cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structure and properties of p-aminophenoxyl radical

The geometrical structure, fundamental vibrational frequencies, and isotropic hyperfine coupling constants of p-aminophenoxyl radical are investigated by means of electronic structure calculations. Neither Hartree−Fock nor full π-space multiconfigurational self-consistent-field approaches are able to provide a satisfactory account of the experimentally observed vibrational frequencies. This is due mostly to not allowing the CN bond to participate sufficiently in the conjugation, thereby also allowing pyramidalization at the nitrogen site. Density functional methods, on the other hand, do give a reasonable description of the vibrational frequencies. Consideration of solvation effects by incorporation of four hydrogen-bonded water molecules, two at the oxygen site and two at the amino site, strengthens the CN bond and promotes planarity of the radical. With inclusion of solvent, the density functional vibrational frequencies are further improved to come into very good agreement with experimental results in ...
Abnormalities in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in the brains of schizophrenia patients

Images of brain metabolism and measurements of activities of components of the electron transport chain support earlier studies that suggest that brain glucose oxidation is inherently abnormal in a significant proportion of persons with schizophrenia. Therefore, we measured the activities of enzymes of the tricarboxylic (TCA) cycle in dorsolateral-prefrontal-cortex from schizophrenia patients (N=13) and non-psychiatric disease controls (N=13): the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC), citrate synthase (CS), aconitase, isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (KGDHC), succinate thiokinase (STH), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), fumarase and malate dehydrogenase (MDH). Activities of aconitase (18.4%, p<0.05), KGDHC (26%) and STH (28.2%, p<0.05), enzymes in the first half of the TCA cycle, were lower, but SDH (18.3%, p<0.05) and MDH (34%, p<0.005), enzymes in the second half, were higher than controls. PDHC, CS, ICDH and fumarase activities were unchanged. There were no significant correlations between enzymes of TCA cycle and cognitive function, age or choline acetyl transferase activity, except for aconitase activity which decreased slightly with age (r=0.55, p=003). The increased activities of dehydrogenases in the second half of the TCA cycle may reflect a compensatory response to reduced activities of enzymes in the first half. Such alterations in the components of TCA cycle are adequate to alter the rate of brain metabolism. These results are consistent with the imaging studies of hypometabolism in schizophrenia. They suggest that deficiencies in mitochondrial enzymes can be associated with mental disease that takes the form of schizophrenia.
A multi-center, retrospective review of patch testing for contact dermatitis in allergy practices.

Background Studies assessing patch testing (PT) in allergy practices are limited. Objectives To determine whether PT results using a limited panel of allergens such as in the Thin-Layer Rapid-Use Epicutaneous Test (TT) as compared with an expanded panel, such as the addition of supplemental allergens (North American Contact Dermatitis [NACD] Panel, Dormer Cosmetics, hairdressing series, corticosteroid series, and personal products) will miss a significant number of positive PTs. To compare our PT results with published data from dermatology practices. Methods This is a 5-year multicenter retrospective chart review of PT at 3 separate allergy practices. Results Four hundred twenty-seven patients (mean age, 49.8 years) were patch tested. Eighty-two percent were female; 54% reported an atopic history. Of the standardized allergens, the 5 most common positives were nickel sulfate, fragrance mix I, p-phenylenediamine (PPD), thimerosal, and cobalt chloride. Two hundred eighteen (56.9%; 95% CI=51.9–61.8%) patients were positive to at least 1 TT allergen. Ninety-eight (25.6%; 95% CI=21.5–30.2%) patients were positive to both a TT and a supplemental allergen. Forty-eight (12.5%; 95% CI=9.6–16.2%) patients were negative to a TT allergen but positive to a supplemental allergen. Conclusion Positive allergens would have been missed in 12.5% of patients when evaluating with TT allergens alone, whereas 25.6% would be partially evaluated. Patch test performance characteristics for these allergy practices appear to parallel that seen for dermatology. The TT remains an adequate screening tool in an allergy practice, but a more comprehensive panel may be needed to fully evaluate contact dermatitis.
Thermohydraulic Characteristics of Fluid Flow in a Zig-Zag Square Microchannel

