cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Finite element modeling of blood flow in arteries

Abstract A comprehensive finite element framework to enable the conduct of computational vascular research is described. The software system developed provides an integrated set of tools to solve clinically relevant blood flow problems and test hypotheses regarding hemodynamic (blood flow) factors in vascular adaptation and disease. The validity of the computational method was established by comparing the numerical results to an analytic solution for pulsatile flow as well as to published experimental flow data. The application of the finite element method to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the blood flow field in a number of clinically relevant models is described.
The influence of scapular depression on upper limb neurodynamic test responses

AbstractObjectivesUpper limb neurodynamic testing (ULNT) can be used clinically to assist in identifying neural tissue involvement in patients with upper quarter pain and dysfunction. Consideration for scapular positioning is a crucial component of ULNT standardization, as variations in positioning may dramatically impact sensory and motor responses. This study aimed to determine if there was a meaningful difference in test outcomes when the ULNT was performed in alternative scapular positions.MethodsThis cross-sectional study included 40 asymptomatic individuals. Repeated ULNT testing was performed on the dominant limb with the scapula blocked in neutral (ULNTb) and in scapular depression (ULNTd). Sensory responses, muscle activity, and range of motion outcomes were compared between the two test variations.ResultsPre-positioning in scapular depression (ULNTd) led to reduced elbow extension range of motion, provoked greater upper trapezius muscle activity and an earlier onset and broader area of sensory r...
Impact of Practice Policies on Pediatric Immunization Rates

Objective To describe the relationship between practice policies and rates of up-to-date (UTD). Study Design Analysis of data from the 2004–2006 National Immunization Survey (NIS). Practice policies evaluated are immunization provider involvement in a vaccine registry, participation in the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, and administration of hepatitis B vaccine at birth. The primary outcome is rates of being UTD with the 4:3:1:3:3 vaccination series for children age 19 through 35 months. Results The overall rate of UTD is 80.8%; 53.3% of children had providers administer hepatitis B vaccine at birth, which was associated with significantly higher rates of UTD (79.9% vs. 83.1%, P P Conclusions Immunization provider policy decisions, including administration of hepatitis B at birth, participation in VFC, and a focus on continuity of care, can improve rates of UTD for children in their practice.
Construct Validation of the Social Competence Scale in Preschool‐age Children

This study evaluated the utility of the social competence scale (SCS)-parent version, a measure of social competence developed for children of elementary school age, for use with preschool-age children. Data were derived from two samples of preschoolers: a community sample assessed at enrollment to pre-kindergarten programs and a high-risk sample of children at familial risk for conduct problems participating in a preventive intervention trial. Using data from both samples, we assessed the factor structure, internal consistency, and stability of the SCS, and whether the SCS discriminated the high-risk sample from the community sample. Results support the utility and construct validity of the SCS for use in preschoolers. The total SCS scale was relatively stable over 24 months during the preschool period and was correlated with other measures of social competence, parent ratings of emotion regulation, lability and behavior problems, and tests of child cognitive ability.
Predictors of Radiation Pneumonitis in Patients Receiving Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy for Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Summary Threshold lung doses associated with radiation pneumonitis (RP) are not well established for patients receiving modern mediastinal radiation for lymphoma. This review found that 14% of patients who received intensity modulated radiation therapy for lymphoma developed grade 1 to 3 RP. Purpose: Few studies to date have evaluated factors associated with the development of radiation pneumonitis (RP) in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and nonHodgkin lymphoma (NHL), especially in patients treated with contemporary radiation techniques. These patients represent a unique group owing to the often large radiation target volumes within the mediastinum and to the potential to receive several lines of chemotherapy that add to pulmonary toxicity for relapsed or refractory disease. Our objective was to determine the incidence and clinical and dosimetric risk factors associated with RP in lymphoma patients treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) at a single institution. Methods and Materials: We retrospectively reviewed clinical charts and radiation records of 150 consecutive patients who received mediastinal IMRT for HL and NHL from 2009 through 2013. Clinical and dosimetric predictors associated with RP according to Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) acute toxicity criteria were
Public administration and the code of ethics: administrative reform or professional ideology?

