cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Forest and primate conservation in East Africa

Summary The small ecological islands of rain forest remaining in East Africa and the monkeys and apes living in them are discussed. In Uganda, the number of monkey and ape species in any particular low to medium altitude rain forest seems to depend on three major factors: floral diversity, proximity to upper Pleistocene forest refugia and the size of the forest. Selected examples of forest and primate Conservation in Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya are described. From this description emerges a variegated picture of potential conservation successes and failures. Suggestions are made concerning the salvage of the remaining forest islands. More and larger areas of forest should be protected against exploitation. Detailed biological surveys must be completed in many of these forests. Long-term monitoring research is vital to determine the effectiveness of forest conservation. Of paramount importance is the need to up-date policies related to forest management, forestry laws and codes, and the educational curriculum in primary and secondary schools as it relates to the value of, and need for, forest conservation. Resume Le petit ilot ecologique de foret humide restant en Afrique de 1'Est et les primates y habitant sont presentes. En Ouganda, le nombre d'espices de petits et de grands singes dans quelque foret de basse ou moyenne altitude semble dependre de trois facteurs essentiels: la diversite florale, la proximite de refuges forestiers du Pleistocene superieur et la taille de la foret. Des exemples choisis parmi des types de conservation de foret et de primates en Ouganda, Tanzanie et Kenya sont decrits. Il emerge de cette description une image variee de succes ou d'echecs potentiels de types de conservation. On avance des suggestions concernant le sauvetage des derniers ilots de foret. Des zones plus nombreuses et plus etendues devraient etre protegees de I'exploitation. Des releves biologiques detailles doivent etre realisCs dans beaucoup des ces forets. Une recherche d'information a long terme est vitale pour determiner I'efficacite de la conservation des forets. Le besoin d'une politique moderne de gestion de la forets de codes et de lois forestieres et de programmes d'education dans les ecoles primaires et secondaires sont d'une importance primordiale pour la conservation de la foret.
Three-dimensional modeling and numerical analysis of rate-dependent irrecoverable deformation in shape memory alloys

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) provide an attractive solid-state actuation alternative to engineers in various fields due to their ability to exhibit recoverable deformations while under substantial loads. Many constitutive models describing this repeatable phenomenon have been proposed, where some models also capture the effects of rate-independent irrecoverable deformations (i.e., plasticity) in SMAs. In this work, we consider a topic not addressed to date: the generation and evolution of irrecoverable viscoplastic strains in an SMA material. Such strains appear in metals subjected to sufficiently high temperatures. The need to account for these effects in SMAs arises when considering one of two situations: the exposure of a conventional SMA material (e.g., NiTi) to high temperatures for a non-negligible amount of time, as occurs during shape-setting, or the utilization of new high temperature shape memory alloys (HTSMAs), where the elevated transformation temperatures induce transformation and viscoplastic behaviors simultaneously. A new three-dimensional constitutive model based on established SMA and viscoplastic modeling techniques is derived that accounts for these behaviors. The numerical implementation of the model is described in detail. Several finite element analysis (FEA) examples are provided, demonstrating the utility of the new model and its implementation in assessing the effects of viscoplastic behaviors in shape memory alloys.
Synoptic-Scale Controls of Summer Precipitation in the Southeastern United States

Abstract Past climatological research has not quantitatively defined the synoptic-scale circulation deviations responsible for anomalous summer-season precipitation totals in the southeastern United States. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to determine the synoptic-scale controls of wet and dry multiday periods during the summer within a portion of the southeastern United States as well as to assess the linkages between synoptic-scale circulation and multidecadal variations in precipitation characteristics for the study domain. Daily precipitation data from 30 stations for June, July, and August from 1953 to 2002 were converted into 13-day totals. Using standardized principal components analysis (PCA), the study domain was divided into three precipitation regions (i.e., South, Northwest, and Northeast). Wet and dry periods for each region were composed of the top 56 and bottom 56 thirteen-day periods. Composite circulation maps for 500 and 850 mb revealed the following: wet periods were gen...
Biology Precedes, Culture Transcends: An Evolutionist's View of Human Nature

I will, first, outline what we currently know about the last 4 million years of human evolutionary history, from bipedal but small-brained Australopithecus to modern Homo sapiens, our species, through the prolific toolmaker Homo habilis and the continent wanderer Homo erectus. I shall then identify anatomical traits that distinguish us from other animals and point out our two kinds of heredity, the biological and the cultural. Biological inheritance is based on the transmission of genetic information, in humans very much the same as in other sexually reproducing organisms. But cultural inheritance is distinctively human, based on transmission of information by a teaching and learning process that is in principle independent of biological parentage. Cultural inheritance makes possible the cumulative transmission of experience from generation to generation. Cultural heredity is a swifter and more effective (because it can be designed) mode of adaptation to the environment than the biological mode. The advent of cultural heredity ushered in cultural evolution, which transcends biological evolution. I will, finally, explore ethical behavior as a model case of a distinctive human trait, and seek to ascertain the causal connections between human ethics and human biology. My conclusions are that (1) moral reasoning—that is, the proclivity to make ethical judgments by evaluating actions as either good or evil—is rooted in our biological nature; it is a necessary outcome of our exalted intelligence, but (2) the moral codes that guide our decisions as to which actions are good and which ones are evil are products of culture, including social and religious traditions. This second conclusion contradicts those evolutionists and sociobiologists who claim that the morally good is simply that which is promoted by the process of biological evolution.
The Relation Between Hierarchical and Euclidean Models For Psychological Distances.

