cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Decomposition of 3-Hydroxyanthranilic Acid Under Simulated Physiologic Conditions.

SummaryThe stability of 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HOA) in buffer solutions was investigated as it relates to pH, oxygen tension, and catalytic ion concentrations. The data show that 3-HOA is unstable under certain simulated physiologic conditions, and suggest that the amounts found in some samples of voided urine are not necessarily the true quantities formed, but rather may be the amounts remaining after decomposition of the metabolite in the interim between formation and analysis.
Near-Field Imaging of Enhanced Transmittance through an Array of Plasmonic Nanoantennae

Aperture based near-field microscopy of engineered double layer arrays in illumination mode has shown increased transmission through the array. This is due to a nanoantenna effect created by the double layer and metallized tip.
Photoreceptor Neuroprotection: Regulation of Akt Activation Through Serine/Threonine Phosphatases, PHLPP and PHLPPL

Serine/threonine kinase Akt is a downstream effector of insulin receptor/PI3K pathway that is involved in many processes, including providing neuroprotection to stressed rod photoreceptor cells. Akt signaling is known to be regulated by the serine/threonine phosphatases, PHLPP (PH domain and leucine rich repeat protein phosphatase) and PHLPPL (PH domain and leucine rich repeat protein phosphatase-like). We previously reported that both phosphatases are expressed in the retina, as well as in photoreceptor cells. In this study, we examined the PHLPP and PHLPPL phosphatase activities towards non-physiological and physiological substrates. Our results suggest that PHLPP was more active than PHLPPL towards non-physiological substrates, whereas both PHLPP and PHLPP dephosphorylated the physiological substrates of Akt1 and Akt3 with similar efficiencies. Our results also suggest that knockdown of PHLPPL alone does not increase Akt phosphorylation, due to a compensatory increase of PHLPP, which results in the dephosphorylation of Akt. Therefore, PHLPP and PHLPPL regulate Akt activation together when both phosphatases are expressed.
Job Satisfaction and Life Satisfaction in a Sales Force

The relationship between job satisfaction and life satisfaction has been the focus of a great deal of research in the social sciences for over thirty years, yet very few studies on this topic exist in the business disciplines and none exists in the study of the sales force. Using a large national sales force, this study compares job satisfaction and life satisfaction across three organizational levels. Findings indicate a strong correlation between job satisfaction and life satisfaction regardless of job level. Significant decreases in certain satisfaction areas were found between territory managers and district managers. Important implications are examined for both industry and researchers.
Maintenance and Repair of Automobile Air-conditioning System

Air-condition is an important part of standard automobile configuration,which plays a significant part in the comfort of drivers and passengers.The paper mainly introduces the basic principles of automobile air-conditioning system and its practical maintenance and repair techniques.
A Noninvasive Perspective of Electrophysiologic Testing

In this article, the author addresses the comparison between noninvasive and invasive approaches to detect and follow treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Four major areas are discussed: determination of the mechanism of arrhythmias, arrhythmia diagnosis, defining the patient's risk from arrhythmia, and selection of therapy.
Measuring the Borderland in Sabrina Janesch's Katzenberge (2010)

This contribution considers the role that borders and borderlands play in ‘measuring the world.’ I argue that the increased awareness of the inherent tensions of borders and border spaces and their shifting constellations have produced a border poetics. Border poetics is a particular narrative and cultural practice that moves borders to the center of the narrative and turns actual topographic and geopolitical border sites into a staging ground for more universally oriented figurative and literal border crossings. The analysis of Katzenberge highlights how ‘world,’ when measured from the perspective of the borderland, is made visible as a network of flexible and highly mobile constellations of affiliation and belonging between variously conceived boundaries. Because of the simultaneous engagement with universal and particular border experiences, and its commitment to flexible trans-border connections, border poetics can be understood as an idiom of the cosmopolitan imagination within the context of a “critical cosmopolitanism” (Delanty). (KM-C)
Patent Quality and Settlement among Repeat Patent Litigants

Repeat patent plaintiffs - those who sue eight or more times on the same patents - have a disproportionate effect on the patent system. They are responsible for a sizeable fraction of all patent lawsuits. Their patents should be among the strongest, according to all economic measures of patent quality. And logic suggests that repeat patent plaintiffs should be risk averse, settling more of their cases and taking only the very best to trial to avoid having their patents invalidated. In this paper, we test those hypotheses. We find that repeat patent plaintiffs are somewhat more likely to settle their cases. But, to our surprise, we find that when they do go to trial or judgment, overwhelmingly they lose. This result seems to be driven by two parallel findings: both software patents and patents owned by non-practicing entities (so-called "patent trolls") fare extremely poorly in court. We offer some possible explanations for why a group of apparently weak patents nonetheless have so much influence over the patent system, and some preliminary thoughts about how these findings should shape the patent reform debate.
Molecular scatology and high-throughput sequencing reveal predominately herbivorous insects in the diets of adult and nestling Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) in California vineyards

