cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Burden of a Heavy Heart.

In 2015, an estimated 107.7 million children and 603.7 million adults were classified as obese worldwide. In that year, obesity contributed directly to 4 million deaths and 120 million disability-adjusted life-years, and the majority of those deaths and that disability have been attributed to obesity-related cardiovascular disease (CVD)4 (1). Although some of the excess in obesity-related cardiovascular mortality is attributable to obesity's association with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obstructive sleep apnea, a significant portion is not mediated by these established CVD risk factors. The independent contribution of obesity to CVD risk, and the ways in which changes in weight and obesity status might alter this contribution, remains poorly understood. Because high-sensitivity assays for cardiac troponin can detect even small amounts of myocardial injury, they may serve as useful tools to help elucidate the effects of obesity on the myocardium. Numerous epidemiological studies suggest that obesity contributes to an increased risk of CVD, including heart failure, via mechanisms that are independent of traditional risk factors. In the Framingham Heart Study, obese individuals had double the risk of incident heart failure, and a recent metaanalysis of 23 prospective studies found that each 5-unit increase in body mass index (BMI) was associated with a 41% increase in the risk of heart failure incidence (relative risk, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.34–1.47) (2, 3). These associations were adjusted for possible mediating factors, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia. Circulating concentrations of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) are sensitive measures of ongoing myocardial injury, and are closely associated with the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (4–6). In the Dallas Heart Study, increased hs-cTnT concentrations were associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and left ventricular systolic …
The Treatment of Uncertainty and Learning in the Economics of Natural Resource and Environmental Management

Environmental and resource economists often use models that include uncertainty and ways to reduce that uncertainty through learning. Using a standard environmental and resource economics framework, this article parses several different forms of uncertainty and learning that are commonly considered in the literature. We then review the applied theory literature using that framework to assess whether there is support for four hypotheses associated with uncertainty and learning in environmental management that have been raised in policy circles. We find that these hypotheses are often true for one type of uncertainty or learning but not another, highlighting how a lack of clarity can lead to confusion among researchers and policymakers.
Interactions of Drugs of Abuse with Prescription Drugs

Over the last several decades, there has been an explosive rate of growth in the development of therapeutic drugs. These newly discovered drugs have helped significantly in reducing the threat of many diseases, in markedly improving the well-being of mankind, and in greatly prolonging life. Drugs are extremely powerful and sophisticated substances and their proper use has evolved into a specific science. One primary goal of this science is to find the smallest dose that will provide optimal benefit with the least amount of risk to a particular patient. Among the many factors that can contribute to unwanted side effects and that have to be very carefully monitored is the interaction of two or more drugs in an individual.
Cell cycle variation in cyclic adenosine 3′, 5′-monophosphate-dependent inhibition of a protein kinase from Physarum,polycephalum

Abstract A protein kinase present in the acellular slime mold, Physarum , polycephalum , has been found to exhibit cell cycle dependence with respect to inhibition by cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP). The capacity of 1 × 10−5 M cyclic AMP to inhibit the kinase was maximal (∼80%) during G2 phase. At the onset of mitosis, a sharp rate of decrease occurred in the inhibitory response to cyclic AMP which continued for approximately one hour to mid-S phase. For approximately one hour during mid-S phase, the kinase activity was independent of cyclic AMP concentration. There-after, the capacity of cyclic AMP to inhibit the protein kinase was restored over a two-hour interval. Complete restoration coincided with the termination of S phase. Protein kinase levels measured in these same preparations in the absence of cyclic AMP remained invariant throughout the cell cycle. Thus, control of the protein kinase is apparently achieved through coordinate action of cyclic AMP plus other un-identified factors rather than by differential synthesis and destruction of a single kinase enzyme.
Sulfide and Other Sulfur Containing Ligands in Metalloproteins and Enzymes

Abstract Sulfur is an essential constituent of living matter. It occurs as an integral component of the metal-containing prosthetic groups of many metalloproteins in either an organic form, as the amino acids cysteine and methionine, or as the inorganic entity, sulfide. Examples of sulfur-ligated prosthetic groups occur in proteins concerned with storage and transport, electron-transfer proteins and enzymes of the oxido-reductase type. Metalloproteins containing cysteine or methionine as their only sulfur-based donors are most often found with copper and iron, with well-documented examples occuring for zinc, manganese, molybdenum and tungsten also. The occurence of sulfide (S 2- ) as a ligand in proteins and enzymes is known for only iron and molybdenum where, with just one known exception in xanthine oxidase/dehydrogenase, it acts as a bridging ligand between two metals.
Introduction to ASI on Cooling of Electronic Systems

