cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of supply noise and substrate noise reduction in SiGe BiCMOS and FDSOI processes

In this paper, substrate noise suppression for 0.18?m SiGe BiCMOS and fully-depleted silicon on insulator (FDSOI) processes is evaluated and compared. For both technologies, the most effective way for substrate noise reduction is assessed to identify the best approach for noise mitigation. The results show that the FDSOI process with large separation between analog and digital blocks is a more efficient substrate crosstalk suppression method compared to the best case in the SiGe BiCMOS process.
Age and gender differences in children and adolescents’ attitudes toward noise

AbstractObjective: Most school-aged children experience exposure to hazardous sound levels via high-risk noise activities (e.g. loud music/concerts, firearms). Little information exists regarding factors influencing pediatric engagement in these activities and use of hearing protection devices. This study explores effects of age, gender, and attitudes toward noise on participation in acoustic risk-taking behaviors and hearing conservation practices in children and adolescents. Design: Cross-sectional. Study sample: Children and adolescents (10–19 years) with normal hearing. Results: Most children and adolescents (86.5%) participate in at least one potentially high-risk noise behavior. The most frequently cited activities include sporting events, concerts, and playing a musical instrument. Use of hearing protection devices varies by activity, with consistent wear while using firearms but inconsistent application during all other activities. Gender, but not age, influences acoustic risk-taking behaviors: Bo...
Proficiency Without Support: “My Parents Never Spoke It to Me”

In the United States, the issue of language proficiency is raised primarily in the classroom where native speakers of American English study foreign languages to achieve their personal and career aspirations and where recent immigrants learn English to facilitate their passage into American society. Assessment of proficiency in this context is necessary to mark progress toward fluency. Another albeit small group of American native English speakers also strive toward other language proficiency far removed from the American classroom.
Gene-Diet Interactions in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a prevalent blinding disease, accounting for roughly 50 % of blindness in developed nations. Very significant advances have been made in terms of discovering genetic susceptibilities to AMD as well as dietary risk factors. To date, nutritional supplementation is the only available treatment option for the dry form of the disease known to slow progression of AMD. Despite an excellent understanding of genes and nutrition in AMD, there is remarkably little known about gene-diet interactions that may identify efficacious approaches to treat individuals. This review will summarize our current understanding of gene-diet interactions in AMD with a focus on animal models and human epidemiological studies.
The Process of Category Development: A Relational View

Categories are a central concept in organizational research. While a growing research exists on category development, it generally overlooks the role of relational structure. In this paper, we address this gap through an inductive study of category development for manufacturing software from its origins in 1954 until 1988. We unpack category development into two key processes (formation and evolution) and find that both rely critically on the overlooked role of relations. First, we find that category formation relates to a process of unitization where relations between features form cohesive groups that become the basis of a new category. Second, we find that subsequent category evolution relates to a process of association where more centrally located categories develop more than isolated categories. At a higher level, our study has important implications for organizational theory.
Clairaut and the Origin of the Distance Formula

(1948). Clairaut and the Origin of the Distance Formula. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 55, No. 9, pp. 556-557.
A New Amphibian Record in Zhejiang Province—Paa exilispinosa

Two specimens of Paa exilispinosa were collected from Baishanzu Nature Reserve on 26 June 2010.This species was a new record in Zhejiang Province.
Promotion of oral health and prevention of common pediatric dental problems.

This article highlights common conditions affecting the oral hard and soft tissues in the pediatric population and outlines various methods for preventing these problems. The potential contributions of all primary health care providers are stressed.
Plasmonics in Imaging, Biodetection, and Nanolasers

Abstract Plasmonics is the study of plasmons in metallic structures, namely the collective oscillations of their free electrons in response to incident waves. The plasmons can be generated in nanoparticles whose dimensions are smaller than the wavelength of the incident field, producing a highly enhanced electromagnetic near field. They can also be excited at a dielectric-metal interface, along which they propagate with their electromagnetic field maximal at the interface and confined to within a wavelength of it. The large electromagnetic fields created in nanoscale metallic structures show a great potential for applications in a variety of fields, including biophotonics and nano-optics. In this chapter, characteristics of surface plasmonic resonances are summarized to show that plasmonics has played an important role in the development of a nanosensor with the potential for single molecule detection, and a nanolaser, whose emitting wavelength is larger than the dimensions of the laser itself, with the potential for super-resolution imaging and displays.
A parallel sparse linear system solver based on Hermitian/skew-Hermitian splitting

