cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Observations on Hybridization and Heterosis in Parasitoids of Synanthropic Flies

Expressions of hybrid vigor were found in F1 through F3 generations of crosses between strains of parasitoids of synanthropic flies from climatically similar but geographically isolated areas. There was an apparent lack of heterosis among progeny of a cross between Tropical and Temperate Zone strains. A practical advantage of utilizing exotic strains from similar climatic areas for the biological control technique of inundation is indicated. Considerations are presented for the possible production of synthetic superior strains through direcled heterosis.
Effect of Treatment Options on Quality of Life in Patients With Persistent or Recurrent Atrial Fibrillation: A Review of the Literature

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation is well known for the resulting symptoms of fatigue, dyspnea, palpitations, angina, and lightheadedness that can adversely affect a patient’s quality of life. While the goal of atrial fibrillation management is to decrease symptoms and prevent further cardiac disease, overall improvement of the patient’s quality of life may be an important factor in deciding between rhythm and rate control pharmacologic therapy. Clinical Question: In patients with persistent or recurrent atrial fibrillation, is there a quality-of-life benefit to disease management using rhythm control or rate control pharmacologic methods? Search and Study Methods: Four multi-center, prospective, nonblinded, randomized controlled trials were identified through a PubMed database search. Three studies randomized participants to rhythm or rate control methods, while the fourth study evaluated two arms of rhythm control. The primary outcome of quality of life was measured by self-administered questionnaires and interviews for 12 months to 6 years. Results: The eleven assessment tools used among the studies revealed no difference in the quality of life between patients on rhythm and those on rate control pharmacologic therapy; measurements improved significantly, regardless of the treatment method. SF-36 summary scores indicated that physical aspects of quality of life improved significantly (p<0.05) in the first 3 years of treatment, while mental aspects improved significantly (p<0.02) or insignificantly. The greatest benefits were found in the categories of social and physical functioning. Symptom frequency and severity also improved significantly (p<0.01) as a result of rhythm or rate control. Conclusions: Patients with persistent or recurrent atrial fibrillation are likely to experience an improvement in the subjective perception of their health and well-being with either rhythm or rate control pharmacologic therapy. Both management strategies are associated with statistically significant improvements in quality-of-life measurements in the first 3 years of treatment. An important contributing factor to improvement is the successful management of symptoms.
Origin of Stream Flows at the Wildlands-Urban Interface, Santa Monica Mountains, California, U.S.AOrigin of Stream Flows

The Santa Monica Mountains of southern California have undergone moderate urbanization since 1960. Just a few decades ago, many of the riverine systems in the Santa Monica Mountains were intermittent, but they are now perennial. The transition to perennial streams has led many policy makers to conclude that urban runoff from landscape watering accounts for continuous flows during the lengthy dry season. The transition to perennial flows allows expansion of habitat for exotic and harmful species, raising arguments for controls on urban runoff during the dry season. Most communities in the Santa Monica Mountains depend entirely on State Project water imported from northern California. Stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen show that imported water is isotopically distinct from local precipitation, providing a useful tool for tagging source flows in Santa Monica Mountain streams. In this investigation, we perform a detailed analysis of dry weather flows in one of the Santa Monica Mountain9s major streams, Las Virgenes Creek. We also present results of reconnaissance surveys of several other creeks. Las Virgenes Creek accumulates most of its initial flow along an urban part of its stream reach. Chloride and sulfate scatter plots indicate that Las Virgenes Creek is dominantly fed along the urban stream reach by locally sourced, groundwater base flow. Oxygen and deuterium isotopes show that Las Virgenes Creek and other creeks in the Santa Monica Mountains contain small percentages of imported waters (less than 10 percent), indicating little urban runoff during dry weather flows. The data suggest that perennial flow in urban streams results from the removal of riparian vegetation and deepening of channels rather than from urban runoff.
Quadratic Hash Arithmetic Classifies Packets of Multilinks on Network Processor

With the high speed growth of the network technology,packet classification is more and more important.The network processor has the ability of flexible programmed and high speed processing,so it becomes the valid solution on network data handle in nowadays.This research carries out quadratic Hash arithmetic by mirco-code,which solves the balance between the limited date memory and timely accessing.With the Intel emulator workbench,this research classifies the ATM cells which belong to multi-links.It proves to be a valuable solution to high speed data processing.
Application of Urinary Leukotriene E4 Detection in Monitoring Outcome of Children with Bronchial Asthma

