cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of extracellular magnesium manipulation on reperfusion-induced arrhythmias and myocardial ion shifts in isolated ischemic reperfused rat hearts.

Isolated rat hearts were subjected to global ischemia followed by reperfusion, and a reduction in the incidence of reperfusion-induced ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia was brought about by increasing the extracellular Mg concentration in the perfusion buffer. Thus the incidence of ventricular fibrillation was reduced from its control value of 100% in 1.2 mM Mg to 83% by 2.4 mM Mg (P = N.S.), to 42% by 3.6 mM Mg (P < .05), to 17% by 4.8 mM Mg (P < .001) and to 17% by 9.6 mM Mg (P < .001). The corresponding values for ventricular tachycardia were 100% (control, 1.2 mM Mg) vs. 92% (P = N.S.), 50% (P < .05), 25% (P < .01) and 25% (P < .01), respectively. In further studies, extracellular Ca was reduced by 50% (1.2 mM) in the perfusion buffer just before ischemia and during reperfusion. The incidence of ventricular fibrillation was reduced from its control value of 83% in 1.2 mM Mg to 75% by 1.8 mM Mg (P = N.S.), to 33% by 2.4 mM Mg (P < .05), to 17% by 3.6 mM Mg (P < .01) and to 8% by 4.8 mM Mg (P < .01). The incidence of ventricular tachycardia followed the same pattern. Myocardial Na, K, Ca and Mg were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometer after the removal of ions from the extracellular space. In controls, 30 min of ischemia resulted in 3- and 4-fold accumulation of myocardial Na and Ca, respectively, and during reperfusion these values were similar to the values for 30-min ischemia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Profound Hypereosinophilia Secondary to Sezary Syndrome

Background: Sezary syndrome is a subtype of cutaneous non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that is characterized by erythroderma, the presence of atypical lymphocytes in the blood, and lymphadenopathy. The clonal cell in Sezary syndrome is thought to be derived from mature Th-2 cells that are able to express Il-4, Il-5, and Il-13 which can stimulate the replication of eosinophils. It is has been shown that higher levels of eosinophilia correlate with a worse prognosis. One explanation is that the degree of eosinophilia represents the level of imbalance between Th-1 and Th-2 cells. Here we report the first case of end organ damage caused by hypereosinophilia secondary to the Sezary syndrome. In rare cases Sezary syndrome can cause hypereosinophilia but has never been reported to cause hypereosionphilia that results in end-organ damage. To our knowledge this is the first case that reports end-organ damage resultant from secondary hypereosinophilia from the Sezary syndrome. Case presentation: A 75-year-old man was admitted for severe rash and pruritis, massive lymphadenopathy, and extremely high eosinophil count. He had recurrent skin rash with pruritis for five years with previous skin biopsies without evidence of malignancy. He had never had hypereosinophilia until he presented to our institution. Peripheral smear showed marked eosinophilia as well as the presence of Sezary cells. A skin biopsy and lymph node biopsy revealed cutaneous T cell lymphoma. Bone marrow biopsy showed atypical large T-cells comprising 29% of the total population with loss of CD5 and CD7 and 22% eosinophils. The patient ultimately sustained multiorgan failure and expired from respiratory failure. Tissue eosinophilia was later demonstrated on autopsy. Conclusion: Our report indicates that the Sezary syndrome can cause extreme hypereosinophilia that can result in end-organ damage. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Role of bifunctional ammonia-lyase in grass cell wall biosynthesis

L-Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) is the first enzyme in the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoid-derived plant compounds such as flavonoids, coumarins and the cell wall polymer lignin. The cell walls of grasses possess higher proportions of syringyl (S)-rich lignins and high levels of esterified coumaric acid compared with those of dicotyledonous plants, and PAL from grasses can also possess tyrosine ammonia-lyase (TAL) activity, the reason for which has remained unclear. Using phylogenetic, transcriptomic and in vitro biochemical analyses, we identified a single homotetrameric bifunctional ammonia-lyase (PTAL) among eight BdPAL enzymes in the model grass species Brachypodium distachyon. (13)C isotope labelling experiments along with BdPTAL1-downregulation in transgenic plants showed that the TAL activity of BdPTAL1 can provide nearly half of the total lignin deposited in Brachypodium, with a preference for S-lignin and wall-bound coumarate biosynthesis, indicating that PTAL function is linked to the characteristic features of grass cell walls. Furthermore, isotope dilution experiments suggest that the pathways to lignin from L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine are distinct beyond the formation of 4-coumarate, supporting the organization of lignin synthesis enzymes in one or more metabolons.
Cytoplasmic Structures of Epiphyseal Plate Chondrocytes: QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION USING ELECTRON MICROGRAPHS OF RAT COSTOCHONDRAL JUNCTIONS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE FATE OF HYPERTROPHIC CELLS

