cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Force Plate Gait Analysis in Doberman Pinschers with and without Cervical Spondylomyelopathy

Background: The most accepted means of evaluating the response of a patient with cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM) to treatment is subjective and based on the owner and clinician’s perception of the gait. Objective: To establish and compare kinetic parameters based on force plate gait analysis between normal and CSM-affected Dobermans. Animals: Nineteen Doberman Pinschers: 10 clinically normal and 9 with CSM. Methods: Force plate analysis was prospectively performed in all dogs. At least 4 runs of ipsilateral limbs were collected from each dog. Eight force platform parameters were evaluated, including peak vertical force (PVF) and peak vertical impulse (PVI), peak mediolateral force (PMLF) and peak mediolateral impulse, peak braking force and peak braking impulse, and peak propulsive force (PPF) and peak propulsive impulse. In addition, the coefficient of variation (CV) for each limb was calculated for each parameter. Data analysis was performed by a repeated measures approach. Results: PMLF (P = .0062), PVI (P = .0225), and PPF (P = .0408) were found to be lower in CSM-affected dogs compared with normal dogs. Analysis by CV as the outcome indicated more variability in PVF in CSM-affected dogs (P = 0.0045). The largest difference in the CV of PVF was seen in the thoracic limbs of affected dogs when compared with the thoracic limbs of normal dogs (P = 0.0019). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The CV of PVF in all 4 limbs, especially the thoracic limbs, distinguished clinically normal Dobermans from those with CSM. Other kinetic parameters less reliably distinguished CSM-affected from clinically normal Dobermans.
Transgenic manipulation of a single polyamine in poplar cells affects the accumulation of all amino acids

The polyamine metabolic pathway is intricately connected to metabolism of several amino acids. While ornithine and arginine are direct precursors of putrescine, they themselves are synthesized from glutamate in multiple steps involving several enzymes. Additionally, glutamate is an amino group donor for several other amino acids and acts as a substrate for biosynthesis of proline and γ-aminobutyric acid, metabolites that play important roles in plant development and stress response. Suspension cultures of poplar (Populus nigra × maximowiczii), transformed with a constitutively expressing mouse ornithine decarboxylase gene, were used to study the effect of up-regulation of putrescine biosynthesis (and concomitantly its enhanced catabolism) on cellular contents of various protein and non-protein amino acids. It was observed that up-regulation of putrescine metabolism affected the steady state concentrations of most amino acids in the cells. While there was a decrease in the cellular contents of glutamine, glutamate, ornithine, arginine, histidine, serine, glycine, cysteine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, aspartate, lysine, leucine and methionine, an increase was seen in the contents of alanine, threonine, valine, isoleucine and γ-aminobutyric acid. An overall increase in percent cellular nitrogen and carbon content was also observed in high putrescine metabolizing cells compared to control cells. It is concluded that genetic manipulation of putrescine biosynthesis affecting ornithine consumption caused a major change in the entire ornithine biosynthetic pathway and had pleiotropic effects on other amino acids and total cellular carbon and nitrogen, as well. We suggest that ornithine plays a key role in regulating this pathway.
High-dose steroids, ursodeoxycholic acid, and chronic intravenous antibiotics improve bile flow after Kasai procedure in infants with biliary atresia☆

Abstract Background/Purpose: Early reports suggest that the use of steroids after Kasai portoenterostomy may improve bile flow and outcome in infants with biliary atresia. Methods: Of 28 infants with biliary atresia, half received adjuvant high-dose steroids, and half received standard therapy. Infants in the steroid group (n = 14) received intravenous solumedrol (taper of 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 mg/kg/d), followed by 8 to 12 weeks of prednisone (2 mg/kg/d). The steroid protocol also included ursodeoxycholic acid indefinitely and intravenous antibiotics for 8 to 12 weeks followed by oral antibiotic prophylaxis. Infants in the standard therapy group (n = 14) received no steroids, occasional ursodeoxycholic acid, and perioperative intravenous antibiotics followed by oral antibiotic prophylaxis. The infants were not assigned randomly, but rather received standard therapy or adjuvant steroid therapy according to individual surgeon preference. Results: Eleven of 14 (79%) in the steroid group and 3 of 14 (21%) in the standard therapy group had a conjugated bilirubin level less than 1.0 within 3 to 4 months of surgery ( P v 85%) required liver transplantation or died during the first year of life ( P Conclusions: Adjuvant therapy using high-dose steroids, ursodeoxycholic acid, and intravenous antibiotics may accelerate the clearance of jaundice and decrease the need for early liver transplantation after Kasai portoenterostomy. J Pediatr Surg 38:406-411. Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
A two-phase approach for stochastic optimization of complex business processes

