cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development and Initial Feasibility Testing of the Virtual Research Navigator (VRN): A Public-Facing Agent-Based Educational System for Clinical Research Participation

The overall goal of VRN is to develop a novel technology solution at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) to overcome barriers that prevent the recruitment of diverse patient populations to clinical trials by providing both caregivers and children with an interactive educational experience. This system consists of 1) an intelligent agent called Zippy that users interact with by keyboard or voice input, 2) a series of videos covering topics including Privacy, Consent and Benefits, and 3) a UI that guides users through all available content. Pre- and post-questionnaires assessed willingness to participate in clinical research and found participants either increased or maintained their level of willingness to participate in research studies. Additionally, qualitative analysis of interview data revealed participants rated the overall interaction favorably and believed Zippy to be more fun, less judgmental and less threatening than interacting with a human. Future iterations are in-progress based on the user-feedback.
Preserving prospective memory in daily life: A systematic review and meta-analysis of mnemonic strategy, cognitive training, external memory aid, and combination interventions.

OBJECTIVE To preserve or improve independent functioning in older adults and those with neurocognitive impairments, researchers and clinicians need to address prospective memory deficits. To be effective, prospective memory interventions must restore (or circumvent) the underlying attention and memory mechanisms that are impaired by aging, brain injury, and neurodegeneration. We evaluated two decades of prospective memory interventions for efficacy, time/resource costs, and ecological validity. METHOD We systematically reviewed 73 prospective memory intervention studies of middle- to older-aged healthy adults and clinical groups (N = 3,749). We also rated the ecological validity of each study's prospective memory assessment/task using a newly developed scale. When possible (72% of studies), we estimated effect sizes using random-effects models and Hedges' g. RESULTS We identified four categories of prospective memory interventions, including mnemonic strategy, cognitive training, external memory aid, and combination interventions. Mnemonic strategy (g = .450) and cognitive training (g = .538) interventions demonstrated efficacy. Combination interventions showed mixed results (g = .254), underscoring that "more is not always better." External memory aids demonstrated very positive outcomes (g = .805), though often with small-sample, case-series designs. Prospective memory assessments had high ecological validity in external memory aid studies (84%), but not in mnemonic strategy (14%), cognitive training (20%), or combination intervention (50%) studies, p < .001, ηp2 = .33. CONCLUSIONS Everyday prospective memory can be meaningfully improved, perhaps particularly with external memory aids, but larger trials are required to optimize treatments, increase adherence, and broaden implementation in daily life. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
The Limited Partnership in New York, 1822–1858: Partnerships Without Kinship

In 1822 New York became the first of many common law states to authorize the formation of limited partnerships. Little is known about the effects of these statutes. This article analyzes the use of the limited partnership in nineteenth-century New York City. We find that the form was adopted by a surprising number of firms, and that limited partnerships had more capital, failed at lower rates, and had fewer members with kinship ties, compared to ordinary partnerships. The results suggest that the introduction of the limited partnership facilitated investments that would not have occurred in the absence of the form.
Quantitative Ultrasound to Assess Skeletal Muscles in Post Stroke Spasticity

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) techniques such as pixel intensity, ultrasound strain, and shear wave elastography have made it possible to identify the echogenicity (brightness) and mechanical properties (stiffness) of normal and pathological tissues. These techniques can be utilized as an alternative diagnosis tool to assess post stroke spasticity. Current clinical assessment methods include the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and the Modified Tardieu Scale (MTS), which can result in inconsistencies due to their subjective nature. QUS provides robust approaches to assessing muscle stiffness associated with post stroke spasticity. Computer-aided pixel count quantifies tissue echogenicity in grayscale image. A strain ratio in ultrasound strain imaging compares the stiffness and movement (lengthening or shortening) of a spastic muscle with nonspecific muscle. In addition, shear wave elastography provides the shear wave velocity of an affected muscle that directly associated with the muscle stiffness before and after treatment for spasticity. This article reviews the theory behind these aforementioned concepts and discuss the relations between QUS and skeletal muscles in post stroke spasticity.
Mother needs a bigger “helper”: A critique of “wine mom” discourse as conformity to hegemonic intensive motherhood

“Wine mom” discourse encourages American women to self-deprecatingly bond over the stressors of parenting and touts alcohol use as necessary means for coping and escapism Before the added stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, whereby alcohol sales and consumption increased in the United States, rates of heavy drinking and alcohol-related illnesses among US women have been steadily increasing Exceeding the clinical markers of responsible alcohol use, “wine mom” discourse normalizes an inextricable link between alcohol misuse and expectations of (White, middle-class) motherhood Online communities and businesses emphasize “wine mom” discourse for self-acceptance and bonding in response to the impossible demands of hegemonic motherhood In this critique of “wine mom” discourse, we argue that although alcohol consumption is commonly touted as self-care, this messaging operates in toxic ways that harms women and reinforces patriarchy Applying Merton's strain theory, we argue that “wine mom” trends and related discourse encompass a harmful form of conformity, if not false resistance, to the strain of flawed cultural goals and lacking institutionalized supports for American mothers We call for true rebellion, emphasizing positive discourse as well as structural changes and policy reforms to dismantle patriarchal barriers and hegemonic motherhood constraints to better support American families © 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Mycorrhizal Symbioses Enhance Competitive Weed Growth in Biochar and Nutrient-Amended Soils

