Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Informed consent, cancer, and truth in prognosis.

Barbara Tuchman records that during the Black Death epidemic in the early 14th century, “doctors were admired, lawyers universally hated and mistrusted”1. The great plagues and wars of the Middle Ages produced a “cult of death,” including a vast popular literature that had death as its theme. As the 20th century closes, our emphasis is on the denial of death, and the honest discussion of death remains rare both in popular literature and in conversations between physicians and patients. This is one reason why Shana Alexander shocked a national conference of bioethicists last year by saying, “I trust my .
The Relevance of Economic, Institutional and Cultural Determinants for Venture Capital Investments. A US-Europe Comparison.

Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.usfca. edu/thes Part of the Comparative Politics Commons, Corporate Finance Commons, Economic History Commons, Economic Policy Commons, Finance and Financial Management Commons, Industrial Organization Commons, Other Economics Commons, Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation Commons, Regional Economics Commons, Science and Technology Policy Commons, and the Technology and Innovation Commons
Threshold for treatment of intracranial hypertension

In children with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), mortality is often the result of a refractory increase in ICP. Furthermore, the need to prevent raised ICP is recognized as central to current neurocritical care of children after severe TBI. Management of severe TBI in the pediatric intensive care unit is largely focused on the management of raised ICP and preservation of cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). Brief increases in ICP that return to normal in 5 mins may be insignificant; however, sustained increases of 20 mm Hg for 5 mins likely warrant treatment (1). Based in large part on studies in adults, an ICP treatment threshold of 20 mm Hg has been used in most centers for decades. However, the optimal ICP target or targets for pediatric TBI remain to be defined. Normal values for mean arterial blood pressure and hence CPP are lower in children, particularly in infants and young children. It has also been shown in anesthetized children without TBI that the lower CPP limit of autoregulation of cerebral blood flow is, surprisingly, similar in young children vs. older children—and does not decrease below approximately 60 mm Hg (2). Thus, young children have less autoregulatory reserve than older children—i.e., the difference in CPP between normal and the lower limit of autoregulation is smaller in infants and young children than it is in older children. This suggests the possible need to set a lower ICP therapeutic target for infants and young children than older children or adults with TBI. As shown in the “Scientific Foundation” section, most of the evidence specific to pediatrics supports an ICP threshold of 20 mm Hg; however, individual reports do support lower ICP thresholds (as low as 15 mm Hg). However, some pediatric studies suggest higher thresholds (35 or even 40 mm Hg). Thus, although an ICP threshold of 20 mm Hg is generally used, and even lower threshold may physiologically make sense for infants and young children, the optimal threshold for ICP-directed therapy and whether or not it should be adjusted for children of different ages deserves additional investigation. It should also be recognized that some of the studies defining the ICP threshold used therapies that are not contemporary such as aggressive hyperventilation. Finally, in light of the heterogeneity of the pathology and pathophysiology in pediatric TBI, ICP management may need to be individualized in some cases.
Biological and Environmental Predictors of Behavioral Sequelae in Children Born Preterm

OBJECTIVE: By using behavioral outcome measures of children who were born preterm, we evaluated differences between children who were born at term and children who were born at extremely low (ELBW; <1000 g) and very low birth weights (VLBW; 1000–1499 g) and assessed the relationship of birth weight, socioeconomic status, and cognitive ability to behavioral outcome. METHODS: We studied a total of 104 children (aged 7–16 years). Of these, 49 had a preterm birth (31 of ELBW and 18 of VLBW). The remaining 55 were healthy control subjects. Children were administered tests of cognitive ability. Parents and teachers completed behavioral assessments. Multivariate analyses of covariance assessed differences between children who were born at term and those who were born of ELBW and of VLBW on behavioral measures. Hierarchical linear regressions were used to assess relationships among biological (birth weight), environmental (socioeconomic status), intellectual, and behavioral variables. RESULTS: Children who were born at term had fewer parent reports of hyperactivity/inattention and depression/anxiety symptoms than children of ELBW and VLBW. Teacher ratings were not significant between groups. Birth weight was consistently the strongest predictor of parent ratings of behavioral outcome, and intelligence level did not seem to mediate this relationship. CONCLUSIONS: Negative behavioral sequelae of preterm birth remain significant in middle childhood and adolescence, although the contribution of multiple factors to neurobehavioral outcome is complex. Research to assess these relationships, integrated with anatomic and functional neuroimaging, is needed to advance knowledge and improve outcomes for children who are born preterm.
Environmentally Induced Epigenetic Transgenerational Inheritance of Reproductive Disease

