cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Depth separation beyond radial functions

High-dimensional depth separation results for neural networks show that certain functions can be efficiently approximated by two-hidden-layer networks but not by one-hidden-layer ones in high-dimensions $d$. Existing results of this type mainly focus on functions with an underlying radial or one-dimensional structure, which are usually not encountered in practice. The first contribution of this paper is to extend such results to a more general class of functions, namely functions with piece-wise oscillatory structure, by building on the proof strategy of (Eldan and Shamir, 2016). We complement these results by showing that, if the domain radius and the rate of oscillation of the objective function are constant, then approximation by one-hidden-layer networks holds at a $\mathrm{poly}(d)$ rate for any fixed error threshold. A common theme in the proof of such results is the fact that one-hidden-layer networks fail to approximate high-energy functions whose Fourier representation is spread in the domain. On the other hand, existing approximation results of a function by one-hidden-layer neural networks rely on the function having a sparse Fourier representation. The choice of the domain also represents a source of gaps between upper and lower approximation bounds. Focusing on a fixed approximation domain, namely the sphere $\mathbb{S}^{d-1}$ in dimension $d$, we provide a characterization of both functions which are efficiently approximable by one-hidden-layer networks and of functions which are provably not, in terms of their Fourier expansion.
Public Health Interventions and Mortality During the 1918 Influenza Pandemic: Evidence from Digitized Death Certificates

We use newly digitized individual-level death certificate data with detailed information on the location, date and cause of death to investigate the effects of city-level non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on mortality during the 1918 influenza pandemic. We collect information on the timing and nature of NPIs for cities in Ohio and Massachusetts with populations over 25,000 and focus on four cities that did not adopt any NPIs during the height of the pandemic. Using a synthetic control design to compare death rates in these cities with a composite of other similar cities who did implement NPIs, we find that the pneumonia and influenza (P&I) death rate was more than twice as high during the fall of 1918 in the no-intervention cities as in the comparison cities.
Machine Learning for Predicting Readmission Risk Among the Frail - Explainable AI for Healthcare

Healthcare costs that can be attributed to unplanned readmissions are staggeringly high and negatively impact health and wellness of patients. In the United States, hospital systems and care providers have strong financial motivations to reduce readmissions in accordance with several government guidelines. One of the critical steps to reducing readmissions is to recognize the factors that lead to readmission and correspondingly identify at-risk patients based on these factors. While hospital readmission is an undesirable outcome for any patient, it is more so for medically frail patients. Here, we present readmission risk prediction using five machine learning approaches - Random Forest, XGBoost, CatBoost, and Logistic Regression, and a Stacking classifier for predicting 30-day unplanned readmission for patients deemed frail (Age ≥= 50). We use a comprehensive and curated set of variables that include frailty, comorbidities, high risk medications, demographics, hospital, and insurance utilization to build these models. Findings indicate that the CatBoost model outperforms other models with a mean AUC of $0.79$. We find that prior readmissions, discharge to a rehabilitation facility, length of stay, comorbidities, and frailty indicators were all strong predictors of 30 day readmission. Since explainability is paramount for healthcare, we present in depth insights into the model's predictions using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) — the state of the art in machine learning explainability. We highlight important features for prediction, showcase the distributions of those features in the data and how feature observations impacted the risk of readmission. We select and observe the relative variable influence of patient observations with the highest and lowest readmission risk, and show how the model made predictions in order to demonstrate explainability at an individual observation level. Finally, we identify six patient groups with different levels of readmission risk using clustering techniques.
Homo-oligomerization of the human adenosine A2A receptor is driven by the intrinsically disordered C-terminus

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have long been shown to exist as oligomers with functional properties distinct from those of the monomeric counterparts, but the driving factors of oligomerization remain relatively unexplored. Herein, we focus on the human adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR), a model GPCR that forms oligomers both in vitro and in vivo. Combining experimental and computational approaches, we discover that the intrinsically disordered C-terminus of A2AR drives receptor homo-oligomerization. The formation of A2AR oligomers declines progressively with the shortening of the C-terminus. Multiple interaction types are responsible for A2AR oligomerization, including disulfide linkages, hydrogen bonds, electrostatic interactions, and hydrophobic interactions. These interactions are enhanced by depletion interactions, giving rise to a tunable network of bonds that allow A2AR oligomers to adopt multiple interfaces. This study uncovers the disordered C-terminus as a prominent driving factor for the oligomerization of a GPCR, offering important insight into the effect of C-terminus modification on receptor oligomerization of A2AR and other GPCRs reconstituted in vitro for biophysical studies.
An overview of methods for the structural and functional mapping of epitopes recognized by anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies

This mini-review presents a critical survey of techniques used for epitope mapping on the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein. The sequence and structures for common neutralizing and non-neutralizing epitopes on the Spike protein are described as determined by X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy and linear peptide epitope mapping, among other methods. An additional focus of this mini-review is an analytical appraisal of different deep mutational scanning workflows for conformational epitope mapping and identification of mutants on the Spike protein which escape antibody neutralization. Such a focus is necessary as a critical review of deep mutational scanning for conformational epitope mapping has not been published. A perspective is presented on the use of different epitope determination methods for development of broadly potent antibody therapies and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
Review of brain metastasis prognostic nomograms and brain metastasis velocity: narrative review.

