cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advances in magnetic resonance imaging of the skull base.

Introduction Over thepast20years,magneticresonanceimaging(MRI)hasadvanced dueto new techniques involvingincreased magnetic field strengthanddevelopmentsin coils and pulse sequences. These advances allow increased opportunity to delineate the complexskullbaseanatomyandmayguidethediagnosisandtreatmentof themyriadof pathologies that can affect the skull base. Objectives The objective of this article is to provide a brief background of the development of MRI and illustrate advances in skull base imaging, including techniques that allow improved conspicuity, characterization, and correlative physiologic assess- ment of skull base pathologies. Data Synthesis Specific radiographic illustrations of increased skull base conspicuity including thelower cranial nerves, vessels, foramina, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)leaks, and effacement of endolymph are provided. In addition, MRIs demonstrating characteriza- tion of skull base lesions, such as recurrent cholesteatoma versus granulation tissue or abscess versus tumor, are also provided as well as correlative clinical findings in CSF flow studies in a patient pre- and post-suboccipital decompression for a Chiari I
Non-Rayleigh reverberation characteristics near 400 Hz observed on the New Jersey shelf

A descriptive analysis of reverberation statistics is presented for data taken during the 2001 Acoustic Clutter Reconnaissance Experiment, which was conducted on the Office of Naval Research (ONR) STRATAFORM area off the coast of New Jersey. Large area plots of reverberation versus topography are presented as a lead-in to describe the statistics of the reverberation and clutter that were observed during this experiment. A comparison of polar plot appearance of spikiness with a measure of non-Rayleigh behavior seems to correlate reasonably well and suggests that the polar plots may be useful as such an indicator of non-Rayleighness. Statistical analysis of the reverberation showed that a moderate-to-large portion of the data examined were nearly Rayleigh and that most of the data (Rayleigh-like and non-Rayleigh) were well fit by the K distribution. The bistatic data were seen to be uniformly and significantly more non-Rayleigh than the monostatic data. This disparity is believed to be mostly accounted for by the lower reverberation-to-ambient noise power levels in the monostatic data and the smaller vertical beamwidth of the bistatic source, rather than having arisen from the bistatic geometry. Analysis of the shape parameter of the K distribution as a function of bandwidth illustrated the "bandwidth" effect where the shape parameter first decreases inversely proportional to bandwidth, but then increases in a trend back toward the Rayleigh distribution at higher bandwidths. The shape-parameter estimates are seen to be well fit by the elongated patch model of Abraham and Lyons. The monostatic data were observed to have a minimum occurring at a smaller bandwidth than for the bistatic data, a result explained by the larger time spread of the multipath expected for the monostatic source owing to its larger vertical beamwidth. Analysis of a small amount of data from the 2003 Acoustic Clutter Experiment, recently conducted on the New Jersey Shelf, predicts a smaller bandwidth for the minimum of the shape-parameter curve compared to the 2001 data. It is believed that the sound-speed profiles in 2003 lead to more bottom interaction than in 2001 and, therefore, produced a larger time spread in the multipath, leading to a minimum occurring at a lower bandwidth. The results of this paper indicate that many of the phenomena observed in the analysis of reverberation-envelope statistics may be explained by appropriately considering the effects of propagation in conjunction with the sonar system with which the environment is probed.
Tissue engineering: a new frontier in physiological genomics.

Considerable progress has been made in the last decade in the engineering and construction of a number of artificial tissue types. These constructs are typically viewed from the perspective of poss...
Ultra-fast pg/ml anthrax toxin (protective antigen) detection assay based on microwave-accelerated metal-enhanced fluorescence

Abstract Rapid presymptomatic diagnosis of Bacillus anthracis at early stages of infection plays a crucial role in prompt medical intervention to prevent rapid disease progression and accumulation of lethal levels of toxin. To detect low levels of the anthrax protective antigen (PA) exotoxin in biological fluids, we have developed a metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF)–PA assay using a combination of the MEF effect and microwave-accelerated PA protein surface absorption. The assay is based on a modified version of our “rapid catch and signal” (RCS) technology previously designed for the ultra-fast and sensitive analysis of genomic DNA sequences. Technologically, the proposed MEF–PA assay uses standard 96-well plastic plates modified with silver island films (SiFs) grown within the wells. It is shown that the fluorescent probe, covalently attached to the secondary antibody, plays a crucial role of indicating complex formation (i.e., shows a strong MEF response to the recognition event). Microwave irradiation rapidly accelerates PA deposition onto the surface (“rapid catch”), significantly speeding up the MEF–PA assay and resulting in a total assay run time of less than 40 min with an analytical sensitivity of less than 1 pg/ml PA.
Effectiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in patients with cirrhosis.

