cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiative damping of trapped gravity waves in the solar atmosphere

The radiative damping of trapped gravity waves in an optically thin atmosphere is studied for a stratified Boussinesq fluid. The character of the atmospheric eigenmodes depends on the distribution of the Brunt-Vaisala frequency N and the radiative relaxation time tau. The calculations for simple layer models show that if N x tau is large over some finite fraction of the trapping region, then modes of long lifetime can exist. In order to suppress gravity waves entirely, it is necessary that N x tau be less than or equal to 1 over the entire trapping region. Qualitative application of the results to the solar atmosphere leads to the conclusion that gravity wave eigenmodes of the solar atmosphere, although damped, are by no means eliminated by radiative effects.
Testing of a New Disinfectant Process for Poultry Viruses

The chemical compound metam-sodium was tested at three concentrations for the ability to inactivate the infectivity of low-pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) and infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), with virus-contaminated chicken litter used as the substrate. LPAIV was inactivated within 1 hr after the addition of metam-sodium independent of the concentration used. IBDV was not inactivated with the lowest amount of metam-sodium, but at higher concentrations the virus was inactivated within 1 hr after application. The results show that metam-sodium is able to penetrate chicken litter and inactivate enveloped as well as nonenveloped viruses because of its ability to form the active compound methyl isothiocyanate, which acts as a fumigant.
It’s Personal: Biology Instructors Prioritize Personal Evidence over Empirical Evidence in Teaching Decisions

Despite many calls for undergraduate biology instructors to incorporate active learning into lecture courses, few studies have focused on what it takes for instructors to make this change. We sought to investigate the process of adopting and sustaining active-learning instruction. As a framework for our research, we used the innovation-decision model, a generalized model of how individuals adopt innovations. We interviewed 17 biology instructors who were attempting to implement case study teaching and conducted qualitative text analysis on interview data. The overarching theme that emerged from our analysis was that instructors prioritized personal experience—rather than empirical evidence—in decisions regarding case study teaching. We identified personal experiences that promote case study teaching, such as anecdotal observations of student outcomes, and those that hinder case study teaching, such as insufficient teaching skills. By analyzing the differences between experienced and new case study instructors, we discovered that new case study instructors need support to deal with unsupportive colleagues and to develop the skill set needed for an active-learning classroom. We generated hypotheses that are grounded in our data about effectively supporting instructors in adopting and sustaining active-learning strategies. We also synthesized our findings with existing literature to tailor the innovation-decision model.
[Efficacy of entecavir switching therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients with clevudine-induced myopathy].

Background/aims Clevudine is a potent antiviral agent against HBV. However, long-term clevudine therapy may cause myopathy. This study was carried out to identify the efficacy of entecavir switching therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients experiencing clevudine-induced myopathy. Methods One hundred forty six patients with chronic hepatitis B treated with 30 mg of clevudine per day for 73 weeks (range, 36-132 weeks) were enrolled. Among them, clevudine-induced myopathy occurred in 21 patients (14.4%) which was diagnosed if the patients had symptoms related to myopathy with concurrent CK and AST elevation. All the patients who were diagnosed as clevudine-induced myopathy stopped the therapy, and 17 patients (81%) were switched to entecavir 0.5 mg. Results The patients with clevudine-induced myopathy were switched to entecavir 0.5 mg for median 68 weeks, and all of them showed disappearance of clinical myopathic symptoms and normalization of CK and AST level within median 2.2 months. Eight patients (47%) were HBeAg positive before entecavir treatment, and HBeAg seroconversion was achieved in 2 patients (25%). HBV DNA level was elevated in 3 patients (17.6%) at the time when the patients were diagnosed as myopathy, all of them achieved virological response with entecavir switching therapy. ALT level was elevated in 3 patients (17.6%) before entecavir treatment, all of them showed normalization of ALT level. During entecavir therapy, genotypic resistance to entecavir or virological breakthrough was not noted. Conclusions In chronic hepatitis B patients experiencing clevudine-induced myopathy, switching to entecavir 0.5 mg per day showed a resolution of myopathy and adequate viral suppression.
Growing Up With Civil Rights A Developmental Autoethnography

The author consults family documents to write the story of one White family’s social, rhetorical, and psychological development in relationship to the American Civil Rights Movement, from 1948 to the early 1970s and after. The father in the family is a progressive Southern minister; the daughter reflects on how the family and the social movement matured together, and the lasting effects on her family’s life. Personal stories of involvement in civil rights are related to illuminate the personal in the political.
Long-Term Effects of Early Childhood Programs on Cognitive and School Outcomes.

