Death of an expert system: A case study of success and failure

A decision team composed of managers and staff experts at Mary Kay Cosmetics develops packaging for new and revised products as well as sets their prices. However, the potential for costly errors in the decision-making process motivated this group to pursue development of an expert system (ES) to assist with the problem. The ES performed so well that it changed the organization\u27s behavior—the group ceased to meet for the purpose of developing the packaging but instead gathered just to confirm and approve the expert system\u27s solution. Despite the clear benefits associated with using an ES approach, the group stopped using the ES application and the behavior of the group returned to pre-ES practices. This work describes from a managerial perspective how and why this valuable tool fell into disuse, and offers valuable lessons for management

The High Velocity Gas toward Messier 5: Tracing Feedback Flows in the Inner Galaxy

We present Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) and Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS E140M) observations of the post-asymptotic giant branch star ZNG 1 in the globular cluster Messier 5 (l=3.9, b=+47.7; d=7.5 kpc, z=+5.3 kpc). High velocity absorption is seen in C IV, Si IV, O VI, and lower ionization species at LSR velocities of -140 and -110 km/s. We conclude that this gas is not circumstellar on the basis of photoionization models and path length arguments. Thus, the high velocity gas along the ZNG 1 sight line is the first evidence that highly-ionized HVCs can be found near the Galactic disk. We measure the metallicity of these HVCs to be [O/H]=+0.22\pm0.10, the highest of any known HVC. Given the clouds' metallicity and distance constraints, we conclude that these HVCs have a Galactic origin. This sight line probes gas toward the inner Galaxy, and we discuss the possibility that these HVCs may be related to a Galactic nuclear wind or Galactic fountain circulation in the inner regions of the Milky Way.Comment: 23 pages, 11 figures, 7 table

Impaired Phagocytosis in Localized Aggressive Periodontitis: Rescue by Resolvin E1

Resolution of inflammation is an active temporally orchestrated process demonstrated by the biosynthesis of novel proresolving mediators. Dysregulation of resolution pathways may underlie prevalent human inflammatory diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and periodontitis. Localized Aggressive Periodontitis (LAP) is an early onset, rapidly progressing form of inflammatory periodontal disease. Here, we report increased surface P-selectin on circulating LAP platelets, and elevated integrin (CD18) surface expression on neutrophils and monocytes compared to healthy, asymptomatic controls. Significantly more platelet-neutrophil and platelet-monocyte aggregates were identified in circulating whole blood of LAP patients compared with asymptomatic controls. LAP whole blood generates increased pro-inflammatory LTB4 with addition of divalent cation ionophore A23187 (5 µM) and significantly less, 15-HETE, 12-HETE, 14-HDHA, and lipoxin A4. Macrophages from LAP subjects exhibit reduced phagocytosis. The pro-resolving lipid mediator, Resolvin E1 (0.1–100 nM), rescues the impaired phagocytic activity in LAP macrophages. These abnormalities suggest compromised resolution pathways, which may contribute to persistent inflammation resulting in establishment of a chronic inflammatory lesion and periodontal disease progression

Results From the Periodontitis and Vascular Events (PAVE) Study: A Pilot Multicentered, Randomized, Controlled Trial to Study Effects of Periodontal Therapy in a Secondary Prevention Model of Cardiovascular Disease

Background- In the Periodontitis and Vascular Events (PAVE) pilot study, periodontal therapy was provided as an intervention in a secondary cardiac event prevention model through five coordinated cardiac-dental centers. Methods- Subjects were randomized to either community care or protocol provided scaling and root planing to evaluate effects on periodontal status and systemic levels of high-sensitivity Creactive protein (hs-CRP). Results- After 6 months, there was a significant reduction in mean probing depth and extent of 4- or 5-mm pockets. However, there were no significant differences in attachment levels, bleeding upon probing, or extent of subgingival calculus comparing subjects assigned to protocol therapy (n = 151) to those assigned to community care (n = 152). Using intent-to-treat analyses, there was no significant effect on serum hs-CRP levels at 6 months. However, 48% of the subjects randomized to community care received preventive or periodontal treatments. Secondary analyses demonstrated that consideration of any preventive or periodontal care (i.e., any treatment) compared to no treatment showed a significant reduction in the percentage of people with elevated hs-CRP (values >3 mg/l)at 6 months. However, obesity nullified the periodontal treatment effects on hs-CRP reduction. The adjusted odds ratio for hs-CRP levels >3 mg/l at 6 months for any treatment versus no treatment among non-obese individuals was 0.26 (95%confidence interval: 0.09 to 0.72), adjusting for smoking, marital status, and gender. Conclusion- This pilot study demonstrated the critical role of considering obesity as well as rigorous preventive and periodontal care in trials designed to reduce cardiovascular risk. Originally published Journal of Periodontology, Vol. 80, No. 2, Feb 200