Business process modeling is a well established methodology for analyzing and optimizing complex processes. To address critical challenges in ubiquitous black-box approaches, we develop a two-stage business process optimization framework. The first stage is based on an analytical approach that exploits structural properties of the underlying stochastic network and renders a near-optimal solution. Starting from this candidate solution, the second stage employs advanced simulation optimization to locally search for optimal business process solutions. Numerical experiments demonstrate the efficacy of our approach.
DUPLICATION OF CHROME‐BROWN ELECTRICAL PORCELAIN GLAZES WITH NONESSENTIAL MATERIALS*

This condensed report covers the development of a commercial glaze using cheap, nonessential materials in maximum amount. The results meet fully the more expensive glaze which is no longer available.
The dependence of peak electron density in the ionosphere of Mars on solar irradiance

[1] Previous studies of the Mars ionosphere have concluded that increased solar flux leads to increased peak electron densities. Many have described this relationship as Nm ∝ Fk, where Nmis the peak electron density, F, the ionizing flux, is represented by either F10.7 or E10.7, and k is an exponent. The derived exponents have varied greatly, but have a mean value of k ≃ 0.35. Here, we explore this relationship using solar spectra measurements from the TIMED-SEE instrument and Mars Global Surveyor radio occultation data. Our derived exponents, k ≃ 0.50, are larger than those found by previous studies that used F10.7or E10.7and are close to the theoretical prediction of simplistic Chapman theory.
Functional Nausea in Children: A Review of the Literature and Need for Diagnostic Criteria

Nausea is common amongst children with functional gastrointestinal disorders and is associated with a high burden of somatic and psychosocial comorbidities in both the short and long-term. Current treatments including medications, phytotherapy, stress-reduction techniques, and gastric electrical stimulation for recalcitrant cases, are reviewed. Functional nausea merits its own diagnostic criteria as a pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorder.
Nothing's Easy in the Big Easy: Reforming and Governing New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina

What is the relationship between disaster and political change? Several years after Hurricane Katrina, how have government, politics, and policy changed in New Orleans? Whose agenda carried the day? Who gained benefits after the storm? Who paid the price?
Numerical Analysis of Modal Noise in Waveguide S-Bends

The determination of the signal-to-noise ratio degradation of optical signals in the presence of modal noise is important to the design of multimode data links with coherent sources. To date, most of the analyses put forth are based upon the assumption of a uniform distribution of power over all of the guided modes of a fiber/waveguide.! This assumption, while making the analysis more straight forward, may not always be justifiable.
An inverse finite element method for determining residual and current stress fields in solids

The life expectancy of a solid component is traditionally predicted by assessing its expected stress cycle and comparing it to experimentally determined stress states at failure. The accuracy of this procedure is often compromised by unforeseen extremes in the loading cycle or material degradation. Residually stressed parts may either have longer or shorter lifespans than predicted. Thus, determination of the current state of stress (i.e., the residual stress in the absence of external loading) and material properties is particularly important. Typically, the material properties of a solid are determined by fitting experimental data obtained from the measured deformation response in the stress-free configuration. However, the characterization of the mechanical behavior of a residually stressed body requires, in principle, a method that is not restricted to specific constitutive models. Complementing a recently developed technique, known as the reversed updated Lagrangian finite element method (RULFEM), a new method called estimating the current state of stress (ECSS) is presented herein. ECSS is based on three-dimensional full-field displacement and force data of a body perturbed by small displacements and complements the first step of the incremental RULFEM method. The present method generates the current state of stress (or residual stress in the absence of external tractions) and the incremental elasticity tensor of each finite element used to discretize the deformable body. The validity of the ECSS method is demonstrated by two noise-free simulation cases.
Effects of Light on Concentrations of Some Volatile Materials in Milk

Gas chromatographic analyses of head-space vapors of steam distillates from milk enabled me to monitor part per billion changes in concentrations of acetaldehyde, propanal, methyl sulfide, acetone, butanone, n-pentanal, and n-hexanal before and after milks were exposed to sunlight in a clear glass flask and fluorescent light in a plastic jug, n-Pentanal and n-hexanal increased about the same under either light (19.6 to 68.5 ppb and 19.1 to 83.6 ppb, respectively). Acetaldehyde increased much more under sunlight than under fluorescent light. Methyl sulfide increased slightly in concentration under 44 h of fluorescent light (6.8 to 11.6 ppb) but did not change appreciably during exposure to 1 h of sunlight. Changes in concentrations of the same compounds, except acetone and butanone, were determined in raw; laboratory pasteurized; and plant pasteurized, homogenized, Vacu-Therm-treated milk exposed to sunlight for 20 min. Except for n-pentanal, all carbonyl compounds in pasteurized, homogenized, Vacu-Therm-t...
Repetitive Behaviors and Special Interests

Repetitive behaviors and special interests are defining features of autism described not only in Kanner’s original paper (1943), but also in each of the revised versions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (1994). People with autism and others who engage in repetitive behavior seem driven or under pressure to carry out the activity in a certain way. When such routines are interfered with, the person usually becomes anxious and unhappy, which often results in a wide range of behavior problems.
Seeing our own world rotate

