The Application of Vague Language in International Business Negotiations from a Cross-cultural Perspective

in the environment of economic globalization, business negotiation becomes more and more frequent than ever. International business negotiation has a significant role in international business trade. There are many factors that can affect the negotiation, including language, culture, negotiators, and negotiation strategies. Language as an important tool plays a great role in the negotiation strategies. It is commonly held that precise language should be used in business negotiations in order to avoid misunderstanding. However, people ignore the fact that language itself is vague in essence. Negotiators unavoidably use vague language in business negotiations, for vague language can be used as a kind of politeness strategy. Appropriate use of vague language will make the negotiation go smoothly, and avoid the conflict of business negotiation so as to achieve the purpose of cooperation

Linear active disturbance rejection control of waste heat recovery systems with organic Rankine cycles

In this paper, a linear active disturbance rejection controller is proposed for a waste heat recovery system using an organic Rankine cycle process, whose model is obtained by applying the system identification technique. The disturbances imposed on the waste heat recovery system are estimated through an extended linear state observer and then compensated by a linear feedback control strategy. The proposed control strategy is applied to a 100 kW waste heat recovery system to handle the power demand variations of grid and process disturbances. The effectiveness of this controller is verified via a simulation study, and the results demonstrate that the proposed strategy can provide satisfactory tracking performance and disturbance rejection

Facile synthesis of chitosan-capped ZnS quantum dots as an eco-friendly fluorescence sensor for rapid determination of bisphenol A in water and plastic samples

This paper describes a novel eco-friendly fluorescence sensor for determination of bisphenol A (BPA) based on chitosan-capped ZnS quantum dots (QDs). By using safe and inexpensive materials, nontoxic ZnS QDs were synthesized via an environment-friendly method using chitosan as a capping agent. The as-prepared ZnS QDs exhibited characteristic absorption (absorbance edge at 310 nm) and emission (maxima at 430 nm) spectra with a relatively high fluorescence quantum yield of 11.8%. Quantitative detection of BPA was developed based on fluorescence quenching of chitosan-capped ZnS QDs with high sensitivity and selectivity. Under optimal conditions, the fluorescence response of ZnS QDs was linearly proportional to BPA concentration over a wide range from 0.50 to 300 mu g L-1 with a detection limit of 0.08 mu g L-1. Most of the potentially coexisting substances did not interfere with the BPA-induced quenching effect. The proposed analytical method for BPA was successfully applied to water and plastic real samples. The possible quenching mechanism is also discussed

A Characterization of the Manduca sexta Serotonin Receptors in the Context of Olfactory Neuromodulation

Neuromodulation, the alteration of individual neuron response properties, has dramatic consequences for neural network function and is a phenomenon observed across all brain regions and taxa. However, the mechanisms underlying neuromodulation are made complex by the diversity of neuromodulatory receptors expressed within a neural network. In this study we begin to examine the receptor basis for serotonergic neuromodulation in the antennal lobe of Manduca sexta. To this end we cloned all four known insect serotonin receptor types from Manduca (the Ms5HTRs). We used phylogenetic analyses to classify the Ms5HTRs and to establish their relationships to other insect serotonin receptors, other insect amine receptors and the vertebrate serotonin receptors. Pharmacological assays demonstrated that each Ms5HTR was selective for serotonin over other endogenous amines and that serotonin had a similar potency at all four Ms5HTRs. The pharmacological assays also identified several agonists and antagonists of the different Ms5HTRs. Finally, we found that the Ms5HT1A receptor was expressed in a subpopulation of GABAergic local interneurons suggesting that the Ms5HTRs are likely expressed heterogeneously within the antennal lobe based on functional neuronal subtype

Carrageenan-based hydrogels for the controlled delivery of PDGF-BB in bone tissue engineering applications

One of the major drawbacks found in most bone tissue engineering approaches developed so far consists in the lack of strategies to promote vascularisation. Some studies have addressed different issues that may enhance vascularisation in tissue engineered constructs, most of them involving the use of growth factors (GFs) that are involved in the restitution of the vascularity in a damaged zone. The use of sustained delivery systems might also play an important role in the re-establishment of angiogenesis. In this study, !-carrageenan, a naturally occurring polymer, was used to develop hydrogel beads with the ability to incorporate GFs with the purpose of establishing an effective angiogenesis mechanism. Some processing parameters were studied and their influence on the final bead properties was evaluated. Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) was selected as the angiogenic factor to incorporate in the developed beads, and the results demonstrate the achievement of an efficient encapsulation and controlled release profile matching those usually required for the development of a fully functional vascular network. In general, the obtained results demonstrate the potential of these systems for bone tissue engineering applications.This work was supported by the European NoE EXPERTISSUES (NMP3-CT-2004-500283), the European STREP HIPPOCRATES (NMP3-CT-2003-505758), and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the project PTDC/FIS/68517/2006 and through the V. Espirito Santo's Ph.D. grant (SFRH/BD/39486/2007)

