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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2006.05.002 Byline: Jo Lee Abstract: This paper is about how rural landscape is experienced according to combinations of practical engagements with land and the ways meaning is made in relation to it. It presents the case of the ambiguous position of the Orkney Islands within categorisations of Highland and Lowland landscapes in Scotland. Through a discussion of the physical and highly visible boundary between heather and grass in Orkney farms, the paper unpacks notions of what landscape means and how it fits with socio-economic processes of continuity and change. It uses the history of hill reclamation in 20th century farming to explore how economic, moral and aesthetic judgements are made about land. Current engagements with hill land are then examined, showing how a fragmentation of hill into different uses and meanings is taking place. Amongst these are agri-environment schemes which revalue the hill. The paper ends with a discussion of hill land and farm land in Orkney in relation to the wider construction of Highland and Lowland. In Orkney opportunities to construct new 'Highland' identities and forms of rural development now exist. Author Affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Edward Wright Building, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3UY, Scotland

Silicon carbide is widely appreciated for its high temperature strength, radiation tolerance and neutronic transparency in applications for fuel particles and core internals of nuclear reactors. In the Fluoride Salt-Cooled High Temperature Reactor, silicon carbide ceramic matrix composites are candidate construction material for regions of higher neutron fluxes. Silicon carbide is wettable and reacts electrochemically with dissolved metals. Metallic impurities, tritium, moisture-based impurities and fission products, as well as thermal gradients can accelerate hot corrosion of silicon carbide in molten fluoride salt. Tritium can become trapped in radiation defects of silicon carbide. Thus, an understanding of the potential for tritium absorption, impurities reactions and thermal gradient-assisted corrosion mechanisms along with tritium recovery and redox control systems are necessary to mitigate silicon carbide corrosion in molten fluoride salt systems. Here, we survey current research on silicon carbide corrosion in molten fluoride salts and critically evaluate the research and development gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Purpose To offer the new head coil option (with a lower channel count) of an RF coil array that provides comparable performance to the commercial 32-channel head coil. Methods The coil system comprised an upper shield (ten channels) and bottom section (fourteen channels). Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values for 2D unaccelerated imaging and the g-factor with an acceleration factor of 2–4 were evaluated in a phantom study. SNR performance and human brain and intracranial vessel wall imaging were conducted as part of the in vivo study. Both studies were conducted using the commercial head coil on the Siemens Tim Trio 3 T system for comparison. Results In the phantom study, the new head coil had an 8% higher SNR than the commercial head coil and demonstrated less than a 1% difference in the g-factor with the acceleration factor 2–4 in the right-to-left and anterior-to-posterior directions. In the in vivo study, the performance matched the results seen in the phantom study and showed high reproducibility in several human experiments. Structural images of the brain and intracranial vessel wall with an isotropic spatial resolution of 0.5 mm can be acquired with the new head coil. Conclusion This study demonstrates that the new head coil is capable of providing good SNR performance in both phantom and human experiments, can achieve similar acceleration ability compared to the commercial head coil, and is capable of obtaining brain and intracranial vessel wall images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidation rates of several nuclear-grade graphites, NBG-18, NBG-17, IG-110 and IG-11, were measured in air using thermogravimetry. Kinetic parameters and oxidation behavior for each grade were compared by coke type, filler grain size and microstructure. The thickness of the oxidized layer for each grade was determined by layer peeling and direct density measurements. The results for NBG-17 and IG-11 were compared with those available in the literature and our recently reported results for NBG-18 and IG-110 oxidation in air. The finer-grained graphites IG-110 and IG-11 were more oxidized than medium-grained NBG-18 and NBG-17 because of deeper oxidant penetration, higher porosity and higher probability of available active sites. Variation in experimental conditions also had a marked effect on the reported kinetic parameters by several studies. Kinetic parameters such as activation energy and transition temperature