cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hernia Uterine Inguinale: An Uncommon Cause of Pelvic Pain in the Adult Female Patient

Hernia uterine inguinale is a rare condition often presenting within the first few years of life as an asymptomatic palpable mass in the inguinal/groin area. This type of hernia contains uterine tissue and may contain oviducts, ovaries, and rarely the bladder. We report a case of a woman with a history of pelvic pain, found to have a rudimentary uterine horn herniating through the internal inguinal ring. A 24-year-old woman presented with noncyclic pelvic pain and irregular menses. Imaging revealed a solid 6- × 2-cm mass posterolateral to the ascending colon at the level of the pelvic brim in addition to absent right kidney and suspected unicornuate uterus. Laparoscopy with excision of the pelvic mass and appendectomy was performed. Surgical findings revealed a right rudimentary uterine horn herniating through the internal inguinal ring, attached to an elongated ovary/and an oviduct tightly tethered to the pelvic side wall. The result of pathologic study was consistent with rudimentary uterine horn, ovary with multiple cortical cysts, normal oviduct, and normal appendix. Hernia uterine inguinale is a rare condition and an even more uncommon cause of pelvic pain, instead presenting as an asymptomatic palpable groin mass early in life. This has been reported most commonly in the literature as both persistent mullerian duct syndrome and male pseudohermaphroditism. It is most often seen in a phenotypically normal male infant having both testes and uterine tissue present. Few cases have been documented to occur in the female sex, the adult patient, or as a cause of pelvic pain. Abdominal and pelvic imaging is useful in the diagnosis of this condition because it may aid in identifying patients with coexisting mullerian malformations. This subset may be at higher risk for hernia uterine inguinale, and, if presenting with complaints of pain or inguinal mass, it should likewise be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Optoelectronic pipeline architecture for morphological image processing

An optoelectronic architecture for morphological image processing is presented. The architecture uses the pipelining principle, with its stages being implemented by use of optical fiber-based programmable logic arrays. These arrays are characterized by their high fan-in and fan-out factors, which make them suitable for implementing morphological operations with large structuring elements without decomposition. The pipeline has fewer stages and clock skew can be avoided, thus making the use of higher clock speeds and throughputs possible.
Observations of marine stratocumulus in SE Pacific during the PACS 2003 cruise

[1] In November 2003, the NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory (ETL) conducted measurements of Marine Boundary Layer (MBL) stratocumulus clouds, thermodynamic structure, surface fluxes and meteorology in the southeastern Pacific stratocumulus region. The observations were part of a field program to replace the WHOI Ocean Reference Station buoy at 20 S Latitude 85 W Longitude. During the cruise the MBL structure was characterized by a strong capping inversion, periods with well mixed conditions and marine stratus, clear sky periods and periods with moderate vertical gradients of potential temperature and mixing ratio that overlap with periods of small cloud fractional coverage, decoupled layers and low cloud base shallow cumuli clouds. The lifting condensation level (LCL) showed strong variability consistent with the variability of the MBL. Clouds with thickness more that 250 m had drizzle below the cloud base especially during nighttime. Large periods of clear skies were observed at the buoy location, especially just after the solar flux maximum. The aerosol size distribution measurements generally exhibited a bimodal structure. However, abrupt changes in the aerosol size distribution were also recorded, corresponding either with the presence of drizzle (and a depletion of the accumulation mode) or the presence of clear skies (and an increase in the Aitken mode). The stratocumulus observed during the 5-day station at the buoy location revealed a far more complex picture from the one captured during the East Pacific Investigation of Climate (EPIC) cruise to this same location in 2001.
Who are the influentials? A cross-state social network analysis of the reading policy domain

This study assessed policy actors’ influence on state reading policy and compared the structure of reading policy networks across eight states. Data for the study came from structured interviews and archival documents and were analyzed using social network analysis methods. This study found that state reading policy networks were heterogeneous in terms of both composition and policy actor influence, with government actors occupying significantly more central and more prestigious network positions than nongovernment actors. The analyses failed to confirm, however, that teacher organizations were the most central interest groups in state reading policy networks as hypothesized. Implications of this study for education policy actors were discussed and directions for future research suggested.
The value of added sulfur dioxide in French organic wine

The addition of sulfur dioxide is a longstanding and common practice in the winemaking industry. Sulfur dioxide preserves wine, preventing oxidation and browning. However, in the U.S., wine labeled as organic cannot contain added sulfur dioxide. A petition put forth to the National Organic Standards Board for the allowance of added sulfur dioxide in organic wine was recently rejected. In France, added sulfur dioxide is allowed in organic wine, but not used in all organic wine. This variation in use allows the estimation of the value of added sulfur dioxide in French organic wine, which sheds light on the possible benefits of a policy change in the U.S. For red wines, the addition of sulfur dioxide reduces the suggested retail price of wines to be consumed immediately after purchase, but the effect becomes positive for wines that are intended to be cellared for at least one to three years before consumption. The effect for most white wines is neutral to positive. The magnitude of the effect for both red and white wines varies by eco-certification type.
Treading the Line Between Sensational and Groundbreaking Science

