cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GTPase-Activating Proteins for Cdc42

The Rho-type GTPase, Cdc42, has been implicated in a variety of functions in the yeast life cycle, including septin organization for cytokinesis, pheromone response, and haploid invasive growth. A group of proteins called GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) catalyze the hydrolysis of GTP to GDP, thereby inactivating Cdc42. At the time this study began, there was one known GAP, Bem3, and one putative GAP, Rga1, for Cdc42. We identified another putative GAP for Cdc42 and named it Rga2 (Rho GTPase-activating protein 2). We confirmed by genetic and biochemical criteria that Rga1, Rga2, and Bem3 act as GAPs for Cdc42. A detailed characterization of Rga1, Rga2, and Bem3 suggested that they regulate different subsets of Cdc42 function. In particular, deletion of the individual GAPs conferred different phenotypes. For example, deletion of RGA1, but not RGA2 or BEM3, caused hyperinvasive growth. Furthermore, overproduction or loss of Rga1 and Rga2, but not Bem3, affected the two-hybrid interaction of Cdc42 with Ste20, a p21-activated kinase (PAK) kinase required for haploid invasive growth. These results suggest Rga1, and possibly Rga2, facilitate the interaction of Cdc42 with Ste20 to mediate signaling in the haploid invasive growth pathway. Deletion of BEM3 resulted in cells with severe morphological defects not observed in rga1Δ or rga2Δ strains. These data suggest that Bem3 and, to a lesser extent, Rga1 and Rga2 facilitate the role of Cdc42 in septin organization. Thus, it appears that the GAPs play a role in modulating specific aspects of Cdc42 function. Alternatively, the different phenotypes could reflect quantitative rather than qualitative differences in GAP activity in the mutant strains.
Motivation and learning: Neurophysiological mechanisms in a “model” system

Abstract The neurophysiological mechanisms underlying behavioral motivation and associative learning are described in an invertebrate “model” system, the carnivorous marine mollusc Pleurobranchaea. Feeding motivation can be controlled via nutritional history and is represented centrally in the feeding motor network as a change in the balance of synaptic excitation and inhibition at the level of interneurons that initiate feeding behavior, i.e., feeding “command” interneurons. Associative learning, induced by avoidance conditioning of feeding behavior, manifests identically at the level of the command interneurons, but is distinguished from non-associative motivational changes by processes that occur in identified neurons and pathways presynaptic to the command interneurons. Motivation and learning are therefore linked mechanistically by convergent neurophysiological mechanisms at the level of central neurons that initiate behavior.
Optimizing Display, Analysis, Interpretation and Utility of Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) Data for Management of Patients with Diabetes

Background: Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) data have not been used to fullest advantage. Few physicians routinely download data from memory-equipped glucose meters and perform systematic analyses and interpretation of the data. There is need for improved methods for display and analysis of SMBG data, for a systematic approach for identification and prioritization of clinical problems revealed by SMBG, for characterization of blood glucose variability, and for clinical decision support. Methods: We have developed a systematic approach to the analysis and interpretation of SMBG data to assist in the management of patients with diabetes. This approach utilizes the following criteria: 1) Overall quality of glycemic control; 2) Hypoglycemia (frequency, severity, timing); 3) Hyperglycemia; 4) Variability; 5) Pattern analysis; and 6) Adequacy of monitoring. The “Pattern analysis” includes assessment of: trends by date and by time of day; relationship of blood glucose to meals; post-prandial excursions; the effects of day of the week, and interactions between time of day and day of the week. Results: The asymmetrical distribution of blood glucose values makes it difficult to interpret the mean and standard deviation. Use of the median (50 th percentile) and Inter-Quartile Range (IQR) overcomes these difficulties: IQR is the difference between the 75 th and 25 th percentiles. SMBG data can be used to predict the A1c level and indices of the risks of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. Conclusion: Given reliable measures of glucose variability, one can apply a strategy to progressively reduce glucose variability and then increase the intensity of therapy so as to reduce median blood glucose and hence A1c, while minimizing the risk of hypoglycemia.
Raman Microprobe Spectroscopy and Photon Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy: Applications to Optical Waveguides

Recent results from our laboratory on the characterization of optical waveguides are reviewed. In particular, two means of experimental characterization that provide spatially local information are presented. Raman microprobe spectroscopy is used to explore the role of stress in a GaAlAs channel waveguide and to characterize the nature of impurity induced compositional mixing in a multiple quantum well structure suitable for optical waveguiding. Finally, photon tunneling microscopy is shown to probe the optical waveguide evanescent field and thus the local surface and index variations in an optical waveguide.
Political violence, health, and coping among Palestinian women in the West Bank.

