cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
sup 99m TECHNETIUM-DIMERCAPTO-SUCCINIC ACID RENAL SCAN IN THE EVALUATION OF POTENTIAL LONG-TERM RENAL PARENCHYMAL DAMAGE ASSOCIATED WITH EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK WAVE LITHOTRIPSY IN CHILDREN

AbstractPurpose: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL † †Dornier Medical Systems, Inc., Marietta, Georgia.) has been reported as efficient and safe in children. Because of reports of renal parenchymal damage in adults, this study was designed to assess the effects of ESWL in pediatric kidneys evaluated before and after treatment with99m technetium dimercapto-succinic acid (DMSA) renal scan.Materials and Methods: A total of 15 children, 9 months to 15 years old (mean age 6.5 years), underwent ESWL treatment for urolithiasis. Evaluation imaging included plain abdominal radiography, excretory urogram and/or renal sonography. DMSA renal scan was performed 24 hours before ESWL and at least 6 months after treatment.Results: ESWL was performed in 1 session for 8 patients, 2 sessions for 6 and 3 sessions for 1, delivering a range of 600 to 3,000 shock waves per session. Treatment was successful in achieving stone-free status in 87% of the cases. Long-term followup (1 to 5 years) showed no blood pressure ch...
MODELING OF THE FLUCTUATIONS AND THE FREQUENCY-SPECTRA OF REACTANTS IN TURBULENT SCALAR MIXING LAYERS

Experimental data of Bilger et al. (1991) pertaining to the compositional structure of a turbulent reactive scalar mixing layer are reproduced by a mathematical computational procedure utilizing the Pearson family (PF) of univariate and multivariate scalar probability density functions (pdfs). Aided by comparisons against these data and extensive additional data generated here by direct numerical simulations (DNS) of a spatially developing reacting mixing layer, an appraisal is made of the applicability and the extent of validity of the PF for statistical description of the reactant fluctuations. In accord with the experiment, a chemical reaction of the type A + B →Products is simulated in isothermal, incompressible flows. A wide range of the Damkohler number is considered including both frozen and equilibrium chemistry limits. The comparison of predicted results with laboratory data indicates that the PF generated pdfs are convenient for modeling the influence of turbulence on the mean reactant conversio...
A universal relation in torsion for a mixture of solid and fluid

In his study of combined finite extension and torsion of a nonlinear, incompressible, isotropic elastic circular cylinder, Rivlin [1] established a relation for the torsional stiffness which depends only on the axial force, the axial extension ratio and the radius of the undeformed cylinder, in the case of small twist. The relationship did not depend on the structure of the stored energy function and is hence a “universal relation”. In this paper, we extend Rivlin's result to the case of combined extension and torsion of a cylindrical mixture of a nonlinear elastic solid and fluid.
Motoneuron fate specification revealed by patterned LIM homeobox gene expression in embryonic zebrafish

In zebrafish, individual primary motoneurons can be uniquely identified by their characteristic cell body positions and axonal projection patterns. The fate of individual primary motoneurons remains plastic until just prior to axogenesis when they become committed to particular identities. We find that distinct primary motoneurons express particular combinations of LIM homeobox genes. Expression precedes axogenesis as well as commitment, suggesting that LIM homeobox genes may contribute to the specification of motoneuronal fates. By transplanting them to new spinal cord positions, we demonstrate that primary motoneurons can initiate a new program of LIM homeobox gene expression, as well as the morphological features appropriate for the new position. We conclude that the patterned distribution of different primary motoneuronal types within the zebrafish spinal cord follows the patterned expression of LIM homeobox genes, and that this reflects a highly resolved system of positional information controlling gene transcription.
Lipid droplets as fat storage organelles in Caenorhabditis elegans: Thematic Review Series: Lipid Droplet Synthesis and Metabolism: from Yeast to Man

Lipid droplets are evolutionarily conserved organelles where cellular fat storage and mobilization are exquisitely regulated. Recent studies have defined lipid droplets in C. elegans and explored how they are regulated by genetic and dietary factors. C. elegans offers unique opportunities to visualize lipid droplets at single-cell resolution in live animals. The development of novel microscopy techniques and protein markers for lipid droplets will accelerate studies on how nutritional states and subcellular organization are linked in vivo. Together with powerful tools for genetic and biochemical analysis of metabolic pathways, alteration in lipid droplet abundance, size, and distribution in C. elegans can be readily connected to whole-animal energy homeostasis, behavior, and life span. Therefore, further studies on lipid droplets in C. elegans promise to yield valuable insights that complement our knowledge gained from yeast, Drosophila, and mammalian systems on cellular and organismal fat storage.
Fibre operating lengths of human lower limb muscles during walking

