cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experiences with an inbuilding location tracking system: Uhuru

The increasing functionality that handheld devices have come to incorporate at lower prices make them powerful candidates for various kinds of location-aware systems and services. In this work, we describe the innards of Uhuru, an RF based in-building location tracking system that we have developed and deployed on a mobile device. Our work seeks to build upon and extend previous work in this field, providing proof of concept for location information on multiple floors in a building. We outline a history monitoring algorithm that we have devised to improve the accuracy of the system and introduce a new metric of 'Survivability', which measures the ability of history-based location tracking schemes to be able to display location information consistently. We also discuss details of a heuristic that can be used for the placement of wireless base stations to improve the delivered accuracy.
High prevalence of lung cancer in a surgical cohort of lung cancer patients a decade after smoking cessation

This study was designed to assess the prevalence of smoking at time of lung cancer diagnosis in a surgical patient cohort referred for cardiothoracic surgery. Retrospective study of lung cancer patients (n = 626) referred to three cardiothoracic surgeons at a tertiary care medical center in Southern California from January 2006 to December 2008. Relationships among years of smoking cessation, smoking status, and tumor histology were analyzed with Chi-square tests. Seventy-seven percent (482) had a smoking history while 11.3% (71) were current smokers. The length of smoking cessation to cancer diagnosis was <1 year for 56 (13.6%), 1-10 years for 110 (26.8%), 11-20 years for 87 (21.2%), 21-30 years for 66 (16.1%), 31-40 years for 44 (10.7%), 41-50 years for 40 (9.7%) and 51-60 years for 8 (1.9%). The mean cessation was 18.1 ± 15.7 years (n = 411 former smokers). Fifty-nine percent had stage 1 disease and 68.0% had adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma was more prevalent in smokers (15.6% vs. 8.3%, p = 0.028); adenocarcinoma was more prevalent in never-smokers (79.9% versus 64.3%, p = 0.0004). The prevalence of adenocarcinoma varied inversely with pack year (p < 0.0001) and directly with years of smoking cessation (p = 0.0005). In a surgical lung cancer cohort, the majority of patients were smoking abstinent greater than one decade before the diagnosis of lung cancer.
Scintillation yield and time dependence from electronic and nuclear recoils in liquid neon

We have performed measurements of scintillation light in liquid neon, observing a signal yield in our detector as high as (3.5 $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}$ 0.4) photoelectrons/keV. We measure pulse shape discrimination efficiency between electronic and nuclear recoils in liquid neon from 50 to 300 keV nuclear recoil energy. We also measure the ${\mathcal{L}}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ parameter in liquid neon between 30 and 370 keV nuclear recoil energy, observing an average ${\mathcal{L}}_{\mathrm{eff}}$$=0.24$ above 50 keV. We observe a dependence of the scintillation time distribution and signal yield on the pressure and temperature of the liquid neon.
Prolongation and enhancement of γ‐aminobutyric acidA receptor mediated excitation by chronic treatment with estradiol in developing rat hippocampal neurons

GABAA receptor activation during brain development is a critical source of excitation. This is due to the positive equilibrium potential for chloride relative to resting membrane potential, resulting in membrane depolarization sufficient to open voltage sensitive calcium channels. The gonadal steroid estradiol has pronounced trophic effects on the developing hippocampus, promoting cell survival and synaptogenesis. In the current study, we investigated the effect of estradiol on GABAA receptor-mediated calcium transients in cultured neonatal hippocampal neurons, from Sprague–Dawley rats, using the calcium sensitive dye, Fura-2-AM. Treatment of hippocampal neurons with physiological levels of estradiol significantly increased the peak amplitude of calcium transients, increased the number of cells responding to the GABAA agonist muscimol with membrane depolarization, and delayed the rate of clearance of free intracellular calcium. These effects were significantly attenuated by pretreatment with the oestrogen receptor antagonist ICI182,780. This suggests that estradiol, via its action on the oestrogen receptor, prolongs the developmental duration of depolarizing GABA. Estradiol likely maintains GABA-mediated excitation by promoting increased protein levels of the active ⁄ phosphorylated form of the chloride cotransporter Na + K + 2CL – and L-type voltage sensitive calcium channels containing the a1C subunit. We propose that a component of the trophic effects of estradiol on hippocampal development results from enhanced calcium influx subsequent to GABAA receptor activation.
Factors affecting patency of venous allografts in miniature swine.

