cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of The New York Botanical Garden in plant and fungal conservation

The New York Botanical Garden has had an institutional focus on global plant and fungal conservation, both explicitly and implicitly, throughout its 125 year history of botanical research, education and publication. Research has laid the underpinnings for species and habitat conservation. Education, formal and informal, has built human capacity for understanding and saving plants and fungi. Publications, in print and online, have disseminated authoritative results and science-based recommendations for enabling the conservation of biodiversity, from the Bronx to Brazil. This paper reviews the broad conservation themes pursued by the institution over this period, providing examples of specific projects, and concludes with the latest conservation initiative launched in 2015, the creation of the Center for Conservation Strategy.
Spinal Compression Fracture Management: A Review of Current Treatment Strategies and Possible Future Avenues

Study Design Narrative review. Objective Despite the numerous treatment options for vertebral compression fractures, a consensus opinion for the management of patients with these factures has not been established. This review is meant to provide an up-to-date overview of the most common treatment strategies for compression fractures and to suggest possible routes for the development of clearer treatment guidelines. Methods A comprehensive database search of PubMed was performed. All results from the past 30 years were obtained and evaluated based on title and abstract. The full length of relevant studies was analyzed for level of evidence, and the strongest studies were used in this review. Results The major treatment strategies for patients with compression fractures are conservative pain management and vertebral augmentation. Despite potential adverse effects, medical management, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, calcitonin, teriparatide, and bisphosphonates, remains the first-line therapy for patients. Evidence suggests that vertebral augmentation, especially some of the newer procedures, have the potential to dramatically reduce pain and improve quality of life. At this time, balloon-assisted kyphoplasty is the procedure with the most evidence of support. Conclusions Based on current literature, it is evident that there is a lack of standard of care for patients with vertebral compression fractures, which is either due to lack of evidence that a procedure is successful or due to serious adverse effects encountered with prolonged treatment. For a consensus to be reached, prospective clinical trials need to be formulated with potential new biomarkers to assess efficacy of treatment strategies.
Impedance characteristics of TCSC and its conduction angle for sub-synchronous resonance mitigation

In order to explain the positive resistance phenomenon of sub-synchronous frequency based on the commonly used fundamental frequency impedance of TCSC, the complex expression of fundamental frequency impedance is derived and selection principle of TCSC conduction angle is proposed. The fundamental frequency reactance of TCSC is capacitive or inductive and its resistance will be negative or positive. The sub-synchronous reactance of TCSC will also be capacitive or inductive and the sub-synchronous resistance is always positive with conduction angle's influence. Inductive reactance plays a major role for SSR mitigation and power frequency negative resistance provides energy to the positive resistance under sub-synchronous frequency. TCSC conduction angle's selection should make sure that the reactance should be capacitive under power frequency, and inductive under sub-synchronous frequency, meanwhile the power frequency resistance should be negative. Simulation results show that TCSC can mitigate SSR effectively based on the above basis. It proves rationality of selecting the conduction angle and correctness of the fundamental frequency impedance expression.
Epidural Empyema, Cranial

A cranial epidural empyema, or cranial epidural abscess, develops in the space between the dura and the inner table of the skull, and it is usually caused by the spread of infection from the frontal sinuses, middle ear, mastoid, or orbit , or develops as a complication of a craniotomy or a compound skull fracture. The clinical presentation of a cranial epidural empyema is an unrelenting hemicranial headache with fever. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging is the diagnostic procedure of choice and immediate neurosurgical drainage is the definitive management step. Empirical antimicrobial therapy should include a combination of a third- or fourth-generation cephalosporin or meropenem, metronidazole, and nafcillin or vancomycin. Antibiotic coverage can be modified when the results of Gram's stain, bacterial culture, and sensitivities are known. Intravenous antibiotic therapy is continued for 4–6 weeks after surgical drainage of the epidural empyema, followed by 2 or 3 months of oral antibiotic therapy.
CD147: a small molecule transporter ancillary protein at the crossroad of multiple hallmarks of cancer and metabolic reprogramming

// Agnieszka A. Kendrick 1 , Johnathon Schafer 1 , Monika Dzieciatkowska 1 , Travis Nemkov 1 , Angelo D’Alessandro 1 , Deepika Neelakantan 2 , Heide L. Ford 2 , Chad G. Pearson 3 , Colin D. Weekes 4 , Kirk C. Hansen 1 , Elan Z. Eisenmesser 1 1 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, CO, USA 2 Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, CO, USA 3 Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, CO, USA 4 Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, CO, USA Correspondence to: Elan Z. Eisenmesser, email: elan.eisenmesser@ucdenver.edu Keywords: metabolism, ancillary protein, PDAC, transmembrane, tumor microenvironment Received: September 20, 2016 Accepted: November 30, 2016 Published: December 27, 2016 ABSTRACT Increased expression of CD147 in pancreatic cancer has been proposed to play a critical role in cancer progression via CD147 chaperone function for lactate monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). Here, we show for the first time that CD147 interacts with membrane transporters beyond MCTs and exhibits a protective role for several of its interacting partners. CD147 prevents its interacting partner’s proteasome-dependent degradation and incorrect plasma membrane localization through the CD147 transmembrane (TM) region. The interactions with transmembrane small molecule and ion transporters identified here indicate a central role of CD147 in pancreatic cancer metabolic reprogramming, particularly with respect to amino acid anabolism and calcium signaling. Importantly, CD147 genetic ablation prevents pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo in conjunction with metabolic rewiring towards amino acid anabolism, thus paving the way for future combined pharmacological treatments.
Preliminary investigation of whole-pancreas 3D histogram ADC metrics for predicting progression of acute pancreatitis

