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University administrations have created Bias Response Teams (BRTs) as a means to navigate student-to-student campus disputes. BRTs both collect data on reported student conflicts as well as offer students conflict resolution, educational, and other university resources to manage their disputes. Yet these BRTs have been under siege in the courts, often challenged on the grounds that such systems chill students' speech. This Essay examines the structure and purpose of BRTs as well as many of the legal challenges they have faced in the past decade. It then intertwines this analysis with scholarship on dispute system design to explore how such university systems may be reconfigured in response to these legal challenges. Any solution should both maintain student resources and address concerns over First Amendment violations. As such, rather than fully stripping BRTs of their power, campuses should consider severing connections between their formal, punitive campus resources and BRTs while maintaining access to informal resolution options such as mediation and restorative justice practices., Table of Contents Introduction I. The Structure of University BRTs A. Reporting B. Meeting with BRT Staff C. Data Collection D. The Role of BRTs in Universities II. Legal Challenges [...]

Increases in population size are associated with the adoption of Neolithic agricultural practices in many areas of the world, but rapid population growth within the Dingsishan cultural group of southern China pre-dated the arrival of rice and millet farming in this area. In this article, the authors identify starch grains from taros (Colocasia) and yams (Dioscorea) in dental calculus and on food-processing tools from the Dingsishan sites of Huiyaotian and Liyupo (c. 9030-6741 BP). They conclude that the harvesting and processing of these dietary staples supported an Early Holocene population increase in southern East Asia, before the spread of rice and millet farming. Keywords: Southern China, Early Holocene, Dingsishan, microfossil analysis, dental calculus, starch grains, taro, Introduction Around 10 000 BP, the first open settlements emerged on terraces along the Yongjiang River in southern Guangxi in southern China (Fu 2002; Zhang & Hung 2010, 2012; Hung […]

Author(s): Syed O. Ali [sup.1], Carson Castellani [sup.2], Bryan S. Benn [sup.3] [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.30760.32, 0000 0001 2111 8460, School of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, , Milwaukee, [...], Purpose Determining the cause of interstitial lung disease (ILD) remains challenging. While surgical lung biopsy remains the gold standard approach, risks associated with it may be prohibitive. Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) is a minimally invasive alternative with an improved safety profile and acceptable diagnostic accuracy. We retrospectively assessed whether the use of Cone Beam computed tomography guidance for TBLC (TBLC-CBCT) improves safety and diagnostic yield compared to performing TBLC with fluoroscopic guidance (TBLC-F). Methods A retrospective cohort review of 120 patients presenting for evaluation of newly diagnosed ILD was performed. Demographic data, pulmonary function test values, chest imaging pattern, procedural information, and final multidisciplinary discussion (MDD) diagnosis were recorded. Results 62 patients underwent TBLC-F and 58 underwent TBLC-CBCT. Patients undergoing TBLC-CBCT were older (67.86 ± 10.97 vs 61.45 ± 12.77 years, p = 0.004) and had a higher forced vital capacity percent predicted (73.80 ± 17.32% vs 66.00 ± 17.45%, p = 0.03) compared to the TBLC-F group. The average probe-to-pleura distance was 5.1 ± 2.3 mm in the TBLC-CBCT group with 4.0 ± 0.3 CBCT spins performed. Pneumothorax occurred more often in the TBLC-F group (n = 6, 9.7%) compared to the TBLC-CBCT group (n = 1, 1.7%, p = 0.06). Grade 2 bleeding only occurred in the TBLC-F group (n = 4, 6.5%). A final MDD diagnosis was obtained in 89% (n = 57) of TBLC-F patients and 95% (n = 57) of TBLC-CBCT patients. Conclusions TBLC-CBCT appears to be safer compared to TBLC-F with both approaches facilitating an MDD diagnosis. Further studies from multiple institutions randomizing patients to each modality are needed to confirm these findings.

Since May 2022, monkeypox virus (MPXV) infections have been detected in 108 countries without endemic disease. Most cases have been among gay, bisexual, or other men who have sex with [...]