In April 2015 a team of Chinese scientists reported in a little known journal, Protein & Cell, the use of CRISPR/Cas9 to cleave and then repair the HBB gene in nonviable human embryos (Liang et al....
ANALYSIS OF PASTURE SYSTEMS TO MAXIMIZE THE PROFITABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF GRASS-FED BEEF PRODUCTION

Pasture systems for grass-fed beef production in the Gulf Coast region were evaluated for profitability and sustainability over the period 2009/2010 to 2011/2012. May-weaned steers were divided into groups and randomly placed into different pasture systems. Data on input usage, output quantities, and carbon emissions were recorded and analyzed. The least complex grazing system yielded higher profit than the most complex, but the most complex produced the lowest greenhouse gas impact. A trade-off was found between profitability and greenhouse gas impact among the systems.
Phase II study of pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and weekly paclitaxel in patients with HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

134 Background: Pertuzumab (P) is a monoclonal antibody which binds to extracellular domain II of HER2 distally from trastuzumab (H), disrupting HER2 dimerization and signaling. The CLEOPATRA phase III trial showed that HP + docetaxel in HER2+ MBC prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) compared to placebo + H + docetaxel. We report preliminary results of a phase II study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of weekly paclitaxel (T) with HP (THP). Methods: Patients (pts) with HER2+ MBC with 0-1 prior treatment (Rx) are eligible. Pts receive weekly (w) paclitaxel (80mg/m2), q3w trastuzumab (loading dose 8mg/kg → 6mg/kg), and q3w pertuzumab (flat loading dose 840mg → flat dose 420mg). The primary endpoint is PFS at 6 months (mo). Secondary endpoints include response, safety (including cardiac events), and tolerability. Evaluable pts are those who have started study Rx and are assessed at 6 mo for PFS. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is monitored by echocardiogram every 3 mo. Cardiac events are de...
A Field Experiment to Test the Labor Market Value of a Credential from a For-Profit Postsecondary School

The attainment of postsecondary credentials holds particular promise in improving economic security for low-income single mothers. However, the type of school attended may matter when determining whether postsecondary credentials will foster positive labor market outcomes and financial stability for former students. This paper describes the pre-test of a field experiment to examine whether the school type listed on a job applicant’s resume has an impact on receiving a call for a job interview, in fields commonly pursued by low-income women. School types tested were for-profit schools and community colleges. Results revealed little difference in outcomes for job seekers with credentials from each school type. However, more reliable results could be obtained by repeating this study in a stronger economy, using job candidates with minimal applicable experience, applying to a greater number of positions, and selecting occupations for which an academic credential is widely seen as a prerequisite for entry. DOI:10.2458/azu_jmmss_v5i1_arcand
What happens in vagus: a case of recurrent paraganglioma with malignant transformation and an updated treatment algorithm

Paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare, extra-adrenal tumors, originating from neural crest cells and can occur anywhere from the skull base to the pelvic floor. Although these tumors are often benign, a fraction of malignant cases exist. Few isolated cases of malignant head and neck PGL are reported in the literature. Treatment algorithms rely heavily on retrospective case studies and institutional experience. We report an unusual case of an extensive, hereditary PGL, with invasive characteristics, that was refractory to radiation therapy. An operative approach was selected for recurrent disease in the setting of critical neurovascular structure compromise. Six months postoperatively, the patient was recovering as expected and had no evidence of recurrent disease. We propose a modified treatment algorithm based on an updated literature review that encompasses the spectrum of PGL, from benign and asymptomatic to invasive and malignant disease.
Type specimens of Chrysomelidae (Coleoptera) in the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia

Type specimens of 88 species of Chrysomelidae are housed in the Academy of Natural History of Philadelphia collection5 holotypes, 60 syntypes, 13 paratypes, and 10 paralectotypes.
Comparison of EM Aspects of Dressed and Balanced Charges Theories

In theory of balanced charges the electromagnetic (EM) self-interaction is absent as in Wheeler-Feynman theory. Therefore, the EM interactions cannot be reduced to a single field that equally affects every charge. But for dressed charges only the total EM field is responsible for all interactions. This difference is reflected in the structure of the Lagrangian, and, though it does not influence the Maxwell equations, it yields different expressions for the energy. To look more closely at this difference, we consider here a reduced theory which involves only EM fields, and the charge and current distributions are given.
Leukemia and Leukemic Stem Cells