Abstract Purpose To evaluate whole-pancreas 3D-histogram ADC metrics in acute pancreatitis. Methods In 41 patients with acute pancreatitis undergoing MRI/MRCP with DWI, 3D-volumes-of-interest encompassing the entire pancreas were placed to derive whole-pancreas histogram ADC metrics. Results There were trends toward higher 0–10th percentile ADC, higher 10–25th percentile ADC, lower skewness, and higher kurtosis in patients with new complications ( p =0.065–0.095). Conventional mean ADC showed no association with new complications ( p =0.203). Kurtosis had highest area-under-the-curve (0.784) for predicting new complications (sensitivity=75.0%; specificity=91.9%). Conclusion Findings suggest whole-pancreas histogram ADC metrics assist early management of acute pancreatitis, (e.g., patient selection for more intensive monitoring/intervention).
An extension to conformant planning using logic programming

In this paper we extend the logic programming based conformant planner described in [Son et al., 2005a] to allow it to work on planning problems with more complex descriptions of the initial states. We also compare the extended planner with other concurrent conformant planners.
Long-Term Follow-Up Results of the Combination of Topotecan and Cytarabine and Other Intensive Chemotherapy Regimens in Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

Abstract Background. Higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is often treated with intensive chemotherapy regimens used for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Patients with MDS are often older and may have contraindications to anthracycline-based regimens. Topotecan-cytarabine regimens had shown encouraging results in higher-risk MDS. Study aims. To analyze the long-term results with topotecan-cytarabine versus other intensive chemotherapy regimens in higher-risk MDS. Study Groups and Methods. 510 patients with higher-risk MDS (marrow blasts ≥ 10%) treated with intensive chemotherapy were reviewed. Median age was 63 years; 82% had intermediate 2 or high risk MDS; 52% had secondary MDS; 40% had chromosome 5 or 7 abnormalities. Therapy was: topotecan-cytarabine in 77; idarubicin-cytarabine regimens in 270; topotecan-cytarabine and cyclophosphamide in 67; fludarabine-cytarabine in 96. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate the independent associations of different variables, and most importantly the treatment regimen, with complete response, induction, mortality, and survival. Results. The overall CR rate was 55%, induction mortality 20%, and 5-year survival rate 8%. The 5-year survival rate was 11% for patients younger than 65 years old, and 17% for patients with a normal karyotype. Among 82 patients younger than 65 years with a normal karyotype, the CR rate was 67%, 5-year survival rate 27%, and 5-year CR duration rate 33%. Topotecan-cytarabine regimens were equivalent to idarubicin-cytarabine regimens in relation to CR rates and survival rates, but were associated with a lower induction mortality. Multivariate analysis confirmed that treatment regimens were not associated with independent significant differences in CR rates or survival. However, topotecan-cytarabine regimens were still selected to be associated with lower induction mortality rates. Conclusions. Topotecan-cytarabine regimens are equally effective to other AML regimens in higher-risk MDS and may be less toxic. Topotecan-cytarabine should be considered as a reasonable alternative to idarubicin-cytarabine in higher-risk MDS, particularly in older patients with contraindications to anthracyclines.
The learning curve for the direct anterior approach for total hip arthroplasty: a single surgeon's first 500 cases.

BackgroundConcerns arise over the early complications encountered during the learning curve for the direct anterior approach for total hip arthroplasty.The purpose of this study is to examine the l...
Dual-Energy CT to Diagnose Pseudoedema in Contrast-Induced Encephalopathy Following Cerebral Angiography.

Background Contrast-induced encephalopathy (CIE) is a syndrome that may be clinically unrecognized and misdiagnosed as cerebral edema.
Autism and Equine-Assisted Interventions: A Systematic Mapping Review

This systematic mapping review mapped current knowledge of equine-assisted interventions for people with autism to help guide future practice and research. Thirty-three studies including children and adolescents with autism, 3 of which confirmed diagnoses, were reviewed. Five types of equine-assisted activities were identified across 25 studies, with reported improvements in behavior, social interaction, and communication. Four types of equine-assisted therapies were identified across 8 studies, with reported improvements in motor control and self-care. Different approaches to therapeutic riding and hippotherapy, the most studied interventions, were evident. While this literature reflected early scientific development, it offered broad proof of concept that equine-assisted interventions can benefit children and adolescents with autism. Promising outcomes support continued investigation focused on standardization, appropriateness, and efficacy.
Utility and reproducibility of 3-dimensional printed models in pre-operative planning of complex thoracic tumors.

