cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using modeling languages in managerial accounting: An example for pricing decisions

Abstract This paper presents a modeling approach useful for accounting applications. The capabilities of modeling languages, like IFPS, enable managers to make complex analysis with relative ease and efficiency by focusing attention on management goals. The variable over which management has some degree of control can be manipulated to determine sensitivity of variable changes on desired outcome. The ease of manipulation and goal-seeking capabilities available in modeling languages produce greater insight into the decision making process. The application demonstrated in this paper is cost-volume-profit analysis viewed from the pricing perspective.
Ethical issues in fetal surgery research

Research in fetal surgery is currently ethically controversial, especially because it poses risks to both the fetus and the pregnant woman. We provide an ethical framework for fetal surgery research based on the concept of the fetus as a patient. This framework results in criteria for preliminary investigation of new fetal surgery techniques, for the initiation and termination of clinical trials, the informed consent process, inclusion or exclusion of women based on abortion preferences and the obligations of physicians to refer patients to fetal research protocols. We demonstrate the applicability of this framework to fetal surgery research for spina bifida, a common fetal anomaly.
l-Rhamnulose 1-phosphate aldolase from Escherichia Coli. II. Characterization as a zinc metalloenzyme

Abstract l -Rhamnulose 1-phosphate aldolase ( l -rhamnulose 1-phosphate l -lactaldehyde lyase, EC 4.1.2.b) was sensitive to inhibition by the metal chelators, 8-hydroxyquinoline, 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid, 1,10-phenanthroline, and 2,2-bipyridine. The relative effectiveness of the inhibition paralleled the ability of the chelators to bind zinc. The activity of inhibited enzyme was restored by Zn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and Mn(II). Fe(II), Mg(II), Ca(II), and Cu(II) did not restore activity. Atomic absorption analysis established the presence of 2 g-atoms of Zn per mole of native enzyme (mol wt 135,000). No significant amounts of metals other than Zn were observed in the native enzyme. The data suggest that l -rhamnulose 1-P aldolase is a metalloenzyme and that zinc is required for activity.
Learning Bayesian network parameters under incomplete data with domain knowledge

Bayesian networks (BNs) have gained increasing attention in recent years. One key issue in Bayesian networks is parameter learning. When training data is incomplete or sparse or when multiple hidden nodes exist, learning parameters in Bayesian networks becomes extremely difficult. Under these circumstances, the learning algorithms are required to operate in a high-dimensional search space and they could easily get trapped among copious local maxima. This paper presents a learning algorithm to incorporate domain knowledge into the learning to regularize the otherwise ill-posed problem, to limit the search space, and to avoid local optima. Unlike the conventional approaches that typically exploit the quantitative domain knowledge such as prior probability distribution, our method systematically incorporates qualitative constraints on some of the parameters into the learning process. Specifically, the problem is formulated as a constrained optimization problem, where an objective function is defined as a combination of the likelihood function and penalty functions constructed from the qualitative domain knowledge. Then, a gradient-descent procedure is systematically integrated with the E-step and M-step of the EM algorithm, to estimate the parameters iteratively until it converges. The experiments with both synthetic data and real data for facial action recognition show our algorithm improves the accuracy of the learned BN parameters significantly over the conventional EM algorithm.
Effects of linguistic structure on perceptual attention given to different speech units

Listeners can shift their attention to different sizes of speech during speech perception. This study extends this claim and investigates if linguistic structure affects this attention. Since English has a larger syllable inventory than Korean and Japanese, each phoneme plays a larger functional role. Also, listeners have different levels of phonological awareness due to the differences in the orthography. We focus on the effect of perceptual attention on the perceptibility of intervocalic consonant clusters (VCCV) and whether it varies cross-linguistically by these structural factors. We first recorded eight talkers saying VC- and CV-syllables and spliced the syllables to create non-overlapping VC.CV-stimuli. Listeners in three language groups (English/Korean/Japanese) participated in a 9-Alternative-Forced-Choice perception task. They identified the CC as one of 9 alternatives (“pt”, “pk”, “pp”, etc.) and in an attention-manipulated condition did the same task while also monitoring for target talkers. T...
Spatial patterns of the journey-to-work and mass rapid transit in Los Angeles

The proposed mass rapid transit system for the Los Angeles metropolitan region is examined and evaluated. Data describing the journey-to-work function in the region is analyzed in order to delineate the major patterns that exist, along with the major centers of attraction. The techniques used are those of factor analysis, nodal analysis, and cluster analysis. All three techniques delineate highly similar patterns and define identical centers of attraction within the system. The emergent structure is compared with the proposed rapid transit network and comments are made regarding the possible success of the future system.
Luna 20 and Apollo 16 core fines: large-ion lithophile trace-element abundances

