cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neurotrophic Factors in Neuromuscular Disease

Neurotrophic factors (NTFs) are small dimeric proteins essential for development, function, maintenance, and plasticity of the vertebrate nervous system [1]. NTFs include glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), insulin-like growth factor 1 and 2 (IGF-1/2), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the neurotrophins nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5), and neurotrophin-6 (NT-6). There is considerable evidence demonstrating the importance of NTFs in neuronal maintenance and neural regeneration. NTFs are released following nerve injury by nonneuronal cells in proximity to both neurons and nerve axons. Many of the NTFs then bind with complex membrane receptors. Disruption of NTFs or their receptors resulting from genetic mutations or antibodies to NTFs has been shown to alter neuronal survival [2]. Furthermore, exogenous NTFs at a site of injury have also been found to support survival of various neuronal subpopulations [3]. The neurotrophins BDNF, NT3, and NT4 enhance motor neuron survival through their interactions with tyrosine kinase (Trk) receptors. Other NTFs support motor neurons by exerting their survival-promoting activity through non-Trk, complex membrane receptors. For example, GDNF supports motor neuron survival by acting through receptors involving the c-ret kinase and specific a-receptors. Other growth factors with survival promoting activity for motor neurons include IGF-1/2 and hepatocyte growth factor [4]. In vivo survival of motor neurons often depends on a complex cooperation of more than one factor. NTFs may potentiate each other in supporting motor neuron survival. For example, combining exogenous IGFs with CNTF has an additive effect on enhancing neuronal survival [5]. Also,
Proton-proton scattering in the GeV region

It is pointed out that the disappearance of the hard core in proton- proton elastic scatiering in the 1--10 Bev region can account for the transient shrinking in the differential cross section. (C.E.S.)
Interpersonal conflict in group therapy: An object relations perspective

The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how object relations theory can be used to understand and regulate interpersonal conflict in group psychotherapy. Such concepts as projective identification, intersubjectivity and the analytic third are used to describe how conflict emerges in group psychotherapy and how it can be worked through. Case material is also provided to illustrate concepts and techniques in promoting a group's transition from a paranoid/schizoid to a depressive position. Positive aspects of the concept of projective identification are discussed including its use as a form of communication, a method of reducing anxiety and reintegrating previously dangerous and threatening aspects of the self.
The economic impact of cytoreductive surgery and tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy in the treatment of advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours: a Markov chain decision analysis.

Abstract Purpose The current first-line treatment for patients with recurrent or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) is management with tyrosine kinase inhibition (TKI). There is an undefined role for surgery in the management of these patients. This study uses a cost analysis to examine the economic impact of treating patients with TKI in combination with surgery at different time-points in their treatment trajectories. Methods A Markov chain decision analysis was modelled over a 2-year time horizon to determine costs associated with surgery in combination with imatinib mesylate (IM) or sunitinib malate (SU) in seven scenarios varied by TKI agent, dose and disease status (stable versus localised progressive disease). Rates of disease progression, surgical morbidity, mortality and adverse drug reactions were extracted from the existing literature. Deterministic sensitivity analyses were performed to examine changes in cost due to variations in key variables. Results The least-costly scenario was to perform no surgery. The most costly scenario was to perform surgery on patients with localised progressive disease on IM 800 mg. The overall range of costs clustered within approximately $47,000 (USD). Variations in surgical cost, surgical mortality and cost of IM demonstrated thresholds for changing the least-costly scenario within plausible tested ranges. Conclusion Costs of surgical intervention at different time-points within the treatment course of patients with advanced GIST fluctuate within a relatively narrow range, suggesting that costs arise primarily from the administration of TKI. The decision to pursue cytoreductive surgery should not be based on cost alone. Future studies should incorporate health-state utilities when available.
Persistent firing of splenic and renal nerves after acute decentralization but failure to produce ganglionic reflexes

Experiments were done to evaluate the contribution of peripheral neural circuits to generation of ongoing splenic and renal sympathetic discharge as well as to the reflex alteration of this discharge by chemical stimulation of receptors of intestinal afferent nerves. After decentralization of the celiac and superior mesenteric ganglia, low amplitude spikes with low discharge rates still were observed in both nerves. Stimulation of intestinal receptors with bradykinin or capsaicin did not alter this residual firing. Cholinergic blockade eliminated most of this discharge. The source of the residual firing and its contribution to basal discharge of splenic and renal nerves remains to be determined.
The Vineberg procedure revisited: angiographic evaluation and coronary artery bypass surgery in a patient 21 years following bilateral internal mammary artery implantation.

