cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Cultural Diversity on International Criminal Proceedings

This article analyses the impact of cultural diversity on international criminal proceedings, and what may be done to counter the unfortunate conditions — limited (or lack of) understanding, alienation and disagreement — resulting from this diversity. Each of these conditions, if ignored, seriously undermines not merely the efficacy of international criminal tribunals, but also their worth from the standpoint of those who are supposed to benefit from them, i.e. actual participants (accused, witnesses and victims) and affected populations. At present, international criminal tribunals primarily understand the problem of cultural diversity as one of how to cope with linguistic variations. However, a persistent focus on culture as language hides differences in terms of other culture-specific components of equal relevance to their work, notably socio-cultural norms and convictions about justice. These variations are especially difficult to tackle. In this context, the article examines whether national courts, which are assumed to conduct their proceedings in more culturally homogenous settings, offer more appropriate fora of adjudication of grave crimes under international law.
Decadal scale oscillations and trend in the Indian monsoon rainfall

The emerging need for extended climate prediction requires a consideration of the relative roles of climate change and low-frequency natural variability on decadal scale. Addressing this issue, this study has shown that the variability of the Indian monsoon rainfall (IMR) consists of three decadal scale oscillations and a nonlinear trend during 1901–2004. The space–time structures of the decadal oscillations are described. The IMR decadal oscillations are shown to be associated with Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), Atlantic tripole oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). The sea surface temperatures (SSTs) of the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans are also resolved as nonlinear decadal oscillations. The SST AMO mode has high positive correlation with IMR while the SST tripole mode and SST PDO have negative correlation. The trend in IMR increases during the first half of the period and decreases during the second half. The IMR trend is modified when combined with the three decadal oscillations.
Informing Climate Change Policy Through Economics and Engineering Perspectives on Energy Efficiency

Energy “sustainability” and energy supply have again emerged as central public policy issues and are at the intersection of the economic, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation and the world. The goal of significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with energy production and consumption, while maintaining affordable and reliable energy supplies, is one of the most important issues. Among the strategies for achieving this goal, increasing the efficiency of energy consumption in buildings is being emphasized to a degree not seen since the 1970s. “End-use” efficiency is the core of the State of California’s landmark effort to reduce its GHG emissions, of other state and local climate-change initiatives, and is emphasized in emerging federal GHG abatement legislation. Both economic and engineering methods are used to analyze energy efficiency, but the two paradigms provide different perspectives on the market and technological factors that affect the diffusion of energy efficiency. These disparate perspectives influence what is considered the appropriate role and design of public policy for leveraging not just efficient end-use technology, but other sustainable energy technologies. We review the two approaches and their current roles in the GHG policy process by describing, for illustrative purposes, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s assessment of energy efficiency in the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 Discussion Draft. We highlight opportunities and needs for improved coordination between the engineering, economic and policy communities. Our view is that a better understanding of disciplinary differences and complementarities in perspectives and analytical methods between these communities will benefit the climate change policy process.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Genome-Wide Identification of Transcription Start Sites Yields a Novel Thermosensing RNA and New Cyclic AMP Receptor Protein-Regulated Genes in Escherichia coli

Intergenic regions often contain regulatory elements that control the expression of flanking genes. Using a deep-sequencing approach, we identified numerous new transcription start sites in Escherichia coli, yielding a new thermosensing regulatory RNA and seven genes previously unknown to be under the control of the global regulator CRP.
Do we really know why diabetes remits after gastric bypass surgery