Abutilon theophrasti (velvetleaf) is a highly competitive weed in agroecosystems that is well-studied for its efficient nitrogen (N) acquisition, yet research on its phosphorus (P) uptake is lacking. One pathway may be through symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) which increase nutrient acquisition. These AMF benefits can be further enhanced by soil amendment with biochar, although effects may vary with different biochar production characteristics. We implemented a fully factorial nutrient and biochar addition experiment in a greenhouse for six months to determine how AMF nutrient uptake impacts plant growth and how these effects vary between two biochar types. We measured total above- and belowground biomass, plant tissue concentration (N and P), AMF colonization and activity rates, and soil media N and P availability. Overall, we observed few statistically significant results, however AMF N uptake may have been more beneficial to velvetleaf than AMF P uptake as evidenced by increased biomass and tissue N concentrations in treatments where N was only accessible by AMF. Additionally, by maintaining root to shoot ratios biochar may have provided plants with N and P (through sorption of nutrients to surfaces or its inherent properties) when nutrients were more difficult to access. We also found variable plant responses across the two biochar types used. Understanding how nutrient and biochar additions can influence weed competition is important for anticipating potential undesirable consequences of novel soil amendments such as biochar.
Valuing water quality tradeoffs at different spatial scales: An integrated approach using bilevel optimization

Abstract This study evaluates the tradeoff between agricultural production and water quality at both the watershed scale and the farm scale, using an integrated economic-biophysical hybrid genetic algorithm. We apply a multi-input, multi-output profit maximization model to detailed farm-level production data from the Oregon Willamette Valley to predict each producer's response to a targeted fertilizer tax policy. Their resulting production decisions are included in a biophysical model of basin-level soil and water quality. Building on a general regulation problem for nonpoint pollution, we use a hybrid genetic algorithm to integrate the economic and biophysical models into one bilevel multiobjective optimization problem, the joint maximization of farm profits and minimization of Nitrate runoff resulting from fertilizer usage. This approach allows us to more fully endogenize fertilizer reduction cost, rather than assume an average cost relationship. The solution set of tax rates generates the Pareto optimal frontier at the watershed level. We then measure the tradeoffs between maximum profit and Nitrogen loading for individual farms, subject to the solution fertilizer tax policy. We find considerable variation in tradeoff values across the basin, which could be used to target incentives for reducing Nitrogen loading to agricultural producers under non-uniform control strategies.
Feature Selection vs Theory Reformulation: A Study of Genetic Refinement of Knowledge-based Neural Networks

Expert classification systems have proven themselves effective decision makers for many types of problems. However, the accuracy of such systems is often highly dependent upon the accuracy of a human expert's domain theory. When human experts learn or create a set of rules, they are subject to a number of hindrances. Most significantly experts are, to a greater or lesser extent, restricted by the tradition of scholarship which has preceded them and by an inability to examine large amounts of data in a rigorous fashion without the effects of boredom or frustration. As a result, human theories are often erroneous or incomplete. To escape this dependency, machine learning systems have been developed to automatically refine and correct an expert's domain theory. When theory revision systems are applied to expert theories, they often concentrate on the reformulation of the knowledge provided rather than on the reformulation or selection of input features. The general assumption seems to be that the expert has already selected the set of features that will be most useful for the given task. That set may, however, be suboptimal. This paper studies theory refinement and the relative benefits of applying feature selection versus more extensive theory reformulation.
A Mathematically Rigorous Foundation for Supervised Learning

This paper consists of two parts, one theoretical, and one experimental. And while its primary focus is the development of a mathematically rigorous, theoretical foundation for the field of supervised learning, including a discussion of what constitutes a "solvable pattern recognition problem", it will also provide some algorithmic detail for implementing the general classification method derived from the theory, a method based on classifier combination, and will discuss experimental results comparing its performance to other well-known methods on standard benchmark problems from the U.C. Irvine, and Statlog, collections. The practical consequences of this work are consistent with the mathematical predictions. Comparing our experimental results on 24 standard benchmark problems taken from the U.C. Irvine, and Statlog, collections, with those reported in the literature for other well-known methods, our method placed 1st on 19 problems, 2nd on 2 others, 4th on another, and 5th on the remaining 2.
Control of purine biosynthesis