Objective To explore the role of urinary leukotriene E4(LTE4) detection in monitoring the outcome of children with bronchial asthma(asthma) and the relationships between urinary LTE4 and airway resistance(Rint),peripheral blood eosinophils(EOS) counted. Methods Thirty asthmatic children aged 1-5 years who had never taken leukotrienes receptor antagonist-montelukast were selected as asthmatic group,and they were divided into acute attack period group,chronic duration group in which the patients had taken montelukast for 1 month,clinical remission group in which the patients had taken montelukast for 3 months.At the same time,20 healthy children were selec-ted as healthy control group.Urinary LTE4 was measured by competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,Rint and EOS were also determined in these children. Results Urinary LTE4 and Rint of asthmatic children in acute attack stage group,chronic duration group and clinical remission group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group(Pa0.01).Urinary LTE4,Rint and peripheral EOS in 3 asthmatic group were significantly different(F=870.08,496.58,195.98;Pa0.01).In acute attack period,there was no correlation between urinary LTE4 and Rint(r=0.11,P0.05),and there was also no correlation between urinary LTE4 and EOS(r=-0.12,P0.05). Conclusions Urinary LTE4 in acute attack period was significantly increased,along with upturn of asthma,urinary LTE4 decreased gradually;Urinary LTE4 is an useful marker in guiding asthma diagnosis and treatment of leukotriene receptor antagonists.
New Approaches to Macroeconomic Modeling: Evolutionary Stochastic Dynamics, Multiple Equilibria, and Externalities as Field Effects

This book contributes substantively to state-of-the-art macroeconomic modeling by providing a method for modeling large collections of heterogeneous agents subject to non-pairwise externality called field effects, i.e. feedback of aggregate effects on individual agents or agents using state-dependent strategies. Adopting a level of microeconomic description which keeps track of compositions of fractions of agents by 'types' or 'strategies', time evolution of the microeconomic states is described by (backward) Chapman-Kolmogorov equations. Macroeconomic dynamics naturally arise by expansion of the solution in some power series of the number of participants. Specification of the microeconomic transition rates thus leads to macroeconomic dynamic models. This approach provides a consistent way for dealing with multiple equilibria of macroeconomic dynamics by ergodic decomposition and associated calculations of mean first passage times, and stationary probabilities of equilibria further provide useful information on macroeconomic behavior.
From Newton to Google

After setting out the definition of “fixed point” we’ll give examples of their role in finding solutions: to equations (Newton’s Method), to initial-value problems, and to the problem of ranking internet web pages. After this we’ll show how the notion of fixed point arises in set theory, where it provides an easy proof of the Schroder–Bernstein theorem. We’ll introduce the famous Brouwer Fixed-Point Theorem, show how it applies to the study of matrices with positive entries, and discuss the application of these results to the internet page-ranking problem.
Long-Term Submergence at 3°C of the Turtle, Chrysemys Picta Bellii, in Normoxic And Severely Hypoxic Water: I. Survival, Gas Exchange And Acid-Base Status

Survival and blood acid-base status were measured on freshwater turtles ( Chrysemys picta bellii Gray) that were submerged at 3 °C in either aerated (high O 2 ) or N 2 -equilibrated (low O 2 ) water. Results from catheterized turtles, without access to air under these conditions, and from non-catheterized turtles which were either apnoeic (in high O 2 and low O 2 water) or in high O 2 water with access to air, are compared. Under the most adverse conditions (catheterized, submerged, low O 2 ), survival duration was 126±14 ( X ±S.E.) days, and 2 of the 10 turtles so treated were still alive after 177 days, although their condition was poor. Apnoeic, high O 2 turtles generally survived longer and were in better condition despite a skin fungus condition that selectively affected these animals. Six of ten non-catheterized high O 2 turtles were still alive after 189 days without breathing. All apnoeic turtles developed an acidosis which, except for a transient hypercapnia in low O 2 turtles, was a metabolic acidosis attributable to elevated lactic acid. Acidosis was most severe in low O 2 turtles in which peak plasma lactates exceeded 200 mM. High O 2 turtles, as judged by higher blood P O2 and lower lactate concentrations, were able to extract dissolved O 2 from the water and support a significant portion of their metabolic requirements by aerobic metabolism. Our data indicate that wintering turtles can remain alive for up to 6 months, even while totally anoxic and severely acidotic, but that the acid-base state and probably the recovery potential are significantly improved if dissolved O 2 is available for extrapulmonary uptake.
Fuzzy Visual Thinking: Interpreting and Thinking with Fuzzy Pictures and Fuzzy Data

In this chapter I pick up on previous results and extend the discussion in chapter 5 to tackle these questions: How do pictures and their fuzziness enter these activities? How can fuzzy set theory accommodate fuzzy visual thinking? Performing cognitive tasks involves a variety images, some of them are fuzzy perceptions, others are fuzzy pictures. As I have done in my broad discussion of representation and thinking, also here I want to include visual thinking in scientific contexts. Set theory can be used in the formalization of reasoning from images or with images associated with the representational and inferential use of symbolic diagrams, also in the formalization of thinking in a broader set of tasks that include computation and problem-solving using both fuzzy diagrams and fuzzy analogical pictures.
Medicare Expenditure Correlates of Atrophy and Cerebrovascular Disease in Older Adults.