ABSTRACT Reproductive disease and fertility issues have dramatically increased in the human population over the last several decades, suggesting environmental impacts. Epigenetics provides a mechanistic link by which an organism can respond to environmental factors. Interestingly, environmentally induced epigenetic alterations in the germ line can promote aberrant gene expression and disease generationally. Environmentally induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance is defined as germ-line transmission of altered epigenetic information between generations in the absence of continued environmental exposures. This form of nongenetic inheritance has been shown to directly influence fertility and reproductive disease. This review describes the studies in a variety of species that impact reproductive disease and abnormalities. Observations suggest serious attention be paid to the possibility that ancestral exposures to environmental insults promotes transgenerational inheritance of reproductive disease susceptibility. Environmentally induced epigenetic transgenerational inheritance appears to be an important contributing factor to reproductive disease in many organisms, including humans.
Design and Experiment of Nonlinear Observer with Adaptive Gains for Battery State of Charge Estimation

State of charge (SOC) is an important evaluation index for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in electric vehicles (EVs). This paper proposes a nonlinear observer with a new adaptive gain structure for SOC estimation based on a second-order RC model. It is able to dynamically adjust the gains and obtain a better balance between convergence speed and estimation accuracy with less computational time. A sufficient condition is derived to guarantee the uniform asymptotic stability of the observer, and its robustness with respect to disturbances and uncertainties is analyzed with the help of input-to-state stability (ISS) theory. A selection guide of the observer gains in practical application is presented. The estimation accuracy and convergence rate of the observer are evaluated and compared with those of extended Kalman filter (EKF) based on multi-temperature datasets from two different types of LIB cells. The robustness against different disturbances and uncertainties that may appear in a real vehicle is validated and discussed in detail. The experimental results show that the proposed observer is capable of achieving better performance with less computational time in comparison to EKF for different types of LIB cells under various working conditions. The observer is also capable of estimating SOC accurately for real life conditions according to the validation results of datasets from a battery management system (BMS) in an EV battery pack. Furthermore, the observer is simple enough, and is suitable for implementation on embedded hardware for LIB cells of EVs.
Structural and germination defects of Bacillus subtilis spores with altered contents of a spore coat protein

The start sites for transcription and translation of a Bacillus subtilis spore coat protein gene, cotT, were determined. The CotT protein was synthesized as a 10.1-kDa precursor which was processed to a coat polypeptide of 7.8 kDa. Insertional inactivation of the cotT gene resulted in spores with an altered appearance of the inner coat layers and slow germination in response to a germination solution containing fructose, glucose, and asparagine. Rates of germination in L-alanine and in Penassay broth were the same as that of the wild type. A strain containing the cotT gene on a low-copy-number plasmid produced spores with an excess of CotT precursor and a thickening of the striated inner coat. These spores responded poorly to all of the germinants mentioned above. A site-directed mutation of the codon at the processing site of CotT resulted in the accumulation of the precursor in sporulating cells and on the spores, but there was no effect on the germination rates or solvent resistance of these spores. Both the lack and the overproduction of CotT led to subtle alterations in the structure of the inner spore coat and in the capacity of spores to respond to particular germinants.
Coarse-Grained Atomistics Via Meshless and Mesh-Based Quasicontinuum Techniques

Spatial coarse-graining techniques are powerful methods to overcome the computational limits of molecular dynamics. In order to extend atomistic simulations of crystalline materials to the micronscale and beyond, the quasicontinuum (QC) approximation [1-3] reduces large crystalline atomistic ensembles to a significantly smaller number of representative atoms with suitable interpolation schemes to infer the motion of all particles. In contrast to most other concurrent multiscale techniques, this allows for the simulation of large systems solely based on interatomic potentials and thus without the need for (oftentimes phenomenological) continuum constitutive models. This promises superior accuracy for predictive simulations at the mesoand macroscales. Here, we will discuss one such coarse-graining scheme, viz. a fully-nonlocal energy-based QC technique [4,5] which excels by minimal approximation errors and vanishing force artefacts (a common problem in concurrent scale-coupling methods) [6]. Our model is equipped with automatic adaptation techniques to effectively tie atomistic resolution to regions of interest while efficiently coarse-graining the remaining solid. We review both mesh-based [6] and meshless formulations [4]. The former adopts methods from finite elements (using an affine interpolation on a Delaunay triangulation), whereas the latter is based on local maximum-entropy interpolation schemes. In both cases, the result is a computational toolbox for coarse-grained atomistic simulations, whose computational challenges are quite similar to those of molecular dynamics. Finite temperature extensions as well as coarse-graining in time can be incorporated in the presented framework [7]. We will review the underlying theory and give an overview of the state of the art, followed by a suite of numerical examples demonstrating the benefits and limitations of the nonlocal energy-based QC method. Examples range from nanoindentation and material failure to defect interactions and nanoscale mechanical size effects.
The influence of contact interface characteristics on vibration-induced fretting degradation