Author(s): Rosie Allen [sup.1] , Chathurika Kannangara [sup.1] , Mahimna Vyas [sup.1] , Jerome Carson [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.36076.34, 0000 0001 2166 3186, University of Bolton, , Deane Road, [...], The effects of Covid-19 have been felt worldwide and one population that are of increasing concern are university students. University students have endured unique and drastic changes to their everyday and academic lives. It is important to understand how university students in different parts of the world have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and how it has affected their mental health? A cross-sectional study was conducted during the first wave of Covid-19, in May 2020 with 2,006 university students from the UK, Italy, Germany and Spain. Participants were recruited online and were asked to complete a series of standardised measures of psychological distress, anxiety, flourishing and wellbeing. Attitudes towards Covid-19 were measured using a new scale. The factor structure and reliability of this new scale was confirmed using this European sample. Results indicated that all university students were suffering from poor mental health, considerably below pre-pandemic norms. There were many geographical differences in the way that university students perceived the Covid19 pandemic, in terms of their fears, anxieties, loneliness and positivity. There were also significant mental health comparisons between students from the UK, Italy, Germany and Spain. Student beliefs that their government had provided effective leadership during the Covid-19 pandemic were strongly related to numerous mental health outcomes. A picture of university students' mental health is provided and discussed. Geographical comparisons are discussed, as are the implications for practice and future directions.

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have been overabundant in eastern North America for more than five decades, resulting in depauperate understories and ricocheting effects on higher trophic levels. Even after deer populations are reduced, understory plant communities may fail to recover for an unknown length of time due to persistent legacy effects. We surveyed understory plant communities in six deer exclosures and paired reference plots in northwestern Pennsylvania to determine the degree to which 19 years of deer exclusion was sufficient for recovery of species richness, diversity, percent cover, and understory structural complexity. We observed a 2.3-fold increase in tree cover and a 60% reduction in fern cover in the ground layer, as well as a 114-fold increase in foliage density between 80 and 200 cm above ground level, in exclosures compared to reference plots. However, the exclosures did not permanently support higher overall percent cover, species richness, or diversity in the ground layer, nor did we detect any meaningful divergence in community composition between exclosures and reference plots. We conclude that 19 years of release from chronic over-browsing are sufficient to restore understory structural complexity, but recovery of diversity in the ground layer will require more time or direct intervention. Key words: white-tailed deer, exclosure, legacy effect, understory plant community, Allegheny National Forest, Introduction In eastern North American forests, overabundant whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmermann, 1780)) are causing substantial declines in plant abundance, diversity, and reproduction, and are also altering plant species composition [...]

Author(s): Paula Chandler-Laney [sup.1] , Joseph R. Biggio [sup.2] , Meghan Tipre [sup.3] , Tiffany L. Carson [sup.4] , Sejong Bae [sup.3] , Alysha B Everett [sup.1] , Monica L. [...], Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate whether differences in gestational weight gain (GWG) and adverse perinatal outcomes exist for Black and White women who are overweight or have obesity (OW/OB) at entry to prenatal care. Methods: We enrolled 183 pregnant women with BMI 25-45 kg/m.sup.2 (71% black, 29% white) prior to 14 weeks gestation. Data were collected on demographic, medical history, diet and physical activity during pregnancy. Relationships between race and maternal outcomes and infant outcomes were assessed using multivariable logistic regression models. Results: The average age of pregnant women were 26 years (±4.8), with a mean BMI of 32.1 (±5.1) kg/m2 at the time of enrollment. At delivery, 60 women (33%) had GWG within Institute of Medicine recommendations and 69% had at least one comorbidity. No significant differences by race were found in GWG (in lbs) (11±7.5 vs. 11.4±7.3, p=0.2006) as well as other perinatal outcomes including maternal morbidity, LBW and PTB. Race differences were noted for gestational diabetes, total energy expenditure and average daily calorie intake, but these differences did not result in significant differences in GWG or maternal morbidity. Conclusion: The lack of racial differences in GWG and perinatal outcomes demonstrated in this study differs from prior literature and could potentially be attributed to small sample size. Findings suggest that race differences in GWG and perinatal outcomes may diminish for women with a BMI in the overweight or obese range at conception.