Cooling requirements in microelectronics are among the toughest barriers of to develop faster, smaller, and still more reliable systems. During the Institute, studies and review of papers on forced and natural air convection and liquid cooling (direct and indirect) were presented. This Institute also address the need for further research on the heat transfer in electronics. It is aimed to introduce various cooling methods in electronics and to compare the advantages and disadvantages of various cooling techniques to see the extend to which the designer can depend on them in the future.
Cancers Disproportionately Affecting the New York State Transgender Population, 1979–2016

Objectives. To summarize what is known about cancer among the transgender population in New York State.Methods. We identified transgender patients diagnosed between 1979 and 2016 in the New York St...
Abstract WP278: Underutilization of Outpatient Cardiac Monitoring in Patients With Embolic Stroke of Unknown Source

Background: Recent studies have shown that outpatient cardiac monitoring for 30 days or longer increases detection rate of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) after Embolic Stroke of Unknown Source (ESUS). For patients with AF detected on monitoring, anticoagulation can be initiated to reduce risk of recurrent stroke. In this study, we aim to compare characteristics between patients who received cardiac monitoring and those who did not to further elucidate trends in the use of prolonged outpatient cardiac monitoring following ESUS. Methods: We analyzed a retrospective cohort of patients discharged with a diagnosis of ESUS over a period of 18 months in whom outpatient cardiac monitoring was ordered. Patients who were deceased or without follow-up at 90 days were excluded. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether or not they received outpatient cardiac monitoring. We compared demographic data, clinical risk factors, and NIHSS between the two groups. Results: Out of 282 patients with ESUS, 189 ...
Synthesis and Evaluation of Baylis-Hillman Reaction Derived Imidazole and Triazole Cinnamates as Antifungal Agents

Allylic acetates derived from Baylis-Hillman reaction undergo efficient nucleophilic isomerization with imidazoles and triazoles to provide imidazolylmethyl and triazolylmethyl cinnamates stereoselectively. Antifungal evaluation of these derivatives against Cryptococcus neoformans exhibits good minimum inhibitory concentration values. These compounds exhibit low toxicity in proliferating MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Structure activity relationship studies indicate that halogenated aromatic derivatives provide better antifungal activity.
Significant effect of infection and food intake on sirolimus pharmacokinetics and exposure in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Abstract Background Sirolimus is increasingly investigated as a new targeted therapy in pediatric populations. To date, population pharmacokinetic (PK) studies have identified several factors that explain in part the large between-patient variability in sirolimus PK. However, within-patient variability in sirolimus PK is not well documented. This study presents examples of model-based PK-guided dosing of sirolimus in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), where patients experienced significant changes in sirolimus blood concentrations due to infection and food intake during the treatment period. Methods Clinical PK data were obtained as part of a prospective pilot study of sirolimus combined with multiagent chemotherapy in pediatric patients with ALL ( ClinicalTrial.gov identifier: NCT01658007 ). A PK model-informed loading dose of 1.8 mg/m2 every 8 h was started on the first day of sirolimus treatment. Subsequent doses were adjusted based on concentration measurements the first blood draw scheduled 24 h into the regimen on the morning of day 2. Sirolimus blood concentrations were determined by a validated LC-MS/MS assay. All dosing recommendations were generated in real time using the PK model with Bayesian estimation. Results Three patients were enrolled in this study. Two patients achieved target concentration attainment with the PK model-informed loading dose on day 1 of sirolimus treatment. Subsequent unexpected high sirolimus concentrations were observed in two patients, where patients had flulike symptoms such as fever and cough. A sudden decrease in sirolimus concentrations was observed in one patient after switching sirolimus administration from the fed to the fasting state. Conclusions This study highlights within-patient fluctuations in sirolimus concentrations associated with intercurrent infection and with changes in diet. These findings highlight the challenge of maintaining a target sirolimus concentration as a patient's clinical status changes, and the benefit of intensive monitoring of therapeutic drug levels in children treated with sirolimus. Intra-patient alternations in sirolimus PK due to similar disease/food interactions may be relevant in pediatric patients treated with sirolimus for other disease indications.
Transplant surgery enters a new era: Increasing immunosuppressive medication adherence through mobile apps and smart watches

The high rate of immunosuppressive medication non-adherence in transplant recipients demands the search for a solution that targets modifiable risk factors and incorporates mobile health technology to better engage and educate patients. Kidney transplant recipients (kidneys alone or multi-organ) were randomized to receive a mobile app known as Transplant Hero, both the app and a smart watch, or neither. The coefficient of variability (CV) of tacrolimus levels was measured at one and three months. No statistically significant differences in CV levels were observed between the three groups at either one or three months. Although mobile health apps are a promising strategy for increasing medication adherence, further research is required to determine how to best use this technology.
The structure of Acinetobacter-secreted protease CpaA complexed with its chaperone CpaB reveals a novel mode of a T2SS chaperone-substrate interaction

