cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
E-Consultation in Headache Medicine: A Quality Improvement Pilot Study.

Introduction Access to headache consultations by a headache specialist is limited. E-consultations are an efficient approach shown to reduce costs and improve continuity of care with the primary care provider. Indications, suitability, and uptake in the headache population are not well studied. Methods This quality improvement pilot aims to explore the appropriateness of e-consultations for patients referred to a headache specialist. E-consultation feasibility was explored through (1) retrospective review of completed face-to-face consultations; (2) prospective survey of providers to identify face-to-face consultations appropriate for e-consultation; (3) cross-sectional review of the current waiting list to assess theoretical triaging to face-to-face vs e-consultation; and (4) prospective review of all e-consultations requested from an academic headache clinic to improve the understanding of e-consultation feasibility and referral triage. Results The retrospective review included 75 face-to-face consultations with a mean (SD) wait time of 33 (39.4) days for consultations, of which 28/75 (37.3%) were deemed to be feasible e-consultations. The prospective survey of providers identified 10 face-to-face consultations that were felt to be theoretically appropriate for e-consultation. The cross-sectional review identified 20 patients on the clinic waiting list, of whom 5/20 (25%) were theoretically triaged to e-consultation. Finally, the prospective review found 12 requested e-consultations, of which 6/12 (50%) were for migraine prophylaxis recommendations. Chart data often lacked details for complete assessments, with 5/12 (41.7%) converted to face-to-face consultations and only 4/12 (33.3%) deemed appropriate for e-consultation. Conclusion E-consultation in headache medicine could be considered if appropriately triaged. Pathways are needed to reach patients earlier in their disease course to ensure headache care meets guideline recommendations, and e-consultation is 1 option. However, better communication with primary care is required for system optimization.
The Strategic Use of Multimedia in the Great Georgia Pollinator Census Citizen Science Project

In August of 2019, citizens from across the state of Georgia, USA, participated in the Great Georgia Pollinator Census (GGaPC). This University of Georgia Extension initiative recruited citizen scientists to count for 15 minutes the number and types of insects visiting pollinator plants. The project was web based and used multiple media strategies to recruit citizen scientists, to educate the participants on the entomology required, and to collect the data generated. WordPress website-building software allowed us to create the project website ( GGaPC.org ). This served as the center of the project as it contained project details and educational materials as well as the portal for uploading count data. The social media outlets Facebook and Instagram were used to promote the project and to provide insect identification and pollinator education, and social media memes were created easily using Canva software. MailChimp emailing services assisted us in providing educational e-newsletters and local counting event newsletters to participants and partners. The Zoom online meeting platform allowed our team to meet with partners and Extension offices across the state to share resources and to plan events. More than 4,600 counts were uploaded, documenting more than 131,000 insect visits tallied from 134 Georgia counties including 135 schools. Multimedia tools allowed us to conduct the project with limited personnel on a small budget while providing comprehensive participant education and an extensive project reach.
A Review of Diagnostics for Coccidiomycosis

Abstract Coccidiomycosis is an endemic mycosis that is caused by the dimorphic fungal organisms Coccidoides immitis and C. posadasii. Patients with coccidiomycosis often present for care with community-acquired pneumonia-like illness, and unfortunately, this diagnosis is not commonly at the top of a clinician’s differential, even in areas of endemicity. This review examines the various assays that can be used to diagnose infection with Coccidioides spp., including discussion of the performance and interpretation of serological assays, molecular diagnostics, and fungal culture. Additionally, the use of alternative, non-coccidioidal biomarkers to support the diagnosis are discussed.
Prospective Study of Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Diabetes in Puerto Rican Adults.

BACKGROUND Vegetarian-type dietary patterns have been associated with reducing the risk of developing diabetes and may function as an effective strategy for diabetes management. OBJECTIVES We aimed to examine the associations between adherence to plant-based diet indices and the risk of developing diabetes in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study. METHODS Puerto Rican adults (n = 646), aged 45-75 y and free of diabetes at baseline, were included. Dietary intake was assessed via a validated FFQ. Three plant-based dietary indices were calculated: an overall plant-based diet index (PDI), a healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI), and an unhealthful plant-based diet index (uPDI). Incident diabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L), glycated hemoglobin ≥ 6.5% (48 mmol/mol), or use of hypoglycemic agents during follow-up. Cox proportional hazards were used to evaluate associations between the dietary patterns and incidence of diabetes, adjusting for potential confounders, such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, lifestyle factors, obesity, total energy intake, depressive symptomatology, and plasma concentrations of lipids. RESULTS During a mean of 4.2 y of follow-up, we identified 134 diabetes cases. After adjustment for covariates, higher hPDI was associated with lower risk of developing diabetes (adjusted HR for the highest compared with the lowest tertile: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.31, 0.94; P-trend = 0.03). In contrast, the PDI and uPDI were not significantly associated with the risk of diabetes (P-trend > 0.3 for both). CONCLUSIONS The healthful plant-based dietary index, but not the total plant-based dietary index, was inversely associated with diabetes risk. These findings suggest that the quality of plant-based diets must be considered when recommending plant-based diets for the prevention of diabetes.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01231958.
Where is Climate Research Going