This paper deals with understanding the thermohydraulic characteristics of one type of zig-zag square microchannel. Studies are done to understand the individual effect of geometric parameters like hydraulic diameter, orientation angle and connector length for Reynolds number between 100 and 400. The hydraulic diameter is varied between 100 μm and 300 μm with increment of 100 μm. Studies are carried out for orientation angle of 10°, 20° and 30°. The connector length of the study conducted in this paper is varied from 200 μm to 400 μm to 600 μm. The results are presented in terms of enhancement of Nusselt number and Poiseuille number over that in straight square microchannels. With increase in hydraulic diameter the enhancement in Nusselt number and Poiseuille number increased at a specific Reynolds number. Similarly with increase in the orientation angle the enhancement in these two thermohydraulic characteristics is observed for a specific Reynolds number. With increase in connector length both Nusselt number and Poiseuille number increased over that in straight channels of the same hydraulic diameter for a particular Reynolds number. Enhancement in Nusselt number and Poiseuille number is observed with increase in Reynolds number for all zig-zag microchannels. For the three fold increase in each of the geometric parameters the smallest enhancement is observed with increase in connector length. The greatest enhancement in thermohydraulic characteristics is observed with change in orientation between the arm and the connector.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
An Investigation of the Traveler Rating Lexicon Across Hotel Segments

User generated travel reviews are becoming a prominent information source for travelers making hotel purchase decisions. This study examines 60,648 user generated travel reviews for 4,987 hotels, across hotel segments determining word use patterns and frequencies. The intent of this study was to determine areas where a hotel could take action and thereby improve their rating, varied by segment. The study found that travelers' use of words and word patterns in comments accompanying online ratings had some differences across different hotel segments. Travelers assigning ratings to the lower priced segments were concerned about cleanliness of the hotel and the bathroom, while travelers assigning ratings to the higher priced segments, mentioned words related to the bed, and the service or the staff more frequently. Travelers also frequently mentioned breakfast and a hotel's convenience to area amenities.
Reading a play

Theatrical imagination is demanded from the silent reader of plays. This article suggests methods of introducing students to plays and furthering their enjoyment of a silent reading through questioning and discussion. Visualizing a play can be facilitated if operative words or images are found which circumscribe the complex of students' responses. Classroom exercises designed to train students' theatrical imaginations are proposed.
Consequences of exposure to light at night on the pancreatic islet circadian clock and function in rats

There is a correlation between circadian disruption, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and islet failure. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are largely unknown. Pancreatic islets express self-sustained circadian clocks essential for proper β-cell function and survival. We hypothesized that exposure to environmental conditions associated with disruption of circadian rhythms and susceptibility to T2DM in humans disrupts islet clock and β-cell function. To address this hypothesis, we validated the use of Per-1:LUC transgenic rats for continuous longitudinal assessment of islet circadian clock function ex vivo. Using this methodology, we subsequently examined effects of the continuous exposure to light at night (LL) on islet circadian clock and insulin secretion in vitro in rat islets. Our data show that changes in the light-dark cycle in vivo entrain the phase of islet clock transcriptional oscillations, whereas prolonged exposure (10 weeks) to LL disrupts islet circadian clock function through impairment in the amplitude, phase, and interislet synchrony of clock transcriptional oscillations. We also report that exposure to LL leads to diminished glucose-stimulated insulin secretion due to a decrease in insulin secretory pulse mass. Our studies identify potential mechanisms by which disturbances in circadian rhythms common to modern life can predispose to islet failure in T2DM.
A Marginalized Zero-inflated Poisson Regression Model with Random Effects

Public health research often concerns relationships between exposures and correlated count outcomes. When counts exhibit more zeros than expected under Poisson sampling, the zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) model with random effects may be used. However, the latent class formulation of the ZIP model can make marginal inference on the sampled population challenging. This article presents a marginalized ZIP model with random effects to directly model the mean of the mixture distribution consisting of 'susceptible' individuals and excess zeroes, providing straightforward inference for overall exposure effects. Simulations evaluate finite sample properties, and the new methods are applied to a motivational interviewing-based safer sex intervention trial, designed to reduce the number of unprotected sexual acts.
Spatial dynamics of radial growth and growth efficiency in residual Pinus resinosa following aggregated retention harvesting

Variable retention harvest systems are encouraged to promote complexity in managed forests, and aggregated retention has been suggested as a means of reducing moisture stress in residual trees. We studied the impacts of within-aggregate position on growth and foliar physiology to better understand the spatial dynamics of residual-tree responses to aggregated retention harvests in even-aged Pinus resinosa Ait. stands. Distance from edge and edge aspect influenced radial growth, volume increment, and growth efficiency, but only edge aspect affected foliar nitrogen content. Spatial variables had no significant relationships with foliar carbon isotope ratios (δ13C). Increases in radial growth, volume increment, and growth efficiency following harvesting were greatest near edges and in the northeastern quadrants of aggregates that received mechanical understory release treatments, and lowest in the southeastern quadrant of aggregates and near aggregate centers. Foliar nitrogen content was highest in the southw...
Carcinoid tumor within a squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix

Abstract A small focus of carcinoid tumor within an otherwise typical, poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix in a 37-year-old female is described. This focus was argyrophilic, but argentaffin negative. There are several papers dealing with primary carcinoid or hormone-secreting tumors of the cervix and, although some of these have shown small foci of epidermoid differentiation, this is the first example in which a small carcinoid focus occurred within and in continuity with a large squamous cell tumor. This may support the theory that APUDomas of the cervix arise from undifferentiated basal stem cells.
Double-gate thin-film transistor

A thin-film transistor (t.f.t.) with opposing gate electrodes completely isolated from the source-drain circuit has demonstrated greater conductivity modulation with the signal applied between the two gates than the same t.f.t. connected with the signal applied between a gate and the source in the conventional manner. This result precludes the assumption that charge injected into the semiconductor region accounts for the modulation.
Work-related hazards and workplace safety of US adolescents employed in the retail and service sectors.

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to examine the hazard exposures, work experiences, and workplace safety training of adolescents employed in retail and service jobs in the United States. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional telephone survey among working adolescents, 14 to 18 years old, in the continental United States. Data were collected in 2003. Survey items measured self-reported hazard exposures, training, and supervision experiences of working adolescents. RESULTS: Teens reported working an average of 16.2 hours per week during the school year, including working an average of 2.9 times per week after 7 PM on school nights and 2.6 nights per week after 9 PM. Thirty-seven percent of those under age 16 reported working after 7 PM on a school night, indicating employer violation of federal law. Teens typically perform multiple kinds of tasks in a given job. Higher proportions of females than males are involved in cash handling (84% vs 61%), whereas males are more likely than females to be involved in physically challenging tasks, such as lifting heavy objects (57% vs 22%) or working at heights (35% vs 17%). Despite federal regulations prohibiting teens under 18 from using certain types of dangerous equipment (eg, slicers, dough mixers, box crushers, paper balers) or serving or selling alcohol in places where it is consumed, 52% of males and 43% of females reported having performed > or = 1 prohibited task. Although more males reported receiving safety training, they were also more likely to report working without supervision than their female counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Teens are exposed to multiple hazards, use dangerous equipment despite federal prohibitions, and work long hours during the school week. They also lack consistent training and adult supervision on the job. It is important for adolescent medicine practitioners to become involved in prevention efforts through both anticipatory guidance and policy advocacy. Language: en
Open side car heat exchanger that removes entire server heat load without any added fan power

The heat dissipated by electronic equipment continues to increase at a alarming rate. This has occurred for products covering a wide range of applications. Manufacturers of this equipment require that the equipment be maintained within an environmental envelope in order to guarantee proper operation. Achievement of these environmental conditions are becoming increasingly difficult given the increases in rack heat loads and the desire for customers of such equipment to cluster racks in a small region for increased performance. And with the increased heat load of the racks and correspondingly increased air flowrate the chilled air flow supplied either through data center raised floor perforated tiles or diffusers for non raised floors is not sufficient to match the air flow required by the datacom racks. In this case some of the hot air exhausting the rear of a rack can return to the front of the rack and be ingested into the air intake thereby reducing the reliability of the electronic equipment. This paper describes a method to reduce the effect of the hot air recirculation with a water cooled heat exchanger attached to the side of a rack. This heat exchanger removes all of the heat load of a rack up to 35 kW(27° C ambient temperature and 15° C inlet water temperature) thereby having a netzero impact to the data center environmental. This paper describes the unique design of the open side car and presents the test results showing that it removes all the server heat load up to 35 kW and has minimal impact on the flow and resulting component temperatures within the server packages. This open side car design will show improvement in energy efficient heat load removal equipment compared to those currently being shipped in the marketplace.
Price Discrimination and the Adoption of the Electricity Demand Charge

Between 1905 and 1915, as state price regulation became widespread, electric utilities in the United States faced severe competition. The primary source of electricity for industry then was not utilities but self-generation by the user in an “isolated plant.” The demand-charge rate structure first became widespread during this period. The demand-charge rate structure has been interpreted as a misapplication of the peak-load pricing principle, a view which has made its popularity a puzzle. Instead it was adopted as a sophisticated mechanism which institutionalized profit-maximizing price discrimination given the competition from isolated plants.
Making connections: Suicide prevention and the use of technology with rural veterans.

