cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Japan`s new system of mixed courts: Some suggestions regarding their future form and procedures

This article briefly describes the history of jury courts and lay participation in various countries, and the inter-related political and procedural reasons for introducing lay participation. It specifically focuses on the introduction of lay participation in application to Japan’s new mixed court system.
Application of a helicon discharge to electric propulsion

Helicon discharges use bounded plasma waves in the whistler wave frequency regime (£2j«£\H « co « Qe, k II to BQ) to generate high density plasmas. Helicon waves are unique in that they have demonstrated the ability to create and maintain the high density plasma in which they propagate. This self consistent plasma generation couples the helicon wave physics to the discharge chamber and antenna characteristics via the helicon dispersion relation. Results of experiments at the University of Wisconsin, as well as a review of progress in the field of helicon sources, are reviewed in terms of potential applications to electric propulsion. The scaling of helicon thrusters in consideration of the dispersion and absorption mechanisms inherent in these devices is examined for applications of interest to electric propulsion. Possible uses are as plasma sources for either electrostatic or electromagnetic acceleration or as a means to achieve more efficient ECR thrusters.
Recovery and diversity of the forest shrub community 38 years after biomass harvesting in the northern Rocky Mountains

Abstract We investigated the long-term impact of biomass utilization on shrub recovery, species composition, and biodiversity 38 years after harvesting at Coram Experimental Forest in northwestern Montana. Three levels of biomass removal intensity (high, medium, and low) treatments combined with prescribed burning treatment were nested within three regeneration harvest treatments (shelterwood, group selection, and clearcut). Four shrub biomass surveys (pre-treatment, 2, 10, and 38 years after treatment) were conducted. Shrub biomass for all treatment units 38 years after treatment exceeded the pre-treatment level, and biomass utilization intensity did not affect shrub recovery (ratio of dry biomass at time t to pre-treatment biomass). Species composition changed immediately after harvesting (2 years); however, the species composition of treated units did not differ from the untreated control 38 years after harvesting. Biodiversity indices (Shannon’s and Pielou’s indices) also decreased immediately following harvesting, but recovered 10 years after harvesting. The responses of diversity indices over time differed among biomass utilization levels with the high-utilization level and unburned treatment producing the most even and diverse species assemblages 38 years after harvesting. Our results indicate the shrub community is quite resilient to biomass harvesting in this forest type.
Kommentar: Auffassungen über Maßschneiderungen

Wir haben unsere eigenen Ansichten uber die Bedeutung und die Entwicklung von masgeschneiderten Therapien vorgetragen. Wir haben auch ein System vorgeschlagen, nach dem Untersuchungen sowohl begrifflich eingeordnet als auch durchgefuhrt werden konnen, und das moglicherweise nach und nach zur Entwicklung immer effektiverer psychotherapeutischer Masschneiderungen beitragen konnte. Im Teil II mochten wir nun relevanten Ansichten anderer zu diesem Thema Gehor verschaffen. Die Themenbereiche, die fur den Prozes der Masschneiderung Bedeutung haben, sind zahlreich und weitgefachert; ihnen gebuhrt unsere reflektierte Aufmerksamkeit.
Bone Mineral Density and Progression of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in African-Americans With Type 2 Diabetes

Context: Relative to European Americans, calcified atherosclerotic plaque (CP) is less prevalent and severe in African-Americans (AAs). Objective: Predictors of progression of CP in the aorta, carotid, and coronary arteries were examined in AAs over a mean 5.3 ± 1.4-year interval. Design: This is the African American-Diabetes Heart Study. Setting: A type 2 diabetes (T2D)-affected cohort was included. Participants: A total of 300 unrelated AAs with T2D; 50% female, mean age 55 ± 9 years, baseline hemoglobin A1c 8.1 ± 1.8% was included. Main outcome measures: Glycemic control, renal parameters, vitamin D, and computed tomography-derived measures of adiposity, vascular CP, and volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) in lumbar and thoracic vertebrae were obtained at baseline and follow-up. Results: CP increased in incidence and quantity/mass in all three vascular beds over the 5-year study (P < .0001). Lower baseline lumbar and thoracic vBMD were associated with progression of abdominal aorta CP (P < .008), bu...
A Revised Subgeneric Classification of Short-Tailed Opossums (Didelphidae: Monodelphis)

ABSTRACT Members of the didelphid marsupial genus Monodelphis have previously been classified into species groups, but such informal subdivisions are inconsistent among authors and have contributed little but confusion to the taxonomic history of the genus. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies, however, have consistently recovered several strongly supported multispecies clades that merit formal recognition. Here we define and illustrate morphological characters that are useful for diagnosing these monophyletic groups, which we name and rank as subgenera to conserve binomial usage: Monodelphis Burnett, 1830 (for M. arlindoi, M. brevicaudata, M. domestica, M. glirina, M. palliolata, M. sanctaerosae, and M. touan), Microdelphys Burmeister, 1856 (for M. americana, M. gardneri, M. iheringi, and M. scalops), Monodelphiops Matschie, 1916 (for M. dimidiata and M. unistriata); Mygalodelphys, new subgenus (for M. adusta, M. handleyi, M. kunsi, M. osgoodi, M. peruviana, M. pinocchio, M. reigi, and M. ronaldi); and ...
Alternative Pre-mRNA Splicing and Regulation of Programmed Cell Death