The first Foucault's pendulum I ever saw was at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, the city where I was born. The pendulum hung in a stairwell. Its wire was attached to the ceiling four stories up, while its silver bob glided silently back and forth over a globe in the floor, with Philadelphia at dead centre. The plane of its oscillation slowly shifted clockwise at an unchanging rate throughout the day: 9.6° an hour. I'd stare at it, trying to make myself see it was the floor and I that moved – as the sign informed me – and not the pendulum itself. It troubled me that I was never sure I succeeded.
The Sonographer’s Role in HCAHPS and Value-Based Purchasing:

Health care reimbursements are changing from a medical care-based scale to a pay-for-performance system. The Value-Based Purchasing Program uses clinical quality indicators along with the Hospital ...
Developing novel approaches to breast cancer: Are we there yet?

CN13-04 One of the promising approaches for reducing the high incidence and mortality associated with breast cancer lies in the early detection of women at high risk. Among the numerous risk factors for breast cancer, age and a personal or family history of breast cancer are the most important. Breast cancer can cluster in families for reasons which include: genetic predisposition, shared environmental influences, family structure in which many women live to old ages and pure chance. It is currently estimated that 5-10% of breast cancers can be attributed to the inheritance of highly penetrant autosomal dominant mutations in breast cancer susceptibility genes. Deleterious mutations in two breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2 have been identified in breast and ovarian cancer families, and women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation are candidates for additional risk reduction measures such as intensive screening, prophylactic surgery or chemoprevention. Additional susceptibility genes have been identified, including PTEN, ATM, TP53, CHEK2, CASP8, PBRL and BRIP1. Yet, many women with a personal or family history suggestive of a hereditary susceptibility of breast cancer undergo genetic testing and no significant genetic alteration is found. Thus, there are other susceptibility genes that have not been identified and it is likely that the remaining familial contribution to breast cancer will be explained by the presence of multiple low penetrance alleles that coexist to confer high penetrance risks (a polygenic model). The American Cancer Society has identified cancer prevention as a key component of cancer management and there is interest in developing individualized cancer prevention focused on identifying high risk individuals who are most likely to benefit from more aggressive risk reduction measures. Breast cancer risk assessment and genetic counseling are currently provided by genetic counselors, oncology nurse specialist, geneticists, medical and surgical oncologists, gynecologists and other health care professionals, often working within a multidisciplinary clinic setting. Current methods for risk assessment and predictive genetic testing have limitations and improvements in molecular testing and risk assessment tools are necessary to maximize individual breast cancer risk assessment and to fulfill the promise of cancer prevention or early detection. #
Implantable bladder pressure sensor for chronic application: a case study

Control of urine leakage is of major importance to spinal cord injured (SCI) patients and the elderly, with untreated urinary incontinence leading to contact dermatitis and pressure ulcers due to prolonged exposure to excess moisture. In one study, 81% of all patients with pressure ulcers had urinary incontinence. In addition, pressure ­ulcers exposed to urine are more susceptible to infection since the urine alters the pH ­balance of the skin and reduces resistance to bacterial invasion. Both SCI patients and the elderly are highly susceptible to incontinence, which is classically divided into two major types: overactive bladder and stress urinary incontinence, both of which can lead to uncontrolled urine leakage.
Estimating the cost of school sealant programs with minimal data.

Objective Develop methodology to estimate the annual cost of resources used by school sealant programs (SSPs) and demonstrate its use. Methods We used existing literature and expert opinion to identify SSP cost components and the most appropriate units for their measurement (e.g., per operator) and collection frequency (e.g., per day). For equipment and reusable instruments, costs were sufficiently homogenous across SSPs that we could provide default per unit cost estimates (2016 US$) that SSPs can use in lieu of collecting their own data. We also provide default costs for supply items such that SSPs can estimate total supply costs with program-specific information on sealant material used, as well as number of: sealant stations, operators, service delivery days, children screened/sealed, and number of teeth sealed. For the remaining three categories (labor, mileage, and administrative), costs varied substantially by SSP and required us to develop and pilot collection logs for program-specific data. Results The annual cost per sealant station ranged from $584 to $797 depending on program characteristics. For a hypothetical SSP that staffed each of two stations with two operators (hygienist and assistant) compensated at the national rate, hourly labor costs would equal $77.97. Assuming this SSP used disposable instruments, light-cured sealants and delivered sealants (3 per child) to 60 percent of the 3,390 children screened over 100 service days, infection control/supply costs per child would equal $5.30. Conclusion This methodology allows SSPs to estimate costs with minimal data collection and time.
Magnetic Field‐Enhanced 4‐Electron Pathway for Well‐Aligned Co3O4/Electrospun Carbon Nanofibers in the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