Abstract The effect of methyl-purines and pyrimidine nucleosides on utilization of exogenous purines by Escherichia coli has been studied. The differential rates of incorporation into nucleic acids of extracellular sources of nucleic acid purines, labeled with C 14 , were measured. The concentrations of exogenous purines used caused immediate maximal feedback inhibition of de novo purine synthesis. The degree of inhibition caused by exogenous free purine bases was not significantly altered by the addition of methyl-purines and pyrimidine nueleosides. However, when the source of cellular purine was a nucleoside, either a methyl-purine or a pyrimidine nucleoside alone restored de novo synthesis significantly. When both were added together, feedback inhibition was almost completely released. Short-time experiments measuring total uptake of labeled purines indicated that both methyl-purines and pyrimidine nucleosides inhibit steps in the synthesis of nucleic acids from exogenous nucleosides before the formation of the allosteric inhibitor. The pyrimidine nucleosides apparently inhibit entry into the cell. Methyl-purines presumably slow down the formation of nucleotides.
Explaining economic performance in the Haitian economy

Este documento desarrolla una metodologia que permite comprobar los factores de crecimiento en la economia haitiana. La metodologia utiliza cointegracion para identificar las variables, lo que puede ayudar a explicar la actividad economica que se mide a traves del PIB. Esta idea, iniciada por Hamilton y Perez-Quiros (1996), tiene la ventaja de promover un procesamiento mas pequeno que los que utiliza el National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Los resultados de este documento muestran que las variables externas y financieras permiten que los gobiernos haitianos tengan una buena senalizacion del verdadero mecanismo de la economia. Estas variables se pueden conseguir antes del PIB instando a los gobiernos haitianos a que tomen medidas preventivas para aumentar el rendimiento de la economia
Autoimmunity and Immunodeficiency Disease

There is a high incidence of autoimmune disease in patients with primary immunodeficiency. In almost all instances autoantibodies are to antigenic determinants of the formed elements of the blood--erythrocytes, platelets and neutrophils. In some rare cases, autoantibodies to T or B lymphocytes can cause immunodeficiency. IgA is unique in inciting autoantibodies to this serum protein in some patients with IgA deficiency. Organ-specific autoimmune disease is extremely rare in immunodeficiency states. In contrast, drug allergy and allergic contact dermatitis are extremely common in patients with deficiencies of B lymphocytes. Patients with the syndrome of immunodeficiency with elevated IgM (hyper-IgM deficiency) almost invariably develop autoantibodies to formed elements of the blood. Autoantibody production can be suppressed with anti-idiotypic antibodies.
Simulation and empirical analysis of novel sibship-based genetic determination of fish passage

We develop and test a new analytic approach, termed “sib-split”, to detect fish passage through road crossings. This new approach is based on the genetic analysis of full-siblings on opposite sides...
Metabolic Syndrome in Healthy Ponies Facilitates Nutritional Countermeasures against Pasture Laminitis

Treatment of clinical laminitis usually fails to prevent some degree of persistent disability; thus, intervention should aim at avoiding risk factors and preventing the disease. Efficiency of intervention would be improved by identifying predisposed horses and ponies. A herd of 160 healthy ponies included 54 previously laminitic (PL) and 106 never laminitic (NL). Pedigree analysis was consistent with dominant inheritance partially suppressed in males. Blood analysis revealed higher plasma concentrations of insulin and triglycerides but not cortisol, glucose, or free fatty acids in the PL group. Proxies for insulin sensitivity and /3-cell responsiveness, which were calculated from plasma insulin and glucose, indicated compensated insulin resistance in the PL group. A prelaminitic metabolic syndrome (PLMS) was derived statistically to have cut-off points for the 2 proxies, hypertriglyceridemia, and body condition score. It had a total predictive power of 78%. It identified 62 ponies with PLMS, and 98 as PLMS-free. Two months later, pasture starch concentration doubled, and 13 clinical cases of laminitis developed, 11 in the PLMS group and 2 in the PLMS-free group, giving an odds ratio of 10.4 (P = 0.0006). The PLMS can be used to identify predisposed ponies in need of special care; the efficiency of intervention would increase nearly 3-fold in the present case. It enables the design of new interventions suitable for testing. The PLMS also might influence market values.
Changes in Spontaneous Firing Patterns of Cerebellar Purkinje Cells in p75 Knockout Mice