Abstract In immunologically defined National Intitutes of Health miniswine, a segment of internal jugular vein was anastomosed to the carotid artery as an interposition graft. Patency of swine major histocompatibility complex matched, one haplotype mismatched, and complete mismatched veins was 9.8, 6.3, and 3.0 weeks respectively (p = 0.009). More than 90% of mismatched and 20% of matched allografts developed a positive crossmatch before occlusion (p = 0.006). The mixed lymphocyte response did not predict graft occlusion. Treatment of 10 swine with cyclosporine (10 mg/kg/day) did not significantly improve patency for one haplotype mismatched grafts. In haplotype mismatched veins, cryopreserved grafts occluded more rapidly than noncryopreserved grafts: mean 2.4 versus 6.3 weeks, respectively (p = 0.002). In all cryopreserved vein grafts, alloantibody appeared at or after graft occlusion rather than before occlusion as seen with fresh allografts (p = 0.046). The mean patency of cryopreserved versus fresh autografts was 3.3 and >32 weeks, respectively (p = 0.004). In summary, these results indicate that (1) allograft patency is related to the degree of swine major histocompatibility complex match and development of cytotoxic alloantibodies; (2) moderate-dose cyclosporine does not prolong allograft patency nor suppress development of antibody; (3) cryopreservation may accelerate graft occlusion through nonimmunologic mechanisms. (J VASC SURG 1990;12:361-6.)
Renal damage is the most important predictor of mortality within the damage index: data from LUMINA LXIV, a multiethnic US cohort

Objective. Damage accrual in SLE has been previously shown to be an independent predictor of mortality. We sought to discern which SLICC Damage Index (SDI) domains are the most important predictors of survival in SLE. Methods. SLE patients (ACR criteria), age 516 years, disease duration 45 years at enrolment, of African–American, Hispanic or Caucasian ethnicity were studied. Disease activity was assessed using the SLAM-Revised (SLAM-R) at diagnosis. Damage was ascertained using the SDI at the last visit. The SDI domains associated with time to death (and interaction terms) were examined by univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses; those significant in the multivariable analyses were added to the final two models (with and without poverty) that included other variables known to be associated with shorter survival. Results. A total of 635 SLE patients were studied of whom 97 (15.3%) have died over a mean (S.D.) total disease duration of 5.7 (3.7) years. Patients were predominantly women [570 (89.8%)]; their mean (S.D.) age was 36.5 (12.6) years; 126 (19.8%) had developed renal damage, 62 (9.3%) cardiovascular, 48 (7.8%) pulmonary and 34 (5.4%) peripheral vascular damage. When excluding poverty from the multivariable model, the renal domain of the SDI was independently associated with a shorter time to death (hazard ratio ¼ 1.65; 95% CI 1.03, 2.66). Conclusions. The renal domain of the damage index is associated with a shorter time to death when poverty, a strong predictor of this outcome, is removed from the model. Preventing renal damage in lupus patients has long-term prognostic implications.
Mapping the Inner Workings of the Microbiome: Genomic- and Metagenomic-Based Study of Metabolism and Metabolic Interactions in the Human Microbiome

The human gut microbiome is a major contributor to human metabolism and health, yet the metabolic processes that are carried out by various community members, the way these members interact with each other and with the host, and the impact of such interactions on the overall metabolic machinery of the microbiome have not yet been mapped. Here, we discuss recent efforts to study the metabolic inner workings of this complex ecosystem. We will specifically highlight two interrelated lines of work, the first aiming to deconvolve the microbiome and to characterize the metabolic capacity of various microbiome species and the second aiming to utilize computational modeling to infer and study metabolic interactions between these species.
Numerical experiments on Hele Shaw flow with a sharp interface

The fingering instability of an interface between two immiscible fluids in a Hele Shaw cell is simulated numerically. The algorithm used is based on a transcription of the equations of motion for the interface in which it formally becomes a generalized vortex sheet. The evolution of this sheet is computed using a variant of the vortex-in-cell method. The resulting scheme and code make it possible to follow the collective behaviour of many competing and interacting fingers well into the nonlinear, large-amplitude regime. It is shown that in this regime the evolution is controlled essentially by just one dimensionless parameter, the ratio of fluid viscosities. The effects of varying this parameter are studied and the results compared with experimental investigations. Scaling properties of the average density profile across the evolving mixed layer between the two homogeneous fluid phases are investigated. Many phenomena are observed that must be characterized as collective interactions and thus cannot be understood in terms of flows with just a single finger.
Story retelling by bilingual children with language impairments and typically developing controls

Background To date, there is limited information documenting growth patterns in the narratives of bilingual children with and without primary language impairment (PLI).
Receding horizon control for temporal logic specifications

In this paper, we describe a receding horizon framework that satisfies a class of linear temporal logic specifications sufficient to describe a wide range of properties including safety, stability, progress, obligation, response and guarantee. The resulting embedded control software consists of a goal generator, a trajectory planner, and a continuous controller. The goal generator essentially reduces the trajectory generation problem to a sequence of smaller problems of short horizon while preserving the desired system-level temporal properties. Subsequently, in each iteration, the trajectory planner solves the corresponding short-horizon problem with the currently observed state as the initial state and generates a feasible trajectory to be implemented by the continuous controller. Based on the simulation property, we show that the composition of the goal generator, trajectory planner and continuous controller and the corresponding receding horizon framework guarantee the correctness of the system. To handle failures that may occur due to a mismatch between the actual system and its model, we propose a response mechanism and illustrate, through an example, how the system is capable of responding to certain failures and continues to exhibit a correct behavior.
An analysis of island models in evolutionary computation