ABSTRACT Determining the ecosystem function of high-order predators is critical for evaluation of food web interactions. Insectivorous birds are abundant predators in many ecosystems yet because they forage upon small taxa, it remains largely unknown whether birds are providing ecosystem services in the form of pest control or disservices by preying upon predaceous arthropod species. We extracted DNA from noninvasive fecal samples of adult and nestling Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) in California vineyards. Using universal arthropod-specific primers, we sequenced prey items via massively parallel sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform. Bluebirds consumed a broad diet comprising 66 unique arthropod species from 6 orders and 28 families. Aedes sp. (mosquitoes: Culicidae), a previously unknown prey, was the most common item recovered, occurring in 49.5% of the fecal samples. Ectoparasitic bird blowfly (Protocalliphora) DNA was found in 7% of adult and 11% of nestling samples, presenting clear evidenc...
Continuous variation of wind drift and evaporation losses under a linear move irrigation system

Abstract The traditional catch-can technique for measuring water depth application under sprinkler irrigation systems has the limitation of being unable to monitor the continuous variation of wind drift and evaporation losses (WDEL) under changing weather conditions. Such information is essential to better manage the agricultural water by improving the global water application uniformity under moving irrigation machines. Three parallel, long, impermeable water collection strips were constructed underneath a stationary linear move irrigation system to address this issue. The sprinkler discharge efficiency (SDE ≈ 1- WDEL) was monitored over 5-min intervals (SDE5min) during Apr-Aug of 2014-on a bare experimental plot. Experiments were conducted on a discrete basis for about 1040 h total in order to collect more than 11,600 SDE5min data points. It was found that the SDE5min is very dynamic and can experience abrupt changes up to 16.5% as a result of sudden changes in wind speed and direction. The maximum and minimum observed SDE5min during the study period were 97.5 and 73.6%, respectively. The difference between maximum and minimum SDE5min during a day/night cycle was controlled by solar radiation and maximum wind speed. The average hourly SDE (SDEhr) for data collected at predawn, morning, afternoon, and evening were 89.5, 87.7, 86.9 and 88.8%, respectively. Overall, the daily SDE was mainly controlled by air temperature and varied between 81.8 and 91.8%, indicating that ∼8–18% of the daily applied water was lost on average. A multiple linear regression model was developed to help predict the SDEhr as a function of weather parameters. The model indicated wind speed, temperature and relative humidity as the best explanatory variables and predicted the SDEhr with an absolute error just over 4%. Because the difference between maximum and minimum SDEhr over a full experimental day could be as high as 22%, this magnitude of error was considered to be acceptable for wind drift and evaporation loss estimation.
A Comparison of Cognitive Flexibility and Metalinguistic Skills in Adult Good and Poor Comprehenders.

Good and poor comprehenders exhibit different profiles of cognitive abilities, despite comparable decoding skills. Recent work suggests that executive functions, particularly cognitive flexibility, may underlie poor comprehenders' difficulties in childhood and adulthood. However, metalinguistic skills that enable readers to reflect on various aspects of print may also contribute to poor comprehenders' difficulties. We examined metalinguistic abilities (graphophonemic and syntactic) and cognitive flexibility (graphophonological–semantic and syntactic–semantic) in 24 good and 24 poor adult comprehenders, matched on age-appropriate non-word decoding skill and general cognitive ability. Groups differed significantly on graphophonemic awareness, syntactic awareness, and both measures of cognitive flexibility after verbal ability and word identification were controlled. Differences in cognitive flexibility remained significant even when relevant metacognitive skills were controlled. These data demonstrate additional cognitive differences between good and poor comprehenders that can inform theory and practice. What is already known about this topic: Deficits in executive functions contribute to poor comprehenders' difficulties in childhood and adulthood. Child and adolescent poor comprehenders are also lower in metalinguistic skills. What this paper adds: Adult good and poor comprehenders, matched on general cognitive ability and age-appropriate non-word decoding, differed significantly on syntactic and graphophonemic awareness, even when verbal ability and word identification were controlled. Groups also differed significantly on cognitive flexibility, even when verbal ability and word identification were controlled. Good and poor comprehenders' differences in cognitive flexibility remained significant when metalinguistic awareness was controlled; however, differences in metalinguistic awareness were attenuated when cognitive flexibility was controlled. Implications for theory, policy, or practice: Findings underscore the importance of metalinguistic awareness and executive functions, particularly cognitive flexibility, to understanding adult poor comprehenders' difficulties. Findings suggest that models of reading comprehension, such as the simple view, should be adjusted to include variables, like cognitive flexibility, that contribute to comprehension beyond decoding and verbal ability. Findings may have clinical utility for identification of poor comprehenders because cognitive flexibility can easily be assessed with brief measures.
Intravitreal Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Vitreous Hemorrhage Due to Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