A patient receiving bilateral internal mammary implantation (Vineberg's operation) in 1969 was symptom free for a period of 21 years. In 1990 he developed acute myocardial infarction followed by post-infarction angina. Cardiac catheterization revealed severe left main and three vessel disease and patency of both mammary implants which filled the left anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries via collaterals. Coronary artery bypass surgery was indicated due to the native coronary artery disease and inability of the internal mammary grafts' blood flow to alleviate symptoms. The patient underwent direct coronary artery bypass grafting utilizing femoral vessels for cannulation and saphenous veins for grafting, while preserving the mammary implants. This unique case attests to the longevity of the internal mammary artery grafts. These grafts, even if directly implanted, can serve as a crucial source of blood to an otherwise severely under-perfused myocardium. Strategy and technical aspects of surgical redo in patients who underwent Vineberg's operation are discussed.
A bottom-up model to estimate the energy efficiency improvement and CO2 emission reduction potentials in the Chinese iron and steel industry

Abstract China's annual crude steel production in 2010 was 638.7 Mt accounting for nearly half of the world's annual crude steel production in the same year. Around 461 TWh of electricity and 14,872 PJ of fuel were consumed to produce this quantity of steel. We identified and analyzed 23 energy efficiency technologies and measures applicable to the processes in China's iron and steel industry. Using a bottom-up electricity CSC (Conservation Supply Curve) model, the cumulative cost-effective electricity savings potential for the Chinese iron and steel industry for 2010–2030 is estimated to be 251 TWh, and the total technical electricity saving potential is 416 TWh. The CO2 emissions reduction associated with cost-effective electricity savings is 139 Mt CO2 and the CO2 emission reduction associated with technical electricity saving potential is 237 Mt CO2. The FCSC (Fuel CSC) model for the Chinese iron and steel industry shows cumulative cost-effective fuel savings potential of 11,999 PJ, and the total technical fuel saving potential is 12,139. The CO2 emissions reduction associated with cost-effective and technical fuel savings is 1191 Mt CO2 and 1205 Mt CO2, respectively. In addition, a sensitivity analysis with respect to the discount rate used is conducted.
Numerical analysis for design optimization of microcantilever beams for measuring rheological properties of viscous fluid

The precise measurement of rheological properties is a demanding problem in various field of engineering. Occasionally the available sample volume of interest may be sufficiently small where the conventional methods of measuring rheological properties are inappropriate. Consequently, there is a growing interest in the use of MEMS devices to measure the required properties, especially with an aim of encouraging high throughput. During this research, the dynamic response of micro cantilever beams is demonstrated to characterize the rheological properties of viscous materials. First, the dynamic response of a mini cantilever beam partially submerged in air and water is measured experimentally for different configurations using a duel channel PolyTec scanning vibrometer. Next, finite element analysis (FEA) method is implemented to predict the dynamic response of the same cantilever beam in air and water, and then compared with corresponding experiments. Once the model is validated, further numerical analysis is conducted to investigate the variation in modal response with changing beam dimension and fluid properties. Results obtained from this parametric study can be used for sensitivity analysis and to design the optimized MEMS based test set up for measuring the rheological properties of viscous fluid and of any soft viscoelastic materials such as biofilm. Miniaturization of the measuring instrument is necessary so that small sample volume can be used to perform the desired test.
Generic pairs of SU-rank 1 structures

Abstract For a supersimple SU-rank 1 theory T we introduce the notion of a generic elementary pair of models of T (generic T-pair). We show that the theory T ∗ of all generic T-pairs is complete and supersimple. In the strongly minimal case, T ∗ coincides with the theory of infinite dimensional pairs, which was used in (S. Buechler, Pseudoprojective strongly minimal sets are locally projective, J. Symbolic Logic 56(4) (1991) 1184–1194) to study the geometric properties of T. In our SU-rank 1 setting, we use T ∗ for the same purpose. In particular, we obtain a characterization of linearity for SU-rank 1 structures by giving several equivalent conditions on T ∗ , find a “weak” version of local modularity which is equivalent to linearity, show that linearity coincides with 1-basedness, and use the generic pairs to “recover” projective geometries over division rings from non-trivial linear SU-rank 1 structures.
Toward Extending AADL-OSATE Toolset with Color Petri Nets (CPNs)

Architectural Analysis and Description Languages (AADLs), a model-based engineering notation, and its supporting toolset, Open Source Architectural Tool Environment (OSATE) are industry standard under the Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE). AADL-OSATE has shown significant promises in the development of highly sophisticated systems. As such, it has been adopted to specify and analyze real-time embedded systems used in the domain of safety critical systems. By using AADL-OSATE, designers are able to specify, analyze, and/or predicate the system-wide properties such as safety, performance, reliability, security, availability, etc. Examples of application systems developed in AADL-OSATE include avionics and aerospace, and manufacturing system. This main shortcoming of AADL-OSTATE is that it is difficult for analyzing the behaviors of components (processes/threads) in ways that deadlock and/or livelock can be detected. To this end, we are proposing to extent the capabilities of AADL-OSATE modeling notation and supporting tool set with Petri nets in a manner that facilitates formal analysis to verify the absence of deadlock and/or livelock phenomenon.
Situating Cogenerative Dialogue in a Cosmopolitan Ethic