Objective To provide a review of the current status of predictive nomograms and brain metastasis velocity (BMV) in the prognostication of brain metastasis outcomes. Methods Statistical analyses have been used for many years in an attempt to predict clinical outcomes of brain metastasis patients. Such models have attempted to predict such endpoints as survival and which patients would most benefit from stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). Results This narrative review includes documents the history of statistical models and nomograms through the stage migration of the brain metastasis population from a population with large symptomatic brain metastases to the modern population with small asymptomatic metastases found on surveillance imaging. It also tells the history of the derivation and validation of BMV, a recently identified biomarker for survival and neurologic death in the brain metastasis population treated with SRS. Conclusions Statistical models predicting brain metastasis behavior continue to evolve with the changing landscape of systemic therapy and the more aggressive use of SRS. Previous models with ultimately need to integrate biologic data and will continue to be updated.
Effect of ground control mesh on dust sampling and explosion mitigation.

Researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s Office of Mine Safety and Health Research conducted an assessment of the effects that ground control mesh might have on rock and float coal dust distribution in a coal mine. The increased use of mesh to control roof and rib spall introduces additional elevated surfaces on which rock or coal dust can collect. It is possible to increase the potential for dust explosion propagation if any float coal dust is not adequately inerted. In addition, the mesh may interfere with the collection of representative dust samples when using the pan-and-brush sampling method developed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines and used by the Mine Safety and Health Administration for band sampling. This study estimates the additional coal or rock dust that could accumulate on mesh and develops a means to collect representative dust samples from meshed entries.
Neural Abnormalities in Nonallergic Rhinitis

Sensory nerve endings within the airway epithelial cells and the solitary chemoreceptor cells, synapsing with sensory nerves, respond to airborne irritants. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels (A1 and V1 subtypes, specifically) on these nerve endings initiate local antidromic reflexes resulting in the release of neuropeptides such as substance P and calcitonin G-related peptides. These neuropeptides dilate epithelial submucosal blood vessels and may therefore increase transudation across these vessels resulting in submucosal edema, congestion, and rhinitis. Altered expression or activity of these TRP channels can therefore influence responsiveness to irritants. Besides these pathogenic mechanisms, additional mechanisms such as dysautonomia resulting in diminished sympathetic activity and comparative parasympathetic overactivity have also been suggested as a probable mechanism. Therapeutic effectiveness for this condition has been demonstrated through desensitization of TRPV1 channels with typical agonists such as capsaicin. Other agents effective in treating nonallergic rhinitis (NAR) such as azelastine have been demonstrated to exhibit TRPV1 channel activity through the modulation of Ca(2+) signaling on sensory neurons and in nasal epithelial cells. Roles of antimuscarinic agents such as tiotropium in NAR have been suggested by associations of muscarinic cholinergic receptors with TRPV1. The associations between these channels have also been suggested as mechanisms of airway hyperreactivity in asthma. The concept of the united airway disease hypothesis suggests a significant association between rhinitis and asthma. This concept is supported by the development of late-onset asthma in about 10-40 % of NAR patients who also exhibit a greater severity in their asthma. The factors and mechanisms associating NAR with nonallergic asthma are currently unknown. Nonetheless, free immunoglobulin light chains and microRNA alteration as mediators of these inflammatory conditions may play key roles in this association.
It's Elementary, Dear Watson: Applying Logic Programming To Convergent System Management Processes

In an ideal world, the system administrator would simply specify a complete model of system requirements and the system would automatically fulfill them. If requirements changed, or if the system deviated from requirements, the system would change itself to converge with requirements. Current specialized tools for convergent system administration already provide some ability to do this, but are limited by specification languages that cannot adequately represent all possible sets of requirements. We take the opposite approach of starting with a general-purpose logic programming language intended for specifying requirements and analyzing system state, and adapting that language for system administration. Using Prolog with appropriate extensions, one can specify complex system requirements and convergent processes involving multiple information domains, including information about files, filesystems, users, and processes, as well as information from databases. By hiding unimportant details, Prolog allows a simple relationship between requirements and the scripts that implement them. We illustrate these observations by use of a simple proof-of-concept prototype.
Hypotheses for the evolution of actinorhizal symbioses