Purpose To evaluate the outcomes of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) use in patients with a vitreous hemorrhage (VH) secondary to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Design Retrospective, interventional case series. Methods Patients who presented to Scheie Eye Institute between January 2008 and January 2015 with a new VH secondary to PDR and treated with IVB were included. Exclusion criteria consisted of IVB treatment prior to the study, a history of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), and less than 1 year of follow-up. Outcomes of interest were additional treatments including PPV, injections, and panretinal photocoagulation (PRP), as well as visual acuity at baseline and at 1 year. Results Of the 111 eligible eyes, 55 (49.5%) had PRP, 35 (31.6%) were managed with injections alone, and 21 (18.9%) had PPV after 1 year. The overall average number of injections during this time was 2 (range, 1–9), and 13 (11.7%) eyes were managed with a single injection alone. Of the 69 eyes with 2 years of follow-up, 43 (62.3%) had PRP, 16 (23.2%) were treated with injections alone, and 10 (14.5%) had PPV. Conclusions This study underscores the potentially important role that IVB injections have in the management of patients with VH secondary to PDR. The results indicate that a proportion of patients may be treated with a minimal amount of intervention requiring 1 or 2 anti–vascular endothelial growth factor injections only. Also, the rate of PPV at 2 years (27.9%, n = 31) suggests that most patients may be managed nonsurgically.
Association of Complement with Microvascular Endothelial Cell Injury in Thrombotic Microangiopathy In Vivo and in In Vitro Model Systems.

We have previously shown that plasma from patients with idiopathic as well as HIV and thienopyridine-linked TTP induces apoptosis of microvascular endothelial cells (MVEC) in vitro, with specific sparing of large vessel and pulmonary MVEC, consistent with the clinical syndrome. This correlates with in vivo measures of apoptosis in splenic tissue of TTP patients. We found that osteoprotegrin (OPG), an inhibitor of multiple inducers of MVEC apoptosis, could block TTP plasma-mediated MVEC injury. Utilizing OPG affinity-binding columns and MS-TOFI analysis of column eluates, we subsequently identified complement (C) components and C-regulatory factors as potentially involved in TTP plasma-mediated EC injury. Building on the observation that familial TTP syndromes have been linked to genetic deficiencies of the C-regulatory factors Factor H and MCP, and three cases of sporadic HUS in children have been accompanied by autoantibodies to factor H, we hypothesized that the C-system plays an important role in TTP-induced MVEC injury, facilitated by autoantibody-mediated suppression of C-regulatory proteins. To evaluate the role of the complement system we looked at: IFA staining of splenic tissue from TTP patients versus controls for C-components in conjunction with CD34+ indentification of MVEC. ELISA-based assays of complement activation/deposition on MVEC exposed to TTP vs. control plasma. Ability of anti-C agents to block TTP plasma-mediated MVEC apoptosis. DNA microarray analysis of TTP plasma MVEC exposed to TTP vs. control plasma. ELISA-based search for autoantibodies against C-regulatory proteins in TTP plasma. IFA staining demonstrated increased deposition of C-components on MVEC in vivo on splenic tissue of TTP vs. control patients (4/5 TTP, 0/3 control). Increased C-activation was demonstrated on MVEC exposed to plasmas of TTP patients in vitro as evidenced by decreased C3b (p=0.002) and C4d (p=0.0002) deposition. Microarray data revealed increased expression of C-regulatory factors in resistant vs. susceptible MVEC exposed to TTP plasma. C-inhibtion resulted in prevention of TTP-plasma induced MVEC apoptosis by annexin-V staining (P
Why Hope is not a Moral Virtue: Aquinas's Insight

There is a growing consensus among philosophers that hope is a moral virtue: the virtuously hopeful person experiences the right amount of hope for the right things. This moralization of hope presents us with a puzzle. The historical consensus is that hope is a passion and hope is a theological virtue, not a moral virtue. Thomas Aquinas, the philosopher who wrote most extensively on hope, offers an explanation for why hope is not a moral virtue. The aim of this paper is argue that Aquinas is right in thinking that hope is not a moral virtue.1
MST-CAN: An Ecological Treatment for Families Experiencing Physical Abuse and Neglect

Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN) is an evidence-based treatment model for children ages 6–17 and their families who come under the guidance of Child Protective Services due to physical abuse and/or neglect. The major goals of MST-CAN are to keep families together, assure that children are safe, prevent a recurrence of abuse and neglect, reduce mental health difficulties experienced by adults and children, and increase natural social supports. This chapter includes a discussion of the theoretical foundation of the MST-CAN model, a description of the clinical, administrative, and quality assurance aspects of the model that relate to guidelines for implementation, and an overview of research studies supporting the efficacy and effectiveness of the MST-CAN model. Through case presentation, the chapter examines the clinical application of MST-CAN for a family experiencing neglect of the children and mental health difficulties related to trauma from past partner violence.
A Locality-Based Threading Algorithm for the Configuration-Interaction Method

