Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On Schwarz Alternating Methods for Nonlinear Elliptic PDEs

The Schwarz alternating method can be used to solve elliptic boundary value problems on domains which consist of two or more overlapping subdomains. The solution is approximated by an infinite sequence of functions which results from solving a sequence of elliptic boundary value problems in each of the subdomains. This paper considers several Schwarz alternating methods for nonlinear elliptic problems. We show that Schwarz alternating methods can be embedded in the framework of common techniques such as Banach and Schauder fixed point methods and global inversion methods used to solve these nonlinear problems.
Legitimacy‐As‐Feeling: How Affect Leads to Vertical Legitimacy Spillovers in Transnational Governance

Transnational governance schemes (TGSs) are interorganizational networks of public and/or private actors that jointly regulate global public policy issues, such as the prevention of human rights violations and the protection of ecosystems. Considering that TGSs mainly address issues of public concern, the general public represents a major source of legitimacy in transnational governance. We theorize how members of the general public, whom we conceptualize as intuiters, apply heuristics to bestow legitimacy on TGSs. Given the difficulty of assessing TGSs, we argue that intuiters draw on affect-based responses towards a TGS's better-known network affiliates, such as participating business firms, to judge the legitimacy of the TGS as a whole. This substitution produces a ‘vertical’ legitimacy spillover. More specifically, we examine the heuristic process of judgment underlying vertical spillovers in TGSs and derive implications for the legitimacy construct and the analysis of spillover phenomena.
The Hare or the Tortoise? Modeling Optimal Speed-Accuracy Tradeoff Settings

Decision making is strongly influenced by the speed-accuracy trade-off. In this dissertation, I have tackled the issue of speed versus accuracy from both a theoretical and an empirical viewpoint and have been drawn time and time again to the same inescapable conclusion: speeded decision making cannot be thoroughly investigated without a formal quantitative process model. Only by transforming relatively uninformative behavioral data into meaningful psychological processes can there be hope for a more complete understanding of the factors that influence performance in human decision making.
Left temporal lobe dysfunction in schizophrenia: event-related potential and behavioral evidence from phonetic and tonal dichotic listening tasks.

BACKGROUND Asymmetric reduction of the P3 event-related potential (ERP) has provided evidence of left temporal lobe dysfunction in schizophrenia. Prior studies have been limited by reliance on simple target detection (oddball) tasks with pure tones. This study investigated the time course and topography of ERPs to binaural syllables or complex tones in dichotic listening tasks. METHODS Event-related potentials of 26 patients meeting criteria for schizophrenia (n = 19) or schizoaffective disorder (n = 7) and 26 healthy controls were recorded from 30 scalp electrodes during 2 dichotic tasks in which different syllables or complex tones were simultaneously presented to each ear. A principal components analysis was used to derive factor scores corresponding to overlapping components in ERP waveforms--N1, N2, P3, and a late-positive potential. RESULTS Healthy controls showed a right ear advantage for perceiving dichotic syllables, which was associated with greater N2 amplitude at left than right temporoparietal sites. Patients with schizophrenia did not show either this perceptual or N2 asymmetry. Patients also had smaller late-positive potential amplitude when compared with controls for both syllables and complex tones, with greatest decrement over left temporal sites. CONCLUSIONS A right ear advantage in healthy adults for perceiving consonant-vowels was associated with a left-lateralized ERP component peaking at 200 milliseconds after syllable onset (N2). Patients with schizophrenia failed to show either of these task-dependent asymmetries, which may indicate a dysfunction of left temporal regions involved in phonetic classification. A task-independent asymmetric reduction of a later positive potential in patients with schizophrenia resembled left temporal P3 reductions reported for auditory oddball tasks.
In Vitro Generation of Interleukin 10–producing Regulatory CD4+ T Cells Is Induced by Immunosuppressive Drugs and Inhibited by T Helper Type 1 (Th1)– and Th2-inducing Cytokines