Members of the Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex are nosocomial pathogens frequently causing multidrug-resistant infections that are increasing at alarming rates. A. baumannii has become the Gram-negative bacterium with the highest rate of multidrug resistance. As such, it is categorized by the World Health Organization as a critical priority for the research and development of new antimicrobial therapies. The zinc-dependent metalloendopeptidase CpaA is a predominant substrate of the type II secretion system (T2SS). CpaA is also a virulence factor of medically relevant Acinetobacter strains that specifically degrade the human glycoprotein coagulation factor XII and not its deglycosylated form, but the mechanism for this specificity is unknown. CpaB is a membrane-anchored T2SS chaperone that interacts with CpaA and is required for its stability and secretion. Here, we report the crystal structure of the CpaAB complex at 2.6-A resolution, revealing four glycan-binding domains in CpaA that were not predicted from its primary sequence and may explain CpaA's glycoprotein-targeting activity. The structure of the complex identified a novel mode for chaperone-protease interactions in which the protease surrounds the chaperone. The CpaAB organization was akin to zymogen inactivation, with CpaB serving as a prodomain that inhibits catalytically active CpaA. CpaB contains a C-terminal tail that appears to block access to the CpaA catalytic site, and functional experiments with truncated variants indicated that this tail is dispensable for CpaA expression and secretion. Our results provide new insight into the mechanism of CpaA secretion and may inform the future development of therapeutic strategies for managing Acinetobacter infections.
Latent Work Capacity and Retirement Expectations

U.S. Social Security Administration Award RDR18000002, UM19-02; National Institute on Aging Award R01AG056239
D-square-B: Deep Distribution Bound for Natural-looking Adversarial Attack.

We propose a novel technique that can generate natural-looking adversarial examples by bounding the variations induced for internal activation values in some deep layer(s), through a distribution quantile bound and a polynomial barrier loss function. By bounding model internals instead of individual pixels, our attack admits perturbations closely coupled with the existing features of the original input, allowing the generated examples to be natural-looking while having diverse and often substantial pixel distances from the original input. Enforcing per-neuron distribution quantile bounds allows addressing the non-uniformity of internal activation values. Our evaluation on ImageNet and five different model architecture demonstrates that our attack is quite effective. Compared to the state-of-the-art pixel space attack, semantic attack, and feature space attack, our attack can achieve the same attack success/confidence level while having much more natural-looking adversarial perturbations. These perturbations piggy-back on existing local features and do not have any fixed pixel bounds.
Adoptees SPEAK: a multimodal critical discourse analysis of adult Korean adopted persons’ adoption narratives on Instagram

This multimodal critical discourse analysis of the Adoptees SPEAK Instagram feed examines how Korean adopted persons create a counterpublic of adoption which recenters the adoption narrative around...
Imagination, the Brain’s Default Mode Network, and Imaginative Verbal Artifacts

The purpose of this chapter is to explain how imaginative verbal artifacts are produced by the imagination and in turn influence the imagination. Assimilating recent neuroscientific research on the evolution of modern brain shape and on the brain’s default mode network, we can now say with confidence that the imagination is a neurological reality, that it is lodged in specific parts of the brain, that it consists of an identifiable set of components and processes, that these components and processes have adaptive functions, and that in fulfilling its functions imagination has been a major causal factor in making Homo sapiens the dominant species on earth. The first section of the chapter defines the main terms in this argument. The second section describes the evolution of modern brain shape and suggests the role imagination has played in producing the complex of behaviors that characterize neurologically modern Homo sapiens. The third section describes the current neuroscientific understanding of the brain’s default mode network—the neurological locus of imagination. The fourth section describes three core processes of imagination used in constructing imaginative verbal artifacts: simulation, mental time travel, and perspective taking (also known as “Theory of Mind” and “mentalizing”). The three processes are illustrated with reference to a modern American novel, Wallace Stegner’s Angle of Repose. The fifth section describes four specialized forms of imagination that deploy the core processes: dreaming, mind-wandering, autobiographical narratives, and counterfactual thinking. That section explains how these forms are involved in writing or reading literature and identifies a few literary works that illustrate them. The final section sums up the argument for the adaptive functions of literature.
OpenDT: A Reference Framework for Service Publication and Discovery using Remote Programmable Digital Twins

