cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DETERMINATION OF MANGANESE SULPHATE CONTENT FOR NEUTRON SOURCE MEASUREMENTS

Abstract Present technology for neutron source calibration leans heavily on manganese bath measurements. Since the manganese concentration enters directly into the calculations, a simple and accurate method of obtaining the MnSO4 content is required. Obtaining solution density at statandard temperature would fulfil such objectives. A polynomial representation of the concentration as a function of the solution density at 30°C is provided. In addition, the results are displayed graphically and compared with experimental data.
Error estimators for stiff differential equations

Abstract When solving ordinary differential equations numerically, the local error is estimated at each step. In the classical situation of ‘small’ step sizes, it is clear what is required of the error estimators. Stiff problems are solved with ‘large’ step sizes. The quality of error estimators is studied in this situatuion, and it is shown how to modify unsatisfactory estimators so as to improve them greatly. Several formulas from the literature are treated as examples.
Ectopic pregnancy following laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy in tubectomised women.

Ectopic pregnancy following hysterectomy is uncommon; total of 56 cases are reported in the literature till date [1]. It may occur early or late, even up to 12 years after hysterectomy. Early ectopic pregnancy accounts for 55.3 % cases (31 out of 56) which results due to entrapment of fertilized ovum in the fallopian tube at the time of hysterectomy. Late ectopic pregnancies occur as a result of migration of spermatozoa from vaginal vault to peritoneum through a fistulous track. In some cases granulation tissue has been noted at the apex of vaginal vault [2]. If it is not considered in differential diagnosis of an acute abdomen in hysterectomized women, the diagnosis may be delayed. Having an ectopic pregnancy after hysterectomy in tubectomised women is even more infrequent and only two such cases has been reported in literature [3, 4]. We describe one such case which occurred 6 months after laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy and 10 years after tubal ligation.
Frankfurt Book Fair: “Buch Messe 2004”

Reports on the 2004 Frankfurt Book Fair. Provides some information on exhibitors, subject groups and other topics about the world’s largest trade show for the publishing industry.
Intrinsically disordered proteins are potential drug targets

Intrinsically disordered (ID) proteins that lack stable secondary and tertiary structure in substantial regions (or throughout) are prevalent in eukaryotes. They exist as ensembles of rapidly fluctuating structures and many undergo coupled folding and binding reactions. Because ID proteins are overrepresented in major disease pathways they are desirable targets for inhibition; however, the feasibility of targeting proteins without defined structures was unclear. Recently, small molecules have been found that bind to the disordered regions of c-Myc, Abeta, EWS-Fli1, and various peptides. As with structured targets, initial hits were further optimized to increase specificity and affinity. Given the number and biological importance of ID proteins, the ability to inhibit their interactions opens tremendous potential in chemical biology and drug discovery.
Physical activity in relation to knee cartilage T2 progression measured with 3 T MRI over a period of 4 years: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative

Summary Objective The purpose of this study was to analyze the longitudinal association between physical activity levels and early degenerative cartilage changes in the knee, measured using T2 relaxation times over a period of 4 years in individuals without clinical or radiographic evidence of OA. Design Cartilage T2 was measured at baseline and after 2 and 4 years in 205 subjects aged 45–60 years from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) incidence and normal cohorts with no knee pain (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score of zero), and a Kellgren Lawrence (KL) score of Results T2 values for all PASE tertiles progressed over the 4-year period. T2 progression was increased in the highest tertile of physical activity compared to the mid-tertile at the medial tibia (MT) ( P = 0.041), patella (Pat) ( P = 0.019), and average T2 of all knee compartments combined ( P = 0.033). Subjects with the lowest 15% PASE scores showed significantly higher T2 progression compared to the mid-level physical activity group at the lateral femur (LF) ( P = 0.025), lateral tibia (LT) ( P = 0.043), medial femur (MF) ( P = 0.044), tibiofemoral compartment ( P = 0.017), patellofemoral compartment ( P = 0.016), lateral compartments ( P = 0.003), and average of all compartments ( P = 0.043). Conclusion High and very low PASE scores were associated with greater progression of cartilage T2 measurements in asymptomatic, middle-aged individuals, suggesting accelerated cartilage matrix biochemical degeneration over time.
A Novel Direct Pulse Laser Deposited Nickel Silicide Ohmic Contact to n -SiC

Pulsed laser direct deposit Ni 2 Si Ohmic contacts were successfully fabricated on n -SiC. The electrical, structural, compositional, and surface morphological properties were investigated as a function of heat treatments ranging from 700 °C to 950 °C. The as-deposited and 700 °C annealed samples were non-Ohmic. Annealing at 950 C° yielded excellent Ohmic behavior, an abrupt void free interface, and a smooth surface morphology. No residual carbon was present within the contact film or at the film-SiC interface and the contact showed no appreciable contact expansion as a result of the 950 °C annealing process. Results of this investigation demonstrate that 950 °C annealed pulse laser deposited Ni 2 Si-SiC contacts possess excellent electrical, interfacial, microstructural, and surface properties, which are required for reliable device operation.
"Entropically driven" chiral separations in supercritical fluid chromatography. Confirmation of isoelution temperature and reversal of elution order.