A need for solving more and more complex problems drives the Evolutionary Computation community towards advanced models of Evolutionary Algorithms. One such model is the island model which, although the subject of a variety of studies, still needs additional fundamental research. In my Ph.D. thesis I am aiming at studying the behavior of island models with regard to the amount of cooperation between islands, the level of heterogeneity and the difficulty of the problem being solved. This paper presents the main ideas and gathers preliminary results.
Tc-99m Mebrofenin Hepatobiliary Scan in Obstructive Hepatobiliary Disease: Determining Causes with Early and Late Delayed Imaging

Hepatobiliary radionuclide imaging is typically performed to detect cholecystitis. Infrequently, imaging reveals an obstructive pattern. Although delayed hepatobiliary imaging is commonly used to differentiate between intrahepatic (IH) and extrahepatic (EH) obstruction in the newborn; there is room to clarify the use of delayed imaging in the adult population. A retrospective review was performed of adult patients demonstrating a complete obstructive pattern on initial Tc-99m mebrofenin hepatobiliary imaging. Delayed imaging was divided into early delayed (ED) (<10 h) and late delayed (LD) (≥10 h) imaging. Two physicians qualified the presence of intestinal radiotracer (negative, low to high) on delayed images. Determination of EH or IH pathology was obtained from chart review. A total of 24 patients demonstrated an obstructive pattern using delayed Tc-99m mebrofenin hepatobiliary imaging, with delayed imaging ranging from 4 to 30 h. EH pathologies (choledocholithiasis, stricture, other) represented 63% of cases (n = 15), IH pathologies (cirrhosis, hepatitis, other) represented 33% cases (n = 8) and 1 case was indeterminate. 67% of EH cases showed intestinal activity on delayed imaging (67% on ED and 67% on LD imaging), whereas 63% of IH cases showed intestinal activity on delayed imaging (67% on ED imaging and 60% on LD imaging). The presence of intestinal activity on the both the early and delayed images did not differentiate between the IH and EH pathology groups. Subdividing the groups into ED imaging and LD imaging was also not predictive of determining location of obstructive pattern on the initial 1 h of imaging. This data suggests that delayed hepatobiliary scintigraphy has little or no role in determining the cause of obstructive pathology.
An experimental study of source motion synthesis from first arrivals

The motion near a seismic source is synthesized from experimentally obtained seismograms of non-dispersed body waves. The body waves were emitted from an explosive source submerged in a lake with a frozen surface. The seismograms were recorded at several distances by moving the source to a greater depth for each record, while the seismometer remained in a fixed position on the surface ice sheet. All syntheses of the waveform one meter from the source yield the impulsive nature of the source. Deviations between the synthesized one-meter record and the observed one-meter motion are thought to reflect primarily the changing character of the shot medium with depth from the ice. These results indicate that over the short propagation distances (about three wavelengths for the higher frequencies recorded) through the simple medium of this experiment, the observed waveforms and their associated spectra retain characteristics of the source function. The records also yield some information regarding the nature and structure of the elastic medium about the source.
Rapid fractionation and isolation of whole blood components in samples obtained from a community-based setting

Collection and processing of whole blood samples in a non-clinical setting offers a unique opportunity to evaluate community-dwelling individuals both with and without preexisting conditions. Rapid processing of these samples is essential to avoid degradation of key cellular components. Included here are methods for simultaneous peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC), DNA, RNA and serum isolation from a single blood draw performed in the homes of consenting participants across a metropolitan area, with processing initiated within 2 hr of collection. We have used these techniques to process over 1,600 blood specimens yielding consistent, high quality material, which has subsequently been used in successful DNA methylation, genotyping, gene expression and flow cytometry analyses. Some of the methods employed are standard; however, when combined in the described manner, they enable efficient processing of samples from participants of population- and/or community-based studies who would not normally be evaluated in a clinical setting. Therefore, this protocol has the potential to obtain samples (and subsequently data) that are more representative of the general population.
Gamma Rays from the Be 9 (α,n 1 )C 12 Reaction

The excitation function of the 4.43-MeV gamma ray from the ${\mathrm{Be}}^{9}(\ensuremath{\alpha},{n}_{1}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{4.43}){\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ reaction has been studied and angular distributions have been measured at 13 alpha-particle energies from 3.6 to 7.6 MeV in an effort to determine compound nucleus nature of the ${\mathrm{Be}}^{9}+\ensuremath{\alpha}$ system. Many broad resonances are found in the energy region studied.
Internal Interfaces in High-Temperature Superconductors

Internal interfaces in YBa2Cu3O7 superconductors are characterized using electron microscopy. A number of specific examples of boundary structures are presented. The observations are used to discuss the role of boundaries on superconductivity in these Cu-O based ceramics.
303 THE ROLE OF RENIN AND ANGIOTENSIN IN SALT-LOSING CAH