Abstract Li, K, Rb and Sr abundances have been determined by mass-spectrometric stable isotope dilution analysis for a sample of Luna 20 fines and for eight fines from the Apollo 16 deep drill core. Ba and rare-earth abundances have also been determined for the Luna 20 sample and two of the Apollo 16 samples. Luna 20 and Apollo 16 were the first missions to interior highlands sites. The trace-element similarity of the fines samples may indicate that the lunar highlands are fairly homogeneous. An abundant feldspathic component is indicated. However, the negative Eu anomalies indicate that the fines cannot have been made entirely from earthly feldspathic cumulates. As in the case of the Apollo 12 and 15 core samples, the abundance of the large-ion lithophile trace elements increases with depth in the Apollo 16 core. It is suggested that Apollo 16 core material was lost during separation of the drill sections on the Moon.
The spread of infantile gastro-enteritis in a cubicled ward.

The type strains of Bact. coli, described by Bray (1945), Giles & Sangster (1948), Giles et al. (1949), Taylor et al. (1949), Smith (1949) and Rogers (1951b), because of their very intimate association with epidemic infantile gastro-enteritis, have been used as indicator organisms to show that the method of cross-infection of epidemic gastro-enteritis is very like that of the cross-infection of burns.It has been shown how a cubicle becomes widely contaminated within 18 hr. and that type strains of Bact. coli will remain viable in dust for at least 27 days. Communal articles used throughout a ward are blamed for the inter-cubicle spread in a divided ward.The intimate association of the α- and β-types of Bact. coli with outbreaks of gastro-enteritis is demonstrated, and figures are given to show how these outbreaks prolong the patient's stay in hospital and waste valuable hospital space.
LAGERSTÄTTEN THROUGH TIME: A COLLECTION OF EXCEPTIONAL PRESERVATIONAL PATHWAYS FROM THE TERMINAL NEOPROTEROZOIC THROUGH TODAY

While the study of taphonomic processes has elucidated numerous biases within the fossil record of life on Earth (for recent examples, see contributions within Allison and Bottjer, 2011), perhaps the most striking example comes in the form of preserved soft tissues and soft-bodied organisms. Deposits with these exceptionally conserved tissues, known as Konservat-Lagerstatten (Seilacher, 1970), represent one of the richest sources of paleontological data available in the fossil record. Yet, these exceptional faunas have classically been excluded in the examination of evolutionary patterns through time due to considerations of their rarity and perceived atypical paleoenvironments that are conducive to their preservation (Conway Morris, 1985; Allison and Briggs, 1993;). Konservat-Lagerstatten, however, have contributed vastly to the documentation of major evolutionary and biogeochemical shifts through numerous important intervals in geologic history (e.g., Butterfield, 2003) due to the extraordinary biological and mineralogical conservation of these fossils. Konservat-Lagerstatten are unevenly distributed through geologic time (Allison and Briggs, 1993; Fig. 1). From such Proterozoic examples as the three-dimensionally preserved microbes of the Bitter Springs biota (e.g., Schopf, 1968; Schopf and Blacic, 1971; Schopf and Oehler, 1976), phosphatized acritarchs, algae, and possible animal embryos of the Doushantuo biota (e.g., Xiao et al., 1998; Xiao and Knoll, 1999; Huldtgren et al., 2011, 2012; Cunningham et al., 2012; Schiffbauer et al., 2012; Xiao et al., 2012), and the first appearance of complex macrofossils in globally distributed Ediacaran successions (e.g., Waggoner, 2003; Narbonne, 2005; Xiao and Laflamme, 2009), to Phanerozoic representatives such as the soft-bodied Tully Monster of Mazon Creek (e.g., Richardson, 1966), marine reptiles of the Smoky Hill Chalk (e.g., Williston, 1898; Frey, 1972), and the famous Archaeopteryx specimens from the Solnhofen Plattenkalk (e.g., Hecht et al., 1985; Rietschel, 1985; Wellnhofer, 1988 …
Mapping Sonic Hedgehog-Receptor Interactions by Steric Interference