Vibration induced fretting degradation is a widely recognized failure phenomenon; however, the basic mechanisms that control the onset and progression of such fretting behavior are not well understood and are a topic of considerable interest in the electrical connector community. One specific issue is the need for a more detailed understanding of the mechanisms controlling the fretting degradation. The present study addresses these questions and develops answers using the results from a series of experimental tests of sample connectors which are subjected to single-frequency vibration profiles at room temperature. These test specimens are a series of dual-row 16-circuit automotive connectors in which the plating finish and contact normal force are varied. The results are presented and discussed in light of earlier investigations.
Relational factors that explain supply chain relationships

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to gain a better understanding of the types of relationships that exist along the supply chain and the capabilities that are needed to manage them effectively. ---------- Design/methodology/approach: This is exploratory research as there has been little empirical research into this area. Quantitative data were gathered by using a self-administered questionnaire, using the Australian road freight industry as the context. There were 132 usable responses. Inferential and descriptive analysis, including factor analysis, confirmatory factor and regression analysis was used to examine the predictive power of relational factors in inter-firm relationships. ---------- Findings: Three factors were identified as having significant influence on relationships: sharing, power and interdependency. “Sharing” is the willingness of the organisation to share resources with other members of the supply chain. “Power” relates to exercising control based on experience, knowledge and position in the supply chain. “Interdependency” is the relative levels of dependency along the supply chain. ---------- Research limitations/implications: The research only looks at the Australian road freight industry; a wider sample including other industries would help to strengthen the generalisability of the findings. ---------- Practical implications: When these factors are correlated to the types of relationship, arm's length, cooperation, collaboration and alliances, managerial implications can be identified. The more road freight businesses place importance on power, the less they will cooperate. The greater the importance of sharing and interdependency, the greater is the likelihood of arm's length relationships. ---------- Originality/value: This paper makes a contribution by describing empirical work conducted in an under-researched but important area – supply chain relationships in the Australian road freight industry.
Systematic bias in traumatic brain injury outcome studies because of loss to follow-up.

OBJECTIVE To identify potential sources of selection bias created by subjects lost to follow-up in studies of traumatic brain injury (TBI). DESIGN Demographic, premorbid, injury-related, and hospital course characteristics were compared for subjects lost and found for 1- and 2-year postinjury follow-ups by using bivariate tests and logistic regression analysis. SETTING Three prospective, longitudinal data sets-a single center, a multicenter, and a statewide incidence surveillance system and follow-up registry. PARTICIPANTS Adolescents and adults hospitalized with a diagnosis of TBI. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Subjects were considered lost when no information was collected from the person with TBI or only limited information could be obtained from a proxy, for any reason, including death, refusal, inability to locate, and inability to interview. RESULTS At year 1 follow-up, 58.0% to 58.6% of subjects were found; 39.7% to 42.0% of subjects were found by year 2. Variables most frequently associated with loss to follow-up were cause of injury, blood alcohol level, motor function, hospital payer source, and race and ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS TBI follow-up studies may experience selective attrition of subjects who (1) are socioeconomically disadvantaged, (2) have a history of substance abuse, and (3) have violent injury etiologies. These phenomena are mitigated for those with more severe motor deficits. Loss to follow-up may be a problem inherent to this population; however, the high rate and its selective nature are problematic for outcome studies.
AN ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK: CREDIT RISK CONTINGENCY AND THE SUBSIDY DEPENDENCE INDEX

Against the backdrop of the Asian financial crisis, we offer an analysis of one finan cial institution, a government-operated bank in Thailand, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC). This article ties the actual BAAC operating systems to the theory of an optimal allocation of risk bearing. We recommend accordingly a revised and more appropriate accounting of BAAC operations. That is, we argue for the use of accounting and financial reporting stan dards appropriate for intermediaries with risk-contingencies in debt contracts. That in turn would allow an evaluation of the magnitude of the government subsidy, some thing which could be compared with the insurance benefit the BAAC offers to Thai far mers, as derived from panel data. The lessons we draw in this article are not peculiar to the BAAC and Thailand alone but apply more generally to institutions in other emer ging market economies and in industrialized, developed economies such as the U.S.
Differential activity of the 30-kD and the 100-kD forms of 2'-5'An synthetase induced by recombinant human interferon-alpha and interferon-gamma.