Background: Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is recommended in patients with cirrhosis, but the effectiveness of a surveillance program in clinical practice has yet to be established. Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of a surveillance program with ultrasound and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) to detect early HCCs. Methods: Four hundred and forty-six patients with Child A/B cirrhosis were prospectively enrolled between January 2004 and September 2006 and followed until July 2010. HCC surveillance using ultrasound and AFP was conducted per the treating hepatologist, although the standard was every 6 to 12 months. HCC was diagnosed using American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) guidelines and early HCC defined by Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging. Performance characteristics were determined for surveillance using AFP, ultrasound, or the combination. Results: After a median follow-up of 3.5 years, 41 patients developed HCCs, of whom 30 (73.2%) had early HCCs. The annual incidence of HCC was 2.8%, with cumulative 3- and 5-year incidence rates of 5.7% and 9.1%, respectively. Surveillance ultrasound and AFP had sensitivities of 44% and 66% and specificities of 92% and 91%, respectively, for the detection of HCCs. Sensitivity significantly improved to 90%, with minimal loss in specificity (83%) when these tests were used in combination. Conclusions: When used as a surveillance program in a real-world clinical setting, combination of ultrasound and AFP is the most effective strategy to detect HCC at an early stage. Impact: Our results differ from the guidelines of the AASLD. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 1–7. ©2012 AACR .
Emotions and Multilingualism: Semantic and conceptual levels: The bilingual mental lexicon

‘Frustration’ is such an amazing word, the lack of it in a language is so amazing because it carries with it the word ‘frustrate’ to stop to block … so the outside force is carried in that word, it's not just what you feel it's the way you feel because an outside force that is blocking you and you don't have that in Greek … (Leonidas, a Greek–English bilingual, in Panayiotou, 2004a: 13) For Leonidas – and many other bi- and multilinguals around the world, including the respondents to our webquestionnaire – emotion terms of one language do not neatly map onto the emotion lexicon of another. Greek, in Leonidas's view, does not have a counterpart of ‘frustration,’ which he ‘learned’ to feel as he acquired English; on the other hand, it does have a feeling of stenahoria (discomfort/sadness/suffocation), which he experiences only in Greek-speaking surroundings (Panayiotou, 2004a). I can relate to his experience of having somewhat distinct emotional lives in two languages. My own daily life is lived through the means of English and Russian, whose emotion terms and scripts at times collide and clash, leading to misunderstandings, tears, and apologies. Take, for instance, two verbs that are indispensable in Russian emotional life – serdit'sia (to get actively angry, mad, or cross at someone, to be upset with them) and obizhat'sia (to feel hurt by someone, offended or upset by them).
Menneskers paradoksale forhold til dyr

Menneskers praksis med a ha sakalte kjaeledyr gar mange tusen ar tilbake i tid og er vanlig blant alle folk. En slik praksis, hvor mennesker temmer andre (ikke-menneskelige) dyr og har dem som venner, understreker naerheten og slektskapet mellom artene. I var tid bygges naerheten mellom mennesker og dyr stadig ned, og karakteren av det forholdet mennesker har til dyr defineres av hvilken sfaere de befinner seg i. Som A¢â¬ÂproduksjonsdyrA¢â¬Â for kjott og pels, som A¢â¬ÂforsoksdyrA¢â¬Â i medisinske og psykologiske eksperimenter og til produkttesting, til underholdning, f.eks. i sirkus og som byttedyr i jakt, er dyrene objekter for menneskers behov og onsker. I denne artikkelen diskuterer jeg praksisen med a holde kjaeledyr ut fra egne erfaringer og ser disse i lys av litteratur som teoretisk og empirisk belyser forholdet mennesker har til dyr generelt, men forholdet til kjaeledyr spesielt. Et sporsmal er om praksis med a holde kjaeledyr forst og fremst dekker et menneskelig behov som bygger pa spesiesisme og som legitimerer at mennesker har dyr som eiendom og med det en tingliggjoring av dem og mulig mishandling. Pa en annen side kan mennesker gjennom a holde kjaeledyr laere seg a se andres behov og fole kjaerlighet og respekt for dyr, og kjaeledyr kan bidra til en oket livskvalitet for mennesker.
CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITIES AND MINERAL ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS OF MACROFUNGAL STIPE TISSUE

Stipe tissues from 18 species of macrofungi collected in the greater Yellowstone National Park-Grand Teton National Park area were analyzed for cation exchange capacity (CEC) and six essential mineral nutrients. Stipe tissue content of the divalent cations, calcium and magnesium, increased significantly with increasing CEC, whereas stipe tissue content of the monovalent cation, potassium, decreased significantly with increasing CEC. These data lend support to the hypothesis that chemical characteristics of fungal cell-walls determine their net ionic charge and the ratio of monovalent/divalent cations that accumulate in apoplasmic space within the wall. Mineral content of sporocarps was not correlated with mineral content, organic matter, or pH values for soils at collection sites. There was not a significant correlation between soil CEC and sporocarp CEC for any ofthe three samples ofthe 18 species studied. Results indicate that sporocarp CEC is largely a genetically determined character.
Multipulse storage and manipulation via solitonic solutions

