cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sulfonic acid-functionalized silica-coated magnetic nanoparticle catalysts

Four different sulfonic acids are grafted onto silica-coated magnetic nanoparticle supports, yielding magnetic, solid acid catalysts. The hybrid organic/inorganic sulfonic acid catalysts are evaluated in test reactions in terms of activity and recyclability and compared with commercially available heterogeneous acidic resins and homogeneous sulfonic acids. The magnetic, solid acid catalysts exhibit comparable activity to the other commercial and homogeneous catalysts. Recovery tests confirm the presence of surface-bound sulfonic acid functionalities in three of the four catalysts. These results illustrate the utility of magnetic nanoparticles as a heterogeneous support for the simple recovery of sulfonic acid catalysts.
Hypergraph spectral learning for multi-label classification

A hypergraph is a generalization of the traditional graph in which the edges are arbitrary non-empty subsets of the vertex set. It has been applied successfully to capture high-order relations in various domains. In this paper, we propose a hypergraph spectral learning formulation for multi-label classification, where a hypergraph is constructed to exploit the correlation information among different labels. We show that the proposed formulation leads to an eigenvalue problem, which may be computationally expensive especially for large-scale problems. To reduce the computational cost, we propose an approximate formulation, which is shown to be equivalent to a least squares problem under a mild condition. Based on the approximate formulation, efficient algorithms for solving least squares problems can be applied to scale the formulation to very large data sets. In addition, existing regularization techniques for least squares can be incorporated into the model for improved generalization performance. We have conducted experiments using large-scale benchmark data sets, and experimental results show that the proposed hypergraph spectral learning formulation is effective in capturing the high-order relations in multi-label problems. Results also indicate that the approximate formulation is much more efficient than the original one, while keeping competitive classification performance.
Shared health behaviors among older Mexican American spouses.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of health behaviors among husbands and wives. METHODS: Cohort study of 553 Mexican American couples aged 65 years or older from the Hispanic Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly (H-EPESE). Multivariate regression analyses test the association of body mass index, smoking, and alcohol consumption among husbands and wives. RESULTS: Body mass index is positively associated among couples. Risk of smoking or drinking was higher if the partner had ever smoked or drank alcohol. CONCLUSION: Health behaviors are associated among older Mexican American couples. Intervention efforts should be directed at both spouses.
Effects of Headset, Flight Workload, Hearing Ability, and Communications Message Quality on Pilot Performance

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the effects of hearing loss, aviation headset type, flight workload complexity, and communication signal quality on pilots' performance in an army rotary-wing flight simulator. BACKGROUND: To maintain flight status, army aviators who do not meet current audiometric standards require a hearing loss waiver, which is based on speech intelligibility in quiet conditions. Because hearing loss characteristics of hearing-impaired aviators can vary greatly, and because performance is likely also influenced by degree of flight workload and communication demand, it was expected that performance among hearing-impaired aviators would also vary. METHOD: Participants were 20 army helicopter pilots. Pilots flew three flights in a full motion-based helicopter simulator,with a different headset configuration and varying flight workload levels and communication signal quality characterizing each flight. Objective flight performance parameters of heading, altitude, and airspeed deviation and air traffic control command read-backs were measured. RESULTS: Statistically significant results suggest that high levels of flight workload, especially in combination with poor communications signal quality, lead to deficits in flight performance and speech intelligibility. CONCLUSION: These results support a conclusion that factors other than hearing thresholds and speech intelligibility in quiet should be considered when evaluating helicopter pilots' flight safety. The results also support a recommendation that hearing-impaired pilots use assistive communication technology and not fly with strictly passive headsets. APPLICATION: The combined effects of flight environment with individual hearing levels should be considered when making recommendations concerning continued aviation flight status and those concerning communications headsets used in high-noise cockpits. Language: en
Preliminary evaluation of isocyanate-generating nitroheterocycles as chemosensitizers, radiosensitizers and hypoxic cell cytotoxic agents

Nitro-compounds containing an acetylated acetohydroxamic acid side chain in the N-1 position of a 5-membered ring nitrogen heterocycle have been synthesized. These compounds, which can generate isocyanates via a Lossen rearrangement, were evaluated in order to test the hypothesis that they may be effective radiation and chemosensitizing agents by nature of their isocyanate-associated carbamoylating potential. Evaluation of one such compound, DJW-77 (1(O-Acetyl-Acetohydroxamic acid)-3-nitropyrazole) as a radiation sensitizer, chemosensitizer and hypoxic cell toxin is reported. In vitro DJW-77 demonstrates a potent selective cytotoxicity toward hypoxic EMT-6 tumor cells, is an effective potentiator of CCNU toxicity and is comparable to MISO with respect to its radiation-sensitizing potential. The activity of the drug is eliminated under aerobic conditions. To test the hypothesis that the activity of DJW-77 is related to isocyanate generation, the non-acetylated analog of DJW-77 (which does not directly undergo the Lossen rearrangement) and the parent 3-nitropyrazole ring structure were evaluated. Neither compound enhanced CCNU toxicity, and on an equimolar basis were inferior to DJW-77 as radiation sensitizers. While the non-acetylated analog was cytotoxic to hypoxic cells, relative to DJW-77 this activity was substantially reduced. These studies indicate that the addition of a side chain capable of generating an isocyanate can enhance the cytotoxicity and sensitizing activity of nitroheterocycles.
Trust in Testimony: The Institutional Embeddedness of Holocaust Survivor Narratives

