Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hydropyrolysis of n-Hexane and Toluene to Acetylene in Rotating-Arc Plasma

Thermal plasma pyrolysis is a powerful technology for converting waste or low-value materials to valuable gaseous hydrocarbons. This paper presents for the first time the hydropyrolysis of n- hexane and toluene in a rotating-arc plasma reactor. Effects of the mole ratio of H/C in the feed, power input and magnetic induction were investigated to evaluate the reaction performance. A lower H/C ratio could lead to a lower yield of C 2 H 2 and lower specific energy consumption, and there existed an optimum range of power input for both n- hexane and toluene pyrolysis within the investigated range. The yield of C 2 H 2 in n- hexane and toluene pyrolysis could reach 85% and 68%, respectively, with respective specific energy consumption (SEC) of 13.8 kWh/kg·C 2 H 2 and 19.9 kWh/kg·C 2 H 2 . Compared with the results reported in literature, the rotating-arc plasma process showed higher C 2 H 2 yield and lower energy consumption, which is attributed to the better initial mixing of the reactant with the hot plasma gas and the more uniform temperature distribution.
HIV antigen in the brains of patients with the AIDS dementia complex

Human immunodeficiency virus infection was identified immunohistochemically in the brains of 8 patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome dementia complex. Using a monoclonal antibody against a structural viral protein (p25), infection was detected in white matter and basal ganglia in a distribution paralleling that of the major neuropathological abnormalities. Viral antigen was identified principally in perivascular and parenchymal macrophages and in multinucleated cells of macrophage origin that were identified morphologically and by immunocytochemical staining for acid phsophatase isozyme. In 4 of the 8 patients, viral antigen was also detected in acid‐phosphatase–negative, process‐bearing neuroglial cells; in 2 patients, antigen was detected in basal ganglion cells that were morphologically consistent with neurons and in alkaline‐phosphatase–positive cells with elongated nuclei that were most likely of endothelial origin.
Superlinearly Convergent O(√(n) L)-Iteration Interior-Point Algorithms for Linear Programming and the Monotone Linear Complementarity Problem

Zhang and Tapia have recently developed an interior-point algorithm for the linear programming problem that has the property that the duality gap converges to zero q-quadratically in the nondegenerate case and (if the iterates converge) q-superlinearly in the degenerate case. Their algorithm also solves the integer model for LP in $O ( nL )$ iterations, where L is the input length of the LP This paper presents an algorithm which maintains the quadratic (superlinear) convergence property but solves LP in $O ( \sqrt{n} L )$ iterations in the integer model. Also, the algorithm is generalized into an algorithm which solves LCP. The LCP algorithm (which is similar to an adaptive path-following algorithm proposed by Mizuno, Yoshise, and Kikuchi) has similar local convergence properties if we assume that the iterates converge to a strictly complementary solution.
Personalized Strategies to Activate and Empower Patients in Health Care and Reduce Health Disparities

Designing culturally sensitive personalized interventions is essential to sustain patients’ involvement in their treatment and encourage patients to take an active role in their own health and health care. We consider patient activation and empowerment as a cyclical process defined through patient accumulation of knowledge, confidence, and self-determination for their own health and health care. We propose a patient-centered, multilevel activation and empowerment framework (individual-, health care professional-, community-, and health care delivery system-level) to inform the development of culturally informed personalized patient activation and empowerment (P-PAE) interventions to improve population health and reduce racial and ethnic disparities. We discuss relevant Affordable Care Act payment and delivery policy reforms and how they affect patient activation and empowerment. Such policies include Accountable Care Organizations and value-based purchasing, patient-centered medical homes, and the community health benefit. Challenges and possible solutions to implementing the P-PAE are discussed. Comprehensive and longitudinal data sets with consistent P-PAE measures are needed to conduct comparative effectiveness analyses to evaluate the optimal P-PAE model. We believe the P-PAE model is timely and sustainable and will be critical to engaging patients in their treatment, developing patients’ abilities to manage their health, helping patients express concerns and preferences regarding treatment, empowering patients to ask questions about treatment options, and building up strategic patient–provider partnerships through shared decision making.
New integrated hybrid evaporative cooling system for HVAC energy efficiency improvement