Leukemias are cancers of the hematopoietic system. Like all cancers, several genetic and epigenetic events aid in the transition from normal to malignant cell. These usually, if not always, include at least: 1) avoidance of programmed cell death from intrinsic signals; 2) acquisition of poorly regulated or unregulated self-renewal capacity; 3) prevention of critical telomere shortening; 4) inhibition of differentiation to an increasing degree as the malignancy progresses; and 5) avoidance of innate and adaptive immune responses that cause the death and/or phagocytosis of tumor cells. Many of these processes are properties of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and are highly regulated, yet the hallmark populations in the most advanced leukemias, e.g., the expanded population of leukemic blasts, are not HSC. The phenotypic identity of the leukemic stem cells (LSC), i.e., the only cells within the leukemia capable of propagating the disease, has not been clearly elucidated. In this speculative review, we have two goals: to discuss the stage of hematopoietic differentiation in which LSC reside, and to begin to understand how recurrent genetic changes, including translocations and inversions, and epigenetic changes, resulting in increased or decreased expression of selected genes, play roles in the above described behaviors of leukemia cells.
Terahertz trace gas spectroscopy based on a fully-electronic frequency-comb radiating array in silicon

A silicon integrated circuit is reported for radiating picosecond pulses with tunable repetition rate, covering frequencies from 30 GHz to 1.03 THz. This source is used in a gas spectroscopy setup to measure the absorption lines of ammonia and water in the terahertz region.
TCR Repertoire Analysis of Mouse T Follicular Helper Cells and T Follicular Regulatory Cells Following Immunization

Generation of high-affinity and class-switched antibody requires the germinal center (GC) reaction after infection or immunization. Within the B-cell follicles of secondary lymphoid organs, the GC represents a sophisticated collaboration between antigen-specific B cells, follicular dendritic cells, T follicular helper (T FH ) cells and T follicular regulatory (T FREG ) cells. Despite intensive interest in the development and effector function of T FH and T FREG cells, little is known regarding the selection of T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire during polyclonal GC reactions. In order to evaluate native, polyclonal TCR responses elicited by a complex antigen, we developed a sorting strategy to isolate T FH /T FREG cell populations that were activated and expanded after s.c. immunization with NP 15 -OVA. TCRβ VDJ rearrangements were recovered from highly purified TCRβ + CD4 + CXCR5 hi PD-1 + Bcl-6 + FoxP3 − T FH cells and TCRβ + CD4 + CXCR5 hi PD-1 + Bcl-6 + FoxP3 + T FREG cells, amplified by PCR, and sequenced. Analysis of the antigen-specific TCR repertoire of T FH /T FREG cells provides important insights into the factors influencing T-cell recruitment and clonal expansion following infection or vaccination, especially when linked to contemporary analysis of the GC B-cell repertoire. These findings may inform rational and selective control strategy of the GC reaction. Vaccine development can accordingly focus on modulating T FH /T FREG responses to facilitate optimal adaptive immune responses.
Cystic tumors of the pancreas. New clinical, radiologic, and pathologic observations in 67 patients

Within a 12-year period we treated 67 patients (49 women, 18 men; mean age, 61 years) with cystic neoplasms of the pancreas, including 18 serous cystic adenomas, 15 benign mucinous cystic neoplasms, 27 mucinous cystadenocarcinomas, 3 papillary cystic tumors, 2 cystic islet cell tumors, and 2 cases of mucinous ductal ectasia. Mean tumor size was 6 cm (2 to 16 cm). In 39% the patients had no symptoms, and in 37% the lesions had been misdiagnosed as a pseudocyst. Computed tomography was useful for detection, for distinguishing the microcystic subgroup of serous cystadenoma, and for showing rim calcification (all 7 cases were malignant) but was not reliable for distinguishing neoplasm from pseudocyst, serous from mucinous tumors, or benign from malignant. Arteriography showed hypervascularity in 4 of 10 serous adenomas, 3 of 11 mucinous carcinomas, and 1 of 1 papillary cystic tumors. Endoscopic pancreatography showed no communication with the cyst cavity in 37 of 37 cases of cystic neoplasms but opacified the ectatic ducts in 2 of 2 cases of mucinous ductal ectasia. Stenosis or obstruction of the pancreatic duct indicated cancer. The tumor was resected by distal pancreatectomy in 25 patients, by proximal resection in 29, and by total pancreatectomy in one, with no operative deaths. Forty-four per cent of the tumors were malignant. In 10 cases the tumor was unresectable because of local extension or distant metastases, and those patients died at a mean of 4 months. Seventy-five per cent of those resected for cure are alive without evident recurrence. Because the epithelial lining of the tumor was partially (5% to 98%) absent in 40% to 72% of cases of the major tumor types, and the mucinous component comprised only about 65% of mucinous cystadenoma lining, misdiagnoses on frozen and even permanent sections were made. Mitoses and histologic solid growth correlated with malignancy. Neuroendocrine elements were seen in 87% of benign and 47% of malignant mucinous tumors. It is recommended that the terms macrocystic and microcystic be abandoned in favor of the histologic designations serous and mucinous. Incomplete examination of the cyst wall can be misleading, however. It is suggested that mucinous ductal ectasia be recognized separately from cystic tumors and that all of these lesions be resected, with the possible exception of asymptomatic confirmed serous cystadenomas.
Adsorption on Metal Surfaces: Some Key Issues