Background and Objectives 3D-printed models are increasingly used for surgical planning. We assessed the utility, accuracy, and reproducibility of 3D printing to assist visualization of complex thoracic tumors for surgical planning. Methods Models were created from pre-operative images for three patients using a standard radiology 3D workstation. Operating surgeons assessed model utility using the Gillespie scale (1 = inferior to 4 = superior), and accuracy compared to intraoperative findings. Model variability was assessed for one patient for whom two models were created independently. The models were compared subjectively by surgeons and quantitatively based on overlap of depicted tissues, and differences in tumor volume and proximity to tissues. Results Models were superior to imaging and 3D visualization for surgical planning (mean score = 3.4), particularly for determining surgical approach (score = 4) and resectability (score = 3.7). Model accuracy was good to excellent. In the two models created for one patient, tissue volumes overlapped by >86.5%, and tumor volume and area of tissues ≤1 mm to the tumor differed by <15% and <1.8 cm2, respectively. Surgeons considered these differences to have negligible effect on surgical planning. Conclusion 3D printing assists surgical planning for complex thoracic tumors. Models can be created by radiologists using routine practice tools with sufficient accuracy and clinically negligible variability.
Additively manufactured hierarchical stainless steels with high strength and ductility

Many traditional approaches for strengthening steels typically come at the expense of useful ductility, a dilemma known as strength-ductility trade-off. New metallurgical processing might offer the possibility of overcoming this. Here we report that austenitic 316L stainless steels additively manufactured via a laser powder-bed-fusion technique exhibit a combination of yield strength and tensile ductility that surpasses that of conventional 316L steels. High strength is attributed to solidification-enabled cellular structures, low-angle grain boundaries, and dislocations formed during manufacturing, while high uniform elongation correlates to a steady and progressive work-hardening mechanism regulated by a hierarchically heterogeneous microstructure, with length scales spanning nearly six orders of magnitude. In addition, solute segregation along cellular walls and low-angle grain boundaries can enhance dislocation pinning and promote twinning. This work demonstrates the potential of additive manufacturing to create alloys with unique microstructures and high performance for structural applications.
1675b A good idea that failed: a technology transfer case study

Introduction Advances in technology and innovations in intellectual property are natural outputs of labs performing occupational safety and health research. Many of these new ideas and technologies have the potential to evolve into products or practices that can be adopted in the workplace. Yet practical innovations with a strong market potential routinely fail despite their promise. Methods The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) analysed a variety of workplace safety and health technologies that were never transferred beyond the lab. We mapped their development and considered points at which an alternative process may have led to a more successful outcome. To inform our analysis, we applied product adoption literature from marketing and business strategy fields. Result We found that most prototypes developed by research organisations were created with laboratory usage in mind. Others were created with input from potential customers or partners, but many aspects of their design, production, and marketing would have benefited had third parties taken over these roles. Discussion By better understanding the nature of an innovation and by framing that innovation in a business—rather than a laboratory—context, research organisations are more likely to successfully commercialise their technologies. By establishing stronger positions within industry value chains, research organisations are able to form partnerships and better leverage their own core competencies.
Early Northwest Coast

relative time period: Follows the Late Paleo-Indian tradition in the region, precedes the Middle Northwest Coast tradition
Demonstrations, Security Zones, and First Amendment Protection of Special Places

There has been a marked increase in government suppression of public protests and demonstrations. Certain areas, such as public space near the White House, have been effectively placed off limits to demonstrators. Protestors are put out of sight, down the road, or otherwise away from the object of their protest. The Secret Service has created security zones insulating the President and his entourage from the sights and sounds of opposition marches and demonstrations. And police are using sophisticated tactics, such as surveillance, infiltration, disinformation, and pre-emptive arrests to undermine and frustrate the ability of protestors to conduct their marches and send their message to the larger public. While it may seem that 9/11 and the war on terrorism would make these actions more defensible than they might otherwise be, actually the opposite is true. Most of the demonstrations affected by government suppression tactics are just those troublesome popular risings - opposition to war, globalization economics, and loss of privacy and freedom - that serve to check government overreaching but which may find little outlet in mainstream forms of communication. Yet First Amendment doctrine, in particular the time, place, and manner test, has become too flabby and unstable to reliably counter the government's sophisticated dilution of public dissent. To protect rights of protest and to restore integrity to the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition for redress of grievances, this symposium paper argues for rejecting the rigid dichotomy between content control and time, place and manner control, recasting of the time, place, and manner test as it relates to protests and demonstrations, and recognition of a First Amendment doctrine of special places.
Putting Academic Fair Use to the Test