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (GBP) results in 30-40% sustained weight loss and improved type 2 diabetes in up to 80% of patients. The relative contribution of the gut neuroendocrine changes after GBP versus the weight loss has not been fully elucidated. There are clear differences between weight loss by GBP and by dietary intervention or gastric banding. One of them is the enhanced post-prandial release of incretin hormones and the recovery of the incretin effect on insulin secretion after GBP, not seen after diet-induced weight loss. The favorable changes in incretin hormones after GBP result in recovery of the early phase insulin secretion and lower post-prandial glucose levels during oral glucose administration. The enhanced incretin response may be related to the neuroglycopenia post-GBP. In parallel with changes of glucose metabolism, a larger decrease of circulating branched-chain amino acids in relation to improved insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion is observed after GBP compared to diet. The mechanisms of the rapid and longterm endocrine and metabolic changes after GBP are not fully elucidated. Changes in rate of eating, gastric emptying, nutrient absorption and sensing, bile acid metabolism, and microbiota may all be important. Understanding the mechanisms by which incretin release is exaggerated post-prandially after GBP may help develop new less invasive treatment options for obesity and diabetes. Equally important would be to identify biological predictors of success or failure and to understand the mechanisms of weight regain and/or diabetes relapse.
Postural Variations of Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity in Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Study objective To assess whether posture-related changes of diffusing capacity could be considered as an early sensitive marker of pulmonary abnormalities in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and whether the postural variations of pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vc) could reflect the lung capillary damage that characterizes the diabetic microangiopathy. Design Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (Dco) was measured by the single-breath method. Four Dco measurements, two in sitting and two in supine position, were performed in each subject using gas mixtures containing different oxygen concentrations. Membrane and capillary volume components of the diffusion capacity were calculated and both were expressed as absolute value and corrected by alveolar volume (VA). Patients Twenty IDDM patients and 20 normal subjects matched for age and sex were studied. Measurements and Results The IDDM patients showed normal pulmonary volumes and flows. No significant differences between the two groups were found for Dco, coefficient of diffusion, Vc, and pulmonary capillary blood volume corrected by alveolar volume in sitting position. All these indexes significantly increased in normal subjects but not in diabetics, by changing the posture of the subject from sitting to supine position. In a multivariate analysis, the presence of diabetes mellitus and the age of the subjects were the only significant predictors of Vc postural changes. Conclusions This postural test, adjusted for age, could be included in a screening diagnostic procedure for an early assessment of pulmonary abnormalities in diabetic patients. The lack of Vc postural increase in diabetics could reflect the presence of a microangiopathy involving the pulmonary small vessels.
Estimation of viscous heat effects in slit flows of 98% Amylopectin (Amioca), 70% Amylose (Hylon 7) corn starches and corn meal during extrusion

Abstract Viscous heating for high Amylopectin (Amioca) and Amylose (Hylon 7) corn starches as well as corn meal during slit rheometry was estimated as a function of extrusion temperature, moisture content and screw speed. The results showed that the temperature rise due to viscous heating decreased as temperature, moisture content and screw speed increased, which is due to rheological changes in starch during extrusion. Under the same extrusion conditions, Hylon 7 gave a higher temperature rise due to viscous heating than Amioca, which is attributed to the larger viscosity of Hylon 7. The temperature rise can be significantly reduced by using as thin a slit as possible.
Plastic Deformations of Carbon Nanotubes

Although the elastic properties of a carbon nanotube are nearly independent of wrapping indices, we show that the onset of plastic deformation depends very strongly on the wrapping index. An $(n,0)$ nanotube has an elastic limit nearly twice that of an $(n,n)$ tube with the same radius. Such great variation has important consequences for structural applications of carbon nanotubes. In addition, the remnant bond rotations remaining after strain release strongly affect the electronic structure of the distorted nanotube.
Tribromo- and trifluoroborane adducts of some pyrazines☆

Abstract The trifluoro- and tribromoborane adducts of some methyl substituted pyrazines were synthesized and characterized. The 2:1 molecular adducts (e.g., C4H4N2·2BX3) could be isolated with unsubstituted, 2-methyl, 2,3-dimethyl, and 2,6-dimethyl pyrazines. The 1:1 molecular adducts could be isolate only with 2,6-dimethylpyrazine. The adducts were characterized by elemental analyses and infrared spectroscopy. The adducts were studied using 11B-NMR and chemical shift assignments made. The chemical shift assignments and the different reactivities of the two nitrogen sites in 2,6-dimethylpyrazine are discussed.
Pay and productivity in “corporatist” Germany

Conventional theory predicts that productivity gains lead to pay hikes. Pay increases, however, can influence labor productivity. But what about the case of a corporatist economy, in which wage setting is highly coordinated? With cor-poratist cooperation between unions and management, is pay de-coupled from productivity? Using an innovative technique, this study disentangles the rela-tionship between pay and productivity in Germany. Citing high unemployment and increasingly global competition, critics have argued that Germany's brand of corporatist labor relations cannot survive. Our findings show that links between productivity and pay were different in the 1990s than in earlier years, suggesting that the collective bargaining process now works differently.
Letter to the Editor---Comments on “Brownian Motion in the Stock Market”

Comments on the paper “Brownian Motion in the Stock Market” [Osborne, M. F. M. 1959. Opns Res.7 145--173.].
Epithelioid angiomatosis: a distinct vascular disorder in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS-related complex.

Abstract Unusual cutaneous vascular neoplasms distinct from Kaposi's sarcoma were observed in five patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection. The cutaneous lesions were solitary or multiple papules and nodules. In some patients the lesions also affected internal organs. Histologically the neoplasms were composed of proliferating blood vessels and cells with epithelioid features. Immunoperoxidase studies of one lesion showed that the cells expressed both factor VIII antigen, a marker for endothelial cells, and α 1 -anti-chymotrypsin, a marker for histiocytes. In some patients the lesions gradually disappeared but in two they were the cause of death, in one case from disseminated intravascular coagulation and in the other from laryngeal obstruction by the tumour.
Learning and living with the genie