Apoptosis or programmed cell death (PCD) is critical for development and homeostasis of multi-cellular organisms. It also plays an important role in pathogenesis of a large number of human diseases. PCD is under complex regulation at multiple levels. An important level of this regulation is at the level of pre-mRNA splicing because a number of PCD regulatory genes are expressed as functionally distinct or even antagonistic isoforms as a result of alternative splicing. In this chapter, we review recent molecular and biochemical studies on alternative splicing of these PCD genes, ranging from extra-cellular signals, death receptors to intracellular components of the death machinery. As a major mechanism to generate transcript variability, alternative splicing affects not only intracellular distribution, but also functional activities of these PCD genes, modulating a presumably tightly controlled process of cell death. In some cases, alternative splicing is involved in the life-or-death decision. Studies with molecular and biochemical approaches have begun to reveal mechanisms underlying alternative splicing regulation of PCD gene expression and function. Many important questions remain to be addressed by future studies.
Personalized treatment in patients with colorectal liver metastases.

Abstract Background Precision Medicine Initiative is a new research effort aiming to offer personalized treatment in many diseases, including cancer. The aim of the present article is to offer novel insights about the role of personalized treatment in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). Methods A review of the literature regarding personalized medicine and colorectal liver metastases was performed mainly in the MEDLINE/PubMed database. Results Surgical resection remains the only hope for cure of CRLM. Improved surgical strategies to optimize remnant liver volume are recently introduced and gaining ground. Following resection of CRLM scoring systems have been developed by combining certain preoperative factors such as microsatellite instability KRAS expression and sensitivity to immunotherapy with Programmed Death-1 inhibitor. Conclusions Multidisciplinary management of patients with CRLM has markedly contributed to increased survival. While the last several decades have been characterized by these important developments, future advances for patients with CRLM will depend on a better understanding of genomics and molecular biology to facilitate characterization of a specific tumor “identity” so that individualized treatment for each CRLM patient becomes the rule, and not the exception.
Pygmaepterys, A Newly Described Taxon of Muricidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda), with the Description of Three New Species from the Cenozoic of the Western Atlantic

"Murex" alfredensis Bartsch, 1915, has recently been named as the type species of a new subgenus Pygmaepterys Vokes, 1978, along with a second species, P. maraisi, described at the same time. "Murex" funafutiensis Hedley, 1899, is here tentatively assigned to the same subgenus and three new species are described: Pygmaeptenys germainae, from the Recent and fossil fauna of the Caribbean; and P. pratulum and P. drezi, from the Miocene Chipola Formation of northwestern Florida. The subgenus was initially assigned to the genus Pterynotus in the subfamily Muncinae but P. gennainae proves to have a radula that indicates placement in the subfamily Muricopsinae. The unanswered question is whether P. alfredensis, P. maraisi, and P. pratulum, n. sp., are congeneric with P. funafutiensis, P. germainae and P. drezi. n. sp., or whether the latter are members of a superficially similar genus-group in the Muricopsinae, distinct from Pygmaepterys.
News, entertainment, or both? Exploring audience perceptions of media genre in a hybrid media environment

This study uses two experimental designs to examine how audiences make genre assessments when encountering media content that blends elements of news and entertainment. Study 1 explores how audienc...
Excision of a centrally based ventral intradural extramedullary tumor of the cervical spine through a direct posterior approach.

Intradural extramedullary (IDEM) tumors of the cervical spine are removed through an assortment of surgical approaches including: dorsolateral, ventrolateral, and anterior or transoral. Historically, midline ventral IDEM tumors are ostensibly thought to be unfavorable candidates for removal through a direct posterior approach. A case report of a patient with a ventrally based centrally located meningioma in the upper cervical spine (C2/C3) that was removed with direct posterior approach is described. A 51-year-old male presented with cervicalgia and radiating scapular pain following a remote motor vehicle collision. A ventrally located meningioma in relation to the C2 body was noted on MRI. Management of this patient included obtaining adequate exposure through a posterior approach, complete tumor excision, and maintenance of cervical spine stability. Cervical stability was maintained following total unilateral facetectomy and application of instrumentation from C1–C3. Subsequent to tumor removal, the patient had complete resolution of his cervicalgia, headaches, and scapular pain by his two month follow-up appointment. Although adhesions can make total resection difficult, a posterior approach can grant adequate access to midline ventral meningiomas. Cervical spine stability, tumor location, infection risk, and surgeon familiarity with the approach should all be weighed in decision-making.
Improved patency after axillofemoral bypass for aortoiliac occlusive disease.