Significant research to date has explored risk factors for suicide, highlighting issues such as social and geographical isolation, economic distress, and access to weapons. Not only are veterans living in rural communities more likely to present with such risk factors, but rural residency itself has been identified as an independent risk factor for suicide. Access to quality mental health services is often limited in small communities, despite identified needs. The Rural Mental Health (RMH) team was developed to meet those needs, using telehealth technologies to increase access to high quality mental health care for rural veterans throughout the Pacific Northwest. This descriptive analysis summarizes key program features and administrative data regarding the demographic and clinical characteristics of veterans receiving these services. Case examples are presented illustrating how the RMH team is using innovative technologies and multidisciplinary care collaboration to overcome barriers to treatment, providing individualized, comprehensive mental health services. Language: en
Brentano and Kafka

§ 1. The Louvre Circle There is a narrow thread in the vast literature on Kafka which pertains to Kafka's knowledge of philosophy and more precisely to the fruitfulness of attempts to interpret Kafka's fictional writings in the light of some of the main ideas of Franz Brentano. Such attempts have been roundly dismissed, not least by Max Brod, who denied the role of all theory in Kafka's writings (Kafka 'spoke in images because he thought in images'). As Arnold Heidsieck has thoroughly documented in his recent study of the intellectual context of Kafka's work, however, Kafka's fictional writings are informed by … academic and public debates during the first decade of the twentieth century on physiology; perceptual, cognitive and linguistic psychology; the philosophy of mind and language; positive law and natural-law theory; criminal procedure; ethics; and religion. (Heidsieck 1994, pp. 2f.) Kafka became apprised of and to some degree involved in such debates not least through his school-friends (including Hugo Bergmann and Emil Utitz), through the courses he attended in philosophy at the Charles University, courses given inter alia by Brentano's students Anton Marty and Christian von Ehrenfels, and through his three-year membership of a discussion-group organized by orthodox adherents of the Brentanian philosophy in Prague. Heidsieck's book 'surveys philosophical theorems that were either intensely contended or opposed' by the Brentanists in Prague, and he attempts to show how 'Kafka embeds them almost serially in his developing themes and paradigms' (op. cit., p. 48). Here I shall concentrate on two such 'philosophical theorems': Brentano's doctrine of intentionality, and Brentano's account of ethical judgment.
Effects of Divorce and Cohabitation Dissolution on Preschoolers’ Literacy

Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey–Birth cohort (N = 6,450), the present study hypothesized that 48-month-old children of divorced mothers would score lower on emerging literacy than the children of formerly cohabiting mothers, compared with the children of mothers in stable marriage. The children of mothers who divorced or exited cohabitation but then remained single did not have significantly lower literacy than children of mothers in stable marriage. The children of divorced parents who then cohabited with another man fared significantly more poorly on literacy tests than children of continuously married parents. The children in the divorce → cohabitation group also had significantly lower literacy than the children in the divorce → noncohabitation and cohabitation → noncohabitation groups. Mothers in consistent cohabiting relationships were also more likely than mothers in stable marriage to have children with low literacy. The association between stable cohabitation and child lit...
How Will Big Data Impact Clinical Decision Making and Precision Medicine in Radiation Therapy

*Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; yDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; zDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado; and xDepartment of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
Linear Models and Regression Diagnostics

The linear regression model estimated with ordinary least squares (OLS) is a workhorse model in Political Science.
The Result of one Thousand Nose and Throat Examinations

(1909). The Result of one Thousand Nose and Throat Examinations. American Physical Education Review: Vol. 14, No. 9, pp. 636-644.
The Bright Side of Bapcpa

The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA) raised numerous provocative issues for the bankruptcy system. Many of these problems are fundamentally empirical research problems and will engage scholars for years to come. BAPCPA does not just create questions, however. The law itself actually seeks to provide answers. BAPCPA contains several explicit provisions about statistics and studies, and the law's emphasis on disclosure implicitly increases the amount of data about people and businesses in financial trouble. The central place of empirical research in BAPCPA reflects the importance of data in modern policymaking. Indeed, much of the bankruptcy reform debate was a battle of numbers. By including research mandates in the new law, Congress articulated an empirical research agenda about bankruptcy for the federal government. I assert that BAPCPA provides both opportunities and hazards to advance our understanding of bankruptcy. The development of comprehensive federal data offers the potential to dramatically increase the scope of knowledge about the bankruptcy system. The peril lies in the government conducting its research without the transparency and accountability necessary to convince private industry, academic scholars, and the general public of the integrity and usefulness of these data. Rather than eclipsing academic research, the federal government's bold new foray into empirical bankruptcy work challenges the scholarly community to engage with government and private industry to ensure the collective improvement of bankruptcy knowledge. The result of BAPCPA could be a new universe of bankruptcy data that offers everyone a better understanding of how bankruptcy functions.
Biomass Gasification Using Carbon Dioxide: Effect of Temperature, CO2/C Ratio, and the Study of Reactions Influencing the Process

