurcations, which are the steps to turbulence. Time dependent situations are observed which can be controlled by varying the orientation time constant by fields. Light diffraction of the spatial structures is also an original tool offered by L.C. to observe the loss of spatial order above threshold.
Forward-Backward SDEs

In this chapter we study coupled Forward-Backward SDEs. The theory for general FBSDEs is still far from mature. We shall introduce three different approaches for its well-posedness: the fixed point approach, the decoupling approach, and the method of continuation.
Mechanism of oligosaccharide synthesis via a mutant GH29 fucosidase

Techniques for synthesis of bespoke oligosaccharides currently lag behind those for other biopolymers such as polypeptides and polynucleotides, in part because of the paucity of satisfactory enzymatic tools to perform the synthetic reactions. One promising avenue of development for this problem is glycoside hydrolase enzymes with mutated nucleophile residues (called glycosynthases), which retain some elements of their native specificity and work with cheaply available substrates. However, the mechanistic underpinnings of this class of enzymes are not yet well-understood, and what few atomistic studies have been conducted have found different reaction pathways. In this paper, we describe the first unbiased computational study of the mechanism of a GH29 glycosynthase enzyme, Thermotoga maritima α-L-fucosidase (TmAfc) D224G. We find a single-step endothermic reaction step with an oxocarbenium-like transition state, demonstrating how stabilization of this transition state structure (which is common to many retaining glycoside hydrolases) can be repurposed in mutant enzymes to perform synthesis instead of hydrolysis. Our results are consistent with previous experimental observations and help both to clarify the mechanism of the existing single-mutant and to provide directions for further engineering of this and other glycosynthases.
Recognitional Justice, Climate Engineering, and the Care Approach

Given the existing inequities in climate change, any proposed climate engineering strategy to solve the climate problem must meet a high threshold for justice. In contrast to an overly thin paradig...
Randomized phase II trial of intravenous ascorbic acid (AA) as an adjunct to pazopanib for metastatic and unresectable clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC): A study of Academic and Community Cancer Research United (ACCRU) GU1703.

TPS679Background: AA has re-emerged as a promising anti-cancer agent based on recent knowledge of pharmacokinetics, discovery of unexpected mechanisms of action, and early phase trials with IV AA.(...
Spinal epidural lipomatosis due to obesity presenting with back and leg pain and weakness successfully treated with weight loss

Abstract Spinal Epidural Lipomatosis (SEL) is an uncommon but previously characterized ailment typified by excessive overgrowth epidural adipose tissue. This overgrowth may lead to compression of local tissue including the underlying thecal space and nervous tissues. Common causes are medication induced (particularly glucocorticoid administration) and obesity. Prompt recognition of the diagnosis and initiation of treatment, be it medication stoppage or surgical decompression is imperative. In this report we describe the case of a 51-year-old female who presented with back and leg pain. She was diagnosed with SEL due to obesity with noted compression of the underlying nervous tissue noted on MRI. The patient was successfully treated with a course of weight loss with remarkable clinical and noted resolution of thecal sac compression on follow up MRI. Early consideration of this entity can increase the likelihood of timely diagnosis and successful treatment.
In Provence, a woman’s quest to resist industrial farming and transform and preserve the French family farm

In 1992 Regine Bres Kaneko assumed the management of her family’s 165-year-old olive farm in Provence. Her parents, Yvette and Henri Bres modernised their farm over the 1970s and 1980s. By the mid-...
Effectiveness of Method of Repair of Incidental Thoracic and Lumbar Durotomies: A Comparison of Direct Versus Indirect Repair.