were sensitive to air flow rates as well as sample size and geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical vapor deposited SiC single crystal and polycrystals were exposed to a static beryllium-bearing molten fluoride salt, 2LiF–BeF 2 for 500 and 1000 h at 750 °C. Overall, the single crystal and polycrystalline SiC materials experienced slight weight loss and nominal surface etching regardless of the material type. Localized pitting and nonuniform Si removal from surface regions were associated with trace metal impurities and oxygen. Cross-sectional observation revealed minimal subsurface changes in the microstructure. The corrosion damage processes were similar to those reported for molten LiF–KF–NaF salt with trace impurities, indicating that the impurities significantly affect SiC corrosion. • Compatibility of SiC with purified 2LiF–BeF2 was studied for the first time. • The specimen mass loss was marginal and insensitive to material grade. • Si removal from SiC was identified as a primary corrosion process. • Trace salt impurity assisted corrosion was indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of our study was to determine whether chondral damage at the time of arthroscopy predicted conversion to THA in patients with dysplasia. We identified 166 patients with dysplasia who underwent hip arthroscopy. Forty-seven went on to receive THA. The articular cartilage of three regions of the acetabulum and femoral head were assessed for signs of chondral damage (absent, mild, or severe]). A stepwise multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed mild damage on the posterior femoral head ( P = 0.001) and severe damage on the anterior acetabulum ( P = 0.007) made a significant contribution to the predictor. The presence of mild posterior femoral head chondral changes was indicative of more global cartilage damage in this series of patients. Our findings show that chondral damage on the posterior femoral head and anterior acetabulum is a strong predictor of ultimate conversion to THA in dysplastic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the study: In a previous study, HMC05, a water extract from eight medicinal herbs was demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory effects in murine macrophages and anti-atherosclerotic effects in apoE−/− mice. HSP27 expression was shown to be decreased in advanced atherosclerotic plaques of human carotid arteries. In the present study, the role of HMC05 in the prevention of restenosis and the possible mechanisms involved in the decrease of neointima formation were investigated using in vivo balloon injury rat model and in vitro biochemical assays. Materials and methods: A rat carotid artery balloon injury restenosis model was used. Different doses of HMC05 were administered to the rats by tube feeding, starting from four days before surgery and continuing twice per week for two weeks after carotid injury. Injured carotid arteries isolated from rats were embedded in paraffin block and tissue sections were stained with H&E to assess neointima formation. Mechanism by HMC05 that are involved in smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration was assessed by western blot assay, immunohistochemistry and confocal analysis. Results: There was no significant difference in the medial area between the control and HMC05-treated groups. However, neointima formation was significantly inhibited in the HMC05-treated group, resulting in 47-fold lower intima to media ratios in rats treated with 25mg/kg/day HMC05 as compared to the control. Surprisingly, monocytes infiltration in the neointima area was almost completely blocked by HMC05 administration. When rat vascular SMCs were treated with HMC05, the proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells was dramatically inhibited in a dye uptake assay and in a scratch model in a culture dish, respectively. HMC05 dose-dependently inhibited PDGF-mediated MAPK and AKT activation. However, HMC05 did not affect PDGF-mediated HSP27 phosphorylation but it induced HSP27 overexpression and phosphorylation. In addition, medial SMCs in the arterial wall of rats treated with HMC05 showed a significant increase in HSP27 expression compared with that of the control rats. Conclusions: HMC05, a strong anti-inflammatory reagent, might use HSP27 as an effector molecule in SMCs to reduce neointimal hyperplasia by inhibiting PDGF-mediated MAPK and AKT activation. HMC05 could be a useful drug candidate for the prevention of restenosis after balloon injury of the arteries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Deep muscle training has become the focus of research and exercise for patients with chronic neck pain. The objective of this in vivo study was to establish a non-invasive assessment tool for the activation of deep cervical muscles. The pattern of the change in the thickness of the cervical multifidus is described with a mathematical equation and used to compare the changes among different levels of resistance (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) and at different cervical levels (fourth, fifth, and sixth cervical (C4, C5, and C6) vertebrae). Twenty asymptomatic subjects (five women and 15 men; 24.3±4.7 years old) were recruited for this experiment. Ultrasonography (US) with synchronized force recording was used to measure the thickness of the cervical multifidus during progressive isometric extension against resistance. Linear and quadratic models were used to estimate the patterns of change in the thickness of cervical multifidus in relation to force. Two-way analysis of variance with repeated measurement and post hoc analysis were used to investigate the differences in thickness. The change in thickness and force was better fitted by quadratic model (y = ax 2 + bx + c) than by the linear model. The thickness at 50% of maximum contraction was significantly increased compared with that at 25% of maximum contraction. This quantitative non-invasive measurement may provide an assessment tool for further investigation for the physiological function of the deep muscles. Further research is required to investigate whether the change of thickness was predominately determined by the recruitment of muscle fibers or the extensibility of non-contractile tissues. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The deep muscles that play significant roles in maintaining segmental stability have been measured using ultrasonography (US). However, few studies have been carried out to determine the reliability and validity of US for measuring the cervical multifidus during contraction. The aims of this investigation were to evaluate the reliability of the dimensions of the cervical multifidus as measured using US and compare the US measurements with those determined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the gold standard. Ten asymptomatic adult subjects (age, 28.5±3.5 years) participated in testing–retesting of muscle dimensions at rest and during isometric head extension with the cranio-cervical spine maintained in a flexed position against individual maximum resistance. Ten asymptomatic adult subjects (age, 28.1±4.1 years) participated in testing to compare US and MRI measurements of the thickness, width, area, and shape ratio of the cervical multifidus at the C4, C5, and C6 levels. US measurements of muscle thickness at the C4, C5, and C6 levels at rest were 0.67±0.14, 0.70±0.20 and 0.73±0.09cm, respectively; the corresponding measurements as determined by MRI were 0.70±0.12, 0.67±0.15 and 0.70±0.06cm. The within-subject coefficient of variation (CVw) for thickness at rest and during contraction was less than 10%, indicating acceptable reliability. US measurement of thickness had better reliability and validity. The range of limit of agreement for muscle thickness at the C4, C5, and C6 levels was −0.20 to 0.20cm, and the range of R 2 was 0.42–0.64. The thickness of the cervical multifidus muscle increased significantly during contraction (1.13±0.20, 1.19±0.20 and 1.17±0.12cm for the C4, C5, and C6 levels, P<0.05). However, no significant differences were noted among the three levels. The results indicate that US can detect changes in segmental cervical multifidus during contraction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin film was synthesized on α-Al2O3 (0 0 0 1) substrate by liquid sprayed mist chemical vapor deposition under 1 atm. Tetraethylorthotitanate [TEOT, (C2H5O)4Ti] was used as starting material. The liquid source to synthesize TiO2 thin film was prepared from dissolving the starting materials in 2-methoxyethanol. The TiO2 thin film was obtained as the amorphous phase at 300 °C and crystalline anatase type TiO2 above 400 °C. The crystal of thin film was mainly oriented to (1 1 2) plane. The degree of (1 1 2) orientation, the thickness, and the surface roughness of the film were strongly dependent on the substrate temperature and deposition time. By the controlling the substrate temperature and deposition time, TiO2/α-Al2O3 (0 0 0 1) films with preferred orientation were successfully fabricated, and the film deposition rate was about 10 nm/min. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The reactor core, moderator and reflectors of a thermal spectrum advanced molten salt reactor will constitute multi-tons of graphite. Porous reactor-grade graphite, if unprotected, can be permeated by molten salt depending on the infiltrating pressure differential and entrance diameters of accessible graphite pores. Salt and gas permeation of graphite can affect microstructural properties and radiation behavior but also facilitate diffusion, deposition and retention of fission products and tritium. Because of the significant void volume of nuclear graphite, fission products and tritium retention due to salt permeation necessitates seal coatings or pore impregnation to reduce open porosity. Alternatively, very fine-grained graphite grades with low Xe permeability are being developed. Here, we survey the current technologies for mitigating salt and gas