The Configuration Interaction (CI) method has been widely used to solve the non-relativistic many-body Schrodinger equation. One great challenge to implementing it efficiently on manycore architectures is its immense memory and data movement requirements. To address this issue, within each node, we exploit a hybrid MPI+OpenMP programming model in lieu of the traditional flat MPI programming model. In this paper, we develop optimizations that partition the workloads among OpenMP threads based on data locality,-which is essential in ensuring applications with complex data access patterns scale well on manycore architectures. The new algorithm scales to 256 threadson the 64-core Intel Knights Landing (KNL) manycore processor and 24 threads on dual-socket Ivy Bridge (Xeon) nodes. Compared with the original implementation, the performance has been improved by up to 7× on theKnights Landing processor and 3× on the dual-socket Ivy Bridge node.
Novel Offset Techniques for Improving Bitstring Quality of a Hardware-Embedded Delay PUF

Statistical properties including uniqueness, randomness, and reproducibility are commonly used as metrics for physical unclonable functions (PUFs). When PUFs are used in authentication protocols, the first two metrics are critically important to the overall security of the system. In this paper, we investigate the statistical qualities of bitstrings generated by a hardware-embedded delay PUF called HELP using hardware data collected from a set of 500 Xilinx Zynq FPGAs. HELP analyzes variations in path delays that occur within a hardware-implemented macro. Two novel techniques are proposed in which the verifier computes a set of offsets that are used to fine tune the token’s digitized path delays as a means of maximizing entropy and reproducibility in the generated bitstrings. The offsets are derived from the enrollment data stored by the server in a secure database. A population-based offset method is proposed, which computes median values using data from multiple tokens. A second chip-specific technique is proposed, which fine tunes path delays using the stored enrollment data associated with the authenticating token. The analysis of FPGA data shows that the population-based offset method significantly improves entropy while the chip-specific technique, used alone or in combination with the population-based method, significantly improves reproducibility.
Arachidonate and Metabolites in Mitogen Activation of Lymphocyte Guanylate Cyclase

The relationship between Ca2+-dependent actions of lymphocyte mitogens to increase cyclic GMP levels and phospholipid turnover is investigated. Guanylate cyclase activity of human peripheral blood lymphocytes, measured in cytoplasmic or membrane fractions, is increased up to 4-fold by incubation of intact cells for 10 min with PHA.1 These increases require extracellular Ca2+ and are prevented by DTE, indicating the requirement for an oxidative step. Guanylate cyclase activation is also prevented by 4 inhibitors of phospholipase A2 (DB-cyclic AMP, DDPH, PBB, quinacrine) and 2 inhibitors of lipoxygenase (ETYA, NDGA) but not by an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase (indomethacin). Addition of phospholipase A2 or of arachidonate to lymphocytes or homogenates results in guanylate cyclase stimulation. 5-, 11- and 12-HETE, products of arachidonate metabolized via lipoxygenase, but not PGE1 or PGF2α, products via cyclooxygenase, stimulate guanylate cyclase. We propose that the mitogen:guanylate cyclase activation mechanism involves the following steps: 1) activation of membrane-bound, Ca2+-dependent phospholipase A2, releasing arachidonate from membrane phospholipids; 2) oxidation of arachidonate by way of the Ca2+-dependent lipoxygenase pathway to hydroperoxy and hydroxy derivatives of arachidonate (HPETE and HETE); and 3) oxidative activation by one or both of these derivatives of guanylate cyclase.
Amphibian Feeding Behavior: Comparative Biomechanics and Evolution

The clade Amphibia is critical for our understanding of vertebrate evolution. Because of their position as a basal lineage of tetrapods, nearly all aspects of amphibian biology are of special interest to those interested in the origin of terrestrial life and in the morphological, physiological, ecological, and behavioral changes involved in aquatic to terrestrial transitions. In addition, amphibian taxa illustrate with particular clarity the phenomenon of metamorphosis, allowing the experimental study of aquatic-to-terrestrial transitions on a single individual during ontogeny. Although phylogenetic relationships among the three extant amphibian clades (and among fossil amphibian taxa) are still a matter of debate (Bolt 1977; Carroll and Holmes 1980; Duellman and Trueb 1986; Trueb and Cloutier 1991), the relevance of amphibian clades to problems in vertebrate biology is not at issue. Extant amphibian lineages, because of their phylogenetic position near the base of the tetrapod radiation and because of the mosaic nature of character distribution in these taxa (many amphibian taxa retain large numbers of primitive features in the musculoskeletal system, while at the same time displaying numerous derived characteristics), are prime candidates for comparisons to both fish and amniote clades.
The Ratio of the Uranium-238 to Uranium-235 Fission Cross Sections from 5.3 to 10.3 MeV

