cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gait variability in people with neurological disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

There has been growing evidence showing gait variability provides unique information about gait characteristics in neurological disorders. This study systemically reviewed and quantitatively synthesized (via meta-analysis) existing evidence on gait variability in various neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cerebellar ataxia (CA), Huntington's disease (HD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson's disease (PD). Keyword search were conducted in PubMed, Web of science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane Library. Meta-analysis was performed to estimate the pooled effect size for gait variability for each neurological group. Meta-regression was performed to compare gait variability across multiple groups with neurological diseases. Gait variability of 777 patients with AD, ALS, CA, HD, MS, or PD participating in 25 studies was included in meta-analysis. All pathological groups had increased amount of gait variability and loss of fractal structure of gait dynamics compared to healthy controls, and gait variability differentiated distinctive neurological conditions. The HD groups had the highest alterations in gait variability among all pathological groups, whereas the PD, AD and MS groups had the lowest. Interventions that aim to improve gait function in patients with neurological disorders should consider the heterogeneous relationship between gait variability and neurological conditions.
Energy Alignment, Molecular Packing, and Electronic Pathways: Zinc(II) Tetraphenylporphyrin Derivatives Adsorbed on TiO2(110) and ZnO(11–20) Surfaces

The relation between energy alignment, adsorption geometry, and electron transfer between a chromophore and an oxide surface has been explored for a series of Zn(II) tetraphenylporphyrin derivative...
Anaerobic bacteria of the gastrointestinal flora and their occurrence in clinical infections.

Within the last few years, knowledge concerning anaerobic bacteria of man and other monogastric animals has increased and changed a great deal. With the development of improved culture techniques for the cultivation of the more sensitive anaerobes, it has become possible to study more effectively the anaerobic flora of man and other animals. Studies carried out with these methods have shown that no area of the gastrointestinal tract is sterile, that the predominant kinds of bacteria in the different areas of the tract are not the same, that the bacteria in the tract are metabolically active, and that the same species of anaerobic bacteria are also found, rather frequently, in infected tissue.
The Inverse Care Law in the Context of Universal Free Health Insurance in Canada: Toward Meeting Health Needs through Social Policy

Abstract Canada's universal health insurance program, fully implemented in 1971 throughout the country, is considered by many to be a model system for the delivery of health services. Legislators believed at the time of its instigation that this program, through the removal of financial barriers, would increase access to needed medical services for Canada's population. Although great strides have been observed pre and post-implementation of this program, the available evidence suggests that the program has not succeeded completely in equalizing health outcomes. Selected evidence is presented and discussed in this regard, along with reasons why programs designed to equalize outcomes by equalizing access cannot necessarily respond to problems of structured inequality.
Static Modeling of a Bi-Axial Micro-Mirror With Sidewall Electrodes

The static modeling of a bi-axial torsional micro-mirror with sidewall electrodes is investigated. The mirror and sidewall electrodes experience different voltages. As a result of the potential difference, the mirror rotates about x and y axes with the torques generated from electrostatic forces by the sidewall and bottom electrodes. The rotations about two axes are made possible using a gimbal frame and serpentine springs. An analytical model is presented that is a simplified model of a previous study based on independent excitation of the two rotation angles. The simplified model enables prediction of the rotation angles with good accuracy and faster computation time.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Influence of dietary alfalfa:orchardgrass hay and lasalocid on in vitro estimates of dry matter digestibility and volatile fatty acid concentrations of cecal contents and rate of digesta passage in sows.

Four mature crossbred sows were fistulated in the cecum, with two sows fed a corn-alfalfa:orchardgrass hay (46%) diet (CH) and two fed a corn-soybean meal diet (CS). Four experiments were conducted to evaluate buffers, incubation times, buffer pH and substrate and inocula sources in an in vitro, anaerobic, mixed-culture system. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and substrate solubility in buffer (SS) were determined. In Exp. 1, substrates were CH and CS diets with cecal inocula obtained from CH- and CS-fed sows. The bicarbonate (B) buffer resulted in lower (P less than .01) and less variable SS for all treatments. In vitro dry matter digestibility was higher (P less than .01) for the CS diet at both 24 and 48 h incubation. Use of the B buffer also resulted in higher (P less than .001) IVDMD values. In Exp. 2, substrates were either as in Exp. 1 or were freeze-dried cecal contents (CC) from CH- or CS-fed sows. In vitro dry matter digestibility of CC was lower (P less than .006) than IVDMD of diet, while IVDMD was higher (P less than .02) with cecal inocula than fecal inocula. In Exp. 3, substrate-inocula treatments were CH-CH, CH-CS, CS-CH and CS-CS. Substrate solubility was lower (P less than .05) at pH 5.8 than at pH 6.8. In vitro dry matter digestibility was higher when substrate and inocula were from the same source and at pH 5.8. In Exp. 4, CC and inocula were from sows fed CH and CS diets with or without lasalocid. In vitro dry matter digestibility was higher with CC from lasalocid-fed sows and inocula from sows fed no lasalocid. The CH diet resulted in higher acetate (Ac) and lower propionate (Pr) molar proportions than did the CS diet, while lasalocid increased molar proportion Pr and decreased molar proportion Ac in cecal contents from sows fed either diet. Corn-alfalfa:orchardgrass hay-fed sows had a faster rate of digesta passage and shorter cecal retention time than did CS-fed sows.
Ethnic and racial factors in cobalamin metabolism and its disorders

