cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How Does Intercultural Communication Differ from Intracultural Communication

The chapter discusses the differences between intracultural communication and intercultural communication from a socio-cognitive perspective that treats this issue as a continuum rather than a dichotomy. Variation on the continuum and differences between the two phenomena are affected by different factors. While discussing those factors I will refer to issues that are relevant to the three focus points of this volume: internationalization of education, ethnicity, and ideology with special attention to Southeast Asia.
5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone elevations associated with phentermine use.

Background:A case of 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) elevation associated with phentermine initiation is reported, and possible mechanisms are discussed. There are no published reports of this as...
Patterns of Hedonic Consumption Over Time

Two experiments investigated whether individuals choose to listen to songs that maximize their enjoyment on each trial (local maximization) or across the sequence of trials (global maximization). In Study 1, participants made repeated choices between one liked song and one disliked song. In Study 2, participants made repeated choices between a liked song and two less-preferred songs. Participants' choices and ratings indicate that they did not maximize locally. In both studies, participants switched to the less-preferred songs before their ratings of the favored songs had declined to the level of the less-preferred songs. Additionally, in Study 2, more participants chose their favorite song on a given trial when it was the last trial of the block than when the block was expected to continue. This indicates that participants who did not choose the favored song in the latter case were not maximizing locally. That individuals continued to choose variety even at the very end of the experiments also suggests that they were not maximizing globally. Thus, the present studies suggest the intriguing possibility that participants' variety seeking did not reflect local or global maximization. Implications for variety seeking are discussed.
Current Management of Hepatic Encephalopathy.

Hepatic encephalopathy is a state of brain dysfunction resulting from decompensation of cirrhosis. The mortality and morbidity associated with the overt form of hepatic encephalopathy are high, and even the covert form associates with poor outcomes and poor quality of life. We know that the dysfunction is not just an acute insult to the brain but rather results in long-standing cognitive issues that get worse with each episode of HE. Hence, there is an urgency to accurately diagnose these conditions, start appropriate therapy, and to maintain remission. Currently, we have two mainstay pharmacological treatment options (lactulose and rifaximin), but the narrative is evolving with new therapies under trial. Microbiome manipulation resulting in a favorable change to the gut microbiota seems to be a promising new area of therapy.
Is Laboratory Data Helpful in the Workup of Chronic Abdominal Pain

The selective use of laboratory testing may help determine the acuity of a chronic abdominal complaint, detect previously overlooked causes of a chronic abdominal pain syndrome, or reveal a new disease process unrelated to the chronic condition. Choice of testing should focus on the specific issues being investigated. Pregnancy testing in female patients of childbearing age and urinalysis for pyuria (infectious or sterile) or hematuria may demonstrate or rule out important diagnoses. Inflammatory markers such as the white blood cell count (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are of low discriminatory value as a screening test in patients with abdominal pain. Leukocytosis is only seen in about half of all patients with acute abdominal pathology, and a WBC or CRP within reference range does not rule out an urgent condition. An elevated lactate, a marker for disease severity, has high sensitivity for mesenteric ischemia. When evaluating the patient with chronically recurring abdominal pain, the emergency clinician is advised to make selective use of high-yield laboratory data and avoid a “shotgun” approach.
Analgesic Effect of Intrathecally Administered Morphine

Morphine sulfate, a narcotic analgesic, possesses the undesirable side effects of central depression, tolerance, and dependency. Opiate receptors have been found in the brain and the spinal cord. Intrathecally applied opiates produce potent analgesia that can be antagonized by naloxone. The time-response study with tail-flick response after intrathecal injections of a small dosage of morphine (25 μg) demonstrated a long-lasting analgesia. Intrathecal injections of morphine or opiate-like peptides may become a predictable modality of pain relief without attendant loss of other neurologic function.
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Antisense Oligonucleotide Modulates Protease-Antiprotease Imbalance without Further Aggravating Smoke-induced Lung Injury

Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a serum protease inhibitor that prevents lung injury from protease production during cigarette smoking but causes severe liver disease once mutated. A custom AAT antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) was found to be beneficial for the AATD liver disease by blocking the mutated AAT transcripts. Here we hypothesized that knock-down of AAT aggravates murine lung injury during smoke exposure and acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups for each of the injury models, smoking (inhale for 3 months at 150mg/m3) and smoke-flu (inhale for 2 weeks and intranasal influenza virus). The ASO and control (No-ASO) were injected subcutaneously at 10ml/kg of body weight, starting with smoking or four days prior to influenza infection weekly at 50mg/kg. ASO treatment during a 3 month smoke exposure significantly increased the expression of Cela1 mRNA and decreased the serum and lung AAT expression. However, despite the decrease in AAT, neither the inflammatory cell counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) nor the lung structural changes were significantly affected by ASO treatment. We observed significant differences in inflammation and emphysema due to smoke exposure alone. With the smoke-flu model, similarly the major differences were found between smoke-flu and room air control, with no additional effect with ASO treatment. Off-target effects or compensatory mechanisms may account for this finding. Alternatively, the reduction of AAT with ASO treatment was not robust enough to lead to lung injury. The result also suggest that the AAT ASO approach for treating liver disease is relatively safe at the specified dose as it did not lead to detrimental outcomes in the lung. These potential mechanisms need to be further investigated in order to fully understand the impact of AAT inhibition on protease-antiprotease imbalance in the murine smoke exposure model.
One-pot synthesis of activated porous graphitic carbon spheres with cobalt nanoparticles