The p75 neurotrophin receptor is highly expressed in the developing nervous system and is required for neuronal survival, growth, and synaptic transmission. In young mice, p75 is present in both granular cells and Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. Although p75 has been implicated in modulation of neuronal excitability in several neuronal types, whether and how it affects the excitability of cerebellar Purkinje neurons remained unclear. Using extracellular recordings of spontaneous firing of Purkinje neurons in cerebellar slices prepared from wild type and p75 knockout mice, we measured intrinsic firing properties in the presence of fast synaptic blockers of more than 200 Purkinje cells, each for a period of 5 min, for each genotype. We detected a significant increase in the mean firing frequency in p75−/− neurons comparing to the wild type littermates. Upon separating tonically firing from phasically firing cells, i.e., cells with firing pauses of longer than 300 ms, we observed that the change mainly arose from phasic firing cells and can be explained by an increase in the firing/silence ratio and a decrease in the number of long pauses during the 5-min recording period. We conclude that p75 plays an important role in regulating the firing-to-silence transition during the phasic firing period of the spontaneous firing of Purkinje cells. Thus, p75 exerts a modulatory function on Purkinje cell firing patterns, through which it may act as a key player in motor coordination and other cerebellum-regulated activities since Purkinje cells represent the sole neuronal output of the cerebellar cortex.
Metro maps of science

As the number of scientific publications soars, even the most enthusiastic reader can have trouble staying on top of the evolving literature. It is easy to focus on a narrow aspect of one's field and lose track of the big picture. Information overload is indeed a major challenge for scientists today, and is especially daunting for new investigators attempting to master a discipline and scientists who seek to cross disciplinary borders. In this paper, we propose metrics of influence, coverage and connectivity for scientific literature. We use these metrics to create structured summaries of information, which we call metro maps. Most importantly, metro maps explicitly show the relations between papers in a way which captures developments in the field. Pilot user studies demonstrate that our method helps researchers acquire new knowledge efficiently: map users achieved better precision and recall scores and found more seminal papers while performing fewer searches.
Molecular markers associated with seed weight in two soybean populations

Seed weight (SW) is a component of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., seed yield, as well as an important trait for food-type soybeans. Two soybean populations, 120 F4-derived lines of ‘Young’xPI416937 (Pop1) and 111 F2-derived lines of PI97100x‘Coker 237’ (Pop2), were mapped with RFLP makers to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conditioning SW across environments and populations. The genetic map of Pop1 consisted of 155 loci covering 973 cM, whereas Pop2 involved 153 loci and covered 1600 cM of map distance. For Pop1, the phenotypic data were collected from Plains, GA., Windblow, N.C., and Plymouth, N.C., in 1994. For Pop2, data were collected from Athens, GA., in 1994 and 1995, and Blackville, S.C., in 1995. Based on single-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA), seven and nine independent loci were associated with SW in Pop1 and Pop2, respectively. Together the loci explained 73% of the variability in SW in Pop1 and 74% in Pop2. Transgressive segregation occurred among the progeny in both populations. The marker loci associated with SW were highly consistent across environments and years. Two QTLs on linkage group (LG) F and K were located at similar genomic regions in both populations. The high consistency of QTLs across environments indicates that effective marker-assisted selection is feasible for soybean SW.
Skeletal Reaction Model Generation, Uncertainty Quantification and Minimization: Combustion of Butane

Skeletal reaction models for n-butane and iso-butane combustion are derived from a detailed chemistry model through directed relation graph (DRG) and DRG-aided sensitivity analysis (DRGASA) methods. It is shown that the accuracy of the reduced models can be improved by optimization through the method of uncertainty minimization by polynomial chaos expansion (MUM-PCE). The dependence of model uncertainty on the model size is also investigated by exploring skeletal models containing different number of species. It is shown that the dependence of model uncertainty is subject to the completeness of the model. In principle, for a specific simulation the uncertainty of a complete model, which includes all reactions important to its prediction, is convergent with respect to the model size, while the uncertainty calculated with an incomplete model may display unpredictable correlation with the model size.
Marriage, Love, and Time in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina

This article, by a specialist in Russian literature, suggests ways in which researchers on marriage and the family might learn from great realist novels. It explores differences between the humanities and social sciences, the need for a historical perspective on marriage, the role of temporality in love and family, the different kinds of sexual love, the nature of "prosaics, " the importance of the ordinary, and the Russian Writers' conception of evil. A detailed analysis of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina illustrates how great literature can shed light on love, marriage, and family.
Crystal structures of four morpholino-doxorubicin anticancer drugs complexed with d(CGTACG) and d(CGATCG): implications in drug-DNA crosslink.