In this paper we describe a parallel algorithm for solving large sparse nonsingular linear systems Ax=f, of order n, using the Hermitian Skew-Hermitian splitting approach for handling the augmented linear system, of order 2n, that arises from the linear least problem of minimizing the 2-norm of (fAx). We use the restarted GMRES as the outer iteration with the Hermitian Skew-Hermitian Splitting (HSS) preconditioner. In solving systems involving this preconditioner, the most time consuming part deals with handling shifted skew-symmetric systems. We solve such systems using the successive overrelaxation (SOR). Theoretical analysis shows that our solver always converges to the unique solution of Ax=f. We present several numerical experiments that demonstrate the robustness of our solver compared to other schemes, and show its parallel scalability on a single multicore node.
Neighborhood Inequalities and the Long–Term Impact of Foreclosures: Evidence from the Los Angeles–Inland Empire Region:

It is well documented that the foreclosure crisis was experienced unevenly in metropolitan regions nationwide. Yet it is still unclear how the long–term impacts of the foreclosure crisis manifested...
Williams-Beuren Syndrome With Primary Hyperparathyroidism: A Rare Diagnosis In A Rare Genetic Syndrome

ABSTRACT Objective: This case report is the first to describe functional parathyroid disease in Williams-Beuren Syndrome (WBS). We report a patient with hypercalcemia in infancy and later in adulthood whose unusual complex of elfin facies and multiple medical comorbidities, including hypercalcemia, ultimately led to a diagnosis of WBS by fluorescent in situ hybridization. While hypercalcemia is a common finding in patients with WBS, parathyroid hormone levels are typically suppressed. Methods: This study consists of a case report and literature review conducted in a high-volume university endocrine surgery center. We describe a 58-year-old patient with elfin facies, recurrent hyperparathyroidism, friendly personality, cognitive impairment, recurrent cystitis, hypertension, and stroke who was treated surgically for primary hyperparathyroidism with durable cure of his hypercalcemia. Outcomes are measured with long-term biochemical confirmation of cure after several re-operative surgical interventions. Resul...
Description of the Cohort, Variables, and General Procedures

The original Danish Perinatal Study, conducted during 1959 to 1962, provided us with an excellent set of data files well suited as a foundation for conducting both secondary analyses and additional prospective multidisciplinary inquiry. The perinatal study, originally designed to describe the risks to human reproduction from increasing background radiation, had a health focus with an exclusive emphasis on medical and biological variables [Zachau-Christiansen & Ross 1975]. However, the nature of the cohort and the broad scope of uniform and standard state-of-the-medical-arts measures at that time made it possible to consider additional analyses with diverse foci involving medical, familial, and environmental measures collected on the birth cohort during the first year of the index child’s life. The uniform conditions under which the initial data items were defined, organized, and collected constituted a major methodological strength, one that permitted in-depth evaluations of multiple variable relationships and a clearer understanding of the underlying associations. This study is in contrast with meritorious, but nonetheless for our purposes flawed, census-type studies in which data are collected by varied professionals in diverse locations possessing unspecified or unrecorded conditions, and subsequently aggregated for the purpose of providing broad descriptions of women and their pregnancies. Clearly, the nonuniform observation and data collection procedures would introduce an important methodological disadvantage in such studies.
Working with Max Schiffer

The first few years after graduate school can be a fragile time in a mathematician’s career. Looking back, I see how fortunate I was to have had Max Schiffer as a postdoctoral mentor and early collaborator. In order to describe the circumstances that brought us together, I have to begin with a few words of personal history.
Implications of Resident Memory T Cells for Transplantation

Recent studies have established resident memory T cells (TRM ) as the dominant memory lymphocyte population surveying most nonlymphoid tissues. Unlike other memory T cell lineages, TRM do not recirculate through blood and are permanently confined to their tissue of residence. TRM orchestrate local immune responses and have been shown to accelerate local pathogen control in many experimental infection models. Here we briefly summarize recent advances in TRM differentiation, maintenance, and their protective function. While little is known, we have speculated on the potential implications of TRM for transplantation biology. Areas of emphasis include the role of passenger TRM in controlling latent viral recrudescence in donor organs, donor TRM as a source of graft-versus-host disease, the ability of TRM to potently induce inflammation through sensing and alarm functions, and differentiation of host T cells into TRM in response to local cues inside the allograft. Further investigation of TRM in the context of transplantation might identify therapeutic targets to prolong graft survival.
Determination of Dielectric Properties of Cryoprotective Agent Solutions with a Resonant Cavity for the Electromagnetic Rewarming in Cryopreservation

In the rewarming process during cryopreservation, preventing ice recrystallization and thermal stress is important, especially for large tissues and organs. Uniform and rapid heating is essential i...
Transcatheter device closure of atrial septal defects: more to think about than just closing the hole.