We have defined regions in the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) molecule that are important for Patched (Ptc) receptor binding by targeting selected surface amino acid residues with probes of diverse sizes and shapes and assessing the effects of these modifications on function. Eleven amino acid residues that surround the surface of the protein were chosen for these studies and mutated to cysteine residues. These cysteines were then selectively modified with thiol-specific probes, and the modified proteins were tested for hedgehog receptor binding activity and their ability to induce differentiation of C3H10T1/2 cells into osteoblasts. Based on these analyses, approximately one-third of the Shh surface can be modified without effect on function regardless of the size of the attachment. These sites are located near to where the C terminus protrudes from the surface of the protein. All other sites were sensitive to modification, indicating that the interaction of Shh with its primary receptor Ptc is mediated over a large surface of the Shh protein. For sites Asn-50 and Ser-156, function was lost with the smallest of the probes tested, indicating that these residues are in close proximity to the Ptc-binding site. The epitope for the neutralizing mAb 5E1 mapped to a close but distinct region of the structure. The structure-activity data provide a unique view of the interactions between Shh and Ptc that is not readily attainable by conventional mapping strategies.
Transduction of E2F-1 TAT fusion proteins represses expression of hTERT in primary ductal breast carcinoma cell lines.

Background Telomerase expression is detectable in 81–95% of breast carcinomas and may serve as a therapeutic target. The objective of this study was to investigate repression of telomerase activity in primary ductal breast cancer cells through transcriptional regulation of the catalytic subunit hTERT. We hypothesized that inhibition of telomerase expression could be achieved via Tat mediated protein transduction of the repressor protein E2F-1.
Nature of the lower crust and moho in eastern Nevada from “wide-angle” reflection measurements

Wide angle recordings at offsets between 20 and 40 km in the Ruby Mountains consistently show 5 strong reflections between 4 and 11 s with enough moveout to estimate velocities to the base of the crust. The uppermost “layer” with a temperature corrected velocity of 6.2 km/s and thickness of 9 km corresponds to quartzofeldspathic rocks such as metasedimentary rocks, migmatites and deformed granites and is underlain by a 7-km-thick “layer” with velocities of 6.4 km/s which corresponds to quartzofeldspathic material interlayered with amphibolites. The lower crust consists of a heterogeneous, 9 km-thick zone with velocities of 6.7 to 6.8 km/s corresponding to mafic rocks interlayered with smaller amounts of quartzofeldspathic rock. The lowermost crust is marked by the “X” reflection overlying a 3-km-thick “layer” with velocities between 7.4-7.8 km/s corresponding to anomolous material, possibly layered cumulates. The subhorizontal, layered structure of the crust is caused primarily by ductile extension, which may well be superposed on material added to the crust by underplating. At most, approximately one third of the present crust could have been added by underplating in the Cenozoic.
Muscle activation patterns during walking from transtibial amputees recorded within the residual limb-prosthetic interface

Powered lower limb prostheses could be more functional if they had access to feedforward control signals from the user’s nervous system. Myoelectric signals are one potential control source. The purpose of this study was to determine if muscle activation signals could be recorded from residual lower limb muscles within the prosthetic socket-limb interface during walking. We recorded surface electromyography from three lower leg muscles (tibilias anterior, gastrocnemius medial head, gastrocnemius lateral head) and four upper leg muscles (vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and gluteus medius) of 12 unilateral transtibial amputee subjects and 12 non-amputee subjects during treadmill walking at 0.7, 1.0, 1.3, and 1.6 m/s. Muscle signals were recorded from the amputated leg of amputee subjects and the right leg of control subjects. For amputee subjects, lower leg muscle signals were recorded from within the limb-socket interface and from muscles above the knee. We quantified differences in the muscle activation profile between amputee and control groups during treadmill walking using cross-correlation analyses. We also assessed the step-to-step inter-subject variability of these profiles by calculating variance-to-signal ratios. We found that amputee subjects demonstrated reliable muscle recruitment signals from residual lower leg muscles recorded within the prosthetic socket during walking, which were locked to particular phases of the gait cycle. However, muscle activation profile variability was higher for amputee subjects than for control subjects. Robotic lower limb prostheses could use myoelectric signals recorded from surface electrodes within the socket-limb interface to derive feedforward commands from the amputee’s nervous system.
Finite-size scaling tests for SU(3) lattice gauge theory with color sextet fermions

The observed slow running of the gauge coupling in SU(3) lattice gauge theory with two flavors of color sextet fermions naturally suggests it is a theory with one relevant coupling, the fermion mass, and that at zero mass correlation functions decay algebraically. I perform a finite-size scaling study on simulation data at two values of the bare gauge coupling with this assumption and observe a common exponent for the scaling of the correlation length with the fermion mass, ${y}_{m}\ensuremath{\sim}1.5$. An analysis of the scaling of valence Dirac eigenvalues at one of these bare couplings produces a similar number.
Brain Activity-Based Image Classification From Rapid Serial Visual Presentation