Muscles actuate movement by generating forces. The forces generated by muscles are highly dependent on their fibre lengths, yet it is difficult to measure the lengths over which muscle fibres operate during movement. We combined experimental measurements of joint angles and muscle activation patterns during walking with a musculoskeletal model that captures the relationships between muscle fibre lengths, joint angles and muscle activations for muscles of the lower limb. We used this musculoskeletal model to produce a simulation of muscle-tendon dynamics during walking and calculated fibre operating lengths (i.e. the length of muscle fibres relative to their optimal fibre length) for 17 lower limb muscles. Our results indicate that when musculotendon compliance is low, the muscle fibre operating length is determined predominantly by the joint angles and muscle moment arms. If musculotendon compliance is high, muscle fibre operating length is more dependent on activation level and force-length-velocity effects. We found that muscles operate on multiple limbs of the force-length curve (i.e. ascending, plateau and descending limbs) during the gait cycle, but are active within a smaller portion of their total operating range.
Radiation therapy of choroid metastasis from breast cancer.

Abstract The results of radiation therapy of choroid metastases in 46 breast cancer patients, involving 57 eyes, have been analyzed. The choroid lesions were classified into three grades according to the severity and extent of involvement. Thirty-four eyes were treated with high energy electron beam therapy and 23 eyes with X-rays or telecobalt beams. Four representative electron beam techniques were shown. The tumor response to radiation therapy was described as either marked improvement, slight improvement or no improvement. The overall results of treatment showed marked improvement with total or near total restoration of vision in 35% of cases for mean and median durations of 12 and 11 months respectively. Another 28% showed slight improvement with partial return of vision. The overall response rate was 63%. The best results were seen in Grade I lesions, indicating the importance of early recognition of the disease and early treatment. The radiation dose recommended for choroid metastases is 4000 rad, delivered in 3 weeks (i.e. 280 rad tumor dose × 15, 5 times a week, or a TDF of 0.83).
A Peptidyl-Transesterifying Type I Thioesterase in Salinamide Biosynthesis.

Salinamide A belongs to a rare class of bicyclic depsipeptide antibiotics in which the installation of a (4-methylhexa-2,4-dienoyl)glycine handle across a hexadepsipeptide core contributes to its chemical complexity and biological properties. Herein, we report the genetic and biochemical basis for salinamide construction in the marine bacterium Streptomyces sp. CNB-091, which involves a novel intermolecular transesterification reaction catalyzed by a type I thioesterase. Heterologous expression studies revealed the central role of the nonribosomal peptide synthetase Sln9 in constructing and installing the distinctive acylglycine "basket handle" of salinamide. Biochemical characterization of the Sln9 thioesterase domain established that transesterification of the serine residue of desmethylsalinamide E with acylated glycyl thioesters yields desmethylsalinamide C.
Mainstreaming nutrition metrics in household surveys--toward a multidisciplinary convergence of data systems.

Since the 2008 food price crisis, food and nutrition security are back on the global development agenda, with particular emphasis on agricultural pathways toward improved nutrition. Parallel efforts are being promoted to improve the data and metrics for monitoring progress toward positive nutritional outcomes, especially for women andchildren.Despitetheincreasedinvestmentintrackingnutritionaloutcomes,theseeffortsareoftenmadeinsilos, which create challenges for integrating nutritional data with other sectoral data, such as those related to agriculture. This paper proposes a minimum set of nutrition indicators to be included in nationally representative agricultural (andmultitopic)householdsurveys.Buildingmultisectoralconvergenceacrossexistingsurveyswillallowustobetter identify priority interventions and to monitor progress toward improved nutrition targets.
Wolbachia and Cytoplasmic Incompatibility in the California Culex pipiens Mosquito Species Complex: Parameter Estimates and Infection Dynamics in Natural Populations

Before maternally inherited bacterial symbionts like Wolbachia, which cause cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI; reduced hatch rate) when infected males mate with uninfected females, can be used in a program to control vector-borne diseases it is essential to understand their dynamics of infection in natural arthropod vector populations. Our study had four goals: (1) quantify the number of Wolbachia strains circulating in the California Culex pipiens species complex, (2) investigate Wolbachia infection frequencies and distribution in natural California populations, (3) estimate the parameters that govern Wolbachia spread among Cx. pipiens under laboratory and field conditions, and (4) use these values to estimate equilibrium levels and compare predicted infection prevalence levels to those observed in nature. Strain-specific PCR, wsp gene sequencing, and crossing experiments indicated that a single Wolbachia strain infects Californian Cx. pipiens. Infection frequency was near or at fixation in all populations sampled for 2 years along a >1000-km north-south transect. The combined statewide infection frequency was 99.4%. Incompatible crosses were 100% sterile under laboratory and field conditions. Sterility decreased negligibly with male age in the laboratory. Infection had no significant effect on female fecundity under laboratory or field conditions. Vertical transmission was >99% in the laboratory and approximately 98.6% in the field. Using field data, models predicted that Wolbachia will spread to fixation if infection exceeds an unstable equilibrium point above 1.4%. Our estimates accurately predicted infection frequencies in natural populations. If certain technical hurdles can be overcome, our data indicate that Wolbachia can invade vector populations as part of an applied transgenic strategy for vector-borne disease reduction.
Mini Suction Cups and Water-Extraction Effects on Preferential Solute Transport

