Complex network analysis of literary and scientific texts

We present results from our quantitative study of statistical and network properties of literary and scientific texts written in two languages: English and Polish. We show that Polish texts are described by the Zipf law with the scaling exponent smaller than the one for the English language. We also show that the scientific texts are typically characterized by the rank-frequency plots with relatively short range of power-law behavior as compared to the literary texts. We then transform the texts into their word-adjacency network representations and find another difference between the languages. For the majority of the literary texts in both languages, the corresponding networks revealed the scale-free structure, while this was not always the case for the scientific texts. However, all the network representations of texts were hierarchical. We do not observe any qualitative and quantitative difference between the languages. However, if we look at other network statistics like the clustering coefficient and the average shortest path length, the English texts occur to possess more clustered structure than do the Polish ones. This result was attributed to differences in grammar of both languages, which was also indicated in the Zipf plots. All the texts, however, show network structure that differs from any of the Watts-Strogatz, the Barabasi-Albert, and the Erdos-Renyi architectures

Exploration of neuromuscular plasticity: an examination of acetylcholine receptor and skeletal muscle fiber adaptations

Muscle is an example of a beautifully orchestrated biological system whose main role is to convey a chemical stimulus into a mechanical response. Skeletal muscles carry out the function of moving the bones of the skeleton. Skeletal muscles display remarkable levels of adaptability and plasticity. The regulation of neuromuscular plasticity is influenced by signals coming from the motor neuron and from within the muscles. In this thesis, different transgenic and surgical mice models are used to investigate key aspects of muscle plasticity. Firstly, transgenic mice expressing a calmodulin-binding peptide are used to demonstrate that calmodulin regulates the aggregation of acetylcholine receptors. Secondly, the roles of Nuclear Factor of activated-Tcells (NFAT) transcription factors are investigated in adaptive muscle growth using mice knockouts for these transcription factors. The results presented indicate that NFATc2 and NFATc3 are essential for muscle hypertrophy and that they have distinct roles in the regulation of muscle growth. Thirdly, novel roles for the nerve-derived trophic factor agrin are explored in healthy and deteriorating muscles. Overall, the results presented in this thesis provide original information on the regulation of muscle plasticity and serve to point to novel potential targets in the regulation of various neuromuscular diseases

Biomechanical Characteristics of Lumbar Manipulation Performed by Expert, Resident, and Student Physical Therapists

Background Lumbar manipulation is a commonly used treatment for low back pain, but little research evidence exists regarding practitioner biomechanics during manipulation. Most existing evidence describes rate of force production through the hands into instrumented manikins and it is unclear how the practitioner moves their body and legs to generate this force. Objectives To identify and characterize important kinetic and kinematic factors in practitioners of varying experience performing lumbar manipulation in order to identify which factors distinguish experts from less experienced practitioners. Study design This was a cohort observational laboratory study. Methods 43 male physical therapists (PT) and PT students (4 experts, 11 residents, 13 third year, and 15 first year students) performed 4 manipulations each on asymptomatic patient models. Angular and linear kinematics of the pelvis were measured using motion capture, and ground reaction forces were measured with force plates under the practitioner\u27s feet. Results Peak pelvic angular velocity was greater and in the opposite direction in experts compared to other groups in the frontal plane (p = 0.020) and transverse plane (p = 0.000). Experts had greater downward pelvic linear velocity than third year students and first year students (p = 0.000). Experts also demonstrated faster rate of vertical ground reaction force unloading during the manipulation (p = 0.002). Conclusions Expert performance of manipulation was characterized by increased speed of linear and angular pelvic motion, and increased modulation of vertical ground reaction force. These results help to inform educators and practitioners that teach and use this complex manual skill

Auswirkungen der Rohproteinversorgung auf die Qualität von Schweinefleisch

The current experiment was conducted to specify the effect of different diets on the quality of pork with emphasis on the intramuscular fat content in the M. longissimus. The results confirm the preliminary conclusions of a former experiment that it is possible to affect the amount of intramuscular fat content by a feeding strategy adapted to the organic framework conditions without increasing the overall fat content of the carcass

Non-operative management of posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction: design of a randomized clinical trial [NCT00279630]

BACKGROUND: Posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction (PTTD) is a common cause of foot pain and dysfunction in adults. Clinical observations strongly suggest that the condition is progressive. There are currently no controlled studies evaluating the effectiveness of exercise, orthoses, or orthoses and exercise on Stage I or IIA PTTD. Our study will explore the effectiveness of an eccentric versus concentric strengthening intervention to results obtained with the use of orthoses alone. Findings from this study will guide the development of more efficacious PTTD intervention programs and contribute to enhanced function and quality of life in persons with posterior tibialis tendon dysfunction. METHODS/DESIGN: This paper presents the rationale and design for a randomized clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment regime for the non-operative management of Stage I or IIA PTTD. DISCUSSION: We have presented the rationale and design for an RCT evaluating the effectiveness of a treatment regimen for the non-operative management of Stage I or IIA PTTD. The results of this trial will be presented as soon as they are available