Chiral separations depend upon column efficiency and chiral selectivity. Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) has been shown to have pronounced advantages in chiral separations due to its enhanced column efficiency at normal flow rates. Examination of factors affecting selectivity in SFC is crucial to systematic chiral method development. Selectivity is a compromise between differences in enantiomeric binding enthalpy and disruptive entropic effects. Increased temperature will decrease the effect of differences in enantiomer binding enthalpy, eventually decreasing selectivity to a point where the enantiomers coelute. Extension of this thermodynamic theory predicts that further increases in temperature lead to selectivity values of less than 1.0, and elution order of the enantiomers reverses. In this region separations are said to be “entropically driven”, and selectivity increases (decreases from 1.0) with temperature. Performing separations in this region is attractive because column efficiency is al...
“This is no longer the city I once knew”. Evictions, the urban poor and the right to the city in millennial Delhi

Millennial Delhi is changing rapidly. Between 1990 and 2003, 51,461 houses were demolished in Delhi under “slum clearance” schemes. Between 2004 and 2007 alone, however, at least 45,000 homes were demolished, and since the beginning of 2007, eviction notices have been served on at least three other large settlements. Fewer than 25 per cent of the households evicted in this latter time period have received any alternative resettlement sites. These evictions represent a shift not just in degree but also in kind. They were not ordered by the city's planning agency, its municipal bodies or by the city government. Instead, each was the result of a judicial ruling. What has this emergence of the judiciary into urban planning and government meant for the urban poor? This paper analyzes the dictums of verdicts on evictions in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court of India from 1985 to 2006. Using these judgments, it explores the “misrecognition” of the poor that became dramatically apparent in the early 1990...
Microcomputer control of permanently implanted blood pumps

The component tasks which are performed by the electronic control system in an electric-motor-driven total artificial heart or heart assist device are described. Means of adapting the tasks to the capabilities of compact microprocessor systems are discussed. Failsafe mechanisms and results of usage of an early implementation of the controller in animal experiments are outlined as well as considerations for the selection of hardware for a miniaturized version of the system. >
Finite element analysis of laser irradiated metal heating and melting processes

Laser technology has shown fast growth due to its demands in material processing and manufacturing. Laser material processing includes various applications like cutting, welding, drilling, cladding and surface treatment. In laser surface treatment, the material properties at the surface are altered through surface alloying and transformation hardening. In this study, an enthalpy-based computational model is developed for analyzing laser heating and melting of metals. The solution to the problem is obtained by using a finite element method and validated by comparing the results with that given by an analytical solution to a limiting case problem. A solution algorithm and a computational code are developed to estimate the temperature distribution, solid-liquid interface location and shape and size of the molten pool. The computational model is validated by comparing results with a limiting case analytical model. The study is conducted to analyze the heating rate, the heat affected zone, and the shape and size of the molten pool using a Gaussian laser beam.
The USA national parks in international perspective: have we learned the wrong lesson?

A highly polarized debate has emerged in the conservation literature about whether national parks in lesser developed countries should follow a strict protectionist model or find ways to accommodate the development and livelihood needs of local people. A number of social science critiques of national park practice and policy in lesser developed countries have argued that one of the chief problems facing national parks in particular, and biodiversity conservation in general, has been the USA national park model, often termed the ‘Yellowstone model’. This model, in which local and indigenous people and uses have been excluded from parks, has been blamed for harming local people, providing benefits to developed country interests at the expense of local people, high costs of park protection, and ineffective biodiversity conservation (Machlis & Tichnell 1985; West & Brechin 1991; Pimbert & Pretty 1995). Alternatives (henceforth referred to as ‘parks and people’ approaches) seek accommodations between parks and local people, and include community-based conservation, which promotes local involvement and/or control in park decision-making, and integrated conservation and development projects, which attempt to ensure conservation by meeting social and economic needs of local people through agroforestry, forestry, tourism, water projects, extractive reserves, and wildlife utilization.
Attitude determination and control system simulation and analysis for low-cost micro-satellites

The Air Force Academy's latest satellite endeavor, FalconSAT-3, is a 50 kg microsatellite being developed by faculty and cadets, and is the Air Force Academy's first attempt at achieving three axis attitude determination and control (ADCS). FalconSAT-3 will carry three payloads to conduct DoD research. The attitude requirements for FalconSAT-3 include pointing the satellite within +/- five degrees of ram direction, as well as attitude knowledge to within one degree. This paper explains the development and testing of a Simulink and Matlab based simulation that demonstrates the ability of FalconSAT-3 ADCS hardware to meet design requirements. The satellite includes a magnetometer and sun sensors, and actuators include magnetorquers, a reaction wheel, and passive attitude control from a gravity gradient boom. Implementation of attitude conventions, satellite dynamic equations, and FalconSAT-3 design characteristics are presented. Attitude estimation using linear and extended Kalman filters is explained and included in the simulation. Control laws during delibration and operational attitude maintenance for magnetorquers and a reaction wheel are also discussed. A model of probable disturbance torques in the FalconSAT-3 orbital environment, including magnetic moment, atmospheric drag, and solar pressure is also incorporated in the simulation. Attitude control of FalconSAT-3 is shown from tip-off to a Y-Thomson spin attitude. A boom deployment sequence is then simulated, and delibration of the satellite is shown using magnetorquers and a reaction wheel. Finally, operational phase attitude maintenance is shown, with FalconSAT-3 meeting all operational attitude design requirements.
Preparation of Micrometer Size Budesonide Particles by Precipitation.

