cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tumor microvessel density as a prognostic marker in high-risk renal cell carcinoma patients treated on ECOG-ACRIN E2805

Purpose: Increased vascularity is a hallmark of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Microvessel density (MVD) is one measurement of tumor angiogenesis; however, its utility as a biomarker of outcome is unknown. ECOG-ACRIN 2805 (E2805) enrolled 1,943 resected high-risk RCC patients randomized to adjuvant sunitinib, sorafenib, or placebo. We aimed to determine the prognostic and predictive role of MVD in RCC.Experimental Design: We obtained pretreatment primary RCC nephrectomy tissues from 822 patients on E2805 and constructed tissue microarrays. Using quantitative immunofluorescence, we measured tumor MVD as the area of CD34-expressing cells. We determined the association with disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), treatment arm, and clinicopathologic variables.Results: High MVD (above the median) was associated with prolonged OS for the entire cohort (P = 0.021) and for patients treated with placebo (P = 0.028). The association between high MVD and OS was weaker in patients treated with sunitinib or sorafenib (P = 0.060). MVD was not associated with DFS (P = 1.00). On multivariable analysis, MVD remained independently associated with improved OS (P = 0.013). High MVD correlated with Fuhrman grade 1-2 (P < 0.001), clear cell histology (P < 0.001), and absence of necrosis (P < 0.001) but not with gender, age, sarcomatoid features, lymphovascular invasion, or tumor size.Conclusions: High MVD in resected high-risk RCC patients is an independent prognostic, rather than predictive, biomarker of improved OS. Further studies should assess whether incorporating MVD into clinical models will enhance our ability to predict outcome and if low MVD can be used for selection of high-risk patients for adjuvant therapy trials. Clin Cancer Res; 24(1); 217-23. ©2017 AACR.
Using Infrared Radiation in a Radiant Wall Oven for Blanching Small-Sized Peanuts

The main objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of infrared technology for blanching small-sized peanuts. A radiant wall oven was used for infrared blanching. Infrared treatments included 343°C for 60 s and 288°C for 90 s. High and low moisture groups with approximate moisture content of 9% and 6% were used. An impingement oven set at 100°C for 20 min was used as the control treatment. No treatment differed from control in terms of blanchability. A descriptive sensory shelf life study of six weeks found no evidence of oxidative changes in experimental treatments. The infrared blanched peanuts were roasted using an impingement oven set to 177°C for 10 min for a consumer acceptability test. Conventionally blanched peanuts roasted under the same parameters were used as a control. The consumer panel found the peanuts blanched by infrared radiation at 343°C for 60 s to be the most likeable roasted IR sample and did not differ from control. IR heating is a viable and quicker alternative to blanch small-sized peanut varieties with minimal effects on quality including sensory properties.
Societal Trust and Financial Market Participation: Evidence from the Freedman's Savings Bank

Using a novel dataset from the Freedman's Savings Bank, we examine how societal trust impacts policy makers' goals of increased financial participation and economic integration. We find that events that impact trust in political representation and public safety also impact financial participation. The same factors that make communities resilient to racial violence also influence the reactions to financial panics, which increases the likelihood of having wealth destroyed in a collapse, particularly as compared to white depositors. Our results demonstrate how the inherent fragility of financial institutions can cause disproportionate damage to the stability of disenfranchised communities.
Protability, Trade Credit and Institutional Structure of Production

I use a novel database to construct structure of supply chains for 990 rms operating in ve sectors of the US economy and present a methodology to measure the vertical position of each rm in the supply chain. I
Individuals with high-risk adenomas are at elevated risk for colorectal cancer.

Commentary on: Click B, Pinsky PF, Hickey T, et al . Association of colonoscopy adenoma findings with long-term colorectal cancer incidence. JAMA 2018;319:2021–2031. Currently, in part due to lack of data, endoscopists recommend intervals that are shorter than those suggested by guidelines.1 2 Thus, data regarding long-term colorectal cancer (CRC) risk for index adenomas are crucial for endoscopists in managing adenoma surveillance. Specifically, how does the long-term CRC risk for advanced adenomas compare with that for non-advanced adenomas or normal exams? The current paper3 analyses the long-term data from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial prospective cohort study. The trial, which started in 1993, enrolled adults aged 55–74 years who were randomised to having a flexible sigmoidoscopy at baseline and at year 3 or year 5 versus having usual care. Those with a polyp on flexible sigmoidoscopy were offered a full colonoscopy. In …
Immune defects in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is resistant to the immunotherapy. This resistance is caused by any of the four immune “defects” that occur in pancreatic cancer, including lack of “high quality” T cells, stromal barriers to T cells getting access to tumor cells, immunosuppressive cells such as M2 macrophages, myeloid derivative suppressor cells, and T regulatory cells, in the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer. One or more defects may occur in an individual pancreatic cancer. To overcome the resistance to the immunotherapy such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, a rational combination of agents that target multiple immune defects is highly demanded.
Discussion of “Penalized Spline of Propensity Methods for Treatment Comparison”