I've found that a dinner party reaches its effective end when everyone starts discussing what shows they are streaming. So down cutlery! I've been watching Alone lately, the original US [...]

Author(s): Tiffany L. Carson[sup.1], Doratha A. Byrd[sup.1], Kristen S. Smith[sup.1], Daniel Carter[sup.2], Maria Gomez[sup.1], Michael Abaskaron[sup.1], Rebecca B. Little[sup.3], Sh'Nese Townsend Holmes[sup.3], William J. van Der Pol[sup.3], Elliot J. Lefkowitz[sup.3], [...], Background The gut microbiota is associated with risk for colorectal cancer (CRC), a chronic disease for which racial disparities persist with Black Americans having a higher risk of CRC incidence and mortality compared to other groups. Given documented racial differences, the gut microbiota may offer some insight into previously unexplained racial disparities in CRC incidence and mortality. A case-control analysis comparing 11 women newly diagnosed with CRC with 22 cancer-free women matched on age, BMI, and race in a 1:2 ratio was conducted. Information about participants' diet and perceived stress levels were obtained via 24-h Dietary Recall and Perceived Stress Scale-10 survey, respectively. Participants provided stool samples from which microbial genomic DNA was extracted to reveal the abundance of 26 genera chosen a priori based on their previously observed relevance to CRC, anxiety symptoms, and diet. Results Significantly lower alpha diversity was observed among cancer-free Black women compared to all other race-cancer status combinations. No group differences were observed when comparing beta diversity. Non-Hispanic White CRC cases tended to have higher relative abundance of Fusobacteria, Gemellaceae, and Peptostreptococcus compared to all other race-cancer combination groups. Perceived stress was inversely associated with alpha diversity and was associated with additional genera. Conclusions Our findings suggest that microbiome-CRC associations may differ by racial group. Additional large, racially diverse population-based studies are needed to determine if previously identified associations between characteristics of the gut microbiome and CRC are generalizable to Black women and other racial, ethnic, and gender groups. Keywords: Colorectal cancer, Gut microbiota, Disparities, Perceived stress, Diet, Case-control

Introduction Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and lethal adult brain tumor (1) and is characterized by an unparalleled invasive capacity (2). Current therapeutic strategies are insufficient to control the [...], While the poor prognosis of glioblastoma arises from the invasion of a subset of tumor cells, little is known of the metabolic alterations within these cells that fuel invasion. We integrated spatially addressable hydrogel biomaterial platforms, patient site-directed biopsies, and multiomics analyses to define metabolic drivers of invasive glioblastoma cells. Metabolomics and lipidomics revealed elevations in the redox buffers cystathionine, hexosylceramides, and glucosyl ceramides in the invasive front of both hydrogel-cultured tumors and patient site-directed biopsies, with immunofluorescence indicating elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) markers in invasive cells. Transcriptomics confirmed upregulation of ROS-producing and response genes at the invasive front in both hydrogel models and patient tumors. Among oncologic ROS, [H.sub.2][O.sub.2] specifically promoted glioblastoma invasion in 3D hydrogel spheroid cultures. A CRISPR metabolic gene screen revealed cystathionine [gamma]-lyase (CTH), which converts cystathionine to the nonessential amino acid cysteine in the transsulfuration pathway, to be essential for glioblastoma invasion. Correspondingly, supplementing CTH knockdown cells with exogenous cysteine rescued invasion. Pharmacologic CTH inhibition suppressed glioblastoma invasion, while CTH knockdown slowed glioblastoma invasion in vivo. Our studies highlight the importance of ROS metabolism in invasive glioblastoma cells and support further exploration of the transsulfuration pathway as a mechanistic and therapeutic target.