The primary professional society of American public administration has developed a code of ethics that appears to be largely irrelevant to the realities of bureaucratic experience. An explanation of this paradox can be found in the sociological literature on the professions and code-writing. Professional codes are designed to reyulate the behavior of a profession's members, but this is generally seen as a secondary aspect of a more fundamental objective: the need to assure the public at large that the profession's power is being exercised responsibly. From this perspective, the public administration code can be interpreted first as part of an attempt to legitimate the profession in the face of hostile challenges to its authority, and second as an effort to engender ethical behavior. Such an interpretation helps to explain the profession's failure to confront the organizational and political barriers that impede effective implementation of the code. The paper concludes with an observation on the implicatio...
Using consensus sequence voting to correct OCR errors

Abstract We present experimental results suggesting that between 20 and 50% of the errors caused by a single OCR package can be eliminated by simply scanning a page three times and running a “consensus sequence” voting procedure. This technique, which originates from molecular biology, takes exponential time in general, but can be specialized to a fast heuristic guaranteed to be optimal for the cases of interest. The improvement in recognition accuracy is achieved without making a priori assumptions about the distribution of OCR errors (i.e., no “training” is required).
Low-power Fuzzy Logic VLSI implementation with asynchronous topology for neuronal sensors

Embedded systems for ubiquitous sensing towards the next-generation cyber-physical systems require low-power design approaches. A non-traditional low-power asynchronous circuit design for Fuzzy Logic rule-block is presented in this paper. The developed low-power architecture of the Fuzzy rule blocks consumes 197.2 μW for 3 rules using CMOS 0.13 micron technology. Implementation with an asynchronous topology reduced the power consumption to 64.5 μW. Such low-power controllers would be attractive for embedded neuronal sensors powered by energy scavenging.
396 CANCER-SPECIFIC MORTALITY FOLLOWING RADICAL CYSTECTOMY FOR BLADDER CANCER WITH LYMPH NODE INVOLVEMENT: IMPACT OF DISEASE FEATURES AND ADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY

Purpose While lymph node involvement (LNI) has been associated with adverse outcomes following radical cystectomy (RC), clinicopathologic variables associated with survival continue to be defined. Therefore, we evaluated survival in patients with LNI to define factors associated with death from bladder cancer.
Microwave investigation of sulfuric acid monohydrate.

The complex H2SO4-H2O has been observed by rotational spectroscopy in a supersonic jet. A-type spectra for 18 isotopic forms have been analyzed, and the vibrationally averaged structure of the system has been determined. The complex forms a distorted, six-membered ring with the water unit acting as both a hydrogen bond donor and a hydrogen bond acceptor toward the sulfuric acid. One of the H2SO4 protons forms a short, direct hydrogen bond to the water oxygen, with an H...O distance of 1.645(5) A and an O-H...O angle of 165.2(4) degrees. Additionally, the orientation of the water suggests a weaker, secondary hydrogen bond between one of the H2O hydrogens and a nearby S=O oxygen on the sulfuric acid, with an O...H distance of 2.05(1) A and an O-H...O angle of 130.3(5) degrees. The experimentally determined structure is in excellent agreement with previously published DFT studies. Experiments with HOD in the jet reveal the formation of only isotopomers involving deuterium in the secondary hydrogen bond, providing direct experimental evidence for the secondary H...O interaction. Extensive isotopic substitution has also permitted a re-determination of the structure of the H2SO4 unit within the complex. The hydrogen-bonding OH bond of the sulfuric acid elongates by 0.07(2) A relative to that in free H2SO4, and the S=O bond involved in the secondary interaction stretches by 0.04(1) A. These changes reflect substantial distortion of the H2SO4 moiety in response to only a single water molecule, and prior to the proton transfer event. Spectral data indicate that the complex undergoes at least one, and probably more than one type of internal motion. Although the sulfuric acid in this work was produced from direct reaction of SO3 and water in the jet, experiments with H2(18)O indicate that about 2-3% of the acid is formed via processes not normally associated with the gas-phase hydration of SO3.
Metabolic diversity of aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria from a petroleum-contaminated aquifer

We characterized bacteria from contaminated aquifers for their ability to utilize aromatic hydrocarbons under hypoxic (oxygen-limiting) conditions (initial dissolved oxygen concentration about 2 mg/l) with nitrate as an alternate electron acceptor. This is relevant to current intense efforts to establish favorable conditions for in situ bioremediation. Using samples of granular activated carbon slurries from an operating groundwater treatment system, we isolated bacteria that are able to use benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, or p-xylene as their sole source of carbon under aerobic or hypoxic-denitrifying conditions. Direct isolation on solid medium incubated aerobically or hypoxically with the substrate supplied as vapor yielded 10(3) to 10(5) bacteria ml-1 of slurry supernatant, with numbers varying little with respect to isolation substrate or conditions. More than sixty bacterial isolates that varied in colony morphology were purified and characterized according to substrate utilization profiles and growth condition (i.e., aerobic vs. hypoxic) specificity. Strains with distinct characteristics were obtained using benzene compared with those isolated on toluene or ethylbenzene. In general, isolates obtained from direct selection on benzene minimal medium grew well under aerobic conditions but poorly under hypoxic conditions, whereas many ethylbenzene isolates grew well under both incubation conditions. We conclude that the conditions of isolation, rather than the substrate used, will influence the apparent characteristic substrate utilization range of the isolates obtained. Also, using an enrichment culture technique, we isolated a strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens, designated CFS215, which exhibited nitrate dependent degradation of aromatic hydrocarbons under hypoxic conditions.
Dearomatization and functionalization of terpyridine by lutetium(III) alkyl complexes.