Soil water suction cups used in laboratory solute transport studies may cause undesired perturbations of the flow field. The twofold objective of this study was to test mini suction cups, and to assess the effects of pore water-extraction rate and cup size on preferential water flow and bromide (Br − ) breakthrough. Porous ceramic cups of 0.25-cm outer diameter and 1-cm length could extract 1 cm 3 of pore water within 17 (34, 38) min from 100% (85%, 70%) saturated loam soil by applying 0.1 (0.3, 0.5) bar suction. The corresponding sampling times for larger cups (0.6-cm diam., 2-cm length) were 3.3, 4.6, and 5.7 min. The smaller cups were subsequently tested for solution extraction of 1-cm 3 samples every 20 min out of the matrix and preferential flow path (PFP) of a large soil column (24-cm diam., 80-cm high) during a Br − transport experiment. Numerical simulations were used (i) to describe the Br − transport experiment and (ii) to evaluate how preferential Br − transport would be affected by pore solution extraction at different locations in the matrix and the PFP of a loam soil block (20 by 20 by 20 cm 3 ) subject to wet and dry initial conditions. Three-dimensional water flow and solute transport were simulated using the Richards and convection–dispersion equations. The experimental and simulation results revealed a dilemma: while fast solution extraction using larger cups altered the flow field and preferential Br − breakthrough for wet and particularly for dry initial conditions, slower solution extraction using small cups caused negligible perturbation of the flow field, but yielded insufficient resolution of the preferential Br − breakthrough. Sampling in the matrix did not considerably affect Br − transport, and gave sufficient resolution of the matrix Br − peak. This study showed that the use of suction cups for measuring solute transport may be problematic in case of preferential flow.
Triphenylmethylamides (TPMAs): Structure-activity relationship of compounds that induce apoptosis in melanoma cells

Triphenylmethylamides (TPMAs) have been previously identified as compounds that arrest cells in the G1-phase of the cell cycle and induce apoptotic death in melanoma cell lines in culture. Here we report the synthesis of a series of TPMA derivatives, allowing the structure-activity relationship of this class of molecules to be established. Several new compounds have been identified that induce death in UACC-62 and SK-MEL-5 human melanoma cell lines, including a compound with enhanced aqueous solubility.
Cervical ripening with foley balloon plus fixed versus incremental low-dose oxytocin: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: To evaluate cervical ripening with foley balloon combined with a fixed vs. incremental low-dose oxytocin infusion. Methods: Women presenting for term labor induction were randomized to fixed low-dose or standard incremental low-dose oxytocin infusion following foley balloon placement. The primary outcome was time from foley balloon placement to delivery. Results: Among 116 subjects, there was no difference in median time to delivery among subjects receiving fixed low-dose vs. standard incremental low-dose oxytocin during induction of labor with a foley balloon (23.7 vs. 19.2 hours). There were no differences between the two groups in median time to foley bulb extrusion, active labor and second stage of labor or incidence of uterine tachysystole, fetal heart rate abnormalities, mode of delivery or maternal hemorrhage. Conclusions: There is no difference in median time to delivery in women undergoing cervical ripening with a foley balloon combined with a fixed low-dose or standard incremental low...
Marfa Basin of West Texas: Foreland Basin Subsidence and Depocenter Migration: ABSTRACT

The Marfa basin, encompassing approximately 6,000 mi2 (15,539 km2) of Presidio and Brewster Counties in west Texas, is a foreland basin that formed in the late Paleozoic in response to the encroaching Ouachita-Marathon thrust belt. The basin is one of several, including the Arkoma, Fort Worth, and Val Verde basins, that developed along the southern margin of the North American craton during convergence of North America and Africa-South America in Pennsylvanian to Permian time. We present a model of the formation of the Marfa basin in which basin subsidence is effected by compression from plate convergence and by loading owing to the emplacement of the Marathon fold-thrust complex. A model of foreland basin evolution by thrust loading as applied to the Idaho-Wyoming thrust belt can be applied with some modification to the Marfa foreland basin. Preexisting northwest-trending faults in the Marfa region were reactivated by the Marathon thrust belt as the latter advanced onto the continental margin toward the craton. Subsidence owing to compression and thrust loading first formed the Tesnus basin, a Pennsylvanian basin now buried beneath the Marathon overthrust. In the later stage of thrust-sheet emplacement, the depocenter split into two prongs, and the Marfa and Val Verde basins collected thick sections of Wolfcamp sediments. Preexisting northwest trends, which result from a Precambrian rifting event and the late Precambrian to Cambrian development of the Delaware aulacogen, controlled the location of subsidence in front of the thrust sheet. The fragmented craton was composed of northwest-trending high and low areas including the Diablo platform and the Delaware basin. These fragments behaved much like piano keys, subsiding first in a central region to form the Tesnus basin and later in adjacent regions forming the Marfa and Val Verde basins. The model is supported with data from 63 well logs that indicate the position of the depocenters through time and that suggest the differential elevation of crustal slices controlling the formation and location of the three Pennsylvanian-Permian foreland basins. End_of_Article - Last_Page 117------------
Developmental pathways to amygdala-prefrontal function and internalizing symptoms in adolescence