We congratulate Zhou, Elliott, and Little (ZEL hereon) for providing an easy-to-implement and widely applicable method for causal inference (PENCOMP). The method is grounded on imputing the missing...
Transmit MIMO Radar Beampattern Design via Optimization on the Complex Circle Manifold

The ability of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar systems to adapt waveforms across antennas allows flexibility in the transmit beampattern design. In cognitive radar, a popular cost function is to minimize the deviation against an idealized beampattern (which is arrived at with knowledge of the environment). The optimization of the transmit beampattern becomes particularly challenging in the presence of practical constraints on the transmit waveform. One of the hardest of such constraints is the non-convex constant modulus constraint, which has been the subject of much recent work. In a departure from most existing approaches, we develop a solution that involves direct optimization over the non-convex complex circle manifold. That is, we derive a new projection, descent, and retraction (PDR) update strategy that allows for monotonic cost function improvement while maintaining feasibility over the complex circle manifold (constant modulus set). For quadratic cost functions (as is the case with beampattern deviation), we provide analytical guarantees of monotonic cost function improvement along with proof of convergence to a local minima. We evaluate the proposed PDR algorithm against other candidate MIMO beampattern design methods and show that PDR can outperform competing wideband beampattern design methods while being computationally less expensive. Finally, orthogonality across antennas is incorporated in the PDR framework by adding a penalty term to the beampattern cost function. Enabled by orthogonal waveforms, robustness to target direction mismatch is also demonstrated.
Fixed-Dose Single Agent Pegfilgrastim for Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cell Mobilization in Patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM).

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell (APBPC) transplantation is an effective treatment for MM. Progenitor cells are generally mobilized in to the blood by administration of filgrastim alone or after chemotherapy. Since the half-life of filgrastim is 3–4 hours, daily SC injections are required until completion of apheresis. Pegylated filgrastim (Neulasta™; Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA) is a covalent conjugate of filgrastim and monomethoxypolyethylene glycol, with a half-life of about 33 hours. Preliminary data suggests that a single SC injection of pegfilgrastim may mobilize progenitor cells without added toxicity and thus avoid the need for repeated injections. We performed a phase II study of pegfilgrastim administered as a single SC injection to mobilize APBPC. PATIENTS AND METHODS. Patients with MM, who were to undergo high-dose chemotherapy and APBPCT were studied. Patients were required to have a PS of 3.5 x 10 9 /l; platelet count > 100 x 10 9 /l) and adequate organ function. Patients whose prior therapy included thalidomide, dexamethasone and bortezomib were eligible. The protocol was IRB approved and all patients signed informed consent. Because of the rare cases of splenic rupture associated with high-dose filgrastim, patients were also required to have a maximum spleen size of 6 CD34+ cells/kg was reached for patients planned for tandem APBPCT and at least 3 x 10 6 for single transplant procedure. High-dose chemotherapy comprised of melphalan (200 mg/m 2 ) alone or in combination with arsenic trioxide. All patients received filgrastim 5 mcg/kg/day SC starting at day 0 after stem cell infusion. RESULTS: Between 1/04 and 3/05, 19 patients (13 M /6 F) with a median age of 57.5 years (range, 34.5–77.4) were entered on the study. The median time to reach a PB CD34 count of 15/μL was 3 days (range, 2–4). The median number of leukapheresis procedures required was 2 (range, 1–5). The median collection of CD34+ cells was 8.4 x 10 6 (range, 4.1–15.8). The median CD34+ cell dose collected/L of blood processed was 19.3 (range, 6.4 – 77.4). Most common toxicity was bone pain in 6/19 patients (maximum grade 3). Reversible liver enzyme elevations were seen in all patients. At the time of this report 15/19 patients have undergone autologous transplantation with a follow-up of 100 days. The median CD34+ cell dose infused was 4.2 x 10 6 /kg (range, 2.6–9.4). Median time to ANC ≥ 0.5 x 10 9 /l was 10 days (range, 9–11 days) and median time to platelet counts ≥ 20 x 10 9 /l was 11 days (range, 0–17). CONCLUSIONS: A single fixed-dose of pegfilgrastim was effective in mobilizing adequate peripheral blood progenitor cells in patients with MM. The efficacy and toxicity profile was similar to that seen with filgrastim. Rapid and sustained engraftment was seen in all patients following autologous transplantation.
A History of Humanity: The Evolution of the Human System

Humanity today functions as a gigantic, world-encompassing system. Renowned world historian, Patrick Manning traces how this human system evolved from Homo Sapiens' beginnings over 200,000 years ago right up to the present day. He focuses on three great shifts in the scale of social organization - the rise of syntactical language, of agricultural society, and today's newly global social discourse - and links processes of social evolution to the dynamics of biological and cultural evolution. Throughout each of these shifts, migration and social diversity have been central, and social institutions have existed in a delicate balance, serving not just their own members but undergoing regulation from society. Integrating approaches from world history, environmental studies, biological and cultural evolution, social anthropology, sociology, and evolutionary linguistics, Patrick Manning offers an unprecedented account of the evolution of humans and our complex social system and explores the crises facing that human system today.
Mutation of a single amino acid of pregnane X receptor switches an antagonist to agonist by altering AF-2 helix positioning