Dieser Aufsatz zielt – ausgehend von der transformativen Natur des kogenerativen Dialogs – auf die ethische Dimension dieser Praxis, um die erziehungswissenschaftliche Forschung (und die Klassenzimmer und Schulen, mit denen sie sich befasst) weiter zu bringen als dies in gegenwartigen Konzeptualisierungen von Ethik der Fall ist. Hierzu werden der Belmont-Bericht und entwickelte Begriffen von Evaluationsverfahren der 4. Generation miteinander verbunden, um kogenerative Dialoge in einem philosophischen Ansatz zur Kosmopolitik zu begrunden, der den Unterschied der verschiedenen Teilnehmenden, Felder und Wissens- und Seinsweisen anerkennt. Hiernach wird diskutiert, wie das Begrunden eines wirklich ethischen Forschungsaktes in einem kosmopolitischen Ideal zu Wohltatigkeit fuhren kann. Es folgen Uberlegungen, wie mogliche Fallen, die in den Authentizitatskriterien verborgen sind, in der Praxis des kogenerativen Dialogs uberkommen werden konnen durch Handlungen, die die taktische Authentizitat maximieren. Unser Zugang zu kogenerativen Dialogen dient uns als eine Methode der Kritik und Analyse, die gegenwartige Praktiken herausfordern und Uberlegungen zur Ethik der kogenerativen Dialoge in Innenstadtschulen in einem neuen Licht erscheinen lassen. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0602390
Multiplexed single-cell in situ RNA analysis by reiterative hybridization

Most current approaches for quantification of RNA species in their natural spatial contexts in single cells are limited by a small number of parallel analyses. Here we report a strategy to dramatically increase the multiplexing capacity for RNA analysis in single cells in situ. In this method, transcripts are detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). After imaging and data storage, the fluorescence signal is efficiently removed by photobleaching. This enables the reinitiation of FISH to detect other RNA species in the same cell. Through reiterative cycles of hybridization, imaging and photobleaching, the identities, positions and copy numbers of a large number of varied RNA species can be quantified in individual cells in situ. Using this approach, we analyzed seven different transcripts in single HeLa cells with five reiterative RNA FISH cycles. This approach has the potential to detect over 100 varied RNA species in single cells in situ, which will have wide applications in studies of systems biology, molecular diagnosis and targeted therapies.
A novel alpha integrin subunit associates with betaPS and functions in tissue morphogenesis and movement during Drosophila development.

We have identified a novel alpha integrin subunit in Drosophila, that associates with betaPS integrin. We report the temporal expression of the gene encoding this integrin subunit, which we have called alphaPS3, throughout development and the localization of its expression during embryogenesis. AlphaPS3 RNA was localized to tissues undergoing invagination, tissue movement and morphogenesis such as salivary gland, trachea, midgut, dorsal vessel, midline of the ventral nerve cord, amnioserosa and the amnioproctodeal invagination. AlphaPS3 DNA localized to the chromosomal vicinity of scab (scb), previously identified by a failure of dorsal closure. Embryos homozygous for the 119 allele of scb had no detectable alphaPS3 RNA and the 1035 allele of scb contains a Pelement inserted just 5′ of the coding region for the shorter of the gene9s two transcripts. Furthermore, mutations in the scb locus exhibit additional defects corresponding to sites of alphaPS3 transcription, including abnormal salivary glands, mislocalization of the pericardial cells and interrupted trachea. Removal of both maternal and zygotic betaPS produced similar defects, indicating that these two integrin subunits associate in vivo and function in the movement and morphogenesis of tissues during development in Drosophila. Phenotypic similarities suggest that laminin A is a potential ligand for this integrin, at least in some tissues.
Social Choice in a Pluralitarian Democracy: The Politics of Market Liberalization in New Zealand

Applying insights from social-choice theory to illuminate the functioning of pluralitarian Westminster institutions, this article develops a coherent political answer to four puzzling questions about the economic liberalization that transformed New Zealand in 1984–93: why an anti-statist programme was initiated (and largely accomplished) by a labour party, why restructuring was more radical in New Zealand than in other democracies, why reformers were able to prevail through two elections and a change of government, and why they committed costly policy-sequencing errors. Understanding this remarkable case has implications for empirically grounded social-choice theory, the political theory of policy reform, and the evaluation of pluralitarian democracy – which New Zealanders themselves repudiated in 1993 by adopting proportional representation.
Noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of cerebral blood flow with acetazolamide challenge in patients with cerebrovascular stenosis.