Lutetium(III)-bis(alkyl) and -tris(alkyl) fragments supported by either 2,2‘:6‘,2‘ ‘-terpyridine or 4,4‘,4‘ ‘-tri-tert-butyl-2,2‘:6‘,2‘ ‘-terpyridine are not stable and undergo facile 1,3-alkyl migration under ambient conditions resulting in dearomatization and ortho (2‘ or 6‘) functionalization of the terpyridyl ligand, clearly demonstrating that the terpyridyl ligand framework is not as innocent as previously thought.
Recursive fading memory smoothing

Abstract The recursive fading memory filter equations for time-continuous and time-discrete systems presented in Ref. 1 is extended here to the fixed-interval smoothing case. The three standard forms of the smoothing equations are derived, and practical aspects of their implementation are discussed.
Augmentation of endothelium-independent flow constriction in pial arteries at high intravascular pressures.

The effects of an increase in intraluminal pressure and flow on the diameter and active smooth muscle tone of pial arteries was studied in perfused segments. Resistance arteries (approximately 250-300 microns i.d.) were perfused under controlled pressure and flow conditions, and changes in arterial diameter registered with an automated video device. In any particular segment, diameter measurements were normalized to that observed at 5 mm Hg. Changes in active wall force were determined by relating the observed diameter under a particular set of conditions to the diameter at the same intramural pressure when smooth muscle tone was inhibited (calcium-free physiological saline solution) and to the diameter when smooth muscle cells were activated close to maximum (KCl; 89 mM). At 60 mm Hg, the diameter decrease of 21% in the absence of flow represented stretch-induced tone. No additional changes in diameter were encountered with a flow of 20 microliters/min. Diameter decreased a further 7% at 100 microliters/min. When intraluminal pressure was 90 mm Hg, diameter decreased 39% without flow. Additional constriction of 10% and 19% occurred at flows of 20 and 100 microliters/min, respectively. At the higher pressure, the vasoconstriction occasioned by flow was significantly greater than that at the lower pressure. After endothelium inactivation by passing hypo-osmotic Krebs' solution followed by air through the segment, mean diameter was less at each combination of pressure and flow, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. The diameter reductions to increases in pressure from 60 to 90 mm Hg and to flow at 40 microliters/min were not altered by endothelium inactivation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Contribution of Executive Function to Source Memory Development in Early Childhood

Age-related differences in episodic memory judgments assessing recall of fact information and the source of this information were examined. The role of executive function in supporting early episodic memory ability was also explored. Four- and 6-year-old children were taught 10 novel facts from two different sources (experimenter or puppet) and memory for both fact and source information was later tested. Measures of working memory, inhibitory control, and set-shifting were obtained to produce an indicator of children's executive function. Six-year-olds recalled more fact and source information than 4-year-olds. Regression analyses revealed that age, language ability, and executive function accounted for unique variance in children's fact recall and source recall performance. These findings suggest a link between episodic memory and executive function, and we propose that developmental investigations should further explore this association.
Optimal viability evaluation by a simplified rest redistribution thallium-201 & contractility assessment with low dose dobutamine combined protocol

Background: There is overlap in myocardial viability information by rest thallium-201 (Tl) uptake and contractile reserve under low dose dobutamine (LDD). In this study, we investigate a new protocol that involves acquisition of the delayed rest redistribution (RR) Tl images under LDD to help provide combined Tl uptake & contractile reserve viability information in a single study. Methods: 41 patients (27 men), mean age 67±11 with myocardial infarction underwent routine RR gated SPECT Tl myocardial imaging. LDD (10 ug/kg/min) infusion was maintained during delayed images acquisition. Segmental Tl types were semiquantitatively classified into normal, fixed (mild, moderate, severe, or absent) & reversible defects, & subclassified by wall motion (WM)/ thickening (WT) changes between early resting & delayed LDD gated images into normal, fixed or improved dysfunctional (contractile reserve present) segments. Results: The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 30% at rest & 34% with LDD (p < .001). In dysfunctional myocardium, improved WM &/or WT abnormalities under LDD were significantly higher (p < .001) in reversible (56/97) & in fixed (76/158) than normal segments (3/80). Out of 215 fixed Tl uptake defects, 33 showed no appreciable uptake to evaluate WM/WT. In the remaining 182 fixed defects, 158 were dysfunctional. Improved WM/WT in dysfunctional segments was significantly higher (p < .05) in mild (30/56) & in moderate (35/65) than severe (11/37) fixed defects. Quantitative analysis showed significant (p < .001) WT increase between rest & LDD in all Tl uptake types. However, WT was higher in normal than fixed or reversible Tl defects both at rest (p < .001) & with LDD (p < .001). Conclusion: Comprehensive myocardial viability evaluation can be routinely performed using this new protocol that simultaneously provides Tl uptake & contractile reserve information in a single examination. Moreover, this protocol requires no additional time or radioactivity over the usual RR Tl protocol. Further comparison to post revascularization functional outcome is needed for validation.
The association between cumulative periodontal disease and stroke history in older adults.