Background/Study Context: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) markers of cerebrovascular disease and atrophy are common in older adults and are associated with cognitive and medical burden. However, the extent to which they are related to health care expenditures has not been examined. We studied whether increased Medicare expenditures were associated with brain markers of atrophy and cerebrovascular disease in older adults.Methods: A subset of participants (n = 592; mean age = 80 years; 66% women) from the Washington Heights Inwood Columbia Aging Project (WHICAP), a community-based observational study of aging in upper Manhattan, received high-resolution MRI and had Medicare expenditure data on file. We examined the relationship of common markers of cerebrovascular disease (i.e., white matter hyperintensities and presence of infarcts) and atrophy (i.e., whole brain and hippocampal volume) with Medicare expenditure data averaged over a 10-year period. Main outcome measures were (a) mean Medicare payment per ...
Moonwalk: NRE Optimization in ASIC Clouds

Cloud services are becoming increasingly globalized and data-center workloads are expanding exponentially. GPU and FPGA-based clouds have illustrated improvements in power and performance by accelerating compute-intensive workloads. ASIC-based clouds are a promising way to optimize the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of a given datacenter computation (e.g. YouTube transcoding) by reducing both energy consumption and marginal computation cost.The feasibility of an ASIC Cloud for a particular application is directly gated by the ability to manage the Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) costs of designing and fabricating the ASIC, so that it is significantly lower (e.g. 2X) than the TCO of the best available alternative.In this paper, we show that technology node selection is a major tool for managing ASIC Cloud NRE, and allows the designer to trade off an accelerator's excess energy efficiency and cost performance for lower total cost.We explore NRE and cross-technology optimization of ASIC Clouds for four different applications: Bitcoin mining, YouTube-style video transcoding, Litecoin, and Deep Learning. We address these challenges and show large reductions in the NRE, potentially enabling ASIC Clouds to address a wider variety of datacenter workloads. Our results suggest that advanced nodes like 16nm will lead to sub-optimal TCO for many workloads, and that use of older nodes like 65nm can enable a greater diversity of ASIC Clouds.
Pathways to clinical CLARITY: volumetric analysis of irregular, soft, and heterogeneous tissues in development and disease

Three-dimensional tissue-structural relationships are not well captured by typical thin-section histology, posing challenges for the study of tissue physiology and pathology. Moreover, while recent progress has been made with intact methods for clearing, labeling, and imaging whole organs such as the mature brain, these approaches are generally unsuitable for soft, irregular, and heterogeneous tissues that account for the vast majority of clinical samples and biopsies. Here we develop a biphasic hydrogel methodology, which along with automated analysis, provides for high-throughput quantitative volumetric interrogation of spatially-irregular and friable tissue structures. We validate and apply this approach in the examination of a variety of developing and diseased tissues, with specific focus on the dynamics of normal and pathological pancreatic innervation and development, including in clinical samples. Quantitative advantages of the intact-tissue approach were demonstrated compared to conventional thin-section histology, pointing to broad applications in both research and clinical settings.
Parathyroid surgery in children

This chapter reviews the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of hyperparathyroidism in children. Compared to adults, parathyroid disease is rare in children and this rarity may lead to delay in diagnosis of the parathyroid problem and delay in recognition of associated conditions. The common causes of hyperparathyroidism, such as parathyroid adenoma and hyperplasia, as well as the less common etiologies, such as adenocarcinoma are considered. Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), which results from overproduction of parathyroid hormone (PTH), is the most common cause of HPT in both adults and children. Secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism are related to chronic renal failure, which results in continuous stimulation of PTH production, and are less common causes of HPT in children. Parathyroid adenocarcinoma is an exceedingly rare cause of HPT, accounting for less than 1% of all cases of HPT in adults and it is probably even more uncommon in children. Throughout this discussion of parathyroid disease in children, comparisons will be made to the more frequent adult disease, highlighting the similarities and differences between the two populations.
Performance analysis of emerging data analytics and HPC workloads

Supercomputers are increasingly being used to run a data analytics workload in addition to a traditional simulation science workload. This mixed workload must be rigorously characterized to ensure that appropriately balanced machines are deployed. In this paper we analyze a suite of applications representing the simulation science and data workload at the NERSC supercomputing center. We show how time is spent in application compute, library compute, communication and I/O, and present application performance on both the Intel Xeon and Intel Xeon-Phi partitions of the Cori supercomputer. We find commonality in the libraries used, I/O motifs and methods of parallelism, and obtain similar node-to-node performance for the base application configurations. We demonstrate that features of the Intel Xeon-Phi node architecture and a Burst Buffer can improve application performance, providing evidence that an exascale-era energy-efficient platform can support a mixed workload.
Herd-Level Monitoring and Prevention of Displaced Abomasum in Dairy Cattle