Multi-species assemblages can help identify key resources in their habitat by evaluating how they are partitioning their resources. Here we used the isotopic niche of loggerhead, Kemp's ridley, and green sea turtles to assess their ecological niche within a Gulf of Mexico bay. Additionally, we assessed temporal and size-class variation in their diets by comparing the [delta].sup.13C and [delta].sup.15N values over various capture years and size classes. Based on the isotopic niche overlap results, interspecific competition occurs among loggerhead, Kemp's ridley, and smaller green turtles. Green turtle and Kemp's ridley diet varied by size class, while Kemp's ridley diet also varied temporally. The three species partition resources by selecting different preferred diet items, although some overlap in diet, including between the herbivorous (green) and carnivorous (Kemp's ridley, loggerhead) species, appears to occur. The high quality of this habitat may allow species co-existence and population recovery despite the possible use of shared resources., Author(s): Carson L. Arends [sup.1] [sup.2] , Hannah B. Vander Zanden [sup.2] , Margaret M. Lamont [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) https://ror.org/05qtybq80, U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, , [...]

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is caused by CCHF virus (CCHFV). CCHF is a zoonotic disease that infects mainly livestock, and CCHFV is transmitted by ticks, primarily Hyalomma species. Humans are [...]

Make supper for my daughter Walk the dog and the cats (I'm not kidding) Make sure to sit down to make a lap for the cats Read a little Write [...]

There's definitely a numbing (all the shoes by the door are mine), daily starvation followed by nightly over-consumption--TV, snacks, puzzles I never solve, the cats on my lap, my warm [...]

Cleaned snow off the car, started its engine, came back in to warm up. Caught the phone on the last ring before it went to answer, doctor, so alarmed by [...]

The most westerly Pacific island chain, running from Taiwan southwards through the Philippines, has long been central in debates about the origins and early migrations of Austronesian-speaking peoples from the Asian mainland into the islands of Southeast Asia and Oceania. Focusing on the Cagayan Valley of northern Luzon in the Philippines, the authors combine new and published radiocarbon dates to underpin a revised culture-historical synthesis. The results speak to the initial contacts and long-term relationships between Indigenous hunter-gatherers and immigrant Neolithic farmers, and the question of how the early speakers of Malayo-Polynesian languages spread into and through the Philippines. Keywords: Southeast Asia, Philippines, Neolithic, shell middens, radiocarbon dating, human migrations, Introduction Located 125km off the south-eastern coast of China, the island of Taiwan was host to the earliest Neolithic cultures that existed offshore from the southern Chinese mainland. The Dabenkeng [...]

Nontyphoidal Salmonella is a leading cause of foodbome diarrheal illness. There were an estimated 535,000 human cases of invasive infection with nontyphoidal Salmonella and 59,100 deaths in 2017 globally (2,2). [...]

Author(s): Emily A. Vargas [sup.1] , Diana A. Chirinos [sup.1] , Mandy Wong [sup.1] , Mercedes R. Carnethon [sup.1] , Allison J. Carroll [sup.2] , Catarina I. Kiefe [sup.3] , [...], Psychosocial factors are associated with the achievement of optimal cardiovascular disease risk factor (CVDRF) levels. To date, little research has examined multiple psychosocial factors simultaneously to identify distinguishing psychosocial profiles among individuals with CVDRF. Further, it is unknown whether profiles are associated with achievement of CVDRF levels longitudinally. Therefore, we characterized psychosocial profiles of individuals with CVDRF and assessed whether they are associated with achievement of optimal CVDRF levels over 15 years. We included 1148 CARDIA participants with prevalent hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and/or diabetes mellitus in 2000-2001. Eleven psychosocial variables reflecting psychological health, personality traits, and social factors were included. Optimal levels were deemed achieved if: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) < 7.0%, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol < 100 mg/dl, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 140 mm Hg. Latent profile analysis revealed three psychosocial profile groups "Healthy", "Distressed and Disadvantaged" and "Discriminated Against". There were no significant differences in achievement of CVDRF levels of the 3 targets combined across profiles. Participants in the "Distressed and Disadvantaged" profile were less likely to meet optimal HbA1c levels compared to individuals in the "Healthy" profile after demographic adjustment. Associations were attenuated after full covariate adjustment. Distinct psychosocial profiles exist among individuals with CVDRF, representing meaningful differences. Implications for CVDRF management are discussed.