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is activated by chemicals to transcriptionally regulate drug disposition and possibly decrease drug efficacy and increase resistance, suggesting therapeutic value for PXR antagonists. We previously reported the antagonist SPA70 and its analog SJB7, which unexpectedly is an agonist. Here, we describe another unexpected observation: mutating a single residue (W299A) within the PXR ligand-binding domain converts SPA70 to an agonist. After characterizing wild-type and W299A PXR activity profiles, we used molecular dynamics simulations to reveal that in wild-type PXR, agonists stabilize the activation function 2 (AF-2) helix in an "inward" position, but SPA70 displaces the AF-2. In W299A, however, SPA70 stabilizes the AF-2 "inward", like agonists. We validated our model by predicting the antagonist SJC2 to be a W299A agonist, which was confirmed experimentally. Our work correlates previously unobserved ligand-induced conformational changes to PXR cellular activity and, for the first time, reveals how PXR antagonists work.
Constructive Alternativism and the Mind-Body Problem

In this book, the reader is immersed in a critical narrative exploration of the intertwined histories of neurology and psychiatry, which the authors center around the age-old mind-body problem as i...
Dominant process zones in a mixed fluvial-tidal delta are morphologically distinct

Abstract. The morphology of deltas is determined by the spatial extent and variability of the geomorphic processes that shape them. While in some cases resilient, deltas are increasingly threatened by natural and anthropogenic forces, such as sea level rise and land use change, which can drastically alter the rates and patterns of sediment transport. Quantifying process patterns can improve our predictive understanding of how different zones within delta systems will respond to future change. Available remotely sensed imagery can help but appropriate tools are needed for pattern extraction and analysis. We present a method for extracting information about the nature and spatial extent of active geomorphic processes across deltas from ten parameters quantifying the geometry of each of 1239 islands and the channels around them using machine learning. The method consists of a two-step unsupervised machine learning algorithm that clusters islands into spatially continuous zones based on the ten morphological metrics extracted from remotely sensed imagery. By applying this method to the Ganges–Brahmaputra–Meghna Delta, we find that the system can be divided into six major zones. Classification results show that active fluvial island construction and bar migration processes are limited to relatively narrow zones along the main Ganges River and Brahmaputra and Meghna corridors, whereas zones in the mature upper delta plain, with smaller fluvial distributary channels stand out as their own morphometric class. The classification also shows good correspondence with known gradients in the influence of tidal energy with distinct classes for islands in the backwater zone and in the purely tidally-controlled region of the delta. Islands at the delta front, under the mixed influence of tides, fluvial-estuarine construction, and local wave reworking have their own characteristic shape and channel configuration. The method does not distinguish between islands with embankments (polders) and natural islands in the nearby mangrove forest (Sundarbans), suggesting that human modifications have not yet altered the gross geometry of the islands beyond their previous natural morphology. These results demonstrate that machine learning and remotely sensed imagery are useful tools for identifying the spatial patterns of geomorphic processes across delta systems.
Predicting Upper Urinary Tract Risk in the Neurogenic Bladder Patient

In this review, we explore if risk factors for developing renal deterioration can be identified in a timely fashion, thereby preventing or delaying the progression of renal injury in the neurogenic bladder patient. Historically detrusor leak point pressure (DLPP) > 40 cm H2O has been used to identify risk of upper urinary tract dysfunction (UUTD). Recent studies suggest that DLPP should not be the only decision-making parameter to predict the risk of UUTD and that patients with DLPP > 20 cm H2O should be followed closely for upper tract assessment. Furthermore, a variety of urinary biomarkers can be used markers of UUTD to guide management of neurogenic patients. Urodynamic studies represent a valuable tool in the evaluation and monitoring of urinary tract function. Multiple sources have emphasized the early identification and regular follow-up of these patients to not only have a baseline urinary tract function but also to monitor renal function and evaluate for upper tract damage.
Hospice use at end of life in children with cancer: The effect of insurance.

10558Background: The National Quality Forum has endorsed hospice care as a metric of high quality end-of-life (EOL) care for adults with cancer. Specific hospice-related quality metrics include hos...
Ecosystem Services in U.S. Environmental Law and Governance for the Ecosystem-Based Management Practitioner

This chapter provides an overview of ecosystem services issues in United States (U.S.) law and governance for the Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) practitioner. A brief overview summary of a suite of U.S. federal environmental laws where ecosystems services are relevant is presented along with a high-level overview of ecosystem services in federal and state agency regulations as it helps inform ecosystem-based management. As with the published science-based literature on ecosystem services, there is also a sizeable law-based literature available on ecosystem services. A HeinOnline law journal library focused search identified 1903 legal articles that contained reference to ecosystem services. Focusing on a snapshot of key literature, this chapter presents an overview of those articles that contained “ecosystem services” or “ecosystem based management” just in the article’s title. From this survey across the breadth of law journals, a suite of ecosystem services topics related to EBM in environmental law are identified and summarized. Overall, the goal of this chapter is to present a high-level overview and direct the reader to resources to find more in-depth legal analyses of select ecosystem services topics.
Uncertainty Sets for Image Classifiers using Conformal Prediction