Particles of different shape, size and crystallinity of budesonide, a hydrocortisone streroid, were prepared by precipitation. The method is based on taking advantage of the different solubility of this material in certain organic solvents (ethanol, acetone) and water or alcanes. In principle, to solutions of budesonide, water was added until the solids precipitate or the same solute in mixed solvents was carefully separated by evaporation of the more volatile component at room temperature. The morphology, size, and stability of the resulting particles were sensitive to the evaporation technique, stirring, and presence of a stabilizing agent.
Approaches to the Understanding of Decentralization

ECENTRALIZATION" is an apparently simple term. Yet the appearance is deceiving and often leads to simplistic treatments that generalize too broadly, start from a doctrinaire position predetermining answers to concrete problems, or concentrate on a single phase of decentralization to the exclusion of others. "Decentralization" is a term of rich conceptual and empirical, meaning; it can designate static fact and dynamic process; and it can refer to pure ideal-type and to moderate incremental change. The understanding of complexity is often advanced less by immediate search for the single path that will carry us to the heart of the matter than by successive exploration of different avenues of approach, some of which may be then found unpromising and others of which may seem to be converging toward the goal of understanding. My intent in the present paper is to examine four such approaches to the problem of decentralization, each of which seems important to a rounded view of the topic but none of which has yet been carried to the point of resolution. The approaches lend themselves to pairing. The first two are concerned with doctrine and with politics, and so with the scope and complexity of decentralization and with interpretive attitudes. The last two are concerned with specifically administrative problems: the forced choices-or the opportunities for reconciliation-between function and area as bases of decentralization, and between law-and-order and economicand-social-development as the responsibilities of decentralized administration. These last two problems of approach will be only briefly delineated. Before turning to these several approaches, however, we may appropriately note three methodological problems that trouble political scientists' efforts to move discussions of decentralization from
Stable state of interconnect under temperature change and electric current

Abstract This paper considers aluminum interconnects in the presence of insulators, vias, and shunts. Subject to a temperature change and a direct electric current, such an interconnect evolves—after a complicated sequence of events—into a stable state with a segment of aluminum depleted near the cathode, a linear distribution of pressure in the rest of the line, and no further mass diffusion. The electric current continues in the shunt layers where aluminum is depleted; the multilayer interconnect never opens, but its resistance has increased to a saturation level. Several aspects of this stable state are discussed, including the condition under which the high pressure near the anode does not cause the surrounding insulator to crack; the dependence of saturation resistance on shapes, materials, and loads; and the time scale for the interconnect to evolve to the stable state. Should a circuit tolerate a variable resistance up to saturation, the interconnect would function forever. Implications of this possibility are also discussed.
Cardiovascular risk escalation with caloric excess: a prospective demonstration of the mechanics in healthy adults

Context: The link between weight gain and cardiovascular risk characterized with circadian blood pressure variability [CBPV] and endothelial function [EF] is unexplored. Objective: To prospectively demonstrate weight gain in healthy adults, increases body fat [BF], enlarges waist circumference [WC], expands visceral adipose tissue [VAT], exacerbates systemic inflammation [sIF], worsens insulin resistance [IR] and enhances functional cardiovascular disease [CVD] risk. Design, setting and participants: Healthy men [n=11] and women [n=3] provided initial and eight-week postcaloric excess anthropometric and fasting laboratory measures. Functional CVD risk assessments: CBPV and resting EF were also obtained with 7-day automatic ambulatory BP monitoring and increased test finger peripheral arterial tone [PAT] relative to control [reported as relative hyperemia index (RHI)], respectively. Intervention: After determining individualized mean energy requirements for weight maintenance over 7-days, each participant received a personalized over feeding prescription (1.4 times; 41% carbohydrate, 44% fat, and 15% protein) for 8-weeks. Results: mean (SEM). Participants increased body weight [BW;+7.4(0.1) kg]*, body mass index [BMI;+2.5(0.2) kg/m 2 ]*, BF [+2.0(0.01)%]*, WC [+8.2(1.0) cm]*, and VAT [+0.2(0.03) L]* and intrahepatic lipid [IHL+0.0004(0.002) L] :*all p <0.01. Increased subcutaneous adipose cell size [+0.3(0.01) ρL; p =0.02] accompanied significant sIF [hs-CRP +0.4(0.09) mg/dL; p=0.04; leptin 6.63 ng/ml; p = 0.0008] and IR [fasting plasma glucose; [FPG] +7.0(0.6) mg/dL;p=0.01, fasting insulin; [FI] +5.7(1.4) uIU/ml; p =0.001, HOMA-IR +1.6(0.5); p=0.02]. Abn CBPV {systolic [+5.4(0.8); p =0.002, diastolic [+1.7(0.1); p = 0.07 and pulse pressure [PP] [+3.5(0.4); p =0.003 mm Hg} or elevated heart rate [HR] [+4.9(0.5) bpm; p=0.003] ensued. Resting RHI declined by 0.47(0.004) from initial 2.24(0.09) to 1.77(0.1); p =0.001, indicating endothelial dysfunction [ED]. Conclusions: Controlled caloric excess in healthy human adults over only 8-weeks significantly increased BF, VAT, sIF [hs-CRP], IR [FPG, FI, HOMA-IR] and functional CVD risk [measured as abnormal circadian blood pressure variability and impaired resting endothelial function].
Extraction and integration of window in a 3D building model from ground view images