Introduction Incidental durotomy (ID) is a well-known complication in spine surgery. Surveys have not identified a consensus for repair method among neurosurgeons. IDs may lead to complications such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula, which may predispose patients to infection, additional procedures, increased length of stay and morbidity. This study aims to compare durotomy repair methods with clinical outcomes. Methods The neurosurgery database at a single institution, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, was screened for all patients who underwent thoracic and lumbar spine surgery from 2007-2017. Retrospective chart review of operative reports identified patients with an ID. Data collection included: length of stay, infection, additional procedures, time lying flat, CSF fistula formation (primary endpoint) with analysis using t-tests. Results A total of 384 patients underwent initial analysis. Of the 384 patients, 25 had an incidental durotomy based on operative reports. Four patients were excluded from this subset: two were repaired with muscle graft (low N), two were excluded for unclear repair method. The remaining 21 were stratified into two groups, those repaired directly with suture with or without adjunct (N=9) and those repaired indirectly with sealant (N=12). No patients developed a CSF fistula. The indirect group had a length of stay of six days, while the direct group had a length of stay of four days, p=0.184. Two of the nine patients in the direct group and two of the twelve patients in the indirect group developed an infection, p=0.586. Conclusion No patients developed CSF fistulas. Secondary endpoints of length of stay and infection rate did not differ. This study was unable to determine if direct versus indirect repair was a more effective repair method for ID. It is possible that if an incidental durotomy is identified and repaired with a water-tight seal, the repair method does not affect the outcome. It is up to the surgeon to individualize repair based on ability and circumstances.
Working girls: sex, taste, and reform in the Parisian garment trades, 1880-1919: by Patricia Tilburg, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019, 288 pp., $85.00 (hardcover), ISBN: 9780198841173

The midinette, a flirty, carefree, tastefully-dressed Parisian garment worker, observed taking her lunchbreak (at midi) in Parisian parks, is integral to the rosy vision we retain of Paris’s ‘Belle...
Mechanical anisotropy in polymer composites produced by material extrusion additive manufacturing

Abstract Extrusion-based additive manufacturing technologies, such as direct ink writing of filled polymer resins, have shown a great potential for the development of printed components with superior structural and functional properties. However, the associated extrusion process induces preferred orientation on high-aspect-ratio filler materials as they extrude through the deposition nozzle, causing strong mechanical anisotropy in printed components. Printing-induced anisotropy is a critical issue that complicates the straightforward design of additively manufactured components. The goal of this work is to gain a better understanding of the anisotropy in printed polymer composites by investigating the effects of filler morphology and print parameters on the mechanical properties of printed composites. Inks are formulated using fumed silica particles or nanoclay platelets as the primary viscosifying agent, and silicon carbide (SiC) whiskers as the primary mechanical reinforcement. Mechanical anisotropy is characterized via 3pt-flexural tests for epoxy ink formulations utilizing fumed silica or nanoclay, with or without SiC whiskers, and printed at three different print speeds, using three different nozzle sizes. Orientation of nanoclay is also characterized using small- and wide-angle x-ray scattering. Results show that smaller nozzle diameters and higher deposition rates lead to greater anisotropy when nanoclay or SiC fillers are utilized, while the use of fumed silica alone results in mechanical behavior that is independent of print parameters and print path. Superior flexure strength values up to 215 MPa are obtained with SiC whisker-reinforced composites when tested parallel to the print direction.
A tomography-based effective thermal conductivity model for ceramic fiber insulation

Abstract Ceramic fiber insulation is widely used in thermal systems due to its high temperature limits and light weight. In high temperature applications, radiation is the main mechanism of heat transfer in these materials due to high porosity (greater than 95 %), and orientation of the fibers in the construction of the insulation. A combined radiation and conduction computational model has been developed to calculate thermal conductivity in ceramic fiber materials using the Rosseland diffusion approximation to evaluate thermal radiation transfer, and a tortuosity-weighted effective thermal conductivity to evaluate gas and solid phase conduction. Tomographic reconstructions of sample insulation material were analyzed to determine fiber size and orientation distributions as well as tortuosity and volume fraction of the solid and void fraction. The model is validated by manufacturer data. Together, the conduction and radiation model accurately predicted effective thermal conductivity of ceramic fiber materials in the temperature range of 300–1673 K. The tortuosity-weighted conduction approach allows the model to capture the directional dependence of thermal conductivity in the highly an-isotropic fibrous structure. Critical parameters of fibrous ceramics to maximize insulating properties are also identified.
Battyboy must die! Dancehall, class and religion in Jamaican homophobia:

Homophobia is ingrained in Jamaica, and homophobic violence is rampant. This study, developed from 30 interviews with gay Jamaicans, unravels the nation’s complex ideological issues surrounding pol...
How Climate-Related Policy Affects the Economics of Electricity Generation

Concerns surrounding climate change are increasing pressure on policymakers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A number of policy mechanisms, including Pigouvian taxes on carbon and subsidies for and mandates on the use of carbon-free generation, are among the levers that are used to achieve this goal. A challenge that such mechanisms present is that they can distort energy markets, affecting prices and the financial viability of investing in or maintaining generating capacity. We survey literature pertaining to how policy mechanisms impact markets and short- and long-run economic signals. We present also a case study that examines these issues. Our case study uses a two-step modeling procedure. First, a long-term generation- and transmission-planning model determines the optimal technology mix that should be built to serve future loads under different climate-policy regimes. Next, a unit-commitment model is used to simulate hourly operation of the system. Combining the results of these two modeling steps, we assess the efficiency of using different policy mechanisms to achieve carbon reductions. Based on our literature survey and case study, we find that market-based policies (e.g., carbon taxes) achieve decarbonization targets most efficiently. Moreover, market-based policies are the least distortionary in terms of price formation in wholesale electricity markets.
An Examination of Accurate Versus “Biased” Mentalizing in Moral and Economic Decision-Making

In this chapter, we review evidence that supports the engagement of mentalizing for optimal and suboptimal decision-making associated with social and/or non-social rewards. Mentalizing can support optimal decisions in the contexts of moral judgment and social interaction. However, mentalizing can also be influenced by apparently irrelevant factors, including agents’ moral history and group status. We suggest that, while these factors can “bias” mentalizing, resulting in suboptimal decisions, some seemingly biased decisions may in fact be procedurally rational. For example, when people discount new negative evidence about someone they have a strong positive impression of, they may nevertheless be engaging in procedurally rational Bayesian updating. We suggest that Bayesian-rational updating involves generating ad hoc auxiliary hypotheses to explain away inconsistent evidence, which may be supported by mentalizing-related neural activity.
Review Pollution: Pedagogy for a Post-Truth Society

Consumer reviews on platforms like Amazon are summarized into star ratings, used to weight search results, and consulted by consumers to guide purchase decisions. They are emblematic of the interactive digital environment that has purportedly transferred power from marketers to ‘regular people,’ and yet they represent the infiltration of promotional concerns into online information, as has occurred in search and social media content. Consumers’ ratings and reviews do promotional work for brands—not just for products but the platforms that host reviews—that money can’t always buy. Gains in power by consumers are quickly met with new strategies of control by companies who depend on reviews for reputational capital. Focusing on ecommerce giant Amazon, this article examines the complexities of online reviews, where individual efforts to provide product feedback and help others make choices become transformed into an information commodity and promotional vehicle. It acknowledges the ambiguous nature of reviews due to the rise of industries and business practices that influence or fake reviews as a promotional strategy. In response are yet other business practices and platform policies aiming to provide better information to consumers, protect the image of platforms that host reviews, and punish ‘bad actors’ in competitive markets. The complexity in the production, regulation, and manipulation of product ratings and reviews illustrates how the high stakes of attention in digital spaces create fertile ground for disinformation, which only emphasizes to users that they inhabit a ‘post-truth’ reality online.
Near infrared autofluorescence imaging of retinal pigmented epithelial cells using 663 nm excitation.