Gasification of southern pine using carbon dioxide as an oxidizing medium was carried out in a bench-scale atmospheric bubbling fluidized bed gasifier, and the results were compared with an oxygen gasification study from literature. Evolution of gases (CO, CO2, H2, and CH4) was quantified as a function of temperature in the range 700 °C to 935 °C and CO2/C ratios in the range of 0.5–1.5 (wt/wt). The main aim of this study was to determine the effect of temperature and CO2/C ratios on the output syngas and to understand which reactions were influential within the operational limits of the experimental parameters. Additionally, results from CO2 gasification and oxygen gasification were thoroughly compared. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the significance of changes in operating parameters on the process. Variation in temperature seemed to have a significant effect on the output, whereas the effects of CO2/C ratios were not that profound. The analyses of the gas evolution trends suggested th...
Orthotrichum sprucei Mont. (Musci), a European endemic discovered in Kazakhstan

Orthotrichum sprucei is reported new to Asia based on several populations sampled on Poplar in Alma-Ata Oblast, Kazakhstan. The recent report of an eastward disjunction of this species historically known only from oceanic parts of Western Europe is here confirmed and widened. Morphological characters of these populations are described and illustrated.
Optical Fibers in Integrated Molecular Sensor Systems – More Than Interconnects

Optical fibers have been successfully used in long-haul communication, endoscopy, and other optical systems to transmit optical power as well as information from one point to another, serving as interconnects at various scales. In integrated sensor systems, optical fibers have been frequently employed to connect the source and the detector, due to their flexibility, compactness, and low loss. However, optical fibers can provide more functions than a simple transmission channel. In this paper, we review our work on optical fibers as a platform for molecular sensors based on Raman spectroscopy (RS) and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The fibers serve to significantly increase the sensitivity of RS/SERS and to facilitate the integration of a compact sensor system. We will discuss the principles of operation of various building blocks, demonstrate our recent results, and highlight some potential applications.
A Synthetic and Mechanistic Study of Oxycarbene-like Coupling Reaction Patterns of Actinide η2-Acyl Complexes with Carbon Monoxide and Isocyanides

This contribution reports the synthesis and characterization of the ylide complexes Cp'/sub 2/Th(OC(CH/sub 2/-t-Bu)C-(PR/sub 3/)O((Cl) (Cp' = eta/sup 5/-C/sub 5/Me/sub 5/; R = Me, Ph) formed by the carbonylation of Cp'/sub 2/Th(Cl)(eta/sup 2/-COCH/sub 2/-t-Bu) (1) in the presence of phosphines. Isotopic tracer studies with /sup 13/CO indicate that the labeled carbon atom is incorporated regiospecifically at the ylide ..cap alpha..-carbon atom position. The carbonylation of 1 to yield the enedionediolate (Cp'/sub 2/Th(OC(CH/sub 2/-t-Bu)CO)(Cl))/sub 2/ (2) or the ylide complexes was found to obey a second-order rate law where rate = kP/sub CO/(1); k = 1.50 (5) x 10/sup -5/ min/sup -1/ torr/sup -1/ for both carbonylations at 30.8 /sup 0/C. The rate of formation of the ylide complexes was also found to be independent of solvent, phosphine concentration, and type of phosphine used. The carbonylation of 1 is therefore inferred to involve a rate-determining coupling of CO with the acyl to yield an intermediate ketene or ketene-like complex. 51 references, 4 figures, 3 tables.
The Future of Public and Community Health in Optometry

The rubric, public and community health, implies a variety of policy concerns for the profession and for optometric education. Issues such as manpower, health economics of eye care, health services delivery models, interdisciplinary integration, health services research, eye care consumerism and quality care maintenance and review are among those that impact upon optometry’s structure. The subject areas that relate to these and other issues are of concern for the development of curricula in the schools and colleges of optometry. This paper will explore possible developments in the profession during the period of the next generation (to the end of the century). The forces likely to play a role in shaping the profession will be discussed in the context of each of the topical areas mentioned above. That these areas have implications for curriculum development will be evaluated.
Counterphobic behavior in multiply molested children.

That multiply molested children are somehow responsible for their victimization is a conclusion unacceptable to the author, who examines one possible cause for the paradoxical behavior of these children. Language: en
Rehabilitation of the pediatric patient with a neuromuscular disease.