Abstract Nitrogen doped porous graphitic carbon spheres have been extensively studied for various applications such as adsorption, catalysis, energy storage, and drug delivery due to their unique properties such as high surface area, tunable porosity, and importantly their low cost. Among many strategies available for the synthesis of graphitic carbons, catalytic graphitization is widely explored due to its industrial feasibility. Additionally, activated carbons with fine micropores are vastly studied for CO2 capture at ambient conditions. In this case, in-situ activation of carbon spheres is promising because it combines both carbonization and activation in a single-step. This study is focused on the development of in-situ activated graphitic carbon spheres (AGCSs) by adopting a one-pot modified Stӧber-like synthesis and restricting temperature treatment to a single step. Cobalt acetate and potassium citrate were added in the synthesis, where the former acted as a graphitization catalyst, while the latter acted as an activator. The resulting carbon spheres were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption, thermogravimetry, elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. These spheres possess high volumes of ultramicropores in addition to graphitic and magnetic properties. AGCSs were able to adsorb about 5 mmol·g−1 of CO2 at 0 °C and 1 bar.
Pain as Power: Torture as a Mechanism for Social Control

Inflicting pain as a mechanism for the development of power-relationships is not new. When examined using the aggressor-witness-victim model, relationships based on the control of the aggressor can be examined with regard to the ability to either inflict pain or to withhold pain. The aggressor has the power in violent interaction to either cause pain or to not cause pain. This ability creates a dependency between these groups as well as the witnesses who are present for the interaction. This dependency is a public performance in which it is made clear that the aggressor has control over the physical body of the victim and the witnesses. This relationship is explored both prehistorically through the lens of the Sacred Ridge site (dating to 800 AD in southwestern Colorado) and modern examples. In many ways, witnessing the pain of another is more psychologically damaging that experiencing pain firsthand, and may lead to more easily allowing for the social control of one group over another.
SKIPPING MEALS IS ASSOCIATED WITH SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF OLDER ADULTS

Introduction Previous studies have shown that higher levels of economic hardship in older adults is associated with increased odds of adverse health outcomes such as insomnia, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. The objective of this study was to determine if there was a differential association between individual measures of economic hardship and aforementioned adverse health outcomes. Methods Cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2013 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS). Logistic models were developed to assess the association between four measures of economic hardship which included not having enough money for food, utility bills, mortgage/rent, or medical bills/prescription drugs. Measures of adverse health outcomes were symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Results There were 4467 community dwelling older adults aged 65 and older in the 2013 NHATS data. Results indicated those who skipped meals were more likely to have depression, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms than those who did not skip meals. After adjusting for race, age, gender, education, and total number of comorbid health conditions, skipping meals was associated with depression (OR=2.71, p Conclusions The analysis for skipping meals showed a higher odds and more statistically significant results than the other measures of economic hardship listed above. These findings are relevant to population-based efforts to improve quality of life in aging populations and may be of interest to those researchers investigating the gut-brain axis. These findings may also inform future policy efforts to address health disparities and food insecurity in older adults. This research was funded by: The National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) is supported by funding from the National Institute on Aging (U01AG032947).
Use of virtual reality for symptom management in solid-tumor patients with implications for primary brain tumor research: a systematic review

Background Primary brain tumors (PBTs) remain incurable, with a typically poor prognosis and significant symptom burden for patients. Virtual reality (VR) can potentially alleviate some of the negative aspects of illness by allowing individuals to escape to environments where they can experience more positive thoughts and emotions. Given promising findings for VR use in other clinical populations, there is increasing interest to use VR for symptomatic improvement in oncology patients. The purpose of this review was to analyze the literature of VR-related interventions for symptom management in adult PBT and other solid-tumor patients, which will guide development of future VR interventions in these populations. Methods A systematic search of EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was performed using PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines with predefined eligibility criteria. Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for review. Results Findings showed promising evidence that VR can improve anxiety for solid-tumor patients, with mixed results reported for pain, distress, depression, and mood. There was significant heterogeneity in methodological approaches across the literature and the majority of studies were underpowered and lacked rigorous study designs. Qualitative findings demonstrated a high degree of participant satisfaction with VR use, with very few adverse side effects reported. Conclusions Findings from this review suggest that VR can be used as an innovative delivery system for targeted interventions to improve symptoms in PBTs and other solid-tumor patient populations, though additional well-designed clinical trials are needed to better establish its efficacy.
Research progress of shear wave elastography in pediatric musculoskeletal system