A growing body of data indicates the importance of ethnic and racial factors to many clinical and scientific considerations of cobalamin metabolism and its disorders. Blacks have significantly higher cobalamin and transcobalamin (especially transcobalamin II) levels than whites. Because serum cobalamin levels are often influenced by factors unrelated to cobalamin intake, stores, or deficiency, it is unclear whether the differences in levels reflect cobalamin status or not. The ethnic differences, which are present in cord blood, childhood, and pregnancy as well, probably arise from combinations of hereditary and acquired causes. It also appears that blacks have lower homocysteine levels than whites, metabolize homocysteine more efficiently, and do not show the same benefit from vitamin therapy. Modern surveys indicate that pernicious anemia is as common in blacks and, perhaps, Asian Indians as in whites. Moreover, the disease appears to be accelerated in blacks and, to a lesser extent, Latin Americans. Yet, for various reasons, such as the blunting or absence of hyperbilirubinemia and the frequent coexistence of microcytic disorders, cobalamin deficiency may be more difficult to recognize in blacks. Many of these observations of differences and new-found similarities raise important clinical and public health issues. Does the standard reference range for serum cobalamin, derived largely from white subjects, promote underrecognition of deficiency in blacks with their higher cobalamin levels? Or does it promote overdiagnosis of cobalamin deficiency in many whites with their lower levels? Given their lower rate of neural tube defects, possibly lower homocysteine levels, more efficient homocysteine metabolism and lesser impact of vitamin therapy on it, does the untargeted promotion of high folate intake provide less benefit to blacks than to whites while exposing them to an equal risk for adverse effects because of unrecognized pernicious anemia?
Noninvasive methods of detecting increased intracranial pressure

The detection of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) is of paramount importance in the diagnosis and management of a number of neurologic pathologies. The current gold standard is the use of intraventricular or intraparenchymal catheters; however, this is invasive, expensive, and requires anesthesia. On the other hand, diagnosing intracranial hypertension based on clinical symptoms such as headaches, vomiting, and visual changes lacks sensitivity. As such, there exists a need for a noninvasive yet accurate and reliable method for detecting elevated ICP. In this review, we aim to cover both structural modalities such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ocular ultrasound, fundoscopy, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) as well as functional modalities such as transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD), visual evoked potentials (VEPs), and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS).
The Electoral Consequences of Party Switching among Members of Congress

America needs leadership and not flip-floppers. – Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks I think [changing parties] may have been, politically, a mistake. – Representative Parker Griffith after losing to Mo Brooks in the Republican primary Mike Forbes is pro-life, pro-impeachment, pro-assault weapon, pro-Bush…. My phone has practically melted the past few days from Suffolk County Democrats calling to say, “My God. I'm not going to work for this guy. I'm not going to vote for him.”… How can he stand there next to Mrs. Clinton … with his George W. Bush pin and his pro-life record? – Tony Bullock, chief of staff of U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, after U.S. Representative Michael Forbes’ switch to the Democratic Party in 1999 What are the consequences of party switching for incumbent legislators? Having shown the conditions under which they are more likely to switch parties, I devote the next two chapters to the electoral and institutional ramifications of party switching. These chapters are the next steps in our quest to understand the causes and consequences of legislative party switching, and I make two points in them: (a) party switching entails significant electoral costs, and (b) party leaders reward party switchers with institutional currency through the committee assignment process. The purpose of these next two chapters is to provide empirical evidence of (electoral) costs and (institutional) benefits that are consistent with the theoretical framework I presented in Chapter 2 that centered on the costs of party switching. While the theoretical discussion and the interview evidence from that chapter suggest that these costs are real and significant and that legislators are aware of them, the question remains whether party switchers systematically incur significant costs at the ballot box. This is a critical question because the absence of electoral costs would undercut the theory, while the presence of these costs would bolster my theoretical argument. I answer this question by examining the electoral consequences of party switching with data from primary and general election contests in both the U.S. House and Senate. In order to find evidence in support of the assumption that party switching is costly, I conduct two sets of analyses: within-career analyses on party switchers only and cross-sectional analyses comparing the electoral fate of party switchers to that of a sample of nonswitchers.
Suprameatal extension of the retrosigmoid approach: microsurgical anatomy.