Displaced abomasum (DA) is a postpartum disease that causes significant economic losses in the dairy industry. Abomasal atony and excessive production of gas have been reported as prerequisites for the development of DA. The exact cause of DA is unknown, yet infectious and metabolic disease, diet composition and physical form, cow comfort, and management of dairy cows during the transition period have been associated with the occurrence of this disorder. This review article discusses different factors that lead to the development of DA and strategies for monitoring DA and its comorbidities at the herd level.
Thymic B cell development is controlled by the B potential of progenitors via both hematopoietic-intrinsic and thymic microenvironment-intrinsic regulatory mechanisms.

Background Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) derived from birth through adult possess differing differentiation potential for T or B cell fate in the thymus; neonatal bone marrow (BM) cells also have a higher potential for B cell production in BM compared to adult HSCs. We hypothesized that this hematopoietic-intrinsic B potential might also regulate B cell development in the thymus during ontogeny. Methods Foxn1lacZ mutant mice are a model in which down regulation of a thymic epithelial cell (TEC) specific transcription factor beginning one week postnatal causes a dramatic reduction of thymocytes production. In this study, we found that while T cells were decreased, the frequency of thymic B cells was greatly increased in these mutants in the perinatal period. We used this model to characterize the mechanisms in the thymus controlling B cell development. Results Foxn1lacZ mutants, T cell committed intrathymic progenitors (DN1a,b) were progressively reduced beginning one week after birth, while thymic B cells peaked at 3–4 weeks with pre-B-II progenitor phenotype, and originated in the thymus. Heterochronic chimeras showed that the capacity for thymic B cell production was due to a combination of higher B potential of neonatal HSCs, combined with a thymic microenvironment deficiency including reduction of DL4 and increase of IL-7 that promoted B cell fate. Conclusion Our findings indicate that the capacity and time course for thymic B-cell production are primarily controlled by the hematopoietic-intrinsic potential for B cells themselves during ontogeny, but that signals from TECs microenvironment also influence the frequency and differentiation potential of B cell development in the thymus.
Raiffa Transformed the Field of Negotiation–and Me

Howard Raiffa was a role model, friend, and inspiration. He transformed the field of negotiation, and he transformed my career. This brief article provides a recollection of how Howard revolutionized the field of negotiation, and how those insights are now affecting broader areas of the of the social science. Howard received the 1999 Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association for Conflict Management.
Protecting against Ransomware: A New Line of Research or Restating Classic Ideas?

Ransomware is a type of extortion-based attack that locks the victim’s digital resources and requests money to release them. The recent resurgence of high-profile ransomware attacks, particularly in critical sectors such as the healthcare industry, has highlighted the pressing need for effective defenses. While users are always advised to have a reliable backup strategy, the growing number of paying victims in recent years suggests that new defense mechanisms that minimize the destructive effects of ransomware attacks are needed. However, there are undeniable similarities between ransomware and other types of malware attacks. Hence, the two main questions that are often asked are: What are the challenges in defending against ransomware that can be solved using existing malware detection techniques? And, what are the new intellectual challenges that require developing new tools and techniques? In this article, we summarize some of the challenges in developing anti-ransomware solutions by considering the similarities and differences between ransomware and other types of malware attacks.
Competencies Development Framework Based on Best Practices

Organizational knowledge is information about products, processes and customers that is held by the personnel and documentations within an organization. Institutionalization of best practices contained within this knowledge is essential for creating competencies. Unfortunately, organizations do not utilize this knowledge effectively. This paper introduces a framework that shows how establishing a prototype system to enhance product and process understanding can build organizational knowledge in the short-term. Along with external benchmarking, this internal knowledge can be used to form best practices based competencies. This framework is illustrated through a case study for an automotive sensor harness.
A Design Method for Relaxation Labeling Applications

A summary of mathematical results developing a theory of consistency in ambiguous labelings is presented. This theory allows the relaxation labeling algorithm, introduced in [Rosenfeld, Hummel, Zucker, 1976], to be interpreted as a method for finding consistent labelings, and allows specific applications to be tailored in accordance with intended design goals. We discuss, with a couple of examples, a design methodology for using this theory for practical applications.
Youth Poverty in America

In 1993, 23 percent of our children were living below the official poverty line. Of such children, the bipartisan National Commission on Children has said, “The harshness of [their] lives and their tenuous hold on tomorrow cannot be countenanced by a wealthy nation, a caring people, or a prudent society.
The rabbit lacrimal gland in vitamin A deficiency