The extent to which early childhood programs produce long-term benefits in children’s cognitive development, socialization, and school success is a matter of some controversy. This article reviews 36 studies of both model demonstration projects and large-scale public programs to examine the long-term effects of these programs on children from low-income families. The review carefully considers issues related to research design. It includes studies of preschool education, Head Start, child care, and home visiting programs, and focuses primarily on the effects of program participation on children’s cognitive development. Results indicate that early childhood programs can produce large short-term benefits for children on intelligence quotient (IQ) and sizable long-term effects on school achievement, grade retention, placement in special education, and social adjustment. Not all programs produce these benefits, perhaps because of differences in quality and funding across programs. The article concludes with recommendations for future action.
Data standards for clinical research data collection forms: current status and challenges

Case report forms (CRFs) are used for structured-data collection in clinical research studies. Existing CRF-related standards encompass structural features of forms and data items, content standards, and specifications for using terminologies. This paper reviews existing standards and discusses their current limitations. Because clinical research is highly protocol-specific, forms-development processes are more easily standardized than is CRF content. Tools that support retrieval and reuse of existing items will enable standards adoption in clinical research applications. Such tools will depend upon formal relationships between items and terminological standards. Future standards adoption will depend upon standardized approaches for bridging generic structural standards and domain-specific content standards. Clinical research informatics can help define tools requirements in terms of workflow support for research activities, reconcile the perspectives of varied clinical research stakeholders, and coordinate standards efforts toward interoperability across healthcare and research data collection.
RAINFALL AND GUTHION 2S INTERACTIONS AFFECT GRAY-TAILED VOLE DEMOGRAPHY

The “quotient method” (QM), a pesticide risk-assessment model used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, assumes that the expected exposure concentration of a contaminant is a function of application rate immediately after pesticide application. The QM does not take into account weather conditions (e.g., rainfall) at the time of spray. We used gray-tailed voles (Microtus canicaudus) as an experimental model species to field-test this assumption of the QM by simulating a 0.25-cm rainfall. In June 1999, we placed voles into 16, 0.2-ha enclosures planted with a mixture of pasture grasses. In early August, we applied 2.44 kg/ha of the insecticide Guthion 2S (azinphos-methyl) in four treatments; a dry control, a wet control (“rain”), a dry treatment (sprayed with Guthion 2S, no “rain”), and a wet treatment (sprayed with Guthion 2S and “rain” within 24 h). We used four replicate populations for each treatment. Survival rates of male voles in dry-treatment enclosures declined throughout the rest of study following pesticide application, while male survival rates displayed short-term increases in other treatments. Rainfall improved male survival and may have mitigated the adverse effects of Guthion 2S. We also detected significant time × treatment interactions on population size and population growth rates of voles. Guthion 2S treatment depressed population size and growth rate in the dry treatment; however, rainfall may have reduced the risk of Guthion 2S to voles. The interaction between rainfall and Guthion 2S application resulted in a deviation from the risk predicted by the QM.
CCR5 Signaling Suppresses Inflammation and Reduces Adverse Remodeling of the Infarcted Heart, Mediating Recruitment of Regulatory T Cells

Myocardial infarction triggers an inflammatory reaction that is involved in cardiac remodeling. Cardiac repair is dependent on regulatory mechanisms that suppress inflammation and prevent excessive matrix degradation. Chemokine induction in the infarcted heart mediates recruitment of leukocyte subsets with distinct properties. We demonstrate that signaling through the CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) prevents uncontrolled postinfarction inflammation and protects from adverse remodeling by recruiting suppressive mononuclear cells. CCR5 and its ligands macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)−1α and MIP-1β were markedly induced in the infarcted mouse myocardium. In addition, almost 40% of the mononuclear cells infiltrating the infarct expressed CCR5. CCR5−/− mice exhibited marked upregulation of proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression in the infarct. In wild-type infarcts CCR5+ mononuclear cells had anti-inflammatory properties, expressing higher levels of IL-10 than CCR5− cells. In contrast, mononuclear cells isolated from CCR5−/− infarcts had reduced IL-10 expression. Moreover, enhanced inflammation in the absence of CCR5 was associated with impaired recruitment of CD4+/foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). The CCR5+ Treg subset exhibited increased IL-10 expression, reflecting potent anti-inflammatory activity. Accentuated inflammation in CCR5−/− infarcts was associated with increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression, reduced TIMP levels, and enhanced MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity, resulting in worse cardiac dilation. These results suggest that CCR5-mediated Treg recruitment may restrain postinfarction inflammation, preventing excessive matrix degradation and attenuating adverse remodeling.
Impact of component technologies and physical design methodologies on high density wireless products

Advances in the capability of IC packaging, component technologies, and printed circuit board manufacturing has given wireless product designers the ability to develop highly functional devices in small form factors. Technologies such as 2D and 3D chip scale packages (CSP), 0201 microcomponents, high density circuit boards, and embedded/integrated substrates have enabled portable wireless products with digital pad densities greater than 600 pads/in/sup 2/ when only two years ago pad densities were <350 pads/in/sup 2/. This paper discusses the methodology developed and tools deployed to select the appropriate component technology and enable high-density physical designs. It provides an in-depth look at the system-level approach used to enable high-density designs in 3G and iDEN/spl reg/ wireless phones and public safety radios which integrate high pin count 0.5 mm micro-BGAs, multi-layer high density interconnect printed circuit boards, and 0201 chip components.
Universal regulators for minimum phase nonlinear systems