The coeditors of the volume identify seven messages, address a number of remaining points, and offer summary comments on where we go from here.
The effect of editorial appointments on the citations of sociology journal editors, 1970–1989

L'A. estime que l'on a peu etudie la question de savoir comment les interets theoriques et les reputations des professeurs peut exercer une influence sur le contenu des articles publie dans les revues specialisees. L'A. examine les citations d'ouvrages de directeurs de revues, de recherche dans les articles et notes publiees dans un certain nombre de revues americaines. Il etudie l'utilisation de ces citations a des fins «promotionnelles» ou l'on cherche a tirer profit du prestige de certains auteurs, de certains laboratoires. Il montre comment les directeurs de revues ont interet pour leur carriere, la reconnaissance de leurs travaux a voir figurer leur nom dans ces communications
High-performance liquid chromatography of methylated phospholipids.

Abstract A rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the separation of methylated phospholipids is described. The separation is accomplished on an amine column using acetonitrile—methanol—water as the eluting solvent and UV detection at 203 nm. The choice between gradient and isocratic elution for the separation depends upon the condition of column. The method is suitable for the isolation of phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, lysophosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine from tissues. It is applicable to the study of reaction products in phosphatide methyltransferase assay mixtures. Choline and ethanolamine plasmalogens can be determined indirectly by converting them into lysophosphatidylcholine and lysophosphatidylethanolamine with exposure to hydrochloric acid fumes.
Relativistic thermodynamics of fluids. I

Abstract In 1953, Stueckelberg and Wanders derived the basic laws of relativistic linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics for chemically reacting fluids from the relativistic local conservation laws for energy-momentum and the local laws of production of substances and of non-negative entropy production by the requirement that the corresponding currents (assumed to depend linearly on the first derivatives of the state variables) should not be independent. Generalizing their method, we determine the most general allowed form of the energy-momentum tensor T αβ and of the corresponding rate of entropy production under the same restriction on the currents. The problem of expressing this rate in terms of thermodynamic forces and fluxes is discussed in detail; it is shown that the number of independent forces is not uniquely determined by the theory, and several possibilities are explored. A number of possible new cross effects are found, all of which persist in the Newtonian (low-velocity) limit. The treatment of chemical reactions is incorporated into the formalism in a consistent manner, resulting in a derivation of the law for rate of production, and in relating this law to transport processes differently than suggested previously. The Newtonian limit is discussed in detail to establish the physical interpretation of the various terms of T αβ . In this limit, the interpretation hinges on that of the velocity field characterizing the fluid. If it is identified with the average matter velocity following from a consideration of the number densities, the usual local conservation laws of Newtonian nonequilibrium thermodynamics are obtained, including that of mass. However, a slightly different identification allows conversion of mass into energy even in this limit, and thus a macroscopic treatment of nuclear or elementary particle reactions. The relation of our results to previous work is discussed in some detail.
NDE applications in an anchor bolt and sign bridge inspection program

Wisconsin Department of Transportation implemented an Anchor Bolt Inspection Program and Sign Bridge Inspection Program in 1990 for cantilever & overhead sign structures, high mast light towers, interstate light towers, and signal masts. All cantilever & overhead sign structures and high mast light towers have been inspected in-depth 'hands on' during this time period while implementation of inspection continues for interstate light towers and signal masts. The program requires an experienced inspection team and a practical inspection approach. Inspection preparation includes review of all background information such as design plans, design computations, construction plans, shop plans, and maintenance history. An inspection plan is developed. Special emphasis is placed on determining type of structure, type of material, welding details. For anchor bolts, type of material, cut or rolled threads, type of coating, and method of placement are important issues. Inspection emphasis are on 'hands on' and Nondestructive evaluation. Special emphasis is placed visual conditions of sign structures and anchor bolts (cut or rolled threads, straightness, corrosion, nut tension, etc.) along with ultrasonic inspection. This program places a strong emphasis on Non Destructive Testing (NDT), especially ultrasonic. Procedures and inspection calibrations for anchor bolts, are developed from similar anchor bolt geometry and material type. Cut notches are placed in the anchor bolts at locations of possible failure. NDT inspection calibrations are performed from these bolts. Report documentation includes all design plans, pictorial documentation of structural deficiencies, sketches, nondestructive evaluation reports, conclusions, and recommendations. This program has been successful in locating critical cracks and failed members on existing sign structures and new sign structures less than six months old. Also, failed anchor bolts and critical cracks have been located on high mast light towers.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Regulation of luteinizing-hormone-receptors and steroidogenesis in the neonatal rat testis.