Political violence poses a considerable threat to the health of individuals. Protective factors, however, may help people to build resilience in the face of political violence. This study examined the influence of lifetime and past 30-day experiences of political violence on the mental and physical health of adult Palestinian women from the West Bank (N = 122). Two hypotheses were examined: (a) Reports of political violence exposure would be related to reports of poorer physical and mental health and (b) several coping variables (proactive coping; self-reliance; reliance on political, family, and religious support; and political or civic engagement) would function as moderators of the effects of political violence, buffering or weakening its effects on physical and mental health outcomes. Both lifetime and past 30-day measures of political violence were positively correlated with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Proactive coping, reliance on self, and political or civic engagement significantly interacted with political violence to affect health in a counterintuitive direction; those with higher scores on these more internalized and individualistic coping strategies demonstrated worse health as political violence increased. Reliance on religious support, and, in particular, support from and participation in activities of religious institutions, emerged as a significant protective factor. Results underscore the importance of looking not only at whether political violence affects health, but also at how the relationships between political violence and health might occur, including the potential protective influence of resources within people's social environments.
Principal component analysis and biochemical characterization of protein and starch reveal primary targets for improving sorghum grain.

Limited progress has been made on genetic improvement of the digestibility of sorghum grain because of variability among different varieties. In this study, we applied multiple techniques to assess digestibility of grain from 18 sorghum lines to identify major components responsible for variability. We also identified storage proteins and enzymes as potential targets for genetic modification to improve digestibility. Results from principal component analysis revealed that content of amylose and total starch, together with protein digestibility (PD), accounted for 94% of variation in digestibility. Control of amylose content is understood and manageable. Up-regulation of genes associated with starch accumulation is clearly a future target for improving digestibility. To identify proteins that might be targets for future modification, meal from selected lines was digested in vitro with pancreatin in parallel with pepsin and -amylase. The %PD was influenced by both the nature of the protein matrix and protein body packaging. Owing to its ability to form oligomers, the 20 kDa -kafirin was more resistant to digestion than counterparts lacking this ability, making it a target for down-regulation. Greater understanding of interactions among the three traits identified by principal component analysis is needed for both waxy and non-waxy varieties. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Reduced-order robust compensator design with real parameter uncertainties

A novel algorithm for designing reduced-order H/sub infinity / compensators for a class of linear uncertain control systems with real parameter uncertainties is presented. The effects of disturbances at the input and the output are incorporated in the controller synthesis. The order of the Luenberger compensator is shown to be affected by the number of disturbance variables and the number of uncertain real parameters. >
Cosmetic allergic contact dermatitis: an update

Cosmetics are a large part of our consumer market and are frequently used in the daily routine of many individuals in our society. Cosmetics are common causes of many adverse reactions, including irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. Many allergens found in cosmetic products can cause allergic contact dermatitis, including fragrances, preservatives, hair care products, nail allergens, cosmeceuticals and botanicals. What follows is a review of allergic contact dermatitis, the patch testing technique that is the gold standard test for diagnosing allergic contact dermatitis and common allergens seen in the cosmetic arena. New products and allergens are continually introduced into our environment. Dermatologists will have to remain vigilant in their efforts to perform patch testing, in order to identify new and emerging allergens causing allergic contact dermatitis.
Aberrant Activation of the Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Malignant Hematological Neoplasms

The hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway is a highly regulated signaling pathway that is important not only for embryonic development, tissue patterning, and organogenesis but also for tissue repair and the maintenance of stem cells in adult tissues. In the adult hematopoietic system, HH signaling regulates intrathymic T-cell development, and it is one of the survival signals provided by follicular dendritic cells to prevent apoptosis in germinal center B cells. HH signaling is required for primitive hematopoiesis; however, conflicting data have been reported regarding the role of the HH pathway in adult hematopoiesis. Inappropriate activation of the HH signaling pathway occurs in several human cancers, including hematological neoplasms. Emerging data demonstrate abnormal HH pathway activation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, plasma cell myeloma, mantle cell lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma, chronic myelogenous leukemia, and acute leukemias. In these neoplasms, HH signaling promotes proliferation and survival, contributes to the maintenance of cancer stem cells, and enhances tolerance or resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Here, we review current understanding of HH signaling, its role in the pathobiology of hematological malignancies, and its potential as a therapeutic target to treat malignant hematological neoplasms.
Delta-sigma cellular automata for analog VLSI random vector generation

We present a class of analog cellular automata for parallel analog random vector generation, including theory on the randomness properties, scalable parallel very large scale integration (VLSI) architectures, and experimental results from an analog VLSI prototype with 64 channels. Linear congruential coupling between cells produces parallel channels of uniformly distributed random analog values, with statistics that are uncorrelated both across channels and over time. The cell for each random channel essentially implements a switched-capacitor delta-sigma modulator, and measures 100 /spl mu/m/spl times/120 /spl mu/m in 2 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. The 64 cells are connected as a MASH cascade in a chain or ring topology on a two-dimensional (2-D) grid, and can be rearranged for use in various VLSI applications that require a parallel supply of random analog vectors, such as analog encryption and secure communications, analog built in self-test, stochastic neural networks, and simulated annealing optimization and learning.
Capacity analysis for large-scale packet-switched wireless networks based on expected value of delay