The cytoplasmic components of chondrocytes in the various zones of the costochondral junction of male Sprague-Dawley rats were quantitated from electron micrographs using the point-counting method. A progressive increase in the content of endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, lysosomes, and Golgi complexes from the zone of small-size cartilage cells through the zone of hypertrophic cells was observed, while the content of lipid bodies, vacuoles, and multivesicular bodies decreased progressively through these zones. From these studies it was concluded that the hypertrophic cells are metabolically very active. The last chondrocyte at the base of each cell column, in the zone of provisional calcification, shows fragmentation of the cell membrane and of the nuclear envelope with loss of all cytoplasmic components except mitochondria and a few scattered remnants of endoplasmic reticulum, clear evidence that the ultimate fate of the epiphyseal chondrocyte is death.
OMEGA Monte Carlo verification of dosimetric data for Gamma Knife

In the dosimetry of narrow Cobalt-60 beams from Gamma Knife®, there are 3 elements of importance viz. the central axis depth-dose data, beam profiles and collimator output factors. These present a challenge to the current data acquisition and verification methods. Using the OMEGA Monte Carlo Codes, we have simulated one of the 201 source positions and thereby analyzed single beam data. Simulation geometry and source dimensions are consistent with data provided by the Gamma Knife manufacturer.
Molecular analysis ofcis-regulatory sequences at the α-amylase locus inDrosophila melanogaster

TheAmylase locus inDrosophila melanogaster contains duplicate, divergently transcribed structural genes for α-amylase,AmyA andAmyB. A sensitive and reliable transient expression assay was developed for testing amylase activities produced by exogenousAmy genes in somatically transformed larvae of an amylase-null strain of flies. Alleles tested,AmyA1 andAmyB3, came from recombinant clone λDm65, which contains genomic DNA from a Canton-S strain. The transient assay was used in a deletion analysis aimed at locatingcis-regulatory sequences within the 5′ region ofAmyB3, Results suggest that upstream regulatory sequences for correct spatial expression ofAmyA1 andAmyB3 in third-instar larvae are located within 446 and 430 bp of their respective starts for transcription. A sequence required for high levels ofAmyB3 expression was located within its 5′ upstream region between the base pairs at −332 and −219.AmyA1 does not appear to have a comparable regulatory element in its 5′-flanking sequence. Barely detectable expression ofAmyB3 was observed when it was flanked by only 92 bp of upstream sequence. A model is proposed for incomplete coordinate control of the duplicateAmy genes.
The Basis of the Kalvar System of Photography

AbstractIn the Kalvar process image formation is accomplished by light scattering rather than by light absorption. A compound which will undergo photolysis to yield volatile products is dispersed in a polymeric vehicle which can be relaxed by heat. Upon exposure to light,internal pressures are produced within the vehicle resulting in a “latent image” of internal stresses. Upon subsequent exposure to heat, reorientation and an ordered recrystallization of the polymer result from the force of these internal pressures. Thereoriented and recrystallized portions of the polymer scatter light strongly to produce the developed photographic image.
Role of hSET1 Complex in Epigenetic Controls of HoxB4 Expression and Development of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Abstract 212 Hox genes play an important role in embryonic development and are sequentially activated in a temporal and spatial fashion. Among them, HoxB4 regulates the self-renewal ability of adult and embryonic hematopoietic stem cells. It was shown that USF proteins positively regulate the transcription of HoxB4 gene. However, the epigenetic mechanism specifically controlling HoxB4 transcription during HSC formation remains unknown. In this report, we found that USF1 interacts with histone H3K4 methylatransferase SET1 complex, but not MLL proteins. The interaction is mediated by SET1/MLL core component, ASH2L. Both USF1 and hSET1 are colocalized at the HoxB4 promoter in hematopoietic progenitors, which is accompanied by H3K4 trimethylation and transcriptional activation. siRNA-mediated knockdown of both SET1 and HCF1 specifically impaired H3K4 trimetylation and the HoxB4 promoter-driven reporter gene activity. Overexpression of AUSF1, a dominant negative mutant of USF1 in which the basic DNA recognition domain is deleted and thereby, inhibits endogenous USF DNA binding activity, leads to dramatically decrease in HoxB4 transcription, disruption of embryonic body formation and inhibition of hematopoietic stem cell population in mouse ES (mES) cells and the AUSF1 transgenic mice. The suppression of USF activity drastically reduces SET1 recruitment, H3K4 trimethylation, and pol II binding at the HoxB4 promoter. Furthermore, knock-down of SET1, an enzymatic subunit of the SET1 complex, also resulted in reduction of HoxB4 transcription and impairment of hematopoietic differentiation capacity of mES cells that are accompanied by reducing the HoxB4 promoter H3K4 methylation and recruitment of RNA PolII machinery. Thus, our data reveal that recruitment of hSET1 complex and its H3K4 methyltransferase activity by USF1 is essential for HoxB4 transcription and expansion of hematopoietic stem cells. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Sports-based Text Sets: Fostering Critical Literacy at the Intersections of Sport and Society