The sluggish reaction kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has been the limiting factor for fuel energy utilization, hence it is desirable to develop high-performance electrocatalysts for a 4-electron pathway ORR. A constant low-current (50 μA) electrodeposition technique is used to realize the formation of a uniform Co3 O4 film on well-aligned electrospun carbon nanofibers (ECNFs) with a time-dependent growth mechanism. This material also exhibits a new finding of mT magnetic field-induced enhancement of the electron exchange number of the ORR at a glassy carbon electrode modified with the Co3 O4 /ECNFs catalyst. The magnetic susceptibility of the unpaired electrons in Co3 O4 improves the kinetics and efficiency of electron transfer reactions in the ORR, which shows a 3.92-electron pathway in the presence of a 1.32 mT magnetic field. This research presents a potential revolution of traditional electrocatalysis by simply applying an external magnetic field on metal oxides as a replacement for noble metals to reduce the risk of fuel-cell degradation and maximize the energy output.
Walking the Roads as Immigrant Mothers and Teacher Educators: A Collaborative Self-Study of Three Korean Immigrant Early Childhood Educators.

AbstractOffering an analysis of our multifaceted experiences as three Korean immigrant early childhood teacher educators in the United States, this critical collaborative self-study examines how positions as immigrant mothers and teacher educators interplay with each other. This study also explores ways in which the intersectional experiences influence our teaching pedagogy and practices. We found that we as immigrant mothers have challenges pertaining to parental involvement and maintaining our heritage language, meet tensions when advocating for diversity, and experience role-model pressure as teacher educators. Keeping these challenges in mind, the interactions between our two roles benefitted our students as our teaching became more critical and deeper. This collaborative self-study unpacks the intersecting positions of immigrant mother and teacher educator insightfully and reveals the development of pedagogical practices. It also suggests directions for classroom teachers and future researchers in re...
The Collaborative Production of Proposals in Conversational Argument and Persuasion: A Study of Disagreement Regulation

This study extends a line of research aimed at discovery of the rules which organize conversational argument and persuasion. Earlier studies have identified rules and structures which generate patt...
iQOS: evidence of pyrolysis and release of a toxicant from plastic

Objective To evaluate performance of the I quit original smoking (iQOS) heat-not-burn system as a function of cleaning and puffing topography, investigate the validity of manufacturer’s claims that this device does not burn tobacco and determine if the polymer-film filter is potentially harmful. Methods iQOS performance was evaluated using five running conditions incorporating two different cleaning protocols. Heatsticks were visually and stereomicroscopically inspected preuse and postuse to determine the extent of tobacco plug charring (from pyrolysis) and polymer-film filter melting, and to elucidate the effects of cleaning on charring. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry headspace analysis was conducted on unused polymer-film filters to determine if potentially toxic chemicals are emitted from the filter during heating. Results For all testing protocols, pressure drop decreased as puff number increased. Changes in testing protocols did not affect aerosol density. Charring due to pyrolysis (a form of organic matter thermochemical decomposition) was observed in the tobacco plug after use. When the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions were followed, both charring of the tobacco plug and melting of the polymer-film filter increased. Headspace analysis of the polymer-film filter revealed the release of formaldehyde cyanohydrin at 90°C, which is well below the maximum temperature reached during normal usage. Discussion Device usage limitations may contribute to decreases in interpuff intervals, potentially increasing user’s intake of nicotine and other harmful chemicals. This study found that the tobacco plug does char and that charring increases when the device is not cleaned between heatsticks. Release of formaldehyde cyanohydrin is a concern as it is highly toxic at very low concentrations.
Effects of a Home-Based Telephone-Supported Physical Activity Program for Older Adult Veterans With Chronic Low Back Pain.

Background Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is highly prevalent in older adults, leading to functional decline. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate physical activity (PA) only and PA plus cognitive-behavioral therapy for pain (CBT-P) among older adult veterans with CLBP. Design This study was a pilot randomized trial comparing a 12-week telephone-supported PA-only intervention group (PA group) or PA plus CBT-P intervention group (PA + CBT-P group) and a wait-list control group (WL group). Setting The study setting was the Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System. Participants The study participants were 60 older adults with CLBP. Interventions The PA intervention included stretching, strengthening, and aerobic activities; CBT-P covered activity pacing, relaxation techniques, and cognitive restructuring. Measurements Feasibility measures included enrollment and completion metrics; acceptability was measured by completed phone calls. Primary outcomes included the Timed "Up & Go" Test and the PROMIS Health Assessment Questionnaire. Generalized linear mixed models were used to estimate changes within and between groups. Effect sizes were calculated with the Cohen d. Adverse effects were measured by self-report. Results The mean participant age was 70.3 years; 53% were not white, and 93% were men. Eighty-three percent of participants completed the study, and the mean number of completed phone calls was 10 (of 13). Compared with the results for the WL group, small to medium treatment effects were found for the intervention groups in the Timed "Up & Go" Test (PA group: -2.94 [95% CI = -6.24 to 0.35], effect size = -0.28; PA + CBT-P group: -3.26 [95% CI = -6.69 to 0.18], effect size = -0.31) and the PROMIS Health Assessment Questionnaire (PA group: -6.11 [95% CI = -12.85 to 0.64], effect size = -0.64; PA + CBT-P group: -4.10 [95% CI = -11.69 to 3.48], effect size = -0.43). Small treatment effects favored PA over PA + CBT-P. No adverse effects were noted. Limitations This was a pilot study, and a larger study is needed to verify the results. Conclusions This pilot trial demonstrated that home-based telephone-supported PA interventions were feasible, acceptable, and safe for older adult veterans. The results provide support for a larger trial investigating these interventions.
Establishing Wyoming Big Sagebrush in Annual Brome-Invaded Landscapes with Seeding and Herbicides