The Fair Use Doctrine is one of the most important, complex and misunderstood elements of copyright law. It was born out of the principle that copyright law needs to balance the rights of authors and creators to reap a benefit from their creations with the public’s right to continue to develop new knowledge on the foundation of these creations. It is intended to function by allowing the use of existing creative works without the need to obtain permission or pay royalties, but only for certain purposes that have been identified as serving the public good. The complexity of the Fair Use Doctrine is that it is both very broad and quite narrow. The doctrine itself can be found at Title 17, Section 107 of the United States Code. The parties involved in a fair use case will measure and weigh many elements. However, if these parties can’t agree as to whether a use is fair, lawsuits may be filed and it becomes up to the court to decide. While no one wants to be sued, there is some benefit in that the court decisions which the four factors help to further narrow the scope of the fair use test and help subsequent users determine if fair use may apply to their proposed use.
VoiceMarc3D: Software Specifications and Implementation Design.

With the advent of 3D virtual worlds and a plethora of online 3D model warehouses, copyright protection of 3D graphics has been of prime concern lately. Copyright issues are crucial in media arts since digital artwork can easily be duplicated, illegally distributed, and modified. Watermarking techniques are used for copyright protection and to prevent unauthorized access of digital content. This paper details the specifications and implementation design of VoiceMarc3D, a prototype watermarking system which is developed for 3D multimedia. VoiceMarc3D generates a biometric watermark from the voice of the consumer and embeds it into the graphics content. Comparison of the embedded watermark with a newly acquired voice sample from the consumer verifies the authenticity of the consumer for legitimate access and usage of the 3D artwork. The system borrows techniques from state-of-the-art speaker verification algorithms to provide a decision on granting or denying access to the consumer for a copyright protected 3D model. The scope of this implementation is limited to watermarking of 3D mesh models.
Osteotomy Concepts and Frontal Plane Realignment

There are two basic osteotomy types for angular deformity correction: (a) angulation-only osteotomies, and (b) angulation with translation osteotomies. Angulation-only osteotomies may be opening wedge or closing wedge types. Angulation with translation osteotomies may be straight cut or circular cut (dome). More complex shaped osteotomies, such as V shaped, L shaped, W shaped, etc., are considered specialized osteotomies and are not covered within the context of this chapter.
A Case of Lateral Medullary Infarction with Cardiovascular Autonomic Dysfunction: An Unusual Presentation (P5.314)

Objective: To report an unusual presentation of lateral medullary syndrome. Background: Lateral medullary syndrome is classically characterized with vertigo, dissociated crossed sensory deficits, ipsilateral ataxia, bulbar palsy, and Horner’s syndrome. Although presentations vary depending on the location of the lesion, the sensory and motor manifestations of lateral medullary infarctions are the most well recognized, with rare reports of associated autonomic dysfunctions. We report the case of a gentleman with an unusual presentation of lateral medullary syndrome with orthostatic hypotension and pre-syncope. Design/Methods: Case report. Results: A 67 year-old man presented with pre-syncope and ataxia without vertigo. Initial CT and MRI of the head were normal. Neurological evaluation revealed right-beating nystagmus with left gaze, vertical binocular diplopia, right upper extremity dysmetria, truncal ataxia, right-facial and lower extremity hypoesthesia, and positive bedside orthostatic hypotension. Echocardiogram was normal with EF of 65%. Telemetry revealed a normal sinus rhythm. A repeat MRI showed an acute right dorsolateral medullary infarct. Autonomic nervous system testing demonstrated the following - Deep breathing: blunted heart rate variation (trial one: 4 beats/min, trial two: 3.8; 5th percentile: 7. Valsalva maneuver: blunted heart rate variation (ratio one: 1.03, ratio two: 1.15; 5th percentile 1.29), and no late phase II blood pressure response. Tilt-table test: 25–50 Torr fall in blood pressure at the end of a 10-minutes tilt-table test with no significant change in heart rate. These results are consistent for dysautonomia with sympathetic and parasympathetic dysfunction. He was discharged to acute rehabilitation a week later with residual right dysmetria and ataxia. Conclusions: Dorsolateral medullary infarctions are usually reported as fragmentary presentation of classic lateral medullary syndrome with accompanying unusual symptoms ranging from trigeminal neuralgias to hiccups. Presyncope and orthostatic hypotension is a rare presentation of dorsolateral medullary infarctions. Physicians should be aware of this presentation as early diagnosis and treatment would lead to a good outcome. Disclosure: Dr. Huynh has nothing to disclose. Dr. Decker has nothing to disclose. Dr. Tunguturi has nothing to disclose.
Improving Mitochondrial Function Improves the Plasma Metabolite Profile in Experimental Heart Failure