Background: Since the late 1980s, several studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between periodontal disease and ischemic stroke. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship of periodontal disease to the self-reported history of stroke in the elderly (60 years of age and older) by examining the data of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Methods: Data from NHANES III, a large population-based cross-sectional survey of the United States, were used for this study. Because 1,563 of the 5,123 subjects in the study were edentulous, and periodontal disease is a major cause of tooth loss, it was necessary to account for edentulousness in the statistical analysis to avoid bias. Hence, a new index called the periodontal health status (PHS) index was developed to address this problem. Two measures of PHS were developed: PHS I, based on the median percentage of sites with ≥2 mm clinical attachment loss (CAL), and PHS II, based on the median percentage of sites with ≥3 mm CAL. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to test for the association of PHS with stroke history. Two types of a multiple logistic regression model were fit: 1) logistic regression modeling with adjustment for age and tobacco use only; and 2) logistic regression modeling with adjustment of all statistically significant confounders. Results: Based on multiple logistic regression analysis of PHS with adjustment for age and tobacco use only, completely edentulous elderly adults (PHS Class 5) and partially edentulous (teeth in one arch) elderly adults with appreciable clinical attachment loss (PHS Class 4) were significantly more likely to have a history of stroke compared to dentate adults (teeth in both arches) without appreciable clinical attachment loss (PHS Class 1). When multiple logistic regression models were fit with adjustment of all significant confounders, no statistically significant association was found between PHS and stroke. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, there is evidence of an association between cumulative periodontal disease, based on PHS, and a history of stroke. However, it is unclear whether cumulative periodontal disease is an independent risk factor for stroke or a risk marker for the disease.
Hepatitis C and depression

Although the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is declining, a large reservoir of patients with chronic hepatitis C exists. Unless effective HCV antiviral regimens are developed, many patients with asymptomatic HCV will develop clinical symptoms in the next 15 to 20 years. Mood disorders are common in patients with HCV referred for psychiatric consultation. Interferon is the primary treatment for chronic hepatitis C but can induce depression and other mental and neuropsychiatric syndromes. Mood disorders associated with hepatitis C may respond to psychiatric intervention. Psychiatrists need to be aware of the clinical issues in the diagnosis and treatment of depression complicating chronic hepatitis C.
The Effects of Diversity in Aggregation Games.

Aggregation of entities is a widely observed phenomenon in economics, sociology, biology and other flelds. It is natural to ask how diverse and competitive entities can achieve high levels of aggregation. In order to answer this question we provide a game-theoretical model for aggregation. We consider natural classes of strategies for the individuals and show how this afiects aggregation by studying the price of anarchy of the resulting game. Our analysis highlights the advantages of populations with diverse strategies (heterogeneous populations) over populations where all individuals share the same strategy (homogeneous populations). In particular, we prove that a simple heterogeneous population composed of leaders (individuals that tend to invest) and followers (individuals that look for short-term rewards) achieves asymptotically lower price of anarchy compared to any homogeneous population, no matter how elaborate its strategy is. This sets forth the question of how diversity afiects the problem solving abilities of populations in general. We hope that our work will lead to further research in games with diverse populations and in a better understanding of aggregation games.
Automatic processor lower bound formulas for array computations

In the directed acyclic graph (dag) model of algorithms, consider the following problem for precedence-constrained multiprocessor schedules for array computations: Given a sequence of dags and linear schedules parameterized by n, compute a lower bound on the number of processors required by the schedule as a function of n. This problem is formulated so that the number of tasks that are scheduled for execution during any fixed time step is the number of non-negative integer solutions d/sub n/ to a set of parametric linear Diophantine equations. Generating function methods are then used for constructing a formula for the numbers dn. We implemented this algorithm as a Mathematica program. This paper is an overview of the techniques involved and their applications to well-known schedules for Matrix-Vector Product, Triangular Matrix Product, and Gaussian Elimination dags. Some example runs and automatically produced symbolic formulas for processor lower bounds by the algorithm are given.
A social psychological view of morality: why knowledge of situational influences on behaviour can improve character development practices

Results from research in social psychology, such as findings about the fundamental attribution error and other situational influences on behaviour, are often used to justify attacking the existence of character traits. From this perspective, character development is an illusion, an impossibility, or both. We offer a different interpretation of how these issues interact with character development concerns. Rather than undermining the very idea of character traits, social psychology actually sheds light on the manner in which character development can occur. It reaffirms Spinozistic and Aristotelian points about character, namely that: (1) knowledge of the fundamental attribution error can help us minimize the influence environment and situation have on our behaviour, and (2) proper habituation only takes place in appropriately structured environments. Acknowledging these important results from social psychology helps us improve some of our character education practices rather than destroying their basis.
Dissolution Profiles in Column Dissolution