To evaluate the utility of using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in conjunction with pharmacologic flow augmentation, the authors imaged 14 patients with ischemic symptoms referable to large artery cerebrovascular stenosis of the anterior circulation. CBF was measured by using continuous arterial spin labeling (CASL) both at rest and 10 minutes after 1 g intravenous acetazolamide on a commercial 1.5 Tesla scanner. Quantitative CBF images were calculated along with augmentation images showing the effects of acetazolamide. Interpretable studies were obtained from all patients. Based on the image data as well as a region of interest analysis of CBF changes in middle cerebral artery distributions, varying patterns of augmentation were observed that suggested differing mechanisms of ischemic symptomatology. The ability to obtain this information in conjunction with a structural MRI examination extends the diagnostic potential for MRI in cerebrovascular disease and allows the value of augmentation testing in clinical management to be assessed more widely. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 1999;10:870-875.
Development of security engineering curricula at US universities

The Southwest Surety Institute was formed in June, 1996 by Arizona State University (ASU), New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NM Tech), New Mexico State University (NMSU), and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) to provide new educational programs in Security Engineering. This is the first science-based program of its kind in the United States, directed at educating Security Engineers to help government and industry address their security needs. Current courses include security system design, evaluation, principles, and technology, the criminal justice system, and each member brings a unique educational capability to the institute. NMSU provides a security technology minor, merging programs in Criminal Justice and Electronics Technology. NM Tech has a formidable explosives testing and evaluation facility. ASU is developing a masters program in Security Engineering at their School of Technology located on a new campus in Mesa, Arizona. The Sandia National Laboratories security system design and evaluation process forms the basis for the security engineering curricula. In an effort to leverage the special capabilities of each university, distance education will be used to share courses among institute members and eventually with other sites across the country. The Institute will also pursue research and development funding in the areas of physical security information security, computer modeling and analysis, and counter-terrorist technology. Individual Institute members are currently working with sponsors from government and industry in areas such as counter-terrorism, microelectronics, banking, aviation, and sensor development.
Conceptualization and Operationalization of Retail Store Image: A Case of Rival Middle-Level Theories:

This article presents the case that inconsistencies between retail store image conceptualization and operationalization signal a critical separation between theory and measurement within the paradigm. The authors attribute the separation to the influence of two rival, middle-level information processing theories. The first, piecemeal-based processing theory, has historically dominated retail store image operationalization and measurement within the area. The authors argue, however, that the time has come for a new information processing theory—category-based information processing—to challenge piecemeal processing as the positive heuristic within the store image paradigm. The advantages of adopting category-based processing over piecemeal processing are discussed both from a positive and normative perspective. Recommendations for managers and propositions for future research are offered.
Climatic Regionalization and the Spatio-Temporal Occurrence of Extreme Single-Year Drought Events (1500–1998) in the Interior Pacific Northwest, USA

Tree-ring records from western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis var. occidentalis Hook.) growing throughout the interior Pacific Northwest identify extreme climatic pointer years (CPYs) (i.e., severe single-year droughts) from 1500–1998. Widespread and extreme CPYs were concentrated in the 16th and early part of the 17th centuries and did not occur again until the early 20th century. The 217-yr absence of extreme CPYs may have occurred during an extended period of low variance in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. We mapped climatic boundaries for the interior Pacific Northwest based on the location of sites with similar precipitation variability indices. Three regions, the Northwest (based on chronologies from nine sites), the Southwest (four sites), and the East (five sites) were identified. Our results suggest that western juniper radial growth indices have substantial interannual variability within the northwestern range of the species (central Oregon), particularly when compared with western juniper growing in its eastern range (eastern Oregon, southeastern Idaho, and northern Nevada) and southwestern range (southern Oregon and northeast California). We suspect that the substantial differences in the variability of western juniper radial growth indices are linked to the influence of ENSO events on winter/spring precipitation amounts.
Non‐destructive measurement of sunshine bass, Morone chrysops (Rafinesque) ×Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), body composition using electrical conductivity

Abstract. We describe a rapid, non-destructive method for determining lean body mass (LBM; i.e. total body mass — total lipid mass) and lipid content in live fish. This method provides non-invasive determination of body composition by measuring the total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) of an animal placed within a low-frequency electromagnetic field. This principle is governed by the different electrical properties of body fat and fat-free tissues. Relationships between TOBEC analysis and body composition were examined using juvenile sunshine bass (hybrid striped bass, Morone chrysops (Rafinesque) ♀×M. saxatilis (Walbaum) ♂) in a size range of 24–124g. Whole-body conductivity was significantly correlated to LBM, lipid, protein, water, and ash content. Analyses of an independent group of fish indicated TOBEC to be a reliable indicator of body composition. This method should prove useful for deriving body composition data at various phases of an experiment or a life cycle, rather than a single point in time as with destructive methods.
Shock-induced phase transformation in tantalum