ABSTRACTSports culture is central to the lives of many students, whether they participate in athletic competitions or sports fandom. Unfortunately, sports culture also reflects many sociopolitical issues and inequities that impinge upon our greater society in the present day (e.g., domestic violence, racism). For those reasons, sports-based text sets—diverse collections of texts about figures, events, and happenings in sports culture—stand to support teachers in honoring students' knowledge of and interests in sports culture while also facilitating critical literacy practices through the investigation of inequities that ail both sport and society. This article introduces the notion of a sports-based text set, addresses the types of texts that might be featured in such a set, and presents ideas for exploring specific texts with students, using the issue of inequitable compensation for male and female athletes as an example.
MEMS as ocular implants

Abstract: The development of artificial ocular implants aims at providing rapid, effective, low-cost diagnostic, and therapeutic techniques to patients who are suffering from incurable eye diseases. This chapter provides researchers an insightful overview to the state-of-the-art engineering developments/applications of sensor/actuator-based microsystems in ocular implants, and also empowers newcomers with an overall picture of the field. Specifically, we review the latest glaucoma diagnostic and therapeutic systems that involve implantable microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors and microfluidics-based drainage devices for tracking intraocular pressure (IOP) history and maintaining IOP at normal levels. Furthermore, we discuss the systematic concepts and recent development of two major approaches toward artificial retinal prostheses (subretinal prostheses and epiretinal prostheses), which use electrical signals to directly stimulate intact retinal neurons for treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) diseases. A variety of MEMS device implementations for such applications are summarized and their important performances and capabilities are highlighted. Finally, we outline the challenges of these MEMS-based ocular systems based on two critical aspects, including material compatibility, and system packaging.
Impact of tissue-based genomic profiling on clinical decision making in the management of patients with metastatic breast cancer at academic centers.

Genomic profiling can identify targetable mutations; however, the impact of tissue-based genomic profiling on clinical decision making for patients with metastatic breast cancer has not been well characterized. Patients with stage IV breast cancer who had undergone genomic profiling between 7/2013 and 3/2015 were identified at three academic cancer centers. Genomic analysis was determined to have impacted clinical decision if (A) a patient was enrolled onto a genotype-matched clinical trial or (B) prescribed off-label an FDA-approved therapy targeting an identified mutation. The frequency of mutated genes was determined. A total of 117 patients with stage IV breast cancer were identified. Median age was 46 (25–75). Fifty-three patients (45%) had ER-positive/HER2-negative disease, 50 (43%) had ER-negative/HER2-negative disease, and 14 (12%) had ER-any/HER2-positive disease. Median number of previous therapies received prior to genomic profiling was 2 (range 0–15), and median follow-up after testing was obtained after 5.8 months (range 0–24.4 months). Commercial reports indicated that 85 (73%) patients had at least one mutation targetable by an FDA-approved medication, and 112 (96%) patients had at least one clinical trial available; however, clinical management was only affected in 11 patients (9%). The most frequent mutations observed were those in TP53, FGF, PI3KCA, MYC, ZNF, FGFR, CCND, ARID1A, GATA3, and MAP; frequencies of these mutations varied by clinical subtype. Tumor genomic profiling affected clinical management in a minority of patients with metastatic breast cancer, thus these data do not support the routine use of genomic profiling outside of a clinical trial.
A modular SCR-based DC-DC converter for medium-voltage direct-current (MVDC) grid applications

A reliable modular dc-dc converter that is well-suited to the MVDC grid applications is proposed in this paper. This converter benefits from zero current turn-off and soft turn-on switching; hence, it can use naturally commutated switches such as silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCR). SCRs offer numerous advantages over other types of switches, among them are simple control, long lifetime, low losses, low cost, and availability at both high voltage and high current ratings; therefore, use of SCRs in the proposed converter is expected to improve its attributes. The behavior of each power module in the proposed modular converter is similar to that of a Quasi-Square-Wave Cuk converter. Each power module is designed and controlled such that it employs a very small film capacitor for transferring the power from the input to the output. This feature eliminates the need for electrolytic capacitors that have high failure rates. Furthermore, each power module can be configured as an isolated converter, using an integrated high frequency transformer. Another advantage of the proposed converter is the possibility of having bidirectional flow of power. The input and output terminals of the power modules can be connected in series or in parallel. In this paper, an input-parallel output-series (IPOS) modular configuration is considered to increase the voltage blocking capability at the output. Design and analysis of the proposed modular converter are discussed in this paper. Moreover, its performance is evaluated through simulations and experiments.
Crossroads of the Old World: Dental Morphological Data and the Evidence for a Eurasian Cline

Dental morphology was used to explore the existence of a Eurasian cline and contribute to a discussion of its date of origin. Central Asia is the focus of this research as it occupies a geographically intermediate position and serves as a nexus for population movements between Europe and Asia. Dental morphological trait frequency data were collected from 34 populations of varied geographic and temporal origins. Biodistance analyses and maps based upon interpolation indicate that Central Asian dental morphology is intermediate to the Eurodont and Sinodont complexes, supporting the existence of this cline. Additionally, these results support a Neolithic date for the cline's origin. Later population movements across the two continents as revealed through population relationships are discussed in an archaeological and historical context.
Universal two-parameter even spin W∞-algebra