We consider a single-input single-output (SISO) nonlinear system which has a well defined normal form with asymptotically stable zero dynamics. Using only knowledge of the relative degree and the sign of the high-frequency gain, we design an output feedback integral controller which asymptotically regulates the output to a bounded time-varying reference signal with a constant limit. We give regional as well as semi-global results.
Two-photon in vivo microscopy of sulfonefluorescein secretion in normal and cystic rat kidneys.

Sulfonefluorescein (SF) is a fluorescent organic anion secreted by kidney proximal tubules. The purposes of this study were 1) to quantify accumulation of SF in normal and cystic rat kidneys in viv...
PCI Considerations in Women: Gender-Specific Outcomes and Challenges

Despite major advancements in therapies aimed at reducing the dreaded complications of heart disease, cardiovascular disease still remains the leading cause of death among women accounting for more deaths than cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and pneumonia combined (Leading causes of death in females United States, 2007. [Webpage]. 2011; leading causes of death in females for 2007. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/women/lcod/. Accessed 14 Apr 2012). Furthermore, differences in presentation, treatment, and outcome exist between men and women, but these differences are often difficult to quantify, partly due to an underrepresentation of women in clinical trials. As life expectancy increases, the prevalence of CAD among women will increase thereby necessitating a more thorough understanding of treatment differences between genders. Current advances in research and therapies show promise to elucidate the inherent gender differences and improve outcomes.
Addition compounds of HfCl4 and ZrCl4 with organic ligands

Abstract Addition compounds of HfCl 4 and ZrCl 4 with eight organic ligands have been prepared and analyzed. Infrared spectra and thermal decomposition measurements have demonstrated the similarity of properties between addition compounds of these two metal tetrahalides.
Complexes possessing rare "tertiary" sulfonamide nitrogen-to-metal bonds of normal length: fac-[Re(CO)3(N(SO2R)dien)]PF6 complexes with hydrophilic sulfonamide ligands.

Tertiary sulfonamide nitrogen-to-metal bonds of normal length are very rare. We recently discovered such a bond in one class of fac-[Re(CO)3(N(SO2R)(CH2Z)2)]n complexes (Z = 2-pyridyl) with N(SO2R)dpa ligands derived from di-(2-picolyl)amine (N(H)dpa). fac-[M(CO)3(N(SO2R)(CH2Z)2)]n agents (M = 186/188Re, 99mTc) could find use as radiopharmaceutical bioconjugates when R is a targeting moiety. However, the planar, electron-withdrawing 2-pyridyl groups of N(SO2R)dpa destabilize the ligand to base and create relatively rigid chelate rings, raising the possibility that the rare M–N(sulfonamide) bond is an artifact of a restricted geometry. Also, the hydrophobic 2-pyridyl groups could cause undesirable accumulation in the liver, limiting future use in radiopharmaceuticals. Our goal is to identify a robust, hydrophilic, and flexible N(CH2Z)2 chelate framework. New C2-symmetric ligands, N(SO2R)(CH2Z)2 with (Z = CH2NH2; R = Me, dmb, or tol), were prepared by treating N(H)dien(Boc)2, a protected diethylenetriamine ...
Where the Inflection Points of a Polynomial May Lie

(1997). Where the Inflection Points of a Polynomial May Lie. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 70, No. 1, pp. 32-39.
Gun Lust: An Investigation into America's Sordid Gun Addiction

ABSTRACTThe essay investigates America's sordid gun addiction. It reviews actual gun usage during colonial times and the early independence decades to understand the rationale for the Second Amendment. Patriotic arguments by gun advocates that guns protect citizens from external invasion and internal tyranny are examined and found to be flawed and not believable. The issue of “gun equality” as personal self-defense as well as the widespread disbursal of handguns as a form of societal “gun detente” is also examined and found to be fallacious. Handgun distribution in the United States is argued to be a hidden form of class and race warfare, while the widespread disbursement of guns and military armament across the globe since World War II and increasing global violence represents the long-term failure of a gun obsessed American foreign policy. The Hobbesian state is explored as the ultimate dystopian refuge of gun rights proponents.
ANALYSIS OF AN AUTONOMOUS PHASE MODEL FOR NEURONAL PARABOLIC BURSTING