We report the design and performance of a brain-computer interface (BCI) system for real-time single-trial binary classification of viewed images based on participant-specific dynamic brain response signatures in high-density (128-channel) electroencephalographic (EEG) data acquired during a rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) task. Image clips were selected from a broad area image and presented in rapid succession (12/s) in 4.1-s bursts. Participants indicated by subsequent button press whether or not each burst of images included a target airplane feature. Image clip creation and search path selection were designed to maximize user comfort and maintain user awareness of spatial context. Independent component analysis (ICA) was used to extract a set of independent source time-courses and their minimally-redundant low-dimensional informative features in the time and time-frequency amplitude domains from 128-channel EEG data recorded during clip burst presentations in a training session. The naive Bayes fusion of two Fisher discriminant classifiers, computed from the 100 most discriminative time and time-frequency features, respectively, was used to estimate the likelihood that each clip contained a target feature. This estimator was applied online in a subsequent test session. Across eight training/test session pairs from seven participants, median area under the receiver operator characteristic curve, by tenfold cross validation, was 0.97 for within-session and 0.87 for between-session estimates, and was nearly as high (0.83) for targets presented in bursts that participants mistakenly reported to include no target features.
Special Treatment: A Commentary on “When Two Worlds Collide”

Heath and his colleagues have presented J’s adventure, within which is a microcosm of worlds colliding and the resulting ramifications on the patient, the family, society, and the world. A glimpse into the life of J exposes some of the most pressing issues in international cancer care and cancer referrals. The rich and royalty have always had the privilege of obtaining medical care far from their own countries and no one has questioned their personal freedom to spend their money as they wish. However, J’s situation is different because his family did not have independent means to obtain experimental treatment in the United States, but rather sought and used societal resources to do so. In moving from Australia to the United States, J demonstrates the diversity of medical care systems. The Australian system is primarily based on communal funding for the communal good (ie, socialized medicine) while the American system is primarily based on a free-market system economy allowing individuals to buy treatments they can afford through whatever means. These treatments can include highly experimental therapy with unknown expectations for cure. The American system is also different from the Australian system in that treatment tends to be very aggressive. Children with poor prognosis neuroblastoma in this country are usually treated with aggressive chemotherapy, debulking surgery, and single or tandem stem-cell transplantation with myeloabla
Aberrant functional connectivity in autism: Evidence from low-frequency BOLD signal fluctuations

A number of recent studies have examined functional connectivity in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), generally converging on the finding of reduced interregional coordination, or underconnectivity. Underconnectivity has been reported between many brain regions and across a range of cognitive tasks, and has been proposed to underlie behavioral and cognitive impairments associated with ASD. The current study employed functional connectivity MRI (fcMRI) to examine interregional correlations of low-frequency BOLD signal fluctuations in 10 high-functioning participants with ASD and 10 typically developing control participants. Whole-brain connectivity with three seed regions of interest (left middle frontal, left superior parietal, and left middle occipital cortex) was evaluated using fMRI datasets acquired during performance of a source recognition task. While fcMRI patterns were found to be largely similar across the two groups, including many common areas, effects for the ASD group were generally more extensive. These findings, although inconsistent with generalized underconnectivity in ASD, are compatible with a model of aberrant connectivity in which the nature of connectivity disturbance (i.e., increased or reduced) may vary by region. Taking into consideration methodological factors that might influence measured fcMRI effects, we suggest that ASD is associated with an inefficiency in optimizing network connections to achieve task performance.
Pharmacology, Efficacy, and Safety of Linagliptin for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective:To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and clinical efficacy and safety of linagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor recently approved in the US for use as a treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus.Data Sources:English-language articles in the PubMed database to October 2011 (selected using the search terms linagliptin, alogliptin, sitagliptin, saxagliptin, vildagliptin, and pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, or diabetes) were identified for review. Reference lists from identified articles were reviewed for additional references of interest. Abstracts published at relevant meetings were also evaluated, and information was obtained from the manufacturer.Study Selection and Data Extraction:Publications reporting the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and clinical efficacy and safety of linagliptin were reviewed.Data Synthesis:Linagliptin therapy results in clinically meaningful reductions in hemoglobin A1c, as well as fasting and postprandial plasma glucose levels in patients wit...
CEA-based vaccines

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), the first tumor-associated antigen to be described, was cloned in 1987 and is expressed on nearly 50% of all human tumors. The identification of T-cell specific epitopes within the coding region of the CEA protein has led to the development of various vaccine strategies that target CEA and CEA-expressing tumors. These vaccines have shown evidence of therapeutic effectiveness in animal models and are being evaluated in early phase clinical trials. Although trials are not designed to elucidate clinical responses, they have provided important information about the ability of individual vaccines to induce CEA-specific immune responses through the use of newer in vitro monitoring assays. Continued clinical testing in patients with less advanced disease and the administration of vaccines in combination with other standard therapy will help define the role of CEA-based vaccines in the treatment and prevention of human cancer.
Genetic ancestry and indigenous heritage in a Native American descendant community in Bermuda.

