“ALL IS VANITY AND EVANESCENCE”: MANIFESTATIONS OF PURE LAND BUDDHISM WITHIN THE TALE OF THE HEIKE

Submitted to the Department of History of the University of Kansas in partial fulfillment of the requirements for departmental honors

Temperature Dependence of Critical Current Fluctuations in Nb/AlOx\mathrm{_{x}}/Nb Josephson Junctions

We have measured the low frequency critical current noise in Nb/AlO$_{\mathrm{x}}$/Nb Josephson junctions. Unshunted junctions biased above the gap voltage and resistively shunted junctions biased near the critical current, $I_{c}$, have been measured. For both, the spectral density of $\delta I_{c}/I_{c}$, $S_{i_{c}}(f)$, is proportional to $1/f$, scales inversely as the area, $A$, and is independent of $J_{c} \equiv I_{c}/A$ over a factor of nearly 20 in $J_{c}$. For all devices measured at 4.2 K, $S_{i_{c}}$(1 Hz)$= 2.0 \pm 0.4 \cdot 10^{-12}$/Hz when scaled to A=1 $\mu$m$^{2}$. We find that, from 4.2 K to 0.46 K, $S_{i_{c}}(f)$ decreases linearly with temperature

Advancing Age Alters the Contribution of Calcium Release From Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum Stores in Superior Cervical Ganglion Cells

In superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons calcium-induced calcium release (CICR), mediated by ryanodine receptors (RyRs), contributes to stimulation-evoked intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) transients. Hypothesis: The contribution of CICR to electrical field stimulation (EFS)–evoked [Ca2+]i transients in SCG cells declines with senescence and may be partially recovered in the presence of caffeine. We measured EFS-evoked [Ca2+]i transients in isolated fura-2–loaded SCG cells from Fischer-344 rats aged 6, 12, and 24 months with either the RyR antagonist ryanodine to block the contribution of CICR to [Ca2+]i transients or caffeine to sensitize CICR to EFS. EFS-evoked [Ca2+]i transients increased from 6 to 12 months and declined at 24 months and ryanodine decreased [Ca2+]i transients in SCG cells from 6- and 12-month-old animals only. Caffeine significantly increased EFS-evoked [Ca2+]i transients in all age groups. These data suggest that CICR declines with senescence and residual CICR function may be reclaimed in senescent cells with caffeine

Reliability and Concurrent Validity of a Markerless, Single Camera, Portable 3D Motion Capture System for Assessment of Glenohumeral Mobility.

# Introduction Recent technological advancements have enabled medical, sport, and fitness professionals to utilize digital tools that assist with conducting movement examinations and screenings. One such advancement has been the implementation of a single camera, markerless, and portable 3D motion capture system designed to obtain ROM measurements for multiple body parts simultaneously. However, the reliability and validity of a markerless 3D motion capture system that uses a single camera has not been established. # Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and concurrent validity of this 3D motion capture system compared to a goniometer in assessing ROM of the glenohumeral joint. # Study Design Quasi-experimental reliability, convenience sampling. # Methods/materials Forty healthy volunteers (mean ± SD, age 27.4 ± 12.4 years, height 173.4 ± 11.1 cm, weight 72.1 ± 16.2 kg) participated in this study. Intrarater reliability was analyzed by ICC~(2,k)~ with a 95% CI using two repeated trials for each shoulder movement (flexion, abduction, external rotation, internal rotation) that were recorded simultaneously via two methods: a standard goniometer and a 3D motion capture system. Concurrent validity was analyzed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient (*r*). # Results The intrarater reliability between the two instruments for glenohumeral motions yielded an overall ICC of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.74-0.88) indicating good reliability for both instruments. The 3D motion capture system demonstrated strong correlations with goniometry for shoulder flexion (r = 0.67), abduction (r = 0.63), and external rotation (r = 0.76), and very strong correlation for shoulder internal rotation (r = 0.84). # Conclusion Results from this study indicated that a markerless, single camera, portable 3D motion capture system can be a reliable and valid tool to assess glenohumeral joint ROM in comparison to a standard goniometer. # Level of Evidence