Objective This study was conducted to determine whether removing the bony prominence located above the porus of the internal acoustic meatus, called the suprameatal tubercle, and surrounding bone using the retrosigmoid approach would aid in the exposure of tumors that are located predominantly in the cerebellopontine angle but that also extend into the middle cranial fossa in the region of Meckel's cave and thus avoid the need for a supratentorial craniotomy. Methods Thirty cerebellopontine angles from 15 cadaveric heads examined using 3 to 40x magnification provided the material for this study. A retrosigmoid craniotomy was completed and the exposure obtained before and after removing the suprameatal tubercle, and the surrounding bone was examined. In some cases, Meckel's cave and the tentorium lateral to the porus of Meckel's cave was opened to aid in the exposure. Results Removing the suprameatal tubercle and surrounding bone increased the exposure an average of 10.3 mm (range, 8.0-13.0 mm) forward of the exposure, which could be obtained without suprameatal drilling. The extent of bone removal was limited on the lateral side by the posterior and superior semicircular canals and their common crus. Conclusion The suprameatal extension of the retrosigmoid approach will permit removal of some tumors that are located mainly in the posterior fossa but that extend into the middle fossa in the region of Meckel's cave. The exposure can be increased by opening the superior petrosal sinus as it crosses in the upper margin of the porus of Meckel's cave and by opening the tentorium lateral to Meckel's cave.
Rotational Absorption Spectrum of OCS

Extended measurements in the microwave rotational spectrum of carbonyl sulfide (OCS) are presented and correlated with the data obtained by other investigators. Precision measurements of rotational transitions for ${J}_{1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2}$, ${J}_{2\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3}$, ${J}_{3\ensuremath{\rightarrow}4}$, ${J}_{4\ensuremath{\rightarrow}5}$ allow the evaluation of precise reciprocal moments of inertia in the ground vibrational state, and the centrifugal distortion coefficient. From frequencies observed for ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$${\mathrm{S}}^{32}$, ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$${\mathrm{C}}^{13}$${\mathrm{S}}^{32}$, and ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$${\mathrm{S}}^{34}$, internuclear distances have been calculated. Equilibrium moments of inertia and internuclear distances cannot as yet be given, since thus far only one of the three vibrational-rotational interaction coefficients (${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}$) has been reported. Theoretical considerations involving such equilibrium data are discussed. Data on $l$-doubling in ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$${\mathrm{S}}^{32}$, ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$${\mathrm{C}}^{13}$${\mathrm{S}}^{32}$, and ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$${\mathrm{C}}^{14}$${\mathrm{S}}^{32}$ are presented. The Stark effect of carbonylsulfide has been measured in ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$${\mathrm{S}}^{32}$ and ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$${\mathrm{C}}^{13}$${\mathrm{S}}^{32}$. These measurements lead to the evaluation of the dipole moment and indicate the effect of isotopic changes on the dipole moment.
Blending Research-Based Practices and Practice-Embedded Research: Project Excite Closes Achievement and Excellence Gaps for Underrepresented Gifted Minority Students:

In this article, we advocate for a new movement in education, particularly an approach emphasizing blending research-based practice with practice-embedded research. We do so by describing and discussing Project Excite, a working example that demonstrates such a model in the context of gifted education. We first trace the history, the impetus, and key design elements of Project Excite, a front-loading intervention aiming to develop the potential of underrepresented students for advanced science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning from early grades. We review a line of past research and key findings on Project Excite over its 14-year journey. We then discuss the implication of Project Excite for gifted programming in gifted education. Last, we pinpoint some questions to inspire future research and practice.
Chapter 13 – Autoimmune epilepsy

Seizures are a common manifestation of autoimmune limbic encephalitis and multifocal paraneoplastic disorders. Accumulating evidence supports an autoimmune basis for seizures in the absence of syndromic manifestations of encephalitis. The autoimmune epilepsies are immunologically mediated disorders in which recurrent seizures are a primary and persistent clinical feature. When other etiologies have been excluded, an autoimmune etiology is suggested in a patient with epilepsy upon detection of neural autoantibodies and/or the presence of inflammatory changes on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or magnetic resonance imaging. In such patients, immunotherapy may be highly effective, depending on the particular autoimmune epilepsy syndrome present. In this chapter, several autoimmune epilepsy syndromes are discussed. First, epilepsies secondary to other primary autoimmune disorders will be discussed, and then those associated with antibodies that are likely to be pathogenic, such as voltage-gated potassium channel–complex and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, gamma-aminobutyric acid A and B receptor antibodies. For each syndrome, the typical clinical, imaging, electroencephaloram, CSF, and serologic features, and pathophysiology and treatment are described. Finally, suggested guidelines for the recognition, evaluation, and treatment of autoimmune epilepsy syndromes are provided.
Hacia una retórica de la presencia en el exilio en la dramaturgia de Jorge Díaz y Jerónimo López Mozo