PURPOSE: To investigate the morphology, ultrastructure, and protein secretion of the vitamin A-deficient rabbit lacrimal gland. METHODS: The lacrimal glands of vitamin A-deficient rabbits and age-matched controls were fixed, processed by standard methods, and examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. Protein secreted by the lacrimal gland was analyzed using gel filtration chromatography and electrophoresis. RESULTS: By light microscopy, the glands of experimental and control rabbits were indistinguishable. Electron microscopy showed little effect of vitamin A deficiency on the lacrimal acini, although occasional pyknotic nuclei were observed. The intralobular ductal epithelium was unaffected. Protein concentration and composition were essentially unchanged in lacrimal gland fluid of vitamin A-deficient rabbits compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: The rabbit lacrimal gland is minimally affected by vitamin A deficiency, suggesting species differences between rabbits and rats in the vitamin A requirements of the lacrimal gland. Normal lacrimal gland structure and function in vitamin A deficiency allow for the prompt secretion of retinol on the restoration of vitamin A to the diet.
Access to Orthopaedic Care.

As the U.S. health-care system continues to undergo considerable change, most recently as a result of the enactment of the U.S. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), orthopaedic practices are being challenged with increased demand for services while dealing with changes in reimbursemen
Evaluation of the Implementation of the Healthy Start Program: Findings from the 2016 National Healthy Start Program Survey.

Objectives The Healthy Start Program has taken a community-based approach to improving maternal and child health outcomes among underserved populations for 25 years. Although the program has been evaluated in the past, it has not undergone a national evaluation since it was transformed in 2014. The purpose of this study is to present data from an early component of the latest national evaluation—the 2016 National Healthy Start Program Survey, which includes information describing grantees, the risk profile of participants served, and the scope of services offered to meet participant needs. Methods Ninety-five grantees completed the survey, and responses are reported at the aggregate level. Study analyses are descriptive. Results Grantees reported serving a population with a high-risk profile characterized by chronic medical conditions or risk behaviors. Most grantees conduct comprehensive needs/risk assessments for participants upon program entry, yet service delivery strategies were mixed, with some differences found by geographic region. Grantees provide a core set of services to participants, including case management and health promotion/education, and tend to refer participants to community providers for services that are deemed appropriate during individual risk assessments. While most grantees have protocols in place related to these priority services, participants may not have been universally offered all services across sites. Conclusions for Practice Although grantees often highlight their facilitation of service/care coordination with existing resources, findings suggest potential areas on which to focus strategic efforts to ensure that the Healthy Start Program is successfully bridging gaps in access and utilization of services for underserved communities.
The ACCOuNT Consortium: A Model for the Discovery, Translation, and Implementation of Precision Medicine in African Americans

The majority of pharmacogenomic (PGx) studies have been conducted on European ancestry populations, thereby excluding minority populations and impeding the discovery and translation of African American-specific genetic variation into precision medicine. Without accounting for variants found in African Americans, clinical recommendations based solely on genetic biomarkers found in European populations could result in misclassification of drug response in African American patients. To address these challenges, we formed the Transdisciplinary Collaborative Center (TCC), African American Cardiovascular Pharmacogenetic Consortium (ACCOuNT), to discover novel genetic variants in African Americans related to clinically actionable cardiovascular phenotypes and to incorporate African American-specific sequence variations into clinical recommendations at the point of care. The TCC consists of two research projects focused on discovery and translation of genetic findings and four cores that support the projects. In addition, the largest repository of PGx information on African Americans is being established as well as lasting infrastructure that can be utilized to spur continued research in this understudied population.
Discovery of Novel 1H‐Imidazol‐2‐yl‐pyrimidine‐4,6‐diamines as Potential Antimalarials.

Newly synthesized title compounds (I) show potent activity against the erythrocyte-stage of Plasmodium falciparum, the most causative agent of malaria.
Psychosocial issues in erythropoietic protoporphyria - the perspective of parents, children, and young adults: A qualitative study.

Abstract Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP) are rare photodermatoses, generally presenting in childhood with severe and painful phototoxicity. EPP has been reported to negatively affect quality of life (QoL), but there is limited information on the psychosocial issues faced by patients and families. To address this, an online focus group study was conducted to explore the perspective of parents of children with EPP, and young adults and children with EPP. Five focus groups were conducted in a semi-structured format, with moderator-led discussions exploring the impact on QoL. Three focus groups included parents of children with EPP, one with children aged 10–11 years, and another with young adults aged 24–25 years, for a total of 24 participants. Thematic data analysis showed that parents experience guilt for being unable to protect their children and frustration with the current state of knowledge of EPP. Parents also admitted that the disease can lead to stress within family members which is difficult to manage. Young adults expressed embarrassment over having to explain the disease to others. They reported that the teenage years were the most difficult to navigate; however, they learned to adapt to their disease as they grew older. Children expressed that they had limited understanding of their disease and wished they were told what symptoms to expect by physicians earlier in life. Our findings emphasize the significant impact on QoL for these families and a lack of age appropriate information for children with EPP. These findings can help improve counseling and support resources for patients and caregivers.
Novel binding pattern of chlorotoxin (TM-601) in glioma cells in vitro.