In one well-known model for psychological distances, objects such as stimuli are placed in a hierarchy of clusters like a phylogenetic tree; in another common model, objects are represented as points in a multidimensional Euclidean space. These models are shown theoretically to be mutually exclusive and exhaustive in the following sense. The distances among a set ofn objects will be strictly monotonically related either to the distances in a hierarchical clustering system, or else to the distances in a Euclidean space of less thann — 1 dimensions, but not to both. Consequently, a lower bound on the number of Euclidean dimensions necessary to represent a set of objects is one less than the size of the largest subset of objects whose distances satisfy the ultrametric inequality, which characterizes the hierarchical model.
MeV proton beam driven by a high-intensity laser

Summary form only given. The interaction of compact high-intensity subpicosecond lasers with matter has been studied for several years, having numerous applications such as table-top electron accelerators. However, only recently an interest has developed in ion acceleration, with potential applications for the initiation of nuclear reactions on a tabletop. Critical for ion acceleration is the efficiency of laser-energy conversion into a high-energy electron component, since the latter through charge separation can produce the requisite strong electrostatic fields. Thermal expansion of a laser-driven plasma and ponderomotive electron expulsion constitute the most well-known examples of electrostatic field production. While the former mechanism has been observed for many years, the latter one has only recently been observed in experiments with gas targets. For the gas targets, when the laser pulse duration /spl tau/ is long, /spl tau/>r/sub 0//c, where r/sub 0/ is the laser focal spot radius and c is the speed of light, the radial component of the pondermotive force dominates, and ions are accelerated radially.
Adriamycin stimulates canine kidney (MDCK) cells to deacylate cellular lipids and to produce prostaglandins.

Abstract Dog kidney (MDCK) cells treated with adriamycin (0.5 μg/ml) for 1 hr, produced from 2 to 7 times more prostaglandins E 2 and F 2α when measured in culture media 24, 48 and 72 hrs after the treatment. Indomethacin (ID 50 −8 M) and cycloheximide (0.5 μg/ml) inhibited this adriamycin-stimulated prostaglandin production. The aglycone of adriamycin (0.5 to 5.0 μg/ml) had little stimulating effect. Treatment of [ 3 H]arachidonic acid-labeled MDCK cells with adriamycin (0.5 μg/ml) for 1 hr also stimulated deacylation of cellular lipids during subsequent incubation. Altered morphology of MDCK cells resulted from such treatment with adriamycin; indomethacin did not inhibit this change, but cycloheximide did.
Inhibitory Control of Olivary Discharge

Abstract: The inferior olivary nucleus is the sole source of an entire afferent system to the cerebellum, the climbing-fiber system. Inferior olivary neurons are very sensitive to the appropriate sensory stimuli, such as light contact to the paw. Yet, when animals move about, olivary cells show little change in discharge rate. Apparently some mechanism prevents the cells from discharging to stimuli generated by the animal's own movement. The inferior olive receives a massive inhibitory input from small cells in the cerebellar and vestibular nuclei. This article reviews the results from several experiments that suggest that the inferior olive is specifically targeted by inhibitory inputs that prevent responses to stimuli resulting from self-produced movement. Oscarsson proposed that the inferior olive provides the cerebellum with information about errors of motor performance and about spinal reflexes. We argue that it is unlikely that the inferior olive provides information about movement errors, although the olive may signal the occurrence of sensory events that are likely to elicit reflex movements. Another popular theory of climbing-fiber action argues that the climbing fibers play a role in altering the strength of the parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapse. The cerebellum is important for the formation of classically conditioned responses, and input generated by the unconditioned stimulus does provide effective stimulation of olivary neurons. Although the olive does not generate the unconditioned response, it may provide the cerebellum with information necessary for the formation of conditioned responses.
Auditory evoked brain responses: Intensity functions from bipolar human scalp recordings

Average evoked brain responses were computed from four simultaneous recordings during binaural tone stimulation at 10 intensity levels. Amplitudes and latencies were measured for the prominent components, and linear regression coefficients were computed. The results indicate that the sensitivity of the evoked response to stimulus intensity is dependent upon the selection of the appropriate measure. Linear amplitude functions were demonstrated. Additional research relating these responses to psychophysical measures is suggested.
Tissue distribution of juvenile hormone hydrolytic activity inGalleria mellonella larvae

Juvenile hormone (JH) hydrolytic activity was determined in different tissues of day-4 last instar larva ofGalleria mellonella. Midgut, gonad, imaginal wing discs and fat body contain higher JH hydrolytic activity than hemolymph, while silk gland and body wall have lower activity. JH esterase activity in imaginal wing discs exhibits a pattern of age-related changes different from that of the hemolymph.
Clinical implications of the loss of vasoactive nitric oxide during red blood cell storage.