A self-consistent model for open-ended column dissolution is presented. It is shown that when the concentration of the efflux stream from the column is plotted versus time, then the profile is fairly level at first and then drops rapidly, in the form of an inverse sigmoid profile. The model assumes that the particles are isometric and that they adhere to a Levich type particulate dissolution, and it is based on plug flow with a given residence time. Consistency is shown between the plug flow parameter (Q2) and experimental data. Good correlation is found between predicted and experimental profiles.
IMPROVING THE ETCHING PROPERTIES AND TAILORING THE RESPONSE OF CR-39 PLASTIC TRACK DETECTORS WITH DOPANTS

ABSTRACT Following G. Tarie's discovery of the remarkable effect of a 1% addition of dioctyl phthalate to CR-39 monomer, we have cast sheets of CR-39 with no additive and with 1% of dioctyl phthalate, dioctyl teraphthalate, and diisodecyl phthalate. Sheets made from any of the additives are much more transparent after etching and the etched cones are more uniform than is the case with pure CR-39. In irradiations with Ar, Ne, C, and He, we find that the dependence of reduced etch rate, VT/VB-1, on Z/β is significantly different for the pure CR-39 and for each kind of additive. One can thus choose an additive that gives the optimal response for a particular application. All of our sheets with additives are more sensitive than those with dioctyl phthalate made for us by Pershore; our pure CR-39 is more sensitive than Pershore's pure CR-39.
Caregiver Verbal Encouragement Increases Food Acceptance among Vietnamese Toddlers

Responsive feeding, defined as the positive environment and caregiving behaviors that encourage children to eat, is critical to their physical, mental, and social development. However, research and programs designed to foster responsive feeding have been limited. This research tested the hypothesis that caregiver encouragement, caregiver and child behaviors, and other feeding characteristics were associated with acceptance of food. A total of 91 mother/child pairs in rural, northern Vietnam were videotaped during 2 2-h feeding episodes. Children were 12 and 17 mo of age at the time of study. Caregiver and child behaviors were coded at the level of the "intended bite" (7135 bites total). Feeding episodes were marked by few physical actions and minimal verbal encouragement by caregivers. Results from generalized linear mixed models suggest that when caregivers provided children with positive comments, children were 2.4 times as likely to accept bites compared with when no comments were given. Twelve-mo-olds who were in the caregiver's arms [odds ratio (OR) = 0.5] or lap (OR = 0.5) were significantly less likely than those who stood to accept bites. The 17-mo-olds who played were less likely than those with no physical action to accept bites. Play appeared to distract boys more than girls. In Vietnam, programs should help caregivers provide positive verbal encouragement to eat. Program planners and implementers may want to encourage caregivers to avoid force feeding and other forms of physical pressure. Further, mealtime should be seen as an opportunity to develop long-term feeding skills and encourage a healthy appetite.
Programed cell death shapes the expression of horns within and between species of horned beetles.

SUMMARY Holometabolous insects provide an excellent opportunity to study both the properties of development as well as their evolution and diversification across taxa. Here we investigate the developmental basis and evolutionary diversification of secondary trait loss during development in the expression of beetle horns, a novel and highly diverse class of secondary sexual traits. In many species, horn growth during late larval development is followed by a period of dramatic remodeling during the pupal stage, including the complete resorption of horns in many cases. Here we show that programed cell death plays an important and dynamic role in the secondary resorption of pupal horn primordia during pupal development. Surprisingly, the degree of cell death mediated horn resorption depended on species, sex, and body region, suggesting the existence of regulatory mechanisms that can diversify quickly over short phylogenetic distances. More generally, our results illustrate that secondary, differential loss of structures during development can be a powerful mechanism for generating considerable morphological diversity both within and between species.
Housing Modification Needs of the Disabled Elderly What Really Matters

Little research has been conducted on the housing modification needs of the elderly. The fault lies partly with the lack of reliable data. Studies on housing modification needs of the elderly are o...
Early childhood infections and the risk of islet autoimmunity: the Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young (DAISY).