Abstract Seeding native plants into degraded grasslands presents major challenges. Often, seeded species fail to establish and areas become/remain dominated by unwanted plants. We combined herbicides and seeding in former coal mining fields dominated by exotic winter annual grasses (downy brome [Bromus tectorum L.] and Japanese brome [Bromus arvensis L.], hereafter “annual bromes”). The main interest was restoring Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp. wyomingensis [Beetle & A. Young] S.L. Welsh, hereafter “big sage”), a very difficult species to restore to North American grasslands. We tested the nonselective herbicide glyphosate and the grass-specific herbicide quizalofop. The summer following herbicide applications and seeding, annual brome cover in controls 22% (CI95% 13%, 36%) was significantly greater (P
Reading Nietzsche with Irigaray: Not your garden-variety philosophy

My short essay on Irigaray’s relation to Nietzsche could be divided into the beginnings of six arguments: First, Nietzsche continues to hold a special place in Irigaray’s thinking. Second, Amante Marine is an important part of Irigaray’s elemental philosophy. Third, Irigaray’s insistence on depth over surface in Amante Marine points to two different ways Nietzsche has been taken up in French Philosophy, which could be characterized as the difference between surface and depth. Fourth, Irigaray’s Amante Marine anticipates the most recent direction in Nietzsche scholarship, which focuses on plants and the earth. Fifth, following Nietzsche, Irigaray suggests that we can learn lessons about sharing the earth from plants. And, finally, Irigaray’s elemental philosophy resonates with my own conception of earth ethics as responsiveness to other earthlings and our environment, which I develop in my recent book Earth and World .
Early Warning of mmWave Signal Blockage and AoA Transition Using sub-6 GHz Observations

The susceptibility of millimeter-wave (mmWave) signals to physical blockage and abrupt signal strength variations presents a challenge to reliable 5G communication. This work proposes and examines the feasibility of utilizing lower-frequency signals as early-warning indicators of mobile mmWave signal blockage or recovery. A physics-based channel simulation tool incorporating Fresnel diffraction and image sources is employed to demonstrate that sub-6 GHz signals “lead” mmWave signals in reaching a specific signal-strength threshold by several to tens of milliseconds at mobile speeds, suggesting early-warning systems are viable. This predictive approach stems from frequency-dependent properties of diffraction and does not assume a specific topology or mobile and obstacle speeds. Realistic simulations that include transitions from line of sight (LoS) to non-line of sight (NLoS) and reflection scenarios are employed to verify the proposed prediction capabilities. Moreover, prediction of the strongest multipath component and its angle of arrival (AoA) using sub-6 GHz observations is investigated.
Online Narratives of Methamphetamine Use and Risky Sexual Behavior: Can Shame-Free Guilt Aid in Recovery?

Methamphetamine (meth) use is a recurring public health challenge in the U.S. In 2016, approximately 1.6 million Americans reported using meth. Meth use is associated with a number of adverse outcomes, including those associated with users’ sexual health. In particular, meth use is linked to an increased risk for sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies. While studies have examined associations between substance use of various types—including meth use, and shame and guilt—few studies have examined relationships among substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and shame and guilt. No qualitative studies, to our knowledge, have studied all three of these phenomena in a sample of meth users. The present qualitative study explored the sexual risk behaviors and associated feelings of shame and guilt in relation to meth use. It draws from anonymous letters and stories (N = 202) posted to an online discussion forum by meth users and their family members. A grounded theory analysis of these narratives identified four primary themes pertaining to meth use and sexual behaviors: (1) feeling heightened sexual arousal and stimulation on meth, (2) experiencing sexual dissatisfaction on meth, (3) responding to sexual arousal and dissatisfaction, and (4) feeling ashamed and/or guilty. Ultimately, the present findings indicate that feelings of shame and guilt may arise more from the consequences of sexual risk behaviors stemming from meth use rather than meth use itself. The emotional toll of meth-induced sexual risk behaviors, particularly shame and guilt over the loss of meaningful relationships and self-respect due to multiple sexual partners, may provide an important opportunity for interventionists.
Social Coding Platform as Digital Enclave: A Case Study of Protesting “996” on GitHub