Cooling systems in buildings are required to be more energy-efficient while maintaining the standard air quality. The aim of this paper is to explore the potential of reducing the energy consumption of a central air-conditioned building taking into account comfort conditions. For this, we propose a new hybrid evaporative cooling system for HVAC efficiency improvement. The integrated system will be modeled and analyzed to accomplish the energy conservation and thermal comfort objectives. Comparisons of the proposed hybrid evaporative cooling approach with current technologies are included to show its advantages. To investigate the potential of energy savings and air quality, a real-world commercial building, located in a hot and dry climate region, together with its central cooling plant is used in the case study. The energy consumption and relevant data of the existing central cooling plant are acquired in a typical summer week. The performance with different cooling systems is simulated by using a transient simulation software package. New modules for the proposed system are developed by using collected experimental data and implemented with the transient tool. Results show that more than 52% power savings can be obtained by this system while maintaining the predicted mean vote (PMV) between −1 to +1 for most of summer time.
Experimental Biology 2000 Symposium on Differential Control of Sympathetic Outflow DIFFERENTIAL PATTERNS OF SYMPATHETIC RESPONSES TO SELECTIVE STIMULATION OF NUCLEUS TRACTUS SOLITARIUS PURINERGIC RECEPTOR SUBTYPES

1. Studies are described that indicate that stimulation of different purinergic receptor subtypes (A1, A2A and P2X) located in the sub‐postremal nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) evokes qualitatively and quantitatively different regional haemodynamic and efferent sympathetic responses.
Effects of a preoperative course of interleukin-2 on surgical and immunobiological variables in patients with colorectal cancer: a phase 2 study.

OBJECTIVE A phase 2 study to evaluate the effects of a short preoperative course of interleukin-2 (IL-2) on the postoperative course of patients with cancer. DESIGN Open study. SETTING San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy. SUBJECTS 16 Consecutive patients with locally advanced colorectal cancer, with or without metastases. INTERVENTION IL-2 in a dose of 9 x 10(6) IU/m2 twice daily for three days; patients were operated on within 36 hours of the cessation of IL-2 treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Morbidity, mortality, and changes in numbers of lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and CD25 (cluster of determination) positive cells. RESULTS There was no morbidity or mortality--in particular, there were no infections even in the patients who were at highest risk. The mean numbers of lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, NK cells, and CD25 positive cells increased significantly during the postoperative period. All patients showed evidence of infiltration of lymphocytes or eosinophils (or both) into the tumour tissue. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that a three day course of IL-2 preoperatively is well tolerated, stimulates would repair, neutralizes the lymphocytopenia induced by major operation, and induces immune cells to infiltrate the tumour. Randomised studies are needed to confirm these results.
Humankapitalpotenziale der gestuften Hochschulabschlüsse in Deutschland: Auswertungen zu Studienbeteiligung, Studienabbrüchen, Mobilität und Eingangsselektion

Die vorliegende Studie entsteht im Kontext des in Deutschland bestehenden Fachkraftemangels. Dieser bezieht sich vor allem auf ausgebildete Akademikerinnen und Akademiker in den fur das deutsche Innovationssystem bedeutenden Kernbereichen Mathematik, Informatik, Naturwissenschaften und Technik (MINT). Die vorrangig in diesem Bericht diskutierte Fragestellung ist, inwiefern die bisherige Umstellung der traditionellen Studiengange im Rahmen des Bologna-Prozesses darauf schliesen lasst, dass erklarte Ziele dieses Prozesses erreicht werden.
Field evaluation of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax sporozoites in mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from Papua New Guinea.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA's) were compared with dissection results on mosquitoes of the Anopheles punctulatus Doenitz complex collected in Papua New Guinea. Assays were based on monoclonal antibodies developed against the immunodominant peptide repeat portion of the circumsporozoite (CS) proteins of Plasmodium falciparum (Welch) and Plasmodium vivax (Grassi & Feletti) sporozoites. Excellent correlation was observed between the two methods, with positivity rates of 4.0% for salivarygland midgut infections determined by dissection and 3.4% for the combined ELISA's. These species-specific assays, with a 10-fold increase in sensitivity over previously used ELISA's, gave geometric means of 920 P. falciparum and 460 P. vivax sporozoites per infected mosquito. Use of genetically engineered P. falciparum and synthetic P. vivax CS antigens eliminated the requirement for salivary-gland sporozoites as quantitative positive controls. Approximately 30 pg of recombinant P. falciparum and 60 pg of synthetic P. vivax CS antigen corresponded to 100 salivary-gland sporozoites in the respective ELISA.
Breaking and Fixing Gridcoin