Author(s): Carson Castellani [sup.1], Henry Castellani [sup.2], Bryan S. Benn [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.30760.32, 0000 0001 2111 8460, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, , Milwaukee, WI, USA [...], Introduction Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) is an accepted alternative to surgical lung biopsy (SLB) for diagnosing diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD) that is less invasive and results in comparable diagnostic yields. Performing lung biopsies on hospitalized patients, however, has increased risk due to the patient's underlying disease severity. Data evaluating the safety and efficacy of TBLC in hospitalized patients are limited. We present a comparison of TBLC for hospitalized and outpatients and provide the safety and diagnostic yields in these populations. Methods Demographic data, pulmonary function values, chest imaging pattern, procedural information, and diagnosis were recorded from enrolled patients. Complications from the procedure were the primary outcomes and diagnostic yield was the secondary outcome. Results 77 patients (n = 22 hospitalized vs n = 55 outpatient) underwent TBLC during the study period. Comparing adverse events between hospitalized and outpatients revealed no statistically significant differences in pneumothorax (9%, n = 2 vs 5%,n = 3), tube thoracostomy placement (5%, n = 1 vs 2%, n = 1), grade 2 bleeding (9%, n = 2 vs 0%, n = 0), escalation in level of care (5%, n = 1 vs 0%, n = 0), 30-day mortality (9%, n = 2 vs 2%, n = 1), and 60-day mortality (9%, n = 2 vs 4%, n = 2) (p > 0.05 for all). No deaths were attributed to the procedure. 95% of cases received a multidisciplinary conference diagnosis (hospitalized 100%, n = 22 vs outpatients 93%, n = 51, p = 0.32). Conclusion Our experience supports that TBLC may be a safe and effective modality for acutely ill-hospitalized patients with DPLD. Further efforts to enhance procedural safety and to determine the impact of an expedited tissue diagnosis on patient outcomes are needed.

Author(s): Anna E. Carson Daymude [sup.1] , Joshua J. Daymude [sup.2] , Roger Rochat [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.189967.8, 0000 0001 0941 6502, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, [...], Background Obstetric provider coverage in rural Georgia has worsened, with nine rural labor and delivery units (LDUs) closing outside the Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area from 2012 to 2016. Georgia consistently has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation and faces increased adverse health consequences from this decline in obstetric care. Objective This study explores what factors may be associated with rural hospital LDU closures in Georgia from 2012 to 2016. Methods This study describes differences between rural Georgia hospitals based on LDU closure status through a quantitative analysis of 2011 baseline regional, hospital, and patient data, and a qualitative analysis of newspaper articles addressing the closures. Results LDUs that closed had higher proportions of Black female residents in their Primary Care Service Areas (PCSAs), of Black birthing patients, and of patients with Medicaid, self-pay or other government insurance; lower LDU birth volume; more women giving birth within their PCSA of residence; fewer obstetricians and obstetric provider equivalents per LDU; and fewer average annual births per obstetric provider. Qualitative results indicate financial distress primarily contributed to closures, but also suggest that low birth volume and obstetric provider shortage impacted closures. Conclusions for Practice Rural LDU closure in Georgia has a disproportionate impact on Black and low-income women and may be prevented through funding maternity healthcare, financing LDUs, and addressing provider shortages.

I dusted off my Marx the other day. The first Marxist I ever read was Leon Trotsky. A book of his writings had somehow found its way into my high [...]

Author(s): Tana B. Carson [sup.1] , Matthew J. Valente [sup.2] , Bradley J. Wilkes [sup.3] , Lynne Richard [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.65456.34, 0000 0001 2110 1845, Department of Occupational [...], Auditory sensory over-responsivity (aSOR) is a frequently reported sensory feature of autism spectrum disorders (ASD); however, there is little consensus regarding its prevalence and severity. This cross-sectional study uses secondary data from the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R; Item 72: undue sensitivity to noise) housed in the US National Institute of Mental Health Data Archives to identify prevalence and severity of aSOR. Of the 4104 subjects with ASD ages 2-54 (M = 9, SD = 5.8) who responded to item 72, 60.1% (n = 1876) had aSOR currently (i.e., point prevalence) and 71.1% (n = 2221) reported having aSOR ever (i.e., lifetime prevalence). aSOR prevalence and severity were affected by age, but there were no associations with sex.