5488 These studies are focused on evaluating the cellular target(s) and cellular effects of chlorotoxin (also called TM-601), a scorpion-derived, 36-amino acid peptide with specificity to tumor cells including glioma. TM-601 is a new experimental drug currently in Phase II clinical trials for treatment of adult recurrent glioma. Here we used the biotinylated version of TM-601, called TM-602, to evaluate binding to human U373 MG and mouse G-26 glioma cells. The glioma cell cultures were seeded on tissue culture chamber slides at 5000 cells per chamber for 24 hours at 37° C. Some cultures were fixed with 1% glutaraldehyde or 10% neutral buffered formalin (NBF) and reacted with TM-602 at 1 or 50 micromolar concentrations. Other cell cultures were incubated live at 37° C in the presence of either growth medium alone, 1.2 mM D-biotin or TM-602 (1 or 50 micromolar concentrations) for 5 minutes, 1 hour or 24 hours, followed by fixation with 1% glutaraldehyde or 10% NBF. Next, all cell preparations were treated with Vectastain Elite ABC Reagent followed by diaminobenzidine. Slides were dehydrated, cleared and coverslipped with Cytoseal and the brown reaction product was evaluated under a light microscope. We found that cell cultures which were fixed first and then exposed to TM-602 displayed a wide range of morphologically distinct stages of glioma cell division captured after fixation. Intensely dark stained cells at all stages of the cell division were clearly visible because of the TM-602 present in the nucleus and/or the microtubules of the mitotic spindle. The remaining majority of the cells exhibited strong brown filamentous staining in the cytoplasm, often concentrated adjacent to the nucleus, with darkly stained round structures visible within the nucleus. This suggested that TM-602 may have bound to the microtubules within the cell and concentrated around the centrosome, as well as to the kinetochore microtubules visible in the nucleus at S phase of the cell cycle. However, when live glioma cells were incubated with TM-602 for longer periods of time such as 1 hour or 24 hours (but not 5 minutes), the majority of cells exhibited nuclear staining but cells undergoing cell division were not found. In all cultures, the intensity of the staining following exposure to TM-602 increased in a dose and time dependent manner, but there was no staining displayed in the controls. The current study suggests that TM-602 binds to the microtubular structures known to be involved in cell division and cell motility and consequently inhibits glioma proliferation. Ongoing studies in our laboratory will further define cellular targets for TM-601 to aid in current and future clinical trials of adult recurrent glioma.
Microbial Forensics: Detection and Characterization in the Twenty-first Century

The use of a biological agent during the commission of a crime or as weapon of terrorism or war is criminalized under national and international law. Like their counterparts in the chemical and physical sciences, biologists have begun to develop the means to investigate the malicious use of pathogens and toxins, a process that entails the detection and characterization of the means of delivery or dispersal, characterization of the agent, and, eventually, attribution of the attack to an individual, organization, or state actor. Each of these investigative steps can be approached first by traditional forensic biological approaches. We limit our discussion to microbial forensics, leaving attribution to other venues. The last decade has seen great progress in molecular forensic capability, and we explore recent and/or novel molecular biological tools that allow the analysis of evidentiary samples. We will argue that DNA is central to the analysis of microbial weapons, as increased access to synthetic biological methodology in the context of digitalization of biomaterials paves the way for the potential construction of bioagents for malicious use. DNA sequencing and analysis permits some prediction of the methods used to synthesize and manipulate DNA as well as the means to detect engineered genetic elements. Other issues of high relevance include approaches to international data sharing, sample and reference collection, pertinent disease surveillance mechanisms and statistical methods. We conclude with a discussion of gaps and challenges in the field.
Optimization of pelleting parameters for producing composite pellets using agricultural and agro-processing wastes by Taguchi-Grey relational analysis

Abstract Agricultural and agro-processing sector produces large stream of by-products that are either discarded or are underutilized. Lignocellulosic biomass especially crop residues’ potential to green energy development has been investigated. Material conditions as process variable was made a centerpiece of investigation in the present study since several parameters in the feedstock mixture come into interplay during pelletization. Moisture, binders, blending ratio, particle size, and principle feedstock material were the parameters of our interest in finding their effect on physical and thermochemical characteristics. It is also an endeavor to investigate low cost binder options in producing composite pellets of high quality. A Taguchi L9 orthogonal array experimental design was employed and Taguchi based Grey relational analysis was performed to determine the best combinatorial optimization of factor levels settings for producing best pellets. The optimal parameter level settings for pelletization was determined to be 3.18 mm wheat feedstock material blended with pine shavings at 60/40 ratio. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to identify the contribution of each parameter. The magnitude of the significant impacts of parameters on performance characteristics were in the order of binder > blend ratio > grind > feedstock material. Results also showed that the physico-chemical characteristics of the pellets were concomitant with the proportion of ingredients or recipes in a blend.
Mental, Physical and Social Dimensions of Health Equity and Wellness among U.S. Indigenous Peoples: What is Known and Next Steps.