Given that the first experimental observations of the electronic energy levels of an adsorbate-covered metallic surface were published only 15 years ago and that it was not until 1971 that the first photoemission spectrum of an adsorbate was obtained,(1) remarkable progress has occurred over the past decade in understanding, on a microscopic level, the phenomenon of adsorption.(2) The purpose of these notes is not to review the field exhaustively, but instead to provide a perspective on some key issues and their possible resolutions which might be relevant to atomistics-of-fracture-related surface phenomena, in the hope that those readers most interested in fracture will come away with both a feeling for what types of answers the surface-science community can provide and also with a better intuition of the microscopic basis of adsorption.
Influence of Sequential Ponte Osteotomies on the Human Thoracic Spine With a Rib Cage.

Abstract Study Design Biomechanical cadaveric study. Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the change in range of motion (ROM) of the human thoracic spine and rib cage due to sequential Ponte osteotomies (POs). Summary of Background Data POs are often performed in deformity correction surgeries to provide flexibility in the sagittal plane at an estimated correction potential of 5° per PO, but no studies have evaluated the biomechanical impact of the procedure on a cadaveric model with an intact rib cage. Methods Seven human thoracic cadavers with intact rib cages were loaded with pure moments in flexion, extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending for five conditions: intact, PO at T9–T10, PO at T8–T9, PO at T7–T8, and PO at T6–T7. Motion of T1, T6, and T10 were measured, and overall (T1–T12) and regional (T6–T10) ROMs were reported for each mode of bending at each condition. Results POs increased ROM in flexion both overall (T1–T12) and regionally (T6–T10), although the magnitude of the increase was marginal ( Conclusions POs may increase sagittal correction potential before fusion in patients with hyperkyphosis, though more work should be done to determine the magnitude of the changes. Level of Evidence Level V.
Dow, Bonnie J. Watching Women’s Liberation, 1970: Feminism’s Pivotal Year on the Network News.

Concerned with the power that popular media have in shaping and defining social movements, Bonnie Dow’s Watching Women’s Liberation, 1970: Feminism’s Pivotal Year on the Network News is a rigorous ...
The Legal Foundation for Changing State–Capital–Labor Relations

This chapter explains how the party-state has utilized the labor law system to promote the Chinese passive revolution. For example, it has helped create a rising capitalist class that was non-existent in the Maoist era, establish private property rights which are a prerequisite for the development of capitalism, legitimize the selling and buying of labor power‚ and endorse the market wage system which prioritizes wage flexibility and labor productivity. In addition, this chapter examines the party-state’s relative autonomy from capital, which is newly developed. In the reform era, it has stepped back from direct production and acted as an impartial mediator of industrial relations; but it is by no means classless. Similarly, the legal system has developed relative autonomy from the state and capital.
Dis/orientation machines: journeys into labyrinthine landscapes

‘Life,’ quipped Guy Debord, ‘can never be too disorienting’.1 Fascinated by the creative possibilities of consciously losing orientation, Debord and his Situationist comrades saw the city as an urb...
Perspectives on a Discipline: Review and Commentary

The history of the study of human communication indicates both a narrowing definition of the phenomenon and the emergence of a more fragmented and less coordinated pattern of research pursuits. The...
Distant bedfellows: Shakespearean struggles of intimacy in Winterson’s The Gap of Time

This essay examines the ways in which Winterson’s The Gap of Time adapts The Winter’s Tale to represent the difficulties of attaining intimacy. Winterson’s novel updates the play’s treatment of mar...
Supraglottic Laryngeal Cancer

Supraglottic squamous cell carcinoma is less common than glottic laryngeal cancer and is treated differently. Evaluation of tumor extension to the preepiglottic space, thyroid cartilage, or cervical lymph nodes is important for staging, treatment planning, and prognosis. FDG PET/MR imaging is an excellent tool in the staging, restaging, radiotherapy planning, and post-therapy follow-up assessment in laryngeal cancers.
Author Correction: Does the Visual Appeal of Instructional Media Affect Learners’ Motivation Toward Learning?