Discovered in the early 16th century by European colonists, Bermuda is an isolated set of islands located in the mid-Atlantic. Shortly after its discovery, Bermuda became the first English colony to forcibly import its labor by trafficking in enslaved Africans, white ethnic minorities, and indigenous Americans. Oral traditions circulating today among contemporary tribes from the northeastern United States recount these same events, while, in Bermuda, St. David's Islanders consider their histories to be linked to a complex Native Ameri- can, European, and African past. To investigate the influence of historical events on biological ancestry and native cultural identity, we analyzed genetic variation in 111 members of Bermuda's self-proclaimed St. David's Island Native Community. Our results reveal that the majority of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and Y-chromo- some haplotypes are of African and West Eurasian ori- gin. However, unlike other English-speaking New World colonies, most African mtDNA haplotypes appear to derive from central and southeast Africa, reflecting the extent of maritime activities in the region. In light of genealogical and oral historical data from the St. David's community, the low frequency of Native American mtDNA and NRY lineages may reflect the influence of
Model identification in rapid thermal processing systems

Of the various techniques for controlling the temperature in rapid thermal processing (RTP), model-based control has the greatest potential for attaining the best performance, when the model is accurate. Some system identification methods are introduced to help obtain more accurate models from measured input-output data. For the first identification method, techniques for estimating the parameters (time constant and gain) of a particular physics-based model are presented. For the other, it is shown how to use the input-output measurements to obtain a black-box (autoregressive exogenous) model of the RTP system, which turns out to have better predictive capability. For each problem, the theoretical derivation of the identification technique and assumptions on which it is based are summarized, and experimental results based on data collected from an RTP system are described. Studying the DC response using the identified model led to a reconfiguration of the chamber geometry of the existing RTP system to more effectively distribute the light energy from the lamps. >
Residential Attachment and Housing Demand

In this paper a model of housing demand behavior is proposed, in which both monetary and non-monetary adjustment costs (termed 'attachment') are allowed to affect demand levels. An empirical implication of the model is that the individual variance around the housing demand curve is likely to increase directly with total adjustment costs. A cross-section housing demand curve is estimated, with the variance specified as a linear function of variables thought to be correlated with total adjustment costs. The results provide qualified support for the assertion that adjustment costs influence housing demand behavior in the manner suggested by the theoretical model.
Peer Victimization, Psychosocial Adjustment, and Physical Activity in Overweight and At-Risk-For-Overweight Youth

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between peer victimization and child and parent reports of psychosocial adjustment and physical activity in a clinical sample of at-risk-for-overweight and overweight children and adolescents. METHODS: The Schwartz Peer Victimization Scale, Children's Depression Inventory-Short Form, Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, Social Physique Anxiety Scale, PACE+ Adolescent Physical Activity Measure, and Asher Loneliness Scale were administered to 92 children and adolescents (54 females) aged 8-18 years. The youth's parent/guardian completed the Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS: Peer victimization was positively related to child-reported depression, anxiety, social physique anxiety, and loneliness, and parent-reported internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Peer victimization was negatively related to physical activity. Depressive symptoms and loneliness mediated the relations between peer victimization and physical activity. CONCLUSION: Recognition of the magnitude of the problem and the means of evaluating for peer victimization is important for clinicians who work with overweight youth. Assessing peer experiences may assist in understanding rates of physical activity and/or past nonadherence to clinician recommendations. Language: en
1,4-Bis(4-bromo-2,6-diisopropyl­phen­yl)-1,4-diaza­buta-1,3-diene

The molecule of the title compound, C26H34Br2N2, lies on a crystallographic inversion center and hence the two imine groups are s-trans. The dihedral angle between the central 1,4-diaza­buta-1,3-diene unit and the attached substituted phenyl ring is 88.4 (7)°. The structure features a C—H⋯N close contact. The crystal selected for this study proved to be a non-merohedral twin with a minor component of 21.8 (3)%.
The Relationship between Mother-Daughter Self-Objectification: Identifying Direct, Indirect, and Conditional Direct Effects