Early life stress (ELS) and function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis predict later psychopathology. Animal studies and cross-sectional human studies suggest that this process might operate through amygdala-ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) circuitry implicated in the regulation of emotion. Here we prospectively investigated the roles of ELS and childhood basal cortisol amounts in the development of adolescent resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC), assessed by functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI), in the amygdala-PFC circuit. In females only, greater ELS predicted increased childhood cortisol levels, which predicted decreased amygdala-vmPFC rs-FC 14 years later. For females, adolescent amygdala-vmPFC functional connectivity was inversely correlated with concurrent anxiety symptoms but positively associated with depressive symptoms, suggesting differing pathways from childhood cortisol levels function through adolescent amygdala-vmPFC functional connectivity to anxiety and depression. These data highlight that, for females, the effects of ELS and early HPA-axis function may be detected much later in the intrinsic processing of emotion-related brain circuits.
Challenging Despair Teaching About Women’s Resistance to Violence

In this article, the author describes an approach to teaching about violence against women that balances discussion of violence with information about women's individual and collective resistance. This strategy addresses two concerns about traditional approaches to this topic: that focusing only on victimization disempowers students and that it provides only a partial view of the reality of violence in women's lives. To address these problems, the author integrates discussion of resistance into the class's working definition of violence, assigned readings, guest speakers, and course assignments. The author concludes with a discussion of the positive effects of this approach.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms and type of steroid impact the functional response of the human glucocorticoid receptor.

Background: Clinical trials evaluating the use of steroids in septic shock have shown variable outcomes. Our previous studies have implicated human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) polymorphisms as a possible cause of altered steroid response. To further evaluate this variability, we hypothesized that hGR polymorphisms along with type of steroid influence the functional response. Methods: Total RNA was isolated from healthy human blood samples and surveyed for the hGR gene. The National Center for Biotechnology Information hGRa sequence was used as a reference, and two unique single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (A214G and T962C) were selected for evaluation. Functional response was measured using a luciferase reporting assay after transfecting hGR isoforms into tsA201 cells and stimulation with graded concentrations of hydrocortisone (HYD), methylprednisolone (MPS), and dexamethasone (DEX). Results: Each isoform had a unique dose-response curve with the optimal activity depending on concentration and type of steroid. The presence of either SNP A214G or T962C resulted in a decreased response when compared with hGRa when stimulated with HYD (P < 0.01). The same decreased response occurred for the SNPs with DEX stimulation, but at a much lower concentration range than HYD (P < 0.01). However, in the presence of MPS, SNP A214G resulted in greater activity when compared with hGRa (P < 0.01), whereas the presence of T962C resulted in activity equivalent to hGRa. Conclusions: SNPs, type of steroid, and concentration range impact the functional response of the hGR. A greater understanding of hGR polymorphisms and steroid response may further elucidate mechanisms explaining the variable response seen with patient treatment.
Stability in OTFT Gas Sensors

Organic thin film transistor (OTFT) gas sensors fabricated with an array of different active materials are monitored for shifts in performance characteristics during continuous operation over many days in both inert and ambient environments. We analyze the different patterns of degradation behavior observed in different materials and discuss approaches to decoupling a device’s sensor response from its stress response.
Strategic Adverse Selection: Raising Competitor Costs in the Insurance Industry

A key feature of insurance markets is that the cost of selling insurance policies is contingent upon not only the number of policies sold but to whom they are sold. This differentiates insurance markets from conventional markets and admits novel strategies, such as segmentation strategies, through which firms may project market power. This paper clarifies how segmentation strategies differ from simple increases in pricing precision, details the implications of their use, gives an explanation for the divergence of firms' ability to segment, and provides evidence of their effective utilization. To these ends, a two stage spatial model of Bertrand price competition is specified, with an endogenously determined rule for sharing demand, to illustrate the consequences of the strategic use of information asymmetries between competing firms. Two implications of the model's equilibrium are tested against an original dataset that provides comprehensive pricing and categorization data for the Washington state non-standard private passenger automobile liability insurance market. This unique data set provides the first opportunity to test for segmentation strategies where regulation and the development of a market have not constrained the evolution of categorization strategies.
Pumping Energy Reduction by Modified Cost Analysis