The $sup 238$U-to-$sup 235$U fission cross-section ratios were measured for neutron energies from 5.33 to 10.32 MeV at intervals of approximately 0.25 MeV. The estimated errors in the ratio values are 1.5 to 2 percent. (auth)
Energy harvesting using snap-through deformation in lattice structures

We demonstrated the feasibility of harvesting mechanical energy through the proper design and installation of a lattice structure which undergoes snap-through deformation under applied mechanical loading. First, the theoretical formulations for both symmetric and asymmetric modes of the snap-through deformation in a 2D lattice structure were derived. Then, experiments were conducted on the prototype to measure the energy harvesting ability at different frequencies and to investigate the capability of charging a capacitor connected to the lattice prototype. Finally, the effects of the defect in the lattice on energy harvesting were discussed. Our results showed that the average generated voltage across a 25 kΩ resistor increased by increasing the frequency of loading. However, energy stored in a capacitor was independent of loading frequency. For a defective structure with a fixed vertex, the generated voltage is lower yet increasing with the frequency of loading. The designed structure is robust and provides sustainable energy output under cyclic loading even with the presence of defects and imperfections.We demonstrated the feasibility of harvesting mechanical energy through the proper design and installation of a lattice structure which undergoes snap-through deformation under applied mechanical loading. First, the theoretical formulations for both symmetric and asymmetric modes of the snap-through deformation in a 2D lattice structure were derived. Then, experiments were conducted on the prototype to measure the energy harvesting ability at different frequencies and to investigate the capability of charging a capacitor connected to the lattice prototype. Finally, the effects of the defect in the lattice on energy harvesting were discussed. Our results showed that the average generated voltage across a 25 kΩ resistor increased by increasing the frequency of loading. However, energy stored in a capacitor was independent of loading frequency. For a defective structure with a fixed vertex, the generated voltage is lower yet increasing with the frequency of loading. The designed structure is robust and provi...
What and Who Was “Homer”?

Developed from two of Professor Gregory Nagy’s 2002 Sather Classical Lectures, this book treats the who and the what as well as—especially interesting—the when and where of “Homer” as the Greeks in...
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: A Personalized Approach

A growing body of evidence suggests that magnetic and electrostimulation of certain parts of the brain can alleviate depressive symptoms. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) as a treatment for depression has shown statistically significant effects, but the clinical significance of these effects has been questioned. Major depression is often difficult to diagnose accurately. Even when the diagnosis is properly made, standard treatment approaches (e.g., psychotherapy, medications, or their combination) are often inadequate to control symptoms or maintain initial benefit. There is a need for more effective and better-tolerated treatments.
Neural Taskonomy: Inferring the Similarity of Task-Derived Representations from Brain Activity

Abstract Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) trained for object recognition have been widely used to account for visually-driven neural responses in both the human and primate brains. However, because of the generality and complexity of the task of object classification, it is often difficult to make precise inferences about neural information processing using CNN representations from object classification despite the fact that these representations are effective for predicting brain activity. To better understand underlying the nature of the visual features encoded in different brain regions of the human brain, we predicted brain responses to images using fine-grained representations drawn from 19 specific computer vision tasks. Individual encoding models for each task were constructed and then applied to BOLD5000—a large-scale dataset comprised of fMRI scans collected while observers viewed over 5000 naturalistic scene and object images. Because different encoding models predict activity in different brain regions, we were able to associate specific vision tasks with each region. For example, within scene-selective brain regions, features from 3D tasks such as 3D keypoints and 3D edges explain greater variance as compared to 2D tasks—a pattern that replicates across the whole brain. Using results across all 19 task representations, we constructed a “task graph” based on the spatial layout of well-predicted brain areas from each task. We then compared the brain-derived task structure with the task structure derived from transfer learning accuracy in order to assess the degree of shared information between the two task spaces. These computationally-driven results—arising out of state-of-the-art computer vision methods—begin to reveal the task-specific architecture of the human visual system.
Predictors of Overall and Progression-Free Survival in Patients with Ocular Melanoma Metastatic to the Liver Undergoing Y90 Radioembolization.

To investigate predictors of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with ocular melanoma metastatic to the liver undergoing yttrium-90 (Y90) radioembolization, including the effect of concurrent immunotherapy. An IRB-approved retrospective review of 24 patients with ocular melanoma metastatic to the liver who underwent Y-90 treatment between June 2003 and January 2018 was performed. Data regarding patients’ performance status at the time of Y90, intra-/extrahepatic tumor burden, and treatment response were evaluated. RECIST was used to determine objective tumor response. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to calculate OS and PFS from the first Y90 therapy. Log-rank analysis was used to determine predictors of prolonged OS and PFS. Median OS from primary diagnosis and diagnosis of liver metastases was 66 months (mo) and 26.3 mo, respectively. Median OS for those who received immunotherapy within 3 months of undergoing Y90 was prolonged at 26.0 mo versus 9.5 mo for others (p = 0.014). Median OS for patients with an ECOG performance status of 0 was prolonged at 26 mo versus 5.5 mo for others (p = 0.003). Median hepatic PFS was prolonged in patients treated with Y-90 on concurrent immunotherapy at 10.3 mo versus 2.7 mo for TARE only (p = 0.002). Patients with an ECOG performance status of 0 had prolonged PFS (p = 0.002). Concurrent immunotherapy and an ECOG performance status of 0 at the time of Y90 therapy appear to be predictors of prolonged OS and PFS in patients with ocular melanoma metastatic to the liver.
Febrile Neutropenia in the Emergency Department: Improving Timely Antibiotic Administration - A Quality Improvement Initiative