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The abstract included some incorrect references to the order of treatment materials in the experiment reported.
The complete mitochondrial genome of the stalk-forming diatom Didymosphenia Geminata

The complete mitogenome of the stalk-forming diatom Didymosphenia geminata collected from Mineral County, WV, USA was sequenced on the Ion Torrent PGM and Proton sequencers. The D. geminata mitogen...
Abnormal Communications of the Coronary Arteries

The term abnormal communication of the coronary arteries refers to the state in which the coronary arteries arise in normal fashion from the Ao but one or several branches connect directly with one of the cardiac chambers, the coronary sinus (CS), the PT, or the superior vena cava (SVC). The condition varies from a simple single fistulous connection to a complex angiomatous type with multiple communications.
Designing video data management systems

Video is the most effective means of communicating and storing audio visual information. The usability of video acquires a new dimension when it is augmented with content based access. Video data management systems manage video collections while providing content based access. The design of such systems is the topic of this thesis. Managing video data adds a new dimension of complexity to the data modeling, insertion, organization and retrieval tasks. The modeling and insertion of video are the focus of this work. Video data models are application specific representations designed to facilitate typical data access patterns. A set of video applications are analyzed to arrive at the design of a data model. The data model uses a temporally segmented representation of video with attached descriptions called features. Multimedia authoring and video production is used as an example application to design video insertion procedures. Video segmentation comprises the first task in video insertion. Segmentation is formulated as feature based classification. The design of the feature detectors is based on video production models derived from standard movie and video production techniques. Feature detectors for effects like fades, dissolves and page translates have been designed. A discriminant function combines the feature detector results to achieve video segmentation. Video indexing comprises the second task in insertion. This is formulated as feature based classification. A methodology for designing feature based indexing schemes are proposed. Indexing schemes are ranked based on an efficacy measure. The indexing scheme uses computational constrains and poses classification as a design problem. An image motion based video classification is used to design a cinematographic video indexing scheme. The segmentation and indexing algorithms are incorporated into a prototype system which operates on video from commercial cable television. The thesis presents results of experiments with half hour of video data.
Transformations on Parametric Design Models

This paper presents a research in progress in the development of parametric models for generation of complex shapes, and introduces a methodology for exploration of possible designs generated from a single model. The research presents a case study on the designs of the Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi, and takes on the fundamental rules of form generation of the lateral nave columns of the Sagrada Familia temple in Barcelona. A parameterization schema is presented as a fundamental tool for design exploration, which allows the reproduction of the original shapes designed by Gaudi, and the generation of a large set of new designs.
The impact of foot infection on infrainguinal bypass outcomes in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia.

Abstract Background Despite advances in endovascular therapy, infrainguinal bypass continues to play a major role in achieving limb salvage. In this study, we sought to compare outcomes of infrainguinal bypass in patients with limb-threatening ischemia who presented with or without foot infection. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent infrainguinal bypass for chronic limb-threatening ischemia at a single institution. End points of interest included long-term mortality, 45-day readmission, postoperative length of stay (LOS), major amputation, and time to wound healing. Multivariable Cox, logistic, and robust regressions were used to model time to event outcomes, readmission rates, and LOS. Results There were 454 infrainguinal bypass procedures analyzed. Demographics and baseline characteristics were similar, except congestive heart failure and diabetes were more common in the infection group. Presence of foot infection had no impact on mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.78; P = .243). Significant predictors of long-term mortality included increasing age, hypoalbuminemia, and congestive heart failure; preoperative use of clopidogrel was protective. Presence of foot infection was an independent predictor of major amputation. In the multiple regression model, the presence of foot infection was independently associated with amputation rate (HR, 2.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.42-3.22; P Conclusions Among patients requiring infrainguinal bypass for limb-threatening ischemia, infection was more common in patients with diabetes and was a significant predictor of major amputation and prolonged LOS. Infection was not predictive of mortality, wound healing time, or readmission. These findings lend support to the inclusion of infection in risk stratification schemes for patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia, as recommended in the Society for Vascular Surgery Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection (WIfI) classification system, because of its adverse impacts on limb salvage.
An Image-Based Approach for 3D Reconstruction of Urban Scenes Using Architectural Symmetries

Abstract We present an approach to exploit complex 3D symmetries exhibited by urban structures in order to improve 3D reconstruction from images. In comparison to earlier work in this vein [~~] we increase the types of symmetries that can be used, ranging from primitive symmetries [~] to complex symmetry groups. We achieve this by rigorously modeling complex symmetries, using the mathematical theory underlying them to develop generative models of 3D points involved in a given scene symmetry. A key element of our approach is to express the 3D structure of a symmetric scene, imaged by a camera, as comprised of non-decomposable 3D elements known as asymmetric units. We apply our approach in both single and multi-view settings and show that we can obtain denser, more compressed, and qualitatively better-looking representations of the observed structure by exploiting constraints derived from symmetry.
Vitamin E deficiency disrupts molecular pathways of energy metabolism in zebrafish embryos