Abstract Objective Axillofemoral bypasses (AxFBs) have been used since 1962 to treat aortoiliac disease. In the past, reported patency rates (37%-76%) for these extra-anatomic grafts have been inferior to those for anatomic aortic grafting. Reported low survival rates after AxFB (40%-50%) have confirmed that these procedures have been used primarily in patients at high risk for complications from aortofemoral bypass. However, modern medical and anesthesia management, preoperative scanning, donor artery preparation, postoperative graft surveillance, and graft technology may improve outcomes after AxFB, possibly supporting expansion of its use. We therefore report our last 15-year experience with AxFB. Methods Ring-reinforced, 8-mm expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts were used in all cases. The cross-femoral limb of axillobifemoral bypass (AxBFB) grafts was preconstructed. Heparin was administered intraoperatively, with protamine reversal. Loss of primary patency was defined as graft thrombosis of part or all of the inserted graft. Five-year primary patency rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results Between February 1991 and June 2016, a total of 161 grafts were inserted (85 AxBFBs and 76 axillounifemoral bypasses [AxUFBs]) in 91 male and 70 female patients (median age, 72.6 years; mean age, 73 years; range, 41-94 years). Indications for treatment were rest pain (49.6%), ischemic lesions (26%), claudication (22.3%), failed prior revascularization (9.3%), infection (3.7%), and dissecting aneurysm (1.2%). Reasons for performing AxFB rather than aortofemoral bypass were hostile aorta (44.1%), high risk (19.2%), prior failed reconstruction (12.4%), advanced age (8.7%), infection (4.3%), hostile abdomen (4.3%), aortic dissection (0.6%), and morbid obesity (0.6%). During follow up, 63 patients died, 17 within the first year; but only 3 patients died within 30 days of surgery (performed to treat an acute aortic occlusion). The 5-year survival rate was 55%. Five-year patency rates were 83.7% for all procedures, 81.8% for AxBFB, and 85.5% for AxUFB; the difference between AxBFB and AxUFB was not significant. Conclusions Our data indicate that AxBFB and AxUFB performed with the use of modern protocols and technology may render them an acceptable valid primary intervention in patients in whom endovascular treatment has failed or is unlikely to offer long-term success. The simplicity of performing these grafts and their low mortality and morbidity lend their application to surgeons with limited open aortic experience. Because AxUFB and AxBFB have similar patency rates, AxBFB should be reserved for bilateral indications.
Evening chronotype is associated with a more unrestricted sociosexuality in men and women

Abstract Chronotype and sociosexuality have been reported to be associated with each other and to also be sexually dimorphic. Specifically, research has suggested a link between evening chronotypes and increased sociosexuality, but the research is sparse, including the extent to which gender may interact with chronotype and sociosexuality. To that end, the present study administered the Horne and Ostberg morningness/eveningness questionnaire (MEQ) and the revised Sociosexual Orientation Inventory (SOI-R), which consists of behavior, attitude, and desire subscales, to 554 participants (61.7% female). Results indicated that men had a more unrestricted sociosexuality than women, except for the behavioral subscale. Eveningness was related to increased sociosexuality for both men (except the behavioral subscale) and women (for all subscales). It is suggested that adopting phase-delayed nocturnal short-term sexual strategies is an adaptive niche-exploiting behavior for both men and women that is governed by natural selection.
THE FACTOR V (COENZYMES I AND II) CONTENT OF RAT TISSUES: EVIDENCE FOR SYNTHESIS OF NICOTINIC ACID BY THE RAT

Specific deficiency diseases caused by lack of dietary nicotinic acid have been described in the dog, pig, monkey, and man. In the dog and the pig it has been shown that the coenzyme content of the liver and voluntary muscle is markedly decreased in the deficient animal (l-3) but the coenzyme content of the blood cells is not decreased. An early report (4) suggested that the coenzyme content of the blood was lowered in deficient humans (pellagrins) but later work shows this to be incorrect (5, 6); therefore in three of the species the blood coenzyme level does not change significantly in the deficient state, but the level in certain other tissues has been shown to fall in the only two species examined. No specific nicotinic acid deficiency disease has yet been reported in the rat, but on the basis of the results with other species it is to be expected that if such disease occurred it would be accompanied by large decreases in the coenzyme content of the liver and voluntary muscle, but little change in the blood level. We have sought evidence for the existence of such a disease by examining the coenzyme content of certain tissues of the rat on complete diets and on diets low in nicotinic acid. In addition we have obtained figures on nicotinic acid balance in an attempt to find whether the rat is dependent on dietary nicotinic acid.
Biological Systems Which Suppress Lipid Peroxidation

Cell metabolism and the environmental factors in general place animal tissues at chronic risk of oxidative alteration of membrane lipids and other components. Several oxidation-reduction enzymes in subcellular organelles are capable of initiating lipid peroxidation in those organelles in vitro. For example, the synthesis of ascorbic acid from gulonolactone by gulonolactone oxidase causes a peroxidative degradation of membrane phospholipids in liver microsomes (1). Oxidation of NADPH by both liver microsomes (2) and liver mitochondria (3) results in lipid peroxidation also. The metabolism of some xenobiotic compounds by the drug metabolizing system is also capable of promoting oxidative degradation of both membrane lipids and proteins (4–6). In addition, radiation, airborne chemicals, ozone, and water pollutants may also produce oxidative damage to tissue.
An optimized quality control procedure for hematology analyzers with the use of retained patient specimens.