Grounded in aspects of objectification theory, social learning theory, and attachment theory, we investigated the extent to which mothers’ and daughters’ self-objectification were related to one another’s and also identified three potential intervening factors. Specifically, we hypothesized a (statistical) direct effect of mothers’ self-objectification on that of their daughters’ (H1), as well as investigated a conditional direct effect (i.e., maternal care) (H2) and two indirect effects (i.e., co-rumination and mothers’ weight concerns) (H3) as intervening factors that may help explain the relationship between mothers’ and daughters’ self-objectification. A sample of 199 U.S. undergraduate women and their mothers completed an online survey; daughters and mothers mean ages were 19.42 and 50.15, respectively, with a majority of them reporting a normal body mass index (daughters: 23.05; mothers: 25.74) and being White/Caucasian (daughters: 79.4 %; mothers: 80.9 %). The results generally supported the hypotheses. First, H1 was confirmed: Mothers’ and daughters’ self-objectification were positively related to one another’s. Second, perceived maternal care was found to moderate this relationship, such that daughters reported higher levels of self-objectification when they perceived their mothers to be less caring; thus, H2 was confirmed. Third, H3 was partially confirmed: Perceived co-rumination about weight with mothers, but not perceived mothers’ weight-related concerns, was found to be a significant mediator. These results suggest that mothers can serve as protective or inhibitory factors in daughters’ experience of self-objectification depending on mothers’ level of care and their direct communication with their daughters’ about their bodies.
Bile acid stimulation of early growth response gene and mitogen-activated protein kinase is protein kinase C-dependent

Hepatic stellate cells are exposed to elevated bile acid levels during hepatic injury and fibrogenesis. Upon activation, the stellate cell becomes a major effector cell during the development of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. Bile acids may function as costimulatory signalling molecules. This hypothesis was tested in vitro using rat-derived hepatic stellate cells. Bile acids were studied at concentrations that occur during cirrhosis in vivo. Conjugated and unconjugated bile acids rapidly induced egr and fos gene expression as well as cytoplasmic mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. Protein kinase C was required for both egr induction and MAPK activation. These studies imply that bile acids could contribute to the perpetuation of hepatic fibrosis by helping to keep the stellate cell in an activated state.
Intentional Conversations About the Globalization of ADR

On October 28-29, 2005, the Dispute Resolution Institute at Hamline University School of Law hosted “Intentional Conversations about Globalization of ADR,” its fourth biennial Symposium on Advanced Issues in Dispute Resolution. The symposium series brings together scholars and professionals to engage in purposeful conversation around critical issues in the field of conflict studies and dispute resolution. To this end, the format of the Symposium gatherings is different from most academic conferences. No papers are presented and, although certain individuals are given responsibility as theme leaders to frame, open up, and promote the dialogue, the active participation of all attendees is encouraged by the use of intimate in-the-round seating. This introductory article in the 2005 symposium proceedings makes the case that as alternative dispute resolution goes global, its spread and movement carries the values, beliefs, and cultural assumptions of one social world to another. Arguable, the time is right for a symposium designed to examine both practical and theoretical issues that arise as mediation practices and programs spread across the globe, with a particular focus on the challenges of institutionalizing mediation in new social contexts.
How States Talk Back to Washington and Strengthen American Federalism

Effective federalism requires that state officials be able to secure relief from national directives that impose undue burdens on state governments or improper constraints on state policy discretion. Many analysts focus on clearly legitimate and occasionally effective tactics such as lobbying or lawsuits. Some activists consider discredited tactics such as nullification that are a nonstarter in the 21st century. This policy analysis calls attention to various ways that states talk back to Washington using tactics that go beyond lobbying and litigation but fall short of nullification.First, when state and federal governments both possess regulatory authority, states can enact measures decriminalizing certain practices, hoping federal executive officials will not enforce federal statutes in states with contrary policies. Second, states can decline to participate in federal programs and accept the designated penalties, hoping Congress will revise statutes or executive officials will issue rules or waivers that moderate the programs. Third, when federal judicial doctrine is uncertain or in flux, states can enact measures inconsistent with Supreme Court precedents, hoping the Court will reconsider and relax judicially imposed constraints on state policy discretion. Fourth, when federal judicial doctrine is uncertain or in flux, states can enact measures inconsistent with federal statutes, hoping the Supreme Court will invalidate or limit the reach of federal statutes. In recent years, state officials have relied on each of these tactics and with some success in responding to federal directives relating to marijuana, education, abortion, and health care, among other areas. State officials have resources to push back against national officials, thereby improving American federalism.
Electronic Structures and Properties of Pdn−C60−Pdn Nanocontacts: A Theoretical Investigation

Theoretical study at the B3LYP/6-31G(d)∪LANL2DZ level was carried out to explore the structures and properties of nanocontacts in Pdn−C60−Pdn systems. Predicted interaction energies between the pal...
QOL-25EVALUATION OF THE UTILITY OF THE EQ-5D AND MDASI-BT IN PRIMARY BRAIN TUMOR PATIENTS