Testicular LH receptor regulation and steroidogenesis were studied in 5-day-old rats, in which Leydig cells are derived from the fetal population of interstitial cells. The affinity of hCG binding to the neonatal and adult testis was similar. The hCG-binding capacity per unit weight of tissue in the neonatal testis was 5–10% of the adult level but was very similar when expressed per Leydig cell. The sensitivity of the testosterone response to hCG was 4-fold higher in neonatal Leydig cells, whereas the basal and maximal rates of testosterone production were similar in neonatal and adult cells. No clear differences were seen in cAMP production. A low dose of hCG (20 IU/kg BW sc) induced in 1–3 days a 40–60% increase in LH receptors without affecting the Leydig cell number; such an effect was not observed in the adult. A higher dose of hCG (600 IU/kg BW sc) increased the number of Leydig cells per testis about 2-fold in 2 days, and a significant increase in testicular basal and hCGstimulated testosterone pro...
DNA Elements Recognizing NF-Y and Sp1 Regulate the Human Multidrug-Resistance Gene Promoter

Regulation of the human multidrug resistance gene (hMDR1) was studied by mapping DNA elements in the proximal promoter necessary for efficient transcription. Transient transfection analysis in tumor cell lines (HCT116, HepG2, and Saos2) of promoter deletions identified several regulatory domains. These cell lines expressed hMDR1 mRNA. Removal of an element between +25 and +158 reduced promoter activity by 2-3-fold, whereas deletion of sequences from approximately -5000 to -138 base pairs gave a approximately 2-fold increase. The activity of the hMDR1 promoter (-137 to +25) was comparable in activity to the SV40 early promoter and enhancer combination. Deletion of the hMDR1 promoter between -86 and -44 reduced activity by 5-10-fold, identifying an important regulatory region. This minimal region (-88 to -37) activated transcription when inserted upstream of a synthetic promoter, suggesting that it acts independently of other regulatory sequences. Two DNA elements within 85 base pairs of the transcriptional start site were required to confer efficient gene expression. A double-point mutation in the Y box (inverted CCAAT box) between -70 and -80 reduced activity of the promoter by 5-10-fold, and a single-point mutation at -52 within a GC-rich element reduced activity by 3-fold. Thus, both the Y-box and GC elements must each remain intact for optimal promoter activity. DNA-binding analyses suggest that the transcription factor NF-Y, but not YB-1 or c/EBP, is most likely responsible for controlling the activity of the Y-box element in these tumor cell lines. DNA-binding analyses also suggest that Sp1, alone or in combination with other nuclear factors, likely controls the activity of the GC element.
Bioactive delivery systems for nerve regeneration

The goal of this research is to develop drug delivery systems that can be controlled by cellular activity during nerve regeneration. We utilize heparin-binding affinity to sequester growth factors within heparin-containing fibrin matrices. These affinity-immobilized growth factors can be released based on active, cellular degradation of the matrix rather than by passive, diffusion-based release and allow us to control growth factor delivery over the entire time course of tissue regeneration. This approach to bioactive delivery has been shown to promote nerve regeneration comparable to nerve allograft in rat sciatic nerve transection models.
Television Sweep Generation with Resonant Networks and Lines

The synthesis of a current sawtooth from a limited number of first harmonics has been studied. It was found that good linearity is easier to obtain than a fast retrace. Scan distortion may be held below 5 per cent over 80 per cent of scan, by adding only 4 harmonics in a "least square" proportion. Fast flyback, on the other hand, requires 8 harmonics to be usable for commercial television. Several practical systems for resonant sweep have been tested. All circuits used shock excitation of multiresonant networks by pulses of current. Both pentodes and small hydrogen thyratrons were used successfully. The best multiresonator for synthetic sweep is a delay-line, 3 per cent shorter than a halfwave long and shorted at the far end. To minimize dispersion, a "slanting wafer" type of construction has been developed which permits control of mutual without effect on self-inductance.
Fast X-ray microdiffraction techniques for studying irreversible transformations in materials

A pair of techniques have been developed for performing time-resolved X-ray microdiffraction on irreversible phase transformations. In one technique capillary optics are used to focus a high-flux broad-spectrum X-ray beam to a 60 µm spot size and a fast pixel array detector is used to achieve temporal resolution of 55 µs. In the second technique the X-rays are focused with Kirkpatrick–Baez mirrors to achieve a spatial resolution better than 10 µm and a fast shutter is used to provide temporal resolution better than 20 µs while recording the diffraction pattern on a (relatively slow) X-ray CCD camera. Example data from experiments are presented where these techniques are used to study self-propagating high-temperature synthesis reactions in metal laminate foils.
Initial Impressions, Judged Likeability, and Intervention Outcomes of Young School-Maladapting Children

Fifty-six young maladapting (referred) children and 33 demographically comparable normal subjects, ages 6–9, were observed for 20 to 30 minutes in their classrooms and rated by judges for positivity of first impressions and likeability. Rater concordance, though generally low, was significantly higher for referred than for nonreferred children. Positivity of observer impressions did not differ for sex or age groups. Significantly more positive first impressions were formed about nonreferred, compared with referred, children, and about minority, particularly minority referred children, compared with non-minority referred children. There were no relationships between (a) positivity of initial impressions or likeability of referred children and (b) adjustment status at referral or intervention outcomes. Nor did the opportunity to select specific children to work with, based on initial liking, improve intervention outcomes.
Fade Statistics of Wireless Multi-User Systems