Qu'est-ce qui rend un temoignage digne de foi ? Un travail de terrain au Musee de l'Holocauste conduit a avancer que les temoignages comportent des appels explicites ou implicites a la confiance. La reconnaissance de fiabilite repose sur une sorte d'interdependance entre les institutions qui authentifient les appels et celles qui offrent d'autres produits culturels porteurs de messages comparables, musees et films. On a toujours une demonstration discursive ou visuelle. Les appels a la confiance sont dans le temoignage lui-meme et aussi dans les revendications, explicites des temoins. On a a la fois information institutionnellement legitimee, experience personnelle et memoire collective. On discute in fine du transfert de ces resultats a l'etude du temoignage en justice.
You Just Don't Understand: Troubled Engagements Between Feminists and IR Theorists

This article reconstructs some conversational encounters between feminists and IR theorists and offers some hypotheses as to why misunderstandings so frequently result from these encounters. It claims that contemporary feminist perspectives on international relations are based on ontologies and epistemologies that are quite different from those that inform the conventional discipline. Therefore, they do not fit comfortably within conventional state-centric and structural approaches to IR theorizing, nor with the methodologies usually employed by IR scholars. As an illustration of how these differences can cause misunderstandings, the article offers some feminist perspectives on security, a concept central to the discipline. It also suggests how feminist approaches can offer some new ways to understand contemporary security problems. In conclusion, it suggests how feminist/IR engagements might be pursued more constructively.
Exploring Hindu Indian Emotion Expressions: Evidence for Accurate Recognition by Americans and Indians

Subjects were presented with videotaped expressions of 10 classic Hindu emotions. The 10 emotions were (in rough translation from Sanskrit) anger, disgust, fear, heroism, humor-amusement, love, peace, sadness, shame-embarrassment, and wonder. These emotions (except for shame) and their portrayal were described about 2,000 years ago in the Natyasastra, and are enacted in the contemporary Hindu classical dance. The expressions are dynamic and include both the face and the body, especially the hands. Three different expressive versions of each emotion were presented, along with 15 neutral expressions. American and Indian college students responded to each of these 45 expressions using either a fixed-response format (10 emotion names and "neutral/no emotion") or a totally free response format. Participants from both countries were quite accurate in identifying emotions correctly using both fixed-choice (65% correct, expected value of 9%) and free-response (61% correct, expected value close to zero) methods.
Female Reproductive Cycle

Human females undergo sexual cycles which prepare the reproductive system for pregnancy; these cycles are controlled by the combined action of the hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary and uterus. The ovarian cycle is regulated as a direct response to pituitary gonadotropins, i.e., follicle Open image in new window HORMONAL CONTROL of the FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH); the uterine cycle is regulated as a direct response to hormones produced by the ovary (estrogen and progesterone). Ultimate control of the pituitary resides in the hypothalamus where neurons sensitive to circulating blood levels of ovarian hormones are located.
Aflatoxin control in preharvest maize: effects of chitosan and two microbial agents

Growth and aflatoxin production of Aspergillus flavus in preharvest maize grown in Texas, USA in 1989 were determined after treatment with chitosan, Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum. Individual or combined control treatments were applied at the milk stage of ear development, 48 h before or after kernel inoculation with an aflatoxigenic isolate of A. flavus. Single and combined treatments reduced A. flavus growth and aflatoxin production. Toxin accumulation was significantly (P < 0·05) reduced, in some instances to non-detectable concentrations by single pretreatments. Either B. subtilis or chitosan as independent treatments applied 48 h before inoculation with A. flavus inhibited aflatoxin production.
Relationships between scores of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE) and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI).

This study was designed to examine the relationships between scores of two measures of empathy. One was specifically developed for measuring empathy in patient care situations; the other was developed for the general population. It was hypothesized that the overlap between scores of the two measures would be greater for their constructs that are more relevant to patient care. Study participants were 93 first-year internal medicine residents at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. The Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE, specifically developed for administration to health professionals), and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI, developed for the general population) were administered. A statistically significant correlation of a moderate magnitude between the total scores of the JSPE and IRI (r = 0.45, p < 0.01) was found. The research hypothesis was confirmed by observing higher correlations between those scales of the IRI that were relevant to patient care (e.g. empathic concer...
Learning-based meta-algorithm for MRI brain extraction