BACKGROUND: Patients with malignant glioma are highly symptomatic and often have functional limitations beginning from the time of diagnosis. The utility of measuring general health status may have value in determining impact of disease. This study provided a description of health status and utility scores in glioma patients throughout the illness trajectory using the EQ-5D. Furthermore, it evaluated the additive information provided by MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Brain Tumor (MDASI-BT) in describing health-related quality of life as assessed by the EQ-5D. METHODS: Malignant glioma patients completed the EQ-5D and MDASI-BT self-reports. The MDASI-BT is a measure of symptom burden and interference whereas the EQ-5D is a functional measure of general health status. Linear regression evaluated whether MDASI-BT scores adequately predict patient health outcomes measured by the EQ-5D. RESULTS: The sample included 100 patients [65% male, 75% with a GBM, median age 52 (range 20-75), 56% in active treatment]. Thirty percent of patients reported no problems on any of the 5 areas measured by the EQ-5D. The remaining 70% reported some/moderate problems in at least 1 area. The most extreme cases reported inability to perform usual activities (8%) and significant anxiety/depression (5%). The MDASI-BT neurologic factor score and the WAW (Walking/Activity/Work) interference score explained 52% of the variability in the EQ-5D in this patient population while adjusting for the effect of tumor grade, recurrence status, and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS). Residual diagnostics confirmed the adequacy of model fit. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of brain tumor patients reported at least one functional limitation on the EQ-5D. Over half of the variance in the EQ-5D was explained by the MDASI-BT, KPS, tumor grade, and recurrence status underscoring the benefit of using this information for planning patient care. The resultant model demonstrates the significant contribution symptom burden has on determining health status in this patient population.
The influence of bile salts on glycoside biosynthesis in Digitalis purpurea. I. Sodium cholate.

Concentrations of 0.02, 0.10, 0.50, and 2.50% sodium cholate were injected into digitalis plants growing in pots under controlled greenhouse conditions. Sodium cholate in the concentrations of 0.50 and 2.50% produced marked inhibition of total glycoside formation. A periodic assay of total glycoside biosynthesis following injections with 0.50% sodium cholate injection indicated that the treated digitalis plants produced less glycosides than the controls.
Research on safety of direct drinking water in Wenling

Objective To know about the sanitary status of direct drinking water in Wenling,show the existence of secondary pollution,so as to provide scientific basis for improving the sanitary quality of drinking water. Methods Twenty-five index,including microbiology items,sensory traits,general chemical indicators and toxicological index,were tested and analyzed before and after purification in 30 random water samples from Wenling. Results The contents of 7 kinds of index decreased in the purified water,while those of 14 kinds of index were within a certain range of fluctuation or smaller than the minimum detection limit. Zinc content was significantly higher than that before purification; Part of total nitrite content and colony increased after purification. Conclusion The direct drinking water is purified to a certain extent,but zinc pollution is obvious after purification. In addition,secondary pollution of nitrite and bacteria may appear in the long-term use. With the popularization of direct drinking water,it is suggested that the relevant departments should regulate the direct drinking water hygienic standard,strengthen detection and health management of direct drinking water to guarantee the safety of drinking water.
Analysis on the Main Problems of Residents Fire Prevention and Respective Strategies

How to prevent and restrain residents fire effectively is an important part of the construction of harmonious society in new situation.Residents fire happens frequently because of the problems in aspects of hidden fire danger,resident consciousness,fire protection management,facility construction,etc.which are urgently to be solved.Carrying out fire safety responsibility,improving fire protection facilities and technologies,emphasizing on public education,eliminating hidden danger by examination and developing fire prevention organization to enhance residents fire prevention.
Juvenile-onset diabetes.

While information regarding the diagnosis of diabetes and acute care of the diabetic, i.e., management of ketoacidosis, is readily available, much less has been written about long-term management. In addition to a brief review of background information and recent developments in diabetes, some of the more common management problems are discussed from a practical viewpoint. Because an exhaustive review of diabetes is beyond the scope of this article, readers are referred to recent review articles for additional background information.
Seed-Mediated Growth of Colloidal Metal Nanocrystals: Scaling up the Production through Geometric and Stoichiometric Analyses

Despite the remarkable progress in shape-controlled synthesis of noble-metal nanocrystals, there still exists a major gap between academic studies and industrial applications. This gap can be largely attributed to the inability to produce nanocrystals in large quantities while retaining uniformity and good control over both size and shape. Here we provide a new perspective on increasing the volume of production during a synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals via seed-mediated growth. We demonstrate that the yield of Pd octahedra and Pd@Pt3−4L (L: atomic layers) core–shell octahedra with different sizes can be increased from ca. 2 mg to over 500 mg without compromising the product quality. Specifically, we apply geometric and stoichiometric analyses to calculate the minimum amounts of reagents needed for the complete evolution of Pd cubic seeds into Pd octahedra, and subsequently for the formation of Pd@Pt3−4L core–shell octahedra through conformal Pt coating. The simple analyses allow us to obtain uniform products by avoiding homogeneous nucleation while minimizing the waste of reagents.
An Experimental Framework for Generating Evolvable Chemical Systems in the Laboratory