We show that a combination of the immunosuppressive drugs, vitamin D3 and Dexamethasone, induced human and mouse naive CD4+ T cells to differentiate in vitro into regulatory T cells. In contrast to the previously described in vitro derived CD4+ T cells, these cells produced only interleukin (IL)-10, but no IL-5 and interferon (IFN)-γ, and furthermore retained strong proliferative capacity. The development of these IL-10–producing cells was enhanced by neutralization of the T helper type 1 (Th1)- and Th2–inducing cytokines IL-4, IL-12, and IFN-γ. These immunosuppressive drugs also induced the development of IL-10–producing T cells in the absence of antigen-presenting cells, with IL-10 acting as a positive autocrine factor for these T cells. Furthermore, nuclear factor (NF)-κB and activator protein (AP)-1 activities were inhibited in the IL-10–producing cells described here as well as key transcription factors involved in Th1 and Th2 subset differentiation. The regulatory function of these in vitro generated IL-10–producing T cells was demonstrated by their ability to prevent central nervous system inflammation, when targeted to the site of inflammation, and this function was shown to be IL-10 dependent. Generating homogeneous populations of IL-10–producing T cells in vitro will thus facilitate the use of regulatory T cells in immunotherapy.
The effects of symbolic and realistic threats on moral exclusion from the scope of justice

Moral exclusion refers to a psychological process that removes others from our moral community—those whom we treat with fairness and concern for their welfare. The present research is concerned with how perceived symbolic threats (threats to the ingroup’s values, morals, and worldview) and realistic threats (threats to the ingroup’s well-being and resources) are related to moral exclusion. Perceived symbolic and realistic threats from an outgroup (Mexican immigrants) were measured (Study 1) and manipulated (Study 2) to discover their predictive and causal relationships with moral exclusion. It was found that both symbolic and realistic threats predicted moral exclusion and did so uniquely after controlling for prejudice, and that symbolic threat was a causal factor in moral exclusion. Implications of the current research for future studies of moral exclusion are discussed, as well as its implications for intergroup relations and reducing moral exclusion of outgroups. This dissertation is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council. Dissertation Director: _______________________________________ David A. Schroeder Dissertation Committee: _______________________________________ Denise R. Beike _______________________________________ Scott Eidelman DISSERTATION DUPLICATION RELEASE I hereby authorize the University of Arkansas Libraries to duplicate this thesis when needed for research and/or scholarship. Agreed _____________________________________ Dana C. Leighton
Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis responds to miltefosine but then relapses

Summary Background Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL), although rare, is profoundly incapacitating. At present there is no successful treatment for this progressive protozoan infection, which is associated with the absence of specific cell‐mediated immunity (CMI) to Leishmania. This disease shares features with visceral leishmaniasis (VL), including specific CMI inactivity during active disease and a heavy parasitic burden, but VL responds well to treatment. Miltefosine is the first orally administered drug which has shown efficacy in the treatment of VL; it has not been adequately evaluated in the treatment of DCL.
Access to a Medical Home for Infants and Young Children With Special Healthcare Needs

A medical home is a model of care to ensure the access to comprehensive, continuous, and family-centered services for children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) and their families. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau actively promote the medical home through grants to state health departments to develop medical home programs and to disseminate guidelines that describe best practices. However, until recently, there have been no population-based data about access to medical homes among infants and young CSHCN. Using data from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, we report to what extent CSHCN younger than 3 years have a medical home. There were approximately 3 800 responses related to children between birth and 3 years. In the United States, 54% of CSHCN younger than 3 years have a medical home. Access to a medical home is affected by income, mother's level of education, and the functional status of the child. In addition to describing access to a medical home among infants and young children, we also describe the characteristics of this population and the impact of infants and young children with special healthcare needs on their families.
Discrepant stakeholder perspectives on graduate employability strategies