According to Pelis (1), “Blood is one of man's most compelling and omnipresent symbols. It signifies the opposition between life and death, health and sickness, power and powerlessness.” Blood and RBC transfusion, even done autologously, is a well proven treatment that, like the administration of aspirin, had never undergone the kind of rigorous, controlled clinical trials now required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Optical versus virtual: Teaching assistant perceptions of the use of virtual microscopy in an undergraduate human anatomy course

Many studies that evaluate the introduction of technology in the classroom focus on student performance and student evaluations. This study focuses on instructor evaluation of the introduction of virtual microscopy into an undergraduate anatomy class. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with graduate teaching assistants (TA) and analyzed through qualitative methods. This analysis showed that the teaching assistants found the virtual microscope to be an advantageous change in the classroom. They cite the ease of use of the virtual microscope, access to histology outside of designated laboratory time, and increasing student collaboration in class as the primary advantages. The teaching assistants also discuss principal areas where the use of the virtual microscope can be improved from a pedagogical standpoint, including requiring students to spend more time working on histology in class. Anat Sci Educ. © 2011 American Association of Anatomists.
Conserving effect of thyroid hormone on myocardial ATP stores in vitro

L-thyroxine supported falling tissue ATP concentration above control levels in isolated, hypoxic rat atria. The hormone also decreased tissue lactate production, and — probably secondarily — increased incorporation of L-leucine into atrial protein. These metabolic effects seem independent of hormone effects on contractility and suggest that thyroxine may enhance delivery of useful energy to the tissue.
Technology roadmapping in review: A tool for making sustainable new product development decisions

Abstract Typically, firms decide whether or not to develop a new product based on their resources, capabilities and the return on investment that the product is estimated to generate. We propose that firms adopt a broader heuristic for making new product development choices. Our heuristic approach requires moving beyond traditional finance-based thinking, and suggests that firms concentrate on technological trajectories by combining technology roadmapping, information technology (IT) and supply chain management to make more sustainable new product development decisions. Using the proposed holistic heuristic methods, versus relying on traditional finance-based decision-making tools (e.g., emphasizing net present value or internal rate of return projections), enables firms to plan beyond the short-term and immediate set of technologies at hand. Our proposed heuristic approach enables firms to forecast technologies and markets, and hence, new product priorities in the longer term. Investments in new products should, as a result, generate returns over a longer period than traditionally expected, giving firms more sustainable investments. New products are costly and need to have a durable presence in the market. Transaction costs and resources will be saved, as firms make new product development decisions less frequently.
Nonlinear spectroscopy of cold atoms in a spontaneous-force optical trap.

Probe-wave amplification and absorption spectra are reported for cesium atoms cooled and confined in a Zeeman-shift spontaneous-force optical trap. Novel spectral features are observed with narrow frequency widths and with single-pass gain of 20% in some cases. Negative radiation pressure is demonstrated as the mechanical consequence of optical gain and is investigated as a possible means for optical implosion of a trapped sample.
Kinetics of adsorption of β-amyloid peptide Aβ(1–40) to lipid bilayers

The Alzheimer's disease-related peptide β-amyloid (Aβ) is toxic to neurons. The toxicity of the peptide appears to require conversion of the monomeric form to an aggregated fibrillar species. The interaction of Aβ with cell membranes has attracted interest as one plausible mechanism by which the peptide exerts its toxic activity. We developed two methods to measure the adsorption of fresh (monomeric) and aged (aggregated) Aβ to lipid bilayers. In one method, the kinetics of Aβ adsorption and desorption to liposomes deposited onto a dextran-coated surface was measured using surface plasmon resonance. In the other method, Aβ was contacted with liposome-coated magnetic beads; adsorbed Aβ was separated from solution-phase peptide by use of a magnetic field. Monomeric Aβ adsorbed quickly but reversibly to lipid bilayers with low affinity, while aggregated Aβ adsorbed slowly but irreversibly. These two methods provide complementary means of quantifying the adsorption of aggregating proteins to membranes. The results correlate strongly with previous observations that fibrillar, but not monomeric, Aβ restricts the motion of acyl tails in phospholipid bilayers. The methods should be useful for further elucidation of the role of membrane adsorption in mediating Aβ toxicity, and in the search for inhibitors of toxicity.
Deficits in analogical reasoning in adolescents with traumatic brain injury.

Individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) exhibit deficits in executive control, which may impact their reasoning abilities. Analogical reasoning requires working memory and inhibitory abilities. In this study, we tested adolescents with moderate to severe TBI and typically-developing (TD) controls on a set of picture analogy problems. Three factors were varied: complexity (number of relations in the problems), distraction (distractor item present or absent), and animacy (living or non-living items in the problems). We found that TD adolescents performed significantly better overall than TBI adolescents. There was also an age effect present in the TBI group where older participants performed better than younger ones. This age effect was not observed in the TD group. Performance was affected by complexity and distraction. Further, TBI participants exhibited lower performance with distractors present than TD participants. The reasoning deficits exhibited by the TBI participants were correlated with measures of executive function that required working memory updating, attention, and attentional screening. Using MRI-derived measures of cortical thickness, correlations were carried out between task accuracy and cortical thickness. The TD adolescents showed negative correlations between thickness and task accuracy in frontal and temporal regions consistent with cortical maturation in these regions. This study demonstrates that adolescent TBI results in impairments in analogical reasoning ability. Further, TBI youth have difficulty effectively screening out distraction, which may lead to failures in comprehension of the relations among items in visual scenes. Lastly, TBI youth fail to show robust cortical-behavior correlations as observed in TD individuals.
Extraadrenal Formation of a Mineralocorticosteroid: Deoxycorticosterone and Deoxycorticosterone Sulfate Biosynthesis and Metabolism

EXTRAGLANDULAR steroid hormone formation is now established as a physiological as well as a pathophysiological phenomenon in men, women, and children (1–8). Indeed, it has been demonstrated that most, if not all, estrogen formed in children (9, 10), men (1, 6, 11, 12), and anovulatory (13–15) and postmenopausal (1, 12, 13, 16–21) women arises by the extraglandular aromatization of plasma C19-steroids. Greater than normal extraglandular estrogen formation can give rise to feminization in men (1, 3–6, 8, 9, 22–25) and to uterine bleeding (1, 13–15, 17, 19, 21, 26, 27) and possibly to endometrial carcinoma in women (17, 19, 21, 26). It also is known that the biologically potent androgen testosterone can be produced in extraglandular tissues from circulating precursors (28–33). In fact, most of the testosterone produced in young women arises by this mechanism (28, 29, 31, 32). In addition to the extraglandular formation of biologically active steroid hormones, it now is known that potent steroid hormones are ...
An experimental evaluation of the effects of internal and external e-Assurance on initial trust formation in B2C e-commerce

Both “internally-provided” (IPeA) and “externally-provided” (EPeA) e-Assurances are being used by e-commerce businesses to build trust amongst consumers by alleviating concerns about the privacy and security of e-commerce transactions. The primary focus of this study is to test the effectiveness of EPeA on increasing trust and purchase intentions among potential consumers, and to test if EPeA have an additional effect beyond e-Assurances provided internally (IPeA). Our findings show the presence of EPeA did not affect consumers' trust or purchase intentions, nor did the presence of EPeA increase trust or purchase intentions beyond IPeA, which raises concerns about the value of EPeA to the e-commerce community.
Tempering Stresses in Feldspathic Porcelain

The objective of this study was to develop an analytical model to calculate transient and residual (tempering) stresses in dental porcelain plates subjected to cooling rates used by commercial laboratories. The model incorporates linear viscoelasticity and structural relaxation effects.The viscosities of three experimental body porcelains and three experimental opaque porcelains as a function of temperature were calculated from creep rates measured in a bending beam viscometer. Measurements were made under thermal equilibrium conditions for temperatures ranging from 550°C to 625°C. Thermal expansion data measured in a differential dilatometer at slow heating rates were supplied by the manufacturer. Temperature distribution in the plates as a function of convective heat transfer coefficient, initial plate temperature, and plate thickness was calculated by use of standard numerical techniques.Calculations of transient and residual stress were performed for one body porcelain, for two plate thicknesses, and ...
Metabolic Changes in Blood and Liver During Development and Early Treatment of Experimental Fatty Liver and Ketosis in Cows

Abstract Eighteen cows were assigned in equal numbers to three groups: control, ketosis induction by using feed restriction plus dietary 1,3-butanediol to provide ketone bodies, and glucose treatment with 484 g/d of glucose infused intraduodenally starting 7 d after beginning ketosis induction. Ketosis induction, begun at d 15 postpartum, caused ketonemia and gradual development of clinical ketosis by d 40 to 45. None of the cows in the control or glucose-treated groups became ketotic. Concentrations of NEFA in plasma of cows that became ketotic increased 3.0-, 2.6-, and 1.9-fold at 2 wk before, 2 wk before, and at ketosis, respectively, but increased nonsignificantly for glucose-treated cows. Concurrently, s-hydroxybutyrate increased 3.5-, 5.8- and 8.4-fold for cows that became ketotic but 1.6-fold or less for glucose-treated cows. Plasma acetate increased dramatically 2 wk before ketosis. Liver glycogen content decreased to nearly 0 by 2 wk before ketosis occurred, but it increased to prepartal values in glucose-treated cows. Liver triglycerides averaged 2.0% of wet weight at d 5 for all cows but increased to 8 to 10% for about 2 wk before ketosis occurred. Microscopy of liver samples demonstrated progressive accumulation of lipid globules, which began in hepatocytes near the central vein and progressed toward the portal triad. Visible lipid content reached a peak 2 wk before ketosis. Hepatic in vitro gluconeogenic capacity decreased significantly for ketosis induction protocol cows when clinical ketosis was detected. Results indicate that experimental ketosis was preceded by metabolic abnormalities up to 2 wk before clinical ketosis occurred. The key events for onset of clinical ketosis, however, were not elucidated.
Relationship between External Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Boll-Feeding Symptoms and Internal Boll Damage with Respect to Cotton Lint Gin-Out and Fiber Quality

Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., bolls from 17 field locations in northeastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia, having 20% or greater internal boll damage, were studied to determine the relationship between external feeding symptoms and internal damage caused by stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) feeding. In 2006 and 2007, two cohorts of 100 bolls each were sampled at all field locations. The first cohort was removed as bolls reached approximately quarter size in diameter (2.4 cm). External and internal symptoms of stink bug feeding were assessed and tabulated. Concurrent to when the first cohort was collected, a second cohort of quarter-size-diameter bolls was identified, tagged, examined in situ for external feeding symptoms (sunken lesions), and harvested at the black seed coat stage. Harvested bolls were assessed for internal damage and locks were categorized (undamaged, minor damage, or major damage), dried, and ginned. Lint samples from each damage category were submitted for high volume instrument and advanced fiber information system quality analyses. Significant, moderately strong Pearson correlation coefficients existed between number of external stink bug feeding lesions and internal damage. Pearson correlation of total external lesions with total internal damage was stronger than any correlation among the other single components compared. Predictability plots indicated a rapid increase in relationship strength when relating external stink bug lesions to internal damage as the number of external lesions increased. Approximately 90% predictability of internal damage was achieved with four (2006) or six (2007) external lesions per boll. Gin-turnout and fiber quality decreased with increasing intensity of internal stink bug damage.
Surface plasmons on a large-amplitude grating

Dispersion relations are obtained by two different methods for surface plasmons (in the nonretarded limit) propagating on the surface of a dielectric medium on which a large-amplitude grating has been ruled. The first method is based on the Rayleigh hypothesis; the second method is based on the extinction-theorem form of Green's theorem. It is found that there is an infinite number of branches of the surface-plasmon dispersion curve. Numerical solutions of the dispersion relations are obtained in the case that the dielectric medium is a free-electron metal for two surface profiles: a sinusoidal profile and a symmetric sawtooth profile. For the former profile, results are obtained for corrugation strengths far exceeding the value for which the Rayleigh hypothesis ceases to be valid.
Conditional and continuous electrical stimulation increase cystometric capacity in persons with spinal cord injury.

Aims Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) exhibit neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) causing high intravesicle pressures and incontinence. The first aim was to measure changes in maximum cystometric capacity (MCC) evoked by electrical stimulation of the dorsal genital nerve (DGN) delivered either continuously or conditionally (only during bladder contractions) in persons with SCI. The second aim was to use the external anal sphincter electromyogram (EMGEAS) for real-time control of conditional stimulation. Methods Serial filling cystometries were performed in nine volunteers with complete or incomplete supra-sacral SCI. Conditional stimulation was delivered automatically when detrusor pressure increased to 8–12 cmH2O above baseline. MCCs were measured for each treatment (continuous, conditional, and no stimulation) and compared using post-ANOVA Tukey HSD paired comparisons. Additional treatments in two subjects used the EMGEAS for automatic control of conditional stimulation. Results Continuous and conditional stimulation increased MCC by 63 ± 73 ml (36 ± 24%) and 74 ± 71 ml (51 ± 37%), respectively (P < 0.05), compared to no stimulation. There was no significant difference between MCCs for conditional and continuous stimulation, but conditional stimulation significantly reduced stimulation time (174 ± 154 sec, or 27 ± 17% of total time) as compared to continuous stimulation (469 ± 269 sec, 100% of total time, P < 0.001). The EMGEAS algorithm provided reliable detection of bladder contractions (six of six contractions over four trials) and reduced stimulation time (21 ± 8% of total time). Conclusions Conditional stimulation generates increases in bladder capacity while substantially reducing stimulation time. Furthermore, EMGEAS was successfully used as a real-time feedback signal to control conditional electrical stimulation in a laboratory setting. Neurourol. Urodynam. 29:401–407, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Palladium-Catalyzed Additions of Terminal Alkynes to Acceptor Alkynes

The development of addition reactions wherein the product is the simple sum of the reactants plus anything else (only needed catalytically) constitutes an important goal for enhanced synthetic efficiency. The C−H bond of terminal alkynes (the donor alkynes) can be added to either terminal alkynes (self-coupling) or activated internal alkynes (cross-coupling) (the acceptor alkynes) in the presence of a catalytic amount of palladium acetate and an electron rich sterically encumbered ligand, tris(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)phosphine. The activated internal alkynes for cross-coupling (the acceptor alkyne) include alkynes bearing an ester, sulfone, and ketone. Self-coupling is completely overwhelmed by cross-coupling, even at 1:1 ratios of donor and acceptor alkynes. The reaction exhibits extraordinary chemoselectivity with free carboxaldehydes, alcohols, ketones (saturated and conjugated), esters (saturated and conjugated), sulfones (saturated and conjugated), malonates, and silyl ethers all proving to be compatible...
Parameter evaluation for virtual Laparoscopic simulation