Seven children with salt-losing CAH who had been off mineralo-corticoid for several years were studied. 9 children with non-salt-losing CAH were controls. The 7 subjects showed clinical evidence of poor control despite suppressive doses of hydrocortisone; most showed coincidental signs of glucocorticoid excess. Chemical assessment of control included serum 17-OHP, PRA, and ACTH and 24-hour urine 17-KS and PT. The salt-losers were then placed on Florinef, 0.1 mg bid with improvement in all measured parameters(see table), decreased fatigue and salt craving, and in some, a decreased cortisol requirement without hypertension.
Abstract 329: Downregulation of PKC∈/par3/par6 polarity complex is critical for hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and invasion in lung cancer cells

Rationale: We have previously reported that hypoxia induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung cancer cells. EMT has been known to contribute to tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Recent evidence suggests that loss of cell polarity complex, which consists of atypical protein kinase C ≤ (PKC∈), Par (partitioning defective) 3, and Par6, is strongly correlated with malignancy. However, it is unknown whether hypoxia-induced cancer cell migration, invasion, and metastasis are caused by the loss of PKC∈/Par3/Par6 polarity complex and subsequent EMT. Methods: We incubated A549 in hypoxic conditions (1.5% O 2 ) for a period of time and assessed the protein abundance of α-SMA, vimentin, E-cadherin, PKC∈, Par3, and Par6 as well as PKC∈ ubiquitination. Next we knocked down PKC∈/Par3/Par6 by siRNAs and determined the abundance of α-SMA, vimentin, and E-cadherin. We also measured cell migration and invasion after knockdown of PKC∈/Par3/Par6 in vitro. In addition, we established A549 cells with knockdown of Par3 and determined cell proliferation rate and lung colonization in a mouse tail-vein injection model, in which lung cancer cells were injected intravenously into the tail vein of mice and lung metastatic foci were quantified in five weeks. Furthermore, we obtained human lung adenocarcinoma tissue samples and self-matched adjacent normal tissues as well as unmatched normal tissues and detected the expression levels of PKC∈/Par3/Par6 polarity complex. Results: We found that A549 cells exposed to hypoxia expressed decreased PKC∈/Par3/Par6 polarity complex and E-cadherin and increased expression of α-SMA and vimentin, suggesting that loss of PKC∈/Par3/Par6 polarity complex is associated with the induction of EMT. We also showed that hypoxia increased ubiquitination of PKC∈. Our results also showed that loss of either of PKC∈, Par3, or Par6 resulted in EMT, elevated migration and invasion, and increased the numbers of metastatic foci in the lungs. Moreover, we show that human lung adenocarcinoma tissues express less Par6 protein than the adjacent normal tissues. Conclusions: These results suggest that in lung cancer cells hypoxia downregulates PKC∈/Par3/par6, leading to EMT and increased cancer cell migration, invasion, and colonization. Support: UIC Faculty Scholarship Support Program and the University of Illinois Cancer Center Pilot Subsidy Program. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 329. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-329
Extinction vs Absorption: Which Is the Indicator of Plasmonic Field Strength for Silver Nanocubes?

This investigation demonstrates the contributions of absorption and scattering to the extinction spectrum of silver nanocubes with multipole resonances and the complexity of the resulting plasmon field strengths for these varying modes. The three-dimensional plasmonic field distribution and orientation around a silver nanosphere (AgNS; 40 nm) and a silver nanocube (AgNC; 40, 60, 86 nm) were calculated in the visible via the discrete dipole approximation. The three-dimensional nature of these particles allows for significant contribution from the quadrupole mode in some cases. The AgNS displays one plasmon band, its dipole mode, and has little contribution from scattering. The maximum plasmon field occurs at the extinction maximum, as expected. The 40 nm AgNC exhibits multiple plasmon bands, and the highest maximum field strength is attained from excitation of the quadrupole mode, not the dipole mode. As the size of the AgNC increases, the contribution from scattering increases. When the contribution from ...
Husserl and Hume: Overcoming Scepticism?

(1991). Husserl and Hume: Overcoming Scepticism? Journal of the British Society for Phenomenology: Vol. 22, Psychoanalysis, Emotion, and Myth, pp. 30-44.
Synthesis of Functionalized Fused-Ring Heterocycles from Tautomers of 2-(Thiazole, Oxazole, Benzothiazole, and Benzoxazole)-1-phenylethenols and 1,3-Diacid Chlorides or N-(Chlorocarbonyl) Isocyanate