This special issue and introduction focuses on promoting health equity and addressing health disparities among Indigenous peoples of the United States (U.S.) and associated Territories in the Pacif...
Why Are Ethnic Parties Less Programmatic? Mixed-Method Evidence of Ethnic Endogeneity to Clientelistic Linkages

This paper advances a synthesized theory that ethnic party institutional preference for clientelistic exchanges is a causal determinant in weaker programmatic connections. I use an elite focused mi...
Abstract 4397: Pathway-based drug combinatory synergy prediction using gene expression and essentiality data

Background: Experiment based drug combinatory synergy discovery is limited in a moderate scale. Systems biology models can substantially widen the search space, and discover novel mechanisms. While most of systems pharmacology models were designed to optimize the predictive performance for the drug combination synergy, they were limited by their lack of mechanistic interpretations. The gene essentiality data generated from RNAi screening have not been integrated into the systems pharmacology model yet. Methods: Drug combinatory synergy data from NCI-ALMANAC was used in this research. Cancer cell line gene expression and essential score (RNAi screening from DepMap portal), drug targets and KEGG pathways were used in our systems pharmacology model. Two types of models were constructed. The first model predicts a drug combination9s synergy using various pathways among various cell lines. The second model predicts various drug combinatory synergy in a cell line. Machine learning approaches, such as SVR, Ridge regression, Random forest and Logistic regulation were investigated in developing this model. Our predictive models were built upon 43 cell lines with both baseline gene expression and essential scores, 165 KEGG pathways, and 198 drug pairs who have at least synergistic drug combinatory effects in 3 or more cell lines. Results: In predicting drug combinatory synergy from both predictive models, the mean R square was merely 0.006 using individual gene expression or essentiality data. The mean R-square increased to 0.022 when using pathways. In drug combination specific predictive model (model 1), 64 and 62 drug combinations were related to more than 10 pathways which had enriched essential and expression genes, respectively. The correlation between expression enrich pathways and essential enriched pathways is only 0.04. In the cell line specific predictive model (model 2), drug combination synergy score from 14 cell lines can be predicted with more than 150 pathways, and 5 cell lines can be predicted with less than 10 pathways. Conclusion: Pathway-based models are more powerful than gene level-based models in predicting drug combination synergy. Gene expressions and essential genes provide much different information in predicting drug combination synergy. Drug combination synergy prediction and its related pathways are dramatically different among different cancer cell lines. Citation Format: Jin Li, Xue Wu, Yang Huo, Enze Liu, Zhi Zeng, Lijun Cheng, Lang Li. Pathway-based drug combinatory synergy prediction using gene expression and essentiality data [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 4397.
Seizure outcome with responsive neurostimulation (RNS) comparing strip versus depth leads

Abstract Objective This study aimed to compare seizure outcomes and complication rates in patients treated with only responsive neurostimulation (RNS) strip leads with those treated with only RNS depth leads. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed using the institutional epilepsy surgery database. Included was any patient implanted with the RNS system between August 2015 and May 2018 with either two depth (2D) or two strip (2S) leads connected to the device and at least 6 months follow-up. Excluded were those with a combination of active depth and strip leads. Data extracted from the charts comprised demographic information, duration of epilepsy, presence of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesion, prior resective surgery, clinically disabling seizures at baseline and follow-up, prior invasive monitoring, location (mesial temporal or neocortical) and number of seizure foci, unilateral or bilateral RNS lead placement, and postoperative complications. Results Of 48 screened patients, 34 met study inclusion criteria. Of these, 15 were treated with 2D leads and 19 with 2S leads. Groups 2D and 2S were comparable with respect to age at onset, duration of epilepsy, baseline seizure frequency, and exposure time to RNS. After adjustment for patient age and duration of epilepsy, seizure frequency in 2S patients was noted to be decreased by 83% (p = 0.046), while it was reduced by 51% (p = 0.080) in 2D patients. The complication rate was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion In our small retrospective population, patients with RNS strip leads experienced a significantly greater seizure reduction than patients with RNS depth leads, without a difference in complication rate.
Iatrogenic Pulmonary Air Embolism with Rapid Resolution: A Case Report