Convolutional image classifiers can achieve high predictive accuracy, but quantifying their uncertainty remains an unresolved challenge, hindering their deployment in consequential settings. Existing uncertainty quantification techniques, such as Platt scaling, attempt to calibrate the network's probability estimates, but they do not have formal guarantees. We present an algorithm that modifies any classifier to output a predictive set containing the true label with a user-specified probability, such as 90%. The algorithm is simple and fast like Platt scaling, but provides a formal finite-sample coverage guarantee for every model and dataset. Our method modifies an existing conformal prediction algorithm to give more stable predictive sets by regularizing the small scores of unlikely classes after Platt scaling. In experiments on both Imagenet and Imagenet-V2 with ResNet-152 and other classifiers, our scheme outperforms existing approaches, achieving coverage with sets that are often factors of 5 to 10 smaller than a stand-alone Platt scaling baseline.
Neural Networks for the Prediction of Organic Chemistry Reactions

Reaction prediction remains one of the major challenges for organic chemistry and is a prerequisite for efficient synthetic planning. It is desirable to develop algorithms that, like humans, “learn” from being exposed to examples of the application of the rules of organic chemistry. We explore the use of neural networks for predicting reaction types, using a new reaction fingerprinting method. We combine this predictor with SMARTS transformations to build a system which, given a set of reagents and reactants, predicts the likely products. We test this method on problems from a popular organic chemistry textbook.
Indirect psychiatric consultation for perinatal bipolar disorder: A scoping review.

Abstract Objective To synthesize the literature and develop guidance on supports needed for primary care and perinatal providers in screening, initial management, triage, and bridging treatment for perinatal bipolar disorder. Methods We conducted a scoping review by searching six electronic databases using keywords related to perinatal bipolar disorder. We summarized descriptive statistics on settings and extracted information on care approaches. We synthesized the literature on indirect care models and extracted data on screening, follow-up, referrals, and management. Results 1169 articles were retrieved. 51 articles were included after review. Most papers were reviews. Fewer addressed care in obstetric (n = 20, 39%), primary care (n = 10, 20%), and pediatric settings (n = 2, 4%). Most papers (n = 30, 59%) discussed using screening instruments for bipolar disorder. Articles were mixed on recommendations for bipolar disorder screening. Conclusions Varied strategies for structured assessment exist and are influenced by practice setting. There remains uncertainty about optimal strategies for screening and management of perinatal bipolar disorder. We recommend screening for bipolar disorder in the perinatal period in select circumstances (with depression screening, known bipolar disorder risk factors, and prior to starting antidepressants). If specialty mental health care is unavailable, we recommend enhancing usual care through integrated care strategies such as indirect consultation.
A Protocol for Factor Identification

We propose a protocol for identifying genuine risk factors. The underlying premise is that a risk factor must be related to the covariance matrix of returns, must be priced in the cross-section of returns, and should yield a reward-to-risk ratio that is reasonable enough to be consistent with risk pricing. A market factor, a profitability factor, and traded versions of macroeconomic factors pass our protocol, but many characteristic-based factors do not. Several of the underlying characteristics, however, do command premiums in the cross-section.
A digital self-report survey of mood for bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVES Bipolar disorder (BP) is commonly researched in digital settings. As a result, standardized digital tools are needed to measure mood. We sought to validate a new survey that is brief, validated in digital form, and able to separately measure manic and depressive severity. METHODS We introduce a 6-item digital survey, called digiBP, for measuring mood in BP. It has three depressive items (depressed mood, fidgeting, fatigue), two manic items (increased energy, rapid speech), and one mixed item (irritability); and recovers two scores (m and d) to measure manic and depressive severity. In a secondary analysis of individuals with BP who monitored their symptoms over 6 weeks (n = 43), we perform a series of analyses to validate the digiBP survey internally, externally, and as a longitudinal measure. RESULTS We first verify a conceptual model for the survey in which items load onto two factors ("manic" and "depressive"). We then show weekly averages of m and d scores from digiBP can explain significant variation in weekly scores from the Young Mania Rating Scale (R2 = 0.47) and SIGH-D (R2 = 0.58). Lastly, we examine the utility of the survey as a longitudinal measure by predicting an individual's future m and d scores from their past m and d scores. CONCLUSIONS While further validation is warranted in larger, diverse populations, these validation analyses should encourage researchers to consider digiBP for their next digital study of BP.
Deuteron binding energies and form factors from light-front Hamiltonian field theory