This article examines how Chinese netizens are responding to the widespread phenomenon of mandatory overwork amidst the Chinese state’s crackdown on dissenting opinions. Drawing on Squires’ conceptualization of enclaved public spheres, this article theorizes a social coding platform (GitHub) as a digital enclave (for Chinese software developers). A critical discourse analysis was performed on comments retrieved in 2019 from GitHub. GitHub users are found to discursively create a white-collar yet working-class identity to fight for their labor rights and rely heavily on media exposure to expand their influence. This case study extends Squires’ notion of enclaved public spheres to digital space and provides a critical lens to understand the communicative functions and collaborative potential of the social coding platforms.
Influence of Drying and Wildfire on Longitudinal Chemistry Patterns and Processes of Intermittent Streams

Stream drying and wildfire are projected to increase with climate change in the western United States, and both are likely to impact stream chemistry patterns and processes. To investigate drying and wildfire effects on stream chemistry (carbon, nutrients, anions, cations, and isotopes), we examined seasonal drying in two intermittent streams in southwestern Idaho, one stream that was unburned and one that burned eight months prior to our study period. During the seasonal recession following snowmelt, we hypothesized that spatiotemporal patterns of stream chemistry would change due to increased evaporation, groundwater dominance, and autochthonous carbon production. With increased nutrients and reduced canopy cover, we expected greater shifts in the burned stream. To capture spatial chemistry patterns, we sampled surface water for a suite of analytes along the length of each stream with a high spatial scope (50-meter sampling along ~2500 meters). To capture temporal variation, we sampled each stream in April (higher flow), May, and June (lower flow) in 2016. Seasonal patterns and processes influencing stream chemistry were generally similar in both streams, but some were amplified in the burned stream. Mean dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations increased with drying by 22% in the unburned and by 300% in the burned stream. In contrast, mean total nitrogen (TN) concentrations decreased in both streams, with a 16% TN decrease in the unburned stream and a 500% TN decrease (mostly nitrate) in the burned stream. Contrary to expectations, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations varied more in space than in time. In addition, we found the streams did not become more evaporative relative to the Local Meteoric Water Line (LMWL) and we found weak evidence for evapoconcentration with drying. However, consistent with our expectations, strontium-DIC ratios indicated stream water shifted towards groundwater-dominance, especially in the burned stream. Fluorescence and absorbance measurements showed considerable spatial variation in DOC sourcing each month in both streams, and mean values suggested a temporal shift from allochthonous towards autochthonous carbon sources in the burned stream. Our findings suggest that the effects of fire may magnify some chemistry patterns but not the biophysical controls that we tested with stream drying.
Least cost influence maximization across multiple social networks

Recently, in online social networks (OSNs), the least cost influence (LCI) problem has become one of the central research topics. It aims at identifying a minimum number of seed users who can trigger a wide cascade of information propagation. Most of existing literature investigated the LCI problem only based on an individual network. However, nowadays users often join several OSNs such that information could be spread across different networks simultaneously. Therefore, in order to obtain the best set of seed users, it is crucial to consider the role of overlapping users under this circumstances. In this article, we propose a unified framework to represent and analyze the influence diffusion in multiplex networks. More specifically, we tackle the LCI problem by mapping a set of networks into a single one via lossless and lossy coupling schemes. The lossless coupling scheme preserves all properties of original networks to achieve high-quality solutions, while the lossy coupling scheme offers an attractive alternative when the running time and memory consumption are of primary concern. Various experiments conducted on both real and synthesized datasets have validated the effectiveness of the coupling schemes, which also provide some interesting insights into the process of influence propagation in multiplex networks.
Intraoperative Evaluation of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Intraoperative consultation for diseases of the luminal gut can facilitate the immediate management of surgical patients in several situations. Most of the tubular gut is easily accessible to endoscopic evaluation, and, thus, many patients have an established diagnosis prior to surgery. The most common indication for intraoperative consultation of the tubular gut is evaluation of resection margins in the setting of neoplasia. Frozen sections may also be used to establish a primary diagnosis when lesions are not amenable to endoscopic evaluation, intraoperative findings raise the possibility of malignancy, or incidental peritoneal nodules are detected during cancer operations. Frozen sections are performed in the latter situation to exclude the possibility of metastatic disease; many patients with stage IV disease do not benefit from resection of the primary tumor. Lastly, the intraoperative evaluation of patients with possible Hirschsprung disease relies heavily on pathologists to identify the extent of aganglionosis in order to optimize extent of resection. It is important that pathologists offer timely, accurate diagnoses with full understanding of the specific concerns to be addressed in all of these scenarios. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the situations in which pathologists may be asked to perform intraoperative consultations for surgeons treating patients with diseases of the tubular gut.
Immunohistochemical Expression of CA19-9 in papillary thyroid carcinoma: A potential marker for biologically aggressive disease