The rising cost of energy has stimulated the search for ways to conserve it. In this paper, a proposal is made to reduce pumping energy in irrigation by increasing the size of the supply line that delivers water from the source to a regular center pivot irrigation system. To change the pipe size from 0.203 m (0.665 ft) for a typical supply line that delivers water from the source to a regular center pivot irrigation system. To change the pipe size from 0.203 m (0.665 ft) to 0.354 m (0.833 ftp) is not considered economically feasible based upon the existing approach to cost analysis. However, a review of the analysis indicated that the effect of inflation on the annual cost of pumping energy was not considered. If the cost analysis is modified to include inflation as a basic factor the effect of the annual pumping cost is magnified. As a consequence, 0.254-m (0.833-ft) pipe may be preferred in the planning of irrigation systems. Such an increase in pipe size will reduce the pumping energy required in irrigation and result in a more economical design.
Amorphous Alloy Membranes for High Temperature Hydrogen Separation

At the beginning of this project, thin film amorphous alloy membranes were considered a nascent but promising new technology for industrial-scale hydrogen gas separations from coal- derived syngas. This project used a combination of theoretical modeling, advanced physical vapor deposition fabricating, and laboratory and gasifier testing to develop amorphous alloy membranes that had the potential to meet Department of Energy (DOE) targets in the testing strategies outlined in the NETL Membrane Test Protocol. The project is complete with Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), Georgia Institute of Technology (GT), and Western Research Institute (WRI) having all operated independently and concurrently. GT studied the hydrogen transport properties of several amorphous alloys and found that ZrCu and ZrCuTi were the most promising candidates. GT also evaluated the hydrogen transport properties of V, Nb and Ta membranes coated with different transition-metal carbides (TMCs) (TM = Ti, Hf, Zr) catalytic layers by employing first-principles calculations together with statistical mechanics methods and determined that TiC was the most promising material to provide catalytic hydrogen dissociation. SwRI developed magnetron coating techniques to deposit a range of amorphous alloys onto both porous discs and tubular substrates. Unfortunately none of the amorphous alloys could be deposited without pinhole defects thatmore » undermined the selectivity of the membranes. WRI tested the thermal properties of the ZrCu and ZrNi alloys and found that under reducing environments the upper temperature limit of operation without recrystallization is ~250 °C. There were four publications generated from this project with two additional manuscripts in progress and six presentations were made at national and international technical conferences. The combination of the pinhole defects and the lack of high temperature stability make the theoretically identified most promising candidate amorphous alloys unsuitable for application as hydrogen separation membranes in coal fire systems.« less
An introduction to simulation optimization

In this tutorial we give an introduction to simulation optimization, covering its general form, central issues and common problems, basic methods, and a case study. Our target audience is users with experience in using simulation, but not necessarily experience with optimization. We offer guiding principles, and point to surveys and other tutorials that provide further information.
The Impact of a Clinical Electron Accelerator on the Advancement of Veterinary Oncology and Translational Cancer Research

Cancer is a leading cause of death in veterinary patients. Forms of radiation therapy were used to treat these patients as early as 1896. Dr. Edward Gillette spearheaded veterinary oncology at Colorado State University (CSU). He recognized that a successful program would require well trained personnel together with modern modalities. His motivation presented a dilemma since fiscal realities in veterinary practice are modest compared to clinical practices in humans. In 1981 the CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences commissioned the first clinical linear accelerator dedicated to the treatment of naturally occurring tumors in veterinary patients and translational research. This refurbished Varian Clinac 6 was capable of delivering photon and electron beams generated in an isocentric gantry with flexible beam collimation. Commercially available clinical accelerators are designed exclusively for human medicine. This paper chronicles the adaption of this early electron accelerator to veterinary patients without compromising the accuracy and precision expected in human radiation therapy. Broad challenges were encountered in dosimetry, treatment planning and patient positioning. Dr. Thomas Borak and Mr. Robert Scott formed a team approach to medical physics, engineering and maintenance. Translational research focuses on treatment of pet animals to evaluate novel therapeutics and foster an understanding of mechanisms impacting tumor control. The clinical accelerator, together with scientists, technicians and students at CSU pioneered translational research in radiation oncology. Veterinary oncology today is a mature and thriving discipline, based on modern clinical capabilities for cancer treatment in animals as well as a strong research component that benefits both veterinary and human medicine.
Characterization of α2β2 and α2 forms of kinesin

Abstract Bovine brain kinesin separates into two components on sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The predominant component is a heterotetramer of two 120 kDa alpha subunits and two 64 kDa beta subunits with an sedimentation coefficient of 9.6 S and a low V m rate of microtubule-stimulated ATPase of 1.3 ± 0.5 sec −1 at 25°, pH 7.0. The minor element is a homodimer of two α subunits without β subunits with a sedimentation coefficient of 6.9 S and a higher V m rate of microtubule-stimulated ATPase of 7.0 ± 1.9 sec −1 . Microtubules stimulate the rate of release of ADP from the active site of the tetramer, but the rate of release is not fast enough to account for the rate of steady state ATP hydrolysis. Further complexity is indicated by biphasic release kinetics. In spite of the large difference in V m ATPase rate for the two species, both drive the sliding of sea urchin axonemes over glass surfaces at the same velocity.
Sir Walter Besant and Dorothy Forster (1884)