In this paper, we propose a new model named effective fade duration envelope to characterize the accumulative conditional fade durations of individual users or groups of users in wireless communication systems. The proposed model has the following novelties: (1) it introduces the statistical upper and lower bounds with the required degree of confidence for accumulative conditional fade durations during any given time interval; (2) it characterizes various conditional fading circumstances in wireless multi-user communication systems.
A geometric approach to parameter estimation from tomographic data

This paper presents a method for fitting surface models of solid objects directly to 2D projections without the need for detecting intermediate features. The method relies on first principles and follows from an analytical formulation of the change in the projected image with respect to the object parameters. It incorporates a gradient descent with an inverse-Hessian minimization procedure to efficiently find local minima in an image-based misfit function. The same formulation applies to system parameters, and thus one can simultaneously fit a surface model and estimate the distortion parameters of the sensor. Results are shown for simulated data and real images from a C-arm fluoroscopy device.
Vitamin D deficiency and risk of acute lung injury in severe sepsis and severe trauma: a case-control study

Background The aim of this study was to determine the association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels at the onset of critical illness and the development of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) in patients with sepsis or trauma.
Halogenated DOPA in a Marine Adhesive Protein

The sandcastle worm Phragmatopoma californica, a marine polychaete, constructs a tube-like shelter by cementing together sand grains using a glue secreted from the building organ in its thorax. The glue is a mixture of post-translationally modified proteins, notably the cement proteins Pc-1 and Pc-2 with the amino acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (DOPA). Significant amounts of a halogenated derivative of DOPA were isolated from the worm cement following partial acid hydrolysis and capture of catecholic amino acids by phenylboronate affinity chromatography. Analysis by tandem mass spectrometry and 1H NMR indicates the DOPA derivative to be 2-chloro-4, 5-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine. The potential roles of 2-chloro-DOPA in chemical defense and underwater adhesion are considered.
Triply-convergent synthesis of two sets of homochiral cyclopent[a]indene carbacyclin analogs

Abstract Reaction of o -chloromethyl aryl cuprate 6 with optically active ammonium salt 7 regio- and stereospecifically affords vinyl sulfone 8 . Conjugate-addition of acetylenic anion 9 followed by in situ cyclization provides sulfone 10 which is refunctionalized to provide two sets of carbacyclin analogs, 15 - 17 and 25 - 27 . IC50 values of these six compounds for inhibition of collagen-induced platelet aggregation were 0.18, > 100, 0.33, 0.33, > 100, and 2.2μM, respectively.
Compact acousto-optic processor for synthetic aperture radar image formation

A compact implementation of a real-time acousto-optic synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imager is described. The architecture generates SAR imagery by decomposing the required 2D integration into a cascade of two 1D integrations, in a manner similar to that used in computed tomography for medical imaging applications. To achieve low power consumption, the required integrations are performed in the analog optical domain, with a crossed Bragg cell configuration, using a combination of spatial and temporal integration of optical signals. The time integrating and space integrating modules of the architecture are coupled via a common path interferometer. Subimages are formed on a 2D CCD detector array that is rotated during image formation to avoid a computationally difficult digital interpolation operation. The complex-valued subimages are combined in a digital frame buffer for dynamic range enhancement before being displayed. To accommodate needed flexibility, the required filter functions are calculated in a digital controller and downloaded through the Bragg cells. Results of a laboratory demonstration are presented. Performance projections suggest that the architecture may offer an advantage over an all-electronic approach for high-resolution applications which are severely constrained in power consumption. >
Ancient experiments: forest biodiversity and soil nutrients enhanced by Native American middens

The legacy of ancient human practices can affect the diversity and structure of modern ecosys- tems. Here, we examined how prehistoric refuse dumps (''middens'') impacted soil chemistry and plant community composition in forests along the Chesa- peake Bay by collecting vegetational and soil nutrient data. The centuries- to millennia-old shell middens had elevated soil nutrients compared to adjacent sites, greater vegetative cover, especially of herb and grass species, and higher species richness. Not only are middens important archaeological resources, they also offer a remarkable opportunity to test ecological hypotheses about nutrient addition over very long time scales. We found no evidence, for example, that elevated nutrients enhanced invasion by non-native species as predicted by the fluctuating resource hypothesis. However, we did find that elevated nutrients shifted community structure from woody species to herbaceous species, as predicted by the structural carbon-nutrient hypothesis. These results highlight the long-lasting effects that humans can have on abiotic and biotic properties of the natural environment, and suggest the potential for modern patterns of species' distributions and abundances to reflect ancient human activities.
Complementary Gompertz Survival Models: Decreasing Alive Versus Increasing Dead