Multiple-segmentation-and-fusion method has been widely used for brain extraction, tissue segmentation, and region of interest (ROI) localization. However, such studies are hindered in practice by their computational complexity, mainly coming from the steps of template selection and template-to-subject nonlinear registration. In this study, we address these two issues and propose a novel learning-based meta-algorithm for MRI brain extraction. Specifically, we first use exemplars to represent the entire template library, and assign the most similar exemplar to the test subject. Second, a meta-algorithm combining two existing brain extraction algorithms (BET and BSE) is proposed to conduct multiple extractions directly on test subject. Effective parameter settings for the meta-algorithm are learned from the training data and propagated to subject through exemplars. We further develop a level-set based fusion method to combine multiple candidate extractions together with a closed smooth surface, for obtaining the final result. Experimental results show that, with only a small portion of subjects for training, the proposed method is able to produce more accurate and robust brain extraction results, at Jaccard Index of 0.956±0.010 on total 340 subjects under 6-fold cross validation, compared to those by the BET and BSE even using their best parameter combinations.
The nightside magnetic field line open–closed boundary and polar rain electron energy-latitude dispersion

Abstract. The polar rain electrons near the open–closed field line boundary on the nightside often exhibit energy-latitude dispersion, in which the energy decreases with decreasing latitude. The solar wind electrons from the last open-field line would E × B drift equatorward as they move toward the ionosphere, resulting in the observed dispersion. This process is modeled successfully by an open-field line particle precipitation model. The existing method for determining the magnetotail X line distance from the electron dispersion underestimates the electron path length from the X line to the ionosphere by at least 33%. The best estimate of the path length comes from using the two highest energy electrons in the dispersion region. The magnetic field line open–closed boundary is located poleward of the highest energy electrons in the dispersion region, which in turn is located poleward of Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) b6, b5e, and b5i boundaries. In the four events examined, b6 is located at least 0.7–1.5° equatorward of the magnetic field line open–closed boundary. The energy-latitude dispersion seen in the electron overhang may result from the plasma sheet electron curvature and gradient drifts into the newly closed field line.
Spatial and temporal variability of heavy metals in streams of the Flint Creek and Flint River Watersheds from non-point sources

Abstract. Throughout the United States, non-point pollution is responsible for large quantities of heavy metals entering bodies of water. Pollution as a result of heavy metals can impact drinking water supplies, recreation, fisheries, and aquatic species. Presence of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr), in surface water may pose great risks to human health as well as to aquatic animals. In order to understand water quality changes due to heavy metal elements and pH as a result of spatial and temporal variability and land use/land cover changes, there is a need to monitor water bodies on a constant basis. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the impacts of spatial and temporal variability on heavy metals and pH as a result of land use/land cover changes and provide a baseline for future water quality study from non-point sources in two watersheds. Spatial and temporal variability factors were not significant for all the heavy metal elements. Significant water quality changes occurred between 2003 and 2004 for the two of the five heavy metals (Pb, and Ni) and pH. However, this was not true for the other of heavy metals investigated (Cd, Cr, and Zn). There was no influence of watershed observed for any of the heavy metals and pH in this study. To accurately quantify environmental impacts of heavy metals as well as pH, land use changes, and natural processes leading to spatial and temporal variability of water quality variables, continuous monitoring of surface water is necessary to improve the water quality of these watersheds.
Informed consent in sinus surgery : Link between demographics and patient desires

Objective: To evaluate and understand differences in expectations according to patient demographics during the informed consent process for functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). Study Design: Multi-institutional, cross-sectional survey design. Methods: Anonymous surveys were administered to patients in two tertiary academic centers with a chief complaints relating to “allergy and sinus” problems. Patients completed and eight-item questionnaire that assessed demographics and the nature and level of risks that patients wished to be informed of before FESS. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess for differences in patient desires related to FESS risks according to demographics. Results: Three hundred eighty-nine completed surveys were analyzed. Younger patients (P = .049), white patients (P = .0026), and more educated patients (P = .0033) wished to know about complications at the lowest risks levels (lowest incidence), regardless of severity. With regards to specific complications, black patients and patients with less formal education were less interested in being informed about the potential risks of orbital complications, cerebrospinal fluid leak, or possible need for revision surgery. Multivariate analysis confirmed that race, education, age were independently significant factors in determining response. Conclusion: Demographic-related differences exist in patient's desires and expectations in the informed consent process for a sinus procedure. Physicians should be aware of these differences when counseling patients about sinus surgery. More research is needed to elucidate the factors that underlie the observed differences.
Functional identification of sensory mechanisms required for developmental song learning

A young male zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) learns to sing by copying the vocalizations of an older tutor in a process that parallels human speech acquisition. Brain pathways that control song production are well defined, but little is known about the sites and mechanisms of tutor song memorization. Here we test the hypothesis that molecular signaling in a sensory brain area outside of the song system is required for developmental song learning. Using controlled tutoring and a pharmacological inhibitor, we transiently suppressed the extracellular signal–regulated kinase signaling pathway in a portion of the auditory forebrain specifically during tutor song exposure. On maturation, treated birds produced poor copies of tutor song, whereas controls copied the tutor song effectively. Thus the foundation of normal song learning, the formation of a sensory memory of tutor song, requires a conserved molecular pathway in a brain area that is distinct from the circuit for song motor control.
Aeroelastic Flight Data Analysis with the Hilbert-Huang Algorithm