Background We recently reported a strong association of plasma metabolite profile with survival in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Mitochondrial function is perturbed in HFrEF, but whether plasma metabolite levels are linked to mitochondrial dysfunction is unknown. Elamipretide, a 4 amino acid peptide, normalizes mitochondrial energy production and thus provides a tool to test the association of mitochondrial function with the plasma metabolome in HFrEF. Methods Dogs (n=14) underwent intracoronary micro-embolization to induce HFrEF (pre-treatment EF 35%) and then were randomized 1:1 to elamipretide or placebo for 3 months. Targeted plasma metabolomic profiling was performed to quantitate 8 organic acids (OA), 23 amino acids (AA), and up to 59 acylcarnitines (AC) at pre-treatment and end of study. The association of changes in metabolite levels with treatment were tested using the Wilcoxon rank sum test on the principal components (PC) of each of the three metabolite classes. We also tested the correlation of metabolite levels with mitochondrial maximal rate of ATP synthesis in HF dog myocardium. We then attempted to confirm associations of interest in a human HFrEF cohort (n=1060) using bivariate Cox models. Result There was no association of plasma AA or AC changes with elamipretide treatment. However, there was a near-significant association of the first PC of OA changes (p=0.073), with treatment leading to lower plasma levels of OA compared to placebo (Figure). The OA also trended towards inverse relationship to maximal rate of ATP synthesis in dogs (correlation coef -0.09 to -0.67, mean -0.29), pyruvate having the strongest association (Coef =-0.67, p=0.012). In humans with HFrEF, directionally congruent and statistically significant associations with mortality risk were seen for 6 of these 8 OA (Table). Conclusion In dogs with HFrEF improving mitochondrial function using elamipretide resulted in favorable changes in plasma metabolites, specifically OA, which were risk-associated in human HFrEF. Our data suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction is the mechanism linking these plasma metabolomic abnormalities with worse survival in HFrEF.
Search for near room-temperature superconductivity in B-doped Q-carbon

We present 1D, 2D and 3D structures of boron-doped Q-carbon with a higher superconducting transition temperature than the current value of 55 K in 25 at% B-doped amorphous Q-carbon. The higher tran...
BeadED Adventures: Crafting STEM Learning

With the move towards digital interventions for educational purposes, there has been a loss of tangible and material interfaces, the consequences of which are still being understood. Meanwhile, there is an ongoing lack of gender diversity within STEM-facing majors and careers. In response to this, we have created a physical prototype of BeadED Adventures, a system that uses a physical controller made up of jars of colorful beads to control modified Twine games that follows constructivist philosophies of learning and emphasizes player autonomy. By controlling the experience, the player creates a beaded bracelet that is personalized based on their choices within the game. In addition to the controller, we are creating an educational Twine game in which the player explores an abandoned castle, solving computational thinking puzzles to escape.
Broadband, Multiband, and Multifunctional All-Dielectric Metasurfaces

Bianisotropic all-dielectric metasurfaces offer a broad range of functionalities in optics, but so far have been designed case by case, and their generalization to different forms of polarization control is not straightforward. Moreover, their demonstrated range of bianisotropic properties has been limited, due to the single-layer topologies used. The authors propose multilayered metasurfaces built from high-contrast subwavelength gratings of varying orientations. Such multilayered all-dielectric metasurfaces can yield polarization conversion with broadband, multiband, and multifunctional responses, and can be designed in a systematic manner to realize all three types of responses.
Genome Sequence Resource for Spiroplasma citri, Strain CC-2, Associated with Citrus Stubborn Disease in California

Spiroplasma citri is a bacterium that causes stubborn disease of citrus and infects other crops, ornamentals, and weeds. It is transmitted by leafhoppers in a circulative manner. Due to limited sequence data on S. citri, the bacterium was isolated from naturally infected Chinese cabbage grown on a farm in Fresno County, CA. DNA from S. citri CC-2 was extracted from a pure culture in LD8 and subjected to PacBio sequencing. Four contigs were obtained with a single circular chromosome of 1,709,192 bp and three plasmids of 40,210, 39,313, and 2,921 bp in size. The genome developed herein extends the sequence database of S. citri and is the first whole-genome sequence record of S. citri from California.
Liquid metal extraction of Nd from NdFeB magnet scrap

This research involves using molten magnesium (Mg) to remove neodymium (Nd) from NdFeB magnet scrap by diffusion. The results show that liquid metal extraction of Nd may be a viable and inexpensive method for recovering the expensive rare earth element Nd for use in Mg castings.
Hybrid Model for A Priori Performance Prediction of Multi-Job Type Swarm Search and Service Missions