剪切波弹性成像是评估组织弹性的新型超声技术，具有实时、定量、准确等优点，可用于评估肌骨关节组织力学特性的变化，为疾病的诊断、治疗及随访提供重要参考信息。本文就剪切波弹性成像的原理、在儿童肌骨关节疾病中的应用及其影响因素进行综述，并对该技术的前景进行展望。
is Composite for

Since n 4 + 4 n is even for n even, we need only consider n odd, in which case ( n + 1 ) / 2 is an integer: Note: Each factor is greater than 1 for n ≥ 3 since completing the square yields n 4 + 4 ...
THE SOCIAL MEANING OF THE MIDDLE WAY

The essays of Bibhuti Singh Yadav 1943-1999) represent Buddhism as a social invective against various Indian ontologies that either directly underwrote caste society or did nothing to upset the StatUS quo. Specifically, Madhyamika Buddhism, of Nagarjuna's and Candrakirti's Prasangika variety, rejects both the hierarchical essentialism Of caste society and the escapism of a reclusive. renunciate and metasocial nirvana, leaving the individual to demand social equality on religious grounds. The real significance of dissolving the boundaries between samsara and nirvana in Madhyamika lies in its opening the way for Buddhists to return from the forests to their homes and speak to society in its own language, but speak as reformers, so that the call to social justice could re-enter the Indian life-world on Indian terms.
Deleterious side effects of nutritional supplements.

Side effects of nutritional supplements, Edited by F. Anselmo, M.S. Driscoll Where on earth did the copy editor decide to do this?Abstract Vitamin and mineral supplement consumption is widespread. They are taken for a variety of conditions, including dermatologic disorders. Although consumers often assume these supplements are safe, excessive consumption of supplements may have deleterious effects. Such vitamin supplements include vitamin A, niacin, biotin, vitamin D, and vitamin E, and specific mineral supplements include zinc, copper, and iron. These supplements may have a number of potential adverse effects.
DeepNull: Modeling non-linear covariate effects improves phenotype prediction and association power

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are among the workhorses of statistical genetics, having detected thousands of variants associated with complex traits and diseases. A typical GWAS examines the association between genotypes and the phenotype of interest while adjusting for a set of covariates. While covariates potentially have non-linear effects on the phenotype in many real world settings, due to the challenge of specifying the model, GWAS seldom include non-linear terms. Here we introduce DeepNull, a method that models non-linear covariate effects on phenotypes using a deep neural network (DNN) and then includes the model prediction as a single extra term in the GWAS association. First, using simulated data, we show that DeepNull increases statistical power by up to 20% while maintaining tight control of the type I error in the presence of interactions or non-linear covariate effects. Second, DeepNull maintains similar results to a standard GWAS when covariates have only linear effects on the phenotype. Third, DeepNull detects larger numbers of significant hits and loci (7% additional loci averaged over 10 traits) than standard GWAS in ten phenotypes from the UK Biobank (n=370K). Many of the hits found only by DeepNull are biologically plausible or have previously been reported in the GWAS catalog. Finally, DeepNull improves phenotype prediction by 23% averaged over the same ten phenotypes, the highest improvement was observed in the case of Glaucoma referral probability where DeepNull improves the phenotype prediction by 83%.
Reproductive-Age Women's Experience of Accessing Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: "We Don't Do That Here".

Abstract Purpose For reproductive-age women, medications for opioid use disorder (OUD) decrease risk of overdose death and improve outcomes but are underutilized. Our objective was to provide a qualitative description of reproductive-age women's experiences of seeking an appointment for medications for OUD. Methods Trained female callers placed telephone calls to a representative sample of publicly listed opioid treatment clinics and buprenorphine providers in Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia to obtain appointments to receive medication for OUD. Callers were randomly assigned to be pregnant or non-pregnant and have private or Medicaid-based insurance to assess differences in the experiences of access by these characteristics. The callers placed 28,651 uniquely randomized calls, 10,117 to buprenorphine-waivered prescribers and 754 to opioid treatment programs. Open-ended, qualitative data were obtained from the callers about the access experiences and were analyzed using a qualitative, iterative inductive-deductive approach. From all 28,651 total calls, there were 17,970 unique free-text comments to the question “Please give an objective play-by-play of the description of what happened in this conversation.” Findings Analysis demonstrated a common path to obtaining an appointment. Callers frequently experienced long hold times, multiple transfers, and difficult interactions. Clinic receptionists were often mentioned as facilitating or obstructing access. Pregnant callers and those with Medicaid noted more barriers. Obtaining an appointment was commonly difficult even for these persistent, trained callers. Conclusions Interventions are needed to improve the experiences of reproductive-age women as they enter care for OUD, especially for pregnant women and those with Medicaid coverage.
Data-driven robust tracking control of underactuated mechanical systems using identified flat output and active disturbance rejection control