Traditional service registries or catalogs publish and describe individual services of different entities. In this paper, we propose a new approach of service publication and discovery based on the philosophy of "product catalogs". In this new approach, entities are equivalent to products in typical products catalogs. We conceptualize an entity registry where each entry constitutes to its collection of remote services. For logical abstraction of entities, we utilize the concept of Digital Twin (DT). To support our objective, we present a reference DT architecture that virtualizes entities, exposes all its functionalities as services, and offers a remote programmable instance to invoke the services directly from application code. To publish and discover DTs, we propose a novel framework, OpenDT. This framework enables entity owners to publish DTs and allow users to discover them for creating mashups and applications using DT services. It also allows developers to create composite DTs that consists of other DTs for large and complex entities. To evaluate OpenDT, we implement a cyber-manufacturing testbed comprising of multiple machining tools and their DTs. Case validations from testbed show excellent efficiency of DT-driven entity publication and discovery.
Barricading the Border: COVID-19 and the Exclusion of Asylum Seekers at the U.S. Southern Border

What years of deterrence efforts and restrictions on asylum did not achieve to block the U.S. southern border to asylum seekers, the Trump Administration has now accomplished using the COVID-19 pandemic as justification. New measures exclude asylum seekers from U.S. territory, thereby effectively obliterating the U.S. asylum program, which had promised refugee protection in the form of asylum to eligible migrants who reach the United States. In some cases, the policies adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic harden impediments to asylum already in place or implement restrictions that had been proposed but could only now be adopted. In others, the policies could never have been imagined before the pandemic. Overall, the force of these measures in dismantling the asylum system cannot be overemphasized. Once adopted, using an emergency rationale based on the pandemic, these policies are likely to become extremely difficult to reverse. This is particularly true where the restrictions exclude asylum seekers from the physical space of the United States. This article will thus explore two modes of physical exclusion taking place at the U.S. southern border during the COVID-19 pandemic: 1) indefinitely trapping in Mexico those asylum seekers who are subject to the so-called Migrant Protection Protocols; and 2) immediate expulsions of asylum seekers arriving at the southern border pursuant to purported public health guidance issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Predicting the long-term social and ecological impacts of tree-planting programs: Evidence from northern India

Abstract Planting trees has long been a major forest improvement and management activity globally. Forest plantations take years, even decades to mature and establish. Yet most national and international projects to support plantations are of relatively short duration, which presents a major challenge to near-term accountability as well as assessment of longer-term social and ecological impacts. Here, we address this challenge by identifying and empirically validating a set of predictive proxy indicators (PPIs)—measures on key variables taken during program implementation that are predictive of longer-term impacts—for community-oriented tree-planting efforts in northern India. Using process-tracing and qualitative comparative analysis, we find that clusters of PPIs explained vegetation growth trajectories and other outcomes over more than a decade in 23 randomly selected public forest plantations in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh. PPIs relating to property rights and local livelihood benefits, community-led monitoring and enforcement, and seedling survival rate, together, were associated with successful long-term forest plantation outcomes, including more tree cover and socio-economic benefits for local communities. The causal pathways identified in this study suggest that measuring and comparing indicator values in specific spatial and temporal contexts can help to assess the likelihood and directionality of the long-term social and ecological impacts of forest plantations. In addition to the empirical contribution it makes, this study also demonstrates a novel approach to understanding long-term impacts of public forest plantations relevant to country contexts around the world.
Modeling and Recognition of Landmark Image Collections Using Iconic Scene Graphs

This paper presents an approach for modeling landmark sites such as the Statue of Liberty based on large-scale contaminated image collections gathered from the Internet. Our system combines 2D appearance and 3D geometric constraints to efficiently extract scene summaries, build 3D models, and recognize instances of the landmark in new test images. We start by clustering images using low-dimensional global "gist" descriptors. Next, we perform geometric verification to retain only the clusters whose images share a common 3D structure. Each valid cluster is then represented by a single iconic view, and geometric relationships between iconic views are captured by an iconic scene graph. In addition to serving as a compact scene summary, this graph is used to guide structure from motion to efficiently produce 3D models of the different aspects of the landmark. The set of iconic images is also used for recognition, i.e., determining whether new test images contain the landmark. Results on three data sets consisting of tens of thousands of images demonstrate the potential of the proposed approach.
When the will is not free

L'A. repond aux critiques de Fischer et Ravizza suscitees par son article « When is the Will Free? » (1989) ou l'A. defend la these suivante: les incompatibilistes doivent accepter la validite de la regle d'inference, denommee par lui Beta. Selon Beta, nous ne sommes que rarement, sinon jamais, capables d'agir autrement que de la maniere dont nous avons agi
INHIBITION OF HEXOSE AND GLYCEROL UTILIZATION BY 2-DEOXY-D-GLUCOSE IN TRYPANOSOMA GAMBIENSE AND TRYPANOSOMA RHODESIENSE.