In Swarm Search and Service (SSS) applications, swarm vehicles are responsible for concurrently searching an area while immediately servicing jobs discovered while searching. Multiple job types may be present in the environment. As vehicles move in and out of the swarm to service jobs, the coverage rate (i.e., area searched by the swarm per time step) changes dynamically to reflect the number of vehicles currently engaged in search. As a result, the arrival rates of jobs also changes dynamically. When planning SSS missions, the resource requirements, such as the swarm size needed to achieve a desired system performance, must be determined. The dynamically changing arrival rates make traditional queuing methods ill-suited to predict the performance of the swarm. This paper presents a hybrid method - Hybrid Model - for predicting the performance of the swarm a priori. It utilizes a Markov model, whose state representation captures the proportion of agents searching or servicing jobs. State-dependent queuing models are used to calculate the state transition function of the Markov states. The model has been developed as a prediction tool to assist mission planners in balancing complex trade-offs, but also provides a basis for optimizing swarm size where cost functions are known. The Hybrid Model is tested in previously considered constant coverage rate scenarios and the results are compared to a previously developed Queuing Model. Additional SSS missions are then simulated and their resulting performance is used to further evaluate the effectiveness of using the Hybrid Model as a prediction tool for swarm performance in more general scenarios with dynamically changing coverage rates.
Pituitary Apoplexy Case Series: Outcomes After Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery at a Single Tertiary Center

Background The management of pituitary apoplexy, caused by acute hemorrhage and/or infarction of a pituitary adenoma, is debated. Objective To analyze clinical characteristics of patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEAs) for pituitary apoplexy. Methods A retrospective review of patients at our institution from 2012 to 2018 undergoing EEA for pituitary apoplexy diagnosed clinically and with imaging/pathologic findings. Analysis included demographics, symptoms, neuroendocrine deficits, neuroimaging, complications, symptom resolution, and follow-up details. Results Fifty patients (mean age, 53 years) were included. Preoperative symptoms included headache (86%), vision loss (62%), and cranial nerve paresis (40%). Mean tumor diameter was 2.7 cm and extrasellar extension was observed in 96% of tumors. Twenty-eight tumors were hemorrhagic (76%), 24 were necrotic (65%), and 13 (35%) had both features. Magnetic resonance imaging showed gross total resection in 58% of patients. Headache and vision loss improved in 87% and 86% of presenting patients. Cranial nerve paresis resolved in 72% of patients, partially improved in 11%, and remained unchanged in 17%. There were no deaths or carotid artery injuries. Surgical complications included postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak (n = 4, 8%), epistaxis (n = 2, 4%), postoperative abscess (n = 1, 2%), and transient postoperative vision loss requiring reoperation (n = 1, 4%). Endocrinopathies improved in 21% of patients and panhypopituitarism persisted in 48% and developed in 6% of patients. Mean follow-up time was 26 months; 2 patients experienced recurrence. Conclusions EEA for pituitary apoplexy is effective in rapidly improving headache and visual symptoms. Although neuro-ophthalmic deficits often improve over time, panhypopituitarism persists in most patients after surgical resection.
Human Mammary Cells in a Mature, Stratified Epithelial Layer Flatten and Stiffen Compared to Confluent and Single Cells

The epithelium forms a protective barrier against external biological, chemical and physical insults. So far, AFM-based, micro-mechanical measurements have only been performed on single cells and confluent cells, but not yet on cells in the physiologically relevant, mature epithelial layer. Using a combination of atomic force, fluorescence and confocal microscopy, we determined the changes in stiffness, morphology and actin distribution of human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs) as they transition from single cells to confluency to a mature epithelial layer. Single cells have a tall, round (planoconvex) morphology, have actin stress fibers at the base, have diffuse cortical actin, and have a stiffness of 1 kPa. Confluent cells become flatter, basal actin stress fibers start to disappear, and actin accumulates laterally where cells abut. Overall stiffness is still 1 kPa with two-fold higher stiffness in the abutting regions. Cells in an epithelial layer are flat on top and seven times stiffer (average, 7 kPa) than single and confluent cells. Epithelial layer cells show strong actin accumulation in the regions where cells adjoin and in the apical regions. Stiffness is significantly enhanced in the regions of adjoining cells, compared to the central regions of cells. Physiologically, this previously unrecognized, drastic stiffness increase may be important to the protective function of the epithelium.
Pediatric acute gastroenteritis associated with adenovirus 40/41 in low-income and middle-income countries.

Purpose of review To review the roles of enteric adenovirus types 40 and 41 and nonenteric adenoviruses in the global burden of pediatric diarrhea. Recent findings Large studies using highly sensitive, type-specific molecular diagnostics have demonstrated a substantial and previously under-estimated burden of pediatric diarrheal disease because of enteric infections with adenovirus types 40/41. However, the true epidemiology of adenovirus 40/41 remains incompletely understood. Similarly, additional adenovirus types may also be implicated as agents of community-acquired pediatric gastroenteritis but current data are too limited to elucidate their epidemiological role(s), if any. Summary Efforts at global diarrhea control in low-income and middle-income countries will require combating pediatric gastroenteritis because of enteric adenovirus infections. Future research in these settings using type-specific molecular diagnostics or strain genotyping to fully characterize the epidemiology of adenovirus 40/41 infections, identify non-40/41 adenoviruses significantly associated with gastroenteritis, and develop vaccines effective at preventing adenovirus diarrhea is warranted.
A comparison of ECG and EEG metrics for in-flight monitoring of helicopter pilot workload

