A comparison of corporate distress prediction models in Brazil: hybrid neural networks, logit models and discriminant analysis

This paper looks at the ability of a relatively new technique, hybrid ANN's, to predict corporate distress in Brazil. These models are compared with traditional statistical techniques and conventional ANN models. The results suggest that hybrid neural networks outperform all other models in predicting firms in financial distress one year prior to the event. This suggests that for researchers, policymakers and others interested in early warning systems, hybrid networks may be a useful tool for predicting firm failure.hybrid neural networks, corporate failures

Tiludronate and clodronate do not affect bone structure or remodeling kinetics over a 60 day randomized trial

Background Tiludronate and clodronate are FDA-approved bisphosphonate drug therapies for navicular disease in horses. Although clinical studies have determined their ability to reduce lameness associated with skeletal disorders in horses, data regarding the effect on bone structure and remodeling is lacking. Additionally, due to off-label use of these drugs in young performance horses, effects on bone in young horses need to be investigated. Therefore, the purpose of this randomized, experimental pilot study was to determine the effect of tiludronate and clodronate on normal bone cells, structure and remodeling after 60 days in clinically normal, young horses. Additionally, the effect of clodronate on bone healing 60 days after an induced defect was investigated. Results All horses tolerated surgery well, with no post-surgery lameness and all acquired biopsies being adequate for analyses. Overall, tiludronate and clodronate did not significantly alter any bone structure or remodeling parameters, as evaluated by microCT and dynamic histomorphometry. Tiludronate did not extensively impact bone formation or resorption parameters as evaluated by static histomorphometry. Similarly, clodronate did not affect bone formation or resorption after 60 days. Sixty days post-defect, healing was minimally affected by clodronate. Conclusions Tiludronate and clodronate do not appear to significantly impact bone tissue on a structural or cellular level using standard dose and administration schedules

\u3cem\u3eChlamydomonas\u3c/em\u3e mutants display reversible deficiencies in flagellar beating and axonemal assembly

Axonemal complexes in flagella are largely prepackaged in the cell body. As such, one mutation often results in the absence of the co-assembled components and permanent motility deficiencies. For example, a Chlamydomonas mutant defective in RSP4 in the radial spoke (RS), which is critical for bend propagation, has paralyzed flagella that also lack the paralogue RSP6 and three additional RS proteins. Intriguingly, recent studies showed that several mutant strains contain a mixed population of swimmers and paralyzed cells despite their identical genetic background. Here we report a cause underlying these variations. Two new mutants lacking RSP6 swim processively and other components appear normally assembled in early log phase indicating that, unlike RSP4, this paralogue is dispensable. However, swimmers cannot maintain the typical helical trajectory and reactivated cell models tend to spin. Interestingly the motile fraction and the spokehead content dwindle during stationary phase. These results suggest that (1) intact RS is critical for maintaining the rhythm of oscillatory beating and thus the helical trajectory; (2) assembly of the axonemal complex with subtle defects is less efficient and the inefficiency is accentuated in compromised conditions, leading to reversible dyskinesia. Consistently, several organisms only possess one RSP4/6 gene. Gene duplication in Chlamydomonas enhances RS assembly to maintain optimal motility in various environments

Examining summer laboratory research apprenticeships for high school students as a factor in entry to MD/PhD programs at matriculation

Do summer laboratory research apprenticeships during high school have an impact on entry into MD/PhD programs? Apart from the nearly decade-long span of time between high school and matriculation into an MD/PhD program, young people have many life-shaping experiences that presumably impact their education and career trajectories. This quantitative study (n = 236,432) examines the connection between early laboratory research apprenticeship experiences at the high school level and matriculation into one of the more rigorous educational programs for scientific research training. The span of time covered by this analysis reaches across more than a decade, examining the potential importance of research experiences during the precollege years in the educational trajectory of young people. Intertwined with this question on research experiences is a second major concern regarding diversity in the life sciences research corps. Diversity in this wide-ranging discipline refers specifically to the underrepresentation of Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latino/as, and American Indians/Alaska Natives among the ranks of research scientists. Thus, this study includes analyses that specifically focus on research apprenticeships of Blacks/African Americans and Hispanics/Latino/as and their entrance into MD/PhD programs. </jats:p