Factors associated with willingness to participate in free HIV test among general residents in Heilongjiang, Northeast China

Abstract Background The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is spreading from high-risk groups, such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex workers, to the general population in China. This study examined the willingness of general residents in Heilongjiang, Northeast China, to participate in free HIV testing in the nearest health care setting, and the factors that may affect participation, including demographic characteristics, HIV-related knowledge, and stigma. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Heilongjiang Province. All residents aged 15–69 years in two communities in urban areas (September 2007) and four villages in rural areas (April 2008) were recruited using stratified cluster sampling. A total of 4050 residents were interviewed using an anonymous questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate log-binomial regression were used to analyze factors affecting willingness to undergo HIV testing. Results The proportions of participants who were willing to participate in free HIV testing was 73.0% in urban residents and 78.8% in rural residents. Multivariate regression analysis among urban participants showed that greater knowledge of HIV transmission misconceptions (relative risk (RR) = 1.02, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00–1.04, P = 0.021) and the awareness that an apparently healthy person can be an HIV carrier (RR = 1.12, 95%CI: 1.03–1.21, P = 0.007) was significantly associated with greater willingness to participate in free HIV testing. Among rural participants, greater knowledge of HIV transmission modes (RR = 1.03, 95%CI: 1.01–1.06 P = 0.001) and the awareness that an apparently healthy person can be an HIV carrier (RR = 1.07; 95%CI: 1.01–1.13 P = 0.019) was significantly associated with greater willingness to participate. Conclusions The overall level of willingness to accept free HIV testing is high, and is higher in rural residents than in urban residents in Heilongjiang. knowledge of HIV transmission misconceptions and that an apparently healthy person can be a carrier for HIV were associated with willingness to accept free HIV testing among urban residents, while knowledge of HIV transmission modes and that an apparently healthy person can be a carrier for HIV were associated with willingness to accept free HIV testing among rural residents.</p

Highly sensitive detection of organophosphorus pesticides represented by methamidophos via inner filter effect of Au nanoparticles on the fluorescence of CdTe quantum dots

A sensitive fluorescence detection method of organophosphate pesticides (OPs) represented by methamidophos was developed using the inner filter effect (IFE) of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) on CdTe quantum dots (QDs). The fluorescence of CdTe QDs was remarkably quenched with the presence of AuNPs via IFE. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) catalyzed the hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine into thiocholine, which could induce the aggregation of AuNPs and decrease their characteristic absorption, making IFE-decreased fluorescence of CdTe QDs recovered. OPs can inhibit the activity of AChE, thus preventing the aggregation of AuNPs and the fluorescence recovery of CdTe QDs. Therefore, the IFE of fluorescence between AuNPs and CdTe QDs could convert the absorption signal to fluorescence signal, which improved the detection sensitivity of OPs in vegetables. Under the optimum conditions, the response was linearly proportional to the concentration of methamidophos in the range of 0.06 similar to 0.78 mg/kg with a detection limit of 2 mu g/kg (3 sigma) which was superior to the method of GB/T 5009.199-2003. The proposed assay exhibited good reproducibility and accuracy, providing a simple and rapid method for the screening of OPs

Application of Montgomery T-Tube Placement in Treating Cotton-Myer IV Subglottic Airway Atresia after Bi-Level Airway Recanalization

Objective. The purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness and safety of Montgomery T-tube placement in treating Cotton-Myer IV subglottic airway atresia after bi-level airway recanalization. Methods. This study is a retrospective study. 11 patients who were treated for IV subglottic airway atresia between January 2017 and January 2019 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University were involved in this study. The 11 patients all had undergone tracheotomies at our hospital, and they were transferred to the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine for Montgomery T-tube placement after bi-level airway recanalization when their subglottic airway was atretic. Patients were observed for their clinical manifestations after placement. The effectiveness of T-tube placement after bi-level airway recanalization was assessed. The incidence of short-term and long-term complications after surgery was assessed. Patients were followed up for 3 to 24 months for evaluating their airway recovery. Results. T-tubes were successfully placed in 11 patients. The atretic airways of all patients were recanalized after treatment. Eight patients got restoration of vocal ability, and 3 patients could only say simple words. None of the patients needed assisted oxygen inhalation. The SpO2 average level was increased from 95±2% before treatment to 97±3% after treatment. Patients had significant relief of cough or sputum, and they had less difficulty in dyspnea. All short- or long-term complications were self-relieved or controlled without further malignant progression after treatment by doctors. The average postoperative extubating time was (14.86±3.62) months. Conclusion. The application of Montgomery T-tube placement in treating Cotton-Myer IV subglottic airway atresia after bi-level airway recanalization is well effective and safe for patients, and it can be promoted in clinical treatment