Abstract It was shown that 2-deoxy-d-glucose (D-2-D) inhibited the fermentation of glucose, mannose, fructose, and glycerol by Trypanosoma gambiense . Evidence is presented that shows D-2-D inhibits metabolism at two sites at least within the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway. The inhibition of both hexose and glycerol utilization by D-2-D was reversed by the addition of glucose; however, inhibition of glycerol utilization was much more sensitive to reversal. A second analogue of glucose, glucosamine, was also capable of inhibiting glycerol utilization but had no apparent effect on the fermentation of glucose. The structural requirements of compounds capable of acting as inhibitors of hexose and glycerol utilization as well as those compounds capable of relieving glycerol inhibition were shown to be highly specific. At present, the exact enzymatic sites inhibited by either D-2-D or glucosamine are unknown. However, the possibility that D-2-D inhibits the transport of substrates across the cell membrane is discussed.
Triological Aspects and Fluidity of Dense Granular Flow

A key difficulty in describing the fluid-like behavior of granular materials is the transitional regime between the fully dynamic regime, i.e. the grain-inertial regime, to a quasi-static one. In the present investigation, we aim to establish a constitutive relation between stress and strain rate for a granular layer over a range of deformation rates within the transition/mixed regime. Our objective is to understand the relationship between granular flow and tribological-related issues, such as friction and stress behaviors, in terms of dependences on packing density, shear rate, and grain size. For the experimental setup, we utilize a Tribo-Rheometer to infer shear stress directly from the applied torque through steps of constant velocities. The configuration is a torsional-plane-shear geometry between two plates and the granular layer is confined laterally by a self-lubricating Teflon cylindrical sleeve. To analyze granular motion, we consider the powder layer as a compressible, frictional, athermal, and elasto-plastic material with solid, fluid, and gas-like properties. The granular flow regimes, defined by the dominant mode of interaction, are then analyzed as a function of different dimensionless parameters to illustrate the process that is controlling the tribological behavior. We find that shear stress and normal stress both decrease with increasing shear rate within the transition regime between the two limiting regimes. Also, the granular flow up to the grain-inertial regime shows a Coulomb-like friction behavior with no correlation to shear rate. However, the granular sample displays a quadratic rate-dependence of friction coefficient leading into and within the grain-inertial regime. A decrease in grain-size results in a dramatic increase in friction at the boundary.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Class is about to start: Please turn on your cell phones:: 10 uses for cell phones in nursing education

Abstract Cell phones are among the most common forms of technology in today's college classroom. Although their presence can present problems, banning them is unfeasible. A more effective approach is to take advantage of their potential to enhance the learning experience. This article presents 10 ways in which nurse educators can use cell phones in undergraduate courses.
Algorithm for efficient generation of link-state updates in ATM networks

Abstract In the routing framework defined by the ATM Forum Private Network Node Interface (P-NNI) working group, each node broadcasts link-state update (LSU) messages (which include information such as available bandwidth, maximum delay, etc.) about the outgoing links attached to it to other nodes in the network. For each connection request, the source node selects an end-to-end route that meets the quality of service (QoS) requirements of the connection based on the most recent information that it has about network links. Up-to-date information about network links is, therefore, key to making “good” routing decisions. The triggering of LSU broadcasts after adding or removing a single connection on any link would certainly enable optimal paths to be calculated but at a potentially significant cost in processing and bandwidth. A periodic update scheme, on the other hand, might be more preferable since it can be used to bound the frequency of updates at the expense of delaying important updates (such as those reporting large changes in link load). The goal of an efficient LSU generating algorithm is, therefore, to provide “accurate” information on link loads while keeping the number of LSUs under control. In this paper, we investigate the issue of when to broadcast LSUs and its effects to the network performance. A simulation model is built to model the basic routing framework developed at the ATM Forum P-NNI working group. Based on the intuition gained by running the simulation model with different schemes and parameters, a hybrid LSU generating algorithm, combining event-driven and periodic update strategies, is proposed to substantially reduce the number of LSUs generated in the network without a significant negative impact on the network performance. The proposed algorithm is not limited to the P-NNI framework and it can be used in networking technologies that are based on the link-state principles.
National and Regional Energy Models

A review of large-scale energy models, most of which have been started during the 1970s and are still under development, uses a methodological approach to assess the use of econometric techniques to organize coherent information for decision makers. Basic similarities and differences are noted for a range of energy model systems, such as the Project Independence Evaluation System (PIES). The models described analyze both energy and macroeconomy and the energy sector alone. While no single approach is found to be best, cost and ease of use varied. Linkage of models is promising, but more documentation of performance testing is needed before they can be fully effective. Gary J. Koehler comments that the paper is more taxonomical and descriptive than methodological.
Runway performance as a function of positively and negatively correlated olfactory cues.

Double-alternation runway performance of rats is shown to be influenced by 2 sources of odor, donor-odorant Ss and previous Ss that have traversed the runway. Performance in initial segments of the apparatus depended upon odors produced by start-box confined donor Ss, while performance in the terminal segment was predominantly influenced by odors produced by previous running Ss (ns = 14).
The effect of time following exposure to trimethyltin (TMT) on cholinergic muscarinic receptor binding in rat hippocampus.