1922 Introduction: Blood group antigen (BGA) expression by the thyroid gland is considered oncofetal because they are expressed by fetal and neoplastic tissues but not by the normal adult gland. The type 1 BGA CA19-9 is synthesized from DU-PAN-2 through α1-4 fucosylation. CA19-9 mediates adhesion of cancer cells to vascular endothelium as a ligand of E-selectin. The objective of this study was to evaluate BGA expression in benign and malignant thyroid tumors, and to correlate BGA expression with known clinicopathologic disease prognosticators to determine if they may serve as molecular prognosticators. Methods: Immunohistochemical expression of type 1 blood group antigens was studied in parallel sections of 56 formalin fixed paraffin-embedded thyroid neoplasms (36 papillary carcinomas and 18 adenomatous nodules) utilizing monoclonal antibodies against DU-PAN-2 (sialyl Lec) and CA19-9 (sialyl Lea). Clinicopathologic data was retrospectively collected for all papillary carcinoma patients. The percentage of positively stained nuclei was scored for each antibody. Results: Benign tissues had consistently low proportions ( 40% cells) in 7 patients (19%). DU-PAN-2 expression by histologic subtype was: follicular variant 0/18 patients (0%), classic variant 4/11 patients (36%), and tall cell variant 3/7 patients (43%). CA19-9 expression by histologic subtype was: follicular variant 0/18 patients (0%), classic variant 1/11 patients (9%), and tall cell variant 6/7 patients (86%). There was a significant relationship between CA19-9 expression and the GAMES preoperative patient risk stratification system (Pearson correlation coefficient .352, p=.035). Conclusions: DU-PAN-2 and CA19-9 BGA are more commonly expressed in papillary carcinoma than benign thyroid tumors. These immunohistochemical profiles also imply that that the activity of α1-4 fucosyltransferase (Lewis enzyme) is more strongly enhanced in tall cell than other variants of papillary carcinoma. This aberrant expression of fucosylated antigens may contribute to the aggressive biological behavior of the tall cell histologic subtype. Immunohistological expression of CA19-9 may also potentially serve as a useful molecular prognosticator in individuals diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer.
The Vice President's Non-Existent Unilateral Power to Reject Electoral Votes

This Essay explains the errors in the theory advanced by John Eastman in a memorandum presented to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence which claimed that Pence had the unilateral authority to reject electoral votes when Congress convened on January 6, 2021. That Unilateral Rejection Power theory is fatally flawed in four respects. First, it rests on a misreading of the critical phrase in the Twelfth Amendment that does not follow from its text. If anything, the text indicates the Unilateral Rejection Power is incorrect. Second, it draws on an erroneous history of the Vice President’s role in the electoral counts of the 1796 and 1800 presidential elections. Third, it ignores the dispositive drafting history of the Twelfth Amendment, which definitively demonstrates that both chambers of Congress understood Article II, section 1, clause 3 to assign to Congress rather than the President of the Senate the power to count votes and decide disputes relating to that count. Congress drafted the Twelfth Amendment using precisely the same words regarding the process of counting electoral votes, thus incorporating that settled understanding. Finally, it defies reason that the Founding generation, who had just fought the Revolutionary War to overthrow a monarch to establish a representative democracy, would create a constitution that vested a single official with the legal authority to retain power for a lifetime. This Essay offers these legal arguments in full view of the more fundamental point: that the Unilateral Rejection Power theory is a dangerous view that undercuts the basic principles of American democracy. It may seem that nothing more than that needs to be said—and that even engaging in rigorous legal argument with such a radically antidemocratic interpretation of the Constitution legitimizes a view that should simply be shunned. The tragic reality, however, is that radically antidemocratic legal views like the Unilateral Rejection Power theory have perilous influence with a powerful faction in the American political system and thus present an immense danger if not decisively rebutted. For that reason, I believe it is critical to expose that the Unilateral Rejection Power theory is not only gravely morally wrong—it is, beyond any doubt, legally wrong as well.
Hippocampal acidity and volume are differentially associated with spatial navigation in older adults.

The hippocampus is negatively affected by aging and is critical for spatial navigation. While there is evidence that wayfinding navigation tasks are especially sensitive to preclinical hippocampal deterioration, these studies have primarily used volumetric hippocampal imaging without considering microstructural properties or anatomical variation within the hippocampus. T1ρ is an MRI measure sensitive to regional pH, with longer relaxation rates reflecting acidosis as a marker of metabolic dysfunction and neuropathological burden. For the first time, we investigate how measures of wayfinding including landmark location learning and delayed memory in cognitively normal older adults (N = 84) relate to both hippocampal volume and T1ρ in the anterior and posterior hippocampus. Regression analyses revealed hippocampal volume was bilaterally related to learning, while right lateralized T1ρ was related to delayed landmark location memory and bilateral T1ρ was related to the delayed use of a cognitive map. Overall, results suggest hippocampal volume and T1ρ relaxation rate tap into distinct mechanisms involved in preclinical cognitive decline as assessed by wayfinding navigation, and laterality influenced these relationships more than the anterior-posterior longitudinal axis of the hippocampus.
Contraception values and preferences of people living with HIV: a systematic review.