This paper investigates how the breaking of manifest rotational invariance in light-front dynamics affects the binding energy and the form factors of the deuteron. To do this, we derive new light-front nucleon-nucleon one- and two-meson-exchange potentials, and use the potentials to solve for the deuteron wave function and binding energy. We find that including two-meson-exchange (TME) potentials partially repairs the broken rotational invariance of the one-meson-exchange (OME) potential. This is shown by a decrease in the binding energy difference of different m states of the deuteron. We calculate the matrix elements of the electromagnetic current using the deuteron wave functions obtained from the OME and $\mathrm{OME}+\mathrm{TME}$ potentials. Rotational invariance requires that the matrix elements satisfy an angular condition, but in light-front dynamics that condition is only partially satisfied. The current matrix elements from the OME calculation satisfy the angular condition better than the ones from the $\mathrm{OME}+\mathrm{TME}$ calculation. The matrix elements of the axial current satisfy the angular condition to the same extent regardless of which wave functions are used for the calculation. Finally, we find that at momentum transfers greater than about $2{\mathrm{GeV}}^{2},$ the breaking of rotational invariance causes less uncertainty in the computed deuteron form factors than do the uncertainties in the nucleon form factors.
A Comparison of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Bipedicled Total Abdominal versus Unipedicled Hemiabdominal Free Flaps for Unilateral Breast Reconstruction.

Background While bipedicled free flaps enable increased soft tissue volume and potential for contralateral symmetry in unilateral breast reconstruction, the influence of bipedicled flap reconstruction on patient-reported outcomes remains unclear. Methods Patients undergoing unilateral free flap breast reconstruction at a single institution from 2014 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed and sent the BREAST-Q and Decision Regret Scale. Complication rates and the BREAST-Q and Decisional Regret Scale scores (0–100) were compared between patients receiving bipedicled total abdominal and unipedicled hemiabdominal free flaps. Results Sixty-five patients undergoing unilateral breast reconstruction completed the BREAST-Q and Decision Regret Scale with median (interquartile range [IQR]) follow-up time of 32 [22–55] months. Compared with bipedicled flaps, patients receiving unipedicled hemiabdominal flaps had higher mean body mass index (BMI; p = 0.009) and higher incidence of fat grafting (p = 0.03) and contralateral reduction mammaplasties (p = 0.03). There was no difference in incidence of major or minor complications, abdominal hernias or bulges, or total operative time between bipedicled and unipedicled flaps (p > 0.05). Overall, BREAST-Q scores for satisfaction with breast, sexual wellbeing, psychosocial wellbeing, physical wellbeing (chest), and physical wellbeing (abdomen) and the Decision Regret Scale scores did not significantly vary between bipedicled and unipedicled reconstructions (all p > 0.05). However, among large-breasted patients (≥C cup), mean (standard deviation [SD]) sexual wellbeing was significantly higher after bipedicled total abdominal free flap reconstruction ([60.2 (23.3) vs. 46.2 (22.0)]; p = 0.04), though this difference did not reach significance after multivariate adjustment. Conclusion Unilateral breast reconstruction with bipedicled total abdominal free flaps results in similar complication risk, patient satisfaction, and decisional regret without the need for as many contralateral reduction procedures.
Direct air capture of CO2: A response to meet the global climate targets

DAC can help deal with difficult to avoid emissions. Large-scale deployment of DAC requires serious government, private, and corporate support and investment particularly to offset the capital cost as well as operational costs. Further optimizations to the costs can be found in choice of energy source as well as advances in CO2 capture technology such as high capacity and selectivity materials, faster reaction kinetics, and ease of reusability. Direct air capture (DAC) technologies are receiving increasing attention from the scientific community, commercial enterprises, policymakers and governments. While deep decarbonization of all sectors is required to meet the Paris Agreement target, DAC can help deal with difficult to avoid emissions (aviation, ocean-shipping, iron-steel, cement, mining, plastics, fertilizers, pulp and paper). While large-scale deployment of DAC discussions continues, a closer look to the capital and operational costs, different capture technologies, the choice of energy source, land and water requirements, and other environmental impacts of DAC are reviewed and examined. Cost per ton of CO2 captured discussions of leading industrial DAC developers with their carbon capture technologies are presented, and their detailed cost comparisons are evaluated based on the choice of energy operation together with process energy requirements. Validation of two active plants’ net negative emission contributions after reducing their own carbon footprint is presented. Future directions and recommendations to lower the current capital and operational costs of DAC are given. In view of large-scale deployment of DAC, and the considerations of high capital costs, private investments, government initiatives, net zero commitments of corporations, and support from the oil companies combined will help increase carbon capture capacity by building more DAC plants worldwide.
Understanding School-Based Consultation as Engineering Using a Mix of Methods

The central purpose of school-based consultation is making psychological and educational knowledge accessible to teachers, parents, systems, and communities so that it becomes standard practice. Cu...
Defining Our Clinical Practice: The Identification of Genetic Counseling Outcomes Utilizing the Reciprocal Engagement Model