OBJECTIVE Type 1 diabetes is a common chronic childhood disease, and the incidence is increasing globally. Childhood infections are considered a potential environmental trigger of type 1 diabetes. Alternatively, improved hygiene and reduced childhood infections could explain the increase in type 1 diabetes in developed countries. The association of reported illnesses during infancy and later development of islet autoimmunity (IA) were examined in the Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Complete illness interviews through 9 months of age were collected for 1,729 children, 1,174 without a family history of type 1 diabetes, and 555 children with a first-degree relative with type 1 diabetes. Persistent IA was defined as positive antibodies to insulin, glutamic acid decarboxylase, or tyrosine phosphatase on at least two consecutive study visits. RESULTS There were 109 children with persistent IA among the 1,729 children with illness records. A greater number of gastrointestinal illnesses were associated with an increased risk of IA, but only among children who were exposed to gluten-containing grains (wheat or barley) either P P = 0.0005) compared with 4–6 months of age ( P for interaction = 0.02). There were no associations of upper respiratory symptoms, respiratory illnesses, or fevers with IA. CONCLUSIONS Specific pathogens such as enteroviruses or rotavirus may increase the risk of IA in the presence of existing inflammation induced by diet.
The effect of external influences in the cross-cultural negotiation process

Internationalization, the buzzword of the eighties, has become the necessity for firms to survive in the nineties Contact with foreign firms is a given for American businesses. With this contact comes the issue of cross-cultural negotiations How do American businesses prepare themselves and conduct such negotiations? This paper examines the use of external agents, translators, bicultural brokers and renegotiating briefers/experts in the cross-cultural negotiation process and looks at those factors which relate to success or failure in cross-cultural negotiations.
The Development of Antimicrobial α‐AApeptides that Suppress Proinflammatory Immune Responses

Herein we describe the development of a new class of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory peptidomimetics: cyclic lipo-α-AApeptides. They have potent and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against a range of clinically relevant pathogens, including both multidrug-resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Fluorescence microscopy suggests that cyclic lipo-α-AApeptides kill bacteria by disrupting bacterial membranes, possibly through a mechanism similar to that of cationic host-defense peptides (HDPs). Furthermore, the cyclic lipo-α-AApeptide can mimic cationic host-defense peptides by antagonizing Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling responses and suppressing proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Our results suggest that by mimicking HDPs, cyclic lipo-α-AApeptides could emerge as a new class of antibiotic agents that directly kill bacteria, as well as novel antiinflammatory agents that act through immunomodulation.
Level of fibronectin mRNA is markedly increased in human chronic wounds.

BACKGROUND Acute wound healing has been extensively investigated over the years, however, little is known about possible healing defects in chronic wounds. Fibronectin (FN) plays a critical role in different phases of wound healing and has been demonstrated to be degraded in chronic wounds by proteases. Fibroblasts cultured from chronic leg ulcers showed a higher level of FN compared to normal fibroblasts. OBJECTIVE We explored whether the increase in FN protein in chronic wounds is due to increased FN mRNA. In addition, the level of alpha5beta1 integrin FN cell surface receptor was also examined. METHOD Skin biopsies were taken from normal skin within a few hours of Mohs surgery and from the edge of chronic venous leg ulcers. In situ hybridization was performed to determine the level of FN mRNA. The level of integrin alpha5beta1 was determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The level of FN mRNA in normal skin and acute wounds was undetectable. In contrast, FN mRNA was heavily induced throughout the dermis of chronic wounds. Immunostaining using a monoclonal antibody against the alpha5 subunit of integrin revealed that chronic wounds and normal skin showed undetectable levels of alpha5beta1 integrin. A large induction of alpha5 was observed in acute wounds. CONCLUSION For reepithelization to occur, epidermal keratinocytes need to migrate over the wound surface, a process requiring an interaction between FN and its cell surface receptor integrin alpha5beta1. These findings suggest that although FN mRNA is increased in chronic wounds, lack of FN cell surface receptor may prevent migration of epidermal keratinocytes in chronic wounds.
Toward an Understanding of Arabic Persuasion A Western Perspective

Despite the political and economic importance of Arabic-speaking countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa, limited published research exists about how Arabic culture and language shape regional communication practices, particularly persuasion. This research describes key characteristics of Arabic persuasion by reviewing the extant research and analyzing the persuasion dynamics between a U.S. organization and a Jordanian organization attempting to form a service partnership. Both the literature and results from the case study indicate that Arabic persuasion strategies differ in fundamental ways from U.S. and Western strategies. Various forms of repetition, highly metaphoric language, and strong emotion characterize Arabic persuasion norms when using Arabic and English. These norms are created by the linguistic characteristics of Classical Arabic, the close connection between the Arabic language and Islam, and the social and political hierarchies that shape Arabic interaction.
A novel mutation in the erythropoietin receptor gene is associated with familial erythrocytosis

Primary familial erythrocytosis (familial polycythemia) is a rare myeloproliferative disorder with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. We studied a new kindred with autosomal dominantly inherited familial erythrocytosis. The molecular basis for the observed phenotype of isolated erythrocytosis is heterozygosity for a novel nonsense mutation affecting codon 399 in exon 8 of the erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) gene, encoding an EpoR peptide that is truncated by 110 amino acids at its C-terminus. The new EPOR gene mutation 5881G>T was found to segregate with isolated erythrocytosis in the affected family and this mutation represents the most extensive EpoR truncation reported to date, associated with familial erythrocytosis. Erythroid progenitors from an affected individual displayed Epo hypersensitivity in in vitro methylcellulose cultures, as indicated by more numerous erythroid burst-forming unit-derived colonies in low Epo concentrations compared to normal controls. Expression of mutant EpoR in interleukin 3-dependent hematopoietic cells was associated with Epo hyperresponsiveness compared to cells expressing wild-type EpoR.
Etoposide (VP-16) Disposition in Children with Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia

Etoposide (VP-16-213, 4´dimethyl-epipodophyl-lotoxin-β-D-ethylidene glucoside) is a semisynthetic derivative of the plant product podo-phyllotoxin. Since etoposide’s introduction in the early 1970’s, it has been increasingly used in the treatment of human malignancies with a demonstrated broad spectrum of efficacy. Etoposide is now part of “standard therapies” for a large number of cancers [1,2].
Operational aspects of CASA UNO '88-the first large scale international GPS geodetic network

For three weeks, from January 18 to February 5, 1988, scientists and engineers from 13 countries and 30 international agencies and institutions cooperated in the most extensive GPS (Global Positioning System) field campaign, and the largest geodynamics experiment, in the world to date. This collaborative experiment concentrated GPS receivers in Central and South America. the predicted rates of motions are on the order of 5-10 cm/yr. Global coverage of GPS observations spanned 220 degrees of longitude and 125 degrees of latitude using a total of 43 GPS receivers. The experiment was the first civilian effort at implementing an extended international GPS satellite tracking network. Covariance analyses incorporating the extended tracking network predicted significant improvement in precise orbit determination, allowing accurate long-baseline geodesy in the science areas. >
Communication-Based Versus Workflow-Based Redesign: Some Observations From An Experimental Study

Modeling and representation approaches and techniques have been used extensively both in business process improvement and in the design and development of information systems, in order to better understand the processes within organizations. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of different business process representation approaches and related techniques on business process improvement projects. During the last decade, organizational redesign projects have had a very high rate of failure. We focus on four different research questions by conducting an experiment involving 174 students from a mid-sized university in northeastern United States, and analyzing the corresponding empirical data. The analysis of the data from the experiment indicates that an emphasis on the flow of information and communication in business processes can have a positive impact on the success of business process redesign projects.
Maximum Strength Elastic Structural Design

An energy formulation is presented for the problem of optimal design of one and two-dimensional elastic sandwich structures. The object in design is to determine the distribution of material associated with the stiffest/strongest structure. The limit on local material strength is expressed through a prescribed upper bound on the unit strain energy, when the stiffest structure has the maximum load-carrying capacity among equal volume structures of similar style. Analytical solutions are obtained for the optimal simply-supported and clamped circular sandwich plates. The counterpart designs for maximum safety (according to the von Mises yield condition) are determined along with these solutions for elastic design. The carrying capacity of the optimal plate is found to exceed that of the equal volume plate of constant thickness by 67% and 92% respectively for the simply-supported and clamped boundaries.
PUBLIC OPINION ON CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

L'opinion publique en ce qui concerne le crime et les sanctions judiciaires semble sous l'emprise d'un climat pasionnel ou se manifestent des attitudes excessives. L'A. montre, au contraire, vis-a-vis de certains delits que l'opinion publique apparait nuancee et reflechie dans ses appreciations. Elle semble, ainsi, tres au courant des donnees concernant certains crimes. L'A. presente un certain nombre de donnees collectees aux Etats-Unis entre 1965 et 1993 concernant la perception sociale du crime. Il montre que l'opinion publique apprehende avec une relative justesse les risques d'etre victime d'une agression
Lighting Up the Internet of Things with DarkVLC

Visible Light Communication (VLC) holds a great potential to solve the spectrum crunch problem and to provide scalable connectivity to zillions of mobile and IoT devices. However, VLC commonly requires LED lights to be on, which fundamentally limits the applicable scenarios of VLC and makes VLC less attractive to mobile and IoT devices with tight energy budget. We present DarkVLC, a new VLC primitive that allows the VLC link to be sustained even when the LED lights appear dark or off. The key idea is to encode data into ultra-short light pulses imperceptible to human eyes yet detectable by devices equipped with photodiodes. Realizing DarkVLC faces several challenges to generate and deal with the ultra-short light pulses reliably. We describe our preliminary efforts to tackle these challenges and build a DarkVLC prototype using off-the-shelf LEDs and low-cost photodiodes. DarkVLC fundamentally broadens the application scenarios of VLC and provides a new ultra-low power, always-on connectivity affordable for mobile and IoT devices.
What Happened on the Way to Postmodern? Part II