2-Methylthiazole, 2,4,5-trimethylthiazole, 2,4,5-trimethyloxazole, 2-methylbenzothiazole, and 2-methylbenzoxazole were each reacted with benzoyl chloride in acetonitrile–triethylamine to generate (Z)-2-(heterocyclic)-1-phenylvinyl benzoates. Base hydrolysis of these vinyl benzoates formed (Z)-2-(heterocyclic)-1-phenylethenols, which exist in both keto and enol tautomeric forms. These tautomers were used as starting materials for fused-ring heterocycle syntheses. Reactions with 2,2-dialkyl-1,3-diacid chlorides in acetonitrile–triethylamine afforded their corresponding 5,6-ring-fused 8-benzoyl-6,6-dialkyl-6H-thiazolo-, 8-benzoyl-2,3,6,6-tetramethyl-6H-thiazolo-, 8-benzoyl-2,3,6,6-tetramethyl-6H-oxazolo-, 4-benzoyl-2,2-dimethyl-1H-benzo[4,5]thiazolo-, and 4-benzoyl-2,2-dimethyl-1H-benzo[4,5]oxazolo[3,2,-a]pyridinedione derivatives. The 5,6,6-tri-ring fused species, 10-benzoyl-7,8-dihydropyrano[2,3-d]thiazolo[3,2-a]pyridin-5(6H)-one, was formed in the reaction of the tautomers of (Z)-1-phenyl-2-(thiazol-2-yl)ethenol with cyclobutane-1,1-dicarbonyl dichloride via a ring expansion after­ 5,6-ring fusion. Functionalized 5,6-ring-fused 8-benzoyl-6H-thiazolo- and 8-benzoyl-6H-oxazolo[3,2-f]pyrimidine-5,7-diones, and 4-benzoyl-1H-benzo[4,5]thiazolo- and 4-benzoyl-1H-benzo[4,5]oxazolo[3,2-c]pyrimidine-1,3(2H)-diones were also synthesized by reacting the (Z)-2-(heterocyclic)-1-phenylethenol tautomers with N-chlorocarbonyl isocyanate in THF–triethylamine.
Proton Pump Inhibitors Accelerate Endothelial Senescence

Rationale:Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are popular drugs for gastroesophageal reflux, which are now available for long-term use without medical supervision. Recent reports suggest that PPI use is associated with cardiovascular, renal, and neurological morbidity. Objective:To study the long-term effect of PPIs on endothelial dysfunction and senescence and investigate the mechanism involved in PPI-induced vascular dysfunction. Methods and Results:Chronic exposure to PPIs impaired endothelial function and accelerated human endothelial senescence by reducing telomere length. Conclusions:Our data may provide a unifying mechanism for the association of PPI use with increased risk of cardiovascular, renal, and neurological morbidity and mortality.
31 MICROSCOPIC POLYANGITIS ASSOCIATED WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCER

Purpose Vasculitis has occasionally been reported in association with hematologic malignancies. We report a rare case of microscopic polyangitis in a patient with head and neck malignancy. Case Report A 50 year old white male with a history of discoid lupus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, tobacco and alcohol abuse was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in June 2004. He completed a full course of radiation therapy and two cycles of chemotherapy with cisplatin. Two months later, he was admitted for mucositis. His physical examination was significant for oral ulcerations and cervical lymphadenopathy. During his hospitalization, he developed a pulmonary-renal syndrome with respiratory and acute renal failure requiring intubation. A computerized tomographic scan of chest revealed multifocal airspace disease with diffuse ground glass opacities and bilateral pleural effusions. A video assisted thoracoscopic lung biopsy indicated cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (also known as bronchiolitis obliterans and organizing pneumonia). To evaluate his deteriorating renal function and glomerular hematuria, this patient underwent a renal biopsy indicating acute tubular necrosis and pauci immune crescentic glomerulonephritis. Laboratory tests included creatinine 4 mg/dL; normal liver function tests; positive antinuclear antibodies 1:160 and a positive perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (P-ANCA) 1:512 FIU. Cryoglobulins, hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C virus antibody, anti-glomerular basement membrane, anti-double stranded DNA and anti-smith antibodies were absent. Bacterial, mycobacterial and fungal cultures were negative. The patient received intravenous Solu-Medrol and cyclophosphamide and his pulmonary status and renal function recovered sufficiently to return home. Discussion and Conclusion Patients with neoplasia may present with variety of paraneoplastic manifestations including vasculitis, though most commonly leukocytoclastic vasculitis, which occurs temporal to the diagnosis of malignancy. Greer et al reported a statistically significant association between vasculitis and lymphomyeloproliferative malignancies. However, there have been few cases of vasculitis in association with solid tumors. We report a case of microscopic polyangitis developing in a patient within two months of diagnosis of head and neck malignancy. Further studies of this association may reveal a pathogenic link between malignancy and vasculitis.
Determination of 4-ehlorodehydromethyl Testosterone by Reversed-phase High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method

[Objective]To establish a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic(RP-HPLC)method for the determination of 4-chlorodehydromethyl testosterone tablets.[Methods] RP-HPLC was adopted.The chromatographic column was Gemini 5u C18;methanol:water(60 ∶40)was mobile phase with l ml/min flow rate;the column temperature was 30 ℃;the detected wavelength was 254 nm;the injection volume was 20μl.[Results] 4-chlorodehydromethyl testosterone showed a good linear correlation(0.9999)under the content of 0.01～0.80 mg/ml,and average recovery rate was 94.97%.[Conclusion] The method is simple,accurate and with wide linear range.The method can be adopted to evaluate the content of 4-chlorodehydromethyl testosterone tablets.
The Analysis of Sensitivity for Fiber-based Evanescent Wave Sensors