An understanding of the nonlinear dynamics of bursting is fundamental in unraveling structure-function relations in nerve and secretory tissue. Bursting is characterized by alternations between phases of rapid spiking and slowly varying potential. A simple phase model is developed to study endogenous parabolic bursting, a class of burst activity observed experimentally in excitable membrane. The phase model is motivated by Rinzel and Lee's dissection of a model for neuronal parabolic bursting (J. Math. Biol. 25, 653–675 (1987)). Rapid spiking is represented canonically by a one-variable phase equation that is coupled bi-directionally to a two-variable slow system. The model is analyzed in the slow-variable phase plane, using quasi steady-state assumptions and formal averaging. We derive a reduced system to explore where the full model exhibits bursting, steady-states, continuous and modulated spiking. The relative speed of activation and inactivation of the slow variables strongly influences the burst pattern as well as other dynamics. We find conditions of the bistability of solutions between continuous spiking and bursting. Although the phase model is simple, we demonstrate that it captures many dynamical features of more complex biophysical models.
A regularized linear dynamical system framework for multivariate time series analysis

Linear Dynamical System (LDS) is an elegant mathematical framework for modeling and learning Multivariate Time Series (MTS). However, in general, it is difficult to set the dimension of an LDS's hidden state space. A small number of hidden states may not be able to model the complexities of a MTS, while a large number of hidden states can lead to overfitting. In this paper, we study learning methods that impose various regularization penalties on the transition matrix of the LDS model and propose a regularized LDS learning framework (rLDS) which aims to (1) automatically shut down LDSs' spurious and unnecessary dimensions, and consequently, address the problem of choosing the optimal number of hidden states; (2) prevent the overfitting problem given a small amount of MTS data; and (3) support accurate MTS forecasting. To learn the regularized LDS from data we incorporate a second order cone program and a generalized gradient descent method into the Maximum a Posteriori framework and use Expectation Maximization to obtain a low-rank transition matrix of the LDS model. We propose two priors for modeling the matrix which lead to two instances of our rLDS. We show that our rLDS is able to recover well the intrinsic dimensionality of the time series dynamics and it improves the predictive performance when compared to baselines on both synthetic and real-world MTS datasets.
Oncotargets GD2 and GD3 are highly expressed in sarcomas of children, adolescents, and young adults

Background GD2 and GD3 are the tumor-associated glycolipid antigens found in a broad spectrum of human cancers. GD2-specific antibody is currently a standard of care for high risk neuroblastoma therapy. In this study, the pattern of GD2 and GD3 expression among pediatric/AYA (adolescent or young adult) tumors was determined, providing companion diagnostics for targeted therapy.
FACILITATION BY PYRIMIDINE NUCLEOSIDES AND HYPOX-ANTHINE OF MNNG MUTAGENESIS IN CHINESE HAMSTER CELLS

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the facilitation by pyrimidine nucleosides and hypoxanthine of N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) mutagenesis in Chinese hamster cells. In the experiment described in the chapter, hypoxanthine (Hx), thymidine (TdR), and deoxycytidine (CdR), at concentrations of 10 M, increased the yield of 8-azaguanine resistant (AzG ) mutants induced by MNNG in cultured Chinese hamster V79 cells. The cytotoxicity of MNNG was increased twofold in the presence of Hx, and tenfold in the presence of TdR. This effect of TdR was abolished by equal concentrations of CdR, which by itself did not increase the cytotoxicity of MNNG. The nucleosides did not affect the growth or expression time of the hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase deficient (HGPRT) mutants, and the same extent of alkali-labile DNA damage occurred in cells treated with alkylating agents in the presence and absence of TdR and CdR. The increase in mutation frequency in the presence of these nucleosides occurred not only with MNNG but also with ethylating agents and not only at the HGPRT locus but also at that of the ouabain sensitive sodium–potassium ATPase.
Co-occurring behavioral difficulties in children with severe feeding problems: A descriptive study

Abstract Background Recent literature highlights the association between behavioral difficulties and the presence of feeding problems in children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) relative to children with ASD without feeding problems. However, it is not clear to what extent behavior problems (outside of the meal setting) occur in children with feeding problems without comorbid ASD. Aims The purpose is to describe co-occurring behavioral difficulties of a sample of children with severe food refusal/selectivity and examine potential predictors of behavioral difficulties outside of the meal context. Method and procedures The medical charts of fifty-four patients were reviewed and data were collected on the frequency of caregiver coaching and/or behavioral intervention outside of the meal context. Age, presence of developmental delay/autism, and type of feeding problem were examined as potential predictors of behavioral support. Outcome and results Approximately half of the sample received coaching or individualized intervention. The percentage of caregivers who received individualize coaching were similar across groups. Younger age at admission was a predictor of individual caregiver coaching. Presence of delay/ASD, age, and type of feeding problems were not significant predictors for individualized treatment programing. Conclusion and implications These data provide evidence of difficult caregiver-child interactions that occurs outside of the meal context for some children with severe feeding difficulties and suggest that this association may not be exclusive to children with ASD.
Adult Onset Dysphagia: Right Sided Aortic Arch, Ductus Diverticulum, and Retroesophageal Ligamentum Arteriosum Comprising an Obstructing Vascular Ring.