The authors propose guidelines for the use of retained patient specimens for the quality control of multichannel hematology analyzers. They demonstrate that control limits for patient specimen replicates may be derived from the long-term standard deviations (s) of commercial whole blood controls. They then use computer stimulation of the Coulter multichannel hematology instrument to determine power functions of various procedures using retained specimens. These power functions show that the use of three patient specimens and +/- 2 s limits are optimal for the detection of systematic error. They recommend that three different, previously analyzed normal range specimens be periodically analyzed, e.g., at eight-hour intervals. The differences between the current and original measurements should then be calculated and compared with their +/- 2 s limits. If at least two of the three differences for any directly measured parameter exceed the +/- 2 s limits, there will be a high probability of significant analytic error. Because the power functions of the derived red blood cell parameters, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration demonstrate relatively low error detection capabilities, the authors recommend that these parameters not be monitored with the retained patient specimen procedure.
Quantitative characterization of trabecular bone micro-architecture using tensor scale and multi-detector CT imaging

Osteoporosis, characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and micro-architectural deterioration of trabecular bone (TB), increases risk of fractures associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and financial costs. A quantitative measure of TB micro-architecture with high reproducibility, large between-subjects variability and strong association with bone strength that may be computed via in vivo imaging would be an important indicator of bone quality for clinical trials evaluating fracture risks under different clinical conditions. Previously, the notion of tensor scale (t-scale) was introduced using an ellipsoidal model that yields a unified representation of structure size, orientation and anisotropy. Here, we develop a new 3-D t-scale algorithm for fuzzy objects and investigate its application to compute quantitative measures characterizing TB micro-architecture acquired by in vivo multi-row detector CT (MD-CT) imaging. Specifically, new measures characterizing individual trabeculae on the continuum of a perfect plate and a perfect rod and their orientation are directly computed in a volumetric BMD representation of a TB network. Reproducibility of these measures is evaluated using repeat MD-CT scans and also by comparing their correlation between MD-CT and μ-CT imaging. Experimental results have demonstrated that the t-scale-based TB micro-architectural measures are highly reproducible with strong association of their values at MD-CT and μ-CT resolutions. Results of an experimental mechanical study have proved these measures' ability to predict TB's bone strength.
Vasectomy Simulation Curriculum and Trainer with Enhanced Face, Content and Construct Validity

AbstractIntroduction:We assessed the face, content and construct validity of a newly created vasectomy simulation module.Methods:Pre-simulation and post-simulation surveys quantifying simulation ef...
Characterization and repair of small damage sites and their impact on the lifetime of fused silica optics on the National Ignition Facility

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) uses an in-situ system called the Final Optics Damage Inspection (FODI) system to monitor the extent of damage on installed optical components. Among this system's uses is to alert operators when damage sites on a Grating Debris Shield (GDS) require repair (≈300 microns) and triggers the removal of the damaged optic. FODI, which can reliably detect damage sites larger than 50 microns, records the size and location of observed sub-critical damage observed on the optic, so each of these sites can be repaired before the optic is next installed. However, by only identifying, and hence repairing sites larger than ≈50 microns, optics are left with numerous smaller sites, some fraction of which resume growing when the host optic is reinstalled. This work presents a method of identifying and repairing damage sites below the FODI detection limit that have a significant probability of growth. High resolution images are collected of all likely damage candidates on each optic, and a machine learning based automated classification algorithm is used to determine if each candidate is a damage site or something benign (particle, previously repaired site, etc.). Any damage site greater than 20 microns is flagged for subsequent repair. By repairing these smaller sites, recycled optics had a 40% increased lifetime on the NIF.
Synthesis of TiO2-based nanocomposites by anodizing and hydrogen annealing for efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation

Abstract Black TiO2 based nanomaterials have shown considerable potential towards photoelectrochemical water oxidation due to their low cost, raw material availability and operational stability. In this work, thermal annealing of anatase TiO2 nanotube arrays under hydrogen-argon atmosphere at high temperatures (>600 °C) is employed to induce significant oxygen deficiency and phase transitions to substoichiometric structures (Magneli phases), with the aim to limit interfacial recombination processes and increase the density of charge carriers. Particle-nanowire porous TiO2 sub-stoichiometries are formed at 800 °C, which is quantitatively investigated via X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement. The photocurrent of this Ti-O compounds is increased by 2.4-fold at 1.23VRHE and the photoconversion efficiency is enhanced by 2.8-fold at a reduced bias under simulated solar illumination in comparison with pristine TiO2 nanotube arrays. The improved performance is owed to slower interfacial recombination, resulting in the increase of water oxidation selectivity from 65% to 92%, and by the increase in charge carrier density up to two orders of magnitude, as evaluated via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Finally, this method is compared to electrochemical hydrogen doping, with the latter exhibiting a significantly lower energy conversion efficiency.
Defining Barriers that Impede Choices.

