Protection of Child Witnesses and the Right of Confrontation: A Balancing of Interests

We introduce normal coordinates in Riemannspaces as a tool to construct color-weak compensation methods.We use them to compute color stimuli for a color weakobservers that result in the same color perception as theoriginal image presented to a color normal observer in the sensethat perceived color-differences are identical for both. Thecompensation is obtained through a color-difference-preservingmap, i.e. an isometry between the 3D color spaces of a colornormaland any given color-weak observer. This approach usesdiscrimination threshold data and is free from approximationerrors due to local linearization. The performance is evaluatedwith the help of semantic differential (SD) tests.Virtual Photo Set (VPS)European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007-2013 - Challenge 2 Cognitive Systems, Interaction, Robotics - under grant agreement No 247947 - GARNICS

Modelling, Measuring and Compensating Color Weak Vision

We use methods from Riemann geometry to investigate transformations between the color spaces of color-normal and color weak observers. The two main applications are the simulation of the perception of a color weak observer for a color normal observer and the compensation of color images in a way that a color weak observer has approximately the same perception as a color normal observer. The metrics in the color spaces of interest are characterized with the help of ellipsoids defined by the just-noticable-differences between color which are measured with the help of color-matching experiments. The constructed mappings are isometries of Riemann spaces that preserve the perceived color-differences for both observers. Among the two approaches to build such an isometry, we introduce normal coordinates in Riemann spaces as a tool to construct a global color-weak compensation map. Compared to previously used methods this method is free from approximation errors due to local linearizations and it avoids the problem of shifting locations of the origin of the local coordinate system. We analyse the variations of the Riemann metrics for different observers obtained from new color matching experiments and describe three variations of the basic method. The performance of the methods is evaluated with the help of semantic differential (SD) tests.Comment: Full resolution color pictures are available from the author

Effects of Propofol on Left Ventricular Mechanoenergetics in the Excised Cross-circulated Canine Heart

Although propofol is commonly used for general anesthesia, its direct effects on left ventricular (LV) contractility and energetics remain unknown. Accordingly, we studied the effects of intracoronary propofol on excised cross-circulated canine hearts using the framework of the Emax (a contractility index)-PVA (systolic pressure-volume area, a measure of total mechanical energy)-Vo2 (myocardial oxygen consumption per beat) relationship. We obtained 1) the Vo2-PVA relationship of isovolumic contractions with varied LV volumes at a constant Emax, 2) the Vo2-PVA relationship with varied LV volumes at a constant intracoronary concentration of propofol, and 3) the Vo2-PVA relationship under increased intracoronary concentrations of either propofol or CaCl2 at a constant LV volume to assess the cardiac mechanoenergetic effects of propofol. We found that propofol decreased Emax dose-dependently. The slope of the linear Vo2-PVA relationship (oxygen cost of PVA) remained unchanged by propofol. The PVA-independent Vo2-Emax relationship (oxygen cost of Emax) was the same for propofol and Ca2＋. In conclusion, propofol showed a direct negative inotropic effect on LV. At its clinical concentrations, decreases in contractility by propofol were relatively small. Propofol shows mechanoenergetic effects on the LV that are similar to those of Ca2＋ blockers or ß-antagonists—i.e., it exerts negative inotropic effects without changing the oxygen costs of Emax and PVA

Determination of Penetration Depth of Transverse Spin Current in Ferromagnetic Metals by Spin Pumping

Spin pumping in nonmagnetic/ferromagnetic metal multilayers is studied both theoretically and experimentally. We show that the line widths of the ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectrum depend on the thickness of the ferromagnetic metal layers, which must not be in resonance with the oscillating magnetic field. We also show that the penetration depths of the transverse spin current in ferromagnetic metals can be determined by analyzing the line widths of their FMR spectra. The obtained penetration depths in NiFe, CoFe and CoFeB were 3.7 [nm], 2.5 [nm] and 12.0 [nm], respectively.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures

Neck Dissection for Thoracic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Subtotal esophagectomy with extended lymph node dissection is a standard procedure for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Three-field lymphadenectomy, including neck dissection, is a standard type of lymph node dissection for complete clearance of tumor cells. Based on various series of analyses for lymph node metastases, the appropriate indication for neck dissection has been clarified. Herein, we describe the established techniques of neck dissection and review recent topics of three-field lymph node dissection for thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Recovery of saccharides from lipid‑extracted microalgae residue via hot compressed water and its kinetic analysis

Lipid-extracted microalgae residue (LEMR), a by-product of the biodiesel production process, is a potential source of valueadded compounds in the microalgae biorefinery field. In this research, we examined the effects of hot compressed water (HCW) conditions and microalgae to water ratios on saccharide recovery from a low-lipid strain of Chlorella vulgaris. The highest recovery yield of saccharides was 57.5% at 200℃ for 15 min. Above 200℃, the reduction in saccharide yield was observed due to the generation of gas and solid by-products. At 200℃, adjusting the microalgae to water ratio significantly influenced the saccharide yield. Reducing the microalgae to water ratio from 1:5 to 0.1:5 nearly doubled the yield. Kinetic analysis was conducted to investigate the solubilization and degradation behaviors of saccharides. The reaction orders for saccharides solubilization and degradation were identified as 1.31 and 1.79, respectively. The rate constants at varying temperatures exhibited a good fit with the identified reaction orders. The activation energies for the solubilization and degradation processes were 79.0 kJ/mol and 104.7 kJ/mol, respectively. This investigation provides insights into saccharide dynamics in LEMR under HCW conditions, offering critical information for enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of microalgae biorefineries