Among the new generations of anthracycline drugs, morpholino-doxorubicin (MDox) and its derivative have unusually potent activity when compared with the parent doxorubicin. 3"-Cyano-morpholino-doxorubicin (CN-MDox) has been suggested to form a covalent crosslink to DNA, although the exact mode of interactions remains unclear. To establish the structural basis of this crosslink, we carried out X-ray diffraction analyses of the complexes between four different morpholino-doxorubicins (i.e., MDox, CN-MDox, (R)- and (S)-2"-methoxy-morpholino-Dox (MMDox)) and two DNA hexamers CGTACG and CGATCG. Their crystal data are similar to other Dau/Dox complexes with space group P4(1)2(1)2,a = b approximately 28 A, c approximately 53 A. The refined structures at approximately 1.8 A resolution revealed that two drug molecules bind to the duplex with the aglycons intercalated between the CpG steps with their N3'-morpholino-daunosamines in the minor groove. The morpholino moiety is flexible and may adopt different conformations dependent on the sequence context. The O1" atoms of the two morpholino groups in the drug-DNA complexes are in van der Waals contact. The structural results suggest possible crosslinking mechanism of CN-MDox. It is worth pointing out that by linking two piperazinyl- or piperidinyl-doxorubicins at the 1" positions a new type of bis-doxorubicin derivatives may be synthesized which may bind to a hexanucleotide sequence with some specificity.
Reductive degradation of oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using an activated magnesium/co-solvent system

This study evaluates the capability of zero-valent magnesium and a protic co-solvent to promote the degradation of oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons compounds, specifically 9-fluorenone, 9,10-anthraquinone, 7,12-benz(a)anthraquionone, and 7H-benz(de)anthracene-7-one. At room temperature conditions, greater than 86% degradation efficiency is observed after 24h of reaction time for a mixture containing 0.05 g of magnesium and four selected oxygenated aromatic hydrocarbons with 250 mg L(-1) concentrations. It is noted that glacial acetic acid is needed as an activator for the degradation reaction to proceed. It is also presumed that the acid removes oxide and hydroxide species from the magnesium surface. With the GC-MS analysis of the reaction products, possible reductive pathways are suggested. Furthermore, this study is the first report on the degradation of these emerging contaminants and it is proposed that the magnesium-powder/protic-solvent system is a promising low-cost reagent and may allow for the future development of an economic and environmentally-friendly remediation application.
Impact of fetal versus perinatal hypoxia on sex differences in childhood outcomes: developmental timing matters

Purpose To examine how the timing of hypoxic exposure results in specific childhood outcomes and whether there is a differential effect by sex.
The Role of Internal and International Relative Deprivation in Global Migration

This paper analyses the role of internal (within-country) and international (bilateral and global) relative deprivation and absolute deprivation in international migration. It is argued that these three forms of relative deprivation need to be simultaneously taken into account in order to advance our theoretical understanding of the complex drivers of migration processes. Empirical analysis based on 2000 global migrant stock data suggests that absolute deprivation constrains emigration while international relative deprivation and internal relative deprivation in destination countries fuel migration. The effect of internal relative deprivation in origin countries is small and rather ambiguous. The results highlight complex and often counter-intuitive ways in which relative and absolute deprivation affect migration. The paper suggests that it would be unfounded to expect that decreases in international and internal relative and absolute deprivation will lead to massive reductions in the volume of international migration.
Nephrolithiasis associated with the ketogenic diet

Purpose: The ketogenic diet has been used for treating seizure disorders for more than 70 years. Nephrolithiasis is a known complication of this diet with a reported stone rate as high as 10% but there is sparse literature detailing the nature and treatment of these stones. We report on 4 children with nephrolithiasis on this diet.Materials and Methods: We describe stone treatment and analysis as well as metabolic and urine abnormalities in 4 children with nephrolithiasis on the ketogenic diet who presented to our institution.Results: All patients were treated with shock wave lithotripsy, fluid liberalization and oral citrate. One child was ultimately withdrawn from the diet due to persistent stone formation. Analysis revealed 3 calcium and 1 ammonium urate stones. Three patients had hypercalciuria, 2 elevated urinary uric acid and 1 hypocitruria. Serum studies revealed acidosis in 3 cases.Conclusions: The ketogenic diet induces several metabolic abnormalities that increase the propensity for stone format...
Effects of certain antiarthritic agents on the synthesis of type II collagen and glycosaminoglycans in rat chondrosarcoma cultures.