Two molecular weight variants of the interferon (IFN)-induced intracellular enzyme 2',5'-oligoadenylate (2-5A) synthetase have been described recently; a 100-kD (cytoplasmic) and a 30-kD (intranuclear) form of the enzyme. The 30-kD form has been located primarily in the nucleus, while the 100-kD enzyme was found mainly in the cytoplasm. We examined 2-5A synthetase activity in extracts of human melanoma (Hs294t) cells treated with either recombinant (r) IFN-alpha A or rIFN-gamma to determine the differential regulation of these enzyme subtypes by treatment with the two types of IFN. Cells were treated (continuous exposure) with doses of rIFN-alpha A (1,000 U/ml) or rIFN-gamma (5,000 U/ml), each of which reduced the number of viable cells to 50% of control values (ED50) by day 3 of treatment. At equieffective doses, the maximal increase in 2-5A synthetase occurred at 48 h for both rIFN-alpha A and rIFN-gamma continuous exposure. The maximal 2-5A intracellular activities at 48 h were 800 +/- 40 and 160 +/- 15 nmoles/mg protein for rIFN-alpha A and rIFN-gamma treatment, respectively. High-performance gel permeation chromatography of cell lysates resolved the 2-5A activity into both 100-kD and 30-kD fractions. At 48 h after treatment with rIFN-alpha A, the activity of the 30-kD synthetase was approximately twofold greater than that of the 100-kD enzyme. In contrast, the activity of both 30- and 100-kD enzymes were equivalent 48 h after treatment with rIFN-gamma. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Analyzing the cultural content of web sites

Purpose – To explore the depiction of cultural values on international web sites.Design/methodology/approach – To measure cultural content on the web Singh and Matsuo's conceptual framework was used. Content analysis was used to study the cultural content on web sites from China, India, Japan and the US.Findings – The results indicate that local web sites of India, China, Japan and US not only reflect cultural values of the country of their origin, but also seem to differ significantly from each other on cultural dimensions.Research limitations/implications – This study validates the cultural value framework of Singh and Matsuo by successfully using it to analyze the cultural content on various country web sites. The study also provides evidence to international marketers and academics that instead of a “transnational web style” a culturally unique web style is emerging on the web.Practical implications – Marketers need to culturally customize their international web sites as the web is emerging as global.
Involvement of plasma membrane redox systems in hormone action

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the common name used to describe the partially reduced forms of molecular oxygen that may be generated in cells during oxidative metabolism. They are normally considered to be toxic, and cells possess various defence systems to protect themselves including antioxidant enzymes and low molecular weight antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E. However, it is now clear that small amounts of ROS also act as messenger molecules in cell signal transduction pathways; the plasma membrane of eukaryotic cells in particular contains a variety of different ROS‐producing oxidases and reductases, of which the best characterized are the superoxide‐producing NADPH oxidases. It has been known for many years that membrane redox activity can be changed rapidly by various hormones and growth factors, but the molecular mechanisms involved and the physiological importance of this phenomenon have only recently begun to be unveiled. This review summarizes the state of the art on plasma membrane‐based ROS signalling in the pathways of insulin, steroid and thyroid hormones and growth factors. The apparent paradox of ROS being essential biomolecules in the regulation of cellular functions, but also toxic by‐products of metabolism, may be important for the pharmacological application of natural and synthetic antioxidants.
Polyvictimization, Childhood Victimization, and Psychological Distress in College Women

Two studies examined the relationships among polyvictimization (i.e., high cumulative levels of victimization), six categories of childhood victimization (i.e., property crime, physical assault, peer/sibling, witnessed/indirect, sexual, and child maltreatment), and current psychological symptomatology in college females. Results indicated that exposure to multiple types of childhood victimization is common. Regression analyses revealed that polyvictimization accounted for a significant proportion of variability in scores for psychological distress beyond that accounted for by any victimization category alone. Moreover, the six categories separately accounted for little to no variability beyond that accounted for by polyvictimization. Finally, polyvictimization accounted for a significant proportion of variability in scores for psychological distress, beyond that already accounted for through the simultaneous entry of all six categories of victimization. Findings reiterate the importance for clinicians and researchers to comprehensively assess multiple categories of childhood victimization and polyvictimization and provide preliminary evidence that the total number of lifetime victimizations is at least as important, if not more important, than individual categories of victimization in predicting psychological distress.
The Effects of Moody´sSovereign Ratings on European Stock Markets

The purpose of this study is to examine if the sovereign ratings which Moody’s provide have any effect on the respective countries stock markets. This study is only focusing on announcements made by Moody’s and include all rating changes available for our chosen sample of countries. It is of importance to examine, not only the effects of rating changes made by Moody’s but also if the magnitude of the effects has changed after the crisis in 2008 from what it was before. Our research is based on price series data from 11 European countries that have had a debt to GDP ratio of 80 % or more between the years of 2008-2012. An event study methodology has been applied when analyzing the time series data using linear regressions with the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method in order to examine if there exist abnormal returns in relation to credit changes. Our results suggest that credit changes announced by Moody’s do have an impact on the sample of stock markets and that the effects of negative credit changes have increased. We also conclude that the persistency of these negative effects has increased after the crisis of 2008.