Abstract We construct the unique two-parameter vertex algebra which is freely generated of type W ( 2 , 4 , 6 , … ) , and generated by the weights 2 and 4 fields. Subject to some mild constraints, all vertex algebras of type W ( 2 , 4 , … , 2 N ) for some N, can be obtained as quotients of this universal algebra. This includes the B and C type principal W -algebras, the Z 2 -orbifolds of the D type principal W -algebras, and many others which arise as cosets of affine vertex algebras inside larger structures. As an application, we classify all coincidences among the simple quotients of the B and C type principal W -algebras, as well as the Z 2 -orbifolds of the D type principal W -algebras. Finally, we use our classification to give new examples of principal W -algebras of B, C, and D types, which are lisse and rational.
Research on Internal Typical Partial Discharge Characteristics for Gas Insulation Switchgear

In order to improve the accurate judgment and location level of partial discharge defects in GIS equipment, it is important to carry out the identification and determination of partial discharge types for GIS equipment running status evaluation. The types and reason of partial discharge in GIS equipment are analyzed, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different partial discharge detection method. The amplitude, characteristics, types and empirical criterion of typical partial discharge defects are researched by employed the ultrasonic detection method (AE) and ultra-high frequency detection method (UHF) according to the five typical defect types in the field testing. It is indicate that the two methods can play their respective advantages to ensure the reliability of partial discharge detection and location accuracy. The study on the characteristics of partial discharge under the different detection methods provides important parameters and basis for the condition-based maintenance of GIS equipment and judgment data for the field tester.
Arithmetic Investigations: Groups

Frobenius’ interest in arithmetic problems during the late 1870s was not limited to bilinear forms. The groundbreaking work of Gauss on the composition of binary quadratic forms had brought with it a line of thinking that would now be characterized as group-theoretic. This same line of thought resurfaced in Kummer’s revolutionary work on his theory of ideal numbers and prompted Ernst Schering to develop it into what would now be interpreted as the existence part of the fundamental theorem of finite abelian groups, already expressed ambiguously by Schering so as to encompass the finite abelian groups that were implicit in Gauss’ theory of composition of binary quadratic forms as well as those in Kummer’s theory of ideal numbers (ideal class groups). Soon thereafter, both Kronecker and Dedekind expressed Schering’s result explicitly in abstract terms, with Dedekind expressly making the connection with Galois’ notion of a group.
Beginning Inner Model Theory

This chapter provides an introduction to the basic theory of inner models of set theory, without fine structure. Section 1 begins with the basic theory of Godel’s class L of constructible sets, with an emphasis on the condensation property, introduces sharps, and includes a brief discussion of the Dodd-Jensen core model. The next two sections describe the extension of these concepts to arbitrary sequences of measures, and then via extender models to cardinal properties stronger than measurability. Section 4 gives a summary of the status and known properties of inner models for cardinals ranging from strong to supercompact, and the final section discusses core models.
Management of Localized Breast Angiosarcoma by North American Radiation and Medical Oncologists.

Abstract Introduction Primary breast angiosarcoma is a rare malignancy with no clinical trials to guide management. The current use of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy among North American oncologists is unknown. Patients and Methods An institutional review board–approved anonymous electronic survey was distributed to 9660 practicing North American radiation and medical oncologists. Questions pertained to treatment recommendations for localized nonmetastatic primary breast angiosarcoma, as well as knowledge/use of β-blockers in angiosarcoma. The Fisher exact test was used to compare responses of medical and radiation oncologists. Results Surgery was recommended by 95% of all respondents. Chemotherapy was recommended by over half of medical and radiation oncologists. Radiotherapy was recommended by 92% of radiation and 56% of medical oncologists. The most common treatment recommendation was a trimodal treatment, with up-front surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, then by adjuvant radiotherapy. Twenty-two percent of respondents were aware of clinical data pertaining to the use of β-blockers in management of angiosarcoma, and among these respondents 69% were comfortable incorporating this treatment into standard practice. Conclusion Trimodal management of primary localized breast angiosarcoma is supported by North American radiation and medical oncologists, with the majority recommending up-front surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation. The recently published reports of successful use of β-blockers are not yet known among North American clinicians, but there is a great enthusiasm to incorporate these commonly prescribed medications into standard practice. These findings may greatly influence the standard of care for breast angiosarcoma treatment, particularly given the absence of Level I–supported evidence.
Inferior mesenteric artery replantation does not decrease the risk of ischemic colitis after open infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Abstract Background Ischemic colitis after an open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair remains a serious complication with a nationally reported rate of 1% to 6% in elective cases and up to 60% after an aneurysmal rupture. To prevent this serious complication, inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) replantation is performed at the discretion of the surgeon based on his or her intraoperative findings, despite the lack of clear evidence to support this practice. The purpose of this study was to determine whether replantation of the IMA reduces the risk of ischemic colitis and improves the overall outcome of AAA repair. Methods Patients who underwent open infrarenal AAA repair were identified in the multicenter American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Targeted AAA Database from 2012 to 2015. Emergency cases, patients with chronically occluded IMAs, ruptured aneurysms with evidence of hypotension, and patients requiring visceral revascularization were excluded. The remaining elective cases were divided into two groups: those with IMA replantation (IMA-R) and those with IMA ligation. We measured the 30-day outcomes including mortality, morbidity, and perioperative outcomes. A multivariable logistic regression model was used for data analysis, adjusting for clinically relevant covariates. Results We identified 2397 patients who underwent AAA repair between 2012 and 2015, of which 135 patients (5.6%) had ischemic colitis. After applying the appropriate exclusion criteria, there were 672 patients who were included in our study. This cohort was divided into two groups: 35 patients with IMA-R and 637 patients with IMA ligation. There were no major differences in preoperative comorbidities between the two groups. IMA-R was associated with increased mean operative time (319.7 ± 117.8 minutes vs 242.4 ± 109.3 minutes; P Conclusions These data suggest that IMA-R is not associated with protection from ischemic colitis after open AAA repair. The role of IMA-R remains to be identified.
Christian Apatheia in Dostoevsky’s ‘Dream of a Ridiculous Man’