The need for evidence-based medicine, including comparative effectiveness studies and patient-centered outcomes research, has become a major healthcare focus. To date, a comprehensive list of genetic counseling outcomes, as espoused by genetic counselors, has not been established and thus, identification of outcomes unique to genetic counseling services has become a priority for the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC). The purpose of this study was to take a critical first step at identifying a more comprehensive list of genetic counseling outcomes. This paper describes the results of a focus group study using the Reciprocal-Engagement Model (REM) as a framework to characterize patient-centered outcomes of genetic counseling clinical practice. Five focus groups were conducted with 27 peer nominated participants who were clinical genetic counselors, genetic counseling program directors, and/or outcomes researchers in genetic counseling. Members of each focus group were asked to identify genetic counseling outcomes for four to five of the 17 goals of the REM. A theory-driven, thematic analysis of focus group data yielded 194 genetic counseling outcomes across the 17 goals. Participants noted some concerns about how genetic counseling outcomes will be measured and evaluated given varying stakeholders and the long-term nature of genetic concerns. The present results provide a list of outcomes for use in future genetic counseling outcomes research and for empirically-supported clinical interventions.
Pressure dependence of T c in NdBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 − δ to 6 GPa

The superconducting transition temperature ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ for ${\mathrm{NdBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ is measured as a function of pressure to 6 GPa. The pressure applied to these materials is directly measured near ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$, which is determined by monitoring the ac susceptibility as a function of temperature. It has been suggested that the apparent absence of superconductivity in ${\mathrm{PrBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ is due, at least in part, to the interaction of 4f electrons of ${\mathrm{Pr}}^{3+}$ with the Cu-O plane. In light of this speculation, applying pressure to ${\mathrm{NdBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ might be expected to increase the interaction of 4f electrons of ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{3+}$ with electrons in the Cu-O plane and reduce ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$. Our results indicate that ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ increases with applied pressure.
American Indian Veterans' Views about Their Choices in Health Care: VA, IHS, and Medicare

Legislation during the past three decades has gradually drawn Indian Health Service (IHS)–funded clinics into the mainstream of the US medical care environment. The Indian Self-Determination and Education Reform Act of 1973 and its Indian Education Amendments of 1984 began a movement away from federal management of health services to local tribal control of the more than five hundred facilities serving American Indians.1 At the same time the Indian Health Care Improvement Act granted authority to IHS-funded clinics to bill Medicaid, beginning a long and continuing negotiation among the tribes, states, IHS, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).2 In 1990, 6 percent (72,000 individuals) of IHS beneficiaries were more than sixty-five and eligible for Medicare. Some 31.6 percent lived below the poverty level and were eligible for Medicaid.3 The IHS has facilitated and encouraged enrollment of its beneficiaries in Medicare and Medicaid. By 2008, 18 percent of the IHS budget is assumed to be met by third-party collections, including CMS billing.4 The Alaska Native and American Indian Direct Reimbursement Act of 1999 gave tribal clinics the authority to bill Medicaid directly for services without using the IHS as an intermediary, thus further facilitating
ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC INDUCER FACTOR IN HUMAN LEUKOCYTE DIALYSATES: A PRODUCT OF TH CELLS WHICH BINDS TO ANTI-V REGION AND ANTI-Ia REGION ANTIBODIES

Publisher Summary This chapter describes experiments in which an antigen-binding inducer factor and an antibody-binding suppressor factor were isolated and characterized, each present in the same human leukocyte dialysate (DLE) fraction (>3500 3500
Effect of Guided Vs. Discovery Learning Strategies on Initial Motor Task Learning, Transfer, and Retention

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of guided vs. discovery strategies on (a) the learning of a primary psychomotor task; (b) transfer psychomotor tasks with two different degrees of difficulty; (c) transfer of learning as influenced by guided vs. discovery learning; and (d) retention (relearning) of the primary task as a function of primary and transfer task learning strategies as well as the complexity of the transfer task. Female college students (N = 128) were assigned to either a guided or discovery condition for the learning of the primary task and then to one of four conditions for transfer learning—discovery or guided, for a simple or complex transfer task—to learn computer managed serial motor tasks. Guided learning was most efficient in initial task learning. Efficiency in transfer learning was greatest when the strategy for transfer learning was the same as that used in primary task learning. Neither learning strategy was more effective when considering a transfer task...
Quasi‐entrainment and other modal behavior in BVP oscillators interconnected by activity dependent coupling

Abstract Quasi‐entrainment, characterized by a fluctuating latency in the presence of one‐to‐one frequency entrainment, has been elicited in two Bonhoeffer‐Van der Pol type oscillators coupled together on a digital computer via a feedback network that is a function of the average activities of the adjoined units. Such behavior was observed only when specially constructed sigmoidal coupling functions were in place. In contrast, with linear functions in place, the constellation of resulting stable or unstable equilibrium points made the system orbitally stable or unstable depending on initial conditions. Based on the coupling function and system architecture a criterion for predicting ultimate behaviors is developed and tested. Results are contrasted with fluctuating latencies previously observed in loosely coupled heart cell aggregates.
The Gelfand–Zeitlin integrable system and K-orbits on the flag variety