The penetration depth of evanescent wave,sensing diameter and sensing length in the uniform sensing region were the main influence factors of sensitivity for the fiber-based evanescent wave sensors.To optimize the sensitivity design,the mathematical models of the relationship between the penetration depth of evanescent wave and the parameters of linear taper geometry as well as the relationship between the effective absorption path and the sensing diameter and sensing length were established respectively.The evanescent wave penetration depth in different taper parameters(i.e.emission angle,taper ratio and taper length) and the effective absorption path in different sensing diameter and sensing length were discussed and simulated.The result of simulation showed that the penetration depth could be increased by a factor of 3 through choosing the tapered fiber geometry and appropriate emission angle,and the penetration depth could be achieved maximum when the taper ratio reached to 0.4.Moreover,reducing sensing diameter and increasing sensing length could enlarge effective absorption path,thus enhanced the interaction strength between the evanescent wave of fiber core surface and the surrounding absorbing medium.The research result could be used to fabricate the highly sensitive fiber-based evanescent wave sensor.
Epidemiology of Psychotherapeutic Drug Use in Older Adults

Those over 65 years of age constitute nearly 13% of the United States population. This age group, however, consumes three times their number of prescribed and over-the-counter remedies. In fact, nearly 30% of all prescriptions and 40% of over-the-counter remedies are consumed by older adults. This is also the population most sensitive to the side effects of drugs and, in particular, to the moodor mind-altering properties of commonly prescribed and over-the-counter remedies. This article discusses medication usage among older adults with a special focus on various classes of psychotherapeutic agents—their uses, potential abuses, and special hazards.
Effects of Instructor Attractiveness on Learning

Although a considerable body of research has examined the impact of student attractiveness on instructors, little attention has been given to the influence of instructor attractiveness on students. This study tested the hypothesis that persons would perform significantly better on a learning task when they perceived their instructor to be high in physical attractiveness. To test the hypothesis, participants listened to an audio lecture while viewing a photograph of instructor. The photograph depicted either a physically attractive instructor or a less attractive instructor. Following the lecture, participants completed a forced choice recognition task covering material from the lecture. Consistent with the predictions; attractive instructors were associated with more learning. Finally, we replicated previous findings demonstrating the role attractiveness plays in person perception.
Torsional Dynamics and Intramolecular Charge Transfer in the S2 (11Bu+) Excited State of Peridinin: A Mechanism for Enhanced Mid-Visible Light Harvesting

Of the carotenoids known in photosynthetic organisms, peridinin exhibits one of the highest quantum efficiencies for excitation energy transfer to chlorophyll (Chl) a acceptors. The mechanism for this enhanced performance involves an order-of-magnitude slowing of the S2 (11Bu+) → S1 (21Ag–) nonradiative decay pathway compared to carotenoids lacking carbonyl substitution. Using femtosecond transient grating spectroscopy with optical heterodyne detection, we have obtained the first evidence that the nonradiative decay of the S2 state of peridinin is promoted by large-amplitude torsional motions. The decay of an intermediate state termed Sx, which we assign to a twisted form of the S2 state, is substantially slowed by solvent friction in peridinin due to its intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) character.
System efficiency for two-step metal oxide solar thermochemical hydrogen production – Part 1: Thermodynamic model and impact of oxidation kinetics

Abstract A comprehensive solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency model, which includes the effect of oxidation kinetics, is developed for two-step solar thermochemical redox water splitting processing. Active materials flow through separate reduction and oxidation reactors. Two active redox materials are considered and compared in order to assess the impact of the rate of redox and the hydrogen productivity per cycle on STH efficiency. Reported oxidation rates for reduced cerium oxide (fast kinetics/lower H2 productivity/cycle) and a ferrite/zirconia composite (slow kinetics/higher H2 productivity/cycle) are used in the model in order to make a realistic comparison. Generally, the efficiency at thermodynamic equilibrium is higher for the ferrite/zirconia composite than ceria. Interactions between material specific parameters are compared, such as the combination of heat capacity and flow rate on sensible heating loads. Additionally, the sensitivity of oxidation kinetics on the overall cycle efficiency is illustrated. Model results show that kinetics can have a drastic effect on STH efficiency. Near-isothermal redox processing is more optimal for materials with slower kinetics, especially when moderate to high gas heat recuperation is possible. The kinetic effects are negligible for active materials having fast oxidation rates, i.e. ceria, which benefit from a larger temperature difference (thermodynamic driving force) between the reduction and oxidation steps. This leads to different optimal operating conditions when oxidation kinetics are included in the analysis as compared to prior models when only thermodynamic equilibrium is considered.
Association between body mass index and salivary uric acid among Mexican-origin infants, youth and adults: Gender and developmental differences