Whole Body Fuel Use: A Preliminary Study of Carbohydrate and Fat Oxidation During Water Exercise

The purpose of this investigation was to measure energy expenditure and whole body carbohydrate and fat oxidation during shallow water exercise (SWE; submerged to axillary level). The level of energy expenditure and the relative contribution of fuels (e.g., carbohydrate [CHO], fat) depends on the intensity of exercise effort. This descriptive study addressed two questions: (1) what is the energy expenditure of performing SWE over a range of intensities; and (2) how does the rate of CHO and fat usage change with increasingly more demanding SWE efforts. Five healthy females (ages 18 to 26 years) performed five submaximal and one maximal SWE bout based on perceived effort (Borg Scale). Indirect calorimetry (Parvo-Medic metabolic analyzer) was employed to assess metabolic response while heart rate (HR) was monitored via telemetry (Polar technology). For perception of efforts ranging from very light (~50 percent HR peak) to very hard (~88 percent HR peak), the rate of energy expenditure ranged from 3.5+0.7 to 10.5+1.3 kilocalories per minute (Kcal.min-1), while the maximal SWE effort elicited a metabolic response of 13.2+1.7 Kcal.min-1 (~ 10 X resting metabolic rate). From very light to very hard, the rate of CHO oxidation increased from 2.0+1.0 to 9.4+1.8 Kcal.min-1 (~370 percent increase), while fat oxidation remained variable among the SWE efforts. In conclusion, carbohydrate oxidation plays an increasingly more important role as a fuel source during SWE efforts that require a high rate of energy expenditure. Furthermore, this study provides insight into the energy requirements of SWE, a mode of exercise that is becoming more popular

Racism in the Classroom: Why is it Occurring? What is Being Done?

Racism has been an issue that has been in the United States for many of years. Since the 1800’s history has taken place in forms of the Civil Rights Era, The Reconstruction Era, and milestones have been made with influential people such as Ruby Bridges, Rosa Parks, Septima Clark. From the fight for Civil Rights to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, The Brown vs Board of Education case and the denigration of race we have come such a long way. The research for this paper examines the cases and the people who are listed above as well as looking at the different forms of race, learn about the critical race theory and its founder, as well as read experiences from teachers who have worked with students of race to give us a better understanding on how we can feel comfortable teaching the touchy subject of race in the classroom setting. Keywords: Racism, Critical Race Theor

Process evaluation of the Walk Well study : a cluster-randomised controlled trial of a community based walking programme for adults with intellectual disabilities

Background: Walking interventions can be effective in encouraging sedentary populations to become more active; however, limited research has explored the effectiveness of walking interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities. This process evaluation explored the delivery of a community based walking intervention for adults with intellectual disabilities. Methods: Walk Well was a single-blind cluster randomised controlled trial of a 12-week physical activity consultation-led walking intervention. 102 participants were randomised to the Walk Well intervention or a waiting list control group. Participants in the intervention group received three physical activity consultations with a walking advisor at baseline, 6 & 12-weeks. They were encouraged to use a pedometer to set goals and monitor their daily step count. Primary outcome was change in daily step count at 12-weeks. Process evaluation measures included qualitative interviews with key stakeholders (n = 6) and quantifiable data collected as part of the intervention. Additional process data were extracted from a sub-set of qualitative interviews with participants and carers (n = 20). Data were analysed for process information related to context, recruitment and retention, reach, implementation, and fidelity. Results: Walk Well was not effective in significantly increasing levels of physical activity. The process evaluation did, however, highlight several important areas for consideration in future studies, including: a successful recruitment and retention strategy reaching a representative sample of adults with intellectual disabilities in the community; feasible and (for most) enjoyable methods of engaging adults with intellectual disabilities in activities to support behaviour change; potential need for greater intervention duration and frequency of contact; advantages and disadvantages of using pedometers as a behaviour change tool; the need for strategies which engage carers in supporting participants; and the complex issue of ‘freedom of choice’ in relation to lifestyle behaviours and study participation. Conclusions: Walking interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities can be feasibly delivered in the community in relation to reach, recruitment, retention and intervention fidelity. More intensive intervention methods need to be explored as well as strategies to engage and motivate carers in their support of participants