Pediatric neurologists traditionally establish the diagnosis of a patient's neuromuscular deficit and refer the patient to a rehabilitation center with minimal or no ongoing personal involvement. Recently, many pediatric neurologists have recognized their responsibility to remain involved in the care of such patients, including the monitoring of the rehabilitation program. This article discusses the principles of care for patients with three specific types of neuromuscular deficits and reviews how the program might affect the natural course of disease. Hopefully, this knowledge will help the pediatric neurologist participate more actively in the care of such patients.
Pulses in binary wave guide arrays and long wave PDE approximations

Abstract Binary waveguide arrays are linear arrays of optical waveguides with binary alternation of parameters, and have been of recent interest. They can be modeled by systems of nonlinear ODEs with forms related to the discrete nonlinear Schrodinger equation. Such equations can also arise in semi-classical molecular models of polymers with excitable states in each monomer, and coupling between these. An important class of solutions arises from an initially highly localized signal, such as input to a single element of the array. Simulations show that for a wide array of parameter values and of such initial data, a pulse is generated that travels approximately as a traveling wave. After a suitable phase shift in the variables, this pulse quickly develops a slow spatial variation, leading to a long-wave approximation by a system of coupled third order PDEs; one each for nodes of even and odd indices. This system of PDEs is presented, and verified to quite accurately reproduce the pulse propagation seen in the ODE system; further there is often a strong tendency for the behavior of the two PDE components to converge, with a corresponding convergence of the even and odd index parts of the ODE system solution. The PDE model gives some indication of why this occurs.
Thyristor thermal response

Heat is generated in a thyristor when it is in either the blocking or the conducting mode. In the first case, the heat generation takes place primarily at the reverse-biased blocking junction. For the case of forward conduction, it is customary to assume (for simplification) that the heat is generated in the thyristor in the plane passing through the device center and parallel to the center junction.
What Medical, Urologic, and Radiation Oncologists Want from Molecular Imaging of Prostate Cancer

As molecular imaging better delineates the state of prostate cancer, clinical management will evolve. The currently licensed imaging modalities are limited by lack of specificity or sensitivity for the extent of cancer and for predicting outcome in response to therapy. Clinicians want molecular imaging that—by being more reliable in tailoring treatment and monitoring response for each patient—will become a key facet of precision medicine, surgery, and radiation therapy. Identifying patients who are candidates for specific or novel treatments is important, but equally important is the finding that a given patient may not be a good candidate for single-modality therapy. This article presents prostate cancer scenarios in which managing clinicians would welcome molecular imaging innovations to help with decision making. The potential role of newer techniques that may help fill this wish list is discussed.
Curcumin supplementation improves vascular endothelial function in healthy middle-aged and older adults by increasing nitric oxide bioavailability and reducing oxidative stress

We hypothesized that curcumin would improve resistance and conduit artery endothelial function and large elastic artery stiffness in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Thirty-nine healthy men and postmenopausal women (45-74 yrs) were randomized to 12 weeks of curcumin (2000 mg/day Longvida®; n=20) or placebo (n=19) supplementation. Forearm blood flow response to acetylcholine infusions (FBFACh; resistance artery endothelial function) increased 37% following curcumin supplementation (107±13 vs. 84±11 AUC at baseline, P=0.03), but not placebo (P=0.2). Curcumin treatment augmented the acute reduction in FBFACh induced by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; P=0.03), and reduced the acute increase in FBFACh to the antioxidant vitamin C (P=0.02), whereas placebo had no effect (both P>0.6). Similarly, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (conduit artery endothelial function) increased 36% in the curcumin group (5.7±0.4 vs. 4.4±0.4% at baseline, P=0.001), with no change in placebo (P=0.1). Neither curcumin nor placebo influenced large elastic artery stiffness (aortic pulse wave velocity or carotid artery compliance) or circulating biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation (all P>0.1). In healthy middle-aged and older adults, 12 weeks of curcumin supplementation improves resistance artery endothelial function by increasing vascular nitric oxide bioavailability and reducing oxidative stress, while also improving conduit artery endothelial function.
Duration and Pathologic Correlates of Lewy Body Disease.

Importance Although patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) have shorter disease duration than patients with Alzheimer disease dementia, little is known about which factors influence disease duration among patients with DLB. Objective To identify pathologic correlates of disease duration in participants with Lewy body disease (LBD). Design, Setting, and Participants This observational study, performed from September 1, 2005, to June 1, 2015, using the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center database included 807 participants with transitional or diffuse LBD. Main Outcomes and Measures The study used Braak neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) stage, frequency of neuritic plaques, and LBD stage to determine whether pathologic variables are associated with disease duration. Results This study included 807 participants with transitional or diffuse LBD (mean [SD] age, 70.0 [9.9] at the onset of cognitive decline and 79.2 [9.8] years at death; 509 male [63.1%]). Shorter disease duration from cognitive symptom onset to death was observed in men (β, −0.73; 95% CI, −1.33 to −0.14;P = .02) and in those with a later age at onset (β, −0.11; 95% CI, −0.14 to −0.08;P Conclusions and Relevance Diffuse LBD was associated with shorter disease duration compared with transitional LBD, and this effect is independent of Braak NFT stage or extent of neuritic plaque disease. Identifying antemortem biomarkers of LBD stage may provide important prognostic information to patients with DLB.
Ertapenem-Induced Encephalopathy in a Patient With Normal Renal Function:

Drug-induced neurotoxicity is a rare adverse reaction associated with ertapenem. Encephalopathy is a type of neurotoxicity that is defined as a diffuse disease of the brain that alters brain function or structure. We report a patient with normal renal function who developed ertapenem-induced encephalopathy manifesting as altered mental status, hallucinations, and dystonic symptoms. The patient's symptoms improved dramatically following ertapenem discontinuation, consistent with case reports describing ertapenem neurotoxicity in renal dysfunction. Since clinical evidence strongly suggested ertapenem causality, we utilized the Naranjo Scale to estimate the probability of an adverse drug reaction to ertapenem. Our patient received a Naranjo Scale score of 7, suggesting a probable adverse drug reaction, with a reasonable temporal sequence to support our conclusion.
A mixed-integer linear programming model for real-time cost optimization of building heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment

Abstract In this paper, we present a framework for the formulation and solution of mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) models for operational planning of HVAC systems in commercial buildings. We introduce the general concepts of generators (e.g., chillers, boilers, cooling towers) and resources (e.g., electricity, chilled water), which allow us to model a wide range of central plants. By using discrete variables for on/off states of central plant equipment and continuous variables for equipment load, storage tank usage, and building temperature trajectory, all critical-to-cost decisions are taken into account. In addition, we consider both time-varying use charges and peak demand charges as well as building models of varying complexity. Because equipment models are often nonlinear, piecewise-linear approximations are used, which can be made arbitrarily accurate and enable real-time solution to the resulting optimization problems. We also employ a symmetry-free formulation to enhance the solution of the MILP model. Such features lead to improved performance compared to approaches employing heuristics or optimization without discrete variables. We demonstrate optimization for a small-scale cooling system and show favorable scaling of solution time with respect to number of units and temperature zones. In addition, we show simultaneous optimization of heating and cooling loops when a forecast of resource demand is available. Finally, we demonstrate closed-loop operation of our proposed optimization scheme. In all cases examined, a solution with an optimality gap below 1% can be obtained within 5 min, and thus the proposed optimization can be solved in real time, allowing for rapid response to changing weather, price, or demand forecasts.
Drone-Aided Healthcare Services for Patients with Chronic Diseases in Rural Areas

This paper addresses the drone-aided delivery and pickup planning of medication and test kits for patients with chronic diseases who are required to visit clinics for routine health examinations and/or refill medicine in rural areas. For routine healthcare services, the work proposes two models: the first model is to find the optimal number of drone center locations using the set covering approach, and the second model is the multi-depot vehicle routing problem with pickup and delivery requests minimizing the operating cost of drones in which drones deliver medicine to patients and pick up exam kits on the way back such as blood and urine samples. In order to improve computational performance of the proposed models, a preprocessing algorithm, a Partition method, and a Lagrangian Relaxation (LR) method are developed as solution approaches. A cost-benefit analysis method is developed as a tool to analyze the benefits of drone-aided healthcare service. The work is tested on a numerical example to show its applicability.
CXCR4-SDF-1 Signaling in Nestin+ Mesenchymal Stem Cell Is Required for HSC Maintenance during Homeostasis and Regeneration after Irradiation

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) reside in a complex microenvironment (niche) within the bone marrow (BM), where multiple populations of microenvironmental stromal cells regulate and finely tune their proliferation, differentiation and trafficking. Recent studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are an essential component of the HSC niche. Intrinsic HSC CXCR4-SDF-1 signaling has been implicated in self-renewal and quiescence; however, the role of microenvironment CXCR4-SDF-1 signaling in supporting HSC function remains unclear. We previously demonstrated that microenvironmental stromal cell-derived CXCR4 is important for HSC recovery, as transplantation of wild-type HSC into CXCR4 deficient recipients showed reduced HSC engraftment. In this study, we now show that CXCR4-SDF-1 signaling in nestin+ MSC regulates HSC maintenance under normal homeostatic conditions and promotes hematopoietic regeneration after irradiation. Multivariate flow cytometry analysis of marrow stroma cells revealed that mouse BM MSCs identified as CD45-Ter119-CD31-Nestin+PDGFR+CD51+ express the CXCR4 receptor, which was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. To investigate the role of MSC CXCR4 signaling in niche maintenance and support of HSC function, we utilized genetic mouse models, in which CXCR4 could be deleted in specific stromal cell types. Selective deletion of CXCR4 from nestin+ MSC in adult tamoxifen inducible nestin-cre CXCR4flox/flox mice resulted in reduced total MSC in BM (Control vs. Deleted: 647±128 vs. 209±51/femur, respectively, n=5, p 2 fold. In contrast, deletion of CXCR4 from osteoblasts using osteocalcin cre CXCR4flox/flox mice had no effect on HSC numbers in BM and blood.To investigate the role of nestin+ MSC CXCR4 signaling in BM niche reconstruction and hematopoietic recovery, we transplanted BM cells from wild-type mice into syngeneic wild-type or nestin+ MSC CXCR4 deleted recipients after lethal irradiation (950 rad) and analyzed HSC homing, niche recovery and hematopoietic reconstitution. Deletion of CXCR4 from nestin expressing MSC resulted in significantly reduced LSK cell homing at 16 hrs post transplantation (Control vs. Deleted: 8643±1371 vs. 3004±1044/ mouse, respectively, n=5, p Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Reaction times can reflect habits rather than computations