The broad outlines of Stevenson’s career are well enough known; they need not be reviewed in order to set The Master of Ballantrae within the context of Stevenson’s life. However, the case of Sir Walter Besant (1836–1901) may be different in this respect. Time has blurred most readers’ understanding of the magnitude of his contribution to Victorian literature. Before I come to a consideration of Dorothy Forster, Besant’s most important historical romance, it seems useful to look back, however briefly, on the record of an extraordinarily busy writer.
An unusual presentation of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type lymphoma

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-type lymphoma is a relatively rare disease; nevertheless, it is the third most common lymphoma type, accounting for 5–7% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Case series and retrospective analysis published in the literature have suggested that extra gastrointestinal (GI) MALT-type lymphoma can occur simultaneously with MALT-type lymphoma involving the GI tract. We report the case of a healthy, 64-year-old Caucasian male who presented with progressive fatigue, non-productive cough, and worsening exertional shortness of breath for 3 months who was subsequently diagnosed with gastric extra-nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma or MALToma with simultaneous metastasis to the lung (bronchi) based on biopsy reports. Case presentation : A 64-year-old Caucasian male presented to the emergency room complaining of progressive fatigue for 3 months which had progressed to the point of hindering his usual activities of daily living (ADL). He had recently visited his primary care provider for evaluation of a non-productive cough and exertional shortness of breath. A chest radiography obtained at the time showed bilateral infiltrates. He was then treated for atypical pneumonia but his symptoms unfortunately did not improve. Initial investigations in the emergency room revealed severe anemia and a positive stool guaiac test. Imaging showed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and an irregular gastric mass. Gastric and transbronchial biopsies were suggestive of extra-nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma with simultaneous metastasis to the bronchi. He was treated symptomatically with transfusion of packed red blood cells (PRBC) and intravenous iron followed by radiotherapy. Helicobacter pylori infection was ruled out eliminating the possibility of treating him with eradication therapy. Conclusion : Although the stomach is the most common and most extensively studied site of involvement of MALT lymphomas, they can also emerge in many other locations. MALT lymphomas have a high tendency to disseminate to other sites; therefore, extensive staging may be necessary to look for suspicious lesions.
Development of Real-Time and Conventional PCR Assays for Identifying Stubby Root Nematode Paratrichodorus allius

Paratrichodorus allius is an important pest on many crops, particularly on potato due to its ability to transmit Tobacco rattle virus causing corky ringspot disease on tubers. Detection and identification of P. allius are important for effective disease management. In this study, a rapid and reliable molecular diagnosis of this nematode targeting internal transcribed spacer ribosomal DNA was established. The specificity of the designed primers was evaluated using 29 nematode species and results showed that a single amplicon was produced from DNA of P. allius only. Detection sensitivity analysis indicated that a 9.6 × 10−4 ng of DNA template could be detected by conventional PCR and 1.92 × 10−4 ng of DNA by real-time PCR. The PCR assays amplified DNA of stubby root nematodes isolated from 18 soil samples in North Dakota and Minnesota, which were confirmed as P. allius by sequencing. Both conventional PCR and real-time PCR assays amplified target nematodes from complex nematode communities, supporting the s...
The New Diversity Crisis in the Federal Judiciary

Fifty years ago, the federal judiciary was forced to confront a diversity crisis. The problem: a complete lack of surface-level (i.e., demographic) diversity. In this Article, we chart the rapid increase in surface-level diversity in the federal courts and find that the modern judiciary looks more like the citizenry it serves than it has at any other point in history. Although this particular diversity crisis has abated, a new one is taking shape.Today, deep-level diversity is at an all-time low. Deep-level diversity denotes those attributes that are non-demographic in nature. It includes characteristics such as work experience, values, attitudes, and educational background. Given the salience of educational background in recent Supreme Court nominations, we focus on this dimension. Based on more than two hundred years of data on the legal education of judges, our analysis reveals that graduates of a smaller and smaller number of law schools are capturing a larger and larger share of the federal judgeships. This trend is emblematic of the decline in deep-level diversity in the judiciary and illustrative of a problem we call “The New Diversity Crisis.”
Fatty acid metabolism in breast cancer subtypes.