Purpose of review To review current controversies in the transcatheter device closure of ostium secundum atrial septal defects (ASD). Recent findings Transcatheter device closure of ASD (TC-ASD) has well established efficacy and safety. For most individual patients with suitable anatomy, TC-ASD is the preferred method for treating ASD. The availability of large multicenter data sets has made it possible to study practice patterns at a range of hospitals across the United States. These studies have revealed differences in practice that were not previously appreciated. Interpretation of the indications for TC-ASD, specifically the definition of right ventricular volume overload varies between hospitals. In response to concern about device erosion, an increasing proportion of patients are being referred for operative ASD closure. Over the last decade, the average age at which ASD closure occurs has decreased. These trends demonstrate previously underappreciated differences in opinion between cardiologists across the country and suggest that further research is necessary to address knowledge gaps limiting consistency of practice. Summary As TC-ASD and congenital interventional cardiology mature as a field, studies of real-world practice provide increasingly valuable information about aspects of care in which there are disagreements about best practices and in which further research is necessary.
Hospitality and Empowerment: Trusting Employees

(1993). Hospitality and Empowerment: Trusting Employees. Hospitality & Tourism Educator: Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 19-20.
A prospective study of palliative hypofractionated radiation Therapy (8.5Gy × 2) for patients with symptomatic non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract Purpose Hypofractionated chest radiotherapy regimens have provided excellent palliation of pulmonary symptoms in patients with inoperable non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and poor performance status in studies from Asia and Europe. We conducted a prospective study of this approach in patients from the United States. Methods and materials Twenty-three patients with symptomatic NSCLC and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of ≥2 were enrolled between December 1994 and October 2001. Two “involved-field” fractions of 8.5 Gy were delivered 1 week apart. Patients were assessed for efficacy, toxicity, and tumor response at baseline, treatment completion, and 1 week, 1 month, and 4 months after completing radiotherapy. Results The median follow-up after treatment began was 4.3 months (range, 0.3–38). The median forced expiratory volume in 1 s and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status as measured at baseline was 1.05 L and 3, respectively. The most common presenting pulmonary symptoms were dyspnea (100%), cough (96%), anorexia/nausea (65%), and chest pain (52%). Between treatment completion and up to 4 months after treatment, dyspnea, cough, anorexia/nausea, chest pain, hoarseness, hemoptysis, and dysphagia had improved in 30%, 60%, 67%, 75%, 25%, 100%, and 100% of patients, respectively. No cases of treatment-related esophagitis, pneumonitis, or radiation myelopathy occurred. Progressive local disease was seen in only 1 (6%) of 18 assessable patients 4 months after treatment. Conclusion For patients with poor performance status and inoperable NSCLC causing pulmonary symptoms, hypofractionated, involved-field radiotherapy, 8.5 Gy in two fractions, offers acceptable palliation with minimal toxicity. A clear advantage of the very short hypofractionated regimen is that it enables patients with a short expected survival time to spend more of their remaining time away from the hospital.
Using design journals to uncover information literacy habits of first-year students

Students engaged in a design process need to diagnose their information needs, gather resources, evaluate their quality and apply them appropriate to make evidence-based decisions about potential solutions to their problems. Much of students' information management process typically is hidden from instructors, which makes evaluation of their underlying information literacy skills difficult. In a first-year engineering technology Introduction to Design Thinking course, the instructors introduced a design journal requirement to help students capture their path through the design process and manage the knowledge they acquired and utilized during their final project. The design journal can also be used by instructors to monitor students' progress and thought processes as they work through their project. In particular, when attempting to identify students' information literacy skills in the context of engineering design, the design journal can shed some light on students' processes. Utilizing the InfoSEAD protocol for analyzing technical documentation, the authors sought to characterize the level of information literacy skills demonstrated by students through an analysis of structured design journals assigned by the course instructors. Preliminary results indicate that the design journals provide a robust window into students' thought processes as well as the quality and quantity of information gathered in the design process, how proficiently that information was used in the development of potential solutions, and whether the information gathered and utilized was documented in the students' final reports.
Engaging high-risk patients in intensive care coordination programs: the engagement through CARInG framework