A TEM study of pure tantalum and tantalum-tungsten alloys explosively shocked at a peak pressure of 30 GPa is presented. While no omega phase was found in shock-recovered pure Ta and Ta-5W which mainly contain a cellular dislocation structure, a shock-induced omega phase was found in Ta-10W which contains evenly distributed dislocations with a density higher than 1 × 1012 cm − 2. The shock-induced (hexagonal) transition occurs when the dynamic recovery of dislocations becomes largely suppressed in Ta-10W shocked under dynamic-pressure conditions. A dislocation-based mechanism is proposed for the shock-induced phase transformation.
Advances in power electronics-its impact on the environment

Power electronics is one of the fastest changing and evolutionary technologies in electrical engineering in the recent years. This last decade of the 20th Century can be truly defined as the era of power electronics-or more truly, power electronics and information era. The solid-state power electronics revolution (often called the second electronics revolution) started by the invention of the thyristor in the late 1950s, and then continued ceaselessly by invention of many power devices, such as GTOs, triacs, BJTs, power MOSFETs, IGBTs, SITs and MCTs. The advent of new devices and the dramatic improvement of their ratings and characteristics gave a solid foundation for power electronics which resulted in the development of many power converter topologies, analytical and simulation techniques, variable frequency drives, and their control and estimation methods. As a result, the cost of power electronics apparatus fell significantly and their performance improved considerably, which correspondingly, spurred the dramatic surge of power electronics applications everywhere. This contributed to the present era of global industrial automation. Besides the improvement of industrial productivity and product quality, recently another dimension of the importance of power electronics-energy conservation and the corresponding control of environmental pollution-has been realized.
Does IT governance matter in e-HRM?

Information Technology (IT) governance is the responsibility for systematically making decisions that will impact the use of IT in a firm. It has been touted as "the single most important predictor of the value an organization generates from IT" (Weill and Ross, 2004, pp.3-4). In this paper, we present the results of a survey-based study of US and Canadian firms that utilise IT for electronic Human Resource Management (e-HRM) purposes. To investigate whether the mode of HR-IT governance matters in terms of the intensity of usage of HR technologies, we used the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory in a moderated mediation functional form (James and Brett, 1984). We find that the way an organisation assigns responsibility for decision making for HR Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) makes a difference in terms of the user (HR) and technical (Information Systems or IS) department factors that are statistically related to the intensity of HR technology usage.
The Performance of Value at Risk Models During the Crisis

Using stock data that covers the period from 6th April 2001 to 17th June 2009, including data for the recent crisis period, we perform Value at Risk risk model validation by backtesting the performance of VaR models in predicting future losses of a portfolio of stocks, futures and options. The stock returns are modeled using univariate GARCH models for the stock returns with different assumptions on the distribution of the univariate model residuals such as normal distribution, t-distribution, empirical distribution with t-distributed tails. To capture co-dependence between financial return series we model dependence using the normal copula, the t-copula and the discrete normal mixture copula. Backtesting evaluations of different models indicate that inclusion of GARCH models for estimating and forecasting volatility make a significant contribution to the accuracy of VaR models. The contribution is both in terms of making VaR models match the expected number of VaR exceedances of losses and the VaR model exceedances having expected durations between them. However, while stochastic volatility is an important component of VaR model specifications it is not the only component. In particular, the choice of univariate model for the GARCH residuals and the choice of copula also affects the VaR model performance. Standard practice models used in Value at Risk estimation such as the deltanormal model, the covariance simulation model, with or without Risk Metrics covariance matrix, and the historical simulation model are shown to underestimate risk quite severely while models such as the discrete normal variance mixture copula with univariate GARCH performs well.
Pathophysiology, Monitoring, and Management of the Ventilator-Dependent Patient: Considerations for Drug Therapy, Emphasis on Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis

In 1985, investigators reported that four months of pentoxifylline therapy resulted in a significant decrease in proteinuria (46 percent reduction) and plasma fibrinogen concentrations (18 percent reduction) in patients with diabetes. Our study evaluated four normotensive patients with diabetes and documented proteinuria who were treated with pentoxifylline 400 mg tid for four months. A consistent decrease in proteinuria (as measured by the urine protein/creatinine ratio) and plasma fibrinogen concentrations was not observed. Therapy with pentoxifylline was discontinued after four months.
A Correlation of Strength and Weight in Insects.