This paper analyzes alienation as a consequence of exile in the plays Cancion de cuna para un anarquista (2003), by Jorge Diaz, and El olvido esta lleno de memoria (2002), by Jeronimo Lopez Mozo. Under the idea of a real and symbolic return in the post-dictatorship societies of the Southern Cone and Spain, the confrontation with reality generates a new trauma, which reveals an alternative discourse that alters a pre-established social order. The idea of exile, based on Edward Said’s formulations in Reflections on Exile and Other Essays (2000), not only means the separation of something, but also results in the loss of that something forever. To speak of exile, (auto) exile or the exiled subject does not mean to restore the condition of loss, but rather, it faces a reality imposed to oblivion. The exile in these plays creates “borders” and “barriers” that become in a type of imprisonment.
Severe Plastic Deformation of Materials by Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (ECAE)

Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (ECAE) was invented in the former Soviet Union by Vladimir Segal [1]. It is an innovative process capable of producing relatively uniform intensive plastic deformation in a variety of material systems, without causing substantial change in geometric shape or cross section. Multiple extrusions of billets by ECAE permits severe plastic deformation in bulk materials. More importantly, by changing the orientation of the billet between successive extrusions, sophisticated microstructures and textures can be developed. According to the orientation chosen after each pass, four fundamental equal-channel angular extrusion routes are defined and used for obtaining different textures and microstructures [2], Researchers in the Texas A&M University’s (TAMU) Deformation Processing Laboratory in the Department of Mechanical Engineering have been conducting research on the ECAE process since 1992. The inventor of the process, Dr. V. Segal, was a research associate in the Lab from 1992 to 1995. Research has concentrated in two areas: (1) development of theoretical and practical knowledge of the mechanics of ECAE and the further expansion of that knowledge leading to the capability of effectively mathematically modeling the process, and (2) investigation of the various technological advantages of ECAE and possible industrial applications for a variety of materials. Process modeling has involved both geometric, analytical (upper-bound analysis, slip-line theory) methods and non-linear finite element analysis [2].
Reflections on Research: Past, Present, and Future:

This paper was presented upon receiving the Outstanding String Researcher Award at the 2017 National American String Teachers Association (ASTA) Conference in Pittsburgh. The author traces significant experiences and people who shaped her interest in conducting research, followed by a confessional tale of the affective experience of engaging in, and teaching others how to initially engage in, the research process. The author then invites readers to consider various questions we might explore in our collective future research, pointing to the connections between and vital roles of making music and doing research.
Convolutional Neural Network Deep-Learning Models for Prediction of Shared Bicycle Demand

Digital technologies over the past decade have enabled the growth of the Sharing Economy, through fast, cheap, connected mobile devices, coordinating massive databases and machine learning/artificial intelligence services. We applied TensorFlow, the leading industry AI tool, to analyze 55 million contracts from Mobike, the world’s largest bike-sharing company. We elicited demand behavioral cycles, finding demand peaks at periodicities of 7, 12, 24 h and 7-days. Bicycle demand showed wide variance in frequency of use, thus time-series models would strongly overfit the data yielding unreliable models. We applied deep-learning TensorFlow analysis to the time-series axis of our data using a 1D convolutional network, and the 2D location and 1D environmental variables with fully connected network layers. Rebalancing to place shared bikes where demand was predicted to be greatest was predicted to reduce rebalancing costs by between 21.4% and 28.9%.
The effects of genetic variants related to insulin metabolism pathways and the interactions with lifestyles on colorectal cancer risk.

Objectives Genetic variants in metabolic signaling pathways may interact with lifestyle factors, such as dietary fatty acids, influencing postmenopausal colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, but these interrelated pathways are not fully understood. Methods In this study, we examined 54 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes related to insulin-like growth factor-I/insulin traits and their signaling pathways and lifestyle factors in relation to postmenopausal CRC, using data from 6,539 postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative Harmonized and Imputed Genome-Wide Association Studies. By employing a two-stage random survival forest analysis, we evaluated the SNPs and lifestyle factors by ranking them according to their predictive value and accuracy for CRC. Results We identified four SNPs (IRS1 rs1801123, IRS1 rs1801278, AKT2 rs3730256, and AKT2 rs7247515) and two lifestyle factors (age and percentage calories from saturated fatty acids) as the top six most influential predictors for CRC risk. We further examined interactive effects of those factors on cancer risk. In the individual SNP analysis, no significant association was observed, but the combination of the four SNPs, age, and percentage calories from saturated fatty acid (≥11% per day) significantly increased the risk of CRC in a gene and lifestyle dose-dependent manner. Conclusions Our findings provide insight into gene-lifestyle interactions and will enable researchers to focus on individuals with risk genotypes to promote intervention strategies. Our study suggests the careful use of data on potential genetic targets in clinical trials for cancer prevention to reduce the risk for CRC in postmenopausal women.
Holes with Neumann Conditions