Prenatal and Peripartum Management of Patients with Hypofibrinogenemia Resulted in Two Successful Deliveries

Fibrinogen is an essential agent involved in maintaining pregnancy and coagulation. Since inherited fibrinogen disorders introduce greater risks for conditions such as placental abruption and postpartum hemorrhage, careful prenatal and perinatal management is essential for this patient population. We report two cases of successful deliveries in patients with hypofibrinogenemia. Case 1 is of a 26-year-old (gravida 1, para 1) woman. The patient’s fibrinogen level increased spontaneously to higher than 300 mg/dL during pregnancy, without treatment. She delivered at week 38 of gestation, with no complications. Case 2 is of a 30-year-old (gravida 3, para 1) woman. We performed repeated infusions of fibrinogen to maintain the level higher than 100 mg/dL during pregnancy and at least 200 mg/dL in the perioperative period; the patient delivered a healthy infant. We identified a new mutation, Hiroshima I (γ278Tyr→His). It is important to maintain appropriate fibrinogen levels in cases of inherited fibrinogen disorders for successful prenatal and peripartum management

A Novel Strategy in Production of Oligosaccharides in Digestive Tract: Prevention of Postprandial Hyperglycemia and Hyperinsulinemia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral administration of transglucosidase (TG) on postprandial glucose concentrations in healthy subjects. A randomized placebo-controlled three-way crossover trial was separated by a washout period of more than 3 days. Twenty-one normal healthy volunteers, aged 30–61 years old (17 males and 4 females) were selected for this study. The subjects’ health was assessed as normal by prestudy screening. All subjects received 3 types of test meals (3 rice balls: protein, 14.4 g; fat, 2.1 g; and carbohydrate, 111 g: total energy, 522 kcal) with 200 ml water in which 0 mg, 150 mg, or 300 mg of TG was dissolved. Blood samples for estimating plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were collected before and every 30 min after the experiment. As compared to no TG treatment, TG administration tended to prevent a postprandial increase in plasma glucose (p = 0.069: 150 mg of TG vs control) but there were no significant difference among three groups. With regard to the 17 subjects who were suggested to have impaired glucose tolerance, TG significantly decreased the postprandial blood glucose (p<0.05: 150 mg and 300 mg of TG vs control) and marginally decreased insulin concentrations (p = 0.099: 300 mg of TG vs control). These results suggest that TG may be useful for preventing the progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Regulatory Mechanism of Skeletal Muscle Glucose Transport by Phenolic Acids

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most severe public health problems in the world. In recent years, evidences show a commonness of utilization of alternative medicines such as phytomedicine for the treatment of T2DM. Phenolic acids are the most common compounds in non-flavonoid group of phenolic compounds and have been suggested to have a potential to lower the risk of T2DM. Skeletal muscle is the major organ that contributes to the pathophysiology of T2DM. Studies have shown that several phenolic acids (caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, salicylic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid) have antidiabetic effects, and these compounds have been implicated in the regulation of skeletal muscle glucose metabolism, especially glucose transport. Glucose transport is a major regulatory step for whole-body glucose disposal, and the glucose transport processes are regulated mainly through two different systems: insulin-dependent and insulin-independent mechanism. In this chapter, we reviewed recent experimental evidences linking phenolic acids to glucose metabolism focusing on insulin-dependent and insulin-independent glucose transport systems and the upstream signaling events in skeletal muscle

Effective Damping Constant and Current Induced Magnetization Switching of GdFeCo/TbFe Exchange-Coupled Bilayers

The Gilbert damping constants α and effective perpendicular magnetic anisotropies Keff of amorphous GdFeCo (10 - x nm)/TbFe (x nm) exchange-coupled bilayers with various TbFe layer thicknesses x were measured. The products α × Keff of the bilayers were compared with the critical current densities Jc for current-induced magnetization switching (CIMS) in giant magnetoresistance nanopillars with a GdFeCo/TbFe memory layer. The damping constant α of the bilayers, estimated from time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements, was 0.051 for x = 0, and was significantly enhanced to 0.23 for x = 1. The anisotropy constant Keff and the product of saturation magnetization times anisotropy field Ms Hk also increased with increasing TbFe thickness x. The CIMS of the GdFeCo (9 nm)/TbFe (1 nm) bilayer exhibited 1.6 times larger Jc than that of GdFeCo (10 nm), while the product α × Keff increased by a factor of 10.Article Sequence Number: 3505605journal articl