Cartilage destruction is a characteristic feature of osteoarthritis. Treatment with certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs could exacerbate cartilage destruction by impairing the synthesis of cartilage matrix proteins, type II collagen and proteoglycan. In order to monitor the changes occurring in cartilage collagen synthesis, we developed a type II collagen specific ELISA. The effects of antiarthritic agents on type II collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis were examined in rat chondrosarcoma cultures. Drugs were added to the monolayer cultures and 4 days later the total type II collagen, as determined by the type II collagen ELISA, and glycosaminoglycan content, as measured by dimethylmethylene blue dye binding assay, was measured. All drugs except tiaprofenic acid decreased type II collagen synthesis by at least 40% at 100 μg/ml. Tiaprofenic acid at 1 μg/ml increased type II collagen content by 54% of the controls. Glycosaminoglycan synthesis was decreased by acetylsalicylic acid, diclofenac and tiaprofenac acid, at 50 μg/ml or above. Indomethacin, naproxen and dexamethasone had no effect. Interestingly, tenidap stimulated the glycoaminoglycan synthesis by 32% at 100 μg/ml. We show that the combination of chondrosarcoma cultures, type II collagen specific ELISA and dimethylmethylene blue dye binding assay serves as a useful model for screening the effects of agents capable of modulating type II collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis.
Predictors of cancer in patients with suspected pancreatic malignancy without a tissue diagnosis.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to identify predictive factors for malignancy in patients undergoing surgery for suspected pancreatic cancer without a preoperative tissue diagnosis. Methods Patients were identified by International Classification of Diseases Ninth Revision and current procedural terminology codes, respectively, for pancreatic cancer and pancreaticoduodenectomy at a single tertiary referral center between January 1998 and May 2004. Data were collected retrospectively by chart review. Multivariate analysis of potential predictive factors was performed. Results A total of 150 patients underwent surgery for documented or suspected pancreatic malignancy; 102 did not have a preoperative tissue diagnosis of cancer. Of these, 75 had neoplastic disease at surgery. Average weight loss was greater for those with malignancy (13.5 vs. 4.8 lbs; P = .014) as was mean bilirubin (6.1 vs. 3.3 mg/dL; P = .006). In multivariate analysis, a combination of weight loss >20 lbs, bilirubin >3 mg/dL, and CA 19-9 >37 U/mL had both a specificity and positive predictive value of 100% for predicting malignancy regardless of bile duct abnormalities or mass lesions on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or endoscopic ultrasound, respectively. The positive predictive value decreased to 89.5% when any 2 of these findings were present. The presence of a mass on CT or EUS alone had a sensitivity of 84%; however, no other single finding had a sensitivity >65%. Conclusions In patients suspected of having a pancreatic malignancy, weight loss, hyperbilirubinemia, and increased CA 19-9 level may be predictive of a final cancer diagnosis. Surgical exploration should be considered in these patients even in the absence of a preoperative tissue diagnosis.
Working to Improve Mental Health Services: The North Carolina Advocacy Effort

Poor reimbursement of pediatricians for behavioral and developmental services and the disarray of children's mental health services in the state led leaders of the North Carolina chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics to organize an advocacy effort with the following objectives: 1) to articulate pediatricians' perspective on the current crisis in delivering and coordinating children's behavioral health services; 2) to represent the collective voice of both academic and community pediatricians in dialogue with mental health providers, Medicaid leaders, and the health and mental health segments of state government; 3) to build consensus about an achievable plan of action to address pediatricians' reimbursement and systems issues; 4) to develop a full and appropriate role for pediatricians as providers and, potentially, coordinators of behavioral health care; and 5) to facilitate implementation of Medicaid changes, as a first step in carrying out this plan. This article describes the 24-month process that achieved these objectives.
Young adult narcissism: A 20 year longitudinal study of the contribution of parenting styles, preschool precursors of narcissism, and denial

Abstract The role of parenting styles in the development of young adult narcissism is investigated with individuals from the Block and Block (1980) longitudinal study. At age 3, participants were assessed for the presence of narcissism precursors, and mothers and fathers provided information about their parenting styles. At age 23, the presence of both healthy and maladaptive narcissism was assessed, along with the use of denial. The results showed that parenting styles had a direct effect on the development of healthy narcissism, but the effect on the development of maladaptive narcissism depended on the child’s initial proclivity towards narcissism. Also, the use of denial was positively associated with the presence of maladaptive narcissism, but not with healthy narcissism.
Improved Efficiency of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using a Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Counter Electrode

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) offer many advantages in comparison to their Si-based counterparts, including lower cost of raw materials, faster manufacturing time, and the ability to be integrated with flexible substrates. Although many advances have been made in DSSC fabrication over recent years, their efficiency remains lower than commercially available Si photovoltaic cells. Here we report improved efficiency of TiO 2 /anthocyanin dye solar cell using vertically aligned arrays of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a counter electrode. Dense vertically oriented CNT arrays are grown directly on the counter electrode using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition and a trilayer (Ti/Al/Fe) catalyst. The resulting arrays are 30 μm in height and have a number density of approximately 5×10 8 /mm 2 . By directly growing the CNTs on the counter electrode substrate, electrical interface conductance is enhanced. The performance of both as-grown and N-doped (using a nitrogen plasma) CNT arrays is reported. The fabricated DSSCs are tested under AM1.5 light. Increased short-circuit current is observed in comparison to graphite and Pt counter electrodes. We attribute this improvement to the large surface area created by the 3D structure of the arrays in comparison to the planar geometry of the graphite and Pt electrodes, as well as the excellent electrical properties of the CNTs.
Coalition Formation under Conditions of Uncertainty

(1972). Coalition Formation under Conditions of Uncertainty. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 88, No. 1, pp. 43-54.
Near-achromatic retardance behavior of HN22 Polaroid 3.6 to 5.4 μm