This paper describes a capacity analysis and planning tool developed for large-scale packet-switched wireless on the move (OTM) tactical networks. The tool uses a novel technique to analyze and evaluate the different phases of the network topology in a rapid and robust matter. Analysis of the network topology identifies links where congestion is likely to occur and links that are underutilized. Well-optimized links can also be identified. Based on these analyses, statistics can be collected to reflect the utilization state of a planned topology and traffic scenario at different phases of its deployment.
Stress Recovery in Composite Laminates

The objective of this study is to determine interlaminar stresses of a laminated structure using results of a plateor shell-theory analysis, in which these stresses are typically ignored. A procedure is developed that involves integration of geometrically nonlinear equilibrium equations from the theory of elasticity to nd the interlaminar stresses from the intralaminar stresses. The procedure is applied to both analytical and numerical platetype solutions of model problems, and the resulting interlaminar stresses are compared to solutions of a benchmark three-dimensional nite element analysis. Results show good correlation between the solutions, thereby validating the procedure.
Gemmipars in the Calymperaceae

Abstract World-wide, 15 taxa (11% of the 137 studied) of the three traditional genera of Calymperaceae (s.s.) regularly produce gemmae sequentially on multicellular stalk-like foliar structures referred to here as gemmipars. Individual gemmiferous leaves give rise to few to many gemmipars, each of which is capable of producing gemmae continuously during the functional life of the leaf. In the remainder of the gemmiferous species of Calymperaceae, the gemmae are produced and matured simultaneously on each gemmiferous leaf, and after abscission of their gemmae the gemmiferous leaves play no further role in asexual reproduction. Syrrhopodon, seemingly the least specialized genus of the family, has only about half the frequency of occurrence of gemmipars (7% of the 82 taxa studied) as that of Calymperes (17% of 35 taxa) and Mitthyridium (15% of 20 taxa). Gemmipars are species-specific in the Calymperaceae and thus potentially useful in systematics. The taxon-limited occurrence of gemmipars in the Calymperacea...
Evaluation, therapy, and outcome in 493 infertile couples *

From 1973 through 1979, 493 infertile couples were evaluated for their infertility problem, allowing for a minimum follow-up of 1 year and a maximum follow-up of 7 years. Accurate records were kept on margin-punched cards for easy review and updating. Ovulation defects, male factor problems, and tubal disease accounted/or 60% of the diagnosed causes of infertility. No diagnosis was made in 25% of the patients studied. Therapy began as soon as indicated and continued concurrently as the diagnostic evaluation progressed; Among the 493 infertile couples, 257 (52%) patients had a successful outcome; 90% of this group conceived by 1 year after the initial visit. One hundred thirty-seven patients underwent both hysterosalpingography and laparoscopy during their diagnostic evaluation. The interpretation of the hysterosalpingogram was wrong in about one third of the cases. Of 37 (7.5%) undiagnosed patients who underwent complete evaluation, including visualization of the pelvis by either laparoscopy or laparotomy, only 12 eventually conceived, 11 by the end of 1 year from the initial visit.
Rates of Vitrectomy among Enrollees in a United States Managed Care Network, 2001-2012.

Purpose To determine whether vitrectomy surgery rates have changed over the past decade and factors affecting the odds of undergoing this procedure. Design Retrospective, longitudinal cohort study. Participants All enrollees 21 years of age or older between 2001 and 2012 in a United States managed care network. Methods Claims data from a managed care network were analyzed to identify all enrollees who underwent 1 vitrectomy or more each year from 2001 through 2012. Rates of vitrectomy per 1000 enrollees were computed each year from 2001 through 2012 for the entire group and separately for patients with and without diabetes mellitus. Multivariate logistic regression assessed factors affecting the odds of undergoing vitrectomy surgery. Main Outcome Measures Annual rates of vitrectomy surgery from 2001 through 2012 and odds ratios (ORs) of undergoing a vitrectomy with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Among the 11 161 907 eligible enrollees, 40 892 (0.4%) underwent vitrectomy over the 12-year period. The average age of those undergoing vitrectomy was 57±13 years. Overall vitrectomy rates increased 31% from 2001 to 2012 (from 1.47 to 1.92 per 1000 patients). During this same period, the vitrectomy rate among persons with diabetes mellitus decreased by 43% (from 5.84 to 3.31 per 1000 patients with diabetes). Women had 24% decreased odds of undergoing vitrectomy (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72–0.79). The odds of undergoing a vitrectomy were 17% greater for black persons (adjusted OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.07–1.27) and 7% higher for persons with diabetes (adjusted OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01–1.14). Conclusions Overall, we observed an increase in the vitrectomy rates per 1000 enrollees in this large managed care network over the course of the past decade. However, among persons with diabetes mellitus, vitrectomy rates declined substantially over this period. These changes may be explained, in part, by advances in surgical instrumentation and imaging methods to detect retinal diseases changing indications for surgery, improvements in diabetes care, and alternative treatment options for managing retinal conditions. These results may be useful for future planning of manpower needs and highlight the need for aggressive prevention of complications in black persons with diabetes.
Viral Respiratory Infections