Abstract Background Iatrogenic pulmonary air embolism is a fairly common and sometimes deadly complication of i.v. contrast injection. Case Report We present the case of a 33-year-old man with a symptomatic iatrogenic injection air embolism and resolution within 5 h. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? Given the importance of computed tomography imaging in emergency medicine, clinicians should be aware of the risk for injection air embolism from i.v. contrast injection.
Arteriovenous fistula maturation: Physical exam versus flow study.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the utility of routine duplex flow study 4 to 6 weeks after primary AVF creation and to compare physical exam against a duplex flow study in predicting fistula maturation. A surveillance algorithm was established to evaluate the naive fistula after primary creation. Methods This was a single institution retrospective review of 155 veterans with primary autogenous AVF creation from 2016 to 2018. All patients received a duplex flow study evaluation after primary creation. A comparison was made between physical exam (PE) and flow study at 4 to 6 weeks post creation. Sensitivities and specificities of physical exam and duplex flow study were compared head-to-head in predicting unassisted fistula maturation. A mature AVF was defined as a fistula that could be repetitively cannulated and provided adequate flow for dialysis. Failure of maturation was defined as an AVF that was never usable for dialysis. An abnormal duplex included thrombosis, stenosis (> 50% on gray scale imaging), inadequate vein diameter ( Results There were 53 patients with radiocephalic (RC) fistulas, 41 patients with brachiocephalic (BC) fistulas, and 6 patients with brachiobasilic (BB) fistulas. Of patients with a confirmed abnormal duplex ultrasound, 53% had an abnormal PE (sensitivity 53%; PPV 96.3%, P Conclusion Abnormal duplex flow studies have a better sensitivity for detecting AVF failure or the need for reintervention compared to physical exam alone. An abnormal duplex correlates more with needing a reintervention to achieve maturation than physical exam. Therefore, we advocate routine use of a postoperative duplex flow study to identify potentially correctable issues and optimize fistula maturation.
Partially Automated Training for Implementing, Summarizing, and Interpreting Trial-Based Functional Analyses

Trial-based functional analysis (TBFA) is an accurate and ecologically valid assessment of challenging behavior. Further, there is evidence to suggest that individuals with minimal exposure to behavior analytic assessment methodology (e.g., parents, teachers) can quickly be trained to conduct TBFAs in naturalistic settings (e.g., schools, homes). Notwithstanding, the response effort associated with training development can be prohibitive and may preclude incorporation of TBFA into practice. To address this, we developed a partially automated training package, intended to increase the methodology’s accessibility. Using a multiple-probe across skills design, we assessed the degree to which the package increased caregiver accuracy in (a) implementing TBFAs, (b) interpreting TBFA outcomes, and (c) managing TBFA data. Six caregivers completed this study and all demonstrated proficiency following training, first during structured roleplays and again during assessment of their child’s actual challenging behavior.
Reading H.D.'s "Helios and Athene"

H.D.'S SIGNATURE, like her poems, is an energy bundle: a seed, a co coon, a wrapped mystery. The initials condense the birthname, Hilda Doolittle, which in 1886 anchored her as daughter of Helen Wolle Doo little, member of a prominent mystic Moravian family, and Charles Lean der Doolittle, Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at Lehigh Uni versity in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Her writings construct from history and mythology a series of selves which successively extend the figure of her initials: Helmsman, Huntress, Hippolytus, Hippolyta, Hermes, Her mione, Helios, Heliodora, and, throughout, her mother's namesource, Helen: Helen Dentritis (of the Trees), Helen of Sparta, Helen of Troy, and, at the center of her most complex and extended identification, Helen of Egypt. Each "Hermetic Definition," as the initial-bearing title of a late poem suggests, is a momentary manifestation of the mystery of iden tity, a butterfly released from the anagram, cryptogram, little box of her signature. The signature was at first qualified by a poetic affiliation: "H.D., Ima giste." The poems it signed were until recently H.D.'s best known work, the brilliant imagist poems which began appearing in 1913. Cited by movement theorists as representing quintessential imagist qualities, these poems filled her first volume, Sea Garden (1916), and appeared promi nently in each of the four successive movement anthologies. The imagists' resolve to strip poetry of what Ezra Pound called "slush" left their work laconic: hard, dry, factual, accurate, freshly recorded perceptions. H.D.'s imagist work has a radiant spareness. In these poems, pools quiver like sea-fish, sea-grass tangles with shore-grass, and wind-driven flowers drag up from the sand a bright and acrid fragrance. In 1920, when she wrote "Helios and Athene," H.D.'s imagist period was over. The harsh years just preceding provided material which eluded imagist formulations and compressions, material she would work and re work throughout her life. In London through most of World War I, H.D. had suffered a series of losses: in 1915, she gave birth to a stillborn child, the miscarriage caused, she felt, by the shock of the Lusitania's sinking; in 1916, her husband, Richard Aldington, entered the war with