Committing to a differentiation pathway means leaving alternative pathways behind. Adoue et al. (2019) report that the H3K9-methyltrasferase Setdb1 plays a role in inhibiting the Th1 program in committed Th2 cells, and mechanistically, its role might relate to the selective targeting of endogenous retroviruses adjacent to Th1 enhancers.
Effects of Land Use and Restoration on Soil Microbial Communities

Humans depend upon soil-based ecosystems for many essential activities including agriculture, grazing, and forestry, as well as for other uses such as recreation, mining, drilling, and development. All of these land uses have the potential to affect soil quality and viability. The North American Dust Bowl catastrophe of the early twentieth century focused attention on agricultural soil conservation. Later in the twentieth century, more holistic approaches to ecosystem reclamation and restoration were developed, driven by research documenting the close ties between aboveground and belowground communities of producers, consumers, and decomposers. The important roles of soil microbial communities in soil formation, biogeochemical cycling, nutrient retention, plant–microbe interactions, and soil food webs are now widely recognized as essential to good soil quality, essential ecosystem services, and maintenance of biodiversity. This chapter broadly reviews the progress made toward understanding the effects of various land uses on soil microbial communities, recent developments in our understanding of the roles of soil microbes in facilitating ecosystem reclamation and restoration following anthropogenic degradation, and the implications of these processes for carbon cycling and climate change mitigation.
Optimization Design for Wireless Power Transfer System under the Variation of Load and Coupling Coefficients

The variation of load resistance and coupling coefficient are two key factors affecting the output characteristics of wireless power transfer system during the charging process. Both the variation of coupling coefficient caused by the position deviation of primary and secondary devices and the variation of load resistance during charging will result in the low output power and efficiency of the wireless charging system. In view of the above problems, this paper studied the constraint conditions of the compensation network of several wireless power transfer systems, and analyzed the output characteristics of the wireless power transfer system of each compensation network under the variation of load and coupling coefficient. The LCL-LCL type compensation network structure was selected for optimization design and according to the variation characteristics of output power and efficiency with load and coupling coefficient, the method of optimizing the compensation network parameters was proposed. The output power value of the design system was further optimized by adding a dc-dc converter circuit. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed optimization design method was verified through the system simulation.
i-RISE: An IoT-based Semi-Immersive Affective monitoring framework for Anxiety Disorders

The increasing trend of using wearable sensors for monitoring various physiological signals has helped researchers to advance the research in the development and application of wearable computing systems. In addition to having an active lifestyle, the emotional well-being of a person is important in maintaining a healthier balanced life. With the application of affective computing, also known as artificial emotional intelligence, in wearable computing, devices and systems can recognize, interpret and simulate human emotions. In this research, we propose a cost-effective semi-immersive affective monitoring system that can help in analyzing emotion features for monitoring anxiety disorders by monitoring physiological signals of the user and aid in emotion elicitation through a semi-immersive environment. The proposed system, i-RISE, was used to evaluate the role of ambient sensing in detecting anxiety. The system was validated by using user input to record their emotions. A correlation between the user input and anxiety detected using the bayesian network yielded an accuracy of 90.23
Superb Microvascular Imaging Improves Detection of Vascularity in Indeterminate Renal Masses

Objectives Vascular assessment of indeterminate renal masses (iRMs) remains a crucial element of diagnostic imaging, as the presence of blood flow within renal lesions suggests malignancy. We compared the utility of Superb Microvascular Imaging (SMI; Canon Medical Systems, Tustin, CA), a novel Doppler technique, to standard color Doppler imaging (CDI) and power Doppler imaging (PDI) for the detection of vascularity within iRMs. Methods Patients undergoing contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) evaluations for iRMs first underwent a renal ultrasound examination with the following modes: CDI, PDI, color Superb Microvascular Imaging (cSMI), and monochrome Superb Microvascular Imaging (mSMI), using an Aplio i800 scanner with an i8CX1 transducer (Canon Medical Systems). After image randomization, each mode was assessed for iRM vascularity by 4 blinded readers on a diagnostic confidence scale of 1 to 5 (5 = most confident). The results were compared to CEUS as the reference standard. Results Forty-one patients with 50 lesions met inclusion criteria. Relative to the other 3 modalities, mSMI had the highest sensitivity (63.3%), whereas cSMI had the highest specificity (62.1%). Both cSMI and mSMI also had the highest diagnostic accuracy (0.678 and 0.680, respectively; both P 0.173). Conclusions Preliminary data suggest that SMI is a potentially useful modality in detecting microvasculature in iRMs compared to standard Doppler techniques. Future studies should aim to compare the efficacy of both SMI and CEUS and to assess the ability of SMI to characterize malignancy in iRMs.
Continuum damage modeling of dynamic crack velocity, branching, and energy dissipation in brittle materials