This paper investigates the utility of the Hilbert-Huang transform for the analysis of aeroelastic flight data. It is well known that the classical Hilbert transform can be used for time-frequency analysis of functions or signals. Unfortunately, the Hilbert transform can only be effectively applied to an extremely small class of signals, namely those that are characterized by a single frequency component at any instant in time. The recently-developed Hilbert-Huang algorithm addresses the limitations of the classical Hilbert transform through a process known as empirical mode decomposition. Using this approach, the data is filtered into a series of intrinsic mode functions, each of which admits a well-behaved Hilbert transform. In this manner, the Hilbert-Huang algorithm affords time-frequency analysis of a large class of signals. This powerful tool has been applied in the analysis of scientific data, structural system identification, mechanical system fault detection, and even image processing. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the potential applications of the Hilbert-Huang algorithm for the analysis of aeroelastic systems, with improvements such as localized/online processing. Applications for correlations between system input and output, and amongst output sensors, are discussed to characterize the time-varying amplitude and frequency correlations present in the various components of multiple data channels. Online stability analyses and modal identification are also presented. Examples are given using aeroelastic test data from the F/A-18 Active Aeroelastic Wing aircraft, an Aerostructures Test Wing, and pitch-plunge simulation.
Limiting Superluminal Electron and Neutrino Velocities using the 2010 Crab Nebula Flare and the IceCube PeV Neutrino Events

The observation of two PetaelectronVolt (PeV)-scale neutrino events reported by Ice Cube allows one to place constraints on Lorentz invariance violation (LIV) in the neutrino sector. After first arguing that at least one of the PetaelectronVolt IceCube events was of extragalactic origin, I derive an upper limit for the difference between putative superluminal neutrino and electron velocities of less than or equal to approximately 5.6 x 10(exp -19) in units where c = 1, confirming that the observed PetaelectronVolt neutrinos could have reached Earth from extragalactic sources. I further derive a new constraint on the superluminal electron velocity, obtained from the observation of synchrotron radiation from the Crab Nebula flare of September, 2010. The inference that the greater than 1 GigaelectronVolt gamma-rays from synchrotron emission in the flare were produced by electrons of energy up to approx. 5.1 PetaelectronVolt indicates the nonoccurrence of vacuum Cerenkov radiation by these electrons. This implies a new, strong constraint on superluminal electron velocities delta(sub e) less than or equal to approximately 5 x 10(exp -21). It immediately follows that one then obtains an upper limit on the superluminal neutrino velocity alone of delta(sub v) less than or equal to approximately 5.6 x 10(exp -19), many orders of magnitude better than the time-of-flight constraint from the SN1987A neutrino burst. However, if the electrons are subluminal the constraint on the absolute value of delta(sub e) less than or equal to approximately 8 x 10(exp -17), obtained from the Crab Nebula gamma-ray spectrum, places a weaker constraint on superluminal neutrino velocity of delta(sub v) less than or equal to approximately 8 x 10(exp -17).
Traffic Flow Prediction Using Optimal Autoregressive Moving Average with Exogenous Input-Based Predictors

Traffic management centers want to improve the performance of road networks and reduce congestion by actively managing the infrastructure of a freeway corridor. A promising avenue for proactive traffic management is the prediction of near-future traffic conditions in real time by using a traffic flow model. Important calibration parameters of such a model include boundary flows (i.e., amount of traffic expected to enter the network during the prediction horizon). A boundary flow prediction method is proposed that combines the most recent traffic data with historical traffic data. An autoregressive moving average with an exogenous input (ARMAX) model is estimated online with the most recent vehicle detector station data. An optimal multiple-step-ahead predictor of traffic demand is obtained from the estimated ARMAX model by solving a corresponding Bezout equation for each predictor. Results obtained with empirical data collected along a freeway mainline and an on-ramp indicate that this method outperforms ...
Total Synthesis of Gelsenicine via a Catalyzed Cycloisomerization Strategy.

