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Sociologists increasingly employ machine learning (ML) to quickly sort, code, classify, and analyze data. With known racial and gender biases in ML algorithms, we urge sociologists to (re)consider the implications of the widespread use of these technologies in our research. To illustrate this point, we use two popular ML algorithms, ClarifAI and Kairos, to code a small sample of sociologists (n = 167) and their coauthors (n = 1,664) and compare their findings to the sociologists’ hand-coded race and gender information. We further explore ML-generated differences by analyzing the extent of racial homophily in these sociologists’ collaboration networks. We find significant differences across the three coding methods that would lead to very different conclusions and future research agendas. We conclude by elaborating on how sociologists might ethically consider the role of ML and its use in the discipline.

Microfluidics have revolutionized cell culture by allowing for precise physical and chemical environmental control. Coupled with electrodes, microfluidic cell culture can be activated or have its changes sensed in real-time. We used our previously developed reliable and stable microfluidic device for cell growth and monitoring to design, fabricate, and characterize a whole-channel impedance-based sensor and used it to systematically assess the electrical and electrochemical influences of microfluidic channel boundaries coupled with varying electrode sizes, distances, coatings, and cell coverage. Our investigation includes both theoretical and experimental approaches to investigate how design parameters and insulating boundary conditions change impedance characteristics. We examined the system with various solutions using a frequency range of 0.5 Hz to 1 MHz and a modulation voltage of 50 mV. The results show that impedance is directly proportional to electrode distance and inversely proportional to electrode coating, area, and channel size. We also demonstrate that electrode spacing is a dominant factor contributing to impedance. In the end, we summarize all the relationships found and comment on the appropriateness of using this system to investigate barrier cells in blood vessel models and organ-on-a-chip devices. This fundamental study can help in the careful design of microfluidic culture constructs and models that require channel geometries and impedance-based biosensing.

National movements, including Black Lives Matter and Abolish Greek Life, have resurfaced attention to racial dynamics within sorority and fraternity life (SFL) communities. Often, these discussions frame SFL as a homogenous entity and ignore crucial distinctions among organizations, such as the fact that historically white sororities and fraternities were not originally created to serve Students of Color, while culturally based sororities and fraternities were intentionally created to center and celebrate People of Color. Furthermore, some historically white sororities and fraternities have been more intentional than others in implementing race-conscious initiatives and addressing their exclusionary roots. However, research has yet to explore ways (inter)national sorority and fraternity leadership across organizational types attend to matters of race and racism in organizational messaging. This qualitative critical discourse analysis explored these dynamics, examining social media messaging on topics connected to race/ethnicity by (inter)national SFL organizations. Using data drawn from 37 culturally based and historically white sororities and fraternities over a four-year span, this study examined racial messaging using critical race theory.

Microfluidics have revolutionized cell culture by allowing for precise physical and chemical environmental control. Coupled with electrodes, microfluidic cell culture can be activated or have its changes sensed in real-time. We used our previously developed reliable and stable microfluidic device for cell growth and monitoring to design, fabricate, and characterize a whole-channel impedance-based sensor and used it to systematically assess the electrical and electrochemical influences of microfluidic channel boundaries coupled with varying electrode sizes, distances, coatings, and cell coverage. Our investigation includes both theoretical and experimental approaches to investigate how design parameters and insulating boundary conditions change impedance characteristics. We examined the system with various solutions using a frequency range of 0.5 Hz to 1 MHz and a modulation voltage of 50 mV. The results show that impedance is directly proportional to electrode distance and inversely proportional to electrode coating, area, and channel size. We also demonstrate that electrode spacing is a dominant factor contributing to impedance. In the end, we summarize all the relationships found and comment on the appropriateness of using this system to investigate barrier cells in blood vessel models and organ-on-a-chip devices. This fundamental study can help in the careful design of microfluidic culture constructs and models that require channel geometries and impedance-based biosensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Pyruvate, produced from either glucose, glycogen, or lactate, is the dominant precursor of cerebral oxidative metabolism. Pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) flux is a direct measure of cerebral mitochondrial function and metabolism. Detection of [13C]bicarbonate in the brain from hyperpolarized [1‐13C]pyruvate using carbon‐13 (13C) MRI provides a unique opportunity for assessing PDH flux in vivo. This study is to assess changes in cerebral PDH flux in response to visual stimuli using in vivo 13C MRS with hyperpolarized [1‐13C]pyruvate. Methods: From seven sedentary adults in good general health, time‐resolved [13C]bicarbonate production was measured in the brain using 90° flip angles with minimal perturbation of its precursors, [1‐13C]pyruvate and [1‐13C]lactate, to test the hypothesis that the appearance of [13C]bicarbonate signals in the brain reflects the metabolic changes associated with neuronal activation. With a separate group of healthy participants (n = 3), the likelihood of the bolus‐injected [1‐13C]pyruvate being converted to [1‐13C]lactate prior to decarboxylation was investigated by measuring [13C]bicarbonate production with and without [1‐13C]lactate saturation. Results: In the course of visual stimulation, the measured [13C]bicarbonate signal normalized to the total 13C signal in the visual cortex increased by 17.1% ± 15.9% (p = 0.017), whereas no significant change was detected in [1‐13C]lactate. Proton BOLD fMRI confirmed the regional activation in the visual cortex with the stimuli. Lactate saturation decreased bicarbonate‐to‐pyruvate ratio by 44.4% ± 9.3% (p < 0.01). Conclusion: We demonstrated the utility of 13C MRS with hyperpolarized [1‐13C]pyruvate for assessing the activation of cerebral PDH flux via the detection of [13C]bicarbonate production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This conceptual piece uses Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a way to recognize systemic inequities within sorority and fraternity life (SFL) communities, and to advance meaningful change on college campuses. We engage histories, literature, and current events to aid practitioners and scholars in deeper considerations around antiracist education in action. Further, we provide an accompanying case study to offer practical considerations for SFL practitioners, campus administrators, and scholars seeking to engage antiracist work within these communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preamble: Robotic magnetic navigation (RMN)-guided catheter ablation (CA) technology has been used for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias for almost 20 years. Various studies reported that RMN allows for high catheter stability, improved lesion formation and a superior safety profile. So far, no guidelines or recommendations on RMN-guided CA have been published., Purpose: The aim of this consensus paper was to summarize knowledge and provide recommendations on management of arrhythmias using RMN-guided CA as treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular arrhythmias (VA)., Methodology: An expert writing group, performed a detailed review of available literature, and drawing on their own experience, drafted and voted on recommendations and summarized current knowledge and practice in the field. Recommendations on RMN-guided CA are presented in a guideline format with three levels of recommendations to serve as a reference for best practices in RMN procedures. Each recommendation is accompanied by supportive text and references. The various sections cover the practical spectrum from system and patient set-up, EP laboratory staffing, combination of RMN with fluoroscopy and mapping systems, use of automation features and ablation settings and targets, for different cardiac arrhythmias., Conclusion: This manuscript, presenting the combined experience of expert robotic users and knowledge from the available literature, offers a unique resource for providers interested in the use of RMN in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias., Competing Interests: The Erasmus MC has received research grants from Acutus Medical, Biosense Webster and Stereotaxis. TS-T has received an educational grant from Abbott, a contract for education and advisory activities with Biotronik and consultancy contract with Acutus Medical and Ablacon. SW has received honoraria from Biotronik en Daiichi Sankyo. S-CY has received a research grant from Medtronic and honoraria from Medtronic and Boston Scientific. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Noten, Szili-Torok, Ernst, Burkhardt, Cavaco, Chen, Cheung, de Chillou, Crystal, Cooper, Gasparini, Geczy, Goehl, Hügl, Jin, Kampus, Kazemian, Khan, Kongstad, Magga, Peress, Raatikainen, Romanov, Rossvoll, Singh, Vatasescu, Wijchers, Yamashiro, Yap and Weiss.)