Embryonic vitamin E (VitE) deficiency causes fetal death in humans, rodents and zebrafish, but the molecular mechanisms still remain unknown. Based on our previous investigations using lipidomics and metabolomics approaches in zebrafish, embryonic VitE deficiency results in increased lipid peroxidation, glucose and choline depletion, metabolic reprogramming and disruption of cellular energy metabolism, which collectively result in lethal outcomes. The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a key player of the embryonic nutrient-sensing network. mTORC1 is central to a phosphorylation cascade that is redox sensitive via cysteine oxidation. mTORC1 is dependent upon upstream insulin/IGF-1 signaling, AKT kinases and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (Pgc1a), which collectively integrate signals to affect a range of cellular responses. To test the hypothesis that mTORC1 is dysregulated with VitE deficiency, embryos were obtained by spawning adult 5D zebrafish fed defined diets with (E+) or without (E—) for >80 days. Embryos were collected at 24 hours-post-fertilization, RNA extracted and relative gene expression of targets associated with energy metabolism and autophagy evaluated by RT-qPCR. The expression profiling of several members of the mTORC1 signaling pathways in E— embryos were altered including: the serine/threonine kinase (akt3a) involved in cell survival and proliferation; the transcription factor eb (tfeb) involved in lysosomal biogenesis; and the autophagy related 5 (atg5) involved in mitophagy. These alterations suggest modified energy regulation in the VitE-deficient embryos and further support the involvement of mTOR associated-pathways. Data from these studies provide a foundation for further exploration into VitE’s role in developmental energy metabolism.
A mixed-methods approach to determine how conservation management programs and techniques have affected herbicide use and distribution in the environment over time.

Abstract No-till agriculture has the ability to reduce fuel consumption, increase soil moisture, reduce soil erosion and increase organic matter. However, it remains unclear whether it increases herbicide use overall in the long term for communities that use no-till as their primary source of conservation agriculture. The preponderance of literature suggests that no-till has increased herbicide use, but it is difficult to quantify how much herbicide has increased in a given location and to directly correlate changes in herbicide use to changes in soil and water quality. This paper provides several methods to determine how herbicide use has changed over time in an agricultural community in Oregon that switched over to no-till in the late 1990s and early 2000s. These methods include: spatial analysis of remote sensing satellite imagery of vegetation health along streams; use of a drone fitted with an agricultural camera to detect vegetation health; and soil, sediment, and water sampling for the most commonly used herbicides in the study area. By using these methods, this study shows where stream vegetation health continues to be an issue in the agricultural community, and where concentrations of a commonly used herbicide in the community may be impacting human and ecological health. This study has important implications for impacts to soil and water quality over time in agricultural communities, as many researchers have noted the need to determine the long term effects of conversion to no-till and other forms of conservation agriculture. By providing these methods, communities heavily engaged in multiple forms of conservation agriculture may be able to track herbicide use changes in real time and on shorter decadal time spans in places where conservation agriculture is practiced.
Speaking of E&M

This paper describes a new lab experiment where students explore the magnetic force on a permanent magnet placed inside a short solenoid. This lab is the fourth experiment performed in the second semester of the calculus-based introductory physics course at Washington University in St. Louis. The experiment is performed using a speaker (which students themselves have constructed), function generator, multimeter, and Vernier microphone while all analysis is done using Logger Pro. Experiments confirm a functional relationship similar to one that students have seen in class, while showing students the applicability of classroom physics to their world.
Motivation of ideal Chinese L2 self and global competence: A case study on postsecondary Chinese language learners

Abstract This article probes the motivation of ideal L2 self and perceptions of global competence of Chinese language learners taking high-level Chinese courses to fulfill degree requirements at a university on the East Coast of the United States. The results show that the students envision an ideal L2 self with high speaking fluency, which they believe can develop their intercultural communication skills and promote their future careers. It was also found that integrative motivation, in the past found predominant among second language learners, is also a prominent form of motivation for foreign language learners in the 21st century. The study provides evidence that the students’ perceptions of global competence still need to improve, but that learning Chinese has contributed to the development of their global competence. The study demonstrates that motivation of ideal L2 self and global competence complement each other. Informed by the results, the researcher suggests some pedagogical implications about maintaining learner motivation, developing learners’ intercultural communication competence and perceptions of global competence, and encouraging students to take higher-level language courses.
Adding Broccoli to the Biosensor Menu.

Small-molecule metabolites regulate many cellular processes but are often present at low concentrations, confounding studies of their signaling networks. In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, You et al. (2019) describe RNA "integrators" that measure the concentrations of metabolites in live cells to enable in-depth studies of signaling pathways.
Stem cells: A path towards improved epilepsy therapies

Despite the immense growth of new anti-seizure drugs (ASDs), approximately one-third of epilepsy patients remain resistant to current treatment options. Advancements in whole genome sequencing technology continues to identify an increasing number of epilepsy-associated genes at a rate that is outpacing the development of in vivo animal models. Patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) show promise in providing a platform for modeling genetic epilepsies, high throughput drug screening, and personalized medicine. This is largely due to the ease of collecting donor cells for iPSC reprogramming, and their ability to be maintained in vitro, while preserving the patient's genetic background. In this review, we summarize the current state of iPSC research in epilepsy and closely related syndromes, discuss the growing need for high-throughput drug screening (HTS), and review the use of stem cell technology for the purpose of autologous transplantation for epilepsy stem cell therapy. Although the use of iPSC technology, as it applies to ASD discovery, is in its infancy, we highlight the significant progress that has been made in phenotype and assay development to facilitate systematic HTS for personalized medicine. This article is part of the special issue entitled 'New Epilepsy Therapies for the 21st Century - From Antiseizure Drugs to Prevention, Modification and Cure of Epilepsy'.
Diagnostic and therapeutic applications of genomic medicine in progressive, late-onset, nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss

The progressive, late-onset, nonsyndromic, sensorineural hearing loss (PNSHL) is the most common cause of sensory impairment globally, with presbycusis affecting greater than a third of individuals over the age of 65. The etiology underlying PNSHL include presbycusis, noise-induced hearing loss, drug ototoxicity, and delayed-onset autosomal dominant hearing loss (AD PNSHL). The objective of this article is to discuss the potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications of genomic medicine in PNSHL. Genomic factors contribute greatly to PNSHL. The heritability of presbycusis ranges from 25 to 75%. Current therapies for PNSHL range from sound amplification to cochlear implantation (CI). PNSHL is an excellent candidate for genomic medicine approaches as it is common, has well-described pathophysiology, has a wide time window for treatment, and is amenable to local gene therapy by currently utilized procedural approaches. AD PNSHL is especially suited to genomic medicine approaches that can disrupt the expression of an aberrant protein product. Gene therapy is emerging as a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of PNSHL. Viral gene delivery approaches have demonstrated promising results in human clinical trials for two inherited causes of blindness and are being used for PNSHL in animal models and a human trial. Non-viral gene therapy approaches are useful in situations where a transient biologic effect is needed or for delivery of genome editing reagents (such as CRISPR/Cas9) into the inner ear. Many gene therapy modalities that have proven efficacious in animal trials have potential to delay or prevent PNSHL in humans. The development of new treatment modalities for PNSHL will lead to improved quality of life of many affected individuals and their families.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Salvage Treatment of Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Abstract Purpose This study analyzes the outcomes and toxicity of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) as salvage treatment for recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods and Materials This retrospective analysis considered patients treated with thoracic SBRT and a history of prior external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), SBRT, or surgical resection for NSCLC. Follow-up included positron emission tomography and computed tomography imaging at 2- to 3-month intervals. Key outcomes were presented with the Kaplan–Meier method. Results Forty patients with 52 treatments were included at a mean of 11.82 months after treatment with EBRT (n = 21), SBRT (n = 15), surgical resection (n = 9), and SBRT after EBRT (n = 7). Median imaging and clinical follow-up were 13.39 and 19.01 months, respectively. SBRT delivered a median dose of 40 Gy in 4 fractions. Median biologically effective dose (BED) was 79.60 Gy. Median gross tumor volume and planning target volume were 10.80 and 26.25 cm3, respectively. Local control was 65%, with a median time to local failure of 13.52 months. Local control was 87% after previous SBRT but only 33% after surgery. Median overall survival was 24.46 months, and median progression-free survival (PFS) was 14.11 months. Patients presenting after previous SBRT had improved local control (P = .021), and the same result was obtained including patients with SBRT after EBRT (P = .0037). Treatments after surgical resection trended toward worse local control (P = .061). Patients with BED ≥80 Gy had improved local PFS (P = .032), PFS (P = .021), time without any treatment failure (P = .033), and time to local failure (P = .041). Using the Kaplan–Meier method, BED ≥80 Gy was predictive of improved local PFS (P = .01) and PFS (P Conclusions Salvage treatment for recurrent NSCLC with SBRT was effective and well tolerated, particularly after initial treatment with SBRT. When possible, salvage SBRT should aim to achieve a BED of ≥80 Gy.
Writing a Videogame: Rhetoric, Revision, and Reflection

This essay reflects on a three-part assignment in which students plan, design, and reflect on a text-based videogame. Created originally for a composition course focused on rhetoric and videogames, the assignment lends itself to teaching about the writing process, especially invention and revision, teaching procedural rhetorics, and teaching technical communication concepts such as iterative design and usability. This essay is coauthored by the instructor with two students who took the course in different semesters, highlighting the collaborative nature of even solo-authored game design, as well as how making games can help students take up rhetorical concerns in other genres.
Development of lateral pulvinar resting state functional connectivity and its role in attention.