Intensive outpatient care programs (IOCPs) have shown promise for high-risk patients who account for disproportionate acute care utilization and costs. These programs typically address medical, behavioral, and social needs through intensive case management, health care navigation, coordination, and access to a range of social and community services. However, the value of these programs is often limited by patient engagement challenges (i.e., difficulty engaging patients in self-care, decision-making, and follow-up with recommended services). The purpose of this study was to develop a framework for engaging high-risk patients with complex medical, behavioral, and social needs in IOCPs. We conducted a qualitative study with 20 leaders and clinicians (e.g., physicians, nurses, psychologists, case workers) from 12 IOCPs affiliated with diverse settings (academic hospitals, county healthcare systems, Veterans Affairs facilities, community health centers, and private health systems). After completing a brief survey, participants were asked to describe how their program conceptualizes patient engagement and to describe characteristics of highly engaged patients. We used conventional content analysis methods to analyze qualitative data. Three domains of engagement were identified and are summarized in the Engagement Through CARInG Framework: Communication and actions to improve health; Relationships built on trust in IOCP staff; and Insight and goal-setting ability. Qualitative findings illustrate the spectrum and interrelatedness of these domains. The Engagement Through CARInG Framework can guide interventions that aim to enhance self-care and improve care coordination for high-risk patients with complex medical, behavioral, and social needs.
Toward an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian vorticity transport method

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the progress and difficulties in the development of an integral vorticity transport method that can be used for any set of computational points, ranging from advected fluid particles (Lagrangian viewpoint) to fixed spatial points (Eulerian viewpoint). A new advection method for vorticity (or scalar) transport is proposed in the chapter that extends a variant of the second-moment method to unstructured grids. Eulerian vortex methods typically solve velocity directly from the vorticity definition on a fixed computational grid. The chapter refers to the former approach of evaluating the Biot–Savart integral as an “integral” vortex method and the latter approach using the vorticity definition as a “differential” vortex method. In practice, it is advantageous to be able to select the motion of the computational points independently of the solution algorithm, in keeping with the nature of the problem. The chapter also addresses a new semi-Lagrangian advection method that conserves the second moment of vorticity in all directions and the vorticity crossmoments up to the second power. This method falls in the same family of methods as the second-moment method developed for Cartesian grids by Egan and Mahoney.
Testing Late Cretaceous astronomical solutions in a 15 million year astrochronologic record from North America

Abstract Astronomically-forced insolation cycles (“Milankovitch cycles”) serve as a primary control on climate, and when preserved in the stratigraphic record, they provide a high-resolution in situ chronometer. These celestial rhythms derive from the fundamental frequencies of the Solar System, and Earth's precession constant. The fundamental frequencies of Earth and Mars presently define a secular resonance of 2:1 (2.4 Myr to 1.2 Myr), and are hypothesized to have undergone a transition between 50–100 Ma, due to the chaotic behavior of the Solar System. In this study, a 15-Myr long cyclostratigraphic record from the mid-latitude Western Interior Seaway (WIS; spanning 82–97 Ma) is assembled to quantify eccentricity amplitude modulation (AM) and obliquity AM, which could reveal the 2:1 resonance when present. Ten high-precision radioisotopic dates from the study interval permit a rigorous anchoring of the floating astrochronologies for comparison with theoretical astronomical models. The analysis is complimented by the construction of an astronomically tuned δ 13 C org composite for the early Cenomanian-early Campanian, which allows a new assessment of linkages between million-year scale astronomical forcing and perturbations of the Late Cretaceous carbon cycle. Evaluation of the La2004 model reveals a switch of eccentricity modulation from 2.4-Myr cycles to a 1.2-Myr cycle from 90 to 86.5 Ma, followed by a return to a 2.4 Myr cycle in younger strata, compatible with observations from the WIS composite. These two resonance transitions are absent in the La2010d and La2011 models. Among 11 solutions calculated by Zeebe (2017) , some show resonance transitions during this period, but none of them match the geological record with respect to the observed long eccentricity modulation. The results of this study also suggest that positive carbon isotope excursions are closely related to obliquity power minima, but this interpretation will require further analysis for full confirmation.
Using Machine Learning Methods to Predict Bias in Nuclear Criticality Safety

This paper describes the application of machine learning (ML) tools to the prediction of bias in the criticality safety analysis. In particular, a set of over 1000 experiments included in the Whisp...
Phylogeography of Borrelia spirochetes in Ixodes pacificus and Ixodes spinipalpis ticks highlights differential acarological risk of tick-borne disease transmission in northern versus southern California

The common human-biting tick, Ixodes pacificus, is the primary vector of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (ss) in western North America and has been found to harbor other closely-related spirochetes in the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (sl) complex. Between 2008-2015, 11,066 adult and 3,815 nymphal I. pacificus and five adult and 144 nymphal Ixodes spinpalpis, a commonly collected wildlife tick, were collected from 42 California counties. Borrelia burgdorferi sl was detected in 1.2% and 3.8% I. pacificus adults and nymphs, respectively. Results from this study indicate genetic diversity and geographic structure of B. burgdorferi sl in California I. pacificus ticks, by sequence comparison of the16S rRNA gene, with B. burgdorferi ss, the agent of Lyme disease, found only in I. pacificus collected from the north and central coastal and Sierra Nevada foothill regions; B. burgdorferi ss was not detected in ticks tested from southern California. In contrast, Borrelia bissettiae, a member of the B. burgdorferi sl complex, was detected in both I. pacificus and I. spinipalpis, in the coastal region of both northern and southern California, but was absent from ticks in the Sierra Nevada foothills. In a similar pattern to B. bissettiae, Borrelia americana (a member of the B. burgdorferi sl complex) was detected in a single adult I. pacificus from the north coast and two I. spinipalpis nymphs from south-coastal California. This study highlights that the geographic area of Lyme disease acarological risk in California is the north-central and Sierra Nevada foothill regions of the state with little to no risk in the southern regions of the state.
Automated Quantitative Analysis of American College of Radiology PET Phantom Images