In the fall of 1975, I was not motivated by applications when I thought about degenerate elliptic problems, corresponding to holes in the domain. Although I understood that using a Neumann condition on the boundary of a hole is natural if one fills the hole with a perfect insulator, I lacked intuition about questions of continuum mechanics at the time; as a result of a discussion with Ivo BABUsKA, at a conference in December 1975, in Versailles, France, I decided to work at developing my intuition.1 I told him what I proved for a homogeneous Neumann condition on the boundary of the holes, and I said that I expected a similar result for a non-homogeneous Neumann condition, and Ivo BABUsKA asked me what scaling I would consider (in the periodic case, which was the framework that he used), and he showed me why the scaling that I thought about is wrong.2
The Sleep–Wake Cycle: An Overview

Abstract This chapter provides an overview of the sleep–wake cycle. We describe the nature of the electrophysiology of normal sleep and the two distinct sleep states, rapid eye movement (REM) and nonrapid eye movement (NREM). The differential endocrine, autonomic, respiratory, thermal physiology and regulation, and cognitive processing associated with REM and NREM are outlined. The interactive, but independent, control of sleep and wakefulness by homeostatic and circadian processes and the ultradian regulation of REM and NREM states within sleep is also outlined. We provide an overview of the specific neurobiological mechanisms that control sleep and wakefulness and the circadian mechanisms that control the daily timing of sleep and wakefulness. Finally, we briefly discuss some factors that alter the nature and characteristics of sleep and wakefulness.
Systematically understanding the key roles of microglia in AD development

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of age-related dementia, affecting over 5 million people in the United States. Unfortunately, current therapies are largely palliative and several potential drug candidates have failed in late-stage clinical trials. Studies suggest that microglia-mediated neuroinflammation might be responsible for the failures of various therapies. Microglia contribute to Aβ clearance in the early stage of neurodegeneration and may contribute to AD development at the late stage by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, the activation profile and phenotypic changes of microglia during the development of AD are poorly understood. To systematically understand the key role of microglia in AD progression and predict the optimal therapeutic strategy in silico, we developed a 3D multi-scale model of AD (MSMAD) by integrating multi-level experimental data, to manipulate the neurodegeneration in a simulated system. Based on our analysis, we revealed how TREM2-related signal transduction leads to an imbalance in the activation of different microglia phenotypes, thereby promoting AD development. Our MSMAD model also provides an optimal treatment strategy for improving the outcome of AD treatment.
High-Throughput Multiplier Architectures Enabled by Intra-Unit Fast Forwarding

In this paper, we propose a pipelined multiplier architecture that can resolve data dependencies. The proposed architecture generates partial results in the pipeline stages of the multiplier and forwards the partial results back to the pipeline stages through so-called fast-forwarding paths, thereby enabling an execution of dependent multiplications with a minimum delay penalty. We apply the architecture to a normal binary multiplier (NBBE-2) and two redundant binary multipliers (RBBE-4 and CRBBE-4) and compare the execution time, clock period, area, and power consumption of the multipliers. The simulation results show that the proposed architecture achieves up to 30% execution time reduction.
Secure Data Sharing for Dynamic Groups in the Cloud

In this paper we propose the Secure Data Sharing for Dynamic Groups in the Cloud. Cloud computing provides an economical and efficient solution for sharing group resource among cloud users. Unfortunately, sharing data in a multi-owner manner while preserving data and identity privacy from an un trusted cloud is still a challenging issue, due to the frequent change of the membership. In this paper, we propose a secure Data sharing scheme, for dynamic groups in the cloud. By leveraging group signature and dynamic broadcast encryption techniques, any cloud user can anonymously share data with others. Meanwhile, the storage overhead and encryption computation cost of our scheme are independent with the number of revoked users. In addition, we analyze the security of our scheme with rigorous proofs, and demonstrate the efficiency of our scheme in experiments.
The social unemployment gap in South Africa: Limits of enabling socio-economic redress through expanding access to higher education

The South African government recently adopted an education policy that attempts to achieve socio-economic redress through expanding free university education to first-year students from low-income backgrounds. However, in a country in which structural factors such as race, gender, and age continue to shape labor market outcomes, to what extent can attainment of university education significantly improve the labor market outcomes of historically marginalized groups? To evaluate the limits and possible unintended consequences of this policy intervention, I use nationally representative data from 1994 through 2017 to explore the correlation between a bachelor’s degree and the likelihood of unemployment. Using a logistic regression and predicted probabilities, I show that, despite the existence of a race-based affirmative action policy designed to alleviate structural barriers in South Africa’s labor market, structural factors still significantly attenuate the role of university education in enabling labor force participation among historically marginalized groups. I term the effect of these multi-dimensional structural barriers: the social unemployment gap. These findings suggest that the use of university education as a strategy for socio-economic redress in labor markets characterized by structural asymmetries extending beyond race necessitates the existence of intersectional labor market affirmative action policies.
Commentary on “From unidimensional to multidimensional inequality: a review”