Actinorhizal symbioses include symbiotic associations between actinomycetes of the genus Frankia and host plants belonging to 24 genera distributed among eight higher plant families. Although all host plant species are woody dicots, there is no close phylogenetic affinity among most host plant groups. Nor is there agreement among actinorhizal biologists as to whether host plants are likely to have evolved from a common nodulated ancestor or whether symbioses have more likely arisen independently more than once resulting in the current diversity of host plant species. Knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships among actinorhizal plants as well as comparative analyses of nodule structure and function should contribute to the formulation of working hypotheses for the evolution of actinorhizal symbioses.
Nitroaromatic compounds: Environmental toxicity, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, therapy and mechanism

Vehicle pollution is an increasing problem in the industrial world. Aromatic nitro compounds comprise a significant portion of the threat. In this review, the class includes nitro derivatives of benzene, biphenyls, naphthalenes, benzanthrone and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, plus nitroheteroaromatic compounds. The numerous toxic manifestations are discussed. An appreciable number of drugs incorporate the nitroaromatic structure. The mechanistic aspects of both toxicity and therapy are addressed in the context of a unifying mechanism involving electron transfer, reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress and antioxidants.
Spin Temperature in Magnetism and in Magnetic Resonance

In Chapter 5 we employed the concept of spin temperature to discuss relaxation. The idea of spin temperature was introduced by Casimir and duPre [6.1] to give a thermodynamic treatment of the experiments of Gorter and his students on paramagnetic relaxation. It was Van Vleck [6.2] who first employed the concept for a detailed statistical mechanical calculation of the relaxation times of paramagnetic ions. Both in this case, and also in his general statistical mechanical treatment of static properties of paramagnetic atoms [6.3], he recognized and emphasized the fact that expansion of the partition function Z in powers of 1/T enabled one to calculate Z without the necessity of solving for the energies and eigenfunctions of the Hamiltonian. Waller evidently was the first person to use this property [6.4]. From the partition function, one can compute all the static properties of the system, such as the specific heat, the entropy, the magnetization, and the energy. For example, the average energy of a system, Ē, at a temperature T is given by $$\mathop E\limits^ - = k\mathop T\nolimits^2 \frac{\partial }{{\partial T}}\ln Z$$ (6.1) .
In Vitro Enzymatic Assays for Ser/Thr-Selective Protein Kinases

Medium and high throughput methods for measuring the activities of Ser/Thr-selective protein kinases are described. These methods utilize radiochemical detection, fluorescence polarization, and ultraviolet spectroscopy to monitor transfer of the gamma-phosphoryl group of ATP to protein or peptide substrates. These assays have utility in characterizing protein kinase inhibitors and in mechanistic studies.
EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT SALTS ON WATER RETENTION AND HEAT INITIATED BINDING PROPERTIES OF COMMINUTED COD MUSCLE

Cooked loaves from ground cod were prepared with added sodium and chloride salts at various ionic strengths (0–510 mM). The cooked loaves were evaluated for binding strength by a descriptive texture panel and by an objective relaxation test. Expressible moisture and water binding potential measurements were performed on uncooked samples. The results suggest that heat initiated binding in addition to being affected by ionic strength is also affected by the specific ion. The measurement of binding score by the texture panel and the relaxation test had a high correlation. The results of both binding measurements were inversely correlated with expressible moistures of the uncooked samples. Calcium chloride and magnesium chloride resulted in very poor binding, and increased concentration caused little change in expressible moisture. The water binding potential did not seem to correlate with the texture panel, EM or relaxation test.
Modulation of Na+/Mg2+ exchanger stoichiometry ratio by Cl− ions in basolateral rat liver plasma membrane vesicles

The Na+/Mg2+ exchanger represents the main Mg2+ extrusion mechanism operating in mammalian cells including hepatocytes. We have previously reported that this exchanger, located in the basolateral domain of the hepatocyte, promotes the extrusion of intravesicular trapped Mg2+ for extravesicular Na+ with ratio 1. This electrogenic exchange is supported by the accumulation of tetraphenyl-phosphonium within the vesicles at the time when Mg2+ efflux occurs. In this present study, the role of extra- and intra-vesicular Cl− on the Na+/Mg2+ exchange ratio was investigated. The results reported here suggest that Cl− ions are not required for the Na+ to Mg2+ exchange to occur, but the stoichiometry ratio of the exchanger switches from electrogenic (1Na in + :1 Mg out 2+ ) in the presence of intravesicular Cl− to electroneutral (2Na in + :1 Mg out 2+ ) in their absence. In basolateral liver plasma membrane vesicles loaded with MgCl2 labeled with 36Cl−, a small but significant Cl− efflux (~30 nmol Cl−/mg protein/1 min) is observed following addition of NaCl or Na-isethionate to the extravesicular medium. Both Cl− and Mg2+ effluxes are inhibited by imipramine but not by amiloride, DIDS, niflumic acid, bumetanide, or furosemide. In vesicles loaded with Mg-gluconate and stimulated by Na-isethionate, an electroneutral Mg2+ extrusion is observed. Taken together, these results suggest that the Na+/Mg2+ exchanger can operate irrespective of the absence or the presence of Cl− in the extracellular or intracellular environment. Changes in trans-cellular Cl− content, however, can affect the modus operandi of the Na+/Mg2+ exchanger, and consequently impact "cellular" Na+ and Mg2+ homeostasis as well as the hepatocyte membrane potential.
Have you really come a long way? women’s access to power in the United States