Virtual Reality based surgical simulators have become quite common for training of surgeons for different surgical skills. Simulators have been widely used particularly in minimal invasive surgery. In this paper we find parameters that would be required to create a real time working simulation for exercises given in the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery curriculum. We use peg transfer exercise as our example in this work and create simulations for parameter analysis using SOFA, an open source surgical framework [1]. The parameters we choose are generic and can be used to create other more complex simulations like cholecystectomy [2] (gall bladder removal) and appendectomy (appendix removal). We show the implementation of these parameters and their behavior in a virtual reality surgical simulation. This work can be used by researchers and developers to choose the right parameters in the context of the simulation they are developing. It also shows the cost and behavior of achieving good visualization (frames per second), physical characteristics and a realistic behavioral model to be used in simulations for training purposes.
Effects of amrinone on experimental acute myocardial ischaemic injury

This study was performed to assess the effects of the promising new inotropic agent amrinone on acute myocardial ischaemic injury in the anaesthetised, non-failing canine heart. Eight dogs underwent serial 15 min coronary artery occlusion (CAO) with intervening periods of coronary reperfusion. Saline was infused during the control CAO and amrinone or isoprenaline was infused intravenously at rates necessary to raise left ventricular dP/dt (LV dP/dt) by equivalent amounts in the latter two CAOs. Summed epicardial ST segment elevation (ΣST) was 42.9 ± 14.9 mV in the control CAO, but increased significantly to 76.1 ± 14.4 mV during CAO with amrinone infusion and to 68.6 ± 16.4 mV during CAO with isoprenaline infusion (P<0.001). Acute ischaemic injury was further assessed by mass spectrometric measurement of intramyocardial P co2 ( P m,co2) during a control CAO (saline infusion) and CAO with amrinone or isoprenaline infused to raise LV dP/dt by equivalent amounts in seven dogs. The magnitude of P m,co2 rise from baseline(Δ P m,co2) was 6.0 ± 0.5 kPa (45.3 ± 3.9 mmHg) for the control CAO, and was significantly higher during CAO with amrinone or isoprenaline infusion (8.7 ± 0.7 and 8.5 ± 1.0 kPa (64.9 ± 5.0 and 63.7 ± 7.2 mmHg), P <0.01 and P <0.05, respectively). Reproducible changes for ΣST and Δ P m,co2 in consecutive CAO's without inotropic stimulation were documented in further studies. We conclude that amrinone, when infused to produce positive inotropic effects equivalent to those of isoprenaline, is equally detrimental in increasing acute myocardial ischaemic injury in the non-failing canine heart, as manifest by augmentation of epicardial ST segment elevation and intramyocardial Pco 2 with both agents during coronary occlusion.
Diagnostic laryngeal endoscopy.

A thorough and detailed laryngeal examination is the heart of every evaluation when a patient complains of a voice related problem, such as hoarseness, vocal fatigue, change in voice quality, and so forth (see the article by Simpson elsewhere in this issue). Advances in technology and improved understanding of vocal fold physiology and sound production have resulted in a dramatic improvement in the ability to visualize the vocal tract, specifically the vocal folds. There is no single method of laryngeal examination that is optimal for all voice patients, thus it is important to recognize the advantages and limitations of a variety of techniques for laryngeal examination and to select the appropriate instrumentation for optimal diagnosis. This article describes the techniques and methods to perform a full anatomic and functional evaluation of the vocal tract, aiding in the diagnostic process of a patient with a voice disorder. Diagnostic laryngeal endoscopy techniques are reviewed with an emphasis on the advantages and limitations of each method. This article focuses on techniques typically done in the office setting and does not discuss operative diagnostic laryngeal endoscopy. Diagnostic laryngeal endoscopy involves the careful evaluation of both the anatomic and physiologic aspects of the nasopharynx/velum, pharynx, base of tongue, and larynx. Specifically, the vocal folds should be visualized and examined in great detail using high magnification, video recording, and stroboscopy techniques. The examination of the vocal folds, larynx, and vocal tract is predominantly diagnostic; however, flexible laryngoscopy also offers a trial of therapy using biofeedback and enhancing the ability of the clinician to predict a positive response to voice therapy. The important features to consider of each laryngeal examination method are the ability to visualize the vocal tract in a physiologic position, the image quality, magnification, cost of the procedure, equipment required, and time and skill required to perform the evaluation. Each one of these factors is reviewed with respect to each of the laryngeal examination methods: indirect mirror laryngoscopy, flexible transnasal laryngoscopy, and rigid telescopic laryngoscopy.
Pandemic influenza response