Topological insulator and quantum memory

Measurements done on the quantum systems are too specific. Contrary to their classical counterparts, quantum measurements can be invasive and destroy the state of interest. Besides, quantumness limits the accuracy of measurements done on quantum systems. Uncertainty relations define the universal accuracy limit of the quantum measurements. Relatively recently, it was discovered that quantum correlations and quantum memory might reduce the uncertainty of quantum measurements. In the present work, we study two different types of measurements done on the topological system. Namely, we discuss measurements done on the spin operators and the canonical pair of operators: momentum and coordinate. We quantify the spin operator's measurements through the entropic measures of uncertainty and exploit the concept of quantum memory. While for the momentum and coordinate operators, we exploit the improved uncertainty relations. We discovered that quantum memory reduces the uncertainties of spin measurements. On the hand, we proved that the uncertainties in the measurements of the coordinate and momentum operators depend on the value of the momentum and are substantially enhanced at small distances between itinerant and localized electrons (the large momentum limit). We note that the topological nature of the system leads to the spin-momentum locking. The momentum of the electron depends on the spin and vice versa. Therefore, we suggest the indirect measurement scheme for the momentum and coordinate operators through the spin operator. Due to the factor of quantum memory, such indirect measurements in topological insulators have smaller uncertainties rather than direct measurements

The nature of nursing practice in rural and remote Canada

© Canadian Nurses Association. Reproduced with permission. Further reproduction is prohibitedThese approaches complement one another while adding to our overall understanding of rural nursing practice. For example, the RNDB had not previously been analysed with rural nurses in mind. The demographic profile of rural RNs was generated for the first time for Canada as a whole and for the individual provinces and territories.(18) The documentary analysis takes a critical view of the policy context within which rural nurses practise.(19) The national survey has collected an abundance of information about rural nurses' work, quality of work life and degree of work satisfaction. And the experiences that nurses relate in the narrative approach bring to life the challenges and rewards of working in a variety of rural settings. A national survey of RNs working in rural and remote areas has been completed using a mailed questionnaire and followup based on Dillman's tailored design method.(29) The 3,933 eligible respondents represent all provinces and territories and an overall response rate of 68 per cent after correcting for duplicate registrations, address problems, and ineligibility (e.g., living rural, working urban). Sampling was done in collaboration with the professional nursing associations of each province and territory, using the databases of all RNs with active registration, while maintaining anonymity and confidentiality. The sampling strategy was twofold. First, a stratified random sample was selected from RNs with rural addresses(30) in each of the 10 provinces. Second, the questionnaire was mailed to the total population of Canadian RNs who indicated on their registration forms that their primary workplace was a nursing station or outpost setting and to all RNs registered in the territories (as an attempt to capture "remote" areas). Based on a total population of 229,813 RNs in Canada,(31) with stratification by province and assuming that the ratio of rural/urban nurses was similar to the rural/urban population proportions in the provinces,(32) we determined that 3,500 rural nurses would provide estimates that are statistically significant (p <.05) nationally, with a 90 per cent confidence level provincially. Rural nurses have many reasons to celebrate: they provide care to individuals and families of all ages, for a variety of conditions, in a range of rural and remote settings. Although they work in environments that are primarily governed by urban-centric policies and in workplaces where the quality of work life is often limited, the nurses reveal their passion and dedication to their communities and to practising in rural and remote areas through their stories and their survey comments. The nature of rural and remote nursing is deceiving; its complexity is seen during the nurses' interactions, first as community members and then as professionals. Rural nurses are often charting new courses in their communities and workplaces. Muriel Strode said, "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."(33) Discovering the nature of nursing practice in rural and remote Canada through this national study is the first step on such a path, and hopefully the first of many trails.Ye

QSAR studies on a number of pyrrolidin-2-one antiarrhythmic arylpiperazinyls

The activity of a number of 1-[3-(4-arylpiperazin-1-yl)propyl]pyrrolidin-2-one antiarrhythmic (AA) agents was described using the quantitative structure–activity relationship model by applying it to 33 compounds. The molecular descriptors of the AA activity were obtained by quantum chemical calculations combined with molecular modeling calculations. The resulting model explains up to 91% of the variance and it was successfully validated by four tests (LOO, LMO, external test, and Y-scrambling test). Statistical analysis shows that the AA activity of the studied compounds depends mainly on the PCR and JGI4 descriptors