This paper presents a data-driven control design framework to achieve robust tracking without exploiting mathematical model of nonlinear underactuated mechanical systems (UMS). The method leverages...
Big Data and Political Communication: A Partnership to Study Racialized Media Coverage in the 2018 Midterm Elections

Partnering with a data science organization, we set out to examine the ways that local media covered candidates of color in the 2018 midterm elections. This presentation elaborates on the details of the partnership, including discussion of the myriad issues that needed to be considered in collecting such a wide-ranging and large set of data. We offer preliminary results of the way that racial stereotypes were present in the coverage of candidates of color as compared to white candidates. Additionally, we reflect on how large datasets like the one we rely on for this study help to yield greater insights about these issues compared to more traditional studies limited to smaller sample data.
Commentary: Digital Citizenship: A Response to Hicks et al.’s (2014) Guidelines

In this essay response, the authors address two goals: First, they comment on the ideas found in the new Guidelines for Using Technology to Prepare Social Studies Teachers, going deeper into issues where they concur with the judgments expressed, where they disagree, and where they feel more should be said. Second, they take the liberty of riffing on these guidelines to imagine what might be in terms of technology and social studies education.
Operative utilization of balloon versus traditional endoscopic sinus surgery.

Objectives/Hypothesis To study the utilization of balloon catheter dilation (BCD) compared to traditional endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) Study Design Cross-sectional analysis Methods Cases identified by Current Procedural Terminology codes as BCD (2,717) or traditional ESS (31,059) were extracted from the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases 2011 for California, Florida, Maryland, and New York. Patient demographics, surgical center and surgeon volume, mean charge, and operating room (OR) time were compared. Results There were 33,776 patients who underwent sinus surgery in the included states in 2011. Of these, 4.6% of maxillary, 5.6% of sphenoid, and 13.9% of frontal procedures were performed using BCD. Adjusted analyses found increased use of BCD in patients with chronic diseases(P < .001). Patients who had limited sinus surgery were less likely to have BCD compared to patients who had all four sinuses instrumented (P < .001). Surgeons who performed a medium (odds ratio 1.38 [1.14–1.65]) or high (odds ratio 1.71 [1.42–2.07]) volume of ESSs were more likely to use BCD compared to those who performed a low volume (P < .001). However, among surgeons who utilized BCD, there was a minimal relationship between the percentage of surgeries performed with BCD and the surgeon's total number of cases (R2 = 0.055). Compared to traditional ESS, the median charges for maxillary/ethmoid procedures (mini-ESS) involving BCD were approximately $4,500 (P < .001) and maxillary/ethmoid/sphenoid/frontal procedures (pan-ESS) were approximately $2,950 (P = .003) greater, whereas the median OR time involving BCD was 8 minutes less for mini-ESS procedures(P = .01) but not statistically different for pan-ESS procedures (P = .58). Conclusions In the study sample, balloon technology was used in 8.0% of ESS cases in 2011. Procedures using BCD were on average more expensive compared to traditional ESS procedures, with minimal decrease in OR time. Level of Evidence 2c Laryngoscope, 125:49–56, 2015
A decreased volume of the medial tibial spine is associated with an increased risk of suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury for males but not females

Measurements of tibial plateau subchondral bone and articular cartilage slope have been associated with the risk of suffering anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. Such single-plane measures of the tibial plateau may not sufficiently characterize its complex, three-dimensional geometry and how it relates to knee injury. Further, the tibial spines have not been studied in association with the risk of suffering a non-contact ACL injury. We questioned whether the geometries of the tibial spines are associated with non-contact ACL injury risk, and if this relationship is different for males and females. Bilateral MRI scans were acquired on 88 ACL-injured subjects and 88 control subjects matched for sex, age and sports team. Medial and lateral tibial spine geometries were characterized with measurements of length, width, height, volume and anteroposterior location. Analyses of females revealed no associations between tibial spine geometry and risk of ACL injury. Analyses of males revealed that an increased medial tibial spine volume was associated with a decreased risk of ACL injury (OR=0.667 per 100 mm3 increase). Smaller medial spines could provide less resistance to internal rotation and medial translation of the tibia relative to the femur, subsequently increasing ACL strains and risk of ACL injury.
3D object representation with topo-geometric shape models

We propose a new method for 3D object representation using weighted skeletal graphs. The geometry of an object is captured by assigning weights to the skeletal graph of the object, which in turn represents its topology. The weights provide necessary information for object reconstruction. The method is rotation, translation, and scaling invariant. Applications include shape representation, compression, and object recognition.
Principles of Liver Regeneration and Growth Homeostasis