Solutions to the Maxwell–Bloch equations for a Λ system are computed using the single-soliton Darboux transformation and the nonlinear superposition principle. These allow complete control of information deposited by a signal pulse (with the help of an auxiliary control pulse) in the coherence of the medium’s ground states by injecting subsequential pulses. Additionally, we study the encoding of two signal pulses and their manipulation by a control pulse and show that multipulse storage and control are possible as long as the imprints made by encoding the signal pulses are sufficiently separated.
Bisphenol A Pollution Investigation in Canned Food and Its Dietary Risk Assessment in Hangzhou Market

【Objective】To investigate the levels of bisphenols A in canned food purchased from Hangzhou markets and clarify dietary exposure risk.【Method】A total of 93 samples from various kinds of canned food samples in Hangzhou supermarket were prepared for analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography.Bisphenol A exposure risk was assessed by point estimate.【Result】The detection rate of bisphenol A of canned samples was 29%,with average level 121.7μg / kg,maximum level 2 840μg / kg.The oily fish canned,meat canned and vegetables canned had higher levels of bisphenol A than others.The dietary exposure of bisphenol A in canned food was 0.04—0.20μg / kg·bw / d in the general population,accounting for 0.4% to 2.0% of TDI.【Conclusion】Bisphenol A levels in oily fish,meat and vegetable canned food were significantly higher than drinks and porridge canned food.In the absence of other significant sources of exposure,the general population canned food-based bisphenol A dietary exposure was within the acceptable range.
Transformative Teacher Preparation: A Framework of Resources for Learning to Teach

If, as I argued in Chap. 2, we are to approach teacher preparation in deep (rather than shallow) focus, then we must attend equally to the wider policy stage where novice teachers learn to teach and to the more fine-grained, context-bound, and complex processes of how they learn to teach their subject in particular school contexts. Chap. 2 aimed to bring into focus the current policy debates defining the field of teacher preparation, showing how the reductive and binary “reform” or “defend” response to university teacher preparation is shaping policy decisions about where and how teachers should be prepared.
A probabilistic analysis of the simplex method

Since the invention of the Simplex Method in 1947 by George B. Dantzig it had been an open problem for mathematicians why this algorithm works so efficiently in practice. This question became even more interesting when in the beginning of the seventies Klee, Minty, Jeroslow and other authors recognized that the usual variants of the Simplex Method are nonpolynomial in the sense of worst-case complexity theory. That means that there is no polynomial in the dimension of linear programming problems which acts as an upper bound for the respective numbers of pivot steps required for solving all the possible problems.
Variants of Rab GTPase–Effector Binding Protein-2 Cause Variation in the Collateral Circulation and Severity of Stroke

Background and Purpose—The extent (number and diameter) of collateral vessels varies widely and is a major determinant, along with arteriogenesis (collateral remodeling), of variation in severity o...
Dinitrogen Fixation in Alpine Tundra, Niwot Ridge, Front Range, Colorado, U.S.A.

The process of dinitrogen fixation was studied in the alpine tundra ecosystem at Niwot Ridge, Colorado. In situ fixation activities were measured by the acetylene reduction method in the soils of t...
Coming Into Focus: An Interview with Ellen Jantzen

Ellen Jantzen, the artist (www.ellenjantzen.com), works with geographic composition that focuses attention on graphic elements in a scene, which might make her career particularly interesting to those working with geographic data and visualization. Her work explores reality and time, both how it is experienced and revealed, and the healing powers of the natural environment.
Acute Kidney Injury in Patients on SGLT2 Inhibitors: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

OBJECTIVE Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are new medications that improve cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the Food and Drug Administration has issued alerts regarding increased acute kidney injury (AKI) risk with canagliflozin and dapagliflozin. We aimed to assess the real-world risk of AKI in new SGLT2 inhibitor users in two large health care utilization cohorts of patients with T2D. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We used longitudinal data from the Mount Sinai chronic kidney disease registry and the Geisinger Health System cohort. We selected SGLT inhibitor users and nonusers (patients with T2D without SGLT2 inhibitor prescription). We determined AKI by the KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) definition (AKI KDIGO ). We performed 1:1 nearest-neighbor propensity matching and calculated unadjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and adjusted HRs (aHRs; accounting for covariates poorly balanced) for AKI in primary and sensitivity analyses. RESULTS We identified 377 SGLT2 inhibitor users and 377 nonusers in the Mount Sinai cohort, of whom 3.8 and 9.7%, respectively, had an AKI KDIGO event over a median follow-up time of 14 months. The unadjusted hazards of AKI KDIGO were 60% lower in users (HR 0.4 [95% CI 0.2–0.7]; P = 0.01), which was unchanged (aHR 0.4 [95% CI 0.2–0.7]; P = 0.004) postadjustment. Similarly, we identified 1,207 SGLT2 inhibitor users and 1,207 nonusers in the Geisinger cohort, of whom 2.2 and 4.6% had an AKI KDIGO event. AKI KDIGO unadjusted hazards were lower in users (HR 0.5 [95% CI 0.3–0.8]; P P = 0.09). These estimates did not qualitatively change across several sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS Our findings do not suggest an increased risk of AKI associated with SGLT2 inhibitor use in patients with T2D in two large health systems.
Apo A-I (Apolipoprotein A-I) Vascular Gene Therapy Provides Durable Protection Against Atherosclerosis in Hyperlipidemic Rabbits.