Often, we need to make split-second decisions, be it to avoid an accident, outwit someone in an argument or to win a game. The time that it takes to respond to a signal, i.e., the reaction time, might be the crucial factor to help us succeed or even survive. Many people assume that the reaction time represents the time needed to prepare an action, and to respond sooner one must ‘think faster’. However, what really happens in the brain is not well understood. While more complex tasks seem to require longer reaction times, recent evidence suggests that determining when an action begins may not depend on how long it takes to decide which specific action should be taken. Indeed, reaction times may be shortened without changing the accuracy of the planned movement. Using different performance tests, Wong et al. now demonstrate that the reaction time can be influenced by prior experience. In the first task, participants had to respond quickly to catch a moving target. When they later had to move toward a static target, their reaction times were reduced. In the second experiment, the participants practiced a task that required them to plan movements around obstacles. Participants were then given a hint that made it easier to plan their movements, but reaction times did not decrease as expected. Wong et al. then analyzed their movements and demonstrated that although reaction times remained the same, the hint did ease movement planning. This suggests that the reaction time did not always reflect how long it took to prepare a response, but was influenced by prior experience. A next step will be to test what other factors may influence the reaction time. A deeper knowledge of these factors will help to avoid misinterpretation of neural data.
Are You Dating Danger? An Interdisciplinary Approach to Evaluating the (In)Security of Android Dating Apps

In today’s age of instant gratification, mobile dating applications (apps) provide the comfort of meeting new people at the swipe of a finger. However, recent high profile incidents have raised security and privacy-related concerns with the use of these apps. The level of harm that can be inflicted on a victim using these apps can either be physical (e.g., murder, stalking, or sexual assault) or non-physical (e.g., identity theft, harassment, or cyber-stalking). In this paper, we study seven popular Android mobile dating apps, and the Google Chrome browser app (which can be used to access a particular dating service). Using an adversary model, we demonstrate how one can trivially conduct a man-in-the-middle attack against these mobile dating apps. The results of our study reveal that mobile dating apps are, potentially, vulnerable to security risks. In particular, our findings show that an adversary can intercept personal and private information in plaintext. This information can then be used to access a potential victim’s mobile dating app profile. With our findings in mind, we then explain how the Routine Activity Theory can be applied to design mitigation strategies for mobile dating apps.
Competitive pricing and the core: With reference to matching

Abstract Lloyd Shapley's contributions with respect to the core are interpreted as subdifferentiability characterizations of the pricing of individuals that is similar to the pricing of commodities in economic models of exchange with transferable utility. Differentiability of the core is interpreted as perfect substitutability with respect to the pricing of individuals. Differentiability implies, but is not implied by, equivalence of the core and Walrasian equilibria. Differentiability eliminates opportunities for strategic misrepresentation of utilities. The assignment model with transferable utility is framed in the setting of exchange economies and its individual and commodity pricing is extended to non-transferable utility.
'You Can Always Do Better!": The Impact of Social Proof on Participant Response Bias

Evaluations of technological artifacts in HCI4D contexts are known to suffer from high levels of participant response bias---where participants only provide positive feedback that they think will please the researcher. This paper describes a practical, low-cost intervention that uses the concept of social proof to influence participant response bias and successfully elicit critical feedback from study participants. We subtly exposed participants to feedback that they perceived to be provided by people 'like them', and experimentally controlled the tone and content of the feedback to provide either positive, negative, or no social proof. We then measured how participants' quantitative and qualitative evaluations of an HCI artifact changed based on the feedback to which they were exposed. We conducted two controlled experiments: an online experiment with 245 MTurk workers and a field experiment with 63 women in rural India. Our findings reveal significant differences between participants in the positive, negative, and no social proof conditions, both online and in the field. Participants in the negative condition provided lower ratings and a greater amount of critical feedback, while participants in the positive condition provided higher ratings and a greater amount of positive feedback. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that social proof is a practical and generalizable technique that could be used by HCI researchers to influence participant response bias in a wide range of contexts and domains.