Background An indwelling port and central vein catheter is commonly placed in children with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. These children often present to the ED with febrile neutropenia due to chemotherapy-induced immunosuppression. It has been demonstrated that antibiotic administration in <60 minutes reduces mortality in patients with septic shock.2 Administration of antibiotics within <60 minutes of arrival is a quality-of-care measure for pediatric oncology patients with febrile neutropenia in the ED.1 In our ED, we initiated a QI project to determine barriers to timely administration and to improve time-to-antibiotics in this population to within the quality-of-care benchmark over 1 year. Methods …
National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines compliance of a sarcoma service: A retrospective review.

Author(s): Blank, Alan T; Larson, Brandon Michael; Shaw, Sara; Wakefield, Connor J; King, Tricia; Jones, Kevin B; Randall, R Lor | Abstract: BackgroundClinical workup and treatment guidelines have been published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) to ensure patients are treated uniformly and appropriately. This study sought to retrospectively review patients with a new diagnosis of sarcoma who were treated in a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated center and determine compliance rates with guidelines for sarcoma.AimTo evaluate our compliance of NCCN sarcoma guidelines at a major NCI designated center and to report instances of deviation that could be used for future studies to improve patient care.MethodsData was collected retrospectively as an internal review and quality assessment of 35 newly diagnosed and treated patients. Demographic data were recorded and information concerning whether patients had appropriate imaging, biopsy and management. Variables of interest were expressed as raw numbers and percentages.ResultsPrimary site imaging was obtained in 100% of cases. Chest and full-body imaging were obtained in 97% and 100% of indicated cases, respectively. Tissue was obtained preoperatively in 97% of cases. Imaging was reviewed at multidisciplinary Treatment Planning Conference (TPC) in 97% of cases. Pathology was reviewed in 94% of cases in TPC. Both tumor, node, metastasis staging and plan of care were reviewed in 100% of cases in TPC. Treatment guidelines were followed in 94% of cases reviewed.ConclusionThis study evaluated the workup and treatment provided by a single NCI designated sarcoma service to a series of patients with pathologies defined with the NCCN sarcoma treatment guidelines. Although adherence to NCCN was reported to be very high future prospective studies are required to investigate whether NCCN guidelines impact patient outcomes.
Insights from Population Genomics to Enhance and Sustain Biological Control of Insect Pests

Biological control-the use of organisms (e.g., nematodes, arthropods, bacteria, fungi, viruses) for the suppression of insect pest species-is a well-established, ecologically sound and economically profitable tactic for crop protection. This approach has served as a sustainable solution for many insect pest problems for over a century in North America. However, all pest management tactics have associated risks. Specifically, the ecological non-target effects of biological control have been examined in numerous systems. In contrast, the need to understand the short- and long-term evolutionary consequences of human-mediated manipulation of biological control organisms for importation, augmentation and conservation biological control has only recently been acknowledged. Particularly, population genomics presents exceptional opportunities to study adaptive evolution and invasiveness of pests and biological control organisms. Population genomics also provides insights into (1) long-term biological consequences of releases, (2) the ecological success and sustainability of this pest management tactic and (3) non-target effects on native species, populations and ecosystems. Recent advances in genomic sequencing technology and model-based statistical methods to analyze population-scale genomic data provide a much needed impetus for biological control programs to benefit by incorporating a consideration of evolutionary consequences. Here, we review current technology and methods in population genomics and their applications to biological control and include basic guidelines for biological control researchers for implementing genomic technology and statistical modeling.
Three Years of High Time-resolution Air Pollution Monitoring in the Complex Multi-source Harbor of New York and New Jersey.