Purpose Fundus autofluorescence (AF) using adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) enables morphometric analysis of individual retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells. However, only a few excitation wavelengths in the visible and near-infrared have been evaluated. Visible light excitation ( 700 nm) overcomes those problems but introduces others, including decreased AF signal and cone signatures that obscure RPE structure. Here we investigated the use of an intermediate wavelength, 663 nm, for excitation and compared it to 795 nm. Methods Subjects were imaged using AOSLO equipped with a detection channel to collect AF emission between 814 and 850 nm. Two light sources (663 and 795 nm) were used to excite the retinal fluorophores. We recorded 90 s videos and registered them with custom software to integrate AF images for analysis. Results We imaged healthy eyes and an eye with pattern dystrophy. Similar AF microstructures were detected with each excitation source, despite ~4 times lower excitation power with 663 nm. The signal-to-noise values showed no meaningful difference between 663 nm and 795 nm excitation and a similar trend was observed for image contrast between the two excitation wavelengths. Conclusions Lower light levels can be used with shorter wavelength excitation to achieve comparable images of the microstructure of the RPE as have been obtained using higher light levels at longer wavelengths. Further experiments are needed to fully characterize AF across spectrum and determine the optimal excitation and emission bandwidths that balance efficiency, patient comfort, and efficacy.
History of Supraventricular Tachycardia

In this chapter, we will discuss the history of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) that includes four sections: atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentry, AV reentry, atrial flutter (AFL), and atrial fibrillation (AF). We will focus on the historical evolution of the electrophysiologic study of the mechanism and the development of surgical and catheter ablation of these SVTs. We will also discuss potentially newer therapeutic approaches for these arrhythmias.
A Runtime System for Dynamic DAG Programming

A runtime system is described here for dynamic DAG execution. A large D A G whihc represents an application program can be executed on a parallel system without consuming large amount of memory space. A DAG scheduling algorithm has been parallelized to scale to large systems. Inaccurate estimation of task execution time and comm unication time can be tolerated. Implementation of this parallel incremental system demonstrates the feasibility of this approach. Preliminary results show that it is superior to other approaches.
The ruthenium(VIII)-catalysed oxidation of Illinois No. 6 bituminous coal: An application of g.c.-FT-i.r. spectroscopy for structural analysis

Abstract The oxidation of Illinois No. 6 coal proceeds readily with ruthenium(VIII) to provide a mixture of aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids. The acids were converted into their methyl esters for analysis by g.c.-m.s. and g.c.-FT-i.r. spectroscopy. Mono-, di-, tri- and tetracarboxylic acids are the principal products of the oxidation of this bituminous coal. The g.c.-FT-i.r. approach has enabled the detection of several different lactones that have not been observed previously. The results imply that cyclic ethers are present in low abundance in Illinois coals.
Prognostic categories and timing of negative prognostic communication from critical care physicians to family members at end‐of‐life in an intensive care unit

Negative prognostic communication is often delayed in intensive care units, which limits time for families to prepare for end-of-life. This descriptive study, informed by ethnographic methods, was focused on exploring critical care physician communication of negative prognoses to families and identifying timing influences. Prognostic communication of critical care physicians to nurses and family members was observed and physicians and family members were interviewed. Physician perception of prognostic certainty, based on an accumulation of empirical data, and the perceived need for decision-making, drove the timing of prognostic communication, rather than family needs. Although prognoses were initially identified using intuitive knowledge for patients in one of the six identified prognostic categories, utilizing decision-making to drive prognostic communication resulted in delayed prognostic communication to families until end-of-life (EOL) decisions could be justified with empirical data. Providers will better meet the needs of families who desire earlier prognostic information by separating prognostic communication from decision-making and communicating the possibility of a poor prognosis based on intuitive knowledge, while acknowledging the uncertainty inherent in prognostication. This sets the stage for later prognostic discussions focused on EOL decisions, including limiting or withdrawing treatment, which can be timed when empirical data substantiate intuitive prognoses. This allows additional time for families to anticipate and prepare for end-of-life decision-making.