Liver regeneration is perhaps the most studied example of compensatory growth aimed to replace loss of tissue in an organ. Hepatocytes, the main functional cells of the liver, manage to proliferate to restore mass and to simultaneously deliver all functions hepatic functions necessary to maintain body homeostasis. They are the first cells to respond to regenerative stimuli triggered by mitogenic growth factor receptors MET (the hepatocyte growth factor receptor] and epidermal growth factor receptor and complemented by auxiliary mitogenic signals induced by other cytokines. Termination of liver regeneration is a complex process affected by integrin mediated signaling and it restores the organ to its original mass as determined by the needs of the body (hepatostat function). When hepatocytes cannot proliferate, progenitor cells derived from the biliary epithelium transdifferentiate to restore the hepatocyte compartment. In a reverse situation, hepatocytes can also transdifferentiate to restore the biliary compartment. Several hormones and xenobiotics alter the hepatostat directly and induce an increase in liver to body weight ratio (augmentative hepatomegaly). The complex challenges of the liver toward body homeostasis are thus always preserved by complex but unfailing responses involving orchestrated signaling and affecting growth and differentiation of all hepatic cell types.
Moderate Alcohol Consumption and Colorectal Cancer Risk.

Background Heavy alcohol drinking is a risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC); previous studies have shown a linear dose-dependent association between alcohol intake and CRC. However, some studies suggest that moderate alcohol consumption may have a protective effect, similar to that seen in cardiovascular disease. Other factors may interact with alcohol and contribute additional risk for CRC. We aimed to determine the association between moderate alcohol consumption, limited to 30 g of alcohol per day, by beverage type on CRC risk and to assess the effects of other factors that interact with alcohol to influence CRC risk. Methods The PubMed database was used to find articles published between 2008 and 2014 related to alcohol and CRC. Twenty-one relevant articles were evaluated and summarized, including 11 articles reporting on CRC risk associated with moderate intake and 10 articles focusing on genetic interactions associated with alcohol and CRC risk. Results The association between alcohol and increased risk for CRC was found when intakes exceeded 30 g/d alcohol. Nonsignificant results were consistently reported for intakes <30 g/d. Additional risks for CRC were found to be related to obesity and folate status for regular alcohol consumers. Some significant results suggest that the development of CRC is dependent on the interaction of gene and environment. Conclusions The association between the amount of alcohol consumed and the incidence of CRC was not significant at moderate intake levels. Moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a reduced CRC risk in study populations with greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet, where wine contributed substantially to the alcoholic beverage consumed. Other factors such as obesity, folate deficiency, and genetic susceptibility may contribute additional CRC risk for those consuming alcohol. To minimize CRC risk, appropriate recommendations should encourage intakes below 30 g of alcohol each day.
Epidermal growth factor induces glucose transport in primary cell cultures derived from human astrocytic glioma biopsies.

Abstract The gene for the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is amplified in a variety of neoplastic tissues, including malignant gliomas. To reveal whether increased sensitivity to EGF has significance for the supply of metabolic substrate to tumor cells, the rate of glucose transport was determined in cells exposed to EGF for up to six hours. In the epidermoid carcinoma line A431, and in primary cultures from 7 12 human glioma biopsies, EGF (10 ng/ml) induced an increase (two-fold) in glucose transport. This effect was transient and independent of protein synthesis.
The effect of accessory auditory stimulation upon detection of visual signals

The study examined the effect of a continuous 1,000-Hz 80-dB accessory tone upon the detectability of a visual stimulus presented to the peripheral retina. All Ss received the primary visual stimulus both with and without an accessory auditory stimulus. Detection of the visual stimulus was measured by means of a forced-choice indicator. The presence of the accessory tone significantly decreased the percentage of light detections. An unexpected finding was that incorrect responses were unequally distributed among the four observation intervals. It was concluded that continuous intense accessory auditory stimulation inhibits visual sensitivity.
Balancing alternatives and avoiding false dichotomies to make informed U.S. electricity policy

Recent events highlight the importance of electric energy policy and how to meet growing electricity demand. Price spikes, global climate change and other environmental concerns, national security threats, an aging infrastructure, and a restructured industry with mixed results are challenges that policy makers and the industry must address. Given the capital-intensive nature of the industry, investment decisions will determine in large part how successfully these challenges are met. One paper that favors energy efficiency, renewable energy, and small-scale distributed generation is examined in detail to test the proposition that fossil fuel and nuclear power should be part of the mix of new investments. To determine the future electricity resource mix requires having a complete and informed picture of the relative costs and benefits of various technologies. The levels of energy efficiency, renewable resources, and distributed generation can and should be increased, but coal and nuclear generation investments are also likely to be needed.
Decay rates for weakly damped systems in Hilbert space obtained with control-theoretic methods☆