Abstract Objective The lateral pulvinar nucleus (LPN) has a well-established role in visual attention. Oscillatory activity of the LPN is critical for cortico-cortical communication within and among occipital and temporal visual processing regions. However, the functional development of the LPN and its role in attention deficits is not understood. This study examined the development of thalamic functional connectivity and its relation to attention abilities. Method Resting state functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging images from 950 participants (ages 8–21) in the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort (PNC) were used to examine age effects. Follow-up General Linear Models were performed to examine brain-behavior effects with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptom ratings and D-prime scores from the Penn Continuous Performance Task, a behavioral measure of selective attention. Results LPN functional connectivity with ventral visual stream regions of the occipital and temporal cortices decreased with age, while LPN functional connectivity with the supplementary motor area increased with age. Weaker LPN connectivity in the inferior parietal lobule, supramarginal gyrus, posterior insula, and inferior frontal gyrus was associated with more ADHD symptoms; stronger pulvinar-cerebellar connectivity was also associated with more ADHD symptoms. Better D-prime scores were associated with greater connectivity between the pulvinar and superior parietal gyrus; better D-prime scores were associated with weaker pulvinar connectivity with striatal, middle temporal gyrus, and medial prefrontal cortex regions. Conclusion These findings implicate the LPN in the development of the ventral visual processing stream between late childhood and early adulthood and suggest that LPN connectivity with higher order attention networks is important for attention abilities.
Multi-Agent Multi-Armed Bandits with Limited Communication.

We consider the problem where $N$ agents collaboratively interact with an instance of a stochastic $K$ arm bandit problem for $K \gg N$. The agents aim to simultaneously minimize the cumulative regret over all the agents for a total of $T$ time steps, the number of communication rounds, and the number of bits in each communication round. We present Limited Communication Collaboration - Upper Confidence Bound (LCC-UCB), a doubling-epoch based algorithm where each agent communicates only after the end of the epoch and shares the index of the best arm it knows. With our algorithm, LCC-UCB, each agent enjoys a regret of $\tilde{O}\left(\sqrt{({K/N}+ N)T}\right)$, communicates for $O(\log T)$ steps and broadcasts $O(\log K)$ bits in each communication step. We extend the work to sparse graphs with maximum degree $K_G$, and diameter $D$ and propose LCC-UCB-GRAPH which enjoys a regret bound of $\tilde{O}\left(D\sqrt{(K/N+ K_G)DT}\right)$. Finally, we empirically show that the LCC-UCB and the LCC-UCB-GRAPH algorithm perform well and outperform strategies that communicate through a central node
Alcohol misuse among older military veterans: an intersectionality theory perspective

Alcohol misuse among older adults is an emerging public health issue. Older veterans are particularly at risk of developing substance use dependency due to the enduring impacts of military service....
High performance of low-temperature electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries using mixed additives

Abstract In this work, the solvent and lithium salt are modified simultaneously to improve the low temperature performance of the electrolyte. The butyl acrylate (BA) with low melting point and high dielectric constant is combined with the ethylene carbonate (EC) with high dielectric constant and excellent film-forming property, which used as mixed additives. On the other hand, the LiBF4 with small ion size and large ion mobility is chose to mixed with LiPF6 with best comprehensive performance, which are used as mixed lithium salts. The BA + EC + LBF mixed additives improves the solubility, conductivity and melting point of the electrolyte, and effectively improves the composition, thickness and uniformity of the CEI film, which together increased the capacity and voltage platform of the batteries at low temperatures. The discharge capacities of BA16%+EC10%+0.3 M LBF battery at −10, −20, −30 and −40 °C are 173.1, 156.0, 147.0, and 119.3 mAh/g respectively, which are much higher than the batteries with the electrolyte without adding additives (122.0, 107.8, 95.7, and 74.3 mAh/g respectively). Furthermore, BA + EC + LBF can form a porous and thin LiF CEI film on the cathode surface, which is very favorable for transport of Li+, further improve the behaviors of the batteries at different low temperatures. Even in the case of charging and discharging at −40 °C, its discharge capacity can be stably maintained at 85 mAh/g. The BA + EC + LBF mixed additives used in this work as an effective strategy to improve the comprehensive behaviors of the battery at low temperatures, which would provide a new insight to design high performance of low temperature electrolyte.
On bus ridership and frequency

Abstract Even before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, bus ridership in the United States had attained its lowest level since 1973. If transit agencies hope to reverse this trend, they must understand how their service allocation policies affect ridership. This paper is among the first to model ridership trends on a hyper-local level over time. A Poisson fixed-effects model is developed to evaluate the ridership elasticity to frequency on weekdays using passenger count data from Portland, Miami, Minneapolis/St-Paul, and Atlanta between 2012 and 2018. In every agency, ridership is found to be elastic to frequency when observing the variation between individual route-segments at one point in time. In other words, the most frequent routes are already the most productive in terms of passengers per vehicle-trip. When observing the variation within each route-segment over time, however, ridership is inelastic; each additional vehicle-trip is expected to generate less ridership than the average bus already on the route. In three of the four agencies, the elasticity is a decreasing function of prior frequency, meaning that low-frequency routes are the most sensitive to changes in frequency. This paper can help transit agencies anticipate the marginal effect of shifting service throughout the network. As the quality and availability of passenger count data improve, this paper can serve as the methodological basis to explore the dynamics of bus ridership.