Although vast social and political changes over the past decades have opened many opportunities for women, many activists and academics maintain that women continue to face significant barriers to entry into positions of power and influence. The vast majority of American leaders are white and male, but the representation of women in the professions has begun to rise as more and more women enter the leadership ranks of various professions. This article provides a profile of women who currently hold positions of power in the United States—who they are, what sectors they represent, and how their opinions on social and political issues compare and contrast with one another. Analyzing data from the Study of Leadership Characteristics, a recently completed national survey of American elites, this article examines the structure and gender composition of elites in the United States, revealing patterns of both conflict and consensus among women elites.
Mother-infant interaction in multiproblem families: finding those at risk.

The authors evaluated mother-infant interaction in multiproblem families to help identify those children vulnerable to development of psychopathology. They videotaped 16 infants exposed prenatally to methadone and 23 comparison infants interacting with their mothers at ages 4 and 12 months. Using a scale they developed, the authors rated the quality of communication. Neither maternal resources nor infants' level of neonatal risk predicted infant interaction or infant Bayley Scale performance. At infant age 12 months, mothers' interactive behavior was a significant concurrent predictor of infant functioning. The authors conclude that the variability of the lives of multiproblem families makes prediction over time very difficult. However, evaluating mother-infant interaction was a helpful “marker” of infants who were contemporaneously experiencing problems.
Automated pilling detection and fuzzy classification of textile fabrics

In the textile industry, the degree of fabric pilling is subjectively determined by human inspectors resulting in inconsistent quality control. The observed resistance to pilling is reported on an arbitrary scale ranging from No. 5 (no pillings) to No. 1 (very severe pilling). This paper presents a system and a methodology that counts the number of pillings on textile fabric samples automatically and classifies them into one of the pre-defined classes with repeatable accuracy while accounting for the human judgment by allowing the determination of the degree of confidence assigned to the sample's membership in each class. The system consists of an apparatus; an imaging and data processing software procedure for counting the number of pillings; and a methodology for classifying the fabric samples into one of the pre-defined classes with repeatable accuracy while accounting for human judgment. A CCD camera is used to capture successive gray scale images of the fabric sample. A series of segmentation, Radon transform, morphological filtering, and detrending operations are applied to the fabric images to determine the true pilling count. The structuring element for the morphological operations is designed such that fuzz balls (which are not pillings) are filtered. Using fuzzy membership functions, the fabric pilling count is mapped to fabric pilling resistance rating. The system has been successfully tested on a large number of fabric samples with different shades and textures provided by the textile industry.
Absence of Mass Gap for a Class of Stochastic Contour Models

We study a class of Markovian stochastic processes in which the state space is a space of lattice contours and the elementary motions are local deformations. We show, under suitable hypotheses on the jump rates, that the infinitesimal generator has zero mass gap. This result covers (among others) the BFACF dynamics for fixed-endpoint self-avoiding walks and the Sterling-Greensite dynamics for fixed-boundary self-avoiding surfaces. Our models also mimic the Glauber dynamics for the low-temperature Ising model. The proofs are based on two new general principles: the minimum hitting-time argument and the mean (or mean-exponential) hitting-time argument.
Ab Initio Molecular Orbital Study of Cation-π Binding between the Alkali-Metal Cations and Benzene

We present optimized geometries and binding energies for alkali-metal cation complexes with benzene. Results are obtained for Li+ through Cs+ at the RHF/6-311G* and MP2/6-311+G* levels of theory with K+, Rb+, and Cs+ represented by relativistic ECPs and associated valence basis sets. RHF/6-311G* frequencies are used to verify the optimized geometries are minima and used to calculate binding enthalpies. The effects of basis-set superposition error (BSSE) are estimated at both the RHF and MP2 levels. We obtain BSSE-corrected MP2/6-311+G* binding enthalpies (in kcal/mol) of 35.0 (Li+), 21.0 (Na+), 16.0 (K+), 13.3 (Rb+), and 11.6 (Cs+). The distances (A) between the center of the benzene ring and the cation are 1.865 (Li+), 2.426 (Na+), 2.894 (K+), 3.165 (Rb+), and 3.414 (Cs+). Additional single-point CCSD(T)/6-311+G*//MP2/6-311+G* and CCSD(T)/6-311+G(2d,2p)//MP2/6-311+G* calculations indicate that the MP2/6-311+G* results are well converged with regard the extent of electron correlation, whereas small change...
Salience of the word as a unit in the perception of language