The survival patterns of many animals can be classified into one of two asymmetric sigmoid forms: One group can be predicted from the standard, classical Gompertz assumption that, with age, the number of individuals alive in the population decreases exponentially at an exponentially increasing rate. The other can be predicted from the alternative Gompertz assumption that, with age, the number of individuals that have died increases exponentially at an exponentially decreasing rate. The two models have similar mathematical forms, but the curves are not the same. In contrast to the standard, the alternative form has an early rapid fall and terminates in a gradual decay of the number of live individuals. It fits "non-Gompertzian" survival plots that are not predicted by the number-alive assumption. Analyses of published data show one or the other survival mode in various animal populations, depending on sex, genetic strain, nutrition, or activity.
Specification based prototyping of control systems

We focus on an approach to simulation and debugging of formal software specifications for control systems called specification-based prototyping. Within the context of specification execution and simulation, specification-based prototyping combines the advantages of traditional formal specifications (e.g., precision and analysis) with the advantages of rapid prototyping (e.g., risk management and early user involvement). The approach lets us refine a formal and executable model of the system requirements specification to a detailed model of the software requirements specification. Throughout this refinement process, the specification is used as an early prototype of the proposed software. By using the specification as the prototype, most of the problems that plague traditional code-based prototyping disappear. First, the formal specification will always be consistent with the behavior of the prototype (excluding real-time response) and the specification is, by definition, updated as the prototype evolves. Second, the common problems associated with evolving the prototype into a production system are largely eliminated. Finally, the dynamic evaluation of the prototype can be augmented with formal analysis. To enable specification-based prototyping, we have developed the NIMBUS requirements engineering environment. NIMBUS, among other things, allows an engineer to dynamically evaluate an RSML/sup -e/ (Requirements State Machine Language without events) specification while interacting with (1) user input or text file input scripts, (2) RSML/sup -e/ models of the components in the embedding environment, (3) software simulations of the components, or (4) the physical components themselves (hardware-in-the-loop simulation).
Sagnac-interferometer-based Fresnel flow probe

We used a near-diffraction-limited flow or light-wave-interaction pipe to produce a Sagnac-interferometer-based Fresnel drag fluid flowmeter capable of detecting extremely small flow rates. An optimized design of the pipe along with the use of a state-of-the-art Sagnac interferometer results in a minimum-detectable water flow rate of 2.4 nl/s [1 drop/(5 h)]. The flowmeter’s capability of measuring the water consumption by a small plant in real time has been demonstrated. We then designed an automated alignment system that finds and maintains the optimum fiber-coupling regime, which makes the applications of the Fresnel-drag-based flowmeters practical, especially if the length of the interaction pipe is long. Finally, we have applied the automatic alignment technique to an air flowmeter.
Book Review: Cyber Security and Global Information Assurance: Threat Analysis and Response Solutions

Knapp, K.J. (Ed.) (2009). Cyber Security and Global Information Assurance: Threat Analysis and Response Solutions. Hershey, NY: Information Science Reference. 434 + xxii pages, ISBN: 978-1-60566-326-5, US$195. Reviewed by Gary C. Kessler (gck@garykessler.net) I freely admit that this book was sent to me by the publisher for the expressed purpose of my writing a review and that I know several of the chapter authors. With that disclosure out of the way, let me say that the book is well worth the review (and I get to keep my review copy). The preface to the book cites the 2003 publication of The National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace by the White House, and the acknowledgement by the U.S. government that our economy and national security were fully dependent upon computers, networks, and the telecommunications infrastructure. This may have come as news to the general population but it was a long overdue public statement to those of us in the industry. The FBI's InfraGard program and the formation of the National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) pre-dated this report by at least a half-dozen years, so the report was hardly earth shattering. And the fact that the bulk of the telecom infrastructure is owned by the private sector is a less advertized fact. Nonetheless, reminding the community of these facts is always a Good Thing and provides the raison dâ€™Aatre of this book. (see PDF for full review)
Action of High Dietary Copper in Promoting Growth of Pigs

High levels of dietary copper (125 to 250 ppm) are used routinely in Europe (Braude, 1967) and the USA (Wallace, 1967) to promote weight gain of growing pigs. The growth response of pigs to high copper feeding is similar to that of subtherapeutic levels of antibiotics and is a consistent and inexpensive positive response.
Voltage-dependent gap junctional conductance in hepatopancreatic cells of Procambarus clarkii.