I have often marvelled at the apparent strength of the insects, especially in contrast to the strength of man. Anyone who has had the opportunity of observing insects at work must surely appreciate their immense strength. We see small ants carrying forage and building materials which greatly outweigh the insects themselves. Not only can they perform feats of amazing strength but also are able to continue using their muscles without as much fatigue resulting as is the case with man. Perhaps these are the factors which provoked the advice, “go to the ant, thou sluggard.”
Onset vs. recovery in the aversïve effects of electroconvulsive shock

When the place of administration and of recovery from a series of electroconvulsive shock (ECS) treatments was systematically varied in a two-compartment box, groups of shocked rats spent significantly less time in the compartment where ECS was administered than did controls. Place of recovery appeared to be unimportant and no indications of amnesia resulting from the ECS were observed.
The radiographic and imaging characteristics of porous tantalum implants within the human cervical spine

Study Design. Seven cadaveric cervical spines were implanted with a porous tantalum spacer and a titanium alloy spacer, and their radiographic and imaging characteristics were evaluated. Objective. To determine the radiographic characteristics of porous tantalum and titanium implants used as spacers in the cervical spine. Summary of Background Data. Anterior decompressive surgery of the disc space or the vertebral body creates a defect that frequently is repaired with autologous bone grafts to promote spinal fusion. Donor site morbidity, insufficient donor material, and additional surgical time have spurred the development of biomaterials to replace or supplement existing spinal reconstruction techniques. Although the promotion of a solid bony fusion is critical, the implanted biomaterial should be compatible with modern imaging techniques, should allow visualization of the spinal canal and neural foramina, and should permit radiographic assessment of bony ingrowth. Methods. Cadaveric spines containing the implants were imaged with plain radiography, computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The image distortion produced by the implants was determined qualitatively and quantitatively. Results. The tantalum and titanium spacers were opaque on plain radiographic films. On computed tomographic scans, more streak artifact was associated with the tantalum implants than with the titanium. On magnetic resonance imaging, the porous tantalum implant demonstrated less artifact than did the titanium spacer on T1- and T2-weighted spin echo and on T2*-weighted gradient-echo magnetic resonance images. Overall, the tantalum implant produced less artifact on magnetic resonance imaging than did the titanium spacer and therefore allowed for better visualization of the surrounding bony and neural structures. Conclusion. The material properties of titanium and porous tantalum cervical interbody implants contribute to their differential appearance in different imaging methods. The titanium implant appears to image best with computed tomography, whereas the porous tantalum implant produces less artifact than does the titanium implant on several magnetic resonance imaging sequences.
Experiments in Aeroelastic Response and Control under Gust

The authors describe ongoing experiments on a rigid wing mounted elastically in pitch as it is excited by gust generated by an upstream wing. The upstream gust generator apparatus also doubles as a pitch plunge drive system which is used to required system identification for the test wing. This paper presents the methodology that is developed to generate a model between the motion of gust wing and the aerodynamic loads generated on the test wing. The gust model is coupled with quasi steady aerodynamic model to predict loads on a wing moving pitching under gust. The results are compared with experimental measurements. Further, a system identification methodology to estimate structural parameters is developed to generate a structural model which, in future will be coupled with gust model and aerodynamic model to predict aeroelastic response under gust.
Target Detection Performance for Imaging Lidar Based on Gm-APD

The ranging and 3D principles of imaging lidar based on Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode(APD) array are introduced,and the method of increasing its detection performance is analysed.By analyzing the statistical characteristics of Gm-APD trigger signal,the detection probability and the false-alarm probability of the taget which is at different positions of range gate are researched and simulated.The result shows that when the target is at initial position of range gate,the detection probability is hardly influenced by noise while the false-alarm probability is fiercely influenced by signal;when the target is located near the mediun position of range gate,the detection probability is slowly droped while the noise increases,and the false-alarm probability is slowly droped while the signal increases;when the target is at the end of range gate,the detection probability is fiercely influenced by noise while the false-alarm probability is hardly influenced by signal.
Environmental trade-offs of biobased production.

Life-cycle analyses are needed to evaluate the potential benefits and consequences of bioproducts as petroleum substitutes.
Elite senior athletes. Physiological modifications related to performance decrease in elderly

Results of masters athletes are more and more impressive. With age, VO2max, strength, speed, coordination, recovery decrease. Regular training with enough intensity is the most appropriate, the less expensive measure to prevent morbidity and dependence. It's efficacy in patients is regularly demonstrated.
Identification and characterization of CINPA1 metabolites facilitates structure-activity studies of the constitutive androstane receptor

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) regulates the expression of genes involved in drug metabolism and other processes. A specific inhibitor of CAR is critical for modulating constitutive CAR activity. We recently described a specific small-molecule inhibitor of CAR, CINPA1 (ethyl (5-(diethylglycyl)-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[b,f]azepin-3-yl)carbamate), which is capable of reducing CAR-mediated transcription by changing the coregulator recruitment pattern and reducing CAR occupancy at the promoter regions of its target genes. In this study, we showed that CINPA1 is converted to two main metabolites in human liver microsomes. By using cell-based reporter gene and biochemical coregulator recruitment assays, we showed that although metabolite 1 was very weak in inhibiting CAR function and disrupting CAR-coactivator interaction, metabolite 2 was inactive in this regard. Docking studies using the CAR ligand-binding domain structure showed that although CINPA1 and metabolite 1 can bind in the CAR ligand-binding pocket, metabolite 2 may be incapable of the molecular interactions required for binding. These results indicate that the metabolites of CINPA1 may not interfere with the action of CINPA1. We also used in vitro enzyme assays to identify the cytochrome P450 enzymes responsible for metabolizing CINPA1 in human liver microsomes and showed that CINPA1 was first converted to metabolite 1 by CYP3A4 and then further metabolized by CYP2D6 to metabolite 2. Identification and characterization of the metabolites of CINPA1 enabled structure-activity relationship studies of this family of small molecules and provided information to guide in vivo pharmacological studies.
Activation of the Inositol-1,4,5-Trisphosphate Signaling System by Acute Ethanol Treatment of Rat Hepatocytes