This note is a commentary on F. Andreoli and C. Zoli, “From unidimensional to multidimensional inequality: a review”, Metron, this issue.
Large Deviations of a Network of Neurons with Dynamic Sparse Random Connections

In this work we determine a process-level Large Deviation Principle (LDP) for a model of interacting particles indexed by a lattice $\mathbb{Z}^d$. The connections are random, sparse and unscaled, so that the system converges in the large size limit due to the probability of a connection between any two particles decreasing as the system size increases. The particles are also subject to noise (such as independent Brownian Motions). The method of proof is to assume a process-level (or Level 3) LDP for the double-layer empirical measure for the noise and connections, and then apply a series of transformations to this to obtain an LDP for the process-level empirical measure of our system. Although it is not explicitly necessary, we expect that most applications of this work should involve an assumption of stationarity of the probability law for the noise and connections under translations of the lattice, so that the system converged to an ergodic probability law in the large size limit. This work synthesizes the theory of large-size limits of interacting particles with that of random graphs and matrices. It should therefore be relevant to neuroscience and social networks theory in particular.
Activation of the mTOR signalling pathway is required for pancreatic growth in protease-inhibitor-fed mice

Cholecystokinin (CCK)-induced pancreatic growth in mice involves parallel increases in DNA and protein. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling pathway regulates mRNA translation and its activation is implicated in growth of various tissues. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether mTOR activation is required for pancreatic growth in a mouse model of increased endogenous CCK release. In mice fed chow containing the synthetic protease inhibitor camostat, protein synthetic rates and phosphorylation of two downstream targets of mTOR, eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) and the ribosomal protein S6 (S6), increased in comparison with fasted controls. The camostat-induced increases in protein synthesis and 4E-BP1 and S6 phosphorylation were almost totally abolished by administration of the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin 1 h prior to camostat feeding. In contrast, the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK and the expression of the early response genes c-jun, c-fos, ATF3 and egr-1 induced by camostat feeding were not affected by rapamycin. In mice fed camostat for 7 days, the ratio of pancreatic to body weight increased by 143%, but when rapamycin was administered daily this was reduced to a 22% increase. Changes in pancreatic mass were paralleled by protein and DNA content following camostat feeding and rapamycin administration. Moreover, while BrdU incorporation, an indicator of DNA synthesis, was increased to 448% of control values after 2 days of camostat feeding, rapamycin administration completely inhibited this increase. We conclude that the mTOR signalling pathway is required for CCK-induced cell division and pancreatic growth.
Use of metabolomic profiling in the study of arachidonic acid metabolism in cardiovascular disease.

Arachidonic acid is one of the pivotal signaling molecules associated with inflammation, pain and homeostatic function. Drugs specifically targeting these signaling pathways represent more than 25% of annual pharmaceutical sales worldwide. However, chronic administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and rofecoxib (Vioxx), a potent cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, have been associated with adverse cardiovascular events. Understanding the possible mechanisms underlying these adverse events is critical for evaluating the risks and benefits of this group of drugs and for development of safer drugs. Using a powerful metabolomics approach, 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) was identified among many of arachidonic acid metabolic products as a likely culprit for adverse cardiovascular side effect associated with rofecoxib and NSAIDs. In addition, using a similar metabolomic approach, epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which are lipid mediators derived from arachidonic acid through the cytochrome P450 epoxygenase pathway, have been shown to exhibit cardioprotective effects in a murine myocardial infarction (MI) model. Inhibitors of the soluble epoxide hydrolase increase titers of epoxy fatty acids and both block and reverse cardiac hypertrophy in rodent models. These highly potent, orally available compounds may be promising for treating heart failure and other cardiovascular disease. In this review, we will summarize some of the recent advances using metabolomic profiling to gain insights into the involvement of arachidonic acid pathways in cardiovascular disease.
Structure-function analysis of P-selectin-sialyl LewisX binding interactions. Mutagenic alteration of ligand binding specificity.