Dostoevsky's “The Dream of a Ridiculous Man” has been viewed variously as a story of the realization of the inner self's evil or goodness, of redemption or of perdition. The paper shows that Dostoevsky's familiarity with the Greek Patristic writings informed his narrative and that he infused his narrator's monologue with discernible Patristic concepts. Verbal, ideological and contextual references in the Ridiculous Man's narrative make it clear that the protagonist has embarked on a path to understanding, however confused and imperfect his main purpose might initially be. The narrator's uncertainty of action is expressed in his frequent repetition of “nothing mattered” (все равно), echoing the Patristic exhortations to embrace apatheia. To the Greek Fathers the ability to remain unstirred by superfluous earthly emotions was the beginning of the acceptance of agape, the ideal of Christian love. The Ridiculous Man's eventual realization that the only commandment that matters is “To love thy neighbor,” clearly shows that the he embraces the doctrines of the Patristic conception of Christian charity.
Biomarkers of Toxic Solvents and Gases

Abstract During our normal daily activities, nearly all of us are exposed to solvents and gases; exposure to airborne solvents is considered unavoidable. As exposure may happen via multiple routes and different sources, air monitoring, a common way to estimate solvent and gas exposure, fails to provide information on the total exposure to humans and animals. Biomarkers of toxic solvent and gas exposure enable us to assess total exposure in biological specimen(s). Furthermore, biomarkers better correlate to biological effects than air concentrations do. Early detection of biomarkers of exposure may enable us to either prevent disease development or halt its progression by avoiding further exposure to these harmful chemicals. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of biomarkers of toxic solvent and gas exposure and effects including their limitations and future directions.
Tumors of Smooth Muscle, of Skeletal Muscle, and of Unknown Origin and Tumor-Like Conditions of the Vulva

This chapter analyzes a variety of benign and malignant vulvar mesenchymal tumors and tumorlike conditions. Smooth muscle tumors arising in the vulva have a unique set of criteria for predicting behavior; the guidelines for assessing smooth muscle tumors in the uterus, deep soft tissues, and skin each differ significantly and are not applicable to the vulva. Skeletal muscle tumors arising in the vulvovaginal region—rhabdomyoma and rhabdomyosarcoma—are distinguished by their composition of mature skeletal muscle elements. Recognizing the histopathologic spectrum of rhabdomyosarcoma is key to effectively selecting cases for molecular testing. With respect to the tumors of unknown origin discussed herein—epithelioid sarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and synovial sarcoma—ancillary studies have become a staple of diagnosis, especially for those affecting unusual body sites like the vulva. Two tumorlike conditions—Langerhans cell histiocytosis and traumatic neuroma—are also covered. Langerhans cell histiocytosis exhibits a polymorphous clinical picture and typically affects the vulva as part of a multisystem process. Despite advances in elucidating the molecular underpinnings of this disease, treatment for vulvar cases continues to be ad hoc. Traumatic neuromas of the vulva are rare and differ from those occurring at other body sites in their unique clinical history.
Deep learning to map concentrated animal feeding operations

Enforcement of environmental law depends critically on permitting and monitoring intensive animal agricultural facilities, known in the United States as ‘concentrated animal feeding operations’ (CAFOs). The current legal landscape in the United States has made it difficult for government agencies, environmental groups and the public to know where such facilities are located. Numerous groups have, as a result, conducted manual, resource-intensive enumerations based on maps or ground investigation to identify facilities. Here we show that applying a deep convolutional neural network to high-resolution satellite images offers an effective, highly accurate and lower cost approach to detecting CAFO locations. In North Carolina, the algorithm is able to detect 589 additional poultry CAFOs, representing an increase of 15% from the baseline that was detected through manual enumeration. We show how the approach scales over geography and time, and can inform compliance and monitoring priorities. Machine learning and satellite images are used to identify intensive animal agricultural facilities in the United States, which are otherwise difficult to track. This can facilitate monitoring their compliance with environmental law.
High school student cannabis use and perceptions towards cannabis in southcentral Colorado – comparing communities that permit recreational dispensaries and communities that do not