Details of the building facades are needed for high quality fly-through visualization or simulation applications. Windows form a key structure in the detailed facade reconstruction. In this paper, given calibrated facade texture (i.e. the rectified texture), we extract and reconstruct the 3D window structure of the building. We automatically extract windows (rectangles in the rectified image) using a profile projection method, which exploits the regularity of the vertical and horizontal window placement. We classify the extracted windows using 2D dimensions and image texture information. The depth of the extracted windows is automatically computed using window classification information and image line features. A single ground view image is enough to compute 3D depths of the facade windows in our approach.
High predation on small populations: avian predation on imperiled salmonids

Generalist predators can contribute to extinction risk of imperiled prey populations even through incidental predation. Quantifying predation on small populations is important to manage their recovery, however predation is often challenging to observe directly. Recovery of prey tags at predator colonies can indirectly provide minimum estimates of predation, however overall predation rates often remain unquantifiable because an unknown proportion of tags are deposited off-colony. Here, we estimated overall predation rates on threatened wild juvenile steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by generalist adult Western Gulls (Larus occidentalis) in six central California (USA) watersheds. We estimated predation rates by gulls from the recapture of PIT (passive integrated transponder) tags that were originally inserted into steelhead and were subsequently deposited at a Western Gull breeding colony, Ano Nuevo Island (ANI). We combined three independent datasets to isolate different processes: (1) the probability a tag...
Preparation and characterization of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/clay nanocomposites by melt blending using thermally stable surfactants†

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)/clay nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending and their morphologies and properties were investigated through X-ray diffraction, bright field transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and cone calorimetry. Three clays were comparatively studied—montmorillonite, hectorite and magadiite—all organically modified with thermally stable surfactants developed in this laboratory. Two such organic modifications were investigated, alkyl-quinolinium surfactants and vinylbenzyl-ammonium containing copolymers; both organic modifications combine high enough degradation temperature to allow for melt processing with PET, and also favorable thermodynamics for nanocomposite formation with PET. All nanocomposites showed about the same value for the peak heat release rate (PHRR). The amount of char increases after nanocomposite formation and this could account for the PHRRs. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Direct observation of kinesin stepping by optical trapping interferometry

Do biological motors move with regular steps? To address this question, we constructed instrumentation with the spatial and temporal sensitivity to resolve movement on a molecular scale. We deposited silica beads carrying single molecules of the motor protein kinesin on microtubules using optical tweezers and analysed their motion under controlled loads by interferometry. We find that kinesin moves with 8-nm steps.
WhyNot: debugging failed queries in large knowledge bases

When a query to a knowledge-based system fails and returns "unknown", users are confronted with a problem: Is relevant knowledge missing or incorrect? Is there a problem with the inference engine? Was the query ill-conceived? Finding the culprit in a large and complex knowledge base can be a hard and laborious task for knowledge engineers and might be impossible for non-expert users. To support such situations we developed a new tool called "WhyNot" as part of the PowerLoom knowledge representation and reasoning system. To debug a failed query, WhyNot tries to generate a small set of plausible partial proofs that can guide the user to what knowledge might have been missing, or where the system might have failed to make a relevant inference. A first version of the system has been deployed to help debug queries to a version of the Cyc knowledge base containing over 1,000,000 facts and over 35,000 rules.
The Interaction of Angiotensin II and Osmolality in the Generation of Sympathetic Tone during Changes in Dietary Salt Intake