All postmodern roads lead to Nietzsche. This essay explores his eternal recurrence theory as a way to answer the questions, whatever happened to postmodern, and why are so many moderns still arriving? I am a storyteller so I will make this an epic story, not one of those tidy coherent linear narratives that plot history with beginning, middle, and end. Eternal recurrence is cyclical, not linear. What happened on the way to postmodern is the dark side, the most radical nihilism. I give you two parts: I, the written text I submitted to the Public Administration Theory Network (PAT-Net) conference; II, my story of the space for dialogicality opened in the session and that day, Feb 10, 2006, in Olympia, Washington.
Synthesis, Characterization, and X-ray Molecular Structure of Tantalum CCC-N-Heterocyclic Carbene (CCC-NHC) Pincer Complexes with Imidazole- and Triazole-Based Ligands

Unprecedented Ta bis(NHC) pincer complexes have been synthesized and characterized by extension of the early-transition-metal amido methodology. The reaction of 1,3-bis(3-butylimidazol-1-yl)benzene diiodide (1) with stoichiometric and substoichiometric amounts of (tert-butylimido)tris(dimethylamido)tantalum(V) yielded (1,3-bis(3-butylimidazol-1-yl-2-idene)-2-phenylene)(tert-butylimido)diiodotantalum(V) (2) and (1,3-bis(3-butylimidazol-1-yl-2-idene)-2-phenylene)(tert-butylimido)(dimethylamido)iodotantalum(V) (3). Use of excess (tert-butylimido)tris(dimethylamido)tantalum(V) to metalate 1,3-bis(3-butylimidazol-1-yl)benzene diiodide (1) yielded (1,3-bis(3-butylimidazol-1-yl-2-idene)-2-phenylene)(tert-butylimido)(dimethylamido)iodotantalum(V) (3) exclusively. Furthermore, the first early-transition-metal (group 3–5) triazole-based NHC complex, (1,3-bis(3-butyltriazol-1-yl-2-idene)-2-phenylene)(tert-butylimido)(dimethylamido)iodotantalum(V) (5), has been synthesized via amine elimination of 1,3-bis(3-butyltria...
Family Feast Observance in a Lebanese Melkite Village

AbstractMy purpose in this article is to describe the family feast day observance and analyze its significance in a Melkite Greek Catholic community, which is located in the central Bekaa Valley near Zahle, about equidistant from Beirut and Damascus. My field research, conducted at different periods between 1972 and 2015, demonstrates that the celebration of family feast days has changed in some details since the 1950s. However, the purposes, practices, and results of the feast days have not changed. Family feast days remain collective events that are formal, that have names and purposes, and that have important social results, both religious and secular. They always begin with a Melkite Catholic Mass in the local church. The secular celebration takes place after the Mass in the family home. Family feast days emphasize and recreate households as fundamental social units; they foreground males as social actors; they reinforce basic values of hospitality and generosity; they highlight a household’s wealth a...
Parsing Reward and Aversion in the Amygdala

The basolateral amygdala (BLA) is critical for encoding the value of stimuli. Beyeler et al. (2016) now show that distinct populations of BLA neurons, which are defined by their efferent targets, code reward and aversion. This arrangement promotes parallel processing of biologically relevant events.
Repurposing auranofin as an antifungal: In vitro activity against a variety of medically important fungi

Repositioning old drugs can significantly decrease the time and effort that it takes to develop novel antifungal therapeutics, which represents a pressing and unmet clinical need due to the devastating nature of fungal infections. We have previously described the activity of auranofin, a gold thiol compound used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, against Candida albicans biofilms. Here we evaluate its antifungal spectrum of action and describe its activity against a variety of medically important fungi.
Chemogenetic silencing of the midline and intralaminar thalamus blocks amygdala-kindled seizures.

Abstract Temporal lobe epilepsy is the most common form of medically-intractable epilepsy. While seizures in TLE originate in structures such as hippocampus, amygdala, and temporal cortex, they propagate through a crucial relay: the midline/intralaminar thalamus. Prior studies have shown that pharmacological inhibition of midline thalamus attenuates limbic seizures. Here, we examined a recently developed technology, Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs), as a means of chemogenetic silencing to attenuate limbic seizures. Adult, male rats were electrically kindled from the amygdala, and injected with virus coding for inhibitory (hM4Di) DREADDs into the midline/intralaminar thalamus. When treated with the otherwise inert ligand Clozapine-N-Oxide (CNO) at doses of 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg, electrographic and behavioral seizure manifestations were suppressed in comparison to vehicle. At higher doses, we found complete blockade of seizure activity in a subset of subjects. CNO displayed a sharp time-response profile, with significant seizure attenuation seen 20–30 min post injection, in comparison to 10 and 40 min post injection. Seizures in animals injected with a control vector (i.e., no DREADD) were unaffected by CNO administration. These data underscore the crucial role of the midline/intralaminar thalamus in the propagation of seizures, specifically in the amygdala kindling model, and provide validation of chemogenetic silencing of limbic seizures.