Currently, with the legalization of cannabis and the opening of recreational dispensaries in states across the country, the question of whether or not proximity to recreational cannabis dispensaries affects high school students in terms of their cannabis use, their perceptions of the accessibility of cannabis and their perceptions on the harmfulness and wrongfulness of using cannabis is particularly relevant and timely. In 2014 in Colorado, Amendment 64 went into effect and communities were allowed to legally permit recreational cannabis dispensaries; some communities agreed to permit the opening of recreational dispensaries while other communities did not. Using data from the cross-sectional Healthy Kids Colorado Survey collected from students in randomly selected high schools in both 2013 and 2015, data on student use and perceptions towards cannabis use was analyzed comparing communities that permitted recreational cannabis dispensaries and communities that did not. The random cross-sectional design used a 2X2 factorial ANOVA for each of the dependent factors: use, access, wrongfulness, and harm. There were a total of three communities that permitted recreational dispensaries, and within those three communities, data was collected from seven high schools. There were four communities that did permit recreational dispensaries, and within those four communities, data was collected from five high schools. The data were aggregated into two groups: ‘yes’ allows dispensaries, and ‘no’ does not allow dispensaries. These two groups were used as comparisons in the factorial ANOVA along with the two collection event years of 2013 and 2015. The analysis indicates differences between students in communities that have never permitted recreational cannabis dispensaries and students in communities that opened recreational dispensaries in 2014. Students in communities that permitted recreational dispensaries used more cannabis, thought cannabis was less harmful, less wrong, and was more difficult to access than high school students in communities that did not permit recreational cannabis dispensaries, however these differences existed before and after recreational dispensaries were introduced in 2014. Looking at each type of community to see if there was a change between 2013 and 2015, there were no statistically significant differences between students in 2013 and 2015 in each type of community with one exception; students in communities that did not permit recreational cannabis dispensaries felt even more strongly in 2015 that cannabis use is wrong compared to 2013. Based on the 2013 and 2015 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey data, permitting or not permitting recreational cannabis dispensaries in a community does not appear to change student cannabis use or perceptions towards cannabis.
Immunomodulatory Second-Line Therapies for Immune Thrombocytopenia

Management of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is complex requiring communication between patients and caregivers to establish a mutual understanding of the impact of the patient's disease on quality of life, the current symptoms and risk of morbidity/mortality and the goals of therapy. The currently available second-line therapies for ITP provide potential for management of thrombocytopenia and bleeding symptoms with medical therapy or surgical intervention potentially offering long-term remission. All therapies are associated with potential side effects and necessary monitoring or modifications/risks and careful discussion of these is necessary to determine the optimal therapy for each patient. This review covers second-line therapies for ITP and discusses the currently available information on immunomodulatory second-line treatments for ITP.
Perinatal bisphenol A (BPA) exposure alters brain oxytocin receptor (OTR) expression in a sex- and region- specific manner: A CLARITY-BPA consortium follow-up study.

Abstract Bisphenol A (BPA) is a well-characterized endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) used in plastics, epoxy resins and other products. Neurodevelopmental effects of BPA exposure are a major concern with multiple rodent and human studies showing that early life BPA exposure may impact the developing brain and sexually dimorphic behaviors. The CLARITY-BPA (Consortium Linking Academic and Regulatory Insights on BPA Toxicity) program was established to assess multiple endpoints, including neural, across a wide dose range. Studies from our lab as part of (and prior to) CLARITY-BPA have shown that BPA disrupts estrogen receptor expression in the developing brain, and some evidence of oxytocin (OT) and oxytocin receptor (OTR) disruption in the hypothalamus and amygdala. While BPA disruption of steroid hormone function is well documented, less is known about its capacity to alter nonapeptide signals. In this CLARITY-BPA follow up study, we used remaining juvenile rat tissues to test the hypothesis that developmental BPA exposure affects OTR expression across the brain. Perinatal BPA exposure (2.5, 25, or 2500 μg/kg body weight (bw)/day) spanned gestation and lactation with dams gavaged from gestational day 6 until birth and then the offspring gavaged directly through weaning. Ethinyl estradiol (0.5 μg/kg bw/day) was used as a reference estrogen. Animals of both sexes were sacrificed as juveniles and OTR expression assessed by receptor binding. Our results demonstrate prenatal exposure to BPA can eliminate sex differences in OTR expression in three hypothalamic regions, and that male OTR expression may be more susceptible. Our data also identify a sub-region of the BNST with sexually dimorphic OTR expression not previously reported in juvenile rats that is also susceptible to BPA.
Chemical synthesis of 7α-hydroxycholest-4-en-3-one, a biomarker for irritable bowel syndrome and bile acid malabsorption.