The broad range of research reviewed in this symposium reveals clearly the rapid evolution — no, revolution — in our understanding of climate over the past decades. When the older members of our number, such as I, began our scientific careers, climate was disposed of in our textbooks by means of a few statistics and charts, a rough-and-ready energy diagram, and a few words about the ice ages. A conference on climate would have been sparsely attended, unbearably dull, but mercifully brief.
“A Better Guide in Ourselves”: Objects, Romantic-Protestant Ethics, and Fanny Price’s Individualism

Fanny Price sets postmodernist teeth on edge.1 This is so much so that the makers of the recent film and television adaptations of Mansfield Park felt she needed to be transformed into a more outspoken young woman resembling—along with the author herself, as revealed in the extant letters—Elizabeth Bennett. I therefore, will use the protagonist of Pride and Prejudice to prepare the ground for a re-presentation of Fanny Price.2
An In-depth Investigation of the Divine Ratio

The interesting thing about mathematical concepts is that we can trace their development or discoveries throughout history. Most cultures of the ancient world had some form of mathematics, and these basic skills developed into what we now call modern mathematics. The divine ratio is similar in that it was used in many different sections of history. The divine ratio, sometimes called the golden ratio or golden section, has been found in very diverse areas. The mathematical concepts of the golden ration have been found throughout nature, in architecture, music as well as in art. Phi is an astonishing number because it has inspired thinkers in many disciplines, more-so than any other number has in the history of mathematics. This paper investigates how the golden ratio has influenced civilizations throughout history and has intrigued mathematicians and others by its prevalence.
Coherent inference and prediction in statistics

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the coherent inference and prediction in statistics. The arguments of de Finetti and Ramsey, which justify the use of the probability calculus for certain numerical measures of degrees of belief, are at least as familiar to an audience of philosophers as to one of statisticians. The chapter describes the application of simple coherence arguments to standard problems in statistics. The chapter also reviews of some of de Finetti's ideas and introduces some standard terminology. Two notions of coherence for statistical inference and predictions are also considered. A basic problem of statistics is to infer something about a parameter or state of nature θ after observing the value of a random variable x whose distribution p θ depends on θ. The family {p θ } of possible distributions for x is called a statistical model. Another basic problem is to predict the value of a second variable y after observing x. A statistician, who takes the majority view of probabilities as being limiting values of relative frequencies, might construct confidence intervals for θ.
Sex steroids and drug metabolism. A sex-related difference in hepatic microsomal ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylation in sprague-dawley rats.

Abstract The effect of sex steroids and pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile (PCN) on hepatic microsomal monooxygenase activity was examined in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Male rats had a greater cytochrome(s) P-450 content and ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD) and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase (CcR) activities than females. Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylation (EROD) in hepatic microsomes from females, however, was greater than from males, suggesting that the female rats possessed inherently higher cytochrome P-448-mediated monooxygenase activity. Testosterone propionate and PCN administration resulted in stimulation of ECOD and CcR activities in female rats, and PCN also increased the cytochrome(s) P-450 content. Estradiol benzoate decreased ECOD and CcR in male rats but enhanced EROD in both sexes. Neither testosterone nor PCN had an effect on EROD activity. In castrated male rats, testosterone increased, and estradiol decreased, ECOD activity without affecting cytochrome(s) P-450 content. Estradiol pretreatment of castrated males resulted in an increase in EROD activity, with testosterone having no effect. Thus, testosterone and estradiol may be, in part, responsible for the inherently higher and lower cytochrome(s) P-450-related activities in male and female rats, respectively, and estradiol may be responsible for the elevated cytochrome P-448-type activity observed in the females.
Valuation accuracy: A contribution to the debate

Summary One reaction to the Hager and Lord criticisms of valuation accuracy has been the use of regression‐based analysis of valuations and sales data to show the efficiency of the valuation process. This paper re‐examines the statistical robustness of the regression‐based defence and suggests that it is flawed. Some suggestions as to revised valuation practice are proposed.
Shape Persistence of Synthetic Polymers

Traditional methods for making synthetic polymers do not allow much control over polymer shape, but recent advances are enabling the stiffness of polymer chains to be controlled, with potential applications ranging from photonics to optoelectronics. In this Perspective, Ober reports on a recent meeting at the Max-Plank Institut fA¼r Polymerforschung, held in honor of Gerhard Wegner on the occasion of his 60th birthday, where strategies for controlling polymer shapes were discussed.
Rare Production of Nymphs in an Asian Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) Incipient Colony

Summary Coptotermes colonies usually produce nymphs when a colony reaches maturity. In this study, we describe a rare case of nymph production from a 10-mo-old colony that previously had lost a primary reproductive. Such replacement reproductives are not functional. We suggest that the unusual developmental plasticity we observed may be the result of a vestigial developmental pathway that may partially regain its functionality in mature colonies.
In The United States Accounting Profession, Will Minorities Make Different Ethical Decisions?