Abstract For the damped linear oscillator in Hilbert space X: x + B x + Ax = 0, A > 0, B ⩾ 0 , there can be no uniform decay rate if B is compact while the unit ball in X is not. The present paper uses control-theoretic methods to establish, in certain cases, explicit nonuniform decay rates. Examples of application to problems of stabilization and to problems concerning mixed, frictionally coupled elastic systems are studied in detail.
Motivated Misperception? Party, Education, Partisan News, and Belief in “Death Panels”

This study drew on the literature in motivated reasoning and 2009 Pew survey data to examine the roles of partisanship, education, news exposure, and their interactions in the misperception that health care reform would create “death panels.” Radio news exposure encouraged the misperception only among Republicans, while newspaper exposure discouraged it, especially among non-Republicans. But rather than polarize perceptions along partisan lines as predicted, Fox News exposure contributed to misperception mainstreaming. Finally, this study identified a complex role for education in both inhibiting misperceptions (as a main effect) and promoting them (as an interaction with Fox News exposure).
Distribution of DDT, DDD, and DDE in tissues of neonatal rats and in milk and other tissues of mother rats chronically exposed to DDT.

Abstract Female rats were chronically exposed to 25, 100, or 200 μg/g dietary DDT [1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane] during pregnancy and lactation. In offspring sacrificed within 1 hr after birth before suckling had occurred, DDT concentrations in the whole rat averaged from 1.3 to 2.2 μg/g fresh tissue, and DDD [1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane] and DDE [1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene] concentrations were 1.0 μg/g or less in the 3 groups. Average concentrations of DDT and metabolites were higher in liver (1.3–4.3 μg/g) than in brain (0.9–2.5 μg/g). In neonatal rats, sacrificed about 10 hr after birth, after suckling had occurred and stomachs were full of milk, concentrations of DDT in the liver were about 5-fold greater than in the littermates sacrificed 1 hr after birth. The results indicate that the retention of DDT in tissues of the neonate during the lactational period was greater than in fetal tissues during gestation. DDT concentrations were 33 μg/g fresh tissue in milk from dams on 25 μg/g dietary DDT, 92 μg/g in milk from dams on 100 μg/g dietary DDT and 174 μg/g in milk from dams on 200 μg/g dietary DDT, showing that the level of output of DDT in the milk may be higher than the level of DDT intake on the lower levels of dietary DDT. In the maternal tissues, fat contained by far the highest concentrations of DDT and metabolites. Liver, kidneys, the various brain areas and spinal cord had approximately similar levels of DDT. Average plasma levels of DDT were low, ranging from 0.7 to 1.7 μg/ml among the 3 groups. Liver was the only tissue in which DDD concentrations were as high or higher than DDT concentrations. DDD concentrations in liver were higher than DDE concentrations, whereas the reverse was true for all other tissues.
Mechanisms Of Laser-Induced Stone Ablation

Pulsed-dye-laser fragmentation of biliary and urinary calculi is associated with a bright flash, an acoustic transient and material removal. Time-resolved spectroscopic studies of the flash have demonstrated the presence of a plasma when fragmentation occurs. A model is proposed in which the plasma absorbs the optical energy of the laser, and expands, and generates mechanical forces that fragment the stone.
Hydrodynamic properties of a rigid molecule: Rotational and linear diffusion and fluorescence anisotropy

The fluorescence anisotropy of a general rigid body is formally the sum of five exponentials. We show that, to a high degree of approximation, there are relationships between the five time constants. As we define the time constants here, τ1 ≅ τ5, τ2 ≅ τ3, and τ1−1 + 3τ4−1 ≅ 4τ2−1. In practical cases, at most only three exponentials will be observed, and, of these, only two are independent. Using a numerical integration procedure, Perrin's equations for the rotational and translational diffusion of a general ellipsoid are solved. Rotational friction coefficients, frictional ratio, rotational relaxation times, and the five exponential terms in the fluorescence anisotropy are tabulated as functions of the axial ratios of the ellipsoid. In principle, the three axes of a general ellipsoid may be determined by a simultaneous measurement of the anisotropy and the linear diffusion constant. We examine, and illustrate, the effect of experimental error on such a determination.
The untuning of the tuning curve: is it time?

Abstract The measures that are currently used to characterize the response properties of auditory neurons, such as tuning curve and Q value, stem primarily from engineering descriptors of electrical circuits. The motivation behind those descriptors in turn derives from the mathematical concepts of Fourier theory and systems (frequency) analysis. It now seems unlikely that the auditory nervous system performs such a frequency analysis and therefore those measures and concept of frequency tuning curves need re-evaluation. It therefore is time that we seriously question the relevance of classical tuning curves for the study of sound communication. The auditory system is uniquely endowed with an ability to process rapid signal variation in time. More attention should be paid to the encoding of temporal waveforms directly in the time domain, rather than invoking a transformation into the frequency domain and the application of mathematical frequency analysis based on engineering principles.
Standpoint: On how we study and what we study

Familiarity with methods often determines whether studies about media are worth consideration.
Catalytic upgrading of levulinic acid to 5-nonanone

Aqueous solutions of levulinic acid can be catalytically processed, through the intermediate formation of γ-valerolactone (GVL), to an organic liquid stream that spontaneously separates from water, and is enriched in pentanoic acid and 5-nonanone. This organic layer can serve as a source of chemicals or can be upgraded to hydrocarbon fuels.
Histone deacetylases in control of skeletogenesis.