There is increasing interest in understanding the cognitive and physiological state of operators in safety critical situations (e.g. pilots), specifically as it relates to task difficulty and mental workload. Herein, we evaluate the potential of electrocardiography (ECG) and electroencephalography (EEG) for detecting in-flight changes in helicopter pilot workload. Two National Research Council Canada test pilots performed a series of flight maneuvers in an NRC Bell 205 helicopter which involved a target tracking task with three levels of difficulty. Subjective ratings of pilot workload were collected using the Cooper-Harper handling quality ratings scale and pilot control activity was quantified based on cyclic control movements. ECG derived measures of heart rate and heart rate variability, as well as EEG derived measures of power in three frequency bands (theta 4-8Hz; alpha 8-13Hz; beta 13-22Hz), were computed and compared across task difficulty levels. A set of support vector machine (SVM) regressors were trained and tested to differentiate the three difficulty levels from ECG and EEG features. Differences in subjective ratings and control activity metrics confirmed the task difficulty manipulations (p ECG = 0.17) performing better than the EEG-based regressor (minimum cross-validation MSE EEG = 0.29). This study provides an initial application demonstration of physiological and cognitive metrics and machine learning approaches for detecting differences in task difficulty during helicopter flight. This is the necessary first step for further development of passive brain computer interfaces for real-time in-flight monitoring of helicopter pilot workload.
SMA active fiber pumps inspired by the squid mantle

Squid possess a mantle that is able to quickly compress an internal fluid, thus providing a jetting locomotion that enables them to be the fastst aquatic invertebrates. The mantle possesses a complex collagen fiber and muscular system, and the primary propulsion is accomplished through circumferential muscles (90°) contracting around the mantel. In addition, jetting is also enhanced through elastic energy stored in the helically-wound IM-1 collagen fibers. The angles of these fibers have been measured between 28° to 32° in different species of squid. Inspired by the muscular fiber configuration found in the mantle of squid, novel pumps that use shape memory alloy (SMA) active fibers oriented at precise angles around a cylindrical shell are investigated through experiments and analytical studies. A thermomechanical model of a SMA active fiber pump is presented and the parameters are identified through experiments. Using the thermomechanical model of the SMA fiber, an analytical model of the SMA active fiber pump is presented and is validated through experiments. Results show that maximum pumping power and efficiency is achieved for pumps when the matrix modulus is less than the fiber modulus and the optimal fiber wind angle is ±55°. When the matrix modulus is similar to the fiber modulus, maximum pumping performance is achieved with a wind angle of ±90°, similar to the angle of the circumferential muscles in the squid mantel.
ADMM Algorithmic Regularization Paths for Sparse Statistical Machine Learning

Optimization approaches based on operator splitting are becoming popular for solving sparsity regularized statistical machine learning models. While many have proposed fast algorithms to solve these problems for a single regularization parameter, conspicuously less attention has been given to computing regularization paths, or solving the optimization problems over the full range of regularization parameters to obtain a sequence of sparse models. In this chapter, we aim to quickly approximate the sequence of sparse models associated with regularization paths for the purposes of statistical model selection by using the building blocks from a classical operator splitting method, the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM). We begin by proposing an ADMM algorithm that uses warm-starts to quickly compute the regularization path. Then, by employing approximations along this warm-starting ADMM algorithm, we propose a novel concept that we term the ADMM Algorithmic Regularization Path. Our method can quickly outline the sequence of sparse models associated with the regularization path in computational time that is often less than that of using the ADMM algorithm to solve the problem for a single regularization parameter. We demonstrate the applicability and substantial computational savings of our approach through three popular examples, sparse linear regression, reduced-rank multi-task learning, and convex clustering.
Standards governing agricultural innovation. Where do we come from? Where should we be going?

As noted in the epigraph above, a century ago, Kenyon Butterfield, then President of Massachusetts Agricultural College, asked whether the goal of increased productivity was adequate to the ‘new epoch’. But Butterfield’s question was largely ignored. For much of the past 300 years, productivity has been the central, and usually unchallenged, goal of agricultural research. Standards and accompanying measures of many kinds were developed to define productivity. Like all standards those for productivity govern our behaviour, shape our institutions and actions, and allow us to measure ‘progress’. Yet, today we are faced with Butterfield’s question once again. Productivity has not been – and is not likely to be – replaced, but it has been tentatively supplemented by a tangled and sometimes contentious variety of goals often labelled as ‘sustainability’.
Inhibition of the complete set of mammalian secreted phospholipases A(2) by indole analogues: a structure-guided study.