This study is aimed at evaluating continuum scale predictions of dynamic crack propagation and branching in brittle materials using local damage modeling. Classical experimental results on crack branching in PMMA and the corresponding nonlocal modeling results by Wolff et al. (Int J Numer Meth Eng 101(12):933, 2015) are used as a benchmark. An isotropic damage model based on a frame-invariant effective strain is adapted. Mesh objectivity is achieved by calibrating the damage model for a suitable element size and subsequently retaining that mesh size in all subsequent analyses. Crack propagation and branching are predicted by simulating accurately the test conditions. It is found that a local, rate-independent damage model considerably overpredicts the dynamic crack velocity and the extent of crack branching. Subsequently, the effect of various strain rate-dependent phenomena, viz. material viscoelasticity, rate-dependent strength, fracture energy, and failure strain is evaluated. Incorporating the material strain rate effects is found to improve the predictions and match the test data. In this regard, radially scaling the damage law is found to work the best. Despite an overprediction of micro-branching, the macro-crack branching is found to occur in agreement with the Yoffe instability criterion. Overall, various experimentally observed aspects of dynamic cracks are reproduced, including acceleration of cracks to a steady state velocity, increased micro-branching and macro-branching with increased strain rates, and crack velocity dependence of energy dissipation and fracture surface area.
Storage Temperature Effects on the Slurry Health Parameters and SiO2 Removal Rates during Chemical Mechanical Polishing

Temperature is one of the parameters that needs to be continuously monitored and controlled during handling, storage, and transportation to achieve repeatable and consistent CMP performances. Here, we investigated the effect of three different storage temperatures (15, 25, and 45oC) on several slurry health parameters (particle size, zeta potential, pH, total dissolved solids, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration) of a ceria-based slurry and also on removal rates of SiO2 films during polishing. The changes in all the parameters of slurries stored at 15oC and 45oC for three weeks, except for DO concentration, were reversible and returned to their values at 25oC when the slurries were brought back to 25oC. DO concentration increased by ~14 % and decreased by ~18 % in the slurries stored for three weeks at 15oC and 45oC, respectively, compared to that of ceria slurry stored at 25oC. They did not return to the original values even after keeping them at 25oC for 6 hours. The increase in storage temperature causes an increase in the adsorption of dissolved oxygen onto the ceria surface, which can transform Ce3+ species into less reactive Ce4+-superoxo or a Ce3+-peroxo species, resulting in lower SiO2 removal rates.
Rapid Subpicomole Enzyme Immunoassay by Flow Injection with Amperometric Detection

The immunoassay plays a particularly important role in the detection of trace levels of components in complex biological fluids. High sensitivity characteristic of such techniques as mass spectrometry is achievable at a much lower level of complexity and cost. We have concentrated our attention on the development of heterogeneous enzyme immunoassays where detection limits in the sub-nanogram per milliliter range are required. In addition, it is assumed that the total amount of sample available is limited to 5–50 microliters and that the total analysis time should be short (10–20 minutes). It was also desired to configure the immunoassay so that trace levels of analytes could be handled without contamination or sample loss and the overall methodology readily automated.
A modular time domain multiplexer for large array magnetic resonance imaging

Simultaneous acquisition of MR signals from array coils provides improved signal-to-noise ratio in MR imaging. RF coil arrays of up to four channels are commonly used, and emerging applications such as functional imaging and MR microscopy could benefit from the use of even larger arrays. This paper extends previous work by the authors in time-domain multiplexing (TDM) of MR receivers to enable simultaneous acquisition from arrays of sixteen or more elements. A modular TDM unit is developed, based upon a printed circuit four channel multiplexer board. Using this modular system a sixteen channel multiplexer has been developed and tested. >
The mechanism of cell-mediated cytotoxicity: IV. K-76 COONa, Which inhibits the activity of factor I and of C5, inhibits early events in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis and in T-lymphocyte activation