Bitcoin has been hailed as a new payment mechanism, and is currently accepted by millions of users. One of the major drawbacks of Bitcoin is the resource intensive Proof-of-Work computation. Proof-of-Work is used to establish the blockchain but does not bring any benefits, and arguably is a waste of energy. To use these available resources in a more meaningful way, several alternative cryptocurrencies have been presented. One of them is Gridcoin, which rewards the users for solving BOINC problems. Gridcoin currently possesses a market capitalization of $ 23,423,115. In our work we conducted the first security analysis of Gridcoin. We identified two critical security issues. The first issue allows an attacker to reveal all email addresses of the registered Gridcoin users. Even worse, the second issue gives an attacker the ability to steal the work performed by a BOINC user, and thus effectively steal his Gridcoins. These attacks have severe consequences and completely break the Gridcoin cryptocurrency. We evaluated and confirmed both attacks in practice, and responsibly disclosed them to the Gridcoin maintainers. We developed backwards compatible design changes for the Gridcoin system, in order to protect users’ trust into this promising approach.
Smart interactive search for Vietnamese disease by using data mining-based ontology

ABSTRACT In disease information retrieval, usually, users only know a top of basic information about the disease such as headache and high fever symptoms. Most search engines rely on keyword search and do not return exact results because they only literally find the records matching with the keywords of the queries. In this work, we propose a novel interactive search for disease information by using data mining-based ontology. In particular, a human disease ontology is used as a knowledge base to semantically recognize the input for the search engine. The association rule is applied to generate associated relations among keywords (including symptoms, derives from, located in …) for interactive query refinement. A Bayesian-based ranking algorithm is also proposed to arrange the search result. Prospectively, our approach is valuable not only to increase the accuracy of searching human disease, but also provide a significant approach in data mining ontology.
Diet and Macronutrient Optimization in Wild Ursids: A Comparison of Grizzly Bears with Sympatric and Allopatric Black Bears

When fed ad libitum, ursids can maximize mass gain by selecting mixed diets wherein protein provides 17 ± 4% of digestible energy, relative to carbohydrates or lipids. In the wild, this ability is likely constrained by seasonal food availability, limits of intake rate as body size increases, and competition. By visiting locations of 37 individuals during 274 bear-days, we documented foods consumed by grizzly (Ursus arctos) and black bears (Ursus americanus) in Grand Teton National Park during 2004–2006. Based on published nutritional data, we estimated foods and macronutrients as percentages of daily energy intake. Using principal components and cluster analyses, we identified 14 daily diet types. Only 4 diets, accounting for 21% of days, provided protein levels within the optimal range. Nine diets (75% of days) led to over-consumption of protein, and 1 diet (3% of days) led to under-consumption. Highest protein levels were associated with animal matter (i.e., insects, vertebrates), which accounted for 46–47% of daily energy for both species. As predicted: 1) daily diets dominated by high-energy vertebrates were positively associated with grizzly bears and mean percent protein intake was positively associated with body mass; 2) diets dominated by low-protein fruits were positively associated with smaller-bodied black bears; and 3) mean protein was highest during spring, when high-energy plant foods were scarce, however it was also higher than optimal during summer and fall. Contrary to our prediction: 4) allopatric black bears did not exhibit food selection for high-energy foods similar to grizzly bears. Although optimal gain of body mass was typically constrained, bears usually opted for the energetically superior trade-off of consuming high-energy, high-protein foods. Given protein digestion efficiency similar to obligate carnivores, this choice likely supported mass gain, consistent with studies showing monthly increases in percent body fat among bears in this region.
The outcome of combined-modality therapy for stage III non-small-cell lung cancer in the elderly.