The United States has long been referred to as a melting pot. People from all cultures bring to our business world their values and beliefs. For the past two decades, accounting organizations have reached out and supported the education of minorities. Academic research in the area of ethical decision making has attempted to highlight factors that contribute to differences in ethical decision making. Culture, and possibly, religion have been the key variables examined as a basis for differences in an individual’s ethical decisions. As more and more minorities enter the profession of accounting in the United States, an important question that should be answered is “Will American minorities approach ethical situations similarly to that of their non-minority American peer group?”, or will their cultural backgrounds influence their ethical norms? This paper presents a research study that opens this conversation. As minorities are entering the accounting profession, it is reasonable to expect that Americans from different cultural backgrounds may react differently to ethical dilemmas. However, research on ethical beliefs of minority business and accounting students is rare. The authors developed a survey to determine if there were differences in ethical values based on ethnicity. It was tested using materials provided by KPMG. The survey used a case involving a student lying on his resume. It asked for answers to seven ethical situations and seven activities. The survey was administered in two different major- level accounting classes at a large public university. The results of the study show that minority and non-minority students generally agree on ethical issues and their likely action when a classmate lies on a resume in the process of getting a job. However, there were some interesting differences in the magnitude and direction of the responses by minority and non-minority students. Our findings also suggest that Minority students are more sensitive to ethical transgressions by their peers and feel more negatively impacted if someone lies in the process of getting a job. Accountants are often in a position where they must report violations. Our study suggests students from all backgrounds should engage in discussions about lying and suggest ways to deal with reporting such unethical behavior to authorities.
Variations in users' definitions of an information system

Abstract Information systems (IS) are complex and abstract. When users are asked to evaluate “the system,” there is no guarantee that they will all be thinking about the same object. Laboratory research has shown that differences in the way an IS is defined affect users' evaluations of the system. If such variations exist in the field (that is, if the term “the system” invokes different images in the minds of different users), they might affect user evaluations. This paper reports a study of variations in users' definitions of a human resource information system. There were significant variations in opinions about what the IS was. Most users were certain that their definitions were correct, even though they disagreed with one another. Users with more IS-related expertise included fewer objects in the system than less expert users. The findings have implications for MIS research and management. In particular, developers should provide each user with a definition of an IS from the time of their first contact with the system. The definition should be aligned with the organizational responsibilities of the developers.
Economics and “Nature's Standard”: Wes Jackson and The Land Institute

This essay introduces or re-acquaints readers with the work of Wes Jackson and The Land Institute in Salinas, Kansas. At the center of this work is an effort to develop perennial poly-culture as an alternative to industrial agriculture. The latter dominant model of food and fiber production is shown to involve severe problems in terms of short-run ecological costs and long-run sustainability. It is also argued that the perennial poly-culture model has much to recommend it to radical economists as a corrective to capitalist inefficiency. Finally, notwithstanding Jackson's facile criticism of Marx, it is argued that Marx's own writing actually anticipates Jackson's agro-ecological critique of capitalism.
Pediatric Pulmonology for the Nonpulmonologist

Abstract Respiratory illnesses in children constitute a large proportion of hospital admissions. They are among the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in North America. Therefore, it is not unusual to see cancellation of surgical procedures because of respiratory ailments. This mini review provides an overlook of the most common pediatric and adolescent pulmonary diseases for the nonpulmonologist, specifically discusses the practical aspects of surgical intervention in this setting, and reviews preoperative pulmonary assessment in general.
Critical points and values of complex polynomials

Abstract This paper is primarily concerned with complex polynomials which have critical points which are also fixed points. We show that certain perturbations of a critical fixed point satisfy an inequality. This inequality permits us to prove a local version of Smale's mean value conjecture. We also use Thurston's topological characterization of critically finite rational mappings to enumerate explicitly as branched mappings the set of complex polynomials which have all their critical points fixed.
Perturbed interaction between residues 85 and 204 in Tyr-185-->Phe and Asp-85-->Glu bacteriorhodopsins.