Abstract Structure-guided design was employed in a search for potent and selective inhibitors of mammalian secreted phospholipases A 2 (sPLA 2 s). Using the X-ray structures of human groups IIA and X sPLA 2 s (hGIIA and hGX) as templates, homology structural models were made for the other human and mouse sPLA 2 s (hGIB, mGIB, mGIIA, mGIIC, hGIID, mGIID, hGIIE, mGIIE, hGIIF, mGIIF, hGV, mGV, and mGX). Me-Indoxam is a previously discovered indole analogue that binds tightly to many sPLA 2 s, and the X-ray structure of the hGX-Me-Indoxam complex was determined at a resolution of 2.0 A. Modeling suggests that the residues near the N 1 -substituent of Me-Indoxam vary significantly among the mammalian sPLA 2 s, and therefore a library of 83 N 1 -variants was prepared by parallel synthesis. Several Me-Indoxam analogues bearing a 4-(2-oxy-ethanoic acid) side chain were potent inhibitors (IC 50 5 μM) hGIID, mGIID, hGIIF, and mGIIF. Me-Indoxam analogues bearing a 5-(4-oxy-butanoic acid) side chain were generally less potent inhibitors. Although no compounds were found to be highly specific for a single human or mouse sPLA 2 , combinations of Me-Indoxam analogues were discovered that could be used to distinguish the action of various sPLA 2 s in cellular events. For example, Me-Indoxam and compound 5 are approximately 5-fold more potent on hGIIA than on hGV, and compound 21 is 10-fold more potent on hGV versus hGIIA.
Quantitative Analysis of amino acid oxidation markers by tandem mass spectrometry

Oxidative stress plays a central role in the pathogenesis of diverse chronic inflammatory disorders including diabetic complications, cardiovascular disease, aging, neurodegenerative disease, autoimmune disorders, and pulmonary fibrosis. Protein misfolding can lead to chronic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress which can exacerbate oxidative stress. This can trigger apoptotic cascades resulting in chronic inflammatory disorders. Despite intense interest in origins and magnitude of oxidative stress, ability to quantify oxidants has been limited because they are short lived. We have developed quantitative mass spectrometry (MS)-based analytical strategies to analyze stable end products of protein oxidation. These molecules provide quantitative and mechanistic assessment of degree of oxidative stress in cell cultures, tissues, and biofluids of animal models of disease and human samples. Our studies support the hypothesis that unique reactive intermediates generated in localized microenvironments of vulnerable tissues promote end-organ damage. The ability to quantify these changes and assess response to therapies will be pivotal in understanding disease mechanisms and monitoring efficacy of therapy.
Xylan Isolated from the Stalk of Nicotiana tabacum

Xylan was isolated by alkaline extraction of the holocellulose from the stalk of Nicotiana tabacum, which was purified by DEAE-cellulose and ion-exchange resin column chromatography. Based on the results of methylation analysis, partial acid hydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis, the purified xylan was confirmed to be composed of a straight chain of β-(1-4)-linked D-xylopyranosyl residues. The degree of polymerization was determined as about 100 by membrane osmometry in water.
OKLAHOMA CORRUPTION: PAST AND PRESENT

Corruption in one form or another is no stranger to Oklahoma. Unfortunately, the term "political corruption" is not easy to define. Given the ambiguities, it is best to use an enlarged meaning, one that encompasses scandals and scandalous behavior. Readers probably deserve a warning that a focus on corruption is, by definition, a focus on bad behavior. Oklahoma history is treated selectively to dwell on the dark side. The conclusion offers a brief comparative assessment of the state's corruption.
Abstract B28: In vivo ERK1/2 pathway reporting during acquired resistance to combined RAF/MEK inhibition

Proceedings: AACR 106th Annual Meeting 2015; April 18-22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA The MEK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway is constitutively activated in BRAF V600E/K melanomas. Concurrent BRAF and MEK inhibitor treatment was recently FDA-approved for BRAF V600E melanoma; however, acquired resistance to the drug combination limits durable responses. Our lab has developed a luciferase reporter system that temporally and non-invasively quantitates ERK1/2 activity in mutant BRAF melanoma xenografts. We used this reporter system to examine the temporal kinetics of ERK1/2 activity in vivo upon treatment with combined BRAF/MEK inhibition. Using a 1205Lu reporter system, all established tumors regressed to levels that were not detectable visually. After prolonged treatment with BRAF and MEK inhibitors, only 2 out of 8 mice regrew resistant tumors. In similar experiments with A375 xenografts, only 1 out 12 tumors developed resistance. In 1205Lu tumors, re-activation of the ERK1/2 pathway was evident prior to re-growth. Additionally, cell lines generated from these resistant tumors exhibited elevated levels of ERK1/2 suggesting that resistance to BRAF + MEK inhibitors involves re-activation of ERK1/2 signaling. In comparison to parental cells, resistant cells in vitro displayed reduced levels of apoptosis, increased proliferation, and increased viability in the presence of BRAF plus MEK inhibitor. Furthermore, when removed from drugs, combination-resistant cells showed increased apoptosis and reduced proliferation and viability, suggesting that the resistant lines may be addicted to the dual therapy. RPPA analysis and whole exome sequencing to elucidate mechanisms of resistance are ongoing. Citation Format: Ileine Sanchez, Andrew Aplin. In vivo ERK1/2 pathway reporting during acquired resistance to combined RAF/MEK inhibition. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2686. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2686