ABSTRACT A literature review identified 12 strategies that have been empirically linked to improvements in graduate employability. A survey methodology was used to investigate self-reported use and/or perspectives on these strategies among four stakeholder groups. The following questions were asked: to students – What strategies are you using to improve your graduate employability; to graduates – What strategies did you use to improve your employability? ; to higher education career development professionals and educators – Which of the following employability strategies do you provide for students? ; and to employers – Which of the following strategies undertaken by students does your organisation value when recruiting graduates? Across the four stakeholder groups, 705 responses were received and analysed. The key findings were discrepancies between the strategies reported in the literature and those indicated in the surveys, as well as discrepancies between stakeholder groups in regard to which strategies were indicated.
Immunolocalization of G‐Protein Alpha Subunits in the Olfactory System of the Cartilaginous Fish Scyliorhinus Canicula

In the olfactory and vomeronasal systems of vertebrates, the morphology of the receptor neurons, the receptor gene family they express, the G‐protein coupled with the receptor (in particular the G‐protein alpha subunit), and their projection to the olfactory bulb are correlated. Much information about this complicated system have been collected in different groups, but nothing is known about Chondrichthyes. In this work, the presence and distribution of immunoreactivity for different types of G‐protein alpha subunit (Gαo, Gαq and Gαs/olf) were investigated in the olfactory mucosa and olfactory bulb of the shark Scyliorhinus canicula. Only Gαo‐like immunoreactivity was detected in the olfactory mucosa and bulb, both in tissues and homogenates. Its distribution was partially similar to that found in other vertebrates: it was localized in the microvillous receptor neurons, in numerous axon bundles of the fila olfactoria, in the stratum nervosum and in the most of glomeruli in the stratum glomerulosum. No immunoreactivity was instead observed in the crypt neurons, the second type of olfactory neurons present in cartilaginous fish. The projections of crypt neurons to olfactory bulb probably correspond to the few ventrally‐located glomeruli which were negative to the antiserum against Gαo. These data suggest, in S. canicula, different olfactory neuron types send projections to the olfactory bulb with a segregated distribution, as observed in other vertebrates. Anat Rec, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Brain abscess complicating cerebral infarct.

PRESENTATION We report a case of a 68-year-old man who suffered ischemic strokes in the left middle cerebral artery territory and three months later, following urosepsis, developed a cerebral abscess in the infarcted area. DISCUSSION A literature search found only eight other cases. We discuss herein the common clinical aspects of brain abscess complicating strokes, the co-existent diseases, and point out the possibility of underreporting this rare but treatable complication. CONCLUSION Cerebral abscess should be suspected in patients with a previous brain infarction or haemorrhage, who develop bacteremia and impaired consciousness without a clear explanation to their condition. Advanced age, and medical conditions known adversely to affect immunological competence reinforce the clinical suspicion.
Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism in the fadD28 Gene as a Genetic Marker for East Asia Lineage Mycobacterium tuberculosis

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates with a region of difference 105 (RD105) deletion, mainly Beijing family spoligotypes, were phylogenetically grouped into the East Asia lineage. We identified a single nucleotide polymorphism in codon 507, ATC to ATT, of the fadD28 gene as a robust marker and developed a rapid assay for East Asia lineage M. tuberculosis.
Molecular Networks of Human Muscle Adaptation to Exercise and Age