According to earlier reports, residue 85 in the bacteriorhodopsin mutants D85E and Y185F deprotonates with two apparent pKa values. Additionally, in Y185F, Asp-85 becomes significantly more protonated during light adaptation. We provide a new explanation for these findings. It is based on the scheme that links the protonation state of residue 85 to the protonation state of residue 204 (S.P. Balashov, E.S. Imasheva, R. Govindjee, and T.G. Ebrey. 1996. Biophys. J. 70:473–481; H.T. Richter, L.S. Brown, R. Needleman, and J.K. Lanyi. 1996. Biochemistry. 35:4054–4062) and justified by the observation that the biphasic titration curves of D85E and Y185F are converted to monophasic when the E204Q residue change is introduced as a second mutation. Accordingly, the D85E and Y 185F mutations are not the cause of the biphasic titration, as that is a property of the wild-type protein. By perturbing the extracellular region of the protein, the mutations increase the pKa of residue 85. This increases the amplitude of the second titration component and makes the biphasic character of the curves more obvious. Likewise, a small rise in the pKa of Asp-85 when the retinal isomerizes from 13-cis, 15-syn to all-trans accounts for the changed titration behavior of Y185F after light adaptation. This mechanism simplifies and unites the interpretation of what had appeared to be complex and unrelated phenomena.
Principles of modern electricity pricing

This paper presents a framework for electric power pricing, reviews the basic theory of marginal cost pricing applicable to the power sector, and summarizes recent developments. The adaptation of the theory for practical application in relation to the objectives of power pricing policy results in a two stage procedure for tariff setting. First, the detailed structure of the strict long-run marginal costs (LRMC) of supply which meet the economic efficiency criterion are computed. Second, the strict LRMC is adjusted to arrive at an appropriate realistic tariff schedule which satisfies other constraints, including economic second best and social lifeline rate considerations, financial needs, simplicity of metering and billing, etc. The results obtained through past applications of modern pricing structures internationally are reviewed, and the U.S. situation is discussed with respect to the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978.
Decreased activation and increased lateralization in brain functioning for selective attention and response inhibition in adolescents with spina bifida

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate functional activity in the brain of adolescents with spina bifida when performing selective attention and response inhibition tasks. We then compared the results to that of age-matched controls. Our results showed that adolescents with spina bifida had decreased frontal and superior parietal activation and more apparently low involvement of left brain hemisphere during these tasks. Our results indicated activation deficits and possibly abnormal functional organization in adolescents with spina bifida and associated pathologies such as hydrocephalus.
Did Cecil Rhodes Really Try to Control the World

A twentieth-century American historian claimed, in a posthumously published book, that Cecil Rhodes and Lord Milner plotted to take over the world by establishing secret societies, conniving with key British politicians, various lords of the realm and influential publicists. The Rhodes Scholarships are supposedly but one example of the long hand of their cabal. That both Rhodes and Milner favoured imperialism, and believed the world the better for inculcated British values, there can be no question. But were they conspiracists, as alleged? Or are the accusations based too much on suspicion and circumstantial evidence to be taken seriously?
Prevention of recurrent acute otitis media: Chemoprophylaxis versus tympanostomy tubes†

Otitis media has long been recognized as one of the most common diseases of childhood. Several therapeutic modalities have been advocated for the prevention of recurrent episodes of acute otitis media (AOM). A blinded, prospective, randomized study was designed to determine the efficacy of tympanostomy tubes, antibiotic prophylaxis, and placebo. Children with recurrent AOM were entered in the study and followed for at least 6 months. A total of 65 children completed the protocol. Sixty-three of those were under the age of 4 years. Treatment failure was defined as two or more episodes of AOM or otorrhea in less than 3 months. Five of 22 children in the tympanostomy tube group failed, compared to 12 of 20 in the placebo group (p = .02). There were 8 or 21 treatment failures in the sulfisoxazole group. Children with otitis media with effusion (OME) at the time of their initial visit had significantly less middle ear disease when treated with tympanostomy tubes. Tympanostomy tube insertion for prophylaxis of recurrent acute otitis is supported by these findings. Improvement of recurrent AOM was observed in the sulfisoxazole group, but was not statistically significant.
Surgical correction of obstructive sleep apnea in the complicated pediatric patient documented by polysomnography.

Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in a diverse population of children. Design: A retrospective case series of pre and post operative polysomnograms (PSG) of pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Setting: Tertiary care children's hospital. Patients: 48 patients in whom sleep studies were performed pre-operatively for either an unclear history and/or physical findings or complicated OSA. Thirteen patients had no complicating medical factors, 35 patients had various associated medical problems, including 20 with morbid obesity, five with Down syndrome, four with asthma, two with cerebral palsy, and four other. The average age was 7.5 years with a range of 1.5–20 years. Interventions: Thirty-one patients had a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T and A) only, 13 had T and A with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), and three had tonsillectomy and UPPP. Main outcome measures: Pre and postoperative PSG results including apnea/hypopnea index (AHI), percent of sleep with oxygen saturation below 90%, and percent sleep time with end-tidal pCO2 > 50. Results: The mean pre-operative (AHI) was 27 ± 4 (mean + S.E.M.) and post operatively was 6 ± 1 (P 50 was 22.3 ± 3.4%, post operatively it was 12.6 ± 2.9% (P < 0.01). UPPP was performed more commonly in patients with Down syndrome. There was a trend toward more improvement in patients who had T and A performed than those undergoing UPPP (post op AHI of 4.7 vs. 7.4 respectively). Conclusions: Tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy and UPPP are effective in the treatment of OSA in a diverse group of pediatric patients. Patients with asthma, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, morbid obesity, and hereditary syndromes all improved significantly with surgical management.
Fungi Associated with the Stalk Rot Complex of Pearl Millet