Evaluation of PET image quality is central to annual physics surveys, quality assurance, and laboratory accreditation. A common method is to image the American College of Radiology (ACR) PET phantom, which contains hot and cold structures of various sizes in a warm background. Performance evaluation involves qualitative assessment of hot and cold structure visibility and overall image quality. Some criteria are quantitative and rely on manually drawn regions of interest (ROIs) to measure SUV. Fully automated scoring of ACR PET phantom images would improve efficiency, avoid observer-related dependencies, and possibly provide more robust evaluation of image quality. Methods: Software was developed to coregister PET images to a phantom template and to compute ROI measurements of hot vial activity (SUVmax) and background activity (SUVmean) automatically. In addition, 3-dimensional volumes of interest (VOIs) were generated to measure hot vial activity (SUVvial), background activity, and cold rod contrast. Consistency of the ROI-based and VOI-based methods was evaluated using phantom data from a total of 17 annual physics surveys of 3 PET/CT scanners with the same PET detector design. Results: The automated software processed all PET phantom datasets successfully. SUV consistency for hot vials was improved through use of cylindric VOIs and through normalization with respect to assayed activities and dilution volumes used in phantom preparation. Average vial SUV SD improved from 8.0% for standard SUVmax to 3.2% for normalized SUVvial. Similarly, the SD for the SUV ratio of 16- to 25-mm vials improved from 5.0% for SUVmax to 3.2% for SUVvial. Background SUVmean had a similar consistency between the ROI and VOI methods. Cold rod contrast was highly consistent, offering a potential alternative to qualitative visual assessment of low-contrast performance. Conclusion: Automated quantitative scoring of the ACR PET phantom is feasible and offers the advantages of more efficient, consistent, and thorough performance characterization. Acceptance ranges for SUVs and ratios likely can be tightened if normalized VOI measurements are used. Further testing with phantom data from a variety of PET scanners is necessary to establish suitable quantitative thresholds for acceptable performance.
The Relation of Quality Indicators to Provider Knowledge of Child Development in Family Child Care Homes

There are continuing concerns about the quality of care offered in family child care homes. One concern is the relationship between regulated structural indicators of quality (training, education, and experience) and process quality indicators (provider engagement with children). This study examined (1) the relationship between structural and process indicators and (2) provider knowledge in predicting process quality. Results suggested that structural indicators of licensure and training were significantly related to process quality. In addition, provider knowledge of child development and health care practices were significant predictors of process quality above structural indicators. Recommendations for trainers and regulatory agencies are discussed.
Atypical Case of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy in a Pregnant Patient Without Preeclampsia.

We report a 33-year-old gravida one patient at 41 weeks gestation who had been admitted to the Labor and Delivery floor amid labor with seizures and no prior history of eclampsia, hypertension, or seizures. The patient was transported for an emergency cesarean section under general anesthesia. The patient's epidural placed prior to the seizure was discontinued. The patient was extubated post-delivery. Neurology was consulted to determine the cause of first-time seizures. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. Obstetricians and anesthesiologists should consider posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome when performing Magnetic Resonance Imaging in previously healthy patients who initially present with seizures during labor, especially in patients who do not have hypertension.
Assessing the Impact of Education and Outreach Activities on Research Scientists.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of uni versity-level research scientists toward educational and outreach activities that aim to help the general public understand more about their scientific endeavors. Interviews, observations, and survey results from 12 university research scientists, their colleagues, students, and the individuals they interact with were used to gather data for this study. Results indicate that although some research scientists value their education and outreach activities, many encounter obstacles to such efforts. These obstacles include a lack of support or resources at their home institution, the effort required to balance their research careers and outreach activities, and needing to find ways to connect with a nonscientific audience. A generational gap was also observed, with younger, nontenured research scientists tending to be more eager to involve themselves in such activities than their older, tenured colleagues.
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in Adults: Associated Diagnoses and Outcomes, a Ten-Year Experience at a Single Institution

Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a syndrome of excessive systemic inflammation which causes tissue damage due to abnormal immune system activation and has a high fatality rate even with treatment. HLH continues to be a difficult diagnosis to make because of lack of awareness and its overlap with other illnesses. This disorder is well defined in pediatric patients under the age of 18, but there is also a paucity of data in the adult population. The goals of this study were to describe associated disorders, clinical course and outcomes, and to determine if additional clinical criteria can be used to help with the diagnosis of HLH in adult patients. Methods: Patients' electronic medical records from 2007 to 2017 (who were >= 18 years old at the time of the search) were screened by ICD 9 and ICD 10 codes which contain the diagnosis of HLH or hemophagocytic syndrome, infection-associated. We identified 41 adult cases of HLH that were treated at our medical center over the course of 10 years and assessed these patients using both the historical and newly proposed diagnostic criteria. We also identified underlying diagnoses related to the development of HLH and fatality rates. Results: Median age at diagnosis was 55 years old (18 - 87 years old) and 22 were male. Twenty-two had an infection, 16 with malignancy, seven had an autoimmune disorder and one with Sweet syndrome. Fifteen patients were treated with steroids alone, 18 with steroids and chemotherapy, three with steroids and antiviral agents, and two with chemotherapy alone. Sixteen (39%) died and 25 (60%) survived discharge. Seven patients died after discharge. Median survival of all patients was 1,095 days. Conclusions: Our data show that HLH is primarily associated with infections and malignancies. Newly proposed diagnostic criteria are not as specific, but can be helpful in making the diagnosis of HLH. We also showed that the fatality rate at our institution was lower than currently published rates of adult HLH. J Hematol. 2019;8(4):149-154 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jh592
Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Chart Analysis.

Background Breast cancer and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are major health problems in the U.S. Despite these highly prevalent diseases, there is limited information on the effect of HCV infection among patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy and the potential challenges they face during treatment. Currently, there are no guidelines for chemotherapy administration in HCV-positive patients with breast cancer. Materials and methods We performed a retrospective case-control analysis on six patients with breast cancer with active HCV infection and 12 HCV-negative matched controls who received chemotherapy between January 2000 and April 2015. We investigated dose delays, dose changes, hospitalization, hematologic reasons for dose delays, and variation in blood counts during chemotherapy from the patients' medical records. Fisher's exact test was used for statistical comparison of the outcome variables between the two groups. Results When compared with the HCV-negative patients, the HCV-positive group was at a significantly higher risk of dose delays (100% vs. 33%, p value .013), dose changes (67% vs. 8%, p value .022), hospitalization during chemotherapy (83% vs. 25%, p value .043), and hematotoxicity related dose delays (83% vs. 8%, p value .003). HCV-positive patients took a longer time to complete treatment than the HCV-negative group. Conclusion Patients with HCV receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer are more likely to experience complications such as dose delays, dose modifications, and hospitalization. Future studies to confirm our findings and investigate on the effect of concurrent HCV and breast cancer treatment are warranted. Implications for practice This study found that hepatitis C infection is associated with a greater risk of treatment delays and dose modifications in patients with breast cancer receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy. Hepatitis C-positive patients have a higher treatment burden with dose changes, hospitalizations, and longer treatment periods than noninfected patients. Further prospective investigations to confirm these findings are warranted in a larger patient population. Given that hepatitis C infection can be curable with direct-acting antivirals, treatment of hepatitis C may alleviate treatment challenges during chemotherapy and improve survival for patients with breast cancer.
Pathology of Granulomatous Pulmonary Diseases

Context.— Because granulomas are represented in almost every disease category, the number of clinically and pathologically important granulomatous pulmonary diseases is large. Their diagnosis by pathologists is particularly challenging because of their nonspecificity. A specific diagnosis can be achieved only when a granuloma-inciting agent(s) (eg, acid-fast bacilli, fungi, foreign bodies, etc) are identified microscopically or by culture; this does not occur in most cases. Furthermore, a specific diagnosis cannot be reached in a high percentage of cases. Although sarcoidosis and infectious diseases account for approximately half of pulmonary granulomatous diseases worldwide, there is significant geographic variation in their prevalence. Objectives.— To present updated information to serve as a guide to pathologic diagnosis of pulmonary granulomatous diseases, to address some commonly held misconceptions and to stress the importance of multidisciplinary coordination. Presentation of basic aspects of granulomas is followed by discussion of specific disease entities, such as tuberculous and nontuberculous Mycobacterial infections, fungal, bacterial, and parasitic infections, sarcoidosis, necrotizing sarcoid granulomatosis, berylliosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, hot tub lung, rheumatoid nodule, bronchocentric granulomatosis, aspirated, inhaled, and embolized foreign bodies, drug-induced granulomas, chronic granulomatous disease, common variable immunodeficiency, and granulomatous lesions associated with various types of cancer. Data sources.— Review of pertinent medical literature using the PubMed search engine and the author's practical experience. Conclusions.— Although the diagnosis of granulomatous lung diseases continues to present significant challenges to pathologists, the information presented in this review can be helpful in overcoming them. The importance of multidisciplinary coordination in cases where morphologic diagnosis is not possible cannot be overstated.
Spatial troubles with teaching under COVID-19