P-selectin is a vascular cell adhesion molecule that is expressed on the surface of platelets and endothelial cells in response to inflammatory stimuli. It is believed to aid in the binding and recruitment of leukocytes to inflamed tissue. P-selectin adhesion to leukocytes is mediated by the amino-terminal lectin domain that binds the sialyl Lewisx (sLex) carbohydrate (Neu5Acα2-3Galβ1-4(Fucα1-3)GlcNAc). Neither the three-dimensional structure of P-selectin nor the protein-carbohydrate interactions that mediate the binding of P-selectin to the sLex carbohydrate have been determined. The most closely related protein for which a ligand-bound three-dimensional structure has been resolved is the rat mannose-binding protein (Weis, W. I., Drickamer, K., and Hendrickson, W. A.(1992) Nature 360, 127-134). Using the known binding interactions that occur between the rat mannose-binding protein and its ligand (oligomannose) as a template, we have used site-directed mutagenesis to substitute Ala-77 with lysine. This substitution changed P-selectin-carbohydrate binding specificity from sLex to oligomannose. Further substitution altered the binding preference from mannose to galactose in a predictable manner. These results indicate that P-selectin binds sLex in a shallow cleft that is similar to the mannose-binding protein saccharide-binding cleft. Additionally, we present an extensive mutagenic analysis of P-selectin Lys-113, a residue that has previously been implicated in P-selectin binding to both sLex and 3-sulfated galactosylceramide (sulfatide). Our analysis demonstrates that Lys-113 is probably not involved in P-selectin binding to either sulfatide or sLex. Functionally, it appears that P-selectin has retained a conserved carbohydrate and calcium coordination site that enables it to bind carbohydrate in a manner that is quite similar to that which has been determined for the rat mannose-binding protein.
Hysteretic properties of soluble F1 ATPase from Escherichia coli. Evidence for a slow transition between two conformational states of the enzyme.

Abstract The soluble Escherichia coli coupling factor, EC F 1 ATPase, was incubated at several temperatures ranging from −10 to 37 °C before measuring enzyme activity at 10 °C. Under these conditions, the specific activity strongly depends on the preincubation temperature and it appears that ATPase can be reversibly switched from a stable low-activity state to a stable high-activity state. Sedimentation experiments ruled out the possibility that this change of state was due to cold dissociation of the major subunits. Preincubation at several concentrations of protein showed that the change of state corresponded to a monomolecular reaction scheme. The curve of specific activity versus temperature is sigmoidal, and the horizontal asymptote observed at low temperature is different from zero. Analysis of the stability of both states of the enzyme did not agree with the possibility that the low-activity state is an early intermediate of the process of cold inactivation. Experiments with enzyme missing the inhibitory subunit, ϵ, showed that this subunit is not needed for the conversion from the high-activity state to the low-activity state. The Δ H values for the change of state were calculated.
The increased incidence of congenital hypothyroidism: fact or fancy?

Summary Objective The incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) detected by newborn screening in the US has increased significantly since the early 1990s. We defined the characteristics associated with the increased incidence. Patients A cohort of children with CH born during an earlier period of low incidence (1991–94) was compared with a cohort born during a later period when the incidence of CH had doubled (2001–04). Measurements Screening was performed with T4 as the primary marker and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) on selected specimens. Follow-up on hypothyroid children determined whether they had permanent or transient hypothyroidism. Cases were classified based on laboratory results: initial TSH ≥100 mU/l was ‘severe,’ initial TSH <100 mU/l but ≥20 mU/l was ‘mild’ and initial TSH <20 mU/l with subsequent abnormal TSH was ‘delayed’. Results The overall incidence of CH almost doubled between the two time periods, from 1:3010 to 1:1660. Excess cases were found in the mild and delayed categories, with no increase in severe cases. The proportion of transient cases was <5% in severe cases, 40% in mild cases and 70% among delayed cases. There was no difference in the proportion of transient case between the two time periods. Modifications to the T4/TSH testing protocol between the two time periods resulted in substantially increased numbers of specimens in the younger cohort being selected for TSH testing in both initial and repeat specimens. Conclusion The rising incidence of CH in Massachusetts is confined to mild and delayed cases. Our findings suggest that this rise is attributable to enhanced detection rather than an absolute increase in numbers.
Communication Satellite Onboard Processing

The primary purpose of communication satellites is to receive signals from one or more sources and relay them to intended recipients. To accomplish this many communication satellites incorporate one or more “translating repeaters” or “transponders” which simply amplify and frequency-translate a band of frequencies. However, digital circuit and signal processing technology has progressed to the point that it is feasible and advantageous to implement more powerful processing functions on-board the satellite. On-board processing can enable systems to: make more effective use of power and bandwidth; improve multiple access performance; reject interference; and provide richer interconnectivity. On-board techniques include: beam switching; adaptive antennas; demodulation-remodulation; access control; and packet switching. This article will discuss each of the techniques and give a number of system application examples. Keywords: bandwidth-limited; beam switching; bent pipe; demodulation-remodulation; despreading; multiple access; multiple beams; on-board processing; packet switching; power-limited; satellite communication; translating repeater
Pyrolysis of Chlorogenic Acid and Rutin