: At rest, sympathetic nerves exhibit tonic activity which contributes to arterial pressure maintenance. Significant evidence suggests that the absolute level of sympathetic tone is altered in a number of physiologic and pathophysiologic states. However, the mechanisms by which such changes in sympathetic tone occur are incompletely understood. The purpose of this review is to present evidence that humoral factors are essential in these changes and to detail specifically an hypothesis for the mechanisms that underlie the changes in sympathetic tone that are produced during increases or decreases in dietary salt intake. It is proposed that the net effect of changes in dietary salt on sympathetic activity is determined by the balance between simultaneous and parallel sympathoinhibitory and sympathoexcitatory humoral mechanisms. A key element of the sympathoinhibitory mechanism is the chronic sympathoexcitatory effects of angiotensin II (ANG II). When salt intake increases, ANG II levels fall, and the sympathoexcitatory actions of ANG II are lost. Simultaneously, a sympathoexcitatory pathway is triggered, possibly via increases in osmolality which activate osmoreceptors or sodium receptors. In normal individuals, the sympathoinhibitory effects of increased salt predominate, sympathetic activity decreases, and arterial pressure remains normal despite salt and water retention. However, in subjects with salt-sensitive hypertension, it appears that the sympathoexcitatory effects of salt predominate, possibly due to an inability to adequately suppress the levels or actions of ANG II. The net result, therefore, is an inappropriate increase in sympathetic activity during increased dietary salt which may contribute to the hypertensive process.
Levels of antimüllerian hormone in serum during the normal menstrual cycle.

Objective To determine whether levels of antimullerian hormone (AMH) in serum vary during the normal menstrual cycle, using the most recently developed immunoassay method. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Local community. Patient(s) Women with normal menstrual cycles and between the ages of 18 and 45 years were recruited (n = 45). Blood samples were collected on 5 days within each cycle: two in the follicular phase and three after confirmed ovulation. Exclusion criteria were anovulatory cycles, incomplete sample collection, insufficient blood volume, or non-Caucasian ethnicity. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Serum samples were tested for levels of AMH using a new immunoassay method (Ansh Labs). The effects of body mass index (BMI) and smoking on serum AMH levels were considered. Result(s) Serum AMH levels varied significantly during the menstrual cycle, with the highest levels in the follicular phase. When the analysis was stratified by age, AMH variation during the menstrual cycle was significant only for women older than 30 years. Serum AMH levels were not significantly altered by BMI or smoking. Conclusion(s) The new AMH immunoassay revealed a follicular phase rise in serum levels, particularly in women over the age of 30 years. This is consistent with other reports finding an interaction of menstrual cycle variation in AMH and chronological age. Nonetheless, the extent of variation is small, and sampling on any day of the menstrual cycle is expected to adequately reflect ovarian reserve. Clinical Trial Registration Number NCT01337999.
Polymer micro hot embossing for the fabrication of three-dimensional millimeter-wave components

Millimeter-wave communication and radar systems have found numerous applications in recent years. These applications include millimeter-wave automotive collision avoidance radars, deep space communication and radar systems, w-band short range communication link, remote sensing of soil moisture and atmospheric monitoring in meteorological applications and climate sensing [1–4].
Foreign Language Requirements For Business Students: An Update

Most undergraduate students who study business in the United States are not required to learn a foreign language at their college or university. The overwhelming majority of Business School deans at both AACSB and non-member schools believe in the usefulness of foreign language study. Furthermore, the AACSB has mandated that global and cultural diversity become part of the business curriculum. However, over the past seven years, these survey results find that business schools have not increased the requirements for foreign language courses at all.
Descending Control of Spinal Cord Nociceptive Neurons

Afferent input directly to the dorsal column nuclei by way of primary afferent fibers does not appear to include nociceptive input (reviewed in Willis and Coggeshall 1978). All of the nociceptive information to be transmitted by sensory pathways to the brain relays in the spinal cord gray matter near the dorsal root through which that input is conveyed. Many of the ascending sensory tracts originate in the dorsal horn, and so investigations of spinal cord sensory transmission related to nociception have focused on recordings from interneurons of the dorsal horn. However, nociceptive signals that trigger the flexion reflex must also be transmitted by way of interneurons, presumably of the dorsal horn, and it is impossible to know from recordings of interneuronal activity whether a given interneuron is dedicated to sensory or motor events, or both. The close correlation between pain sensation and flexion reflexes in man (Willer 1977) make a combined sensory and motor role for nociceptive interneurons a viable hypothesis, but there is little hard evidence for or against such a possibility. Furthermore, the flexion reflex and pain sensation can be dissociated (McGrath et al. 1981; Willer et al. 1977), and so the mechanisms must be at least in part distinct. An alternative approach to the study of sensory and motor mechanisms in isolation is to examine the behavior of known sensory neurons and of motoneurons. Nevertheless, a considerable amount of useful information has been accumulated concerning the responses of dorsal horn interneurons to noxious, as well as to innocuous, inputs, and the ability of supraspinal pathways to affect the responses to these signals.
Osteopontin and osteoprotegerin levels in type 2 diabetes and their association with cardiovascular autonomic function