A 49-year-old African American male patient with no past medical history was admitted because of 3 months of difficulty swallowing solid and liquid foods. He had constant retrosternal discomfort and appeared malnourished. The chest radiograph revealed a right sided aortic arch with tracheal deviation to the left. A swallow study confirmed a fixed esophageal narrowing at the level of T6. Contrast enhanced Computed Tomography (CT) angiogram of the chest and neck revealed a mirror image right aortic arch with a left sided cardiac apex and a prominent ductus diverticulum (measuring 1.7 × 1.8 cm). This structure extended posterior to and indented the mid esophagus. A left posterolateral thoracotomy was performed and the ductus diverticulum was resected. A retroesophageal ligamentum arteriosum was found during surgery and divided. This rare combination of congenital anatomical aberrations led to severe dysphagia in our patient. Successful surgical correction in the form of resection of the ductus diverticulum and division of the retroesophageal ligamentum arteriosum led to complete resolution of our patient’s symptoms.
Reading between the menu lines: Are restaurants' descriptions of "healthy" foods unappealing?

Objective As obesity rates continue to climb in America, much of the blame has fallen on the high-calorie meals at popular chain restaurants. Many restaurants have responded by offering "healthy" menu options. Yet menus' descriptions of healthy options may be less attractive than their descriptions of less healthy, standard options. This study examined the hypothesis that the words describing items in healthy menu sections are less appealing than the words describing items in standard menu sections. Method Menus from the top-selling American casual-dining chain restaurants with dedicated healthy submenus (N = 26) were examined, and the library of words from health-labeled items (N = 5,873) was compared to that from standard menu items (N = 38,343) across 22 qualitative themes (e.g., taste, texture). Results Log-likelihood ratios revealed that restaurants described healthy items with significantly less appealing themes and significantly more health-related themes. Specifically, healthy items were described as less exciting, fun, traditional, American regional, textured, provocative, spicy hot, artisanal, tasty, and indulgent than standard menu items, but were described with significantly more foreign, fresh, simple, macronutrient, deprivation, thinness, and nutritious words. Conclusion Describing the most nutritious menu options in less appealing terms may perpetuate beliefs that healthy foods are not flavorful or indulgent, and may undermine customers' choice of healthier dining options. From a public health perspective, incorporating more appealing descriptive language to boost the appeal of nutritious foods may be one avenue to improve dietary health. (PsycINFO Database Record
Parameters identification of a brushless doubly fed induction machine using pseudo-random binary signal excitation signal for recursive least squares method

Accurate brushless doubly fed induction machine (BDFIM) control is considered as a good alternative to traditional generators. Therefore, the knowledge of the parameters accuracy is necessary to design high-performance drives. In this study, an offline identification method to identify the BDFIM parameters is presented. This study investigates the input signal effects on the accuracy of the identified parameters. The similarity between BDFIM frequency model and the standard induction machine frequency model has been verified by comparing the step responses of the corresponding transfer functions. The obtained results would be a motivation for online identification techniques and BDFIM field-oriented control strategies. The proposed identification method has been validated by performing experimental results.
Role of NADPH oxidase in radiation-induced pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory pathways in mouse brain.

Purpose The present study was designed to investigate our hypothesis that NADPH oxidase plays a role in radiation-induced pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory environments in the brain. Materials and methods C57BL/6 mice received either fractionated whole brain irradiation or sham-irradiation. The mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α and MCP-1, were determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. The protein expression levels of TNF-α, MCP-1, NOX-2 and Iba1 were detected by immunofluorescence staining. The levels of ROS were visualized by in situ DHE fluorescence staining. Results A significant up-regulation of mRNA and protein expression levels of TNF-α and MCP-1 was observed in irradiated mouse brains. Additionally, immunofluorescence staining of Iba1 showed a marked increase of microglial activation in mouse brain after irradiation. Moreover, in situ DHE fluorescence staining revealed that fractionated whole brain irradiation significantly increased production of ROS. Furthermore, a significant increase in immunoreactivity of NOX-2 was detected in mouse brain after irradiation. On the contrary, an enhanced ROS generation in mouse brain after irradiation was markedly attenuated in the presence of NOX inhibitors or NOX-2 neutralizing antibody. Conclusions These results suggest that NOX-2 may play a role in fractionated whole brain irradiation-induced pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory pathways in mouse brain.
Pharmacological Inhibition of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa MvfR Quorum-Sensing System Interferes with Biofilm Formation and Potentiates Antibiotic-Mediated Biofilm Disruption

Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms contribute to its survival on biotic and abiotic surfaces and represent a major clinical threat due to their high tolerance to antibiotics. Therefore, the discovery of antibiofilm agents may hold great promise. We show that pharmacological inhibition of the P. aeruginosa quorum-sensing regulator MvfR (PqsR) using a benzamide-benzimidazole compound interferes with biofilm formation and potentiates biofilm sensitivity to antibiotics. Such a strategy could have great potential against P. aeruginosa persistence in diverse environments.
Risk Management in Project Environments: Reflection of The Standard Process