Wilson, J. P. 2002. Fungi associated with the stalk rot complex of pearl millet. Plant Dis. 86:833-839. Stalk rot is frequently observed in maturing, rust-infected pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum). Fungi were isolated from internal stalk tissue, and their association with node discoloration and rust infection at different stages of plant maturity was determined to gain a greater understanding of stalk rot etiology. In 1995, stalk rot was observed in a breeding population of pearl millet. Stalks of 10 rust-infected plants were collected on each of three dates during grain fill. Frequency of symptomatic, discolored nodes was higher in the later sampling dates. Stalk sections from 119 discolored nodes were surface sterilized and plated onto agar media. Fungi most frequently isolated from symptomatic nodes were Bipolaris setariae (isolated from 47% of discolored nodes), Fusarium semitectum (28.6%), and F. moniliforme sensu lato (23.5%). Isolation frequency of these fungi differed (P < 0.05) with sampling date. In 1996 and 1997, the hybrid HGM 100 was evaluated at two dates of planting in each year. Ten stalks were sampled at each of four growth stages: panicle emergence, stigma emergence, milk, and hard dough. A total of 140 stalks was assessed for rust severity and for internal stalk discoloration at the nodes. The frequency of discolored nodes increased with plant maturation and was correlated (P < 0.01) with severity of rust infection. All nodes were plated on an agar medium, and a total of 1,512 isolates from 30 fungal genera or species were isolated from the 1,540 nodes of the sampled stalks. F. moniliforme was isolated most frequently (isolated from 23.5% of all nodes). Frequency of isolation of F. moniliforme from nodes within stalks increased with advancing maturity in the earlier dates of planting, but was not correlated with rust infection. B. setariae (isolated from 9.2% of all nodes) was more frequently isolated from plants at the dough stage in three plantings, and was correlated (P < 0.01) with rust severity. Trends in the frequency of isolation of other fungi were inconsistent between planting dates or among growth stages. Frequency of isolation of F. semitectum (isolated from 11.0% of all nodes) and Alternaria spp. (6.9% of all nodes) was correlated (P < 0.05) with rust severity. Frequency of isolation of Curvularia spp. (isolated from 7.0% of all nodes) was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with rust severity. Isolation of Alternaria spp. and B. setariae was more frequently associated with node discoloration than was isolation of the other fungi. Stalk rot of pearl millet is the result of a complex of several fungi whose incidence was influenced by rust infection, plant maturation, and environmental factors associated with differences among years and dates of planting.
32P-postlabeling analysis of DNA adduct formation and persistence in English sole (Pleuronectes vetulus) exposed to benzo[a]pyrene and 7H-dibenzo[c,g]carbazole.

Abstract The formation and persistence of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)- and 7H-dibenzo[c,g]carbazole (DBC)-DNA adducts in liver of English sole (Pleuronectes vetulus) were investigated. BaP is a putative hepatocarcinogen in English sole based on its ability to induce formation of preneoplastic foci, while DBC is a hepatocarcinogen in mammals but whose carcinogenicity in fish is not known. English sole liver was sampled from 2 h through 84 days after a single intermuscular injection of a BaP and DBC mixture (100 μmol of each/kg body wt.), and DNA adduct levels were measured by the nuclease P1 version of the 32P-postlabeling assay. The major BaP adducts detected were from binding of BaP-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide to DNA, whereas multiple uncharacterized DBC-DNA adducts were detected. Total adduct levels for both BaP and DBC reached a maximum at 2 days post exposure. The levels of DBC-DNA adducts were greater than the levels of BaP adducts at all time points and increased more rapidly than did the levels of BaP-DNA adducts. The DBC to BaP adduct ratio was 33 ± 8.8 at 2 h and declined to 4.2 ± 0.48 by 12 h post exposure. From 2 to 28 days, the levels of both BaP and DBC adducts declined with apparent half-lives of 11 and 13 days, respectively. There was no apparent decline from 28 to 84 days in the levels of the remaining BaP or DBC adducts; these persistent adducts represented 32 and 36% of maximum levels, respectively. These results provide the first data on the kinetics of adduct formation and removal of a carcinogenic nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic compound in fish. The results showing greater binding and similar persistence of DBC-DNA adducts compared to BaP-DNA adducts suggest that DBC may be hepatotoxic and potentially carcinogenic in English sole. In a separate experiment, the effect of multiple doses of BaP (30 μmol/kg body wt.) on the levels of hepatic BaP-DNA adducts showed that adduct levels increased linearly (r = 0.815, P = 0.0007) with 5 successive doses administered at 2 day-intervals and sampled 2 days after the last dose. The persistence of both BaP-DNA and DBC-DNA adducts in liver, together with the increase in BaP-DNA adducts in English sole exposed to successive doses of BaP, suggest that hepatic xenobiotic-DNA adducts in English sole are molecular dosimeters of relatively longterm environmental exposure to genotoxic polycyclic aromatic compounds.
Concepts, Measures, and Measuring Well: An Alternative Outlook