Determinantes de saúde em crianças dos 3 aos 10 anos

RESUMO 1: Introdução: Os estilos de vida atuais sugerem comportamentos de risco que estão na base do perfil de saúde do país. Objetivo: Avaliar os estilos de vida e sua associação com dados sociodemográficos numa amostra de crianças portuguesas dos 3 aos 10 anos de idade. Participantes e métodos: Estudo transversal de natureza quantitativa num universo de 1617 crianças dos jardins de infância e escolas do 1.º ciclo dos dois agrupamentos de escolas de Tondela e do agrupamento de escolas de Vouzela. A amostra do estudo foi constituída por um total de 1385 crianças. A análise estatística dos dados foi efetuada com recurso ao software estatístico IBM SPSS versão 21.0. A comparação de proporções foi realizada através do teste Qui-quadrado, onde as prevalências foram expressas em proporções, com base no nível de significância de p=0,05, com intervalos de confiança de 95%. Resultados: Constatou-se que as crianças com mais idade apresentavam uma menor adesão a comportamentos alimentares saudáveis, uma maior prevalência de atividade física (49,2%), no entanto, foram, também aquelas que apresentaram um maior índice de atividades sedentárias (27,1%). Os rapazes apresentaram maiores níveis de atividade física (51,6%) e índices mais elevados de comportamentos sedentários (28,6%). Relativamente à zona de residência, existiu uma maior prevalência de consumo de legumes (73,2%) e fastfood (24,0%) e de comportamentos sedentários (26,1%) em zonas urbanas. As crianças que pertenciam a agregados familares de rendimentos mais favoráveis e com maior nível de habilitações literárias consumiam mais leite e derivados, legumes e praticavam mais atividade física. No entanto, apresentaram maior prevalência de consumo de fastfood e comportamentos sedentários. Conclusões:Torna-se perceptível a necessidade de se intervir nos grupos mais vulneráveis no sentido de uma mais eficaz equidade em saúde. Palavras-chave: Crianças; estilos de vida; dados sociodemográficos; escolas.ABSTRACT 1: Introduction: The current lifestyles suggests risk behaviors that are the basis of a country's health profile. Objective: Assess the lifestyles and its association with sociodemographic variables among a sample of Portuguese children from 3 to 10 years old. Participants and methods: A Cross-sectional study was desgined with a total of 1617 children from public schools, from the two main school groups of Tondela and Vouzela. The final study sample was built with a total of 1385 children. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS software version 21.0 for Windows. Comparison of proportions was performed using the “Chi-square” test, where prevalences were expressed as proportions, based on the significance level of p = 0.05, with a 95% confidence intervals. Results: It was found that the older children had a lower adherence to healthy eating habits and a higher prevalence of physical activity (49.2%). However, there were also those with higher rate of sedentary activities (27.1%). The boys had higher levels of physical activity (51.6%) and higher rates of sedentary behaviors (28.6%). With regard to residence area, there was a higher prevalence of consumption of vegetables (73.2%), fastfood (24.0%) and sedentary behaviors (26.1%) in urban areas. Children belonging to households of more favorable monthly earnings and a higher level of educational qualifications consumed more dairy product, vegetables and practiced more physical activity. However, they had a higher prevalence of fastfood consumption and sedentary behaviors. Conclusions: It becomes noticeable the need to make an intervention on the most vulnerable groups to obtain more effective health equity. Keywords: Children; lifestyles; sociodemographic data; schools.RESUMO 2: Introdução: As iniquidades de género na distribuição de recursos estão ainda profundamente associadas à saúde precária e à diminuição do bem-estar das mulheres e das crianças. Objetivo: Analisar a influência dos fatores materno-fetais nos estilos de vida numa amostra de crianças portuguesas dos 3 aos 10 anos de idade Participantes e métodos: Estudo transversal de natureza quantitativa num universo de 1617 crianças dos jardins de infância e escolas do 1.º ciclo dos dois agrupamentos de escolas de Tondela e do agrupamento de escolas de Vouzela. A amostra do estudo foi constituída por um total de 1385 crianças. A análise estatística dos dados foi efetuada com recurso ao software estatístico IBM SPSS versão 21.0. A comparação de proporções foi realizada através do teste Qui-quadrado, onde as prevalências foram expressas em proporções, com base no nível de significância de p=0,05, com intervalos de confiança de 95%. Resultados: As crianças que habitam em meio rural apresentavam um peso à nascença superior comparativamente às do meio urbano (93,7%). As grávidas com mais idade obtiveram uma prevalência de antecipação da primeira consulta de gravidez mais elevada (96,5%) assim como uma prevalência mais elevada de consultas de vigilância durante a gravidez (97,2%) quando comparadas com as grávidas mais novas. As mães com habilitações literárias superiores ao 9.º ano de escolaridade apresentavam uma prevalência de amamentação superior (58,0%) e os seus filhos uma prevalência de consumo de fastfood superior (64,9%) quando comparadas com as mães com habilitações literárias inferiores. Conclusões: Denota-se a importância da maturidade, formação e capacitação das mães para os cuidados maternos e neonatais. Palavras-chave: crianças; estilos de vida; fatores materno-fetais.ABSTRACT 2: Introduction: Gender inequalities in the distribution of resources is still deeply associated with poor health and reduced welfare of women and children. Objective: To analyze the influence of maternal and fetal factors in lifestyles of children, in a sample of children from 3 to 10 years old. Participants and methods: A Cross-sectional study was desgined with a total of 1617 children from public schools, from the two main school groups of Tondela and Vouzela. The final study sample was built with a total of 1385 children. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS software version 21.0 for Windows. Comparison of proportions was performed using the “Chi-square” test, where prevalences were expressed as proportions, based on the significance level of p = 0.05, with a 95% confidence intervals. Results: Children who live in rural areas presented a higher birth weight compared to those who live in urban areas (93.7%). Older pregnant women obtained a higher prevalence of the first medical appointment antecipation (96.5%) as well as a higher prevalence of medical appointments during pregnancy (97.2%) when compared with younger pregnant women. Mothers with qualifications higher than the 9th grade showed a higher prevalence of breastfeeding (58.0%) and their children presented a higher prevalence of fastfood consumption (64.9%) when compared with mothers with lower educational qualifications. Conclusion: To denote the importance of maturity and training of mothers in maternal and neonatal care. Keywords: children; lifestyles; maternal fetal factors