Viral infections constitute more than 60% of acute lower respiratory illnesses. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza viruses are the most frequent etiologic agents. After transmission by large droplet aerosol or direct contact, the viruses gain entry into host cells through specific viral surface proteins; subsequently, pathogenetic mechanisms cause tissue injury and result in clinical disease. In the intensive care unit the mainstay of treatment is primarily supportive. Nonspecific treatment may include nebulized beta-agonists, aminophylline, and steroids. Ribavarin is the only specific antiviral agent approved for respiratory syncytial virus infection but its efficacy remains controversial. New therapies and vaccines offer hope for improved outcome from viral respiratory infections such as RSV.
The U.S. Constitution and Indians

This encyclopedia entry explains how the Founding Fathers included American Indians and tribal nations in the U.S. Constitution.
The Reinvention of Mexico: The Reform of Article 27

The first of the two ways in which liberalism can be said to conflict with nationalism – at the level of the individual – can be examined by looking at discourses surrounding the reforms made in 1991–92 to Article 27 of the Constitution – Mexico's nation-building charter. The debate surrounding the reforms coalesced around the themes of property ownership and social inclusion, and the changes to property rights they envisaged were accompanied by a changed conception of citizenship. This debate had at its core the tension between the liberal conception of individual property rights and notions of collective patrimony, and these positions, in turn, influenced rival conceptions of the role of the state and its relationship with society. Salinas sought a reconciliation between these property forms in the tradition of social liberalism, while attempting to shift the equilibrium between them further towards individual rights. Salinismo modified the traditional fear of rural unrest deriving from uneven access to property and the accompanying belief that legitimacy derived from the state's ability to maintain stability through redistributive policies. On the one hand, salinismo claimed a revolutionary nationalist legitimacy for its reforms in the nation-building spirit of Article 27; on the other, it believed that stability was no longer dependent in the same way upon the statist social pact, and that it was the potential of market participation to increase the productivity of a marginalized peasantry that now offered the main source of the social inclusiveness that engendered stability.
Predictor servomechanisms

This paper is concerned with the problem of optimizing the transient behavior of a servomechanism. In this instance the term optimum is used in the sense of a transient response in minimum time as compared with the familiar minimum RMS error criteria for an optimum system. The use of the term ?predictor? arises from the fact that the system. utilizes the information contained in the Input and its derivatives in order to reduce the error to zero in an optimum manner.
Training parents to protect their children from abduction, kidnapping, or sexual molestation.

The author discusses the role hospital security directors should play in assuring parents to be ever vigilant in protecting their children from child predators. Become an advocate for child safety, he advises. Language: en
Total Marrow Irradiation (TMI) with Helical Tomotherapy and Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cell Rescue (PBPC) Following high-Dose Melphalan (Mel) and PBPC as Part of Tandem Autologous Transplant (TAT) for Patients with Multiple Myeloma

VGPR/CR rate of 61% and MRD negativity of 7.6%. The HR cytogenetics group exhibited an OR, VGPR/CR and MRD negativity rates similar to those shown in the SR group (92.8%, 85% and 21.4%, respectively, p>0.05) In conclusion, CyBorD is an efficacious regimen for patients with MM and overall seemed to be well tolerated. Our data is one of the first to show the impact of this regimen on MRD negativity rates and to highlight its role on HR cytogenetics patients who tended to respond to this therapy. However, sustainability of this response in such aggressive group treated with CyBorD needs further evaluation with longer follow-up. Table 1 Clinical Characteristics of patients with MM undergoing single auto-ASCT treated with CyBorD induction at our Institution
The Mormon Cricket as Food for Birds

By IRA LA RIVERS . The list of birds which eat the Mormon cricket (An&us simplex) is sizable and these species constitute a potent natural control of the insect. The cricket, actually a long-horned grasshopper, yearly causes damage in Elko, Eureka, Lander, and Humboldt counties, Nevada, by destroying large quantities of range and field forage, crops, and garden stuffs. Parts of these northern Nevada counties, particularly northern Elko County, rival the best rangeland in the West. Mormon crickets were first destructively active among the early settlers of the Utah of 1848, and have since been reported in several adjoining states. The Nevada records of these insects date back to 1878, when a band migrated through the mining town of Tuscarora, Elko County. Since then, there have been periodic invasions, the present one not attaining any importance until 1932. While working on the controlprogram in northern Nevada during the summer of 1939, I made the following observations on bird-cricket relationships.
Erratum for “Dimensionless Erosion Laws for Cohesive Sediment” by Joseph S. Walder