Properties of gap junction channels present between specific cell types constituting the hepatopancreas of the crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) were investigated using the dual whole cell voltage cla...
Stormwater Best Management Practices Assessment for the City of Lincoln, Nebraska

The objective of this research was to assess BMP performance and implementation in Lincoln, Nebraska. In order to accomplish this objective, four tasks were established: sampling of stormwater runoff at eight sites located upstream of Holmes Lake, inspecting BMPs at construction sites in Lincoln, sampling and analysis of soil phosphorus levels in the Holmes Lake watershed, and conducting discussions with professionals involved with stormwater management in Lincoln. Based on the information collected during these tasks, several recommendations regarding the BMP assessment process are made including: recommendations for sampling site selection, an inexpensive flow monitoring method, and a rapid construction site BMP assessment protocol.
Research Note: Evaluation of the Report™ Salmonella Visual Immunoassay for Detection of Salmonellae on Raw Poultry Carcasses

Two trials were conducted to compare the standard culture procedure and the Report Salmonella Visual Immunoassay for detection of salmonellae in rinse fluid recovered from raw poultry carcasses. Both assays were evaluated with and without preenrichment in lactose broth prior to enrichment in selenite cystine broth. Live birds were inoculated via the drinking water prior to processing to ensure a high degree of carcass contamination. Prechill carcasses were sampled using 200 mL of sterile water. Results indicated that lactose preenrichment was not necessary for salmonellae evaluation using standard culture procedures. However, the Report assay produced fewer false-negative results if lactose preenrichment was utilized.
Alzheimer’s therapy targeting the β-secretase enzyme BACE1: Benefits and potential limitations from the perspective of animal model studies

Accumulating evidence points to the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide as the culprit in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). β-Site amyloid precursor protein (APP)-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is a protease that is responsible for initiating Aβ production. Although precise mechanisms that trigger Aβ accumulation remain unclear, BACE1 inhibition undoubtedly represents an important intervention that may prevent and/or cure AD. Remarkably, animal model studies with knockouts, virus-delivered small interfering RNAs, immunization and bioavailable small-molecule agents that specifically inhibit BACE1 activity strongly support the idea for the therapeutic BACE1 inhibition. Meanwhile, a growing number of BACE1 substrates besides APP uncover new physiological roles of this protease, raising some concern regarding the safety of BACE1 inhibition. Here, I review recent progress in preclinical studies that have evaluated the efficacies and potential limitations of genetic/pharmacological inhibition of BACE1, with special focus on AD-associated phenotypes including synaptic dysfunction, neuron loss and memory deficits in animal models.
The Cultivation of the Innovative Talented Librarians in the New Stage

Much emphasis must be laid on the cultivation of the innovative talented librarians for the library in order to survive and develop in the competative society.Several points should be taken into consideration:foming a scientific outlook of life;setting up a managing mechanism; improving the ablity of self study;adopting the system of position-switching;bringing talented person into full play.To keep the talented Librarians stable,it should be done as the following:facing the reality of drain-brains;showing great concern about their work and life and providing them with favourable environment.
A survey on nosocomial infections in women and children′s hospital

OBJECTIVE To study the prevalence of nosocomial infections(NI) in a women's and children's hospital so as to offer data basis for the surveillance of NI.METHODS The data of 180 716 cases of patients who were discharged from the hospital from Jan 2007 to Dec 2011 were investigated.RESULTS There were 4853 NI patients in the women′s and children′s hospital,and the infection rate was 2.69%.There were 2858(58.89%) cases of patients aged less than 3 years old.The most frequent site of NI was respiratory tract(64.28%),followed by the gastrointestinal tract(15.91%),skin-soft tissue(5.94%),urinary tract(5.53%),blood(2.25%),and surgical incision(1.97%).As for distribution of the departments,the patients with respiratory tract infections in the pediatrics department accounted for 52.14%,the patients with the gastrointestinal tract infections in the pediatrics department 90.19%;the patients with the skin-mucosa infections in the surgery department accounted for 80.20%,the patients with the incision infections in the surgery department 43.30%;the patients with urinary tract infections in the gynecology department accounted for 57.51%,the patients with urinary tract infections in the obstetrics department 20.15%.CONCLUSION The respiratory tract is the most prevalent infection site of the children,the children aged less than 3 years old are at high risk of NI.It is necessary to strengthen the surveillance and prevention and to attach great importance to the prevention of the NI in key departments.
Age-related Changes in Sleep

Within a wide range of individual differences, there are age-associated changes in the characteristics of sleep. There are shifts toward the extremities in sleep amounts, increased difficulties in initiating or maintaining sleep at night, and an emergence of naps. There are also changes in sleep structure. It is within these age-related changes that sleep disorders must be considered.
Potential Surgical Implications of Unexplained Hematuria in Children