Adult male Long-Evans rats were given 6 mg/kg trimethyltin (TMT). Rats were killed 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 35 or 60 d later. An untreated control group was included. Brain sections were processed using film autoradiography to visualize in the hippocampus either total muscarinic receptor binding ([3H]quinuclidiny] benzilate: [3H]QNB), or M1 receptors ([3H]pirenzepine; [3H]PZ), or M2 receptors ([3H]oxotremorine-M; [3H]OXO-M). A reduction in [3H]QNB binding was found in CA1 and CA3c 7 d after TMT, but not in CA3a,b, or the dentate gyrus. [3H]PZ binding was decreased throughout Ammon’s horn by 14 d after treatment. [3H]OXO-M binding decreased 1 d after exposure in CA1 and in all subfields of Ammon’s horn by d 3. Neither [3H]PZ or [3H]OXO-M binding decreased in the dentate gyrus of TMT-treated rat at any time point. The temporal patterns of receptor loss may be explicable by reference to timing of fiber and cell body degeneration reported in previous studies and the regional differences may account for discrepancies between reports of either substantial decreases or no loss in hippocampal muscarinic receptors after TMT exposure.
Adverse effects of proton pump inhibitor drugs: clues and conclusions.

Purpose of review To review evidence relating to the strength of associations that have appeared in largely observational studies, between high-dose or long-term use of proton pump inhibitor drugs and certain possibly attributable side-effects, which emerge from studies confounded by other variables. In retrospective studies not designed to assess safety, evidence of causality is generally lacking. Recent findings The associations of fractures of hip, wrist, forearm and other sites appear weak and only slightly higher than the risks in control populations matched for age. They may increase with drug exposure, but probably do so only in individuals in whom other risk factors are also operational (smoking, alcohol, poor nutrition, steroids, etc.). The risks of Clostridium difficile colitis, other enteric infections, small bowel bacterial overgrowth and possibly spontaneous bacterial peritonitis also appear increased. Impaired gastric secretion may adversely affect the absorption of various nutrients, but their clinical impact is ill defined. Potentially more important are the consequences of hypergastrinemia, including rebound hypersecretion of acid, and possible development of various cancers, including carcinoid tumors. Effects of other drugs, including clopidogrel, on metabolism are reviewed, but clouded by uncertainties. Summary The safety of long-term PPI administration needs serious prospective study.
Malathion percutaneous absorption after repeated administration to man.

Prediction of exposure and toxic potential of pesticides such as malathion are routinely based upon acute exposure and single-dose percutaneous absorption determination. What has become obvious with pesticide exposure such as the malathion spraying for the medfly is that chronic daily exposure is the more relevant situation. Our objective was to determine the percutaneous absorption of chronically applied malathion in man and to compare chronic absorption to single-dose absorption. The experimental design was to first topically apply [14C]malathion to human male volunteers. This procedure was followed by repeated administration of nonradioactive malathion to the same site of application (ventral forearm). [14C]Malathion was reapplied (Day 8) when urinary excretion of radioactivity from the first application reached minimum detectable levels. The first [14C]malathion absorption was compared to the second [14C]malathion application. The percutaneous absorption from the first [14C]malathion application was 4.48 ± 1.3% (SD) of the applied dose. The absorption from the second [14C] malathion administration was 3.53 ± 1.0%, a value not significantly (p > 0.05) different from the first application. Therefore, for malathion the single-dose application data are relevant for predicting the toxic potential for longer-term exposure.
Comparing the cost of a thrifty food plan market basket in three areas of New York state

Abstract Research by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and others has shown that food prices in the U.S. vary widely, yet food stamp benefits are the same throughout the country. To examine the impact of local prices on the food-buying power of food stamp recipients, a market basket based on the USDA's Thrifty Food Plan (TFP), upon which food stamp allotments are based, was priced in selected areas of New York State in late May–June and late September–October of 1989. In both survey periods, the mean market basket costs in supermarkets varied from 93% of the current USDA TFP cost in an upstate urban county (Onondaga County), to near 96% of the USDA cost in rural Tioga County, to near 104% in the borough of Brooklyn in New York City. Costs in smaller stores ranged from 107 to 111% of the USDA TFP cost. In June 1989, a household receiving the maximum food stamp allotment would fall from 4 to about 12% short of the resources needed to buy the market basket in the supermarkets sampled in Tioga County and Brooklyn, and at least 17% short in the smaller stores in all three areas. Results indicate that in New York State, local food costs higher than national average costs can contribute to food insecurity. Recommendations are made regarding policies to improve the food security of low income consumers.
New active titanium oxyphosphate material for lithium batteries