K-76 COONa is a derivative of a fungal product which blocks complement (C)-mediated lysis by combining with C5 and preventing its activation to C5b. K-76 COONa can also combine with Factor I and inhibit its ability to hydrolyze C3b to iC3b. The inclusion of K-76 COONa at concentrations similar to those which inhibit C lysis blocked both murine cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated lysis (CML) and the lectin-stimulated proliferative response of murine and human T lymphocytes. A modified cation pulse procedure has been used to determine which phases of CML were most sensitive to the drug. K-76 COONa was inhibitory when it was added to CML prior to the early Mg+2-dependent binding phase, but was much less effective when it was added at any time after the formation of CTL-target conjugates. The principal effect of the drug on the proliferative response was also exerted during an early phase of the response. K-76 COONa did not appreciably decrease the production of T-cell growth factor (TCGF), but it did inhibit the induction of TCGF receptor expression by both functional criteria, i.e., induction of responsiveness to TCGF, and by morphological criteria, i.e., the expression of the Tac antigen. Later events, such as the TCGF-dependent proliferation of cycling T cells, were less sensitive to the drug. Evidence is discussed suggesting that molecules similar to Factor I and to C3 may be involved both in the early events of CML and of T-lymphocyte activation.
Towards an algebra for security policies

Clashing security policies leads to vulnerabilities. Violating security policies leads to vulnerabilities. A system today operates in the context of a multitude of security policies, often one per application, one per process, one per user. The more security policies that have to be simultaneously satisfied, the more likely the possibility of a clash or violation, and hence the more vulnerable our system is to attack. Moreover, over time a system's security policies will change. These changes occur at small-scale time steps, e.g., using setuid to temporarily grant a process additional access rights; and at large-scale time steps, e.g., when a user changes his browser's security settings. We address the challenge of determining when a system is in a consistent state in the presence of diverse, numerous, and dynamic interacting security policies.
The Effect of Arterial Blood Gas Values on Extubation Decisions

BACKGROUND: No studies have examined the clinical utility of arterial blood gas (ABG) values during spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs) for making extubation decisions. Nonetheless many intensive care units measure ABGs during an SBT to determine, in conjunction with other data, whether the SBT was successful. OBJECTIVE: Determine how often ABG values change extubation decisions. METHODS: Each patient was assessed at the bedside by one of 3 critical care attending physicians. Each assessment was made at the end of the SBT in which ABGs were obtained with the expectation of extubation. When a nurse, respiratory therapist, or resident was available, he or she also simultaneously and independently evaluated the patient and then reassessed with the ABG values. Physiologic data were recorded before and during the SBT, as the attending physician performed the bedside assessment. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients were studied during 100 SBTs. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and mean blood pressure increased. Blood oxygen saturation (measured via pulse oximetry [FIO2]) and the PaO2/FIO2 ratio decreased significantly during SBTs. Concordant clinical and ABG assessment (to attempt a trial of extubation) led to extubation in 86 patients, 76 of whom remained extubated after 72 hours. Following 14 of the SBTs, the patients were not extubated. Seven of these were judged by the attending physicians to fail both clinically and following review of ABG values. Seven were judged successful clinically, but the patients were not extubated because the attending physician thought the ABG values were unfavorable. Bedside nurses, who assessed 72 SBTs, had 1 case in which the ABG values changed their extubation opinion. Resident-trainees assessed 76 cases and had 5 changes of opinion based on ABG values. Respiratory therapists assessed 77 patients and had 4 such cases. The average changes in heart rate and blood pressure of patients not extubated were double those of extubated patients, but there were no significant differences in respiratory rate or PaO2/FIO2 ratio between those groups. Ten patients (11.6%) were extubated based on the attending physician9s decision but required re-intubation within 72 hours. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that ABG values did not change extubation decisions in 93% of cases. However, in 7 cases the ABG values changed the extubation decision. If even a few of those cases would have failed extubation without knowledge of the ABG values, the increased patient risk and cost associated with failed extubation would more than offset the relatively small cost of collecting ABG values from all patients who undergo SBT.
17β-Estradiol Reduces Stroke Injury in Estrogen-Deficient Female Animals