A large number of hormones and other agonists bring about their intracellular effects through an elevation of cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration. The mechanism by which this elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ is achieved recently became much clearer as a result of the elucidation of the role of inositol lipids in transmitting hormonal signals to the interior of the cell (see Berridge, 1984; Berridge and Irvine, 1984; Williamsonet al., 1985 for reviews). It is now widely accepted that the primary event following receptor activation is the stimulation of an inositol lipid-specific phospholipase C that cleaves phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2] to yield inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3] and diacylglycerol. Evi dence obtained using subcellular systems has indicated that a GTP-binding protein (G protein) is probably involved in coupling the occupied receptor to the phospholipase C (Cockcroft, 1987). Once formed in this primary reaction, both Ins(1,4,5)P3and diacylglycerol have distinct second messenger functions. Diacylglycerol is a potent activator of protein kinase C (Nishizuka, 1984) and Ins(1,4,5)P3is able to trigger Ca2+ release from an intracellular ATP-dependent Ca2+ storage pool (Strebet al., 1983; Josephet al., 1984).
Recovery after attacks of deception on Networked Control Systems

This paper follows on the authors' recent work that developed a network-wide attack detector and isolator. Having determined that the sensor of a regulated process is compromised, the problem shifts to maintaining the stability of the subject process and the integrity of the greater physical plant. First, measurements gathered at other processes, interconnected at the physical layer, provide estimates of the output of the process under attack through a bank of state observers. Next, a weighted consensus algorithm fuses all of these estimates into information that is actionable, being independent of the deceptive sensory data. The estimation error is shown to be sector-bounded. To address the resulting latency time in regulation, the authors employ a self-triggered control policy whose aim is to stabilize the attacked process. Furthermore, they test the proposed concept by simulation and demonstrate the safe operation of the physical plant.
Estimates of the magnitudes of major marine mass extinctions in earth history

Procedures introduced here make it possible, first, to show that background (piecemeal) extinction is recorded throughout geologic stages and substages (not all extinction has occurred suddenly at the ends of such intervals); second, to separate out background extinction from mass extinction for a major crisis in earth history; and third, to correct for clustering of extinctions when using the rarefaction method to estimate the percentage of species lost in a mass extinction. Also presented here is a method for estimating the magnitude of the Signor–Lipps effect, which is the incorrect assignment of extinctions that occurred during a crisis to an interval preceding the crisis because of the incompleteness of the fossil record. Estimates for the magnitudes of mass extinctions presented here are in most cases lower than those previously published. They indicate that only ∼81% of marine species died out in the great terminal Permian crisis, whereas levels of 90–96% have frequently been quoted in the literature. Calculations of the latter numbers were incorrectly based on combined data for the Middle and Late Permian mass extinctions. About 90 orders and more than 220 families of marine animals survived the terminal Permian crisis, and they embodied an enormous amount of morphological, physiological, and ecological diversity. Life did not nearly disappear at the end of the Permian, as has often been claimed.
A Model of X-Ray Film Response

In the 100 years since Roentgen produced the first X-ray radiograph, many useful images have been produced for medical and industrial applications. To ensure high quality and reproducibility, standards have been developed to describe different types of film and methods of exposure and development[l]. It is desired to relate these film properties and other X-ray inspection parameters to a probability of detection for a certain type of flaw in a given object.
Formation path of δ hydrides in zirconium by multiphase field modeling

Abstract A multiphase field model is developed to study the effects of metastable ζ and γ hydrides on the nucleation and growth of the stable δ hydrides in α zirconium matrix. The model incorporates all the possible phases using the Gibbs free energies of formation for each phase and their available material properties. The multiphase field model is constructed by utilizing one conserved phase-field variable to represent the concentration of hydrogen, and six non-conserved phase-field variables to represent the α phase, ζ phase, three orientation variants of γ phase, and δ phase. The evolution equations are coupled with the mechanical equilibrium equations and solved using the Multiphysics Object Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE). Nucleation of hydrides is controlled using classic nucleation theory, inserting nuclei randomly with a probability dependent on the competition between the hydride's volume free energy and the interface's area free energy to form critical sized nuclei. The comparison between the results of the multiphase model and a two-phase model (without metastable phases) indicate that the intermediate phases are influential in the initial formation and evolution of δ phase hydrides. Random seed simulations, both in the basal plane and the ( 10 1 ¯ 0 ) plane, also indicate that the intermediate metastable phases play a key role in the shape evolution of δ hydrides. Results suggest that quantitative phase field models of δ hydride growth need to include intermediate phases in order to accurately predict the morphology of hydrides.
Conjugative transmission of antibiotic-resistance from stream water Escherichia coli as related to number of sulfamethoxazole but not class 1 and 2 integrase genes.