Chlorogenic acid and rutin, major polyphenols in tobacco, were pyrolysed with a furnace type pyrolyser connected directly to a gas chromatograph and 22 compounds (including catechol, benzoic acid, 4-vinylcatechol and quinic acid γ-lactone) from Chlorogenic acid and 24 compounds [including catechol, 5-methyl-2-furaldehyde, 4-methylcatechol and 1, 6-anhydroglucopyranose (levoglucosan)] from rutin have been identified as pyrolysis products. The gas chromatograph was also replaced by a capillary cold trap which allowed collection of the pyrolysis products prior to a quantitative determination using an internal standard. Comparison of the pyrolysis products produced from chlorogenic acid or rutin with those derived from tobacco and analysis of the pyrolysis products from a mixture of tobacco and chlorogenic acid or rutin indicated that fairly large proportions of catechol, 4-vinylcatechol and quinic acid γ-lactone produced by the pyrolysis of tobacco may originate from endogenous chlorogenic acid.
Exploring the frequency of hydroclimate extremes on the River Niger using historical data analysis and Monte Carlo methods

Flooding and low-flow events along the Niger River in West Africa have major societal impacts, motivating this paper’s historical flow analysis and stochastic simulation of plausible future flow scenarios. The known epochal evolution of mean streamflow since 1950 (wet epoch, dry epoch and moderate recovery) is analyzed, with a focus on climatological flood month at three representative locations, and on associated changes in distribution (e.g. standard deviation and percentiles). We especially note the relatively small change in the (high flow) 90th percentile across the three epochs. Following the historical analysis, a statistical simulation framework is developed to explore the sensitivity of threshold-crossing events (TCEs) to plausible assumptions about hydroclimatic evolution over 2010–2040. The flow changes are assumed to reflect varying combinations of the following: systematic global change (GC), natural multidecadal variability (MDV) and interannual variability (IV). Results show that for a 1 in...
Enhancement of taste intensity through pulsatile stimulation.

Abstract Human magnitude estimates of a 500 mM NaCl solution increased with time when alternating pulses of NaCl and H 2 O (2 sec-2 sec to 1 sec-1 sec) were deliverd to the tongue, but decreased with a continuous NaCl flow. Normal human drinking, and intermittant liquid intake in other species, may be similar enhancement situations.
The Everglades are still threatened by excess nutrients

Since 1985, a Florida state agency constructed and maintained hundreds of square kilometers of wetlands built to regulate the amount of nutrients reaching the Everglades in southern Florida. However, Zapata-Rios et al. show that this is proving to be ineffective in controlling concentrations of phosphorous, a key nutrient, in the surface waters of the wetland. Historically, the Everglades has been a nutrient-poor environment, a characteristic that determines the delicate ecological balance and distinct flora and fauna in this region. Agricultural development and urbanization since the 1800s have not only claimed two- thirds of the natural Everglades (only 6000 square kilometers now exist in their natural form) but have also dramatically increased phosphorus levels in surface water, at times exceeding the acceptable limit of 10 micrograms per liter by severalfold.
Heart rate changes and anxiety: a methodological clarification.

Abstract Under this heading appear summaries of studies which, in 500 words or less, provide useful data substantiating, not substantiating, or refining what we think we know; additional details concerning the results can be obtained by communicating directly with the investigator or, when indicated, by requesting supplementary material from Microfiche Publications.
Experimental investigation of freezing blowby in a copper/water heat pipe

An experimental investigation designed to evaluate and better define the overall characteristics of freezing blowby in a copper/water heat pipe was conducted. The results from various rates of restart heat addition and channel blockage, indicate that upon breakthrough the depressurization of the evaporator may result in an effective heat transport capacity far in excess of the steady-state transport limit. The resulting transient conditions imposed on the heat pipe by the effective increased heat transport capacity can cause a loss of liquid in the evaporator and potential dryout. Evidence is presented which indicates that in order to prevent either temporary or permanent dryout, sufficient liquid inventory must be present in the evaporator wicking structure to accommodate the increased transient thermal load and allow sufficient time for the capillary wicking structure to reprime.
Increased Levels of Neuron‐Specific Enolase in PC 12 Pheochromocytoma Cells as a Result of Nerve Growth Factor Treatment

: Treatment of PC 12 pheochromocytoma cells with nerve growth factor (NGF) resulted in increased levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE). Neither insulin, growth hormone, cytochrome c, nor sodium butyrate increased NSE levels. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) did increase NSE levels, although not to the same extent as NGF. As little as 1 ng/ml NGF induced the maximal increase in NSE. As PC 12 cells increased in density, the NSE levels increased even in untreated cells.
Behavioral characteristics of disadvantaged adult patients.

Dr. Legler and his group have planned and carried out an excellent investigation to determine those persons in a low socioeconomic population who will be susceptible to the teaching of preventive methods in dental care.