Measurement theorists agree that one has measured well when one’s measurement scheme faithfully represents the concept under investigation. Yet, the conventional wisdom on “measurement validation” ...
The Relevance of Discriminatory Knowledge of Content

Those interested in securing the compatibility of anti-individualism and introspective knowledge of content (henceforth ‘compatibilists’) typically make a distinction between knowledge of content proper (KC) and discriminatory knowledge of content (DKC). Following Falvey and Owens (1994), most compatibilists allow that anti-individualism is not compatible with introspective DKC, but maintain that nonetheless anti-individualism is compatible with introspective KC. Though I have raised doubts about the compatibility of anti-individualism and introspective KC elsewhere (Goldberg, 1997 and forthcoming), here my aim is to suggest the philosophical relevance of DKC itself. My thesis is that there are cases in which a thinker’s failing to have DKC will affect the justification which she takes herself to have in drawing various inferences in the course of her reasoning, and so will affect that reasoning itself. After presenting illustrative examples and suggesting why anti-individualists themselves ought to acknowledge this point, I suggest that the examples indicate further work for anti-individualists: formulating what it takes to have DKC, and substantiating the view (widely held by anti-individualists) that anti-individualism’s implication that we (often) lack such knowledge is not to be taken as an important weakness of anti-individualism itself.
Issues in regionalization of pediatric cardiovascular care

Abstract The care of the pediatric cardiac patient and methods to improve quality of care are constant challenges. One way to optimize care is with the creation of ‘centers of excellence’ with high volumes and optimal outcomes. Comprehensive and coordinated regionalized programs of care may best achieve these goals. Descriptions and reasons for regionalized programs are discussed. Some of the issues relating to physicians, institutions and government in developing regionalized centers are included. The benefits of modern medical informatics are presented. With significant motivation and perseverance, physician leaders can organize to create truly special programs to care for the congenital heart patient.
Offspring sex ratio is unrelated to male attractiveness in dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis)

Sex allocation theory predicts that parents should bias investment toward the offspring sex that confers higher relative fitness on the parents. When variance in reproductive success is higher in males than females, and some males are more attractive to females than others, thereby achieving higher reproductive success, female parents mated to attractive males are expected to bias reproductive allocation toward sons. Modification of the primary sex ratio is one mechanism by which avian parents may bias allocation. In mate choice trials, captive female dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) prefer to associate with males whose circulating testosterone level has been elevated experimentally. We asked whether females socially mated to testosterone-treated males in nature might bias the sex ratio of progeny in favor of sons. We determined the primary sex ratio of broods using a sex-linked molecular marker, the CHD gene on the W chromosome. We found no relationship between the hormonal treatment of males and the primary or secondary sex ratios of offspring produced by their social mates. Sex ratio was also unrelated to breeding-season date, study year, male viability, or female age. While unlikely, it is possible that female juncos are not able to manipulate the primary sex ratio of their broods. More likely, possible benefits to female juncos of producing attractive sons may be small because (1) attractive males do not necessarily have higher fitness, depending on the trade-offs involved for males, and (2) when such benefits exist, they may be outweighed for females by the costs of compensating for the reduced paternal care of attractive males.
Characterization of the indigenous PAH-degrading bacteria of Spartina dominated salt marshes in the New York/New Jersey Harbor

The aerobic polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degrading microbial communities of two petroleum-impacted Spartina-dominated salt marshes in the New York/New Jersey Harbor were examined using a combination of microbiological, molecular and chemical techniques. Microbial isolation studies resulted in the identification of 48 aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial strains from both vegetated and non-vegetated marsh sediments. The majority of the isolates were from the genera Paenibacillus and Pseudomonas. Radiotracer studies using 14C-phenanthrene and 14C-pyrene were used to measure the PAH-mineralization activity in salt marsh sediments. The results suggested a trend towards increased PAH mineralization in vegetated sediments relative to non-vegetated sediments. This trend was supported by the enumeration of PAH-degrading bacteria in non-vegetated and vegetated sediment using a Most Probable Numbers (MPN) technique, which demonstrated that PAH-degrading bacteria existed in non-vegetated and vegetated sediments at levels ranging from 102 to 105 cells/g sediment respectively. No difference between microbial communities present in vegetated versus non-vegetated sediments was found using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (of the 16S rRNA gene) or phospholipid fatty acid analysis. These studies provide information on the specific members and activity of the PAH-degrading aerobic bacterial communities present in Spartina-dominated salt marshes in the New York/New Jersey Harbor estuary.
Local Cytokines in Endometrial Tissue: The Role of Interleukin-8 in the Pathogenesis of Endometriosis