PURPOSE The North Central Cancer Treatment Group performed a phase III trial to determine whether chemotherapy plus either bid radiation therapy (RT) or daily (qd) RT resulted in a better outcome for patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). No difference in survival was identified between the two arms. This secondary analysis was performed to examine the relationship between patient age and outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS Two hundred forty-six patients were randomized to receive etoposide plus cisplatin and either RT qd or split-course RT bid. This retrospective study compared the outcomes of patients aged >/=70 years ("elderly patients") with those of younger individuals. Of the 244 assessable patients, 63 (26%) were elderly, and 181 (74%) were younger individuals. RESULTS The 2-year and 5-year survival rates were 39% and 18%, respectively, in patients younger than 70 years, compared with 36% and 13%, respectively, in elderly patients (P =.4). Grade 4+ toxicity occurred in 62% of patients younger than 70 years compared with 81% of elderly patients (P =.007). Grade 4+ hematologic toxicity occurred in 56% of patients younger than 70 years, compared with 78% of elderly patients (P =.003). Grade 4+ pneumonitis occurred in 1% of those younger than 70 years, compared with 6% of elderly patients (P =.02). CONCLUSION Toxicity, especially myelosuppression and pneumonitis, was more pronounced in the elderly patients receiving combined-modality therapy for locally advanced NSCLC. Despite increased toxicity, elderly patients have survival rates equivalent to younger individuals. Therefore, fit, elderly patients with locally advanced NSCLC should be encouraged to receive combined-modality therapy, preferably on clinical trials with cautious, judicious monitoring. Future studies should explore ways to decrease toxicity of therapy in elderly patients.
Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Cultured Tenocytes

Background: Little has been reported about the biologic effect of shock waves on human normal or pathologic tendon tissue. We hypothesized that inflammatory cytokine and MMP production would be down-regulated by shock wave stimulation. Materials and Methods: Diseased Achilles tendon tissue and healthy flexor hallucis longus tissue were used. Shock wave treatment was applied to cultured cells at 0.17 mJ/mm 2 energy 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 times. Results: A dose-dependent decrease in cell viability was noted in cells receiving 1000 and 2000 shocks (86.0 ± 5.6%, p = 0.01 and 72.4 ± 8.9%, p = 0.001) as compared with the normal control. Cell count in the 500-shock group increased by 23.4% as compared with the control (p = 0.05). The concentration of MMP 1, 2, and 13 was higher in diseased tenocytes as compared with normal cells (p = 0.04, all comparisons). IL-6 levels were higher in the diseased tenocytes as compared with normal tenocytes (44.10 ± 16.72 versus 0.21 ± 0.55 ng/ml, (p < 0.05). IL-1 levels in normal cells increased (2.24 ± 5.02 ng/ml to 9.31 ± 6.85 ng/ml) after shock wave treatment (p = 0.04). In diseased tenocytes, levels of MMP-1 (1.12 ± 0.23 to 0.75 ± 0.24 ng/ml; p = 0.04) and MMP-13 (1.43 ± 0.11 to 0.80 ± 0.15 ng/ml; p = 0.04) were significantly decreased after shock wave treatment. The IL-6 level in diseased tenocytes was decreased (44.10 ± 16.72 to 14.66 ± 9.49 ng/ml) after shock wave treatment (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Higher levels of MMPs and ILs were found in human tendinopathy-affected tenocytes as compared with normal cells. ESWT decreased the expression of several MMPs and ILs. Clinical Relevance: This mechanism may play an important role in shock wave treatment of tendinopathy clinically.
High glucose induces rat mesangial cells proliferation and MCP-1 expression via ROS-mediated activation of NF-κB pathway, which is inhibited by eleutheroside E