Early Scottish Monasteries and Prehistory: A Preliminary Dialogue

Reflecting oil the diversity of monastic attributes found in the east and west of Britain, the author proposes that prehistoric ritual practice was influential on monastic form. An argument is advanced that this was not based solely oil inspiration Front the landscape, nor oil conservative tradition, but oil the intellectual reconciliation of Christian and non-Christian ideas, with disparate results that account. for the differences in monumentality. Among more general matters tentatively credited with a prehistoric root are the cult of relics, the tonsure and the date of Easter

Role of PTP1B in POMC neurons during chronic high fat diet: Sex differences in regulation of liver lipids and glucose tolerance

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a negative regulator of leptin receptor signalling and may contribute to leptin resistance in diet-induced obesity. Although PTP1B inhibition has been suggested as a potential weight loss therapy, the role of specific neuronal PTP1B signalling in cardiovascular and metabolic regulation and the importance of sex differences in this regulation are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the impact of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neuronal PTP1B deficiency in cardiometabolic regulation in male and female mice fed a high fat diet (HFD). Compared to control mice (PTP1Bflox/flox), male and female mice deficient in POMC neuronal PTP1B (PTP1Bflox/flox/POMC-Cre) had attenuated body weight gain (Male: -18%; Female: -16%) and fat mass (Male: -33%; Female: -29%) in response to HFD. Glucose tolerance was improved by 40% and liver lipid accumulation was reduced by 40% in PTP1Bflox/flox/POMC-Cre males but not in females. Compared to control mice, deficiency of POMC neuronal PTP1B did not alter mean arterial pressure (MAP) in male or female mice (Male: 112±1 vs. 112±1 mmHg in controls; Female: 106±3 vs. 109±3 mmHg in controls). Deficiency of POMC neuronal PTP1B also did not alter MAP response to acute stress in male or female compared to control mice (Male: Δ32±0 vs. Δ29±4 mmHg; Female: Δ22±2 vs. Δ27±4 mmHg). These data demonstrate that POMC-specific PTP1B deficiency improved glucose tolerance and attenuated diet-induced fatty liver only in male mice, attenuated weight gain in males and females, but did not enhance the MAP and HR responses to a HFD or to acute stress

Genetically engineered mesenchymal stem cells as a proposed therapeutic for Huntington's disease.

There is much interest in the use of mesenchymal stem cells/marrow stromal cells (MSC) to treat neurodegenerative disorders, in particular those that are fatal and difficult to treat, such as Huntington's disease. MSC present a promising tool for cell therapy and are currently being tested in FDA-approved phase I-III clinical trials for many disorders. In preclinical studies of neurodegenerative disorders, MSC have demonstrated efficacy, when used as delivery vehicles for neural growth factors. A number of investigators have examined the potential benefits of innate MSC-secreted trophic support and augmented growth factors to support injured neurons. These include overexpression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and glial-derived neurotrophic factor, using genetically engineered MSC as a vehicle to deliver the cytokines directly into the microenvironment. Proposed regenerative approaches to neurological diseases using MSC include cell therapies in which cells are delivered via intracerebral or intrathecal injection. Upon transplantation, MSC in the brain promote endogenous neuronal growth, encourage synaptic connection from damaged neurons, decrease apoptosis, reduce levels of free radicals, and regulate inflammation. These abilities are primarily modulated through paracrine actions. Clinical trials for MSC injection into the central nervous system to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and stroke are currently ongoing. The current data in support of applying MSC-based cellular therapies to the treatment of Huntington's disease is discussed