Seven interlocking experiments are reported in which both guessing and recognition thresholds for words are compared with those for other linguistic units both smaller than (nonword morphemes and trigrams) and larger than (nominal compounds, ordinary noun phrases, and nonsense compounds) the word. Thresholds were consistently lower for words than for morphemes or trigams (matched or even much higher in visual usage frequency) and lower for word-like nominal compounds (e.g.,stumbling block) than for ordinary noun phrases (copper block) or nonsense compounds (sympathy block). Prior exposure (through two correct recognitions) to ordinary noun phrases, nonsense compounds, and the constituent single words of nominal compounds significantly facilitated subsequent recognition of the single-word constituents, but prior exposure to nominal compounds had no effect whatsoever on subsequent recognition of their sin~e-word constituents. These results as a whole are interpreted as supporting the following conclusions: (1)that the word has special salience in the perception of language; (2)that the reason for this salience is the unique meaningfulness of the word (or the word-like nominal compound) as a whole; and (3) that the mechanism for this salience is the convergence of feedback from central mediational processes with feed-forward from peripheral sensory processes upon the integration of word-form percepts.
Diffraction of ultracold fermions by quantized light fields: Standing versus traveling waves

We study the diffraction of quantum-degenerate fermionic atoms off of quantized light fields in an optical cavity. We compare the case of a linear cavity with standing-wave modes to that of a ring cavity with two counterpropagating traveling wave modes. It is found that the dynamics of the atoms strongly depends on the quantization procedure for the cavity field. For standing waves, no correlations develop between the cavity field and the atoms. Consequently, standing-wave Fock states yield the same results as a classical standing wave field while coherent states give rise to a collapse and revivals in the scattering of the atoms. In contrast, for traveling waves the scattering results in quantum entanglement of the radiation field and the atoms. This leads to a collapse and revival of the scattering probability even for Fock states. The Pauli exclusion principle manifests itself as an additional dephasing of the scattering probability.
Relativistic klystron research for two-beam accelerators

We have tested a high-power 11.4-GHz rf generator which consists of a 5.7-GHz transverse modulating system and two 11.4-Ghz traveling-wave output structures. The device was designed to generate 500 MW of pulsed rf power when driven by a 1-kA, 3-MeV induction accelerator beam. Transverse beam instability due to rf coupling between the two output structures has limited the width of the rf output pulse for currents above 600 amperes. Short rf pulses of total output power of up to 420 MW have been produced. Using a single output structure, rf output pulses with stable phase (< +/- 2 degree(s)) and amplitude (< +/- 2%) have been achieved for widths comparable to the beam width. We have modified and tested an output structure to decrease the growth of fields causing transverse instabilities. During the next year our experimental program will include both studies of rf power extraction and reacceleration of modulated electron beams. In support of reacceleration experiments, we are developing a time dependent computer code for the simulation of transverse instabilities due to dipole modes in the rf structures, and are upgrading the induction beam to 5 MeV.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Wnt gene family in tumorigenesis and in normal development

Various members of the Wnt gene family have been identified as activated oncogenes in mouse mammary tumors. We show that some tumors are oligoclonal for activation of a Wnt gene, and clonal variation when those tumors are transplanted to become hormone-independent. The normal function of many Wnt genes is to control pattern formation in early embryos, as shown by expression profiles and by mutant analysis.
Deficits in urological knowledge among medical students and primary care providers: potential for impact on urological care

Purpose: Recent data indicate a decline in the urological education of third and fourth year medical students. To determine if this decline has an impact on the treatment of patients we performed a survey to evaluate the general level of knowledge, attitudes and practices with regard to common urological issues seen in a general medical practice among medical students and faculty involved in primary care at an academic institution.Materials and Methods: A confidential questionnaire was distributed to attendings, residents and fellows, and the clinical medical students at our academic institution to ascertain how they evaluate and treat patients with common urological complaints. All responses were entered into SPSS® statistical software.Results: A total of 300 surveys were distributed, 150 of which were returned with complete information for data analysis. Knowledge with regard to various conditions including hematuria, recognition of an age specific abnormality in serum prostate specific antigen and over...
HEATING EFFECTS OF BOVINE SEMITENDINOSUS: PHASE CONTRAST MICROSCOPY AND SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