The first total synthesis of (±)-gelsenicine is reported. The synthetic route is highly efficient (13 steps), featuring (1) a pivotal metal-catalyzed isomerization/rearrangement process that forges the central core of the molecule and (2) two facile C–N bond-forming steps that establish the flanking heterocycles.
Reprograming Tregs to become tumor killers

Immunotherapy is in the spotlight for developing new treatment approaches for cancer. In the quest for improved immunotherapeutics, recent successes have been achieved on enhancing T cell activation. However, often studies are based on only one cell phenotype, in which the effects on other cells in the immune milieu are overlooked. Recent work by Akhmetzyanova et al . undertook the challenge of delving into the mechanism of how a CD8+ T cell agonist therapy also affects CD4+ T cells. The work focuses on agonist therapy for CD137, which is a regulator of T cell activation, proliferation, and cytokine production. Studies for this therapy have been focused on CD8+ T cells because CD137 is expressed at much higher levels by these cells than CD4+ T cells. This study focused on CD4+ T cells by utilizing CD8+-depleted mice and the Friend leukemia virus–induced FBL-3 tumor model. Upon anti-CD137 treatment, the authors found tumor rejection through a CD4+ T cell cytotoxic mechanism. They further examined the regulatory T cell (Treg) response because CD137 signaling is known to induce activation of natural Tregs. The novel aspect of the study was the finding that anti-CD137 therapy induced a population of Tregs with helper and cytotoxic functions. This population began as FoxP3 positive cells and gained cytotoxic function after exposure to anti-CD137. These cells retained FoxP3 expression, suggesting the need to be cautious about this marker as a sole marker of inhibitory Tregs. There is substantial value to the field in the approach for this work because mechanism of action on cells of the tumor microenvironment beyond the main cell target is sometimes overlooked in immunotherapy studies. However, the question remains, would this type of therapy only work in tumors that are very immunogenic, such as virus-induced tumors? I. Akhmetzyanova et al. , CD137 agonist therapy can reprogram regulatory T cells into cytotoxic CD4+ T cells with antitumor activity. J. Immunol. 10.4049/jimmunol.1403039 (2015). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.jimmunol.org/content/early/2015/11/25/jimmunol.1403039
Advantage of adding 131I MIBG to 90Y DOTATOC for treatment of patients with advanced stage neuroendocrine tumors

1429 Objectives Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is an effective form of treatment for patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). However, delivering sufficient radiation dose to the tumor remains challenging because of the limits imposed on administered activity by radiation damage to normal tissues. For 90Y DOTATOC the dosage limiting organ is the kidney. In contrast to 90Y DOTATOC , toxicity to bone marrow limits the level of administered activity that can be delivered with 131I MIBG. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the dosimetric advantages of combining 131I MIBG with 90Y DOTATOC in patients with midgut NETs. Methods 10 patients with advanced stage midgut NETs were imaged simultaneously with 131I MIBG and 111In pentetreotide (as a surrogate for 90Y DOTATOC) on days 1,2,and,3 post administration. Blood samples were obtained at the same times. Results Using dosimetry measures from this data and our previously published methodology for calculating optimal combined administered activity levels for therapy, we calculated that a median value of 34.6 GBq of 131I MIBG could be safely added to 90Y DOTATOC (delivered over multiple cycles) by reducing the maximum total deliverable 90Y DOTATOC by a median value of 24.5%. Taking this treatment approach we found there would be a median increase in deliverable tumor dose of 4046 cGy. Six of the 10 subjects showed visible tumor uptake on MIBG images and all 10 demonstrated tumor uptake with 111In pentetreotide. Most tumor sites showed uptake with both MIBG and 111In pentetreotide. There were however a smaller number of metastases that were positive for only one or the other of these radiopharmaceuticals. Conclusions We conclude that approximately half of the patients with midgut NETs that are eligible for PRRT could reasonably be expected to benefit from the addition of 131I MIBG to 90Y DOTATOC. Research Support Veterans administration Merit Review grant
BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF MESHES FOLLOWING IMPLANTATION IN THE RAT ABDOMINAL WALL MODEL

The objective of our study was to (1) evaluate mesh strength and collagen incorporation after 4 and 12 weeks of implantation in a rat abdominal wall model and (2) determine the relationship between collagen deposition and mechanical strength of a chitosan-coated polypropylene mesh. We implanted 0.5% chitosan-coated polypropylene mesh (PPM), collagen-coated PPM (PelvitexTM; C.R. Bard), and PPM (Avaulta Solo®; C.R. Bard) using a rat abdominal defect model. Mechanical properties were determined from uniaxial tensile testing and collagen deposition of each mesh was evaluated 4 and 12 weeks post-implantation. We found that after implantation, the neo tissue of Ch-PPM is stiffer than the commercially available meshes. We also observed no significant difference in the ratio of collagen types I/III between mesh samples at 4 weeks or 12 weeks. We found no relationship between the ratio of collagen types I/III and the mechanical strength of mesh samples after implantation. The increased stiffness with chitosan coating could be due to increased muscle tissue ingrowth.
Cooperative effects at the interface of nanocrystalline metal–organic frameworks

Controlling the chemistry at the interface of nanocrystalline solids has been a challenge and an important goal to realize desired properties. Integrating two different types of materials has the potential to yield new functions resulting from cooperative effects between the two constituents. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are unique in that they are constructed by linking inorganic units with organic linkers where the building units can be varied nearly at will. This flexibility has made MOFs ideal materials for the design of functional entities at interfaces and hence allowing control of properties. This review highlights the strategies employed to access synergistic functionality at the interface of nanocrystalline MOFs (nMOFs) and inorganic nanocrystals (NCs).
Punctate Inner Choroidopathy