Background and Purpose —The importance of postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy for stroke in females remains controversial. We previously showed that female rats sustain less infarction in reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) than their ovariectomized counterparts and that vascular mechanisms are partly responsible for improved tissue outcomes. Furthermore, exogenous estrogen strongly protects the male brain, even when administered in a single injection before MCAO injection. The present study examined the hypothesis that replacement of 17β-estradiol to physiological levels improves stroke outcome in ovariectomized, estrogen-deficient female rats, acting through blood flow–mediated mechanisms. Methods —Age-matched, adult female Wistar rats were ovariectomized and treated with 0, 25, or 100 μg of 17β-estradiol administered through a subcutaneous implant or with a single Premarin (USP) injection (1 mg/kg) given immediately before ischemia was induced (n=10 per group). Each animal subsequently underwent 2 hours of MCAO by the intraluminal filament technique, followed by 22 hours of reperfusion. Ipsilateral parietal cortex perfusion was monitored by laser-Doppler flowmetry throughout ischemia. Cortical and caudate-putamen infarction volumes were determined by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining and digital image analysis. End-ischemic regional cerebral blood flow was measured in ovariectomized females with 0- or 25-μg implants (n=4 per group) by 14C-iodoantipyrine quantitative autoradiography. Results —Plasma estradiol levels were 3.0±0.6, 20±8, and 46±10 pg/mL in the 0-, 25-, and 100-μg groups, respectively. Caudate-putamen infarction (% of ipsilateral caudate-putamen) was reduced by long-term, 25-μg estrogen treatment (13±4% versus 31±6% in the 0-μg group, P <0.05, and 22±3% in the 100-μg group). Similarly, cortical infarction (% of ipsilateral cortex) was reduced only in the 25-μg group (3±2% versus 12±3% in the 0-μg group, P <0.05, and 6±3% in the 100-μg group. End-ischemic striatal or cortical blood flow was not altered by estrogen treatment at the neuroprotective dose. Infarction volume was unchanged by acute treatment before MCAO when estrogen-treated animals were compared with saline vehicle–treated animals. Conclusions —Long-term estradiol replacement within a low physiological range ameliorates ischemic brain injury in previously ovariectomized female rats. The neuroprotective mechanism is flow-independent, not through preservation of residual ischemic regional cerebral blood flow. Furthermore, the therapeutic range is narrow, because the benefit of estrogen in transient vascular occlusion is diminished at larger doses, which yield high, but still physiologically relevant, plasma 17β-estradiol levels. Lastly, unlike in the male brain, single-injection estrogen exposure does not salvage ischemic tissue in the female brain. Therefore, although exogenous steroid therapy protects both male and female estrogen-deficient brain, the mechanism may not be identical and depends on long-term hormone augmentation in the female.
Reorganization of the interchromosomal network during keratinocyte differentiation

The well-established human epidermal keratinocyte (HEK) differentiation model was investigated to determine possible alterations in chromosome territory (CT) association during differentiation. The seven human chromosomes (1, 4, 11, 12, 16, 17, and 18) selected for this analysis are representative of the chromosome size and gene density range of the overall human genome as well as including a majority of genes involved in epidermal development and differentiation (CT1, 12, and 17). Induction with calcium chloride (Ca(2+)) resulted in morphological changes characteristic of keratinocyte differentiation. Combined multi-fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and computational image analysis on the undifferentiated (0 h) and differentiated (24 h after Ca(2+) treatment) HEK revealed that (a) increases in CT volumes correspond to overall nuclear volume increases, (b) radial positioning is gene density-dependent at 0 h but neither gene density- nor size-dependent at 24 h, (c) the average number of interchromosomal associations for each CT is gene density-dependent and similar at both time points, and (d) there are striking differences in the single and multiple pairwise interchromosomal association profiles. Probabilistic network models of the overall interchromosomal associations demonstrate major reorganization of the network during differentiation. Only ~40 % of the CT pairwise connections in the networks are common to both 0 and 24 h HEK. We propose that there is a probabilistic chromosome positional code which can be significantly altered during cell differentiation in coordination with reprogramming of gene expression.
Ischemic hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome patients.

Objective. Mixed evidence exists regarding whether irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients show increased somatic pain perception compared with controls. The current study used a deep, tonic somatic pain stimulus (ischemic pain) to evaluate somatic hypersensitivity in IBS patients. Methods. A total of 27 diarrhea-predominant and 15 constipation-predominant IBS patients, and 29 controls participated in the study. The modified submaximal effort tourniquet procedure was performed to induce ischemic arm pain, and the time required to reach pain threshold and pain tolerance were recorded in seconds. All subjects completed the Functional Bowel Disease Severity Index (FBDSI) scale as well as several psychosocial instruments. Group differences for threshold and tolerance were determined using a series of one-way anova tests followed by Tukey comparisons. Results. IBS patients had a shorter time to ischemic threshold ( F = 34.606, P < 0.001) and tolerance ( F = 38.656, P < 0.001) compared with controls; however, the groups did not differ on ratings of pain at the time of tolerance. IBS patients had a higher rating on the FBDSI scale compared with controls ( P < 0.001), and ischemic pain threshold was negatively correlated with the FBDSI score. Conclusions. The results of this study suggest that a widespread alteration in central pain processing in IBS patients may be present as they display hypersensitivity to ischemic arm pain, and ischemic pain threshold was associated with clinical symptoms. These findings could reflect a dysfunction in inhibitory pain systems in IBS patients, as ischemic (deep) pain may be under tonic inhibitory control.
Moving Targets: The Constant Change of Mobile Game Development

Normal 0 21 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 This interview is excerpted from a series we conducted in early 2011 with James Johnson, an independent mobile game developer in the US . Prior to creating his own games, Johnson worked as a programmer for Octopi, F.U.N. Technologies, World Winner, and Sony Online Entertainment on titles such as Snood Deluxe, Makeover Madness, Pox Nora, and The Agency: Covert Ops. In this interview, he talks about the dynamism of mobile game development, the interplay between programmers and designers, the differences between large and small companies, and the future of the game industry.