Abstract Objective Attention to the contraception values and preferences of those living with HIV is essential to meeting their reproductive rights and health needs. We systematically reviewed the literature on contraception values and preferences among women and men living with HIV. Study design We searched ten electronic databases for articles from 1 January 2005 through 27 July 2020 for qualitative and quantitative studies of the values and preferences for contraceptive methods among individuals living with HIV. Results Twenty-one studies, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, met the inclusion criteria. Contraception values and preferences were shaped by several factors: availability, accessibility, and convenience; perceived effectiveness; safety and tolerability; dual protection; fertility desires; partnership dynamics; and provider recommendations. Male condoms were a frequently preferred contraceptive method, offering an affordable and accessible form of dual protection against HIV and unwanted pregnancy. Fears of infertility and side effects decreased interest in hormonal contraceptive methods. Financial burdens incurred by HIV management and a desire to reduce dual reproductive health and HIV care burdens influenced preferences. Healthcare providers contributed to contraceptive preferences of women living with HIV, informing perceptions of safety, tolerability, and effectiveness. Conclusion Contraception values and preferences among women living with HIV are complex and influenced by factors related and unrelated to their HIV status. Considering contraception values and preferences of people living with HIV will ensure that their autonomy and right to make decisions about the contraceptive methods best for them are upheld.
The neurofibromatosis 2 tumor suppressor gene product, Merlin, regulates human meningioma cell growth by signaling through YAP

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by the occurrence of schwannomas and meningiomas. Several studies have examined the ability of the NF2 gene product, merlin, to function as a tumor suppressor in diverse cell types; however, little is known about merlin growth regulation in meningiomas. In Drosophila, merlin controls cell proliferation and apoptosis by signaling through the Hippo pathway to inhibit the function of the transcriptional coactivator Yorkie. The Hippo pathway is conserved in mammals. On the basis of these observations, we developed human meningioma cell lines matched for merlin expression to evaluate merlin growth regulation and investigate the relationship between NF2 status and Yes-associated protein (YAP), the mammalian homolog of Yorkie. NF2 loss in meningioma cells was associated with loss of contact-dependent growth inhibition, enhanced anchorage-independent growth and increased cell proliferation due to increased S-phase entry. In addition, merlin loss in both meningioma cell lines and primary tumors resulted in increased YAP expression and nuclear localization. Finally, siRNA-mediated reduction of YAP in NF2-deficient meningioma cells rescued the effects of merlin loss on cell proliferation and S-phase entry. Collectively, these results represent the first demonstration that merlin regulates cell growth in human cancer cells by suppressing YAP.
Parvalbumin in respiratory neurons of the ventrolateral medulla of the adult rat.

A column of parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons is closely associated with the location of respiratory neurons in the ventrolateral medulla of the rat. The majority (66%) of bulbospinal neurons in the medullary ventral respiratory column (VRC) that were retrogradely labeled by tracer injections in the phrenic nucleus were also positive for parvalbumin. In contrast, only 18.8% of VRC neurons retrogradely labeled after a tracer injection in the VRC, also expressed parvalbumin. The average cross-sectional area of VRC neurons retrogradely labeled after VRC injections was 193.8 μm2 ± 6.6 SE. These were significantly smaller than VRC parvalbumin neurons (271.9 μm2 ± 12.3 SE). Parvalbumin neurons were found in the Botzinger Complex, the rostral ventral respiratory group (VRG), and the caudal VRG, areas which all contribute to the bulbospinal projection. In contrast, parvalbumin neurons were sparse or absent in the preBotzinger Complex and in the vicinity of the retrotrapezoid nucleus, areas that have few bulbospinal projections. Parvalbumin was rarely colocalized within Neurokinin-1 receptor positive (NK1R) VRC neurons, which are found in the preBotzinger complex and in the anteroventral part of the rostral VRG. Parvalbumin neurons in the Botzinger Complex and rostral VRG help define the rostrocaudal extent of these regions. The absence of parvalbumin neurons from the intervening preBotzinger complex also helps establish the boundaries of this region. Regional boundaries described in this manner are in good agreement with earlier physiological and anatomical studies. Taken together, the distributions of parvalbumin, NK1R and bulbospinal neurons suggest that the rostral VRG may be subdivided into distinct, anterodorsal, anteroventral, and posterior subdivisions.