ABSTRACT In densely developed port areas with numerous emissions sources, relating measured air quality changes to emissions is challenging given the geographic density of sources without unique pollutant composition signatures. To better understand air quality during increasing emission controls at the Port of New York and New Jersey (“Port”), an air monitoring station was sited to minimize collinearity of sources along ordinal directions. The study area includes an international airport, interstate highway, port terminals and shipping lanes, and industrial sources, as well as typical urban emissions of a megacity. Because air flow travel time from sources to the monitor were usually much less than one hour, minute-by-minute, high-precision data were collected for three years (2013–2015) for sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NO, NO2), black carbon (BC), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and meteorology (wind speed, wind direction, temperature, humidity). From summer 2014 to spring 2015, hourly metals data were also collected. A high degree of temporal variability was observed for pollutants associated with direct emissions, with highest hourly average coefficient of variation observed for NO (2.65), SO2 (1.45) and BC (1.21). Nonparametric trajectory analysis (NTA) was utilized to separate the source areas influencing the monitoring data and observe how they changed over time, with over 1.6 million trajectories computed in total. Comparing the last 5 quarters of the study to the first 5 quarters, concentrations at the monitoring site associated with three port-related geographic areas decreased by 34–41%, 11–17%, and 28–41% for SO2, NOx, and BC, respectively. Over the same period, indicators of shipping and cargo activity at the port remained relatively constant; therefore, a shift in emission factors is likely the cause of the change. This study demonstrates the value of high-time resolution, accurate monitoring data along with careful siting to understand source area influences.
Risk factors for acute kidney injury after pharmacomechanical thrombolysis for acute deep vein thrombosis.

Abstract Background Pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PMT) is an established treatment for selected patients with acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Despite significant clinical success, hemolysis can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI) with unknown longer term implications. Our aim was to characterize the rate of AKI after PMT and identify those patients at the greatest risk. Methods A retrospective medical record review of patients with acute DVT who had undergone PMT in our institution from 2007 to 2018 was performed. The baseline demographics, comorbidities, preoperative clinical characteristics, procedural details, postoperative hospital course, and follow-up data were reviewed. The primary outcome was postoperative AKI (≥1.5 times preoperative creatinine), and longer term renal impairment. Logistic regression modeling was used to identify associated factors. Results A total of 137 patients (mean age, 47 ± 16.6 years; 49.6% male) who had undergone PMT for treatment of acute DVT were identified (85.4% AngioJet system; Boston Scientific Corp, Marlborough, Mass). Of the 137 patients, 30 (21.9%) had developed AKI in the periprocedural period, 1 of whom had required hemodialysis in the perioperative period. The patients who had developed AKI had had significantly greater rates of preoperative coronary artery disease (23.1% vs 4.7%; P = .002), diabetes mellitus (19.2% vs 6.6%; P = .045), dyslipidemia (42.3% vs 17.9%; P = .008), and hypertension (53.6% vs 29.3%; P = .018). No significant difference was found in preoperative creatinine (0.99 vs 0.92 mg/dL; P = .65) or glomerular filtration rate (GFR; 96.9 vs 91.8 mL/min; P = .52) between the two groups. Multivariate analysis demonstrated bilateral DVT (odds ratio [OR], 4.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47-12.86; P = .008), single-session PMT (OR, 3.05; 95% CI, 1.02-9.11; P = .046), and female sex (OR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.01-8.04; P = .048) were significant predictors of AKI. Of the 30 patients, 10 had had normal renal function at discharge and 15 and 25 patients had had normal renal function at the first and subsequent clinical follow-up visits, respectively. The remaining five patients (3.6%) had progressed to moderate (GFR, Conclusions The use of PMT for treatment of acute DVT conferred a risk of AKI that will progress to chronic renal failure in a small fraction of affected patients. Patients with bilateral extensive DVTs have a greater risk of AKI; thus, longer priming with a thrombolytic drip before PMT should be preferred for this population.
Card collection: An examination of whether yellow and red cards affect base salary under Major League Soccer’s salary cap:

We examine the effect of card (yellow and red) collection on player remuneration under the salary cap in Major League Soccer (MLS). The data contain 1478 observations of 731 players under contract ...
Effects of Electromagnetic Wave Propagations in Large-Signal Analysis of Millimeter-Wave Transistors

A distributed-model-based approach is developed for small- and large-signal analyses of millimeter-wave transistors. To obtain the equivalent circuit model parameters, a structure based extraction technique is utilized. The method employs the physical geometry and structural topology of the device for finding the parameter values based on conformal mapping concepts and incremental inductance rule. The significant contribution of this approach is to incorporate the electromagnetic wave propagation effects in designing the distributed circuit which ensures achieving a universally accurate model over a very broad frequency range. This technique is applied to analyze a GaN MISHEMT device. The simulation results for the gain and output power under the small- and large-signal conditions are obtained for different device widths at various bias points and operating frequencies. To validate the performance of the proposed modeling approach, the results are compared with the measurement.
Synergistic PIM kinase and proteasome inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for MYC-overexpressing triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the breast cancer subtype with the poorest clinical outcome. The PIM family of kinases has emerged as a factor that is both overexpressed in TNBC and associated with poor outcomes. Preclinical data suggest that TNBC with an elevated MYC expression is sensitive to PIM inhibition. However, clinical observations indicate that the efficacy of PIM inhibitors as single agents may be limited, suggesting the need for combination therapies. Our screening effort identifies PIM and the 20S proteasome inhibition as the most synergistic combination. PIM inhibitors, when combined with proteasome inhibitors, induce significant antitumor effects, including abnormal accumulation of poly-ubiquitinated proteins, increased proteotoxic stress, and the inability of NRF1 to counter loss in proteasome activity. Thus, the identified combination could represent a rational combination therapy against MYC-overexpressing TNBC that is readily translatable to clinical investigations.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