Abstract 7α-Hydroxy-cholest-4-en-3-one is a biomarker for bile acid loss, irritable bowel syndrome, and other diseases associated with defective bile acid biosynthesis. Furthermore, 7α-hydroxy-cholest-4-en-3-one is the physiological substrate for cytochrome P450 8B1 (P450 8B1 or CYP8B1), the oxysterol 12α-hydroxylase enzyme implicated in obesity and cardiovascular health. We report the chemical synthesis of this physiologically important oxysterol beginning with cholesterol. The key feature of this synthesis involves a regioselective C3-allylic oxidation of a 3-desoxy-Δ4-7α-formate steroid precursor to form 7α-formyloxy-cholest-4-en-3-one, which was saponified to yield 7α-hydroxy-cholest-4-en-3-one.
Does right hemisphere superiority sufficiently explain the left visual field advantage in face recognition

The tendency to perceive the identity of the left half of a centrally viewed face more strongly than that of the right half is associated with visual processing of faces in the right hemisphere (RH). Here we investigate conditions under which this well-known left visual field (LVF) half-face advantage fails to occur. Our findings challenge the sufficiency of its explanation as a function of RH specialization for face processing coupled with LVF-RH correspondence. In two experiments we show that the LVF half-face advantage occurs for normal faces and chimeric faces composed of different half-face identities. In a third experiment, we show that face inversion disrupts the LVF half-face advantage. In two additional experiments we show that half-faces viewed in isolation or paired with inverted half-faces fail to show the LVF advantage. Consistent with previous explanations of the LVF half-face advantage, our findings suggest that the LVF half-face advantage reflects RH superiority for processing faces and direct transfer of LVF face information to visual cortex in the RH. Critically, however, our findings also suggest the operation of a third factor, which involves the prioritization of face-processing resources to the LVF, but only when two upright face-halves compete for these resources. We therefore conclude that RH superiority alone does not suffice to explain the LVF advantage in face recognition. We also discuss the implications of our findings for specialized visual processing of faces by the right hemisphere, and we distinguish LVF advantages for faces viewed centrally and peripherally in divided field studies.
Research paperAge-related decreases in endocochlear potential are associated with vascular abnormalities in the stria vascularis

The density and diameter of strial capillaries were assessed in whole-mount preparations of the cochlear lateral wall from 18 gerbils aged in quiet for at least 36 months. Following morphometric analysis, histopathologic changes in selected regions of the lateral wall were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. Alterations in strial vasculature were compared with the endocochlear potential (EP) measurements from the same ear. Vascular degeneration occurred in a segmental fashion in that regions of atrophic capillaries were found throughout the cochlea but primarily in the apical and lower basal turns and in the hook. The amount of stria with normal capillaries varied greatly among the aged ears, ranging from 19 to 87%. The resting EP also varied markedly, ranging from 23 to 83 mV. Little correlation was found between vascular alterations and the corresponding EP value from individual cochlear turns. However, significant correlations were found between the total strial area with normal vasculature and both the mean EP value and that recorded at either the round window or first turn in that ear.
A Voltage-Quadrupler Interleaved Bidirectional DC–DC Converter With Intrinsic Equal Current Sharing Characteristic for Electric Vehicles

A voltage-quadrupler interleaved bidirectional dc–dc converter with intrinsic equal current sharing is presented in this article. The proposed converter offers a wide voltage conversion ratio, which makes it suitable for interconnecting the energy storage unit with dc bus for electric vehicle applications. A high voltage gain and low voltage stress across switches are achieved by adopting the capacitive voltage-divider stage, which enables the designer to employ a low-voltage switch with a small on -resistance R DS(ON). As a result, it allows the converter to run more efficiently and cooler. An interleaved connection at the low-voltage side paves the way for reducing the current ripple, which reduces the filter size and increases the power-density. Moreover, a built-in equal current sharing is achieved for two interleaved phases without using a current-sharing control scheme. The operating principle, steady-state characteristics including the current and voltage stress of the switches, and comparison with other state-of-the-art bidirectional converters are carried out in detail. Finally, to verify theoretical analysis, a 2-kW scaled-down laboratory prototype of the proposed converter using Gallium-Nitride switches is implemented.
Optogenetic currents in myofibroblasts acutely alter electrophysiology and conduction of co-cultured cardiomyocytes

Interactions between cardiac myofibroblasts and myocytes may slow conduction after cardiac injury, increasing the chance of life-threatening arrhythmia. While co-culture studies have shown that myofibroblasts can affect cardiomyocyte electrophysiology in vitro, the mechanism(s) remain debatable. In this study, primary neonatal rat cardiac myofibroblasts were transduced with the light-activated ion channel Channelrhodopsin-2, which allowed acute and selective modulation of myofibroblast currents in co-cultures with cardiomyocytes. Optical mapping revealed that myofibroblast-specific optogenetically induced inward currents decreased conduction velocity in the co-cultures by 27+/-6% (baseline = 17.7+/-5.3 cm/s), and shortened the cardiac action potential duration by 14+/-7% (baseline = 161+/-11 ms) when 0.017 mW/mm^2 light was applied. When light irradiance was increased to 0.057 mW/mm^2, the myofibroblast currents led to spontaneous beating in 6/7 co-cultures. Experiments showed that optogenetic perturbation did not lead to changes in myofibroblast strain and force generation, suggesting purely electrical effects in this model. In silico modeling of optogenetically modified myofibroblast-cardiomyocyte co-cultures largely reproduced these results and enabled a comprehensive study of relevant parameters. These results clearly demonstrate that myofibroblasts are sufficiently electrically connected to cardiomyocytes to effectively alter macroscopic electrophysiological properties in this model of cardiac tissue.
Outcomes of Bariatric Surgery in African Americans: an Analysis of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) Data Registry