Punctate inner choroidopathy (PIC) is an uncommon idiopathic inflammatory chorioretinopathy characterized by multiple, small, discrete, yellow-white posterior pole lesions. It is more common in young, moderately myopic females. Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a common complication and cause of vision loss.
Sarcopenia Is Associated With Lower Skeletal Muscle Capillarization and Exercise Capacity in Older Adults

BACKGROUND Skeletal muscle capillary rarefaction limits the transcapillary transport of nutrients and oxygen to muscle and may contribute to sarcopenia and functional impairment in older adults. We tested the hypothesis that skeletal muscle capillarization and exercise capacity (VO2max) are lower in sarcopenic than in nonsarcopenic older adults and that the degree of sarcopenia is related to lower skeletal muscle capillarization. METHODS Body composition, VO2max, and vastus lateralis capillarization were determined in 76 middle-aged and older men and women (age = 61±1 years, body mass index [BMI] = 30.7±0.5kg/m(2) [mean ± SEM]). Participants were classified as sarcopenic if appendicular lean mass divided by BMI (ALMBMI) was less than 0.789 for men or less than 0.512 for women. RESULTS Sarcopenic subjects (ALMBMI = 0.65±0.04, n = 16) had 20% lower capillary-to-fiber ratio, as well as 13% and 15% lower VO2max expressed as mL/kg/min or L/min, respectively, compared with sex-, race-, and age-matched participants without sarcopenia (ALMBMI = 0.81±0.05, n = 16; p < .05). In all 76 subjects, ALMBMI, thigh muscle cross-sectional area, and VO2max correlated directly with capillarization (r = .30-.37, p ≤ .05), after accounting for age, sex, and race. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that low skeletal muscle capillarization is one factor that may contribute to sarcopenia and reduced exercise capacity in older adults by limiting diffusion of substrates, oxygen, hormones, and nutrients. Strategies to prevent the aging-related decline in skeletal muscle capillarization may help to prevent or slow the progression of sarcopenia and its associated functional declines in generally healthy older adults.
Методология Построения Финансовых Балансов Секторов Экономики (Methodology of Compiling Sectoral Financial Balancies in the National Economy)

Russian Abstract: Объектом исследования данной работы является методология составления финансовых балансов по секторам экономики Российской Федерации в контексте развития инструментария по анализу межсекторных финансовых потоков. Цель работы — подготовка методологических указаний по составлению и анализу баланса финансовых ресурсов как одного из элементов системы макроэкономического анализа. Методология работы основывается на анализе существующих источников статистических данных и их сопоставлении для создания, насколько это возможно, полной и непротиворечивой картины финансовой системы российской экономики. English Abstract: This paper is focused on the investigation of the model for compiling sectoral financial balances in the Russian economy in the context of the development of tools for the analysis of intersectoral financial flows. The paper is aimed at the drafting of methodological recommendations for compiling and analysis of balance of financial results as one of the element of macroanalysis method. Methodology of the research is based on the analysis of the available statistical sources and their comparison for the creation as far as it is feasible full and noncontradictory picture of the financial system of the Russian economy.
The Question of Value

This chapter discusses how to measure and evaluate the values in health-care decisions. The values of health-care decisions can be measured by health outcomes. The measured health outcomes are classified into clinical outcomes, humanistic outcomes, and economic and utilization outcomes. The clinical outcomes are the most commonly used health outcomes in comparative effectiveness research. However, evaluating the values of health-care decisions requires the economic and utilization outcomes (costs) also.
Computational Study of the Impact of Neuromodulation on Synaptic Plasticity

Synaptic plasticity plays an important role in mediating the behavior of neuronal networks including learning and memory. However, not much is understood about how it is implemented in vivo, especially in the complex dendritic trees of neurons in the mammalian fear circuit. Neuromodulation is very important in such circuits and its impact on plasticity has not been characterized adequately. We will consider the calcium-based plasticity mechanisms implemented in recently reported models, and study how neuromodulation and dendritic morphology impact plasticity.Norepinephrine and dopamine are the key neurotransmitters that modulate the neurons in the mammalian amygdala during Pavlovian fear conditioning. We will consider their impact on long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) using the NMDAR-based calcium learning rule implemented in the post-synapse. The calcium based learning rule requires depolarization of local membrane potentials in dendrites to relieve the Mg2+ block of NMDA receptors. A high level depolarization produces LTP, while LTD is caused by lower levels of depolarization. Hebbian pairing typically requires both dendritic spiking and back-propagating action potentials to achieve LTP. However, biological reports show that a certain level of dendritic spiking may by itself be sufficient to cause LTP/LTD. We will investigate all these mechanisms comprehensively using compartmental models of different complexity.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Applications of Carbon Nanotubes in CFx Electrodes for High-power Li/CFx Batteries