Objective—Gene therapy that expresses apo A-I (apolipoprotein A-I) from vascular wall cells has promise for preventing and reversing atherosclerosis. Previously, we reported that transduction of ca...
Distribution, characteristics, and level of community awareness and use of formal shared use sites in Los Angeles.

Abstract Shared use agreements (SUA) could increase opportunities for physical activity (PA) in under-resourced, urban areas. Despite recent investments in SUAs, the extent to which they reach communities in need and the level of community awareness and use of SUAs remains unclear. This cross-sectional study examined: 1) the distribution of SUAs in Los Angeles (LA) during the 2015–2016 academic year, 2) the characteristics of communities where SUAs were located, and 3) the extent to which community members were aware of and using available facilities. Assessment methods included: 1) abstraction of school administrative data reflecting the geographic distribution and scope of SUAs in LA, 2) collation of community-level Census and local planning data to describe demographic characteristics and per capita park acreage of communities where SUAs were located, and 3) collection of data via an Internet panel survey of LA adults (n = 371) examining awareness and use of SUA facilities. Under 3% of schools had a SUA in place during the study period. Compared to other areas of the city, areas within one mile of SUAs had more Hispanic/Latino, low-income, and lower educational status residents. Among survey respondents, 25.6% of those living within one mile of a SUA reported having access to school facilities; 48.6% of those reporting access reported using them. Although potentially targeted in high-needs areas, community members may not be aware of or utilizing SUA facilities. Additional efforts are needed to both expand access to school-based PA resources and attract community users.
Constraints on Binary Black Hole Populations from LIGO-Virgo Detections

We reanalyse the LIGO-Virgo strain data of the 10 binary black hole mergers reported to date and compute the likelihood function in terms of chirp mass, mass ratio and effective spin. We discuss the strong degeneracy between mass ratio and spin for the three lighter events. We use this likelihood and an estimate of the horizon volume as a function of intrinsic parameters to constrain the properties of the population of merging binary black holes. The data disfavour large spins. Typical spins are constrained to $\overline a \lesssim 0.4$, even if the underlying population has randomly-oriented spins. For aligned spins the constraints are tighter, with typical spins required to be around $\overline a\sim 0.1$ and have comparable dispersion. We detect no statistically significant tendency towards a positive average spin in the direction of the orbital angular momentum. We put an upper limit on the fraction of systems where the secondary could have been tidally locked prior to the formation of the black holes (corresponding to merger times shorter than $10^8$ years) $f \lesssim 0.3$. Four events are consistent with having a maximally-spinning secondary, although one only marginally. We confirm previous findings that there is a hint of a cutoff at high mass. The data favour distributions of mass ratios with an average $\overline q \gtrsim 0.7$.
Best-Path Theorem Proving: Compiling Derivations

When computers answer our questions in mathematics and logic they need also to be able to supply justification and explanatory insight. Typical theorem provers do not do this. The paper focuses on tableau theorem provers for First Order Predicate Calculus. The paper introduces a general construction and a technique for converting the tableau data structures of these to human friendly linear proofs using any familiar rule set and ‘laws of thought’. The construction uses a type of tableau in which only leaf nodes are extended. To produce insightful proofs, improvements need to be made to the intermediate output. Dependency analysis and refinement, ie compilation of proofs, can produce benefits. To go further, the paper makes other suggestions including a perhaps surprising one: the notion of best proof or insightful proof is an empirical matter. All possible theorems, or all possible proofs, distribute evenly, in some sense or other, among the possible uses of inference steps. However, with the proofs of interest to humans this uniformity of distribution does not hold. Humans favor certain inferences over others, which are structurally very similar. The author’s research has taken many sample questions and proofs from logic texts, scholastic tests, and similar sources, and analyzed the best proofs for them (‘best’ here usually meaning shortest). This empirical research gives rise to some suggestions on heuristic. The general point is: humans are attuned to certain forms inference, empirical research can tell us what those are, and that empirical research can educate as to how tableau theorem provers, and their symbiotic linear counterparts, should run. In sum, tableau theorem provers, coupled with transformations to linear proofs and empirically sourced heuristic, can provide transparent and accessible theorem proving.
INTRODUCTION TO POPULATIONS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

But you should not be deceived into believing that ecology is founded on exact quantitative laws that serve to predict events with the same authority as the equations of say, physics or physical chemistry. An ecosystem is vastly more complex than a gas-filled balloon or a flask of reagents. Proceed cautiously …
A Reappraisal of Progesterone Action in the Mammary Gland

The ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone and their respective receptors are essential for maintenance of postnatal developmental plasticity of the mammary gland and play a key role in mammary tumorigenesis. Mouse models in which expression of the progesterone receptors was genetically ablated have recently become available. Studies of these models have demonstrated that progesterone is specifically required for pregnancy associated ductal proliferation and lobuloalveolar differentiation of the mammary epithelium, but not for immediate postpubertal ductal morphogenesis. Use of these mice in combination with mammary gland transplantation indicates that developmental regulation by progesterone appears to occur through a paracrine mechanism in which progesterone receptor (PR)3 positive cells represent a subset of non-proliferating epithelial cells that are capable of directing proliferation and/or differentiation of neighboring receptor negative cells. The hierarchical organization of these receptors in the epithelium and their segregation from proliferating cells is a conserved feature in rodent and human mammary tissue. The identification of paracrine mediators of the progesterone response is now an imminent goal as is the delineation of the individual contributions of the two PR isoforms using similar approaches.
Antecedent precipitation influences the bacterial processing of terrestrial dissolved organic matter in a North Carolina estuary

Abstract Estuaries and coastal waters ultimately receive the terrestrial dissolved organic matter (DOM) exported from coastal watersheds, more directly during extreme precipitation events. Recent work suggests DOM's degradation in coastal waters varies with its quality, which also might vary as a function of precipitation, activating contributions from different sources within a watershed. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which microbial degradation of terrestrial DOM in the Newport River Estuary, eastern North Carolina, was influenced by precipitation events occurring within the preceding seven days from sampling. We hypothesized that DOM stored in forested wetlands (e.g., pocosins and Cypress swamps) that become connected to the main channel of the Newport River during high precipitation events was more labile than DOM flowing into the estuary under low precipitation events. DOM quality was assessed with optical and stable C isotope (δ13C) measurements, while DOM lability was assessed by measurements of bacterial production (BP) and mineralization of 14C-labeled phenanthrene (Pmin), a polyaromatic tracer compound. Aromatic content of DOM, assessed by specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA254) was highest in the river with values well over 5.0 L mg C−1 m−1, and decreased with salinity. Antecedent precipitation (AP) of at least 100 mm in the seven days prior to sampling resulted in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations >20 mg L−1, at salinities
The Portion Control Strategies Trial: a Year-long Randomized Controlled Trial on the Impact of Portion Control on Weight Change

Controlling food and beverage portion sizes can help reduce energy intake, but there are few data on the longer-term effects on body weight. We tested the efficacy of two portion-control strategies...
Development of an Environmental Monitoring Technique Using Synchronous Excitation (SE) Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Environmental monitoring of discharge plumes (surface and groundwater) and effluents generally involves extensive analyses which frequently employ GC, GC/MS, ICAP or AA techniques. These techniques usually require extraction procedures followed by analyses for specific analytes. When monitoring complex mixtures, these procedures can become more difficult, prone to error and limited by analytical thresholds to the ppb and ppm range. When environmental discharges occur, the dilution process exacerbates analytical problems by lowering concentrations. An alternative/supportive technique is the use of SE fluorescence spectroscopy. This technique can be used for fingerprinting effluents and contaminant mixtures in the ppt range. An SE fluorescence technique was developed specifically for monitoring effluent from a facility manufacturing a variety of dyes and ancillary products. Prior to discharge, the effluent was treated in a biological and charcoal (PAC) waste treatment system. The effects of sampling (composite, grab), sample storage, fluorescence properties of the effluent (spectral fingerprint) and fluorescence characteristics of the effluent in ambient waters was determined. Consequently, a method was established which "fingerprints" effluent at dilutions of 1:1000, can identify effluent at dilutions of 1:4000, and has fingerprinted similar source material in a rivershed adjacent to the site. This rapid technique can be used to fingerprint and monitor a variety of environmental discharges or plumes when appropriate contaminants are present.
Academic Centers Are Associated with Improved Survival Outcomes in High Risk Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patients