The incidence of obesity is disproportionally high in African Americans (AA) in the United States. This study compared outcomes for AA patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG) with non-AA patients. The MBSAQIP database was reviewed for RYGB and SG patients (2015–2017). Patients were identified as AA or non-AA and grouped to RYGB or SG. Combined and univariate analyses were performed on unmatched/propensity matched populations to assess outcomes. After applying exclusion criteria, 75,409 AA and 354,305 non-AA patients remained. Univariate analysis identified AA-RYGB and AA-SG patients were heavier and younger than non-AA patients. Overall, AA patients tended to have fewer preoperative comorbidities than non-AA patients with the majority of AA comorbidities related to hypertension and renal disease. Analysis of propensity matched data confirmed AA bariatric surgery patients had increased cardiovascular-related disease incidence compared with non-AA patients. Perioperatively, AA-RYGB patients had longer operative times, increased rates of major complications/ICU admission, and increased incidence of 30-day readmission, re-intervention, and reoperation, concomitant with lower rates of minor complications/superficial surgical site infection (SSI) compared with non-AA patients. For SG, AA patients had longer operative times and higher rates of major complications and 30-day readmission, re-intervention, and mortality, coupled with fewer minor complications, superficial/organ space SSI, and leak. African American patients undergoing bariatric surgery are younger and heavier than non-AA patients and present with different comorbidity profiles. Overall, AAs exhibit worse outcomes following RYGB or SG than non-AA patients, including increased mortality rates in AA-SG patients.
A Learning-based Supervisory Control Architecture for Electric Vehicle Charging System Paired with Energy Storages

A Mechine Learning-based predictive model is developed for optimal dispatching energy storage system integrated with Electric Vehicle battery charger. The model is effectively trained using transfer learning algorithm and successfully validated via measurement data to achieve high fidelity and accuracy. The study findings provide possibilities for future development of the presented approach to implement computational heavy predictive algorithms with multi-step predictions in emerging modular bidirectional charger topologies to realize vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology. The online tuning can be explored using the new measurements obtained during the operation, henceforth, enhancing the controller performance for integrating multiple DERs into distribution power networks that shows huge interest for the utilities and regulatory agencies. Multiple operation scenatios have been evaluated and simulation results are discussed to verify intended performance of the proposed control solution.
Adaptive and Fast Combined Waveform-Beamforming Design for MMWave Automotive Joint Communication-Radar

Millimeter-wave (mmWave) joint communication-radar (JCR) will enable high data rate communication and high-resolution radar sensing for applications such as autonomous driving. Prior JCR systems that are based on the mmWave communications hardware, however, suffer from a limited angular field-of-view and low estimation accuracy for radars due to the employed directional communication beam. In this paper, we propose an adaptive and fast combined waveform-beamforming design for the mmWave automotive JCR with a phased-array architecture that permits a trade-off between communication and radar performances. To rapidly estimate the mmWave automotive radar channel in the Doppler-angle domain with a wide field-of-view, our JCR design employs circulant shifts of the transmit beamformer to acquire radar channel measurements and uses two-dimensional compressed sensing (CS) in the space-time dimension. We optimize these circulant shifts to minimize the coherence of the CS matrix, under the space-time sampling constraints in our problem. We evaluate the JCR performance trade-offs using a normalized mean square error (MSE) metric for radar estimation and a distortion MSE metric for data communication, which is analogous to the distortion metric in the rate-distortion theory. Additionally, we develop a MSE-based weighted average optimization problem for the adaptive JCR combined waveform-beamforming design. Numerical results demonstrate that our proposed JCR design enables the estimation of short- and medium-range radar channels in the Doppler-angle domain with a low normalized MSE, at the expense of a small degradation in the communication distortion MSE.
Sovereignty and National Constitutions

According to the sovereigntist model of constitutional law, the constitution of any particular country is an expression of that country’s national identity. Under this view, France’s Constitution is an expression of French national identity, Chile’s constitution is an expression of Chilean national identity, and so on. This essay demonstrates that the sovereigntist model is descriptively inaccurate. In fact, the national constitutions of most countries in the world bear striking similarities to each other because those constitutions are products of transnational forces that shape the processes of drafting and interpreting constitutions. Sovereigntists may object to the influence of transnational forces, but they cannot block the dissemination of ideas across national borders any more than they can block the transmission of a virus across national borders. Any attempt to do so is doomed to fail.