Physical activity and molecular ageing presumably interact to precipitate musculoskeletal decline in humans with age. Herein, we have delineated molecular networks for these two major components of sarcopenic risk using multiple independent clinical cohorts. We generated genome-wide transcript profiles from individuals (n = 44) who then undertook 20 weeks of supervised resistance-exercise training (RET). Expectedly, our subjects exhibited a marked range of hypertrophic responses (3% to +28%), and when applying Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) up-stream analysis to ∼580 genes that co-varied with gain in lean mass, we identified rapamycin (mTOR) signaling associating with growth (P = 1.4×10−30). Paradoxically, those displaying most hypertrophy exhibited an inhibited mTOR activation signature, including the striking down-regulation of 70 rRNAs. Differential analysis found networks mimicking developmental processes (activated all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA, Z-score = 4.5; P = 6×10−13) and inhibited aryl-hydrocarbon receptor signaling (AhR, Z-score = −2.3; P = 3×10−7)) with RET. Intriguingly, as ATRA and AhR gene-sets were also a feature of endurance exercise training (EET), they appear to represent “generic” physical activity responsive gene-networks. For age, we found that differential gene-expression methods do not produce consistent molecular differences between young versus old individuals. Instead, utilizing two independent cohorts (n = 45 and n = 52), with a continuum of subject ages (18–78 y), the first reproducible set of age-related transcripts in human muscle was identified. This analysis identified ∼500 genes highly enriched in post-transcriptional processes (P = 1×10−6) and with negligible links to the aforementioned generic exercise regulated gene-sets and some overlap with ribosomal genes. The RNA signatures from multiple compounds all targeting serotonin, DNA topoisomerase antagonism, and RXR activation were significantly related to the muscle age-related genes. Finally, a number of specific chromosomal loci, including 1q12 and 13q21, contributed by more than chance to the age-related gene list (P = 0.01–0.005), implying possible epigenetic events. We conclude that human muscle age-related molecular processes appear distinct from the processes regulated by those of physical activity.
Retrospective diagnosis of trisomy 15 in formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded placental tissue in a newborn girl with Prader–Willi syndrome

Paternal deletion of 15q11‐q13 and maternal uniparental disomy (UPD) of chromosome 15 are the main causes of Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS). The finding of an UPD(15) is associated with increased maternal age. We present a retrospective diagnosis of a trisomy 15 mosaicism confined to the placenta (CPM) after birth of a girl with clinical features of PWS born to a 43‐year‐old mother. Chromosome analysis after amniocentesis, performed because of advanced maternal age, had shown a normal female karyotype. In peripheral blood cells molecular studies showed the absence of the paternal allele at the SNRPN locus and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis excluded a deletion of the SNRPN locus on both chromosomes 15. Trisomic cells were detected by FISH on nuclei isolated from formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded placental tissue using a DNA‐probe specific for the centromeric region of chromosome 15. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Accuracy of ICD–9–CM codes in hospital morbidity data, Victoria: implications for public health research

Abstract: Hospital morbidity data in the form of International classification of diseases, 9th revision, clinical modification codes are often used for epidemiological studies and disease surveillance. We aimed to evaluate the reliability of the Victorian In–patient Minimum Database for use in epidemiological studies and disease surveillance. Data from 1993–94 were collected, as part of a coding audit of public hospitals in Victoria, from 7052 randomly selected records. The frequency of discrepancy in any coding field was 53 per cent, and of discrepancy in the principal diagnosis, 22 per cent. New Australian national diagnosis–related group (ANDRG) codes were assigned as a result of discrepancy in 13.6 per cent of cases. Discrepancy rates increased with increasing rarity of ANDRG, from 50 per cent to 56 per cent. Predictors of change in ANDRG assignment were discrepancy in the principal diagnosis, ANDRG frequency of over 0.6 per cent, more than three diagnoses, medical ANDRGs, length of stay over five days and rural hospitals. Rates of any discrepancy increased from 36 per cent in patients with one diagnosis to 94 per cent in patients with 12 diagnoses. The discrepancy rates were consistent with those of other studies. Coding discrepancy is likely to be caused by universal difficulties associated with the coding of hospital records, rather than any unique local problems. The predictors of discrepancy suggest that more complex cases are more prone to coding discrepancy. In areas where the database is less reliable, use of a supplementary data source, such as linkage studies, would improve reliability. (Aust N Z J Public Health 1997; 21: 477–82)
Multipulse power rectifier without using multiphase transformers