ABSTRACTA conjugation assay was used to determine the effects of phenotypic resistance to one to up to 5 antibiotics, sampling site of origin, presence or absence of class 1 and/or class 2 integrase (intI) genes (intI1 and intI2), and the number of sulfamethoxazole resistance (sul) and trimethoprim resistance (dfr) genes on the transfer frequencies of plasmids from environmental, antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli. Of 51 sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim-resistant E. coli isolates conferring at least one mob gene (mobP51, mobF11, mobF12, mobQ11, mobQ12, or mobQu), 38 produced transconjugants with an overall mean frequency of 1.60 × 10−3 transconjugants/ donors (T/D) or 5.89 × 10−3 transconjugants/recipients (T/R). The presence or absence of intI1 and intI2 and the presence or absence of different targeted dfr genes (dfrA1, dfrA8, dfrA12, dfrA14, dfrA17, and/or dfrB3) were not statistically related to plasmid transfer frequencies as determined by ANOVA (P ≥ 0.05). However, E. coli isolates recovered 2 k...
DIASTOLIC DYSFUNCTION BY DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY PREDICTS MORTALITY AFTER CARDIAC ARREST

Background: The association between diastolic dysfunction on echocardiogram and mortality has not been systematically explored in patients resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 190 patients receiving therapeutic hypothermia at Mayo Clinic St.
Should a Judge Recuse Due to Facebook Friendship with One of the Parties in the Case, Attorneys, or Witnesses?

The unprecedented growth of social networks has raised questions of judicial ethics. For instance, should judges recuse from cases when they are Facebook friends with one of the parties, attorneys, or witnesses? Because of the global nature of social networks, several jurisdictions have ruled on this issue. This article discusses two different theories on this legal issue. The first theory adopts the narrow interpretation of the term of “friend” which was established by the Cour de Cassation in France and the Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal. While the second theory relies on a broad interpretation of the term of a friend and was adopted by the Florida 4th District Court of Appeal.
Responding to Human Trafficking: Sex, Gender, and Culture in the Law, by Alicia Peters: U of Pennsylvania P, 2015

Since the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) in 2000, many scholars and policymakers concerned with labor issues and human trafficking in the United States have grown exaspera...
An essential ionized acid group in sodium channels.

Several recent experiments demonstrate the presence of an essential negatively charged acid group within sodium channels. Sodium permeability titrates away at low pH as if controlled by an acid with a voltage-dependent apparent pK a in the range between 5 and 6. The alkali ion permeability sequence of the channel is best explained by interactions between the cations and a strong negative charge in the channel. Block of sodium currents by a variety of metal and organic cations again points to a cation-coordinating site in the channel. The “blocking cations” and protons also oppose the binding of tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin. The negative charge in the channel seems to be essential in selecting appropriate cations and in lowering their activation energy for permeation. The same charge seems to form part of the toxin receptor. At present this charged group is the only chemical group known to be associated with sodium channels.—Hille, B. An essential ionized acid group in sodium channels. Federation Proc. 34: 1318–1321, 1975.
Rights-Based Approaches to Examining Waiver Clauses in Peace Treaties: Lessons from the Japanese Forced Labor Litigation in Californian Courts

Waiver clauses, which purport to bar claims for reparations, appear in numerous historical and contemporary peace agreements, including in the 1951 Treaty of Peace with Japan. This Article questions the validity of many such waivers under the Constitution and applicable international law. However, as demonstrated in a series of federal court decisions from 2000 to 2003 which rejected the reparations claims of former forced laborers in wartime Japan, judges are induced by political considerations to uphold the validity of waiver clauses. How can courts reconcile their duty to protect the fundamental rights of claimants with the realpolitik considerations at play? One answer lies in adopting established interpretive approaches to limit the scope of a waiver clause. The waiver clause in the 1951 Treaty, like many of its counterparts in other treaties, contains several ambiguities. This Article outlines three rights-based interpretive approaches and demonstrates how these could have been invoked to construe one particularly ambiguous aspect of the waiver in the 1951 Treaty, in a manner which would have reconciled competing policy imperatives.
Bender: An Open Source Software for Efficient Model Posing and Morphing

In this paper, we present Bender, an interactive and freely available software application for changing the pose of anatomical models that are represented as labeled, voxel-based volumes.