Recent incidents of avian flu (H5N1) in Asia and the pandemic influenza cases in history (1918, 1957 and 1968) suggest that a future pandemic influenza is inevitable and likely imminent. Governments and non-governmental organizations prepare response plans on how to react to a pandemic influenza. In this paper, we study the logistics side of the problem, specifically, food distribution logistics during the pandemic influenza. For this purpose, we develop a disease spread model that assists in estimating the food need geographically at a given time. Then, we develop an integrated solution approach called the Dynamic Update Approach to build the food distribution network. We run our integrated disease spread and facility location model for the state of Georgia and present the estimated number of infections and meals needed in each census tract for a one year period.
Crack detection and health monitoring of highway steel-girder bridges

A vibration-based damage-detection methodology is presented in this work to monitor the health condition of a highway steel-girder bridge in Iowa. The contribution of the proposed methodology is to combine the transmissibility function, coherence function, and probabilistic schemes to construct a percent-violation that gives critical information about the health condition of the bridge. The percent-violation creates two alarm severities, watch and warning, depending on how many times the percent-violation successively crosses an objective threshold created from the healthy data. Field results using stochastic operational traffic loading have indicated the capability of the proposed methodology in evaluating the changes in the health condition of a section of the bridge and in consistently detecting cracks of various sizes (30–60 mm) on a sacrificial specimen integrated with the bridge abutment and a floor beam. Fluctuations in environmental and loading conditions have been known to create some uncertainti...
Common artifacts in ultrasound scanning

Numerous artifacts can occur during contact B scanning of the abdomen. These artifacts may give anatomically inaccurate scans and thus lead the interpreter into making an inaccurate diagnosis. This paper describes and illustrates artifacts resulting from improper scanning techniques, improperly set gain levels, motion related organ distortion, and acoustic reverberations.
Ubiquitin-mediated Targeting of a Mutant Plasma Membrane ATPase, Pma1-7, to the Endosomal/Vacuolar System in Yeast

Pma1-7 is a mutant plasma membrane ATPase that is impaired in targeting to the cell surface at 37 degrees C and is delivered instead to the endosomal/vacuolar pathway for degradation. We have proposed that Pma1-7 is a substrate for a Golgibased quality control mechanism. By contrast with wild-type Pma1, Pma1-7 is ubiquitinated. Ubiquitination and endosomal targeting of Pma1-7 is dependent on the Rsp5-Bul1-Bul2 ubiquitin ligase protein complex but not the transmembrane ubiquitin ligase Tul1. Analysis of Pma1-7 ubiquitination in mutants blocked in protein transport at various steps of the secretory pathway suggests that ubiquitination occurs after ER exit but before endosomal entry. In the absence of ubiquitination in rsp5-1 cells, Pma1-7 is delivered to the cell surface and remains stable. Nevertheless, Pma1-7 remains impaired in association with detergent-insoluble glycolipid-enriched complexes in rsp5-1 cells, suggesting that ubiquitination is not the cause of Pma1-7 exclusion from rafts. In vps1 cells in which protein transport into the endosomal pathway is blocked, Pma1-7 is routed to the cell surface. On arrival at the plasma membrane in vps1 cells, Pma1-7 remains stable and its ubiquitination disappears, suggesting deubiquitination activity at the cell surface. We suggest that Pma1-7 sorting and fate are regulated by ubiquitination.
Neglected export opportunities and the profit-maximizing assumption.

The assiduous and indefatigable pursuit of profit, according to established economic theory, is the primary raison d'eitre of the businessman. If this is so, the present author states, American businessmen are strangely oblivious to a considerable body of money-making opportunities. He suggests that the profit-maximizing assumption may no longer be valid for the American economy, which has moved from a profit-phase to a satiety-phase economy “…wherein the businessman, satiated with both wealth and renown, turns his attention to unbusiness like relaxation, recreation, diversion, and education”.
The Future of the IMF and World Bank: Panel Discussion

(i) It undertakes surveillance of the global economy and the economies of its members, reporting to its membership. Most of these reports are published. (ii) It provides technical assistance to its members. The Fund staff draws on an unparalleled range of experience about what has worked in practice, and this assistance is generally regarded as highly valuable. (iii) It serves, in the words of the Articles of Agreement, as "a permanent institution which provides the machinery for consultation and collaboration on international monetary problems." Virtually all international monetary problems end up for discussion, and often for implementation, in the IMF. (iv) It lends to its member countries.
What victims of domestic violence need from the dental profession.