In the original paper, the symbol α was mistakenly used in several places where the symbol ζ was intended. In addition, one figure legend is in error. The required corrections are as follows: On page 04015047-8, the caption of Fig. 4 should read as follows: Fig. 4. Comparison of time-series data for sediment scour by an impinging jet with theoretical predictions of scour history; the assumption of a linear erosion law implicit in the Hanson and Cook (1997, 2004) model of the JET test was relaxed; dimensionless scour depth and dimensionless time are defined in the main text: (a) data from test 8/8.1/8.4/1 of Mazurek (2001); the material was a manufactured product used for pottery with size distribution 7% sand, 50% silt, 43% clay, and bulk dry specific gravity of 1.54; type curves calculated for ζ 1⁄4 1.62 and grain specific gravity of 2.67; (b) data from test 8/14.5/9.0/4 of Mazurek (2001) using the same material as in (a); type curves calculated for ζ 1⁄4 1.07. Original Fig. 4(a) is correct as shown; however, the legend for the original Fig. 4(b) is incorrect. The dashed curve corresponds to parameter values m 1⁄4 1, α 1⁄4 0.00005. On page 04015047-11 Eq. (45) should read
Post-conflict peace initiatives, British Mau Mau compensation, and the mastering of colonial pasts

ABSTRACTThis essay provides readers with a critical rhetorical analysis of the recent settlement of Mutua and others v. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office [2012. EWHC 2678 (QB). Case Number HQ9X02666]. This was a case that was brought by Wambugu Wa Nyingi, Paulo Muoka Nzili, Ndiku Mutwiwa Mutua, and Jane Muthoni, four Kenyans in the early 21st century who alleged that they needed tort relief for the injuries that they had suffered during the Kenyan ‘emergency’ years (1952–1961). They have been arguing since 2009 that surviving Mau Mau veterans suffered brutal treatment in detention camps or guarded villages that were under the control of British colonial agents. The authors contends that while the British government was willing to express ‘regrets’ about what happened during the Emergency years, it was unwilling to accept total liability for events that happened more than 50 years ago. As a result, scholars and lay persons continue to debate about the mastering of British colonial pasts.
MO‐AB‐BRA‐01: A Global Level Set Based Formulation for Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy

Purpose: The current clinical Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) optimization is formulated as a non-convex problem and various greedy heuristics have been employed for an empirical solution, jeopardizing plan consistency and quality. We introduce a novel global direct aperture optimization method for VMAT to overcome these limitations. Methods: The global VMAT (gVMAT) planning was formulated as an optimization problem with an L2-norm fidelity term and an anisotropic total variation term. A level set function was used to describe the aperture shapes and adjacent aperture shapes were penalized to control MLC motion range. An alternating optimization strategy was implemented to solve the fluence intensity and aperture shapes simultaneously. Single arc gVMAT plans, utilizing 180 beams with 2° angular resolution, were generated for a glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), lung (LNG), and 2 head and neck cases—one with 3 PTVs (H&N3PTV) and one with 4 PTVs (H&N4PTV). The plans were compared against the clinical VMAT (cVMAT) plans utilizing two overlapping coplanar arcs. Results: The optimization of the gVMAT plans had converged within 600 iterations. gVMAT reduced the average max and mean OAR dose by 6.59% and 7.45% of the prescription dose. Reductions in max dose and mean dose were as high as 14.5 Gy in the LNG case and 15.3 Gy in the H&N3PTV case. PTV coverages (D95, D98, D99) were within 0.25% of the prescription dose. By globally considering all beams, the gVMAT optimizer allowed some beams to deliver higher intensities, yielding a dose distribution that resembles a static beam IMRT plan with beam orientation optimization. Conclusions: The novel VMAT approach allows for the search of an optimal plan in the global solution space and generates deliverable apertures directly. The single arc VMAT approach fully utilizes the digital linacs’ capability in dose rate and gantry rotation speed modulation. Varian Medical Systems, NIH grant R01CA188300, NIH grant R43CA183390.
Color Subjectively Considered

Vision resembles hearing in this way: mere reflection upon the experience fails to show that the objects were are directly conscious of in the experience are bodily sensations or even that they are sensations to be ascribed to the subject at all. We required an argument to show that the sound of the violinist is a sensory effect and not an occupant of the concert hall. The argument depended upon premises drawn from the science of sound which are unavailable to mere reflective common sense. If, as the materialist claims, sensations of sound are brain processes and thus have a definite bodily location, this fact too is unavailable to reflective common sense and depends upon scientific consideration at least.
Cellular Responses to DNA Damage