Endometriosis, defined by the presence of viable endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity, is among the most common gynecologic disorders affecting women of reproductive age. Endometriosis is associated with an inflammatory peritoneal environment, where multiple cytokines and growth factors are found at elevated levels. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a cytokine that induces chemotaxis of neutrophils and is a potent angiogenic agent. In addition, IL-8 was recently found to stimulate proliferation of various cells. We have observed that IL-8 is elevated in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis and the levels correlate with the severity of the disease. We hypothesized that IL-8 may play a role in the growth and maintenance of ectopic endometrial tissue not only by chemoattracting and stimulating leukocytes to secrete growth factors and cytokines, but also by directly affecting endometrial cell proliferation. We found that IL-8 mRNA and protein levels in the endometrium were significantly higher during early proliferative and late secretory phases than during the mid-cycle. IL-8 receptors A and B are also expressed in the endometrium mostly localized in the stroma. Interestingly, IL-8 receptor expression is higher in the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis compared to the endometrium of women without endometriosis. Endometrial cells in culture proliferate significantly when treated with IL-8, which is inhibited by anti-IL-8 neutralizing antibody. More convincingly, IL-8 antisense oligonucleotide treatment decreases IL-8 production by endometrial cells as well as cell proliferation when compared to non-sense oligonucleotide treatment. The addition of IL-8 reverses the inhibitory effect of IL-8 antisense oligonucleotides on cell proliferation. These findings suggest that IL-8 may act as an autocrine growth factor in the endometrium. We have also studied the effect of endometrial cell adhesion on IL-8 expression and observed that IL-8 stimulates the adhesion of endometrial cells to fibronectin. Treatment of the cells with anti-IL-8 neutralizing antibody inhibited partially the cell adhesion. Thus, IL-8 may also be relevant for stimulating the attachment of endometrial implants in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. In addition, adherence of endometrial cells induced further IL-8 expression by an integrin-dependent mechanism. In summary, IL-8 may act as an autocrine growth factor in the endometrium and may also play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis by promoting the vicious circle of endometrial cell attachment, cell growth, and further secretion of this cytokine.
Blood pressure and vascular effects of leptin in humans.

Background: Leptin may play a role in mediating obesity-related hypertension. However, its effects on the vasculature and blood pressure (BP) remain poorly defined in humans. Methods: In the first study, we performed a short-term, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, cross-over experiment investigating the actions of recombinant human leptin (r-metHuLeptin) in 15 nonobese adults. To compliment the acute study, we retrospectively analyzed available BP results from a previously performed 85–day, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, parallel weight-loss study using r-metHuLeptin in 284 obese adults. Results: In the acute study, conduit artery endothelial function determined by brachial flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) increased 2 hours following 0.2 mg · Kg−1 subcutaneously (SC) of r-metHuLeptin versus placebo (+3.3% versus −2.8%, P = .02). BP remained unchanged 4 hours after injections. In the retrospective analysis of the weight loss study data, 10 mg every day before noon (QAM), 10 mg ever...
An Evidence-Based Analysis of Periodontally Accelerated Orthodontic and Osteogenic Techniques: A Synthesis of Scientific Perspectives

Interdisciplinary orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) can synthesize tissue engineering principles with periodontal regenerative surgery to create rapid orthodontic tooth movement and reduce side effects like root resorption, relapse, inadequate basal bone, and bacterial time-load factors (ie, infection). Normal metabolism seen in a natural healing response is accelerated resulting in a more stable clinical outcome. Specifically, modern computed tomographic imaging suggests what were thought be "bony blocks" undergo demineralization both on the surface and within the alveolar bone proper (reversible osteopenia). Periodontal analysis shows that with demineralization the remaining collagenous soft tissue matrix of the bone is transported with the root in the direction of the movement. When retained in the desired position the matrix remineralizes demonstrating malleability of the alveolus previously thought to be unattainable. This natural demineralization-remineralization phenomenon appears fairly complete in adolescents albeit benignly less complete in adults. The new interpretation of the rapid movement as "bone matrix transportation" has made it possible to design a surgical approach, which permits extraction space closure in 3 to 4 weeks. This protocol allows conventional OTM 300% to 400% faster, increases the envelope of movement 2- to 3-fold and alveolar augmentation (periodontally accelerated osteogenic orthodontics or PAOO), and increases alveolar volume providing an alternative to bicuspid extraction.
Characterization of tissue amyloid by immunofluorescence microscopy