Abstract Glomerular hypertrophy and extracellular matrix accumulation are early features of diabetic nephropathy (DN). High glucose-induced oxidative stress is implicated in the etiology of DN. This study aims to investigate the effect of eleutheroside E (EE) on high glucose mediated rat mesangial cells (MCs) proliferation and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression and the underlying mechanism. MCs proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and MCP-1 expression were evaluated by ELISA kit. The protein expression of p47, NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65, IκBα, p-IκBα, IKKβ and p-IKKβ were determined by Western blot. The results showed that treatment with EE markedly attenuated high glucose induced MCs proliferation and in a dose-dependent manner. Intervention with EE also significantly blocked high glucose induced intracellular ROS production by decreasing NADPH oxidase activity. Meanwhile, EE administration could effectively alleviate the high glucose-stimulated activation of NF-κB, the degradation of IκBα and the expression of MCP-1. These results demonstrate that high glucose enhances MCs proliferation and MCP-1 expression by activating the ROS/NF-κB pathway and can be inhibited by EE. Our findings provide a new perspective for the clinical treatment of DN.
CB1 Cannabinoid Receptors Increase Neuronal Precursor Proliferation through AKT/Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β/β-Catenin Signaling

The endocannabinoid system is involved in the regulation of many physiological effects in the central and peripheral nervous system. Recent findings have demonstrated the presence of a functional endocannabinoid system within neuronal progenitors located in the hippocampus and ventricular/subventricular zone that participates in the regulation of cell proliferation. It is presently unknown whether the endocannabinoid system exerts a widespread effect on neuronal precursors from different neurogenic regions, and very little is known about the signaling by which it regulates neuronal precursor proliferation. Herein, we demonstrate the presence of cannabinoid CB1 receptors in granule cell precursors (GCPs) during early cerebellar development. Activation of CB1 receptors by HU-210 promoted GCP proliferation in vitro, an effect that was prevented by a selective CB1 antagonist. Accordingly, in vivo experiments showed that GCP proliferation was increased by chronic HU-210 treatment and that in CB1-deficient mice cell proliferation was significantly lower than in wild-type littermates, indicating that the endocannabinoid system is physiologically involved in regulation of GCP proliferation. The pro-proliferative effect of cannabinoids in GCPs was mediated through the CB1/AKT/glycogen synthase kinase-3β/β-catenin pathway. Involvement of this pathway was also observed in cultures of neuronal precursors from the subventricular zone, suggesting that this pathway may be a general mechanism by which endocannabinoids regulate proliferation of neuronal precursors. These observations suggest that endocannabinoids constitute a new family of lipid signaling cues that may exert a widespread effect on neuronal precursor proliferation during brain development.
Cylindrical Anisotropic Dielectric Resonator Antenna With Improved Gain

Uniaxial anisotropic material obtained by parallel layers of two different dielectrics is used to obtain a cylindrical dielectric resonator antenna (CDRA). As a consequence of the anisotropy, the boresight gain of the antenna is increased. The effect of the height-to-radius ratio on the boresight gain variation is also investigated. It is shown that by increasing this ratio, the directivity of the antenna in the boresight direction can be increased. A prototype of the anisotropic CDRA is fabricated and measured. A reasonable agreement between the simulated and measured results is attained.
Aerodynamics of a Supersonic Projectile in Proximity to a Solid Surface

Flow around a Mach 2.4 NATO 5.56 mm projectile in close proximity to a ground plane was investigated using computational fluid dynamics for a direct numerical reproduction of live-range experiments. The numerical approach was validated against both the live-range tests and subsequent wind-tunnel experiments. A nonspinning half-model and a full, spinning projectile were examined to clarify the influence of rotation. Multiple ground clearances were tested to obtain clear trends in changes to the aerodynamic coefficients, and the three-dimensional propagation and reflection of the shock waves were considered in detail. The behavior of the flow in the near wake was also studied as ground clearance was reduced. Ground proximity was found to significantly increase the drag force acting on the projectile, as well as generate a force normal to the ground and an increased side force, when ground clearance was less than one diameter. For clearances between approximately 0.4 and 1 diameter, the pitching moment produced was nose-down. For lower clearances, a more distinct nose-up trend was produced. The generated side force was orders of magnitude lower than the normal and drag forces.