Cellular DNA is continuously assaulted by chemical and physical agents that arise from both endogenous metabolic processes as well as exogenous insults. The latter are arguably most relevant to toxicology. Commonly encountered environmental agents include polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic amines, the ultraviolet component of sunlight, and ionizing radiation among many others. Although the kinds of damages and the mechanisms involved in their interaction with DNA vary widely, genotoxic agents alter the structure of DNA in ways that may result in permanent alterations in the DNA sequence or in cell death. In order to avoid these consequences, cells have evolved countermeasures to reduce the biological consequences of DNA damage. These mechanisms are highly conserved and are present in all cells, including those of plants and postmitotic organisms such as fruit flies. In general, cellular responses include the detection of damage, signal transduction to halt cell cycle progression, and the recruitment of repair mechanisms that are tailored to the specific kind of damage. If replication-blocking damage remains when cells enter S-phase, tolerance mechanisms in the form of complex recombination mechanisms or translesion DNA synthesis using accessory DNA polymerases exist. These mechanisms complete the replication of damaged genomes and suppress cytotoxicity, but at the potential cost of mutagenesis and genomic instability.
Clinical fish testing for the diagnosis of solid tumors

Cancer genomes contain numerical and structural somatic alterations, including single base substitutions, structural rearrangements, small insertions, small deletions, and copy number variation [1, 2]. Theodor Boveri, a German zoologist, is credited for first describing the association between numerical chromosome anomalies and cancer in his 1914 monograph Concerning the Origin of Malignant Tumours [1]. Nearly a century has passed since this sentinel paper and cancer biologists are still trying to better understand aneuploidy and its role in carcinogenesis. Recent large-scale DNA copy number analyses of tumors highlight how common aneuploidy is in malignant tumors. Beroukhim and colleagues [2] evaluated 3,131 tumors comprising 26 different tumor types and identified, on average, 24 gains (median = 12) and 18 losses (median 12) for each tumor. In addition, approximately 17 % of the genome was amplified and 16 % was deleted in a typical cancer specimen.
Transcriptome and secretome of two Pythium species during infection and saprophytic growth

We analyzed the transcriptome and the secretome of Pythium irregulare and Pythium iwayamai when they were infecting bentgrass or growing saprophytically. Proteases, glycosidases, and ABC transporters showed the largest numbers of differentially expressed transcripts, but proteases appear to be the main class of enzymes secreted to degrade plant cell walls. There was no correlation between transcript level and protein secretion, and a very low correlation between the presence of signal peptide sequences and the actual secreted proteins. These results point to the usefulness of the proteomics analysis to study the direct interaction of plant pathogens with their hosts.
Cumulative hazard: The case of nuisance flooding

The cumulative cost of frequent events (e.g., nuisance floods) over time may exceed the costs of the extreme but infrequent events for which societies typically prepare. Here we analyze the likelihood of exceedances above mean higher high water and the corresponding property value exposure for minor, major, and extreme coastal floods. Our results suggest that, in response to sea level rise, nuisance flooding (NF) could generate property value exposure comparable to, or larger than, extreme events. Determining whether (and when) low cost, nuisance incidents aggregate into high cost impacts and deciding when to invest in preventive measures are among the most difficult decisions for policymakers. It would be unfortunate if efforts to protect societies from extreme events (e.g., 0.01 annual probability) left them exposed to a cumulative hazard with enormous costs. We propose a Cumulative Hazard Index (CHI) as a tool for framing the future cumulative impact of low cost incidents relative to infrequent extreme events. CHI suggests that in New York, NY, Washington, DC, Miami, FL, San Francisco, CA, and Seattle, WA, a careful consideration of socioeconomic impacts of NF for prioritization is crucial for sustainable coastal flood risk management.
Using imaging as a biomarker for asthma

There have been significant advancements in the various imaging techniques being used for the evaluation of asthmatic patients, both from a clinical and research perspective. Imaging characteristics can be used to identify specific asthmatic phenotypes and provide a more detailed understanding of endotypes contributing to the pathophysiology of the disease. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography can be used to assess pulmonary structure and function. It has been shown that specific airway and lung density measurements using computed tomography correlate with clinical parameters, including severity of disease and pathology, but also provide unique phenotypes. Hyperpolarized 129Xe and 3He are gases used as contrast media for magnetic resonance imaging that provide measurement of distal lung ventilation reflecting small-airway disease. Positron emission tomography can be useful to identify and target lung inflammation in asthmatic patients. Furthermore, imaging techniques can serve as a potential biomarker and be used to assess response to therapies, including newer biological treatments and bronchial thermoplasty.
Effect of an inpatient hematology-oncology ward rotation on medical house staff interest in pursuing hematology-oncology as a career.

e17559 Background: There is an oncologist workforce shortage. Medical sub-specialty training experiences influence residents’ career choices. We hypothesized that an inpatient ward rotation may inc...
Chemical growth regulation in sugar cane

Sugar cane growth can be improved under experimental conditions by the use of chemicals at almost any stage of development. Effects range from increased germination and tillering to control of ripe...
A Prospective Study on the Effect of Sport Specialization on Lower Extremity Injury Rates in High School Athletes.