In this paper, we provide an overview of the Gelfand–Zeitlin integrable system on the Lie algebra of n × n complex matrices \(\mathfrak{g}\mathfrak{l}(n, \mathbb{C})\) introduced by Kostant and Wallach in 2006. We discuss results concerning the geometry of the set of strongly regular elements, which consists of the points where the Gelfand–Zeitlin flow is Lagrangian. We use the theory of \(K_{n} = GL(n - 1,\mbox{ $\mathbb{C}$}) \times GL(1,\mbox{ $\mathbb{C}$})\)-orbits on the flag variety \(\mathcal{B}_{n}\) of \(GL(n,\mbox{ $\mathbb{C}$})\) to describe the strongly regular elements in the nilfiber of the moment map of the system. We give an overview of the general theory of orbits of a symmetric subgroup of a reductive algebraic group acting on its flag variety, and illustrate how the general theory can be applied to understand the specific example of K n and GL(n, ℂ).
Friendship and Community Organization

Summarizing a collection of chapters describing how the character of civil society has changed over the past fifty years in eight advanced democracies, Putnam (2002) recently observed that mass participation in elections, political parties, unions, and churches has declined. Contrary to his own observations that more people in the United States are now “bowling alone” (Putnam, 2000) however, the contributors to the volume he was summarizing, Democracies in Flux, reported impressionistic evidence that these common declines in formal social capital have been at least partially offset by increases in the “the relative importance of informal, fluid, personal forms of social connection” (p. 411). The contributors to this volume expressed concern that the “new individualistic forms of social engagement may be less conducive to the pursuit of collective goals” (p. 412). Friendship, although not a particularly new form of social engagement, is an example of an individualistic form of it. This makes understanding of the role of friendship in community organization and civic engagement more important now than it would have been during a period when formal social capital was more plentiful. Furthering this understanding is the purpose of this chapter.
A Naive-Bayes model observer for a human observer in detection, localization and assessment of perfusion defects in SPECT

In medical imaging, it is widely accepted that image quality should be assessed through the performance of human observers at some diagnostic task. For these evaluations, mathematical algorithms known as model observers (MOs) are often used as a substitute for human observers in early stages of image reconstruction algorithm development. For SPECT-MPI (myocardial perfusion imaging), diagnostic tasks involve detection, localization and assessment of regions with abnormal myocardial perfusion. In this work we propose a new MO for these tasks. The proposed MO is based on a machine-learning algorithm known as Naive-Bayes classifier (NB-MO). In the proposed approach, NB-MO is applied over a set of image features extracted from SPECT polar maps, aiming to predict perfusion scores given by humans for each myocardium region (segment). Next we compute average MO performance by first directly predicting individual human observer scores, and then using multi reader alternative free-response analysis (AFROC) in the same fashion as used on human observers.
In the Room with Milton H. Erickson, M.D. Volume 1 (October 3rd–5th, 1979), by Milton Erickson

Until now my opinion has been that the best recorded examples of the work of Milton H. Erickson were the 1975 VHS video The Artistry of Milton H. Erickson, M.D. by Milton H. Erickson, Herbert S. Lu...
Transgenic Fv-4 mice resistant to Friend virus.

Abstract Fv-4 is a mouse gene that confers resistance to infection with ecotropic retroviruses. A candidate Fv-4 gene was cloned previously and found to resemble the 3' half of a murine leukemia virus (MuLV). To study the effect of this gene in vivo, we generated two transgenic mouse strains carrying the Fv-4 env gene under control of its presumed natural promoter, a cellular sequence unrelated to retroviruses. Transgenic progeny expressed a 3-kb Fv-4 env RNA in all of the organs and tissues examined, as well as an Fv-4 envelope antigen on the surface of thymocytes and spleen cells, similar to mice carrying the natural Fv-4 gene. One of the two transgenic strains (designated Fv4-2) expressed three to nine times as much transgene RNA and protein as the other strain (Fv4-11). When challenged with a Friend virus complex containing up to 10(4) XC PFU of Friend MuLV, Fv4-2 mice were completely resistant to development of splenomegaly and had no detectable ecotropic virus in the spleen or blood, confirming that the cloned Fv-4 gene is responsible for resistance to ecotropic MuLV in vivo. In contrast, Fv4-11 mice were only partially resistant, developing viremia and splenomegaly at the highest inoculum dose but recovering from viremia several weeks after inoculation with 10-fold less virus. The phenotype of recovery from viremia in Fv4-11 mice was unexpected and suggests that low levels of expression of the Fv-4 gene enhance the effectiveness of the immune response.
Immunoadsorbent isolation of trypsin inhibitors from corn and teosinte seeds

Abstract An immunoadsorbent was constructed by covalently coupling 100 mg of affinity-purified antibodies against corn trypsin inhibitor to cyanogen bromide-activated agarose. With the immunoadsorbent, we could purify the trypsin inhibitor in aqueous extracts of corn (Zea mays) seeds in a single chromatographic step. The immunoadsorbent was found to have the capacity to bind about 6 mg of corn inhibitor. Recovery of exclusively virgin corn inhibitor required the addition of protease inhibitors to the corn extract. The virgin inhibitor isolated by use of the immunoadsorbent was found to be indistinguishable from the single-chain inhibitor recovered previously from chromatography of corn extracts on trypsin-agarose (Swartz, M.J., Mitchell, H.L., Cox, D.J. and Reeck, G.R. (1977) J. Biol. Chem. 252, 8105–8107). The immunoadsorbent was also used to isolate trypsin inhibitor seeds of teosinte (Zea mexicana), which is believed to be the progenitor of corn.
Isolation of Monoclonal Antibodies Monospecific for Bovine β-Lactoglobulin