Skeletogenesis occurs continuously during the lifespan of vertebrate organisms. In development, the skeleton is patterned and modeled until each bone achieves its optimal shape and full size. During adults, the skeleton is remodeled to maintain strength and release calcium. The bone-resorbing and bone-forming activities of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, respectively, are tightly coupled to maintain optimal skeletal health; however, during aging and disease, these cells can become uncoupled, adversely affecting skeletal health and strength. Histone deacetylases have emerged as important regulators of endochondral bone formation, osteoblast maturation and osteoclast survival. Histone deacetylases are inhibited by small molecules that are approved and/or in clinical trials as cancer therapeutic drugs or anti-epileptic agents. In this article, the roles of histone deacetylases and effects of histone deacetylase inhibitors on bone and cartilage cells are reviewed. J. Cell. Biochem. 102: 332–340, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Factors Influencing Soil Aggregation and Particulate Organic Matter Responses to Bioenergy Crops across a Topographic Gradient

article i nfo Bioenergy crops have the potential to enhance soil carbon (C) pools from increased aggregation and the physical protection of organicmatter;however,our understanding ofthevariation inthese processesoverheterogeneous landscapes is limited. In particular, little is known about the relative importance of soil properties and root char- acteristics for the physical protection of particulate organic matter (POM). We studied short-term (3-year) changes in aggregation and POM-C pools under three cropping systems (switchgrass, a triticale/sorghum double crop, continuous corn) replicated across five landscape positions along a topographic gradient in Iowa, USA. We isolated POM associated with three aggregate fractions (N2 mm, 0.25- 2m m, and 0.053-0.25 mm) to determine the relativeinfluence of tensoil and three root properties. Aggregation increased inall cropping systems and was greatest under switchgrass; however cropping system effects were not consistent among positions. Total soil or- ganic C stocksdid not change, butC within both physically protected (iPOM-C) and unprotected (frPOM) C pools increased. Shifts in iPOM-C were concurrently influenced by soil properties and root traits. Soil texture had the strongest influence (65% relative importance), with finer-textured soils showing greater gains in total iPOM-C, whilegreaterrootbiomassinfluenced(35%relative importance)accrual of totaliPOM-C.Aggregatefractionsvar- ied in their iPOM-C response to soil and root variables, however individual pools similarly showed the impor- tance of soil texture and root biomass and annual root productivity (BNPP). Changes in frPOM-C were strongly correlated with BNPP. Our data suggest that macroaggregate formation drives short-term responses of POM, which are influenced by both soil and root system properties. Crops that maximize root biomass and BNPP will lead to the largest increases in protected soil C stocks. However, C storage rates will vary across landscapes ac- cording to soil conditions, with texture as the primary influence.
Release of cytokines and hemodynamic instability during the reperfusion of a liver graft

The objectives of this prospective, observational study were (1) to determine whether a transplanted liver graft releases proinflammatory cytokines into the systemic circulation upon reperfusion and (2) to determine whether they contribute to any subsequent hemodynamic instability observed after graft reperfusion (if this release occurs). Blood samples from 17 consecutive patients undergoing liver transplantation were analyzed for cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8. Blood samples were obtained from the radial artery, portal vein, and flush blood (a sample taken from a catheter placed above the infrahepatic inferior vena cava clamp). The amount of catecholamines necessary to maintain a mean arterial pressure between 65 and 75 mm Hg during graft reperfusion was compared with the level of cytokines. A statistical analysis was performed with the least squares method, Kendall's tau-b test, and regression analysis. We demonstrated that flush blood from the liver grafts contained a significant amount and variety of cytokines. Most of these were removed by graft irrigation. The concentration of TNF-α in samples obtained from flush blood at the end of liver irrigation was significantly higher than the concentration in samples obtained from the radial artery (P = 0.0067) or portal vein (P = 0.0003) before reperfusion. This correlated directly with the amount of catecholamines used to treat hemodynamic instability. Although there were increased levels of IL-1β, IL-2, and IL-8 in the flush blood, there was no statistically significant correlation between the levels of these cytokines and the amount of catecholamines used.
From enterprise analysis to conceptual database design in production systems

Abstract In this paper, main features of the M∗ methodology for organization analysis and information system design are presented. The importance of integrating enterprise analysis and modelling and database design is stressed. M∗ is structured into three major phases: Enterprise Modelling and Analysis, database Conceptual Design, and database Implementation Design. In this paper, the first two phases will be discussed and explained by means of case study concerning a flexible manufacturing system.
Fidelity and Error Specificity of the α Catalytic Subunit of Escherichia coli DNA Polymerase III