Abstract Ni 0.5 TiOPO 4 oxyphosphate has been identified in the (NiO–TiO 2 –P 2 O 5 ) ternary diagram as a new insertion compound for lithium batteries. The 3-dimensional structure of this material consists of corner sharing octahedra [TiO 6 ], isolated [PO 4 ] tetrahedra, and [NiO 6 ] octahedra located between the titanium chains. The material also contains octahedral vacant sites that constitute favorable sites for lithium insertion. The Ni 0.5 TiOPO 4 electrode intercalates three lithium atoms during the first discharge with an equivalent specific capacity of 415 mAh/g. The cell based on this new cathode material operates at 1.8 V vs. metallic lithium and exhibits low area specific impedance values. The large observed capacity and the fairly good cycling characteristics of the cell based on this new cathode material make this system an excellent system for applications that require low voltage and high energy density.
Singular perturbations of positivity preserving semigroups via path space techniques

Associated with each standard positivity preserving semigroup is a generalized path space. The Feynman-Kac-Nelson formula on path space combined with hypercontractivity of the semigroup allows the control of highly singular perturbations. Applications are given to the Schrodinger equation and quantum field models, including a generalized space cutoff P(φ)2 interaction, P(φ(0))2, and a finite volume (ψ2φ)2 interaction.
Covariance adjustment of rates based on the multiple logistic regression model

Abstract The multiple logistic regression method is gaining wide acceptance in the analysis of epidemiologic data where simultaneous adjustments for a number of confounding covariates is desired. However, the method is used primarily to determine the covariates-adjusted odds ratio, a statistic pertinent in epidemiologic research but not in the context of a comparative clinical trial. The main interest in a comparative clinical trial is to determine the covariates-adjusted difference in the ‘success’ (e.g. recovery) rate between therapeutic groups that is analogous to the statistical information obtained from analysis of covariance for quantitative response variables. By way of numeric examples, this paper provides a non-technical overviewing of the multiple logistic regression model, describes the meaning of the statistics obtained from multiple logistic regression analysis, and illustrates the computation of the covaries-adjusted ‘success’ rates for the respective therapies in a comparative clinical trial.
Computational Model for Transport in Nanotube-Based Composites With Applications to Flexible Electronics

Thermal and electrical transport in a new class of nanocomposites composed of random isotropic two-dimensional ensembles of nanotubes or nanowires in a substrate (host matrix) is considered for use in the channel region of thin-film transistors (TFTs). The random ensemble of nanotubes is generated numerically and each nanotube is disc retired using a finite volume scheme. To simulate transport in composites, the network is embedded in a background substrate mesh, which is also discretized using a finite volume scheme. Energy and charge exchange between nanotubes at the points of contact and between the network and the substrate are accounted for. A variety of test problems are computed for both network transport in the absence of a substrate, as well as for determination of lateral thermal and electrical conductivity in composites. For nanotube networks in the absence of a substrate, the conductance exponent relating the network conductance to the channel length is computed and found to match experimental electrical measurements. The effective thermal conductivity of a nanotube network embedded in a thin substrate is computed for a range of substrate-to-tube conductivity ratios. It is observed that the effective thermal conductivity of the composite saturates to a size-independent value for large enough samples, establishing the limits beyond which bulk behavior obtains. The effective electrical conductivity of carbon nanotube-organic thin films used in organic TFTs is computed and is observed to be in good agreement with the experimental results.
A result concerning classes of matrices

This paper is concerned with the n-dimensional integral representations of an order in an algebraic number field of degree n, and their composition.
Chlordecone-induced follicular toxicity in mouse ovaries.

Abstract The effect of the pesticide, chlordecone, on murine follicular development was examined. Female CD-1 mice were exposed to chlordecone for 5 consecutive days for each of 4 consecutive weeks (0.25 mg/day). Controls received sesame oil vehicle or estradiol-17β (E-17β; 0.1 mg/day since chlordecone has been ascribed estrogenic activity. Animals were sacrificed 24 h following the final exposure. Ovaries were removed, serially sectioned, and stained. Follicles were classified as small, medium, or large and were tabulated. Twice as many medium-sized follicles were found in the E-17β-treated mice as in both the chlordecone-exposed and sesame oil control groups. Both pesticide- and E-17β-exposed mice displayed a much higher percent of atresia in the large follicles; however, there were more actual healthy, large follicles in the E-17β group. Thus, both chlordecone and E-17β induced increased atresia among large follicles, which could be due to the estrogenicity of these agents. However, a decreased pool of healthy large- and medium-sized follicles occurred in chlordecone-treated mice, a condition not seen in E-17β-treated mice. Thus, the pool of potentially ovulatory follicles is reduced in the pesticide-treated animals.
Studies on the metabolism of amino acids and related compounds in vivo. I. Toxicity of essential amino acids, individually and in mixtures, and the protective effect of L-arginine.