Progressive structural changes in heated bovine semitendinosus (ST) muscle fibers were studied using phase contrast microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. ST cores were heated at two rates which simulated the oven roasting of top round roasts at 93 and 149°C to endpoint temperatures of 40, 50, 60 and 70°C. Increased heating of muscle fibers resulted in the disintegration of Z-line structure; increases in intermyofibrillar spaces; shortening of sarcomeres; cracks and breaks in the myofibrils at the Z-line; and fragmentation or granulation of the myofibrils. The slower rate of heating resulted in extensive granulation and fragmentation of the muscle fibers, whereas the faster rate resulted in more cracks and breaks in fibers. The effect of heating rate on the disintegration of muscle fibers suggested that the rate of heat penetration might influence the type and extent of disintegration of muscle fibers. Heating to 70°C resulted in extensive fragmentation of muscle fibers. Heat-induced changes in the structure of muscle fibers are discussed in relation to possible influence on the tenderness of heated meat.
Crouch Gait Represents a Simplified Muscular Support Strategy During Single-Limb Stance Compared to Unimpaired Gait

For patients with cerebral palsy who walk in a crouched posture, gait is often a strenuous activity. In order to improve gait, surgeons and therapists attempt to identify individual muscles that can be strengthened, surgically lengthened, or otherwise treated to improve patients’ abilities to support their body weight and propel themselves forward. However, little is known about the role of individual muscles during crouch gait, and current treatments often produce inconsistent results. The goal of this study was to identify which muscles are employed during crouch gait to support the body during single-limb stance. Understanding how the support strategy of crouch gait compares to unimpaired gait can provide insight into the underlying causes of crouch gait. Traditional movement analysis cannot fully characterize the role of individual muscles during gait. Therefore, we developed dynamic simulations to examine the contribution of lower-extremity muscles to support and progression.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Attention Orienting in Augmented Reality Environments: Effects of Multimodal Cues:

The accuracy and efficiency of visual, auditory, and tactile cues to orient attention were tested under different levels of workload. Nineteen participants took part in an experiment in which they performed a visual, auditory, or tactile cueing task under both low and high workload conditions. Results showed that under high workload, both visual cues alone and tactile cues alone improved target detection accuracy. In the low workload condition, perceived workload estimates were lower when tactile cues were present than when absent. These results indicate the benefits of both visual and tactile cues in target detection tasks. These findings have implications for training, systems design, and human performance assessment.
Geochemical monitoring of waxes and asphaltenes in oils produced during the transition from primary to secondary water flood recovery

Abstract Results are presented on changes in the content and composition of waxes and asphaltenes of oil produced during the transition from primary to secondary recovery following water flooding. Oil samples have been collected for a period of about three years from one well in Prairie Gem field in central Oklahoma. Wax and asphaltene fractions have been isolated from the produced oils and analyzed, qualitatively and quantitatively, by high temperature gas chromatography. The results demonstrate significant variations in the asphaltene and wax content of the oil produced during the transition period from primary to secondary water flood recovery, ranging from 0.7 to 5 wt%, and 11 to 33 wt%, respectively. Moreover, these variations are found to be accompanied by changes in wax composition and to precede specific production events. The oil produced a month before the response of the well to water flooding indicated an enhanced concentration of nC 22 –C 35 alkanes in the wax. The following episode of wax plugging in well equipment was preceded by increased amounts of asphaltenes and high molecular weight (nC 35 –C 50 ) alkanes in the wax of produced oils. Changes in the asphaltene and wax compositions are discussed in terms of processes displacing weakly adsorbed organic material from the pore spaces of the reservoir under increased reservoir pressure and flowing fluid volumes related to water flooding.
Role of eye movement examination and subjective visual vertical in clinical evaluation of multiple sclerosis.

Background and Purpose: Modern neuroimaging has demonstrated progression of disease in multiple sclerosis (MS) that may not be detected by standard clinical protocols, prompting a search for new, sensitive tests. Methods: In fifty patients with MS, we examined eye movements, with particular attention to the speed and accuracy of saccades, and the vestibulo-ocular reflex during small, high-speed head rotations. We also measured the subjective visual vertical (SVV), using a modified laser-pointer. Visual function was measured, and patients were graded using the Kurtzke Functional Neurological Status (FSS), and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Results: Our main finding was that patients showing abnormalities of eye movements (20/50) were more disabled than those with a normal examination (EDSS scores significantly different, p < 0.01), although the ages and duration of disease were similar in both groups. Saccadic dysmetria and internuclear ophthalmoparesis were common. SVV was abnormally large in 36 % of patients; these showed abnormal eye movements and poorer visual acuity more commonly than those with normal SVV. In patients with the largest deviations of SVV, Kurtzke FSS cerebellar functions were significantly worse (p = 0.021). Conclusions: Clinical examination of eye movements, with attention to dynamic properties of saccades and the vestibulo-ocular reflex, takes only a few minutes to perform, but may provide better information concerning the presence of brainstem and cerebellar involvement than Kurtzke protocols. Measurement of SVV is possible in the clinic and is a sensitive sign of brainstem dysfunction; our present study suggests that SVV is also affected when cerebellar circuits are involved in MS. Prospective studies are required to determine whether the development of abnormalities with ocular motor and SVV testing are predictive of disease activity and progressive disability in MS.
Perceived Communication Inequity: A Determinant of Job Dissatisfaction

