Impact of Privacy Exemptions in Open Records Laws on Computer-­‐assisted Reporting

Professional project report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts in Journalism from the School of Journalism, University of Missouri--Columbia.As more and more personal data are collected and digitized by the government, the more restrictions there are on what reporters can access through open records laws. Every year sees new bills introduced restricting the public access to data with personally identifying information--the kind of data that can make or break a story or investigative project. Journalists across the country struggle with access to personally identifying information, and some of them have found successful ways to get around restrictions to access. Almost 50 reporters were told about an experience negotiating for data with personally identifying information, and their experiences are summarized in this article. The lessons they can offer will serve to guide other reporters as they negotiate for data.Includes bibliographic references

Endomorphisms of abelian varieties, cyclotomic extensions and Lie algebras

We prove an analogue of the Tate conjecture on homomorphisms of abelian varieties over infinite cyclotomic extensions of finitely generated fields of characteristic zero.Comment: 9 page

Efforts toward a stereocontrolled synthesis of CYP3A4 inhibitor GF-I-1 and stereoisomers

Several furocoumarin compounds that show significant inhibition of the main human metabolic enzyme CYP3A4 have been isolated from grapefruit juice. The most potent of these is GF-I-1, an asymmetrical homodimer whose stereochemistry remains unknown. We sought to synthesize GF-I-1 and its three stereoisomers in a stereocontrolled fashion to unambiguously determine the absolute stereochemistry of natural GF-I-1. We were also interested in comparing the biological activities of the four synthetic isomers, following work that showed that CYP3A4 is not sensitive to the absolute configuration of a simpler grapefruit furocoumarin. * We have achieved the synthesis of a key dimeric intermediate in racemic form on the route towards GF-I-1. In doing so, we assessed the efficiencies of BiCl3 and CuII(BF4)2, two newly-discovered Lewis acid catalysts, for promoting the condensation of precious alcohols and epoxides. CuII(BF4)2 appears to be a promising catalyst for these transformations, for which well-established synthetic protocols have been notably absent. * We also progressed along the stereocontrolled route towards GF-I-1 and its stereoisomers, with the stereospecific synthesis of all required chiral precursors in greater than 96% enantiomeric excess. While the total synthesis was not completed due to a transformation that could not be efficiently accomplished during the allotted time for the project, we have laid the groundwork for the rapid stereocontrolled synthesis of GF-I-1 in the future.Honors (Bachelor's)BiochemistryUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/77420/1/zarkhin_thesis.pd

The Role of B Cells in Transplantation and Immunopathic Diseases

B cells, by virtue of their diverse roles in immune responses to foreign and self antigens, have become of increasing interest to the clinician as well as the basic immunologist. In particular, it is now apparent that the development of B cell unresponsiveness in antibody and T cell mediated autoimmune disorders and the transplant setting is both worthwhile and achievable

Assessment of technological capabilities to counter fraudulent practices in the banking sector

In connection with the strengthening of Western sanctions on the Russian banking sector, the number of malefactors, who enjoy the confidence of panicking depositors and the unstable situation in the banking market, has increased dramatically. The article discusses the key issues of the application of big data analysis as a technological basis for countering fraud in the practical activities of banks. The objectives of such a struggle are to determine the operations of intruders in the flow of large volumes of statistical information with the greatest accuracy and to take preventive measures to minimize damage. The purpose of the article is to assess the possibility of using machine learning technology by banks and develop an algorithm for detecting fraudulent transactions based on programming. Particular attention is paid to the current economic environment, its impact on the financial system as a whole, and in particular, on the reorientation of the banking sector to combat fraud in the context of increased fraud activity

Spoiling for a Fight: B Lymphocytes As Initiator and Effector Populations within Tertiary Lymphoid Organs in Autoimmunity and Transplantation.

Tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs) develop at ectopic sites within chronically inflamed tissues, such as in autoimmunity and rejecting organ allografts. TLOs differ structurally from canonical secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs), in that they lack a mantle zone and are not encapsulated, suggesting that they may provide unique immune function. A notable feature of TLOs is the frequent presence of structures typical of germinal centers (GCs). However, little is known about the role of such GCs, and in particular, it is not clear if the B cell response within is autonomous, or whether it synergizes with concurrent responses in SLOs. This review will discuss ectopic lymphoneogenesis and the role of the B cell in TLO formation and subsequent effector output in the context of autoimmunity and transplantation, with particular focus on the contribution of ectopic GCs to affinity maturation in humoral immune responses and to the potential breakdown of self-tolerance and development of humoral autoimmunity

A Peripheral Blood Diagnostic Test for Acute Rejection in Renal Transplantation

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93759/1/j.1600-6143.2012.04253.x.pd

Intrarenal B Cell Cytokines Promote Transplant Fibrosis and Tubular Atrophy

Renal transplantation is the optimum treatment for end‐stage renal failure. B cells have been identified in chronic allograft damage (CAD) and associated with the development of tertiary lymphoid tissue within the human renal allograft. We performed renal transplantation in mice to model CAD and identified B cells forming tertiary lymphoid tissue with germinal centers. Intra‐allograft B220+ B cells comprised of IgMhigh CD23− B cells, IgMlo CD23+ B cells, and IgMlo CD23− B cells with elevated expression of CD86. Depletion of B cells with anti‐CD20 was associated with an improvement in CAD but only when administered after transplantation and not before. Isolated intra‐allograft B cells were cultured and shown to synthesize multiple cytokines, the most abundant of these were GRO‐α (CXCL1), RANTES (CCL5), IL‐6 and MCP‐1 (CCL2). Tubular loss was observed with T cell accumulation within the allograft and development of interstitial fibrosis, whilst type III collagen deposition was observed in areas of F4/80+ macrophages and PDGFR‐β+ and transgelin+ fibroblasts, all of which were reduced by B cell depletion. We have shown that intra‐allograft B cells are key mediators of CAD. B cells possibly contribute to CAD by intra‐allograft secretion of cytokines and chemokines

6-MERCAPTOPURINE FOR SEVERE ATOPIC DERMATITIS INA LACTOSE-ALLERGIC CHILD

6-MERCAPTOPURINE FOR SEVERE ATOPIC DERMATITIS IN A LACTOSE-ALLERGIC CHILD Pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD) is encountered routinely in the gen- eral dermatology clinic, and most children with AD have readily- manageable mild to moderate disease. For severe AD that is resis- tant to topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors, the use of several steroid-sparing agents has been described in the literature, including cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, methotrexate, and azathioprine. Herein we report what is to our knowledge the first use of 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) for pediatric AD. The patient was a 13-year-old boy with a long-standing history of severe atopic dermatitis. Previous treatments with topical corticos- teroids and heavy emollients were unsuccessful. The patient’s med- ical history was complicated by persistent asthma, food allergies, massively elevated IgE, and adrenal insufficiency related to chronic use of inhaled corticosteroids. Azathioprine and omalizumab were the main considerations for long term steroid-sparing agents, how- ever it was ultimately decided that the IgE levels were too high to safely proceed with omalizumab. Given his numerous food aller- gies, the composition of commercially available azathioprine was carefully reviewed and all were found to contain lactose. However, 6MP was determined not to contain lactose and was initiated. 6MP is the active metabolite of azathioprine. While originally approved for the induction and maintenance of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 6MP has also been used for Crohns disease and ulcera- tive colitis. We followed the previously published dosing protocols for pediatric Crohns disease after checking baseline labwork, including thiopurine methyltransferase enzyme activity. The patient has tolerated the 6MP well and has maintained a significant reduc- tion of AD severity after an initial course of cyclosporine. This is therefore the first documented case of using 6MP as a lac- tose-free steroid sparing agent for the treatment of severe pediatric AD