This essay explores the multifaceted underpinning that spaces provide to social affairs, in particular, educating. It does this by examining a particular episode, involving spaces of educating, tha...
The Cambridge Introduction to Robert Frost

Robert Frost is one of the most popular American poets and remains widely read. His work is deceptively simple, but reveals its complexities upon close reading. This Introduction provides a comprehensive but intensive look at his remarkable oeuvre. The poetry is discussed in detail in relation to ancient and modern traditions as well as to Frost's particular interests in language and sound, metaphor, science, religion, and politics. Faggen both looks back to the literary traditions that shape Frost's use of form and language, and forward to examine his influence on poets writing today. The recent controversies in Frost criticism and in particular in Frost biography are brought into sharp focus as they have shaped the poet's legacy and legend. The most accessible overview available, this book will be invaluable to students, readers and admirers of Frost.
Repeated Generalized Seizures Induce Time-Dependent Changes in the Behavioral Seizure Response Independent of Continued Seizure Induction

This study examined both the acute and long-lasting changes in seizure susceptibility that occur in response to the repeated induction of generalized seizure activity. Daily flurothyl-induced generalized clonic seizures resulted in a progressive decrease in both the generalized seizure threshold and the latency to the first myoclonic jerk. The threshold reduction was significant as early as the second trial and was maximal by trial 5. However, a minimum of eight seizures was necessary for the maximal reduction to be long-lasting. The present study also examined the effects of the number of seizures and the duration of the stimulation-free interval on the type of generalized seizure expressed. During the induction phase of the experiment, only generalized clonic seizures (“forebrain seizures”) were expressed. If, however, the animal was retested after a 1, 2, 3, or 4 week stimulation-free interval, a progressive increase in both the proportion of animals expressing “brainstem seizure” behaviors and the median seizure score was observed. The progression of flurothyl-induced generalized seizure behaviors was significantly altered if (1) a minimum of eight generalized clonic seizures had been expressed, and (2) a minimum of a 2 week stimulation-free interval followed. Fewer generalized clonic seizures failed to reliably produce changes in seizure phenotype, even after extended stimulus-free intervals. These data indicate that specific kindling processes are initiated during the interval of repeated seizure induction and evolve in the absence of continued seizure induction. Furthermore, these mechanisms of epileptogenesis were found to be manifest predominantly as a change in the seizure phenotype expressed and to proceed independent of changes in the generalized seizure threshold.
Opportunistic Scheduling and Pricing Strategies for Automated Contracting in Supply Chains

Supply chains form an integral cornerstone of the daily operations of today’s business enterprises. The effectiveness of the processes underlying the supply chain determine the steady-flow of raw material and finished products between entities in the marketplace. Electronic institutions facilitate free and fair competition between providers and suppliers vying for contracts from customers and manufacturers. We assume that contracts are awarded via competitive auction-based protocols. We believe that the efficiency of the scheduling and pricing strategies of the suppliers play an important role in their profitability in such a competitive supply chain. The suppliers can decide their scheduling strategy for completing the contracted tasks depending on their capacity, the nature of the contracts, the profit margins and other commitments and expectations about future contracts. Such decision mechanisms can incorporate task features including length of the task, priority of the task, scheduling windows, estimated future load, and profit margins. Robust, opportunistic task scheduling strategies can significantly improve the competitiveness of suppliers by identifying market niches and strategically positioning available resources to exploit such opportunities. Effective price adjustment mechanisms are also required to maximally exploit such market opportunities.
The use of ion exchange resins in the isolation of blood group A-specific substance from hog gastric mucin.