Abstract Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and is characterized as a heterogenous disease associated with varying outcomes. The International Prognostic Index (IPI) has been the standard for baseline prognostic assessment in these patients. In this study we aimed to determine the impact of treatment facility (academic versus non-academic centers) on overall survival outcomes in DLBCL patients stratified by IPI score risk groups, with a focus on high risk disease as this is associated with poorer outcomes. Methods: The 2018 National Cancer Database (NCDB) was utilized for patients diagnosed with DLBCL between 2004-2015. Patients were then stratified based on IPI risk score from low to high risk. Four risk groups were formed: low (0-1), low-intermediate (2), high-intermediate (3), and high (4-5). Overall survival was calculated using Kaplan-Meyer analysis with bivariate cox proportional hazard ratios to compare survival by facility type (academic or community centers) within these risk groups. Results: A total of 160,137 patients were identified. Of these cases 31.8% were classified as low risk, 21.9% were low-intermediate risk, 22.2% were high-intermediate risk, and 24% were high risk. 59.3% of patients were treated at a community center and 40.7% were treated at academic centers. Treatment at academic centers was associated with a significantly improved overall survival (OS) for each risk category. Median survival (in months) for high risk IPI score DLBCL was 47.9 months in community and 61.1 months in academic centers (p Conclusions: Facility type is significantly associated with improved survival outcomes across all IPI based risk groups for DLBCL. This benefit is especially significant in higher risk disease where positive outcomes are less common, suggesting treatment at academic centers may be particularly beneficial in these patients. Some of the possible reasons for this difference may include provider experience, increased access to resources, and opportunity for clinical trials. Further investigations into the factors contributing to such disparities should be done to help standardize care and improve outcomes. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Race, ethnicity, and cognition in persons newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Objective To determine whether black or Hispanic patients with newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to have cognitive impairment than white patients when compared to controls matched on age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Whether black or Hispanic patients have a more aggressive MS disease course than white patients remains unclear. No prior studies have examined differences in early cognitive impairment. The oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is sensitive to early cognitive impairment in MS but normative data in nonwhite patients are limited. Methods We studied 1,174 adults who enrolled in the MS Sunshine Study. SDMT and verbal fluency were measured in 554 incident cases of MS or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and 620 matched controls. Multivariable regression was used to examine correlates of abnormal SDMT in the entire cohort. Results The strongest independent predictors of lower oral SDMT scores in rank order were having MS/CIS, lower educational attainment, and being black or Hispanic. Black and Hispanic patients and controls had lower SDMT scores than white participants even after controlling for age, sex, and education. However, no interaction between race/ethnicity and MS case status on SDMT scores was detected. Easy-to-use reference scores stratified by age and educational attainment for black and Hispanic patients are provided. Conclusion Persons with newly diagnosed MS/CIS are more likely to have subtly impaired cognitive function than controls regardless of race/ethnicity. Lower absolute SDMT scores among black and Hispanic patients compared to white patients highlight underlying US population differences rather than differences in MS disease severity.
Heart Failure Associated With the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor Osimertinib.

Incorporation of molecular targeted therapies into the care of patients with sensitizing mutations has driven significant improvements in outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR )-mutant lung cancer includes the greatest percentage of these cases, and
Mechanistic insights explain the transforming potential of the T507K substitution in the protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP2

The protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 is an allosteric enzyme critical for cellular events downstream of growth factor receptors. Mutations in the SHP2 gene have been linked to many different types of human diseases, including developmental disorders, leukemia, and solid tumors. Unlike most SHP2-activating mutations, the T507K substitution in SHP2 is unique in that it exhibits oncogenic Ras-like transforming activity. However, the biochemical basis of how the SHP2/T507K variant elicits transformation remains unclear. By combining kinetic and biophysical methods, X-ray crystallography, and molecular modeling, as well as using cell biology approaches, here we uncovered that the T507K substitution alters both SHP2 substrate specificity and its allosteric regulatory mechanism. We found that although SHP2/T507K exists in the closed, autoinhibited conformation similar to the WT enzyme, the interactions between its N-SH2 and protein-tyrosine phosphatase domains are weakened such that SHP2/T507K possesses a higher affinity for the scaffolding protein Grb2-associated binding protein 1 (Gab1). We also discovered that the T507K substitution alters the structure of the SHP2 active site, resulting in a change in SHP2 substrate preference for Sprouty1, a known negative regulator of Ras signaling and a potential tumor suppressor. Our results suggest that SHP2/T507K's shift in substrate specificity coupled with its preferential association of SHP2/T507K with Gab1 enable the mutant SHP2 to more efficiently dephosphorylate Sprouty1 at pTyr-53. This dephosphorylation hyperactivates Ras signaling, which is likely responsible for SHP2/T507K's Ras-like transforming activity.
Bezoar as a cause of gastric perforation in young female patient: A case report. : Palwasha Gul, Islah Ud Din, Nosheen Kanwal,

Introduction: Bezoars are rare accumulations of indigestible contents within the gastrointestinal tract. These are commonly found in patients with previous psychiatric illness, learning disabilities and gastric surgery. Computed tomography (CT) is non invasive imaging modality of choice as it can not only diagnose but recognize associated complications as well. Case discussion: We present a case of young 16 years old female who presented with nausea, dull abdominal pain and distension. She underwent Contrast enhanced CT scan and was diagnosed as a case of gastric bezoar with gastric perforation and frank pneumoperitoneum. Patient underwent exploratory laparotomy and repair of stomach. Per operative findings were consistent with trichobezoar. Patient recovered well after surgery. Discussion: Bezoar is accumulation of partially digested foreign material in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Bezoar can occur in any part of GIT, however, are most common in stomach. Muliple risk factors are recognized however can occur without risk factor. Bezoars are classified into several main types. Proper clinical history, examination and imaging can play important role in its diagnosis. Conclusion: Non specific abdominal pain in young female patients with psychiatric disorder can result from uncommon causes such as bezoars and is important for clinician and radiologist to be aware of this uncommon entity.
Netome: The Molecular Characterization of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs)

Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cells in humans with biological roles relevant to inflammation and fighting infections. The release of neutrophil extracellular DNA aims to control invasion by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and tissue damage. Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) act as antimicrobial agents triggering immune signaling through the release of the nuclear content into the extracellular space. Although intense investigations have elucidated the pathways preceding NET formation, the exact molecular composition of released NETs has not been mapped. We aimed to decode the sequences of DNA and proteins from NETs. With emerging needs to understand neutrophil functions precisely, we open the field of NETOMIC studies through isolation of NETs in combination with omics approaches including shotgun genomics and proteomics. Our in vitro NET isolation methodology allowed for unprecedented replicability with induction in a sterile inflammation model system. Enrichment of mitochondrial DNA and telomere sequences are significantly expressed in NET genomes. This study revealed that the genomic sequence released in the extracellular milieu is not stochastically serving as a scaffold for a repertoire of proteins involved in neutrophil protective functions. Collectively, we established the gene and protein signatures exclusive to the extracellular NETs in comparison to undifferentiated and differentiated neutrophil states, further guiding future detection of specific regions needed for diagnostics and targeted therapies of NET related conditions.
Monte Carlo simulations of electron-sample interactions at phase boundaries and implications for automated mineralogy

Abstract Automated mineralogy instrumentation (QEMSCAN, MLA, TIMA) is routinely used for materials characterization in the mining industry. All current techniques identify minerals based on a combination of backscattered electron and chemical (energy-dispersive spectroscopy) signals read from the sample. Boundary zones, where two or more minerals are touching, yield signals that reflect a mix of the characteristics of multiple minerals and that may or may not match anything in the mineral database. These phase boundaries, varying in width, are known to cause errors in automated mineralogy analyses, but what mineral and boundary characteristics affect phase boundary width and how much error phase boundaries can cause remain poorly understood. New Monte Carlo modeling of electron-sample interactions at and near phase boundaries shows that the width of the zone of mixed signals, and hence the amount of error, depends on the grain size and texture of the sample; the densities of the minerals and the ionization potentials of their constituent elements; and the position and orientation of the boundary between the minerals, as well as various instrumental factors such as beam accelerating voltage. Error induced by phase boundaries is high when a high accelerating voltage is used to examine fine-grained samples with complex (intergrowth, exsolution) textures that involve low-density minerals with low-ionization-potential elements. Error is low when the sample is coarse-grained, lacks complex textural relationships that create boundary area, and consists of high-density minerals with high-ionization-potential elements, which have a higher electron stopping power and prevent the beam from spreading out as much. Where low- and high-density minerals are in contact at an angled boundary, the width of the boundary zone is low when the high-density mineral is on top and high when the low-density phase is on top. Calculations based on these simulations indicate that the amount of area that could fall within phase boundary zones depends strongly on grain size, shape, and width of boundary zone. Boundary phases may contribute significantly to overall analytical error for fine-grained minerals with low densities and composed of elements with low ionization potentials, but for most samples the boundary phase area is likely to be
γ-Tocotrienol-Loaded Liposomes for Radioprotection from Hematopoietic Side Effects Caused by Radiotherapeutic Drugs.

With the successful development and increased use of targeted radionuclide therapy for treating cancer comes the increased risk of radiation injury to bone marrow—both direct suppression and stochastic effects, leading to neoplasia. Herein, we report a novel radioprotector drug, a liposomal formulation of γ-tocotrienol (GT3), or GT3-Nano for short, to mitigate bone marrow radiation damage during targeted radionuclide therapy. Methods: GT3 was loaded into liposomes using passive loading. 64Cu-GT3-Nano and 3H-GT3-Nano were synthesized to study the in vivo biodistribution profile of the liposome and GT3 individually. The radioprotection efficacy of GT3-Nano was assessed after acute 137Cs whole-body irradiation at a sublethal (4 Gy), a lethal (9 Gy), or a single high-dose administration of 153Sm-ethylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(methylene phosphonic acid) (EDTMP). Flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy were used to analyze hematopoietic cell population dynamics and the cellular site of GT3-Nano localization in the spleen and bone marrow, respectively. Results: Bone marrow uptake and retention (percentage injected dose per gram of tissue) at 24 h was 6.98 ± 2.34 for 64Cu-GT3-Nano and 7.44 ± 2.52 for 3H-GT3-Nano. GT3-Nano administered 24 h before or after 4 Gy of total-body irradiation (TBI) promoted rapid and complete hematopoietic recovery, whereas recovery of controls stalled at 60%. GT3-Nano demonstrated dose-dependent radioprotection, achieving 90% survival at 50 mg/kg against lethal 9-Gy TBI. Flow cytometry of the bone marrow indicated that progenitor bone marrow cells MPP2 and CMP were upregulated in GT3-Nano–treated mice. Immunohistochemistry showed that GT3-Nano accumulates in CD105-positive sinusoid epithelial cells. Conclusion: GT3-Nano is highly effective in mitigating the marrow-suppressive effects of sublethal and lethal TBI in mice. GT3-Nano can facilitate rapid recovery of hematopoietic components in mice treated with the endoradiotherapeutic agent 153Sm-EDTMP.
Epigenetic and Posttranscriptional Modulation of SOS1 Can Promote Breast Cancer Metastasis through Obesity-Activated c-Met Signaling in African-American Women.