Immunohistochemical classification of amyloid type was possible in 44 of 50 (88%) patients as judged by the concordance of immunofluorescence, clinical, serum, and urine immunoelectrophoresis, and bone marrow data. In frozen tissue sections incubated with a panel of antisera monospecific for immunoglobulin heavy chains, kappa and lambda light chains, and amyloid-A-related protein, the amyloid was classified as AL in 20 and AA in 24. In 6 patients the amyloid could not be classified because of the absence of reactivity in 2 and overlap staining in 4. The findings indicate that routine immunofluorescence examination of diagnostic biopsies is an important adjunct in the classification of amyloid.
Prestressed double network thermoset: preparation and characterization

An innovative scheme to prepare Prestressed double network (PDN) epoxies is presented using a judicious combination of tetrafunctional curatives that have similar molecular weights but different reaction kinetics. A diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy monomer was reacted stoichiometrically and sequentially with various molar ratios of an aliphatic polyetheramine curing agent and an aromatic curing agent. Deformation was imposed on the partially cured resins after the formation of the first network, and postcuring was conducted at 50% compressive strain. Physical properties of the resulting PDN epoxies were examined using thermomechanical analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, uniaxial tensile test, and plane-strain fracture toughness test. The application of prestress resulted in no changes in glass transition temperature, coefficient of linear thermal expansion, and Young’s modulus. However, a marked increase in fracture toughness is observed, accompanied by strong birefringence and visible roughness on the fracture surface.
No good deed goes unquestioned: Cynical reconstruals maintain belief in the power of self-interest ☆

Abstract In four studies, we examined how people maintain beliefs that self-interest is a strong determinant of behavior, even in the face of disconfirming evidence. People reflecting on selfless behavior tend to reconstrue it in terms of self-interested motives, but do not similarly scrutinize selfish behaviors for selfless motives. Study 1 found that people react to new information that selfless behavior is common by interpreting it as more reflective of self-interest. Studies 2a and 2b, applying a Bayesian analysis, demonstrated that people see “too much” self-interest in seemingly selfless actions, given their prior beliefs, but see the predicted amount of self-interest in seemingly selfish actions. This demonstrates that people do not possess internally consistent belief systems, but rather undue cynicism. In Study 3, participants read about real philanthropists whose acts of generosity had been heralded by major news outlets. As participants spent more time considering why such philanthropy was performed, they formed more cynical impressions of the philanthropists' motives. Beyond offering insight into why belief in the norm of self-interest persists, these studies introduce a novel route by which beliefs resist disconfirmation.
Eigenvalues of the inertia tensor and exteroception by the muscular sense

Muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs constitute the receptor foundation to the "muscle sense." Muscle sensitivity has long been assumed relevant to the non-visual perception of the positions and motions of the body's segments and of the properties of hand-held objects. Dynamic touch is the label given to the particular kind of tactile exteroperception that involves a non-spatial input from muscles and tendons. When a hand-held object is wielded, hefted, carried and so on, the hand movements, together with the physical properties of the object, produce torques and angular motions that change in time with the movement. There is, however, an unchanging quantity that relates the variable torques and angular motions, namely, the object's inertia for rotation about a fixed point in the wrist. Our research revealed that the non-visual perception of the length of a wielded object by dynamic touch is a function of muscular sensitivity to the principal moments or eigenvalues of the inertia tensor. Across four experiments, variations in object length were accompanied by variations in width, spatial and material heterogeneity, the relation of the tensorial components to mass, and geometric shape. Subjects had no foreknowledge of the variations in object dimensions. Perceived lengths of occluded objects were reported by adjusting a visible marker so that its position corresponded to the position of the felt end of the object. In each experiment, perceived length was closely related to actual length and uniquely constrained by the major and minor eigenvalues of the inertia tensor. The present results, in conjunction with previous research, suggest that the inertia tensor provides the domains for two sets of functions realized by the "muscular sense," one consisting of the principal moments of inertia or eigenvalues, which map on to perceived object magnitudes (e.g. length, weight), and one consisting of the principal directions or eigenvectors, which map on to perceived relations between hand and object (e.g. position of grasp). The significance of information-perception specificity over cognitive mechanisms is underlined and perspectives on dynamic touch and its underlying muscular sensitivity, including a general tensorial analysis, are discussed.
A Residency Training in Rural Psychiatry

Objective This article describes a residency training program that incorporates a rural didactic curriculum and rural clinical training.
From high tech to human tech: empowerment, measurement, and social studies of computing

“Empowerment” has become a pervasive term of art in business practice, particularly in the United States. The term traces its roots to the organizing models evolved by populist social movements, but within business discourse it refers to an emerging organizational philosophy that largely replaces conventional hierarchies with nominally autonomous teams. Proponents of empowerment frequently cite information technology as a crucial enabler of this shift without, however, spelling out fully the logic of the connection. A reconstruction of this logic provides evidence for the emergence of a novel vision of work-discipline, the empowerment and measurement regime. This regime is discussed in relation to market dynamics, Taylorism, and research on the social organization of information technology and its use.