Background:Sport specialization is associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal lower extremity injuries (LEIs) in adolescent athletes presenting in clinical settings. However, sport specia...
Do restrictive omnibus immigration laws reduce enrollment in public health insurance by Latino citizen children? A comparative interrupted time series study.

Abstract In the United States, there is concern that recent state laws restricting undocumented immigrants' rights could threaten access to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for citizen children of immigrant parents. Of particular concern are omnibus immigration laws, state laws that include multiple provisions increasing immigration enforcement and restricting rights for undocumented immigrants. These laws could limit Medicaid/CHIP access for citizen children in immigrant families by creating misinformation about their eligibility and fostering fear and mistrust of government among immigrant parents. This study uses nationally-representative data from the National Health Interview Survey (2005–2014; n = 70,187) and comparative interrupted time series methods to assess whether passage of state omnibus immigration laws reduced access to Medicaid/CHIP for US citizen Latino children. We found that law passage did not reduce enrollment for children with noncitizen parents and actually resulted in temporary increases in coverage among Latino children with at least one citizen parent. These findings are surprising in light of prior research. We offer potential explanations for this finding and conclude with a call for future research to be expanded in three ways: 1) examine whether policy effects vary for children of undocumented parents, compared to children whose noncitizen parents are legally present; 2) examine the joint effects of immigration-related policies at different levels, from the city or county to the state to the federal; and 3) draw on the large social movements and political mobilization literature that describes when and how Latinos and immigrants push back against restrictive immigration laws.
Towards More Nuanced Classification of NGOs and Their Services to Improve Integrated Planning across Disaster Phases

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are being integrated into U.S. strategies to expand the services that are available during health security threats like disasters. Identifying better ways to classify NGOs and their services could optimize disaster planning. We surveyed NGOs about the types of services they provided during different disaster phases. Survey responses were used to categorize NGO services as core—critical to fulfilling their organizational mission—or adaptive—services implemented during a disaster based on community need. We also classified NGOs as being core or adaptive types of organizations by calculating the percentage of each NGO’s services classified as core. Service types classified as core were mainly social services, while adaptive service types were those typically relied upon during disasters (e.g., warehousing, food services, etc.). In total, 120 NGOs were classified as core organizations, meaning they mainly provided the same services across disaster phases, while 100 NGOs were adaptive organizations, meaning their services changed. Adaptive NGOs were eight times more likely to report routinely participating in disaster planning as compared to core NGOs. One reason for this association may be that adaptive NGOs are more aware of the changing needs in their communities across disaster phases because of their involvement in disaster planning.
Phase sensitivity evaluation and its application to phase shifting interferometry.

Abstract In quantitative phase imaging, sensitivity is a key measure of system reproducibility. Despite continuous experimental breakthroughs in achieving highly sensitive detection, in-depth studies of theoretical constraints on sensitivity are inadequate and comparisons between different techniques are difficult. In this paper, we introduce the method to evaluate the sensitivity of phase shifting interferometry which is a major category of quantitative phase imaging techniques. The method discusses in detail several key concepts of sensitivity evaluation, including a general three-level evaluation framework, a complete interference signal model, Cramer-Rao bound and algorithm sensitivity, algorithm and system efficiencies, as well as energy efficiency of an algorithm. In discussions of specific phase shifting algorithms, we focus on the shot noise-limited model. This simplified model not only reflects the rapid developments in modern detectors that are often dominated by shot noise, but also permits the calculation of theoretical sensitivities based on measured data, which is important in evaluating experimental performance. As examples, we study several common phase shifting interferometric techniques. The results of different techniques are compared to provide insights into algorithm optimization and energy efficiency of sensitivity. A normalized algorithm sensitivity table is also provided for readers to conveniently estimate their system’s algorithm sensitivity and compare against experiments.
Spawning Community and Egg Deposition for Three Southeastern Nest-associate Minnows