transport into graphite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a pediatric stroke, outcome measures selected for monitoring functional recovery and development vary widely. We sought to develop a toolkit of outcome measures that are currently available to clinicians, possess strong psychometric properties, and are feasible for use within clinical settings. A multidisciplinary group of clinicians and scientists from the International Pediatric Stroke Organization comprehensively reviewed the quality of measures in multiple domains described in pediatric stroke populations including global performance, motor and cognitive function, language, quality of life, and behavior and adaptive functioning. The quality of each measure was evaluated using guidelines focused on responsiveness and sensitivity, reliability, validity, feasibility, and predictive utility. A total of 48 outcome measures were included and were rated by experts based on the available evidence within the literature supporting the strengths of their psychometric properties and practical use. Only three measures were found to be validated for use in pediatric stroke: the Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure, the Pediatric Stroke Recurrence and Recovery Questionnaire, and the Pediatric Stroke Quality of Life Measure. However, multiple additional measures were deemed to have good psychometric properties and acceptable utility for assessing pediatric stroke outcomes. Strengths and weaknesses of commonly used measures including feasibility are highlighted to guide evidence-based and practicable outcome measure selection. Improving the coherence of outcome assessment will facilitate comparison of studies and enhance research and clinical care in children with stroke. Further work is urgently needed to close the gap and validate measures across all clinically significant domains in the pediatric stroke population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The study was conducted to examine the nationwide temporal trends of incidence, treatment, and short-term outcomes for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) over a 15-year period in Taiwan. Methods We identified patients who were hospitalized for incident AMI between 1997 and 2011 from the inpatient medical claim dataset of the National Health Insurance Research Database. Age- and sex-adjusted incidence and in-hospital mortality rates were calculated for AMI, and separately for ST-segment elevation and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI and NSTEMI). Results A total of 144,634 patients were identified. The incidence rates (per 100,000 population) of AMI increased from 30 in 1997 to 42 in 2011, which was mainly driven by the increase of NSTEMI. The in-hospital mortality rate after AMI decreased from 9.1% in 1997 to 6.5% in 2011, which was also driven by the case mortality rate for NSTEMI. Although the in-hospital mortality rates significantly decreased from 7.3% to 5.1% between 1997 and 2003 for STEMI, it did not change significantly from 2004 to 2011. Moreover, AMI patients undergoing revascularization treatment, particularly PCI, was the most important independent predictor for improved in-hospital survival. Conclusion The results of this study demonstrated a recent dramatic increase in the incidence rates and a decrease in short-term mortality in patients with NSTEMI; while the incidence and in-hospital morality of STEMI only modestly changed over time in Taiwan. Further quality improvement approaches for AMI prevention and treatment to favorably affect the incidence and outcomes from both major types of AMI are highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There is a paucity of pediatric data addressing the complex relationship between primary headaches and sleep disturbances. Our study objective was to explore headache-related factors that predict sleep disturbance and to compare sleep complaints with other forms of headache-related disability among youth with migraines. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted in patients 10-18 years old with migraine or probable migraine and without daily sleep complaints. The patients completed a 90-day internet-based headache diary. On headache days, patients rated headache intensity, answered Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment-based questions modified for daily scoring, and reported sleep disturbances that resulted as a direct effect of proximate headaches. Results Fifty-two patients generated 4680 diary entries, 984 patients (21%) involved headaches. Headache intensity ( P = 0.009) and timing of headache onset ( P < 0.001) were predictive of sleep disturbances. Three Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment-based items were also associated with sleep disturbances: partial school-day absence ( P = 0.04), recreational activities prevented ( P < 0.001), and decreased functioning during recreational activities ( P < 0.001). Sleep disturbances correlated positively and significantly with