Treatment of Periodontitis by Local Administration of Minocycline Microspheres: A Controlled Trial

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141491/1/jper1535.pd

Anti-cancer effects and mechanism of actions of aspirin analogues in the treatment of glioma cancer

INTRODUCTION: In the past 25 years only modest advancements in glioma treatment have been made, with patient prognosis and median survival time following diagnosis only increasing from 3 to 7 months. A substantial body of clinical and preclinical evidence has suggested a role for aspirin in the treatment of cancer with multiple mechanisms of action proposed including COX 2 inhibition, down regulation of EGFR expression, and NF-κB signaling affecting Bcl-2 expression. However, with serious side effects such as stroke and gastrointestinal bleeding, aspirin analogues with improved potency and side effect profiles are being developed. METHOD: Effects on cell viability following 24 hr incubation of four aspirin derivatives (PN508, 517, 526 and 529) were compared to cisplatin, aspirin and di-aspirin in four glioma cell lines (U87 MG, SVG P12, GOS – 3, and 1321N1), using the PrestoBlue assay, establishing IC50 and examining the time course of drug effects. RESULTS: All compounds were found to decrease cell viability in a concentration and time dependant manner. Significantly, the analogue PN517 (IC50 2mM) showed approximately a twofold increase in potency when compared to aspirin (3.7mM) and cisplatin (4.3mM) in U87 cells, with similar increased potency in SVG P12 cells. Other analogues demonstrated similar potency to aspirin and cisplatin. CONCLUSION: These results support the further development and characterization of novel NSAID derivatives for the treatment of glioma