// Marie E. Monaco 1,2 1 Department of Neuroscience & Physiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA 2 Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System, New York, NY, USA Correspondence to: Marie E. Monaco, email: // Keywords : fatty acid metabolism, molecular subtype, breast cancer Received : October 19, 2016 Accepted : February 06, 2017 Published : February 18, 2017 Abstract Dysregulation of fatty acid metabolism is recognized as a component of malignant transformation in many different cancers, including breast; yet the potential for targeting this pathway for prevention and/or treatment of cancer remains unrealized. Evidence indicates that proteins involved in both synthesis and oxidation of fatty acids play a pivotal role in the proliferation, migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. The following essay summarizes data implicating specific fatty acid metabolic enzymes in the genesis and progression of breast cancer, and further categorizes the relevance of specific metabolic pathways to individual intrinsic molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Based on mRNA expression data, the less aggressive luminal subtypes appear to rely on a balance between de novo fatty acid synthesis and oxidation as sources for both biomass and energy requirements, while basal-like, receptor negative subtypes overexpress genes involved in the utilization of exogenous fatty acids. With these differences in mind, treatments may need to be tailored to individual subtypes.
Pregnancy outcomes in women with cancer.

6116 Background: Parenthood after cancer is a critical concern for many cancer patients (pts). Pregnancy (prg) during cancer is an emotional time for about 1/1000 pregnant women. No randomized controlled studies exist examining the impact of cancer treatment (tx) on the developing fetus nor on the woman with cancer. Methods: From 2002-2011, women presenting for cancer tx during prg were approached for this IRB-approved prospective database study. All pts provided written consent. Results: To date 143 pts are evaluable. The median age at diagnosis was 32.1 years and median gestational age (GA) at enrollment was 18.2 weeks. 95/143 (66.4%) are White, 19 (13.3%) are African American, 17 (11.9%) are Hispanic and 12 (8.4%) are Asian/Other. Primary cancers included breast (n=59, 41.3%), hematologic (n=29, 20.3%), melanoma (n=13, 9%), GYN (n=11, 8%), GI (n=8, 5.6%), head/neck (n=7, 6%) and other (n=16, 11%) (brain=4, GU=1, thyroid=3, head/neck=7, thoracic=1, sarcoma=6, unknown primary=1). 111/143 (77.6%) of prgs ...
Ethnic/racial and socioeconomic disparities as predictors of behavioral risk factors among 7559 cancer survivors.

6550Background: Health behaviors such as exercising, attending regular medical checkups, and reducing tobacco and alcohol use can improve health outcomes among cancer survivors. Race and socioecono...
Circular RNA Detection from High-throughput Sequencing

Alternative splicing refers to the production of multiple mRNA isoforms from a single gene due to alternative selection of exons or splice sites during pre-mRNA splicing. While canonical alternative splicing produces a linear form of RNA by joining an upstream donor site (5' splice site) with a downstream acceptor site (3' splice site), a special form of alternative splicing produces a non-coding circular form of RNA (circular RNA) by ligating a downstream donor site (5' splice site) with an upstream acceptor site (3' splice site); i.e., back-splicing. Over the past two decades, many studies have discovered this special form of alternative splicing that produces a circular form of RNA. Although these circular RNAs have garnered considerable attention in the scientific community for their biogenesis and functions, the focus of these studies has been on exonic circular RNAs (circRNAs: donor site and acceptor site are from exon boundaries) and circular intronic RNAs (ciRNAs: donor and acceptor are from a single intron). This type of approach was conducted in the relative absence of methods for searching another group of circular RNAs, or circular complex RNAs (ccRNAs: either the donor site or acceptor site is not from exon boundaries), that contains at least one exon and one or more flanking introns. Studies of ccRNAs would serve as a significant first step in filling this void. In this paper, we developed a new computational algorithm that can detect all three types of circular RNAs. We applied our algorithm on a set of RNA-seq data to examine the composition of circular RNAs in the given dataset. Surprisingly, our results showed that the new type of circular RNA (ccRNA) was the second most common type of circular RNA while circRNA was the most common type as expected.
The relationship of the uvula with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review

Currently, the relationship between uvula size and sleep-disordered breathing (snoring and obstructive sleep apnea) lacks data for objective interpretation. This study conducted a systematic review of the international literature for research describing the measurable characteristics of the uvula (i.e., size, length, width) and any association with snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). PubMED, Scopus, Google Scholar, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were each systematically searched from inception through November 15, 2016. We screened 1037 titles and abstracts. We conducted a full review of 54 downloaded articles. Sixteen articles met inclusion and exclusion criteria. The 16 studies included a total of 2604 patients. The selected articles included data and information for (1) normative data for uvular size in the control groups, (2) snoring and uvula size, (3) OSA and uvula size, and (4) overall uvula function. Our review noted variability in findings; however, in general, a uvular length > 15 mm was considered elongated and a uvular width > 10 mm was considered to be wide. The studies included in this systematic review reveal a relationship between uvula size, snoring, and OSA. Further, larger uvulas appear associated with more severe snoring and OSA. The direct correlation between uvula size and its relationship specifically to snoring and OSA remain as topics for future prospective research.
Dyna: extending datalog for modern AI