Nest association is a symbiotic reproductive strategy in North American minnows in which a species spawns in the nest substrate of a host species. Host specificity is unknown for the vast majority of nest associates, and presence of a spawning aggregation over a particular nest site has is assumed to be evidence of egg deposition. In this study, we surveyed multiple streams for spawning aggregations throughout the ranges of 3 nestassociate species—Notropis baileyi (Rough Shiner), N. rubricroceus (Saffron Shiner), and N. chlorocephalus (Greenhead Shiner). We paired direct observation of spawning behavior with molecular verification of egg deposition. We observed all spawning aggregations in association with a host nest. We identified eggs from a number of species not directly observed over a particular aggregation site, although all species were known to aggregate as nest associates. On 2 occasions, we documented Saffron Shiner males in aggregations over Semotilus atromaculatus (Creek Chub) pit—ridge nests; however, we recovered no Saffron Shiner eggs from the nests. Our findings demonstrate that field observations of nuptial aggregations alone are not sufficient to confirm spawning associati on.
Mitigating register pressure in GPU kernels for improved energy efficiency

GPUs have become an integral part of modern HPC systems. As the HPC landscape moves toward over-provisioned systems with heterogeneous compute nodes, the importance of GPUs is likely to grow. Therefore, strategies for energy savings on these devices are of critical importance. In this paper, we examine the energy efficiency of the register file on current GPUs. We show that ineffective utilization of the register file not only degrades performance but also increases power consumption. To address this problem, we develop a multi-level approach for mitigating register pressure in GPU kernels. Our strategy includes a source-to-source data layout transformation, a method for modulating register pressure (RP) via compiler optimizations, and an autotuner for selecting RP-sensitive kernel launch configurations. Experimental results show that our strategy is able to curb inefficiency in register file usage and can significantly boost performance and energy efficiency in a range of GPU kernels.
Simultaneous pursuit of sparseness and rank structures for matrix decomposition

In multi-response regression, pursuit of two different types of structures is essential to battle the curse of dimensionality. In this paper, we seek a sparsest decomposition representation of a parameter matrix in terms of a sum of sparse and low rank matrices, among many overcomplete decompositions. On this basis, we propose a constrained method subject to two nonconvex constraints, respectively for sparseness and low-rank properties. Computationally, obtaining an exact global optimizer is rather challenging. To overcome the difficulty, we use an alternating directions method solving a low-rank subproblem and a sparseness subproblem alternatively, where we derive an exact solution to the low-rank subproblem, as well as an exact solution in a special case and an approximated solution generally through a surrogate of the L0-constraint and difference convex programming, for the sparse subproblem. Theoretically, we establish convergence rates of a global minimizer in the Hellinger-distance, providing an insight into why pursuit of two different types of decomposed structures is expected to deliver higher estimation accuracy than its counterparts based on either sparseness alone or low-rank approximation alone. Numerical examples are given to illustrate these aspects, in addition to an application to facial imagine recognition and multiple time series analysis.
Abstract 659: A novel manganese MRI contrast agent (PyC3A) for the evaluation of hepatic neoplasms

Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is routinely used to diagnosis hepatic neoplasms. However, Gadolinium (Gd) is contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment, and recent evidence also suggests Gd accumulates in brain tissue after repeated contrast injections. Manganese (Mn2+) is a paramagnetic ion that is cleared via biliary excretion, and provides an ideal alternative to Gd-based MR contrast agents. We present a novel Mn-based contrast agent, [Mn(PyC3A)(H2O)]- (referred to as PyC3A), and compare its efficacy to gadoxetic acid (Eovist) by imaging orthotopically implanted colorectal cancer hepatic metastases in mice. Methods: Male BALB/c mice (n = 8) were injected in the left lobe of the liver with 5x104 MC26/MCA-26 murine colon carcinoma cells, and were imaged on postoperative day 10 using a 4.7T MR scanner with PyC3A and gadoxetic acid (Eovist) 24 hrs apart. Signal contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was calculated for normal liver relative to tumor for each probe and compared. Results: Relaxivity of PyC3A in blood plasma was shown to be comparable to commercial Gd contrast agents. Biodistribution analysis confirmed that PyC3A clears via a mixed renal/hepatobiliary pathway with greater than 99% clearance within 24 hours. For imaging hepatic metastases, all mice survived to the study endpoint and developed radiographically discernible tumors (5 ± 2 mm diameter) without evidence of carcinomatosis. Calculated CNRs for liver relative to tumor for all recorded times are shown in Table 1. There was no difference in CNR between gadoxetic acid and PyC3A for all time points, suggesting near-equivalent enhancement of normal liver and tumor by both probes. Conclusions: PyC3A provides resolution of metastatic liver metastases that is comparable to gadoxetic acid. PyC3A may provide a safe and effective alternative to Gd constrast agents for imaging hepatic neoplasms in patients with renal impairment. Citation Format: Derek J. Erstad, Ian Ramsay, Mozhdeh Sojoodi, Christian Farrar, NIcholas J. Rotile, Shen Li, Sarani Ghoshal, Lanuti Michael, Peter Caravan, Kenneth K. Tanabe, Bryan C. Fuchs, Eric Gale. A novel manganese MRI contrast agent (PyC3A) for the evaluation of hepatic neoplasms [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 659.