Uric acid (UA) is the end product of the metabolic breakdown of purine nucleotides. Recent studies have measured UA in saliva in relation to obesity and chronic disease risk. Given the increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Latino youth, we examined gender and age differences in salivary uric acid (sUA) and weight in a sample of Mexican-origin children (n = 65, 2 months to 18 years, 49% female) and adults (n = 46, 19–58 years, 72% female). We measured weight, height, waist, and hip circumference and collected saliva samples (later assayed for sUA). Structural equation models estimated the relationship between age, developmental stage, and weight outcomes in relation to sUA levels between genders, while controlling for race. Results demonstrate that increased sUA levels were related to higher BMI percentiles in females of all ages (β = 0.43, p < .001). There were significant differences in sUA levels between developmental stages for girls, with female toddlers having the highest sUA levels (β = .28, p = .02). In an interaction between BMI z-score and gender between youth and adults, BMI has a larger effect on increasing sUA levels among younger girls (β = 0.27, p < .03) and adult women (β = 0.33, p = .02). Levels of sUA may be gender-specific in relation to BMI and developmental stage.
Impact of diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnea on healthcare utilization.

Abstract Purpose Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) contributes to an increased risk for multiple co-morbidities and decreased quality of life. As a result, OSA patients may have higher usage of healthcare resources which can be mitigated with effective treatment. This study evaluates changes in healthcare utilization (HCU) following the initiation of therapy for OSA. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of newly diagnosed OSA patients. To assess total HCU, we incorporated the sum total of outpatient clinic encounters, laboratory tests, and medication prescriptions into a composite HCU score. Healthcare utilization for twelve months prior to positive airway pressure (PAP) was compared with twelve months after initiation of therapy. Reductions in HCU were correlated with PAP adherence. Results 650 consecutive patients were included. Mean age, gender, BMI, AHI, and ESS were 47.2 ± 8.8 years, 77.2% (men), 30.7 ± 4.9 kg/m 2 , 37.1 ± 30.3, and 13.1 ± 5.1, respectively. Prior to PAP, mean outpatient visits, laboratory studies, medication prescriptions, and HCU composite score were 11.6 ± 10.4, 13.7 ± 11.0, 4.7 ± 3.2, and 29.7 ± 18.6, respectively. Following initiation of treatment, a 32.8% reduction in non-sleep outpatient visits was identified (p = 0.01) and a 16.4% decrease in laboratory studies (p = 0.02) was observed. There was a 19.9% reduction (p = 0.002) in HCU composite score. Those who were adherent with PAP had a 25.7% reduction in HCU composite score versus a 4.9% increase in those who discontinued PAP therapy (p Conclusions Diagnosing OSA and initiating PAP therapy resulted in a significant decrease in healthcare resource utilization. This reduction was greatest among those with higher baseline healthcare usage and those most adherent with therapy.
Green Tea and Bone Health Promotion: Bone Mass and Microarchitecture

Osteoporosis is a major health problem in the elderly. Epidemiological observation has shown an association between tea consumption and the prevention of age-related bone loss in the elderly. Administration of green tea may be beneficial in mitigating bone loss in this population and decreasing their risk of osteoporotic fractures. This review describes the effects of green tea polyphenol (GTP) supplementation on bone health promotion with an emphasis on how GTP protects bone mass and microstructure against deterioration in various bone loss models due to aging, aging plus sex hormone deficiency, or chronic inflammation. In addition, the effects of green tea and its bioactive components on osteoblastogenesis and osteoclastogenesis are discussed. In conclusion, GTP supplementation mitigates bone loss and microstructure deterioration by enhancing bone formation, suppressing bone erosion, and modulating trabecular and endocortical bone compartments, resulting in a larger net bone volume. Such a protective role of GTP results from enhancing osteoblastogenesis and suppressing osteoclastogenesis.
Lithium-ion battery recycling processes: Research towards a sustainable course

Abstract There is a need to develop technology to enable a resource-efficient and economically feasible recycling system for lithium-ion batteries and thus assure the future supply of the component materials. Lithium-ion batteries are complex products, and designs and materials are still evolving, which makes planning for future recovery more challenging. Several processes for recycling are proposed or operating, and each has advantages and disadvantages. This paper compares these processes on technical and economic bases, elucidating differences in benefits as a function of cathode composition. Since none of the existing processes is ideal, research areas are suggested that could enable development of improved recycling methods. The most promising research areas are separation technologies.
Transfer and Expression of Potentially Therapeutic Genes into the Mammalian Central Nervous System in Vivo Using Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the biology and applications of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors to the study and treatment of the fully developed, adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Gene therapy has the greatest impact upon the treatment of human neurological disease because of the various unique properties of the CNS that often prevent intervention by conventional means. Defective viral vectors have been developed in order to eliminate viral gene expression. The first example of a defective DNA viral vector was the defective HSV vector, which contains an HSV origin of DNA replication and a cleavage/packaging signal. The chapter details the development of an AVV vector for efficient, safe, and stable gene transfer into the mammalian brain and also discusses the genetic therapy of a rodent model of Parkinson's disease using an AVV vector. The AAV vector system is a new approach to gene transfer in the CNS. Wild-type AAV is a nonpathogenic parvovirus that integrates into specific sites within the host cell chromosome. . Adeno-associated virus is considered as a potentially useful gene transfer vehicle since the original demonstration that foreign DNA flanked by AAV terminal repeats can be packaged into an AAV coat in the presence of necessary protein factors. Parkinson's disease is one CNS disorder that is amenable to gene transfer techniques. It is characterized by loss of the nigrostriatal pathway and is responsive to treatments that facilitate dopaminergic transmission in the caudate–putamen. The primate model of PD is considered to be the gold-standard model for evaluation of potential therapies prior to entering human clinical trials. Expression of two genes from a single AVV vector results in de novo synthesis of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Also, the recovery of a growth factor from an AVV vector can yield recovery of function following neuronal lesions.
A survey of stereotactic radiation therapy in veterinary medicine.