Modern statistical AI systems are quite large and complex; this interferes with research, development, and education. We point out that most of the computation involves database-like queries and updates on complex views of the data. Specifically, recursive queries look up and aggregate relevant or potentially relevant values. If the results of these queries are memoized for reuse, the memos may need to be updated through change propagation. We propose a declarative language, which generalizes Datalog, to support this work in a generic way. Through examples, we show that a broad spectrum of AI algorithms can be concisely captured by writing down systems of equations in our notation. Many strategies could be used to actually solve those systems. Our examples motivate certain extensions to Datalog, which are connected to functional and object-oriented programming paradigms.
Coupling Matrix-Based Design of Fully Reconfigurable Differential/Balanced RF Filters

This letter presents the coupling matrix design of differential/balanced RF filters. They exhibit: i) a highly suppressed common mode that is obtained by multiple transmission zeros and resistively loaded poles and ii) a differential mode that exhibits a quasi-elliptic-type transfer function that can be tuned in frequency and bandwidth (BW) and can be intrinsically switched-off. The filter’s reconfiguration properties are attained by only tuning the resonant frequencies of its constituent resonators. Thus, it exhibits less in-band insertion loss than tunable differential architectures in which tuning of couplings is required. For practical validation purposes, a microstrip prototype was manufactured and measured in the 1.4–1.9-GHz range with the following characteristics. Differential mode: center-frequency tuning between 1.36 and 1.9 GHz (1.4:1), BW tuning between 43 and 270 MHz (6.3:1), and an intrinsically switched-off mode with isolation (IS) > 22 dB. Common mode: 70%, 40-dB suppression BW and IS > 60 dB at the center frequency for all tunable states.
Achieving Pareto-Optimal MI-Based Privacy-Utility Tradeoffs Under Full Data

We study a fine-grained model in which a perturbed version of some data ( $D$ ) is to be disclosed, with the aims of permitting the receiver to accurately infer some useful aspects ( $X=f(D)$ ) of it, while preventing her from inferring other private aspects ( $Y=g(D)$ ). Correlation between the bases for these inferences necessitates compromise between these goals. Determining exactly how the disclosure ( $M$ ) will be probabilistically generated (from $D$ ), somehow trading off between making $I(M;X)$ large and $I(M;Y)$ small, is cast as an algorithmic optimization problem. In 2013, Chakraborty et al. provided optimal solutions for the two extreme points on these objectives’ Pareto frontier: maximizing $I(M;X)$ s.t. $I(M;Y)=0$ (“perfect privacy,” via linear programming (LP)) and minimizing $I(M;Y)$ s.t. $H(X|M)=0$ (“perfect utility,” for which the trivial solution $M=X$ is optimal). We show that when minimizing $I(M;Y)-\beta I(M;X)$ , we can restrict ourselves w.l.o.g. to solutions satisfying several normal-form conditions, which leads to 1) an alternative convex programming formulation when $\beta \in [0,1]$ , which we provide a practical optimal algorithm for, and 2) proof that $M=X$ is actually optimal for all $\beta \geq 1$ . This solves the primary open problem posed by Chakraborty et al. (It also provides a faster solution than Chakraborty et al. 's LP for the “perfect privacy” special case.)
Zariski’s Main Theorem

In §8 our discussion of normality has been largely a matter of carrying over into geometry the algebraic ideas and algebraic constructions involving integral closure. However, normality turns out to have a hidden geometric content as well, which is not so easy to discover. This involves the concept of the “branches” of a variety at a point.
Development of a Novel Method for Measuring Covalent Binding and Its Application to Investigations of Bromobenzene Hepatotoxicity

The covalent binding of chemicals or metabolites to cellular tissue macromolecules may represent an important mechanism for chemical toxicity. Covalent interactions have been suggested to be involved in hepatic, renal, pulmonary and bone marrow toxicity as well as carcinogenicity (Mitchell et al., 1976; Mitchell et al., 1977; Hinson, 1980; Gillette et al., 1974; Boyd, 1980; Irons et al., 1980; Miller, 1970). More recently it has become apparent that the amount of covalent binding measured in a biological system may not be the most toxicologically relevant parameter. Gillette (1974) emphasized that reactive metabolites may bind to noncritical macromolecules and such interaction may be of little or no functional significance. To further our understanding of the role of covalent binding in chemical toxicity it is necessary to study the specificity of covalent binding.
Motif scraper: a cross-platform, open-source tool for identifying degenerate nucleotide motif matches in FASTA files.

Summary Many genomic features are defined not by exact sequence matches, but by degenerate nucleotide motifs that represent multiple compatible matches. While there are databases cataloging genomic features, such as the location of transcription factor motifs, for commonly used model species, identifying the locations of novel motifs, known motifs in non-model genomes, or known motifs in personal whole-genomes is difficult. I designed motif scraper to overcome this limitation, allowing for efficient, multiprocessor motif searches in any FASTA file. Availability and implementation The motif scraper package (MIT license) is available via PyPI, and the Python source is available on GitHub at https://github.com/RobersonLab/motif_scraper.