In this paper it is proposed a novel hybrid three-phase rectifier capable to achieve high input power factor (PF), and low total harmonic distortion in the input currents (THD/sub 1/). The proposed hybrid high power rectifier is composed by a standard three-phase 6-pulse diode rectifier (Graetz bridge) with a parallel connection of single-phase boost rectifiers in each three-phase rectifier leg. Such topology results in a structure capable of programming the input current waveform and providing conditions for obtaining high input power factor and low harmonic current distortion. In order to validate the proposed hybrid rectifier, this paper describes its principles of operation, with detailed experimental results and discussions on power rating of the required boost converters as related to the desired total harmonic current distortion. It is demonstrated that only a fraction of the output power is processed through the boost converters, making the proposed solution economically viable for very high power installations, with fast pay back of the investment. Moreover, retrofitting to existing installations is also feasible since the parallel path can be easily controlled by integration with the existing DC-link. A prototype rated at 6 kW has been implemented in laboratory and fully demonstrated its operation, performance and feasibility to high power applications.
Quality of Life and Life Events of Living Unrelated Kidney Donors in Iran: A Multicenter Study

Background. A controlled living unrelated kidney donors (LURDs) transplant program has been started from 1988 in Iran. We surveyed LURDs to investigate the extent to which they experienced stressful life events before donation and their quality of life after donation. Methods. Five hundred donors were approached. Donors were included in the study provided that donation had taken place at least 3 months before the study. Paykel Life Events Scale and The World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief version (WHOQOL-Bref) were used in this study. Results. Complete data were available for 424 (84.8%) donors. The mean age was 27.6±4.6 years and 84.4% of the participants were men. Ninety-five percent of the respondents reported having experienced at least one stressful life event during the 6 months before kidney donation. The three most frequently experienced life events were the increase in life expenses, low income, and household duties. The most stressful life events were job loss, financial problems, and death of a family member. The participants reported more stressful life events with a mean total stress score (112.6±75.0) double than the findings of a previous study in normal population. In all the four domains of WHOQOL-BREF, the participating donors scored lower than previously determined community norms. Conclusion. We observed that the quality of life of Iranian LURDs may be low and they may be at risk of experiencing more stressful life events. To be most efficient, the health services should continue after donation and compensate for mental health and psychosocial problems as well.
Pharmacokinetics of intravenous cefetamet (Ro 15-8074) and oral cefetamet pivoxil (Ro 15-8075) in young and elderly subjects

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of advanced age on the pharmacokinetics of cefetamet and its prodrug, cefetamet pivoxil. A secondary objective of this study was to assess the effect of food on the absorption of cefetamet pivoxil in the elderly. Twenty-four healthy subjects (twelve young and twelve elderly) received (in a Latin square design) a single-dose, 515-mg infusion of cefetamet, a single 1,000-mg oral dose of cefetamet pivoxil during fasted conditions, and a single 1,000-mg oral dose of cefetamet pivoxil 10 min after a standardized low-fat breakfast. Serial blood and urine samples were collected over a 36-h period and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Intravenous and oral pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained by using model-independent techniques. The systemic clearance and renal clearance of cefetamet were significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in elderly subjects compared with in young controls after intravenous administration. No significant difference was observed in the apparent volumes of distribution at steady state between the two groups. Consequently, half-life and mean residence time were prolonged. A trend toward a lower renal clearance/creatinine clearance ratio was observed in our elderly population. Oral clearance of cefetamet was only slightly reduced in our elderly subjects, consistent with an increase in plasma half-life. Otherwise, oral pharmacokinetic parameters were comparable between elderly and young subjects. Additionally, the same effects of food were observed on the absorption characteristics of cefetamet (no change in maximum concentration of drug in plasma and an increase in both time to maximum concentration of drug in plasma and bioavailability) in our elderly subjects as in our young volunteers. Age did not appear to alter the deesterification and bioavailability of cefetamet pivoxil. We conclude that the small reduction in the elimination of cefetamet in the elderly would not require dose adjustment for this population.