Escherichia coli DNA polymerase III holoenzyme is the replicative enzyme primarily responsible for the duplication of the E. coli chromosome. This process occurs with high accuracy, less than 10−9 to 10−10 errors being committed per base pair per round of replication. As a first step in understanding the mechanisms responsible for the high fidelity of this process, we have purified the polymerase III α catalytic subunit, free of exonuclease activity, and analyzed its fidelity in vitro. We employed a newly developed gap-filling assay using the N-terminal 250 bases of the lacI gene as a forward mutational target. When synthesizing across this target, α subunit produced mutations at a frequency of 0.6%. DNA sequencing revealed that the mutants created in vitro consisted mostly of frameshift mutations, although some base substitutions were also observed. The frameshifts, occurring at more than 120-fold above the background, consisted largely of −1 deletions. Among them, about 80% were the deletion of a purine template base with a pyrimidine 5′-neighbor. These results suggest that the α subunit (i) has a relatively low ability to extend from misincorporated bases, accounting for the low level of observed base substitutions, and (ii) has a relatively high capability of extension after misalignment of a misincorporated base on the next (complementary) template base, accounting for the high level of frameshift mutations. This model is supported by an experiment in which α subunit was required to initiate DNA synthesis from a terminal mispair in a sequence context that allowed slippage on the next template base. Among the products of this reaction, frameshifts outnumbered base pair substitutions by greater than 70-fold. A comparison to in vivo mutational spectra suggests that the pol III accessory factors may play a major role in modulating the fidelity of DNA synthesis.
Types and characteristics of remote memory impairment in schizophrenia

Remote memory, as the term is used in the present study, refers to semantic information or autobiographical information for events and facts that are thought to be stored in the neocortex. In schizophrenia, findings of abnormalities in remote memory have been reported. However, it is unclear whether these are due to retrieval factors or other factors (e.g. paucity of information, disorganized lexicosemantic representations). Furthermore, it is unclear whether there is a temporal gradient in remote memory. In the first study, we utilized a cueing procedure for semantic fluency in order to determine whether retrieval factors play a marked role in impairments. In comparing patients with schizophrenia to patients with affective disorder and normal controls, we found that cueing had an equivalent effect upon all groups, suggesting that marked retrieval deficits were not the primary determinant of poor performance in fluency. Furthermore, we found that semantic fluency was disproportionately impaired vis-a-vis phonologic fluency, suggesting that abnormalities may be greater in storage areas presumed to be in temporal parietal cortex rather than in prefrontal cortex (which has been associated with retrieval deficits). In the second study, we examined the temporal gradient of autobiographical memory in patients with schizophrenia and normal controls. Whereas normal controls exhibited high and equivalent performance across childhood, early adult, and recent memories, patients with schizophrenia exhibited a u-shaped profile perhaps unique in the neuropsychiatric literature. This may reflect a combination of secondary memory impairments which effect the acquisition of new information coupled to very mildly accelerated rate of forgetting, 'recency' effects, and/or inefficient encoding. Taken together, these studies provide further support for the notion that schizophrenia has a relatively unique pattern of neuropsychological deficit based on neocortical dysfunction that includes, though is not restricted to, temporoparietal regions.
Parkinson’s disease, CYP2D6 polymorphism, and age

Objective: PD may be caused by genetic susceptibility to neurotoxins. CYP2D6 is a candidate gene for PD because it regulates drug and toxin metabolism, but association studies have been inconsistent. The aim of this study was to test if the CYP2D6 *4 allele (poor metabolizer phenotype) is associated with earlier age at onset. Methods: Five hundred seventy-six patients with PD and 247 subjects without PD were studied using standard diagnostic, genotyping, and statistical techniques. Results: Surprisingly, mean onset age was significantly later in *4-positive patients. Frequency of *4 was significantly higher in late-onset PD than early-onset PD. When early- and late-onset PD were analyzed separately, *4 had no effect on onset age; hence, the association with delayed onset was likely an artifact of an elevated *4 frequency in late-onset PD. Contrary to a common assumption that CYP2D6 frequencies do not change with age, *4 frequency rose significantly with advancing age, both in patients with PD (from 0.16 at mean age of 56.5 years to 0.21 at mean age of 72) and subjects without PD (from 0.09 at mean age of 45.5 years to 0.21 at mean age of 72). *4 Frequencies in patients with early- and late-onset PD, although different from each other, were in agreement with similarly aged subjects without PD, suggesting the elevated *4 frequency in late-onset PD was likely an age effect, unrelated to PD. Conclusion: The CYP2D6 *4 allele is not associated with earlier PD onset. *4 May be associated with survival. Inconsistent results from allelic association studies may have been due to an unrecognized age effect.