Effects of acute sodium nitrite and nitrate on the development of Drosophila melanogaster

Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) and sodium nitrate (NaNO3) are used as food preservatives. In addition to teratogenic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effects, these products are also thought to have endocrine disrupting effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of sodium nitrite (NaNO2) and sodium nitrate (NaNO3) on the development of Drosophila melanogaster. Third instar larvae of Canton S strain (wild type) were treated to 25 mM, 50 mM, 75 mM NaNO2, and NaNO3 for 6 hours. The pupation and maturation percentages and times were determined. There was no significant difference in the percentage of pupation and maturation compared to the control group (p>0.05). However, 50 and 75 mM NaNO2 exposures caused developmental delay in both the mean pupation and the mean maturation times (p<0.05). Additionally, it was found that mean maturation time was delayed with 50 and 75 mM NaNO3 exposures (p<0.05)

Unusual occurrence of orbital hemangiopericytoma in the zygomatic bone of an adolescent: a case report

Abstract Background Hemangiopericytoma and solitary fibrous tumor are considered related variants on the same spectrum and both may essentially be the same tumor. They are infrequently encountered in the orbital region while the zygomatic bone is an extremely rare location for these neoplasms to occur. Case presentation A 14-year-old boy presented with complaint of deformity of left infraorbital area and a firm, regular mass in the region. Orbital CT scan revealed a well-defined round isodense intraosseous lesion in the lowermost portion of the lateral orbital wall (zygomatic bone), expanding the bone and protruding anteriorly and medially. MRI showed the mass to be heterogenous and strongly enhancing with contrast medium. Inferior transconjunctival orbitotomy was performed and the mass was removed. The histopathologic examination and immunohistochemistry staining results (positive for CD34, CD31 and smooth muscle actin, but negative for CD99, S100, B-cell lymphoma 2 (bcl-2) and desmin) confirmed the diagnosis of hemangiopericytoma. The postoperative course was uneventful, with no evidence of recurrence after 5 years follow up. Conclusions This case represents the second hemangiopericytoma reported in the zygomatic bone. Although extremely rare, hemangiopericytoma/solitary fibrous tumor might be considered in the differential diagnosis of intraosseous lesions of the orbital and zygomatic region

Quantifying the Financial Impacts of Electric Vehicles on Utility Ratepayers and Shareholders

Widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption is critical for meeting economy-wide decarbonization goals and, as a result, states are considering enabling policies and rate designs to accelerate EV deployment. EVs can provide possible financial upside to electric utilities and ratepayers in several ways. For example, from the utility perspective, EVs could drive increased electricity sales and new earnings opportunities through increased capital investments. From the ratepayer perspective, increased electric loads from EVs could reduce average all-in retail rates. The degree to which there are net benefits or costs to shareholders and/or ratepayers depends on how EVs are integrated and managed through enabling grid investments and charging strategies. Using Berkeley Lab’s Financial Impacts of Distributed Energy Resources (FINDER) model that mimics the electric utility investment planning and ratemaking processes, we estimate the utility earnings and customer rate impacts of EVs using a bookend approach of “managed” (i.e., best case) and “mismanaged” (i.e., worst case) charging strategies for a generic summer-peaking, investor-owned, and vertically integrated utility. The analysis also examines the sensitivity of results to different assumptions of EV deployment characteristics, EV impacts on retail electricity sales, incremental distribution system costs, EV charging location, and utility EV enablement costs (i.e., utility costs to invest in EV charging, controls, and communication to deliver and administer EV programs). The results are intended to inform EV policies and deployment strategies that maximize utility system benefits and minimize ratepayer costs

Value of pathologic Q wave in surface electrocardiography in the prediction of myocardial nonviability: A cardiac magnetic resonance imaging-based study

In surface electrocardiography (ECG), Q wave is often considered as a sign of irreversibly scarred myocardium. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is an accurate mean for the detection of myocardial viability. Herein, we study the predictive value of Q wave in nonviable (scarred) myocardium by CMR study. Retrospective analysis of the ECG and CMR data of 35 coronary artery disease patients was performed. The delayed enhancement CMR protocol was used for the detection of viability. The presence of a pathologic Q wave in surface ECG was negatively related to myocardial viability with a kappa measurement of agreement of −0.544 and P< 0.0001. Pathologic Q wave in surface ECG can be used as a simple tool for myocardial viability prediction

Leveraging open-source tools for collaborative macro-energy system modeling efforts

The authors are founding team members of a new effort to develop an Open Energy Outlook for the United States. The effort aims to apply best practices of policy-focused energy system modeling, ensure transparency, build a networked community, and work toward a common purpose: examining possible US energy system futures to inform energy and climate policy efforts. Individual author biographies can be found on the project website: https://openenergyoutlook.org/. DeCarolis et al. articulate the benefits of forming collaborative teams with a wide array of disciplinary and domain expertise to conduct analysis with macro-energy system models. Open-source models, tools, and datasets underpin such efforts by enabling transparency, accessibility, and replicability among team members and with the broader modeling community