Polaroid HN22, a popular sheet polarizer, has been measured to be a nearly half wave retarder in the 3.6 to 5.4 micrometers spectral band with a transmittance of approximately 20 percent. The exact retardance value may be tuned to the range of 60 degrees - 260 degrees by tilting the HN22 with respect to the incident beam. The material's polarizing effects have been shown to be minimal in this waveband. Its availability, relatively large available aperture, large filed of view, and low cost make HN22 an excellent candidate for use as an IR retarder for systems operating from 3.6 to 5.4 micrometers . As such, HN22 may be used for rotating the plane of polarization of an incident linearly polarized beam as well as to convert between circular polarization states.
Masking of noise bursts by an adjacent vowel for hearing-impaired listeners.

Some masking effects of synthetic vowels on adjacent noise bursts are reported for hearing-impaired listeners. The 200-ms vowels were similar to [α] and [i]; the 50-ms noise bursts were in one of ...
A PHYLOGENETIC STUDY OF THE CORALLINALES (RHODOPHYTA) BASED ON NUCLEAR SMALL‐SUBUNIT rRNA GENE SEQUENCES

Conflicting classifications for the Corallinales were tested by analyzing partial sequences for the nuclear small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU) gene of 35 species of coralline algae. Parsimony and likelihood analyses of these data yielded congruent hypotheses that are inconsistent with classifications for the group that include as many as eight subfamilies. Four major clades are resolved within the order, including the early-diverging Sporolithaceae as well as the Melobesioideae and Corallinoideae. The fourth clade, which is supported robustly, includes both nongeniculate and geniculate species classified in the subfamilies Mastophoroideae, Metagoniolithoideae, Lithophylloideae, and Amphiroideae. Molecular and morphological data support the proposal that the latter two subfamilies are sister taxa. Although relationships among some genera are not resolved clearly, the order of branching of taxa among and within the four principal lineages is concordant with paleontological evidence for the group. Relationships inferred among genera within each of the clades is discussed. Seven morphological characters delimiting higher taxonomic groups within the order were combined with the sequence data, analyzed, and optimized onto the resulting tree(s). Except for the presence or absence of genicula, all other characters were found to be phylogenetically informative. Genicula are nonhomologous structures that evolved independently in the Amphiroideae, Corallinoideae, and Metagoniolithoideae. The phenetic practice of separating coralline algae into two categories solely on the basis of the presence or absence of genicula does not accurately reflect the evolutionary history of the group.
Factors Affecting Job Attitudes in a Goal-Setting Environment

The relationship between variations in employees' task-goal attributes, individual need strengths, and two job attitudes was studied. Job involvement and satisfaction were found to be related to th...
X-ray diffraction study of the static strength of tungsten to 69 GPa

The strength of tungsten was determined under static high pressures to 69 GPa using x-ray diffraction techniques in a diamond anvil cell. Analysis of x-ray diffraction peak broadening and measurement of peak shifts associated with lattice strains are two different methods for strength determination of materials under large nonhydrostatic compressions. Here these methods are directly compared under uniaxial compression in a diamond anvil cell. Our results demonstrate the consistency of the two approaches, and show that the yield strength of tungsten increases with compression, reaching a value of 5.3 GPa at the highest pressure. The obtained yield strength of tungsten is also compared with previous experimental data involving shock wave and static compression measurements, and with theoretical predictions. The high-pressure strength of tungsten is comparable to that of other dense metals such as Re and Mo, and ratio of yield strength to shear modulus is about 0.02 for all these materials between 20 and 70 GPa. The static strength of tungsten is much greater than values observed for W under shock loading but is very similar to values observed under quasi-isentropic loading.
AIS 2005: A contemporary injury scale

To determine and to quantify outcome from injury demands that multiple factors be universally applied so that there is uniform understanding that the same outcome is understood for the same injury. It is thus important to define the variables used in any outcome assessment. Critical to defining outcomes is the need for a universal language that defines individual injuries. The abbreviated injury scale (AIS) is the only dictionary specifically designed as a system to define the severity of injuries throughout the body. In addition to a universal injury language, it provides measures of injury severity that can be used to stratify and classify injury severity in all body regions. Its revision, AIS 2005 will be discussed here.
Stenting of complex lesions: an overview

Contemporary management of coronary artery disease relies increasingly on percutaneous techniques combined with medical therapy. Although percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can be performed successfully in most lesions, several difficult lesion subsets continue to present unique technical challenges. These complex lesions may be classified according to anatomic criteria, including extensive calcification, thrombus, and chronic occlusions, or by location, such as bifurcations, saphenous vein grafts and unprotected left main. PCI of these lesions often requires novel devices, such as drug-eluting stents, hydrophilic guidewires, distal protection balloons or filters, thrombectomy catheters, rotational atherectomy, and cutting balloons. An integrated approach that combines these devices with specialized techniques and adjunctive pharmacologic agents has greatly improved PCI success rates for these complex lesions.
Surgical treatment and lymphedema.