Salimicrobium sp. PL1-032A was isolated from Pearse Lakes, Western Australia. The sequenced genome consists of a single chromosome (2,705,688  bp) with a GC content of 47.2%. The isolation of Salimicrobium sp. PL1-032A contributes to the collection of culturable extremophiles and offers potential insight into the Pearse Lakes biome., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Gene loss is expected in microbial communities when the benefit of obtaining a biosynthetic precursor from a neighbor via cross-feeding outweighs the cost of retaining a biosynthetic gene. However, gene cost primarily comes from expression, and many biosynthetic genes are only expressed when needed. Thus, one can conversely expect cross-feeding to repress biosynthetic gene expression and promote gene retention by lowering gene cost. Here we examined long-term bacterial cocultures pairing Escherichia coli and Rhodopseudomonas palustris for evidence of gene loss or retention in response to cross-feeding of non-essential adenine. Although R. palustris continued to externalize adenine in long-term cultures, E. coli did not accumulate mutations in purine synthesis genes, even after 700 generations. E. coli purine synthesis gene expression was low in coculture, suggesting that gene repression removed selective pressure for gene loss. In support of this explanation, R. palustris also had low transcript levels for iron-scavenging siderophore genes in coculture, likely because E. coli facilitated iron acquisition by R. palustris . R. palustris siderophore gene mutations were correspondingly rare in long-term cocultures but were prevalent in monocultures where transcript levels were high. Our data suggests that cross-feeding does not always drive gene loss, but can instead promote gene retention by repressing costly expression., Competing Interests: Competing interests statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Marinococcus sp. PL1-022 was isolated from Pearse Lakes, Western Australia. The sequenced genome consists of a chromosome (3,140,198 bp; 48.2% GC) and two plasmids (58,083 bp and 19,399 bp; 41.4 and 50.7% GC-content, respectively). Isolation of Marinococcus sp. PL1-022 adds to the increasing repertoire of culturable extremophiles., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Idiomarina sp. PL1-037 was isolated from Pearse Lakes, Rottnest Island, Western Australia. The sequenced completed genome for PL1-037 is composed of a single chromosome (2,804,934  bp) with a GC content of 47.1%. Isolation of Idiomarina sp. PL1-037 provides insights about culturable extremophiles from the Pearse lakes microbiome., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Objective:  The aim of this study was to assess if the level of osteotomy (50 or 75% the length of the humerus), osteotomy angle (5, 10, or 20 degrees), direction of bone alteration (external rotational or medial opening wedge osteotomies), or orientation of osteotomy (perpendicular to the humeral long axis or perpendicular to the weight-bearing axis of the limb) affect pressure through the medial compartment of the elbow., Study Design:  Humeral osteotomies were performed at 50 and 75% the length of the humerus on 12 canine cadaver thoracic limbs and patient-specific three-dimensional (3D) printed plates applied to induce the desired alteration. Sensors were placed into the medial and lateral aspects of the elbow joint and the limb compressed to 90 N in a universal testing system., Results:  Increasing the angle of the induced change had a significant effect on the decreased load through the medial compartment. Performing the osteotomy at 75% of humeral length from proximal was significantly more effective at reducing the medial elbow load than performing it at 50%. Opening wedge osteotomies were more effective than external rotational osteotomies, but both were effective. Changing the direction of the osteotomy (comparing transverse to oblique) did not significantly affect the load reduction through the medial compartment., Conclusion:  Performing an osteotomy at a more distal location along the humerus and increasing the angle of the induced change increased the effectiveness of load-shifting humeral osteotomies., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.