Most experimental work on the origin of life has focused on either characterizing the chemical synthesis of particular biochemicals and their precursors or on designing simple chemical systems that manifest life-like properties such as self-propagation or adaptive evolution. Here we propose a new class of experiments, analogous to artificial ecosystem selection, where we select for spontaneously forming self-propagating chemical assemblages in the lab and then seek evidence of a response to that selection as a key indicator that life-like chemical systems have arisen. Since surfaces and surface metabolism likely played an important role in the origin of life, a key experimental challenge is to find conditions that foster nucleation and spread of chemical consortia on surfaces. We propose high-throughput screening of a diverse set of conditions in order to identify combinations of “food,” energy sources, and mineral surfaces that foster the emergence of surface-associated chemical consortia that are capable of adaptive evolution. Identification of such systems would greatly advance our understanding of the emergence of self-propagating entities and the onset of adaptive evolution during the origin of life.
Joint registries: what can we learn in 2016?

Aims To demonstrate, with concrete examples, the value of in-depth exploration and comparison of data published in National Joint Arthroplasty registry reports. Patients and Methods The author reviewed published current reports of National Joint Arthroplasty registries for findings of current significance to current orthopaedic practice. Results A total of six observations that demonstrate actionable or unexpected findings from joint registries are described. These include: one third to one half of all arthroplasty failures in the first decade occur in the first one to two years; infection rates after arthroplasty have not declined in the last three decades; infection after TKA is more common in men than women; outcomes of TKA are more variable in young compared with older patients; new technologies (uncemented implants and crosslinked polyethylene) have improved results of THA and a real-time shift in use of ceramic femoral heads is occurring in THA. Conclusion These six observations may be used to better understand current practice, stimulate practice improvements or suggest topics for further study. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B(1 Supple A):3–7
A deep learning approach to monitoring and detecting atrial fibrillation using wearable technology

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice, with a prevalence of 2% in the community. Not only it is associated with reduced quality of life, but also increased risk of stroke and myocardial infarction. Unfortunately, many cases of AF are clinically silent and undiagnosed, but long-term monitoring is difficult. Nonetheless, efforts at monitoring at-risk individuals and detecting clinically silent AF may yield significant public health benefit, as individuals with new-onset, asymptomatic AF would receive preventive therapies with anticoagulants and beta-blockers, for example. Wearables have enormous potential to provide low-risk and low-cost long-term monitoring of AF, but signals from such devices suffer from significant movement related noise that resembles AF. This work presents a robust approach to AF detection in a sequence of short windows with significant movement artifact. Pulsatile photoplethysmographic (PPG) data and triaxial accelerometry from 98 subjects (45 with AF and 53 with other rhythms) were captured using a multichannel wrist-worn device. A single channel electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded (for rhythm verification only) simultaneously. A novel deep neural network approach to classify AF from wrist-worn PPG signals was developed on this data. A continuous wavelet transform was applied to the PPG data and a convolutional neural network (CNN) was trained on the derived spectrograms to detect AF. Combining the output of the CNN with features calculated based on beat-to-beat variability and signal quality provided a significant accuracy boost. Leave-one-out cross validation resulted in a pooled AUC of 0.95 (Accuracy=91.8%). The proposed approach resulted in a novel robust and accurate algorithm for detection of AF from PPG data, which is scalable and likely to improve in accuracy as the dataset size continues to expand.
The Authentic Monk: A Study of ‘Authenticity’ within the Works of Thomas Merton

This paper discusses the history of the concept “authenticity” within the works of Thomas Merton. During his undergraduate and graduate studies at Columbia is where he first developed a theme which would run through most of his religious writings: authenticity. By tracing this term back to his professor, Lionel Trilling, this will give us a new lens through which to view Thomas Merton’s teachings. This paper will also discuss other influences to his use of “authenticity,” including his prolonged exposure and affinity towards Marxism, as well as his interests in Existential writers such as Albert Camus. The discussion of authenticity in Merton’s work revolves around three themes: 1) Solitude, 2) Alienation, and 3) the Absurd. The goal of this paper is to not only illustrate the history of a particular concept in Merton’s work to more fully understand this Catholic monk, but will demonstrate that traditionally non-religious concepts and thinkers often influence the religious lives and experiences of mystics.