daily headache disability scores ( r pb = 0.35; P < 0.01). Conclusion We conclude that specific headache factors predict sleep disturbances among youth with primary headaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-element focused transducers applied in blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption experiments to optimize intravascular therapies in CNS diseases have the advantage of low cost and portability. Most of the in vivo studies on non-human primates report the use of single-element transducers with an annular spherical shape and a central frequency of 500 kHz. High-frequency ultrasound has smaller focal area and less standing-wave effect but lower transcranial penetration efficiency. Our study reports the feasibility and safety concerns of BBB opening by single-element spherical transducers with central frequencies of 300, 650 and 800 kHz on two rhesus macaques. Pulsed ultrasound exposure (3-minute duration, 0.5–1% duty cycle) combined with microbubble injection (SonoVue, 0.2uL/g) was used to disrupt the BBB of the monkeys under the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance. Gadolinium contrast-enhanced MRI was used to confirm and evaluate the BBB opening after sonication. T2-weighted fast spin echo and T2 * -weighted gradient echo sequences were used to check the post-sonication complications, such as edema and micro-bleeding. Contrast enhancement was found on the post-sonication T1 weighted images for all experiments, showing that the BBB was successfully opened under all the three frequencies on both monkeys. The enhanced area was largest at the lowest frequency. No obvious hypo-intensity or hyper-intensity was observed on either the T2 * weighted gradient echo images or T2-weighted fast-spin echo images, implying the safety of the opening procedure. However, signal enhancement was also observed in the subarachnoid space of the sulci for all frequencies, indicating that the BBB was also disrupted in the propagation path outside the focal area. The feasibility of BBB opening with single-element transducer under frequencies ranging from 300 kHz to 800 kHz was confirmed by experiments in two non-human primates in vivo. Further investigation into the off-target effects and transducer configurations is needed for safety optimization. • BBB on NHP can be opened in vivo with single element transducer at 800 kHz. • No edema or hemorrhage implied the safety of the opening procedure. • Cortical enhancements outside of the focal area represent off-target effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comparison of simulated write/erase characteristics of silicon–oxide–nitride–oxide–silicon (SONOS) nonvolatile memory with different oxides SiO2, Al2O3 and ZrO2 as a top dielectric was made. We demonstrate, that an application of high-k dielectrics allows to decrease the write/erase programming voltage amplitude or programming time from 1 ms to 10 μs. The ZrO2 suppresses parasitic electron injection from polysilicon gate. Also the design of SONOS memory based on high-k dielectrics is promising for terabit scale using hot carriers injection EEPROM and DRAM memory. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Examined youth's knowledge of establishing paternity, co-parenting, and child support. • Existing knowledge was relatively low compared to other topics. • Parents/caregivers were the most frequent source of information on these topics. • More knowledge was reported on these topics after exposure to the Parenting: It's a Life curriculum. Theory and research suggest the importance of establishing paternity, co-parenting, and child support for positive child and youth development. However, youth's relative knowledge of these topics is not well understood. Thus we examine these in the context of other parenting issues and how this information varied by parents, school/teachers, friends, and social media. We also sought to provide preliminary data on parenting programming to determine if the programming was associated with perceived increases in knowledge about these and other parenting topics. Data from 1713 students in middle and high schools who attended one or more Parenting: It's a Life modules in their school were available for analysis. Youth reported existing knowledge on establishing paternity, co-parenting, and child support relatively low compared to other topics such as peer pressure and healthy relationships. Among the four sources of information surveyed, youth received the most information from parents and caregivers and the least amount of information from social media. Youth reported significant increases in knowledge regarding parenting topics following exposure to Parenting: It's a Life curriculum. The information youth receive on content such as establishing paternity, co-parenting, and child support is relatively low. School-based parenting programs focused on these topics may help educate youth about these important parenting topics before parenthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]