Abstract Aims Osteopontin (OPN) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) are bone metabolism biomarkers potentially associated with nerve function. We evaluated the association of cardiovascular autonomic nerve function, OPN, and OPG in 50 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods RR-variation during deep breathing (i.e., mean circular resultant (MCR) and expiration/inspiration (E/I) ratio) was used to assess parasympathetic nerve function. Participants' demographics, HbA1c, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), BMI, HOMA-IR, calcium, parathyroid hormone, creatinine, OPN, and OPG were determined. Results Using stepwise multiple linear regression analysis with MCR or E/I ratio as the dependent variable, OPN was independently associated with reduced autonomic function. A previous report showed a significant association of cardiovascular autonomic function with age, 25(OH)D insufficiency, and the interaction of age×25(OH)D insufficiency. Here we report a novel association for OPN and its interaction with age indicating that for those who are younger, elevated OPN levels are related to a greater loss of autonomic function (MCR model R 2 =0.598, p 2 =0.594, p Conclusion Our results suggest that OPN is associated with reduced parasympathetic function, particularly in younger individuals with T2DM. Further studies are needed to determine if OPN is neuroprotective, involved in the pathogenesis of autonomic dysfunction, or a bystander.
Imaging of Abusive Trauma

"Shaken baby syndrome" is a term often used by the physicians and public to describe abusive trauma inflicted on infants and young children. Advances in the understanding of the mechanisms and the associated clinical spectrum of injury has lead us to modify our terminology and address it as "abusive trauma" (AT). Pediatric abusive head trauma is defined as an injury to the skull or intracranial contents of an infant or a young child (< 5 y age) due to inflicted blunt impact and/or violent shaking. This chapter focuses on the imaging aspects of childhood abusive trauma along with a brief description of the mechanism and pathophysiology of abusive injury. The diagnosis of AT is not always obvious, and abusive injuries in many infants may remain unrecognized. Pediatricians should be cognizant of AT since pediatricians play a crucial role in the diagnosis, management and prevention of AT.
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Mice and Men: Can Understanding a Genetic Cardiomyopathy Inform Treatment of Other Myocardial Diseases?

Duchenne muscular dystrophy mouse models have a predictable and reproducible time course of cardiomyopathy progression with discrete pathogenic steps, which closely parallel what we know occurs in the cardiomyopathy of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The slow progression of early pathogenic steps common to many cardiomyopathies may make Duchenne muscular dystrophy models useful for identifying novel treatment targets and testing the therapeutic value of new treatment paradigms for an at-risk patient population far beyond those with muscular dystrophies. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a leading cause of death in individuals affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and nearly all DMD patients develop dilated cardiomyopathy by age 18. DMD and the milder Becker muscular dystrophy result from mutations in the X-linked gene encoding dystrophin, a membrane-associated protein that helps protect striated muscle cell membranes from damage. Clinical signs resulting from lower limb muscle weakness lead to DMD diagnosis typically by 5 years of age and loss of ambulation by 12 years of age. Skeletal myopathy in Becker muscular dystrophy has a later age of onset and slower progression than DMD, and dilated cardiomyopathy is the primary cause of mortality. Earlier ventilatory support for affected respiratory muscles and timely management of pulmonary infections have led to increased survival for DMD patients into their mid-twenties. These advances have made increasingly evident the underlying cardiomyopathy that presents as heart failure and often fatal arrhythmias in the later decades of life. Despite the devastating consequences of DMD cardiomyopathy, its unique features may provide new insights into myocardial disease. First, the consistent lag between evident skeletal myopathy and cardiomyopathy affords early detection and possible treatment of a patient population that is genetically programmed to develop cardiac dysfunction. Second, the myocardial disease exhibits a relatively slow progression, providing the ability to understand each step involved. Third, there are isogenic …
User Experiences with Open Access Knowledge Sharing Platforms Preliminary User-Centered Design Implications for Complex Data-intensive Domains

In this paper, we present a preliminary study to seek to find user experience implications for encouraging collaborative research cultures in complex data-intensive research fields by placing more design focus on user experience and context of use. One hundred thirty-one participants responded to a number of self-reporting measures. We characterize current user experience in open access knowledge sharing platforms, perceived usefulness and ease of use. We then address areas to further expend in applying user experience design to support complex data-intensive domains. Finally, we discuss opportunities to enhance user experiences and address practical issues faced by UX professionals.
Segmentation of knee MRI using structure enhanced local phase filtering

The segmentation of bone surfaces from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data has applications in the quanti- tative measurement of knee osteoarthritis, surgery planning for patient specific total knee arthroplasty and its subsequent fabrication of artificial implants. However, due to the problems associated with MRI imaging such as low contrast between bone and surrounding tissues, noise, bias fields, and the partial volume effect, segmentation of bone surfaces continues to be a challenging operation. In this paper, a new framework is presented for the enhancement of knee MRI scans prior to segmentation in order to obtain high contrast bone images. During the first stage, a new contrast enhanced relative total variation (RTV) regularization method is used in order to remove textural noise from the bone structures and surrounding soft tissue interface. This salient bone edge information is further enhanced using a sparse gradient counting method based on L 0 gradient minimization, which globally controls how many non-zero gradients are resulted in order to approximate prominent bone structures in a structure-sparsity-management manner. The last stage of the framework involves incorporation of local phase bone boundary information in order to provide an intensity invariant enhancement of contrast between the bone and surrounding soft tissue. The enhanced images are segmented using a fast random walker algorithm. Validation against expert segmentation was performed on 10 clinical knee MRI images, and achieved a mean dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 0.975.
Selection for American Foulbrood Resistance in Larval Honey Bees