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies were generated against purified bovine β-lactoglobulin A. Six antibodies reactive only with β-lactoglobulin were selected. At least one of the antibodies appeared to be species monospecific for bovine β-lactoglobulin. The remaining five antibodies recognized proteins in caprine and porcine whey fractions. One monoclonal antibody (59-1) exhibited a distinct 2:l preference for β-lactoglobulin B over A at near neutral pH (7.5). These antibodies should prove extremely useful adjuncts in structural studies of bovine β-lactoglobulin.
Sustained Improvement in Pediatricians' ADHD Practice Behaviors in the Context of a Community-Based Quality Improvement Initiative

The long-term sustainability of a quality improvement project was examined. The ADHD Collaborative was designed to assist community-based pediatricians in adhering to the American Academy of Pediatrics evidence-based assessment and treatment guidelines for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Patient chart reviews were completed out to 2 years post training for 14 practices (N = 38 pediatricians), who received the ADHD Collaborative intervention to assess whether improvements made immediately post training were sustained. Pediatricians maintained significant improvements in their use of evidence-based assessment and treatment practices for a period of 2 years. The majority of the improvements occurred quickly, within 6 months of training. Pediatricians focused most of their continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts on improving follow-up care for their patients with ADHD. Systematic monitoring and follow up of ADHD patients who were prescribed medication improved considerably from pre-train...
Short term effect of rainfall on elemental composition and size distribution of aerosols in north Florida

Abstract Aerosol and rain samples were collected during winter 1978–1979 in Tallahassee, Florida and analyzed by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) to determine 12–15 elements from Al to Pb. The aerosol sampling was carried out before, during, and after rainfall episodes using time sequence filter samplers (streakers) and cascade impactors to investigate the variation of aerosol composition with rainfall. Al, Si, Ca, Fe, Mn, and Cl, predominantly large particle aerosol constituents (> 1 μm), were strongly affected by rain, their before/during rainfall concentration ratio being greater than 4, whereas K, Zn, Br, Pb and S, predominantly in small particle fractions ( Al, Si, Mn > Ca > Fe > K > S, Pb, Zn, Br. Differences in the speed of recovery after rain for elements, to their before rainfall values were also observed. The recovery of soil-derived elements such as Al, Si, Fe, and Mn was delayed, probably because of the wetting of the soil by rain, while S, Zn, Pb, and Br, emitted from anthropogenic sources, recovered more rapidly. The enrichments (fractionation factors) in rain of Ca, K, Zn, Cu, S, Br, and Pb normalized to Fe, relative to particulate matter in the air, were 13, 7.0, 4.3, 3.4, 2.9, 0.96, and 0.36, respectively. High enrichments of K, Zn, Cu, and S suggest that these elements might be at relatively greater concentrations than Fe at higher altitudes and be transported from more distant sources, since their apparent extent of removal is less near ground level compared to soil derived elements.
Temporal variables and trial discreteness in lever-press avoidance

Discrete trials were introduced into discriminated lever-press avoidance learning in rats by employing a retractable lever. The effects of CS-UCS and inter-trial (ITI) intervals were investigated using both retractable and non-retractable levers. The retractable lever groups outperformed the non-retractable lever groups by a highly significant margin early in training but this difference disappeared within 150 trials. Similarly, ITI and CS-UCS intervals affected performance only in the first 100 trials.
Learning with Sandy Hook: Mass Violence in Educational Settings—An Editorial Commentary

Several events in our nation's recent history will forever be written into the public's collective memory. These are moments that, when mentioned, draw our minds and spirits back to the exact space...
Chemical characteristics of laboratory produced tarballs

Abstract Artificial tarballs were made in the laboratory from four crude petroleums. Relative to the parent petroleum, a decrease in aromatic hydrocarbon content for all samples was observed, as was a decrease in saturate content for three of four samples and an increase in compounds containing nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen for three samples. The asphaltene content also increased for three samples. The saturate, aromatic and asphaltic content of the artificial tarballs was compared to values for natural tarballs reported in the literature.
Changes of Natural Fertility and Contraceptive Equivalents

In underdeveloped countries fertility is reduced by prolonged lactation and by malnutrition which delays the onset of menstruation and lengthens postpartum amenorrhea. The Perrin-Sheps model of human reproduction as a renewal process is used to quantify the increases in natural fertility that might occur if prolonged breastfeeding were exchanged for bottle feeding under 3 different levels of nutrition. The same model is used to assess the amount of contraception needed to counteract these enhancements of natural fertility. The models show that if a social group which has been practicing breastfeeding under nutritional circumstances poor enough to protract amenorrhea lengths toward a year suddenly abandons its nursing practices before a serious start on birth control an appreciable rise in fertility will result. (AUTHORS MODIFIED)