This article presents a conceptual model that synthesizes communication concepts and Adams' equity theory. Using a receiver-oriented approach, organizational communication is seen as having reward value that is subject to social comparisons. Judgments of equity and inequity in the receipt and evaluation of "salient messages" affect the individual's perceptions of job satisfaction/dissatisfaction.
Progress in the Recording of Human Retinal and Occipital Potentials

Surface electrodes have been used for many years to pick up electrical activity that originates in the human eye or occipital cortex. In the earlier work, bright flashes of light were required to elicit responses that were large enough to measure against the ambient noise of the recording system. Recently, averaging techniques and other improvements have greatly increased the sensitivity of these methods. It is therefore no longer necessary to use the relatively meaningless light flashes, and responses can be obtained to visually significant aspects of the stimulus field. Of particular interest are specific effects due to image motion, color differences, and binocular fusion and rivalry. By the use of standard contact-lens and EEG electrodes, information on the processing of the stimulus pattern is obtained at both retinal and occipital levels of the human visual system. Microelectrode experiments with animal subjects have likewise shown that single flashes of light are of minor importance as visual stimuli, and that more significant aspects of visual patterns are particularly effective in arousing the responses of visual cells at all levels. Hence this evidence can be used as a guide to the interpretation of the human results, since these are necessarily obtained from electrodes that are remote from the sites at which they are generated. In short, the traditional methods of psychophysics are still used to provide definitive data on human vision. But the neural basis for these data is most clearly provided by microelectrode studies on the visual cells of experimental animals, together with such remotely recorded human action potentials as can be obtained from the retina and cortex.
Specialized Nutrition Support: Patterns of Care

A prospectively studied series of 1072 patients who received specialized nutritional support are presented to evaluate the patterns of such care in a large nonuniversity teaching center. Age, service, materials used, routes of administration, complications, assessment parameters, duration of treatment, diagnoses, and survival statistics are presented. Such patterns are considered to be of importance to medical scientists, basic researchers, hospital administrators, governmental agencies, and members of the health care insurance industry. (Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 8:506-510, 1984)
Early Pregnancy and Its Normal Measurement Parameters Practical Mnemonic "Rule of 2":

With the intent of helping in the memorization of information, we present an arrangement of data on hormone levels, gestational sac, yolk sac, and embryo in early pregnancy. When pertinent, we comp...
Multi-UGV multi-destination navigation in coordinate-free and localization-free Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks

New Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) navigation algorithms in coordinate-free and localization-free Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks (WSANs) are presented. The algorithms are distributed and designed for multi-UGV multi-destination navigation in a sensor network environment. The proposed method eliminates possible multiplicity of destination nodes. A Leader Election Algorithm is used to uniquely identify destination nodes, followed by a Hop-distance Assignment Algorithm where each node stores hop-distances from all destinations. The multi-UGV multi-destination navigation planning problem is formulated as a task allocation problem, where each UGV is considered as an agent and each destination as a task. Since even in the special case of a single UGV navigation, the problem, being similar to the well-known Traveling Salesman Problem, is NP-complete, an allocation algorithm that is suboptimal with respect to the total traveled distance is presented. A communication complexity analysis is provided. Both experimental and simulation results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed navigation method.
Intracellular calcium plays an essential role in cardiac development

Intracellular calcium signaling plays an essential role in cardiac physiology and modulates cardiac gene expression. However, the role that intracellular calcium signaling plays during cardiac development is not known. To address this issue, we examined the effects of altered intracellular calcium levels on cardiac morphogenesis. In acutely cultured mouse embryos, L-type calcium channel blockade decreased resting intracellular calcium levels and inhibited calcium transients. Embryos cultured at embryonic day (E) 7.5– 8.5 in the presence of the L-type calcium channel blockers nifedipine and verapamil developed hearts that had a large left ventricle, lacked a right ventricle and had a long, thin outflow tract. If embryos were cultured at E7.5, calcium channel blockade also induced an abnormal, anterior cardiac loop. These alterations in development were not due to altered cardiac function, as heart rates at the end of the culture period were not affected by calcium channel blockade and blood flow was observed. Treatment with nifedipine altered the mRNA expression of the transcription factor Gata4, which was absent in the developing ventricles, and the sarcomeric protein Mylpc (myosin light chain 2V), which was decreased distal to the left ventricle and was absent at the site of the developing right ventricle. In contrast, the expression pattern of other cardiac transcription factor (Hand1, Hand2, Mef2c, Nkx2-5) and cytoskeletal protein (Myhca, Tagln) mRNA did not change with calcium channel blockade. These data demonstrate that proper intracellular calcium signaling is essential for normal cardiac looping, gene expression, and organ development. Developmental Dynamics 227:280 –290, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Golgi apparatus and lectin-binding sites: Effects of lasalocid (X537A)