AbstractHematuria in children can be secondary to hypercalciuria and may occur well before a clinical stone episode. We report on 9 patients with initially unexplained hematuria who proved subsequently to exhibit stone formation secondary to hypercalciuria. The evaluation of otherwise unexplained hematuria in children should include calcium excretion studies. Long-term followup of patients with hematuria secondary to hypercalciuria is necessary because of the potential development of surgically significant stone disease.
Normal and Abnormal Physiology of Monoamines in the Central Nervous System

Noradrenaline and adrenaline were first detected in mammalian brain by von Euler (1946), and their presence was later confirmed by Holtz (1950). The NA that was found together with A was referred to as “sympathin” and was thought to occur in cerebral vasomotor nerves. In 1954, Vogt approached the problem of whether these amines have a functional role in the central nervous brain tissue, and in what is now a classic study in the field, she described the concentration and location of brain NA in several mammals. She found that in the dog the concentration of brain NA is usually uneven and does not parallel brain vascularity. Most of Vogt’s results have been confirmed (see Table 4), with slight variation in concentration determinations due to technique.
Procoagulant Activity of Sulfated Polysaccharides

Abstract 4419 BAX513, a Laminaria japonica-derived fucoidan and other non-anticoagulant sulfated polysaccharides (NASPs) have been shown to improve clotting in FVIII- and FIX-deficient plasma (Liu et al. Thromb Haemost 2006; 95:68). In this study we assessed the procoagulant activities of fucoidans derived from a variety of brown sea algae species, and correlated the activity with molecular weight (MW) and degree of sulfation. Highly purified fucoidan preparations were studied in FVIII-inhibited whole blood by tissue factor-triggered thromboelastography (TEG). The procoagulant activity was characterized by calibrated automated thrombography (CAT) in FVIII- and FIX-deficient plasma and in combination with established hemophilia therapeutics. A dilute prothrombin time assay based on tissue factor pathway inhibitor supplementation (TFPI-dPT) was used to demonstrate the dose-dependent TFPI-inhibiting effect of BAX513 (EC50 = 0.18 ± 0.03 μ g/mL) in FVIII-deficient plasma. TEG in normal and FVIII-inhibited blood showed a dose-dependent procoagulant effect of most compounds where the optimal concentrations (1-100 nM) were dependent on the MW of the fucoidan. In FVIII-inhibited blood BAX513 at concentrations of ~10 nM (1.2 μ g/mL) completely normalized the TEG parameters. In contrast to sulfated fucoidans, undersulfated fucoidan hardly affected thrombin generation (TG). By CAT, the procoagulant window of NASPs in hemophilic plasma spanned more than two orders of magnitude with maximum effects being equivalent to (mU/mL) 730–940 FVIII, 32–80 FIX and 590–1230 FEIBA. NASPs combined with FVIII, FEIBA or FVIIa had an additive procoagulant effect. The optimal selection of molecular characteristics of NASPs will support the development of alternative hemophilia therapies. Disclosures: Dockal:Baxter Innovations GmbH: Employment. Knappe:Baxter Innovations GmbH: Employment. Panholzer:Baxter Innovations GmbH: Employment. Palige:Baxter Innovations GmbH: Employment. Ehrlich:Baxter Innovations GmbH: Employment. Scheiflinger:Baxter Innovations GmbH: Employment.
A star role for stripes

Visual images can have a powerful impact on the viewer, and this is certainly the case when the images are atomic-scale pictures of the surface of a high-temperature copper-oxide superconductor. The unusual properties of these materials have vexed condensed-matter theorists for the last 15 years. Now a new flurry of theoretical papers has been stimulated by the latest images of a cuprate superconductor, which reveal that an applied magnetic field can induce "stripes" of charge. The experimental results provide intriguing and important clues to the nature of these ever-surprising materials – although the theorists have still to agree on their meaning.
Using Standing Gold Nanorod Arrays as Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) Substrates for Detection of Carbaryl Residues in Fruit Juice and Milk

In recent years, there have been increasing concerns about pesticide residues in various foods. On the other hand, there is growing attention in utilizing novel nanomaterials as highly sensitive, low-cost, and reproducible substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) applications. The objective of this study was to develop a SERS method for the rapid detection of pesticides that were extracted from different types of food samples (fruit juice and milk). A new SERS substrate was prepared by assembling gold nanorods into standing arrays on a gold-coated silicon slide. The standing nanorod arrays were neatly arranged and were able to generate a strong electromagnetic field in SERS measurement. The as-prepared SERS substrate was utilized to detect carbaryl in acetonitrile/water solution, fruit juices (orange and grapefruit), and milk. The results show that the concentrations of carbaryl spiked in fruit juice and milk were linearly correlated with the concentrations predicted by the partial least-...
PrOLoc: resilient localization with private observers using partial homomorphic encryption: demo abstract

This demo abstract presents PrOLoc, a localization system that combines partially homomorphic encryption with a new way of structuring the localization problem to enable efficient and accurate computation of a target's location while preserving the privacy of the observers.