This research analyzes the concept of risk management in project environments by reflecting on the best practices that make up the standard risk management process in project environments. A meta-analysis approach was used to evaluate standard tools and approaches to risk management in project management environments. The study found that regardless of the project complexity or type of risk, there is a standard risk management process that should be followed when examining risk in project environments. In any project scenario, risk management has risk probability and impact assessment to investigate the likelihood that each risk occurs. It also focuses on the potential effects that a risk will have on a project’s objectives, including schedule, cost, quality, and performance. The study concludes that all project managers and organizational leaderships should know the standard risk management process in project management; it is only with a standard process that risks can be effectively identified, assessed, and mitigated.
Neuroimaging of parenchymal brain metastases.

Metastatic disease to the central nervous system (CNS) is common and accounts for approximately 37% of intracranial neoplasms [1]. Autopsy studies have shown that 24% of patients who die from cancer have intracranial metastasis and the estimated annual incidence is approximately 170,000 cases per year [2]. Earlier detection and improved treatment of primary malignancies have contributed to the increasingly important role of imaging to detect CNS dissemination.
The Spatial Dispersion of Atrial Refractoriness and Atrial Fibrillation Vulnerability

The local dispersion of conduction and refractoriness has been considered essential for induction of atrial arrhythmias. This study sought to determine whether a difference of refractoriness and vulnerability for induction of atrial fibrillation between trabeculated and smooth as well as high and low right atrium may contribute to initiation of atrial fibrillation in dogs. In 14 healthy mongrel dogs weighing 22.4 ± 1 kg, closed-chest endocardial programmed stimulation was performed from four distinct right atrial sites. Atrial refractory periods and vulnerability for induction of atrial fibrillation or premature atrial complexes were determined during a basic cycle length of 400 and 300 ms and an increasing pacing current strength. For a pacing cycle length of 300ms, atrial refractory periods were longer on the smooth, as compared to the trabeculated right atrium (102 ± 25 vs. 97 ± 17ms, p < 0.05), whereas for a pacing cycle length of 400ms, there was no significant difference. The duration of the vulnerability zone for induction of atrial fibrillation was longer on the smooth right atrium, for a cycle length of both 400 ms (40 ± 30 vs. 31 ± 22 ms; p < 0.05) and 300 ms (33 ± 25 vs. 23 ± 21 ms; p < 0.01). When comparing high and low right atrium, refractory periods were longer on the the low right atrium, for a cycle length of both 400 ms (111 ± 23 vs. 94 ± 24ms; p < 0.01) and 300 ms (104 ± 20 vs. 96 ± 23ms; p < 0.01). For a pacing cycle length of 300 ms, the duration of the atrial fibrillation vulnerability zone was longer for the high, as compared to the low right atrium (34 ± 22 vs. 22 ± 22, p < 0.01). Seven dogs with easily inducible episodes of atrial fibrillation demonstrated significantly shorter refractory periods as compared to 7 non-vulnerable dogs, regardless of pacing site and current strength. In conclusion, significant differences in refractoriness and vulnerability for induction of atrial fibrillation can be observed in the area of the crista terminalis in healthy dogs. Thus, local anatomic factors may play a role in the initiation of atrial fibrillation.
Effect of Dolomitic Lime Rate and Application Method on Substrate pH and Creeping Woodsorrel Establishment

Abstract Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of dolomitic lime rate and application method on substrate pH, creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata) establishment in containers, and g...
Effects of hip posture on the frontal impact tolerance of the human hip joint.

Dynamic hip tolerance tests were conducted on the right and left hips of 22 unembalmed cadavers to investigate the hypothesis that the orientation of the femur relative to the pelvis (hip posture) affects the fracture/dislocation tolerance of the hip joint to forces that are transmitted along the femur when knee-to-knee bolstering is taking place in head on collisions. The suggestion that hip posture affects fracture tolerance occurs due to the pattern of right- and left-side hip injuries to front seat vehicle occupants in head on collisions. The pelvis was fixed to minimize inertial effects and the knee was dynamically loaded in the direction of the long axis of the femur, in these tests. Thirty-five hip tolerances were successfully conducted.
Exposure to Man-Made Mineral Fibers: A Summary of Current Animal Data:

The inhalation of asbestos fibers (crocidolite, chrysotile and amosite) has been implicated in the development of a number of lung disorders including lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. The mechanism responsible for these effects is not well characterized but is generally thought to be related to the fibrous nature of these materials. Therefore, concerns have also been raised as to the potential health impact of other fibrous materials including man-made mineral fibers. Man-made mineral fibers are being used as substitutes for asbestos in a wide range of products. However, relatively little data are available on the potential health impact of these fibrous materials. Epidemiology and clinical studies have served as an important source of information on the effect of various environmental pollutants, but have not been sufficient to date to fully address the potential health impact of man-made mineral fibers. This is due in part to the relatively recent introduction of a number of these materials, the long latency period before the onset of clinical symptoms, and in general, the lower exposure levels associated with these materials. Therefore, a number of animal studies have been performed to predict or confirm the toxicity of various man-made mineral fibers in humans. Both fibrosis and mesothelioma have been induced in experimental animals exposed to man-made mineral fibers although no disease has been consistently observed in occupationally exposed workers.2+ While little is known about the mechanism of this response, information from animal and cell culture experiments indicate that dose, fiber dimension, and fiber durability are the most important factors in determining the biological activity of these materials.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Topical Application of 5-Fluorouracil Associated with Distant Seborrheic Dermatitis-like Eruption: Case Report and Review of Seborrheic Dermatitis Cutaneous Reactions after Systemic or Topical Treatment with 5-Fluorouracil

5-Fluorouracil is a fluoropyrimidine antineoplastic medication that is used to topically treat actinic keratoses. Although local adverse effects to the drug are common and anticipated, distant skin reactions are rare and unexpected. In this case report, we describe a patient who developed seborrheic dermatitis-like eruption at a distant site after topical application of 5-fluorouracil to his arms. A 63-year-old man with actinic keratoses on his arms developed a facial seborrheic dermatitis-like reaction after topically applying 5-fluorouracil 5% cream twice daily to actinic keratoses on his forearms for 7 days. The facial dermatosis resolved shortly after discontinuation of the 5-fluorouracil; upon rechallenge of topical 5-fluorouracil on his arms, the facial seborrheic dermatitis recurred. Several case reports have been published which describe exacerbations of preexisting seborrheic dermatitis with local topical 5-fluorouracil. Additionally, one case series describes the development of scrotal dermatitis in two patients after distant treatment with 5-fluorouracil. The pathogenesis that causes this distant reaction is unclear. We describe a patient with a seborrheic dermatitis eruption after topical application of 5-fluorouracil at a distant site. The etiologic association between the drug and adverse effect was confirmed with multiple cycles of application and discontinuation of the offending agent.
Co-Delivered Integrative Music and Language Therapy: Positive Outcomes Through Music Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology Collaboration

Purpose Persons with aphasia can sometimes retain the ability to sing, and several studies have shown the effectiveness of using music to improve speech and language output. The purposes of this ar...
The impact of survey mode on the response rate in a survey of the factors that influence Minnesota physicians’ disclosure practices

There is evidence that the physician response rate is declining. In response to this, methods for increasing the physician response rate are currently being explored. This paper examines the response rate and extent of non-response bias in a mixed-mode study of Minnesota physicians. This mode experiment was embedded in a survey study on the factors that influence physicians’ willingness to disclose medical errors and adverse events to patients and their families. Physicians were randomly selected from a list of licensed physicians obtained from the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice. Afterwards, they were randomly assigned to either a single-mode (mail-only or web-only) or mixed-mode (web-mail or mail-web) design. Differences in response rate and nonresponse bias were assessed using Fischer’s Exact Test. The overall response rate was 18.60%. There were no statistically significant differences in the response rate across modes (p – value = 0.410). The non-response analysis indicates that responders and non-responders did not differ with respect to speciality or practice location. The mode of administration did not affect the physician response rate.
A Contextualized Self: Re-placing Ourselves Through Dōgen and Spinoza

For Dōgen, the Buddhist doctrine of “no self” ultimately presents the self as contextualized. The self is for him not an independent entity, but is intricately related to its environment, determine...
Auxiliary Location-Based Services for Persons with Disabilities: What do City Planners and Non-Profit Agencies Think?

Deploying auxiliary location-based services to complement GPS-based services has been a recent phenomenon to enable greater independence in navigation and wayfinding for persons with disabilities in unfamiliar environments. All work in this domain has been technical in nature with little known about the perceptions of city planners and non-profit agencies about the long-term sustainability and impact of such technologies on their communities. This work presents results and insights from a study on the perceptions of both city planners and non-profit agency personnel from a medium-sized city in the U.S.A about the importance of auxiliary location-based services and their potential impact.
Importance of Laterality in Cervical Spinal Cord Stimulation for Facial Pain: Case Report and Anatomic Review.