Carbon monofluoride (CFx) has been extensively used as a reliable cathode material in lithium primary batteries because of its high energy density and long shelf life. However, the implementation of Li/ CFx batteries in high-power applications is limited by the low power capability resulting from the insulative nature of CFx material. In this work, we incorporated multi-walled carbon nanotubes into CFx electrodes and studied the impact on the electrochemical performances when CNTs were used as a conductive additive material and current collector substrate. Our work demonstrated the promising utilization of CNTs in CFx electrodes in improving the practical capacity and power capability of Li/ CFx batteries.
Quantitation of Monoclonal Immunoglobulins Using Densitometry and the Effect of Polyclonal Background Immunoglobulin on Accuracy

We studied the precision of densitometric quantitation of serum mono- Materials and Methods clonal immunoalobulins and the effect of different concentrations of serum polyclonal immunoglobulin on accuracy. Coefficients of variation of 9.6%, 4.3%, and 2.4% were obtained for paraproteins of 0.7, 1.8, and 4.9 g/dL (7, 18, ana 49 g/L), respectively. Measured concentrations of the large paraprotein were not significantly affected by background immunoglobulin, but the smallei paraproteins were overestimated in the presence of normal or elevated polyclonal immunoglobulin. Even small paraproteins, however, can be quantitated with clinically acceptable precision if the boundaries of the peak are demarcated manually by an experienced technologist.
Mobile Source and Livestock Feed Contributions to Regional Ozone Formation in Central California

A three-dimensional air quality model with 8 km horizontal resolution was applied to estimate the summertime ozone (O3) production from mobile sources and fermented livestock feed in California’s S...
Analysis of spatial distribution and influencing factors of tuberculosis in Chongqing from 2008 to 2011

Objective To analyze the spatial distribution and influencing factors of tuberculosis in Chongqing using spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatial autoregressive model.Methods The data on tuberculosis of 40 districts(counties) in Chongqing from December 2008 December to 2011 were collected,and spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatial regressive analysis were performed using GeoDa_0.9-5-i software.Results The global Moran'sⅠ values of tuberculosis in Chongqing from 2008 to 2011 were 0.310,0.399,0.327,and 0.306,respectively,which indicated that there was a spatial positive correlation among each year in the incidences of tuberculosis in Chongqing.Spatial regressive analysis revealed that the incidence of tuberculosis in Chongqing was associated with the unemployment rate of urban area(Z=2.150,P=0.032).Conclusion The spatial clusterings of tuberculosis are found in Chongqing from 2008 to 2011,and the incidence of tuberculosis in Chongqing is associated with the unemployment rate of urban area at the spatial level.
Hit and Miss

Thomas Pynchon: The Art of Allusion. By David Cowart. Carbondale: Southern Illinois Univ. Press, 1980. 154 pp. $10.95.
[Analysis on the planning and developing population-based cancer registration in low- and middle-income settings].

预计到2025年,全球将新增超过2 000万例癌症患者,其中中低收入国家的癌症负担占4/5.在第65届世界卫生大会上,WHO各成员国达成一致目标:到2025年,在全球范围内使因癌症和其他主要慢性非传染性疾病(心血管疾病、呼吸系统疾病和糖尿病等)导致的过早死亡率降低25％.癌症发病率是评估上述目标进展的重要指标,而基于人群的肿瘤登记(PBCR)对收集发病率数据,建立、监测和评估癌症控制项目起到至关重要的作用.为此,国际癌症研究所(IARC)在2014年6月发布《在中低收入国家规划和发展以人群为基础的肿瘤登记》技术指南(指南),以完善中低收入国家PBCR为目标,为各国卫生专家和政策规划提供技术建议[1].指南共6章,电子版可在IARC主页(www.iarc.fr)免费下载. 关键词：基于人群的肿瘤登记;中低收入
SU-F-T-209: Multicriteria Optimization Algorithm for Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Using Pencil Proton Beam Scanning

Purpose: To provide a multicriteria optimization algorithm for intensity modulated radiation therapy using pencil proton beam scanning. Methods: Intensity modulated radiation therapy using pencil proton beam scanning requires efficient optimization algorithms to overcome the uncertainties in the Bragg peaks locations. This work is focused on optimization algorithms that are based on Monte Carlo simulation of the treatment planning and use the weights and the dose volume histogram (DVH) control points to steer toward desired plans. The proton beam treatment planning process based on single objective optimization (representing a weighted sum of multiple objectives) usually leads to time-consuming iterations involving treatment planning team members. We proved a time efficient multicriteria optimization algorithm that is developed to run on NVIDIA GPU (Graphical Processing Units) cluster. The multicriteria optimization algorithm running time benefits from up-sampling of the CT voxel size of the calculations without loss of fidelity. Results: We will present preliminary results of Multicriteria optimization for intensity modulated proton therapy based on DVH control points. The results will show optimization results of a phantom case and a brain tumor case. Conclusion: The multicriteria optimization of the intensity modulated radiation therapy using pencil proton beam scanning provides a novel tool for treatment planning. Work support by a grant from Varian Inc.
An Optical Adventure in Sexual Deception