The l- and d-forms of arginine. HCl, histidine. HCl, isoleucine, alloisoleucine, leucine, lysine. HCl, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, allothreonine, tryptophan, and valine were administered intraperitoneally to rats, and the LD50, LD99.9, LD99.99 levels were evaluated with the aid of statistical computations. Among the l-amino acids, alloisoleucine was the least toxic and tryptophan the most toxic, whereas among the d-amino acids, although alloisoleucine was still the least toxic, arginine. HCl was the most toxic. With the exception of tryptophan whose l-isomer was about three times more toxic than the d-isomer, the differences in toxicity between the l- and d-isomers of the amino acids were of relatively small degree, the d-isomers at the LD50 level being generally less than or equal to the corresponding l-isomers in toxicity. Mixtures of the ten essential l-amino acids possessed a toxicity considerably less than that calculated from the mean of the toxicities of the individual components. This was found to be due to the presence of l-arginine. HCl, for a mixture of nine l-amino acids from which l-arginine was excluded possessed a toxicity not far from that calculated from the mean of the toxicities of the individual components. This protective effect of l-arginine was further demonstrated by adding it to a lethal mixture of nine l-amino acids which caused a reduction in mortality from 100 to 24%. Mixtures of the d-isomers of the ten essential amino acids possessed a toxicity less than that calculated from the mean of the toxicities of the individual components, but no one component of this mixture could be implicated in this general effect.
High concentrations of glycine induce long-lasting changes in synaptic efficacy in rat hippocampal slices.

Abstract Brief perfusion of adult rat hippocampal slices with high concentrations of glycine results in a slowly developing, long-lasting increase in synaptic responses in field CA1. Two observations indicated that the effect requires the activation of NMDA receptors by glycine. First, the glycine-induced potentiation is reduced by ketamine, an NMDA receptor channel blocker. Second, glycine potentiates the NMDA receptor-mediated epileptiform activity recorded in the presence of low magnesium concentration and picrotoxin. In slices prepared from rat pups (5–8 postnatal day), perfusion with glycine results in a slowly developing, long-lasting depression of EPSP amplitude. These results provide a new way of producing potentiation of synaptic efficacy and suggest new properties of NMDA receptors.
RosyRecommends: Collaborative Filter Analysis of Listening Behavior Using User Similarity Metrics Based on Timbral Clusters

The objective of this paper is to propose a novel way of analyzing user behavior through collaborative filtering techniques. We have have chosen to work with the Million Song Dataset (item-based data) and the EchoNest Taste Profile Dataset (user-based data). The item-based dataset was aggregated by applying k-means clustering on audio MFCCs. Upon grouping the items into a set of k clusters, a user to cluster mapping was generated. We then used collaborative filtering to examine if users have a predilection towards songs that belong to the same cluster. The experiments were performed on a range of number of clusters. Computing cluster-based similarity between users was performed by thresholding neighborhood size and various parameters for common similarity metrics. Our experiments show that users do have a predilection to songs that occur within a cluster. This serves as the experimental basis of our proposed method in augmenting a recommendation engine.
Automated quantification of neuronal networks and single-cell calcium dynamics using calcium imaging.

Abstract Background Recent advances in genetically engineered calcium and membrane potential indicators provide the potential to estimate the activation dynamics of individual neurons within larger, mesoscale networks (100s–1000 + neurons). However, a fully integrated automated workflow for the analysis and visualization of neural microcircuits from high speed fluorescence imaging data is lacking. New method Here we introduce FluoroSNNAP, Fluorescence Single Neuron and Network Analysis Package. FluoroSNNAP is an open-source, interactive software developed in MATLAB for automated quantification of numerous biologically relevant features of both the calcium dynamics of single-cells and network activity patterns. FluoroSNNAP integrates and improves upon existing tools for spike detection, synchronization analysis, and inference of functional connectivity, making it most useful to experimentalists with little or no programming knowledge. Results We apply FluoroSNNAP to characterize the activity patterns of neuronal microcircuits undergoing developmental maturation in vitro. Separately, we highlight the utility of single-cell analysis for phenotyping a mixed population of neurons expressing a human mutant variant of the microtubule associated protein tau and wild-type tau. Comparison with existing method(s) We show the performance of semi-automated cell segmentation using spatiotemporal independent component analysis and significant improvement in detecting calcium transients using a template-based algorithm in comparison to peak-based or wavelet-based detection methods. Our software further enables automated analysis of microcircuits, which is an improvement over existing methods. Conclusions We expect the dissemination of this software will facilitate a comprehensive analysis of neuronal networks, promoting the rapid interrogation of circuits in health and disease.