Selection for resistance to Bacillus larvae White, the causative organism of American foulbrood, was attempted in young Apis mellifera L. larvae. The F1 generation of a cross between a susceptible (Van Scoy) and a resistant (Brown) line was used as the parent stock for this experiment. Female and male larvae were treated individually with 1000 spores, and survivors were selected as parents for the next generation. Five methods of selecting parent stock were used in 3 succeeding generations. The first generation of selection gave significant differences in larval mortality between mating types. Most progress was made with gamete selection. Similar responses occurred in generation 2 with a smaller increase in resistance in the selected classes. Progeny testing of the third generation occurred during a period of dearth. A gain in resistance was measured only in the selected gamete by selected zygote class. The 2 other selected classes had losses in resistance, but neither returned to the initial generation’s level.
Effects of hydration on blood and cerebrospinal fluid osmolalities.

SummaryThe CSF and serum osmolalities have been studied by the Fiske freezing-point depression method in dehydrated cats undergoing rapid hydration. In the initial baseline dehydrated state the CSF is hypertonic to blood by 4.3 mOsm on the average. During hydration the osmolality of both fluids fell but the CSF osmolality changes lagged behind changes in blood osmolality. The lag in CSF osmolality was quite variable but averaged between 45 and 65 min, depending upon the method of estimating it. When blood osmolality started to rise, there was often a transient period of CSF hypotonicity to blood. These findings can be attributed to the large inter-capillary distances existing in the CSF compartment as compared to brain.
Flavonoids from the Leaves of Sabina vulgaris Antoine

Chemical constituents in the leaves of Sabina vulgaris Antoine were studied.Nine flavonoids were isolated and purified by extraction and different kinds of column chromatography,and their structures were elucidated as cupressuflavone(Ⅰ),cupressuflavone 4',4-dimethyl ether(Ⅱ),amentoflavone(Ⅲ),podocarpusflavone A(Ⅳ),catechin(Ⅴ),quercetin(Ⅵ),isoscutellarein 7-O-β-D-xylopyranoside(Ⅶ),myricetin 3-O-β-D-glucoside(Ⅷ),rutin(Ⅸ).CompoundsⅠ,Ⅱ,Ⅴ,Ⅶ,Ⅷ and Ⅸ were obtained from this plant for the first time.Compounds Ⅷ and Ⅸ were isolated from Sabina genus for the first time.All of isolated compounds were tested for their antioxidative activities by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical(DPPH·)scavenging assay.It was found that compounds Ⅴ and Ⅵ showed antioxidative activity close to that of positive control,L-ascorbic acid,and the flavonoids glycosides(Ⅶ,Ⅷ and Ⅸ)are more active than the biflavones(Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ).
Expression and function of Fas (APO-1/CD95) in patient myeloma cells and myeloma cell lines

Cross-linkage of the Fas antigen induces programmed cell death in many normal and malignant lymphoid cells by a process known as apoptosis. In this study, we examined the sensitivity of myeloma cell lines and patient plasma cells to a cytolytic anti-Fas monoclonal antibody (MoAb). Eight of 10 myeloma cell lines were induced to undergo programmed cell death by anti-Fas MoAb as determined by DNA fragmentation and morphologic changes. Of the two myeloma cell lines that were resistant to anti-Fas treatment, one did not express the Fas antigen. Only the U266 cell line expressed Fas, but was not killed by the anti0Fas MoAb. To extend these studies, we have examined the expression and function of Fas in freshly isolated CD38hiCD45neg-int plasma cells from patients with multiple myeloma (MM), monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), and primary amyloidosis (AL). By three-color flow cytometry, we found Fas expression in CD38hiCD45neg-int plasma cells from all patient groups to be variable, as Fas was expressed in 15 of 28 MM, 3 of 6 MGUS, and 2 of 7 AL patients. In morphologic studies of apoptosis, Fas-positive myeloma cells in patient bone marrow mononuclear cell (MNC) cultures appeared to be resistant to anti-Fas-mediated apoptosis. By contrast, purified myeloma cells from the same patient were sensitive to anti-Fas treatment, suggesting the presence of a protective factor(s) in unseparated MNC cultures that may inhibit Fas-induced apoptosis of plasma cells. Of interest, serum from normal individuals and myeloma patients also protected myeloma cell lines from undergoing Fas-mediated apoptosis. These studies show that Fas expression in myeloma cell lines and CD38hiCD45neg-int patient plasma cells is variable and may reflect a variance in the maturation status of the various plasma cell populations. Moreover, Fas-mediated killing of patient cells and myeloma cell lines was also variable, which may be influenced, in part, by the presence of a soluble protective factor.
Simulation Study of Hydrophobically Modified Chitosan as an Oil Dispersant Additive.