Abstract Lasalocid (X537A) produces selective swelling of the Golgi cisternae and inhibits glycosaminoglycan synthesis [40]. 6-Diazo-5-oxo- l -norleucine (DON) inhibits glycosaminoglycan synthesis and produces vacuolation in cardiac cells [41]. In this study, we found that the vacuolation of the Golgi apparatus by X537A was inhibited by metabolic inhibitors or d -glucosamine, but not by Na-free solutions or by ouabain. In cardiac cell cultures, X537A vacuolated muscle cells before fibroblasts, while DON vacuolated the cells in reverse order. DON did not produce vacuolation in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, and in cultured cardiac cells the vacuolation was peripheral and not due to swelling of the Golgi cisternae. X537A did not produce detectable changes in the K, Na, Mg or Ca content of cultured guinea pig aortic cells. Pre-treatment of cultured aortic cells for up to 72 h with X537A alone or in combination with DON did not reduce the number of lectin-binding sites/cell when labelling was done at 4 °C. DON alone or with X537A inhibited the increased labelling observed at 37 °C. We conclude that: (1) the swelling of the Golgi cisternae by X537A is due to accumulation of organic osmotically active solutes and not to a passive accumulation of ions with water; (2) lectin-binding sites of the surface membrane are probably glycosylated at some site other than the Golgi apparatus, although alternative interpretations cannot be unequivocally ruled out.
Vitrification and crystallization of barium aluminosilicate glass ceramics from zeolite precursors

Abstract Barium ion exchanged zeolite powders were used as precursors for the formation of a barium aluminosilicate glass which were then crystallized to form celsian (BaAl2Si2O8) glass ceramics. Three powder formulations were examined: a barium exchanged zeolite; a barium plus lithium exchanged zeolite; and a barium plus lithium exchanged zeolite seeded with monoclinic celsian crystals. Heat treatment of the zeolite powders between 610 and 630°C resulted in the collapse of the open framework structure to form a glass which then crystallized between 1000 and 1100°C to the hexagonal polymorph of celsian, hexacelsian. The vitrification and crystallization kinetics were studied by using various heating rates with the differential thermal analyzer (DTA). The activation energy for the vitrification transformation was found to be 183±6 kJ/mol with a frequency factor of 6.4 ± 3.8 × 108 s−1. For crystallization, the activation energy and frequency factor were found to be 490 ± 15 kJ/mol and 1.6 ± 0.5 × 1018 s−1, respectively. The activation energies are similar to those reported for melt quenched glasses. The addition of lithium or seeds did not affect any of the kinetic data.
EMPLOYMENT CHARACTERISTICS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF MEN IN TWO-JOB FAMILIES

Research has neglected the well-being of men in two-job families and especially that of older men. This study of 213 older men in two-job families indicated that the occupational characteristics of...
Food cravings and the effects of left prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation using an improved sham condition

This study examined whether a single session of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the left prefrontal cortex would inhibit food cravings in healthy women who endorsed frequent food cravings. Ten participants viewed images of food and completed ratings for food cravings before and after receiving either real or sham rTMS over the left prefrontal cortex (10Hz, 100% rMT, 10 seconds-on, 20 seconds-off for 15 minutes; 3000 pulses). Sham TMS was matched with real TMS with respect to perceived painfulness of the stimulation. Each participant received both real and sham rTMS in random order and were blind to the condition in a within-subject cross-over design. With an improved sham control condition, prefrontal rTMS inhibited food cravings no better than sham rTMS. The mild pain from the real and sham rTMS may distract or inhibit food craving, and the decreased craving may not be caused by the effect of rTMS itself. Further studies are needed to elucidate whether rTMS has any true effects on food craving and whether painful stimuli inhibit food or other cravings. A sham condition which matches the painfulness is important to understand the true effects of TMS on behaviors and diseases.
Analytical time-optimal trajectories for an omni-directional vehicle

We present the first analytical solution method for finding a time-optimal trajectory between any given pair of configurations for a three-wheeled omni-directional vehicle in an obstacle-free plane. The mathematical model of the vehicle bounds the velocities of the wheels independently. The timeoptimal trajectories can be divided into two categories: singular and generic. An analytical solution method has previously been presented for singular trajectories; this paper completes the work and presents the solution for generic trajectories. The speed and precision of the algorithm allow dense sampling of the configuration space, to determine how the time and structure of time-optimal trajectories change across configurations. Simulation results show that time-optimal trajectories tend to be ten to twenty percent faster than a simple but practical driving strategy: turn until the fastest translation direction faces the goal, drive to the goal, and turn to the current angle.