Ion exchange resins (1) have been used in the investigation of A substance hydrolysates (2), but apparently no attempt has been made to determine whether they can be profitably used in the isolation or purification of undegraded A substance [1] from sources such as hog gastric mucin. Studies along these lines are reported in this communication.
SCAN -98 Collected Bibliography

This is a bibliography of work related to interval arithmetic and validated computation. It represents the compilation of all works cited by the papers in this volume.
Strategic management of technology for manufacturing operations

It is pointed out that the successful management of technology furnishes a critical element in the formulation and implementation of an organization's strategic competitive choices. The links between the strategic choices of cost, leadership, differentiation, and focus, and the key aspects of operations and technology management involved in the formulation and achievement of the corporate goals are considered. A holistic approach to the management analysis process is presented, and alternative assembly manufacturing configurations are used as a vehicle for analysis. It is concluded that careful management of linkages can be a decisive source of competitive advantage, and it develops from positioning the organization in the competitive arena, and then moving toward adjustments in the end-product characteristics, transformation technologies, and operating-control methodologies in a cohesive, iterative fashion. >
Teleportation as a measure of entanglement for an arbitrary state of two qubits

Summary form only given. Characterizing the entanglement of a general bipartite quantum system is a difficult problem. Most measures involve difficult extremizations and their physical motivation is not always clear. In this paper we propose an experimental measure of entanglement based on a modified version of the familiar teleportation protocol of Bennett et al. (1993). Briefly, teleportation traditionally involves two parties, Alice and Bob. Initially, Alice has a qubit in an unknown quantum state which she would like to communicate to Bob and Bob has two qubits in an entangled Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) pair. To accomplish this transfer, Bob shares one qubit of his EPR pair with Alice. She then performs a joint measurement or Bell measurement on her two qubits and relays this information back to Bob over a classical channel. Bob then uses the outcome of Alice's Bell measurement to transform his qubit, with a local unitary transformation, into the original quantum state, always with a fidelity of one.
The effects of steroids on nutrients in yolk sac fluid of Day 18 pony conceptuses

Summary In the mare, there is a high incidence of early embryonic mortality which corresponds to early conceptus development and the time of maternal recognition of pregnancy. The need for synchrony between the developing conceptus and the uterine environment emphasises the delicate processes of establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Further research is necessary to investigate the environments of the conceptus and uterus, and their interaction, for a better understanding of these processes and ultimately a reduction in early embryonic loss.
SU-E-T-614: A Comparison of IMRT Plans for the ViewRay MR-Guided RT System with TomoTherapy and Pinnacle

Purpose: To begin to assess the treatment planning capabilities of the ViewRay MR‐guided radiotherapy system. Methods: Treatment plans created using ViewRay software were compared with previously completed Pinnacle and TomoTherapy plans from patients in our clinic. Sites such as pancreas were chosen due to the soft‐tissue contrast which makes them candidates for MR‐image guidance with ViewRay. CT images and structure sets were exported from their original planning systems and imported into ViewRay. MR images were not the focus of this investigation since we required a direct comparison with existing plans utilizing CT. ViewRay plans were created as equivalently as possible with the original planning environment, matching prescription and normal structure priorities. The resulting isodose lines were visually assessed for conformality. Dose‐volume histograms were extracted from ViewRay and plotted together with those from the original planning system. Finally, ViewRay plans were also examined by their ability to meet QUANTEC dose restraints. Results: A pancreas plan created using the images of a patient who underwent IMRT with Tomo Therapy resulted in satisfactory conformality assessed by the coverage of the 98% isodose line. The DVH demonstrated shallower dose fall‐off for the PTV compared with TomoTherapy, as expected for a Cobalt‐60 based treatment. Normal tissue DVH lines for View Ray surpassed QUANTEC dose constraints or performed as well as Tomo Therapy for all structures except kidney. Comparison with non‐IMRT Pinnacle cases also exhibited good conformality and satisfied QUANTEC restraints. Conclusions: View Ray created a feasible plan generally matching most normal tissue restrictions. Of course, the IMRT gold‐standard Tomo Therapy outperformed View Ray regarding the steepness of DVH dose fall‐off. In the future, more cases will be studied to perform a more complete analysis. Also, we will investigate the Co‐60 dose profiles to assess penumbra directly. The View Ray TPS has the potential for comparable plans in the hands of experienced planners.
No drinking: We've got you tagged

Misbehave while under the influence in the US, and you could be forced to wear a device that measures your alcohol level
Practical guidelines for solving difficult linear programs

Abstract The advances in state-of-the-art hardware and software have enabled the inexpensive, efficient solution of many large-scale linear programs previously considered intractable. However, a significant number of large linear programs can require hours, or even days, of run time and are not guaranteed to yield an optimal (or near-optimal) solution. In this paper, we present suggestions for diagnosing and removing performance problems in state-of-the-art linear programming solvers, and guidelines for careful model formulation, both of which can vastly improve performance.
A 3-year survivor of near-total intestinal aganglionosis

A newborn girl had no ganglion cells beyond 2 cm distal to the ligament of Treitz. The proximal jejunum was dilated. A jejunostomy constructed 46 cm distal to the ligament of Treitz functioned. A 28-cm jejunal segment was myectomized to augment enteral feeding. For almost 1 year she has been on enteral feedings only, and her body size has been in the 75th percentile.