Hydrophobically modified chitosan (HMC) is being considered as a possible oil dispersant additive to reduce the volume of dispersant required in oil spill remediation. We present the results of discontinuous molecular dynamics (DMD) simulations intended to determine how the HMC architecture affects its ability to prevent oil aggregation. The HMCs have a comb copolymer architecture with hydrophobic side chains (modification chains) of various lengths (5–15 spheres) to represent alkane chains that are attached to the chitosan backbone. We calculated the oil’s solvent accessible surface area (SASA), aggregate size distribution, and aggregate asymmetry at various values of the HMC modification chain length, modification density, and concentration to determine HMC efficacy. HMCs with long modification chains result in larger oil SASA than HMCs with short modification chains. For long modification chains, there is no increase in oil SASA with increasing modification density above a saturation value. The size di...
Reply: Pulse Pressure and Cardiovascular Death.

We appreciate the thoughtful comments of Dr. Aznaouridis and colleagues on our paper studying the relationship between brachial pulse pressure (PP) and adverse cardiovascular outcomes in the REACH (REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health) registry [(1)][1]. As Dr. Aznaouridis and
Breadboard Amplifier: Building and Using Simple Electrophysiology Equipment

Electrophysiology is a valuable skill for the neuroscientist, but the learning curve for students can be steep. Here we describe a very simple electromyography (EMG) amplifier that can be built from scratch by students with no electronics experience in about 30 minutes, making it ideal for incorporating into a laboratory activity. With few parts and no adjustments except the gain, students can begin physiology experiments quickly while having the satisfaction of having built the equipment themselves. Because the output of the circuit goes to a computer sound card, students can listen to electrophysiological activity as they see it on the computer screen, a feature many of our students greatly appreciated. Various applications are discussed, including dual channel recording, using streaming media platforms with remote lab partners and acquiring data in the field on a smart phone. Our students reported that they enjoyed being able to build a working device and using it to record from their own muscles.
The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia

The key to an. understanding of the Statute of the International Tribunal for the prosecution of persons responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of the former Yugoslavia (hereinafter International Tribunal or Tribunal) is the context within which the Security Council took its decision of principle to establish it By the end of February 1993 the conflict in the former Yugoslavia had been underway for more than 18 months, the principal focus of the conflict shifting from Slovenia to Croatia and then to Bosnia. United Nations involvement, through UNPROFOR, which at its inception had been conceived of as a protection force to shield pockets of Serbs in a newly independent Croatia (the United Nations Protected Areas) had gradually evolved into a multi-dimensional peace-keeping force whose main activities then centred on Bosnia. The character of the conflict had also evolved. While from the very beginning great brutality had marked the conduct of the parties, it was in Bosnia that the first signs of international crimes began to emerge: mass executions, mass sexual assaults and rapes, the existence of concentration camps and the implementation of a policy of so-called 'ethnic cleansing'. The Security Council repeatedly enjoined the parties to observe and comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law but the parties systematically ignored such injunctions. In October 1992 the Security Council, unable to control the wilful disregard by the parties for international norms, sought to create a dissuasive effect by asking the Secretary-General to establish a
Synthesis, characterisation and mesomorphic behaviours of non-symmetrically substituted 1,2,4- and 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives

ABSTRACTTwo series of non-symmetrically substituted bent-core mesogens derived from the central 3,5 and 2,5 cores of the 1,2,4- and 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives, respectively, containing ether and ester linkage have been synthesised by several straightforward synthetic procedures, and their mesomorphic behaviour was studied by optical polarising microscopy (OPM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The last five homologues of the 1,2,4-oxadiazole series exhibit a monotropic nematic phase on cooling, while the 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives do not show any liquid crystalline properties but rather a crystal to isotropic transition is observed by OPM. We show that the bent angles of the 1,2,4- and 1,3,4-oxadiazole rings are crucial in observing the liquid crystal (LC) phases formed, and also that the length of the alkyl substituent is observed to have a significant effect on the nature of the LC phases.
A standoff system for noncooperative ocular biometrics

The iris and more recently vascular patterns seen on the white of the eye have been considered for ocular biometrics. The non-contact nature, uniqueness, and permanence of ocular features makes them promising. Among new challenges are to develop commercial systems for less constrained environments and at extended distances. Such systems need to have minimal burden on the user and be robust for non-cooperative users. We present the design and development of standoff system for noncooperative ocular biometrics using system integration approach. Review of existing commercial and experimental long-range biometric systems is presented. The process of selection of sensors and illumination techniques is described. The development of user interfaces and algorithms for a working prototype is explained. The performance is evaluated with images of 28 subjects, acquired at distances up to 9 meters. The conflicting requirements for the design of this standoff biometric system, and the resulting performance limitations with impact on image quality are discussed.