Bioreplication, the direct replication of a biological structure to copy at least one of its functionalities, is a newly emerging concept within the ambit of engineered biomimicry. An industrially scalable bioreplication process with nanoscale fidelity has been devised and improved to produce visual decoys of an invasive insect species. The decoys are very successful in luring males of the species towards attempted copulation followed by electrocution, thereby disrupting the reproduction cycle and providing forestry managers a tool to limit the spread of the invasive species.
Ground reaction forces during steeplechase hurdling and waterjumps

AbstractAthletes in the 3,000 m steeplechase track and field event negotiate unmovable hurdles and waterjumps. Ground reaction forces (GRF) in the steeplechase were quantified to elucidate injury risks / mechanisms and to inform coaches. Five male and five female steeplechasers participated. GRF were measured during treadmill running, and using specially mounted force platforms, during hurdle and waterjump takeoffs and landings at 5.54 m/s (males) or 5.00 m/s (females). Results are presented as: male mean ± SD / female mean ± SD. Initial and active peaks of vertical GRF during treadmill running were 2.04 ± 0.72 / 2.25 ± 0.28 BW and 3.11 ± 0.27 / 2.98 ± 0.24 BW. Compared to treadmill running, peak vertical forces were greater (p < 0.001) for: hurdle takeoff (initial: 4.25 ± 0.86 / 3.78 ± 0.60 BW, active: 3.82 ± 0.20 / 3.74 ± 0.32 BW), hurdle landing (active: 4.41 ± 1.13 / 4.21 ± 0.21 BW), waterjump takeoff (initial: 4.32 ± 0.67 / 4.56 ± 0.54 BW, active: 4.00 ± 0.24 / 3.83 ± 0.31 BW), and waterjump landing ...
Modeling information flow for an autonomous agent to support reverse engineering work

Reverse engineering is a cyber defense task used to investigate malware, reconstruct functionality of compiled software, and identify vulnerabilities from closed-source software code already being used in operational contexts. While research in this area has mainly focused on techniques to extract information from binary code, it is also important to understand the capabilities and limitations of the human involved in the reverse engineering process (both defensively and offensively), so we can design better information representations and effectively allocate appropriate tasks to autonomous agents. In this paper, we describe our introductory work in developing agent models of reverse engineering. We review what is known about reverse engineers’ mental models, then describe and characterize four human–computer interaction patterns involved in reverse engineering from a cognitive task analysis. Finally, we present a category theoretic model to describe how reverse engineers trace information flow when perf...
Current Understanding of the Correlation of Lignin Structure with Biomass Recalcitrance

Lignin, a complex aromatic polymer in terrestrial plants, contributes significantly to biomass recalcitrance to microbial and/or enzymatic deconstruction. To reduce biomass recalcitrance, substantial endeavors have been exerted on pretreatment and lignin engineering in the past few decades. Lignin removal and/or alteration of lignin structure have been shown to result in reduced biomass recalcitrance with improved cell wall digestibility. While high lignin content is usually a barrier to a cost-efficient application of bioresources to biofuels, the direct correlation of lignin structure and its concomitant properties with biomass remains unclear due to the complexity of cell wall and lignin structure. Advancement in application of biorefinery to production of biofuels, chemicals, and bio-derived materials necessitates a fundamental understanding of the relationship of lignin structure and biomass recalcitrance. In this mini-review, we focus on recent investigations on the influence of lignin chemical properties on bioprocessability-pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass. Specifically, lignin-enzyme interactions and the effects of lignin compositional units, hydroxycinnamates, and lignin functional groups on biomass recalcitrance have been highlighted, which will be useful not only in addressing biomass recalcitrance but also in deploying renewable lignocelluloses efficiently.
Wall suction-assisted image-guided thoracentesis: a safe alternative to evacuated bottles

Aim To compare the safety of evacuated bottle-assisted thoracentesis with wall suction-assisted thoracentesis. Materials and methods An institutional review board-approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant retrospective study of 161 consecutive patients who underwent 191 evacuated bottle-assisted thoracenteses from 1 January 2012 to 30 September 2012, and 188 consecutive patients who underwent 230 wall suction-assisted thoracenteses from 1 January 2013 to 30 September 2013 was conducted. All procedures used imaging guidance. Primary diagnosis, age, gender, total fluid volume removed, and adverse events (AE) up to 30 days post-procedure were recorded and graded using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events 4.0 (CTCAE)2. Results Overall AE rates were 42.9% (82/191) for the evacuated bottle group and 19.6% (45/230) for the wall suction group (p Conclusion Image-guided thoracentesis performed with wall suction is safe when compared to evacuated bottles. The use of wall suction, in comparison to evacuated bottles, may decrease the incidence of transient chest pain or cough.