BACKGROUND Lymphedema is a serious and disabling complication of the treatment of breast carcinoma. This is related directly to the removal of axillary lymph nodes. Because lymph node status is the single most important predictor of outcome, it is necessary to obtain accurate information. Whereas breast conservation has become the preferred approach for treating early breast carcinoma, the accompanying axillary dissection continues to cause morbidity. METHODS The history of the operations for breast carcinoma is reviewed, and the anatomy, techniques, and complications of axillary lymphadenectomy are described. Data to support the necessity for accurate axillary staging is presented, and results of noninvasive axillary staging approaches are discussed. The technique and value of sentinel node biopsy are presented. RESULTS Axillary lymphadenectomy is required where lymph node metastases are present to accomplish local control, improve survival, and provide information for staging to plan adjunctive therapy. Noninvasive techniques do not yet provide high enough sensitivity to assess the status of the axilla. The sentinel lymph node biopsy is a technique that can identify those patients who require axillary lymphadenectomy. CONCLUSIONS Screening mammography has been responsible for down-staging the size of detected breast carcinomas, so that the axillary dissection may be omitted in small carcinomas of favorable histologic type. For carcinomas in which the probability of axillary metastases exists, by using the sentinel lymph node biopsy, axillary dissections can be avoided when results are negative, and the risk of lymphedema can be reduced. Cancer 1998;83:2782-2787. © 1998 American Cancer Society.
Training and education: inventing a programme and getting it to work☆

Why is training currently so popular amongst governments in developing countries and funding agencies ? Why is the education of architects and the teaching of housing design under such scrutiny and change? One reason, it seems, is that an increasing number of governments, encouraged by the accumulation of a profound body of research and example, have abandoned the idea of building finished houses as a way to match housing supply with demand, and are instead looking for alternatives. One of these is the shift toward interventionist rather than project oriented policies, where governments support rather than dominate communities, non-government organisations and local enterprises, to organise, build and manage their own housing environments. These policies have in practice found expression in a variety of ways, not least of which is the current emphasis on skills development. Training, therefore, becomes a tool amongst other tools, with which to build a support policy in housing. As is well known, the process of national development brings with it demographic changes, the introduction of new ideas, materials and techniques and changing aspirations. It is a process which is coupled with the need to work at an unprecedented scale in order to manage demand. These issues place additional demands on existing skills and techniques, and often require the introduction of others to tackle prevailing and new sets of circumstances. It is no wonder that governments seek to build a cadre of skills which match the pace of development and the changes which so often go with it. It is unsurprising that training should feature high on the development agenda; it is equally unsurprising that these trends should profoundly influence the way we practice and therefore the content and form of education. What then are the critical shifts in education which best fit the “support” housing approach? What in this context is the function of training and what of education? How should and how do these two fields of instruction relate? What are the critical components of a training programme?
Male and Female Careers: Sex-Role and Occupational Stereotypes among High School Students.

The present study combined two areas of research, occupational perceptions and sex-role stereotypes, in a 2 (Gender of Subject: male, female) × 2 (Gender of Character: male, Paul or David; female, Paula or Susan) × 2 (Gender of Occupation: male, doctor or lawyer; female, nurse or secretary) between-subjects factorial design. High school students rated male and female characters in traditional and nontraditional occupations on the following six personality traits: ambitious, effective, emotional, intelligent, responsible, and traditional. The main finding was that occupational stereotypes were more prevalent than sex-role stereotypes. Reasons for this outcome are discussed and the implications of the study in light of past and future research are considered.
Neomegalotomus New Genus (Hemiptera: Alydidae: Alydinae)

Neomegalotomus new genus is erected for the Neotropical species hitherto included in Megalotomus Fieber. The type species is Neomegalotomus parvus (Westwood); the other included species are N. latifascia (Berg) and N. rufipes (Westwood). Megalotomus (s.s.) is now Holarctic. Neomegalotomus is described, and its distribution and affinities briefly discussed.
Student Mental Health in a Chiropractic University Setting

Objective: This report is an attempt to frame the types of emotional challenges seen at a university counseling center with a unique population of chiropractic students compared with the normative college population. Methods: The psychological complaints of students were examined to determine the population that has utilized psychological counseling over the last 2 years at this institution. Results: The following issues were identified as the top three presenting concerns for individuals pursuing psychological counseling: mood disorders, relationships, and substance-related disorders. Conclusion: The counseling center's top three issues pursued for counseling are consistent with the research of mental health issues on college campuses. Counseling services at a university are an integral part of the institution, as evidenced by statistics from undergraduate and graduate college settings.