Periodontal health and gingival diseases and conditions on an intact and a reduced periodontium::Consensus report of workgroup 1 of the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions

Periodontal health is defined by absence of clinically detectable inflammation. There is a biological level of immune surveillance that is consistent with clinical gingival health and homeostasis. Clinical gingival health may be found in a periodontium that is intact, i.e. without clinical attachment loss or bone loss, and on a reduced periodontium in either a non-periodontitis patient (e.g. in patients with some form of gingival recession or following crown lengthening surgery) or in a patient with a history of periodontitis who is currently periodontally stable. Clinical gingival health can be restored following treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis. However, the treated and stable periodontitis patient with current gingival health remains at increased risk of recurrent periodontitis, and accordingly, must be closely monitored. Two broad categories of gingival diseases include non-dental plaque biofilm-induced gingival diseases and dental plaque-induced gingivitis. Non-dental plaque biofilm-induced gingival diseases include a variety of conditions that are not caused by plaque and usually do not resolve following plaque removal. Such lesions may be manifestations of a systemic condition or may be localized to the oral cavity. Dental plaque-induced gingivitis has a variety of clinical signs and symptoms, and both local predisposing factors and systemic modifying factors can affect its extent, severity, and progression. Dental plaque-induced gingivitis may arise on an intact periodontium or on a reduced periodontium in either a non-periodontitis patient or in a currently stable "periodontitis patient" i.e. successfully treated, in whom clinical inflammation has been eliminated (or substantially reduced). A periodontitis patient with gingival inflammation remains a periodontitis patient (Figure 1), and comprehensive risk assessment and management are imperative to ensure early prevention and/or treatment of recurrent/progressive periodontitis. Precision dental medicine defines a patient-centered approach to care, and therefore, creates differences in the way in which a "case" of gingival health or gingivitis is defined for clinical practice as opposed to epidemiologically in population prevalence surveys. Thus, case definitions of gingival health and gingivitis are presented for both purposes. While gingival health and gingivitis have many clinical features, case definitions are primarily predicated on presence or absence of bleeding on probing. Here we classify gingival health and gingival diseases/conditions, along with a summary table of diagnostic features for defining health and gingivitis in various clinical situations

Campylobacter jejuni transcriptome changes during loss of culturability in water

Background: Water serves as a potential reservoir for Campylobacter, the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in humans. However, little is understood about the mechanisms underlying variations in survival characteristics between different strains of C. jejuni in natural environments, including water. Results: We identified three Campylobacter jejuni strains that exhibited variability in their ability to retain culturability after suspension in tap water at two different temperatures (4°C and 25°C). Of the three strains C. jejuni M1 exhibited the most rapid loss of culturability whilst retaining viability. Using RNAseq transcriptomics, we characterised C. jejuni M1 gene expression in response to suspension in water by analyzing bacterial suspensions recovered immediately after introduction into water (Time 0), and from two sampling time/temperature combinations where considerable loss of culturability was evident, namely (i) after 24 h at 25°C, and (ii) after 72 h at 4°C. Transcript data were compared with a culture-grown control. Some gene expression characteristics were shared amongst the three populations recovered from water, with more genes being up-regulated than down. Many of the up-regulated genes were identified in the Time 0 sample, whereas the majority of down-regulated genes occurred in the 25°C (24 h) sample. Conclusions: Variations in expression were found amongst genes associated with oxygen tolerance, starvation and osmotic stress. However, we also found upregulation of flagellar assembly genes, accompanied by down-regulation of genes involved in chemotaxis. Our data also suggested a switch from secretion via the sec system to via the tat system, and that the quorum sensing gene luxS may be implicated in the survival of strain M1 in water. Variations in gene expression also occurred in accessory genome regions. Our data suggest that despite the loss of culturability, C. jejuni M1 remains viable and adapts via specific changes in gene expression