Every so often a truly groundbreaking idea comes along. This is one. Mindset explains: Why brains and talent don’t bring success How they can stand in the way of it Why praising brains and talent doesn’t foster self-esteem and accomplishment, but jeopardizes them How teaching a simple idea about the brain raises grades and productivity What all great CEOs, parents, teachers, athletes know Mindset is a simple idea discovered by world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck in decades of research on achievement and success—a simple idea that makes all the difference. In a fixed mindset, people believe their basic qualities, like their intelligence or talent, are simply fixed traits. They spend their time documenting their intelligence or talent instead of developing them. They also believe that talent alone creates success—without effort. They’re wrong. In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishment. Virtually all great people have had these qualities. Teaching a growth mindset creates motivation and productivity in the worlds of business, education, and sports. It enhances relationships. When you read Mindset, you’ll see how.
Olfactory clues play a critical role in the estuarine migration of silver-phase American eels

Estuarine migration of anosmic and control silver-phase American eels was examined during the fall spawning migration. Ultrasonic telemetry was used to track seventeen control and eight anosmic silver eels through 32 km of the Penobscot Estuary, Maine, U.S.A.. Twelve of seventeen control eels migrated out of the estuary in 97 h (approximately 4 d) on average. Only two of eight anosmic eels migrated out of the estuary. On average these two anosmic eels migrated out of the estuary within 180 h (approximately 7.5 d) of release and the other six had not left within 9 d. Most control eels progressed rapidly to the mouth of the estuary within a few days. Anosmic eels spent more time in the estuary and demonstrated different behavior from control eels due to their lack of olfaction. Some control eels moved with the appropriate tide, the ebb tide for transport out of the estuary, within one tidal cycle of being released into tidal freshwater. However, anosmic eels either did not move with the appropriate tide or took significantly longer to do so. Olfaction was probably used for orientation by control eels sensing chemical clues (organic and inorganic), which change throughout the tidal cycle. Increased migration times and errors in orientation were likely related to the inability of anosmic eels to use selective tidal stream transport for movement out of the estuary. Chemical clues seem to be one of the most important environmental clues used to guide estuarine migration of silver eels. However, a hierarchy of sensory mechanisms and environmental clues are most likely used for estuarine orientation.
Bloodflow velocimetry using wideband signals and wavelet transforms

Describes bloodflow velocimetry using wavelet transforms and wideband signals. Acoustic signals with high fractional bandwidths and/or large time-bandwidth products are processed with wideband/wavelet techniques, thereby removing many of the narrowband assumptions typically invoked. The received signals are assumed to be reflected from particles moving in the blood stream. Instead of measuring the Doppler shift associated with the reflection, the time-scaling of the signal is obtained. This time-scaling more accurately reflects the effects of motion on the signals than does a Doppler shift since a Doppler shift is an approximation to time-scaling. The continuous wavelet transform processing is then used to obtain the axial velocity of scatterers.
Values: Psychological Perspectives

Values are internalized cognitive structures that guide choices by evoking a sense of basic principles of right and wrong (e.g., moral values), as well as priorities (e.g., personal achievement vs. group good). Values can be studied at the individual level like other cognitive concepts, but are also amenable to social or group level analyses—in terms of the norms, priorities, and guidelines set up by societies, cultures, and other social groupings. When mobilized or made salient, individual values are linked with behavior and choices. Cultures may be said to provide concrete and social embodiments of values.
First Ladies and the Press: The Unfinished Partnership of the Media Age, by Maurine H. Beasley: Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press, 2005. 335 pp. $22.95 paper

Just as the American president serves as a symbol of democracy, the first lady is a symbol, too. More than the president's wife, the first lady is a symbol of American womanhood and, further, of th...
MEETING REAL-TIME TRAFFIC FLOW FORECASTING REQUIREMENTS WITH IMPRECISE COMPUTATIONS

This paper explores the ability of imprecise computations to address real-time computational requirements in infrastructure control and management systems. The research in this area focuses on development of nonparametric regression as a means to forecast traffic flow rates for transportation management systems. Nonparametric regression is a forecasting technique based on nearest neighbor searching, in which forecasts are derived from past observations that are similar to current conditions. A key concern regarding nonparametric regression is the significant time required to search for nearest neighbors in large databases. Results presented herein indicate that approximate nearest neighbors, which are imprecise computations as applied to nonparametric regression, may be used to adequately speed the execution time of nonparametric regression, with acceptable degradations in forecast accuracy.