Background and importance Chronic neuropathic facial pain is a debilitating disease that can be approached with multiple different treatment modalities. Cervical spinal cord stimulation has been demonstrated to be effective for patients suffering from neuropathic facial pain. Consensus does not exist in the literature regarding technique for placement. Clinical presentation A 49-yr-old female presented with chronic intractable neuropathic facial pain. She underwent a successful percutaneous spinal cord stimulation trial, followed by placement of a paddle electrode for permanent implantation. The paddle electrode failed to duplicate the pain relief of her trial. Measurement of the width of the paddle demonstrated that it was 2 mm smaller than the separation of the percutaneous trial electrodes. Electrodes with wider interelectrode distance were then placed with satisfactory pain relief. Conclusion Although conventional spinal cord stimulation targets the dorsal columns, cervical spinal cord stimulation for facial pain targets the spinal trigeminal nucleus. The effectiveness of stimulation may be increased with a more laterally positioned electrode in order to recruit the more laterally positioned spinal trigeminal nucleus. This case report illustrates the importance of this anatomic consideration.
Semicooperation under curved strategy spacetime

Mutually beneficial cooperation is a common part of economic systems as firms in partial cooperation with others can often make a higher sustainable profit. Though cooperative games were popular in 1950s, recent interest in non-cooperative games is prevalent despite the fact that cooperative bargaining seems to be more useful in economic and political applications. In this paper we assume that the strategy space and time are inseparable with respect to a contract. Under this assumption we show that the strategy spacetime is a dynamic curved Liouville-like 2-brane quantum gravity surface under asymmetric information and that traditional Euclidean geometry fails to give a proper feedback Nash equilibrium. Cooperation occurs when two firms' strategies fall into each other's influence curvature in this strategy spacetime. Small firms in an economy dominated by large firms are subject to the influence of large firms. We determine an optimal feedback semi-cooperation of the small firm in this case using a Liouville-Feynman path integral method.
Where and how do localized perturbations affect stream and coastal ocean populations with nonlinear growth dynamics

Chaotic systems are sensitive to small changes in parameters and initial conditions, but are spatially distributed chaotic populations sensitive to the location of perturbations within their domain? Here, we examine the transient responses to perturbation in a density-dependent population model with asymmetrical dispersal, where offspring are moved some distance downstream of the parent population and diffusively spread, an appropriate approximation for species in streams, rivers, and ocean currents. We find that over a portion of the studied parameter space, our system displays extreme convective instability; that is, an arbitrarily small point-source perturbation to the upstream region grows and propagates downstream (in our finite one-dimensional domain, the current moves offspring preferentially in the downstream direction). We can then divide our domain into distinct upstream and downstream regions based on the response to perturbation. A perturbation to the upstream region will create transient downstream instability, and a perturbation to the downstream region has no qualitative effect on the population. We investigate the factors affecting the existence/size of the sensitive upstream region, discuss the ecologically relevant time scales of the transient dynamics following a perturbation, and consider the ecological implications of managing and predicting a population with transient amplification of perturbations.
Risk and return analysis of listed financial companies in Ghana (a study of Cal Bank, Ecobank GH Ltd, Ghana Commercial Bank ( GCB) and Standard Chartered Bank (SCB))

ABSTRACT Globally, Investors as well as business men and women are very optimistic about the future and therefore defer current use of resources for use at a later period with a higher expected rate of return. This is not so different in the case of Ghana. The main objective of the study is to analyse the risk and return of listed financial companies in Ghana. A sample of four financial companies listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (Cal Bank Limited, Ecobank Ghana Limited, GCB Bank Limited and Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited) were selected and financial ratio (return on equity, return on asset, current ratio, quick ratio and financial leverage) computed using excel and analyzed using STATA. The study fitted a Pooled Ordinary Least Square (OLS) and Least Square Dummy Variable (LSDV) regression model with fixed effect model since fixed effect was tested to be statistically significant in the model. Empirical analysis of the data revealed that Banks with high risk levels proved to have a higher profitability as compared to the other banks under study. Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited and Ecobank Ghana Limited showed the highest levels of profitability, with Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited topping the charts in most years. However, on average, Cal Bank Ghana recorded the lowest rates of profitability. Also, a positive relationship existed between profitability (return on equity) and current ratio and financial leverage whilst an inverse relationship between return on equity and quick ratio. Overall model for both the Pooled OLS and the LSDV regression model tested to be statistically significant and a greater percentage (99.99%) of the total variability in return on equity was explained by the independent variables (return on asset, current ratio, quick ratio and financial leverage). Key words: Risk, Return, Pooled OLS regression model, LSDV regression model.
Computer Graphics for Archaeology.

Archaeologists reconstruct past human activity from material culture remains. Recording, representing and reconstructing artifacts or contexts is a long, morose, and often expensive process. Computers have radically changed traditional methodologies and are creating opportunities to develop more eloquent images or graphic files that convey compressed information and engage the public in a more participative way. Archeological reconstructions are thinking tools that allow us to reason better and faster about our past and present, and computer graphics can replace the traditional long texts and orthographic images with a rich learning environment that transforms the learning experience into an active and critical mental process. This chapter analyses the current methodologies and evaluates the cost-benefits of the best off-the-shelf software packages and their potential to improve the recording, representing, reconstructing, and sharing archaeological contexts and artifacts.