Ethnicity is considered to be one of the major risk factors in certain subtypes of breast cancer. However, the mechanism of this racial disparity remains poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that SOS1, a key regulator of Ras pathway, is highly expressed in African American (AA) breast cancer patients compared to Caucasian American (CA) patients. Because of the higher obesity rate in AA women, increased levels of SOS1 facilitated signal transduction of the c-Met pathway which was highly activated in AA breast cancer patients via HGF secreted from adipocytes. Elevated expression of SOS1 also enhanced cancer stemness through upregulation of PTTG1 and promoted M2 polarization of macrophages by CCL2 in metastatic sites. SOS1 was epigenetically regulated by a super-enhancer identified by H3K27ac in AA patients. Knockout of the super-enhancer by CRISPR in AA cell lines significantly reduced SOS1 expression. Furthermore, SOS1 was post-transcriptionally regulated by miR-483 whose expression is reduced in AA patients through histone tri-methylation (H3K27me3) on its promoter. The natural compound taxifolin suppressed signaling transduction of SOS1 by blocking the interaction between SOS1 and Grb2, suggesting a potential utility of this compound as a therapeutic agent for AA breast cancer patients.
High Power, 140 GHz Gyrotron

The design and construction of a pulsed 100 kW, 140 GHz gyrotron will be described. Initial gyrotron operation is expected in late 1981 or early 1982. Advances in gyrotron theory carried out in support of this experimental research will also be described.
Is Gender Justice a Completed Agenda

The central argument of The Feminization of America is somewhat surprising and strangely compelling. Lenz and Myerhoff argue that women largely have won their struggle to enter the public sphere of American life and that, in the process, they have transformed both public and private spheres in ways that have produced more egalitarian relationships and greater human happiness. Because this transformation is nearing completion, the authors argue, we should put aside the feminist injunction to put women first; we should get, in their phrase, "beyond feminism" (p. 226). If their argument is correct, it has significant legal and political consequences. For example, if it is true that women are no longer disadvantaged, then courts might be justified in scrutinizing claims of gender discrimination less carefully and legislatures in concluding that policy choices favoring women are unnecessary and undesirable.
Contextualizing lobate debris aprons and glacier-like forms on Mars with debris-covered glaciers on Earth:

Debris-covered glaciers from around the world offer distinct environmental, climatic, and historical conditions from which to study the effects of debris on glacier-ice evolution. A rich literature...
Überwachung durch Big Data – Das Beispiel der Polizei

Der Beitrag beschaftigt sich mit der Schnittstelle von zwei strukturellen Entwicklungen: der zunehmenden Uberwachung und dem Aufkommen von Big Data. Gestutzt auf ethnografische Beobachtungen und Interviews innerhalb der Polizeibehorde von Los Angeles analysiere ich, wie der Einsatz von Big-Data-Techniken die polizeiliche Uberwachung verandert, und zeige, dass sie sowohl zu einer Erweiterung wie auch zu einer grundlegenden Transformation fruher Uberwachungspraktiken fuhren. Erstens werden Risikoeinschatzungen, die fruher dem Ermessen der Einzelnen uberlassen waren, durch die Verwendung von Risikoscores erganzt und quantifiziert. Zweitens haben Daten heute vor allem eine pradiktive Funktion, wahrend sie fruher eher reaktiv oder zu erklarenden Zwecken eingesetzt wurden. Drittens ermoglicht die Verbreitung automatischer Alarmmeldesysteme, sehr viel mehr Menschen zu uberwachen. Viertens ist die Schwelle dafur niedriger geworden, auch Personen, die bisher noch keinen direkten Polizeikontakt hatten, in die Datenbanken der Strafverfolgungsbehorden aufzunehmen. Funftens werden zuvor getrennte Datenbanken zusammengefuhrt, mit der Folge, dass sich Uberwachung in vielen anderen Institutionen ausbreitet. Ausgehend von diesen Befunden entwickle ich ein theoretisches Modell der Uberwachung durch Big Data, das auch auf Institutionen auserhalb des Strafrechtssystems anwendbar ist. Zum Schluss beschreibe ich, wie sich die Uberwachung durch Big Data auf das Rechtssystem und die soziale Ungleichheit auswirkt.