Radiotherapy plays an important role in curative and palliative cancer treatment. As a novel radiation delivery technique, stereotactic radiotherapy utilizes three-dimensional-conformal treatment planning, high-precision beam delivery technology, and patient specific position verification to target tumors, often in one to five high-dose fractions. Currently, there is no consensus about best stereotactic radiotherapy practices in veterinary radiotherapy. The objective of this study was to document the breadth of perspectives, techniques, and applications of stereotactic radiotherapy in veterinary medicine. We conducted an online survey of American College of Veterinary Radiology members specializing in radiation oncology to assess how, when, and why stereotactic radiotherapy is being used. Both stereotactic radiotherapy users and nonusers completed the survey. The overall response and survey completion rates were 54% (67/123) and 87% (58/67), respectively. Overall, 55% of respondents reported providing stereotactic radiotherapy at their facility, with a median of 4.5 canine cases and one feline case per month. Delivery methods included C-arm linear accelerator with multi-leaf collimator, helical tomotherapy, and CyberKnife. Nonpituitary intracranial tumors, pituitary tumors, and sinonasal tumors were the most common cancers treated using stereotactic radiotherapy in both species. The most common fractionation scheme was three fractions of 10 Gy/fraction. The results of this survey suggest common availability of stereotactic radiotherapy in veterinary radiation facilities. These results provide valuable information regarding current stereotactic radiotherapy practices in veterinary medicine, and may provide an initial step toward standardizing methods and establishing consensus guidelines.
Secondary Dark Reactions Following Photodynamic Treatment are More Damaging Than Previously Thought.

Photodynamic treatment is often thought to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) that directly induce killing; the nomenclature and phrases revolve around such notions of light-dependency. Few studies reference the possible existence of oxidation products formed in secondary reactions, which bear cytotoxicity competitive to their ROS precursors. Here, we highlight the paper by Girotti and Korytowski in this issue of Photochemistry and Photobiology, which does just that. In this paper, they report on cholesterol hydroperoxides, which are formed after photosensitized oxidation and yield cytotoxic mixtures in dark reactions after the light's turned off. Some of the hydroperoxides are transported by protein carriers and damage tissue outside their site of origin. A similar dark cytotoxicity may be anticipated for biological peroxides from in vivo photodynamic therapy.
Continuing Patent Applications and Performance of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as of Fiscal Year 2016

This paper presents and analyzes data collected from United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) reports and a series of FOIA requests for the period from 1996 to 2016. The data and analyses is set forth in three parts — the number, types, and disposition of patent applications being examined by the USPTO (the USPTO’s “input”); the number of applications allowed and patents issued by the USPTO (the USPTO’s “output”); and the number of pending applications and the average pendency for an application (the “difference” or commonly referred to as the USPTO’s “backlog”). The data shows that the backlog of patent applications awaiting examination has continued to decline even though patent applications are increasing. However, the growing percentage of these applications continues to be requests for continued examination (RCEs). For example, there were 285,144 Refiled Continuing Applications (192,002 RCEs, 81,893 continuations, and 11,249 continuations-in-part) in Fiscal Year 2016, a record high, and they comprised nearly half (47%) of the applications filed. And we continue to experience a return to the rising allowance rates of the late 1990s, which presumably is facilitating the USPTO's drop in backlog. Patent application allowances have doubled since Fiscal Year 2008 and reached a record high 332,281 in Fiscal Year 2016. This empirical information is relevant to the health of the U.S. patent system and the performance of the USPTO.
The scientific growth of gastroenterology during the 20th century. The 1994 G. Brohee Lecture.

Energized by the growth of the basic sciences during the latter half of the 20th century, gastroenterology advanced from a modest clinical activity to an increasingly scientific discipline. The decisive change followed World War II, when the Office of Scientific Research and Development transferred university and industry wartime research contracts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), followed by establishment of the National Science Foundation and the General Medicine Study Section (NIH). Other factors contributing to the progress of gastroenterology included: (1) the increasing body of scientific knowledge: (2) innovative technological advances: (3) philanthropic, pharmaceutical, and governmental (NIH) support of research; (4) emphasis on controlled clinical and laboratory studies; and (5) the enlarging global scientific communication network. Selected highlights on the evolving knowledge of gastrointestinal hormones and the discovery of cholecystography illustrate some of the pathways of gastroenterology's 20th century advance.