Most dental schools teach students about domestic abuse, but it is unknown if this information is ever applied in practice. This study was conducted to determine whether domestic violence victims 1) visited dental offices when signs of abuse were present; 2) were asked about their injuries; 3) were given referrals or assistance; and 4) want the abuse recognized by and discussed with the dental professional. A survey was developed and mailed to fifteen shelters. Eleven (73.3 percent) shelters participated, with a total of 112 out of 165 (67.8 percent) surveys returned. Descriptive statistics were analyzed, and an ANOVA test was conducted to determine if a relationship existed between the incidence of abuse and ethnicity. Seventy-six percent of respondents had suffered physical abuse in the head and neck area. Over half of the participants had seen a dentist when signs of abuse were present, yet 88.6 percent were not asked about their injuries. In addition, 69.2 percent responded that they would have liked to have been asked about their injuries. It appears that the dental profession needs to take a more active role in the recognition of domestic violence in their patient populations. Raising dentists and dental hygienists’ awareness of the problem and potentially increasing the number of referrals may help more victims.
Near-Field Wireless Power Transfer

Wireless power transfer links are becoming increasingly important for consumer, industrial, and medical electronic devices. There are two principal applications for wireless power transfer that require different optimization criteria: continuous power deliver (e.g., cochlear implant) and periodic charging (e.g., cellular phone). In the former case, optimizing power transfer efficiency is a metric of great importance, while in the latter case, minimizing charging time by maximizing power transfer is important. This chapter presents analytical equations that predict optimal conditions for both applications through first-principals step-by-step reflected load analysis. These equations are then used as the basis for the design of a rapid wireless ultra-capacitor charging circuit that speeds up time-to-charge by 3.7×.
Measurement and calculation of potential shifting current in ± 800kV HVDC converter station

The reliable and stable operation of ultra HVDC transmission system contributes to the safe operation of the power grid, thus to carry out live working is of great significance in converter station. Shift of potential is the most important aspects of entering equal-potential. At the moment of shift of potential, the strong arc and large pulse current will occur between the bus and operation worker. Research on the characteristics of the potential shift current is benefit to take appropriate protective measures. Based on NI9165 wireless data acquisition card pulse current measurement system was applied to measure potential shifting currents during the process of entering +800 kV DC converter station bus. According to the characteristics of access to DC converter station polar bus equal-potential, potential distribution and capacitor between worker and polar buses were studied using the electromagnetic analysis software in the process of entering the equal potential. Equal potential transfer analysis model was built according to these parameters and potential shifting current were calculated in UHV DC converter station. Entering potential shifting current pulse is of the highest value 150 A with positive and negative polarity pulse, pulse width for dozens of μs in the process of entering equal-potential. Potential shifting current simulation calculation results is that maximum is 190 A, pulse width of 10 μs. Calculation and measurement results show that the potential shifting current UHV DC converter station is far less than UHV AC lines. such as potential in the process of potential shifting current pulse is mainly caused by the arc extinguish and renewed between bus and workers repeatedly, and workers should be quick into and out of the equal-potential during contacting and out of a live conductor, in order to avoid arc burns damage to workers, potential shifting bar is recommended to use during into and out of the bonding process.
Engineering for Sustainable Energy Education within Suburban, Urban and Developing Secondary Schools:

It is crucial that the younger generation be included in the conversation of sustainable development, given the urgent need of a global transition to cleaner energy solutions. Sustainable energy en...
Celestials and Commoners: Exiles in Pai Hsien-Yung's Stories

(1984). Celestials and Commoners: Exiles in Pai Hsien-Yung's Stories. Monumenta Serica: Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 409-423.
Market Evaluation Based on Process Neural Networks

In this paper, the PNN(Process Neural Networks) that is recently proposed in the neural networks field is applied to evaluation of market and enterprise. The input of PNN is a group of dynamic market information of a period of time. Traditional neural networks can not realize it. The sort of dynamic input character is particular excellence that PNN hold. Networks model and algorithm are presented. The simulation experience proved availability of the method.
Somatic embryogenesis and peroxidase activity of desiccation tolerant mature somatic embryos of loblolly pine

White, translucent, glossy mucilaginous callus was initiated from the matur zygotic embryos explants on callus induction medium with 2,4-D, BA, and kinetin in the 3–9th week of culture. This type of callus induction occurred at a lower frequency with either α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or IBA (both 8 mg/L). White, translucent, glossy mucilaginous callus was embryogenic and mainly developed from the cotyledons of the mature zygotic embryo. Somatic embryos were formed on differentiation medium. Desiccation tolerance can be induced by culturing somatic embryos of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) on medium supplemented with 50 μm abscisic acid (ABA) and/or 8.5% polyethylene glycol (PEG6000). Scanning electron microscopy of desiccated somatic embryos showed that the size and external morphology of the desiccation tolerant somatic embryos recovered to the pre-desiccation state within 24–36 h, whereas the sensitive somatic embryos did not recover and remained shriveled, after the desiccated somatic embryos had been rehydrated. Peroxidase activity of desiccated somatic embryos increased sharply after 3 days of desiccation treatment, and desiccation tolerant somatic embryos had higher peroxidase activity compared to sensitive somatic embryos. Higher peroxidase activity of desiccation tolerant somatic embryos was possibly advantage of catalyzing the reduction of H2O2 which was produced by drought stress, and protecting somatic embryos from oxidative damage.