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Our aim was to explore the patterns of intrinsic capacity (IC) impairments among community-dwelling older adults and the associations of these different patterns with excessive polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications, and adverse drug reactions in a nationwide population-based study.A cross-sectional study included older adults from the Taiwan Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) program in 2020.The study subjects comprised 38,308 adults aged 65 years and older who participated in the ICOPE Step 1 screening and assessed six domains of IC following the World Health Organization (WHO) ICOPE approach.Latent class analysis was adopted to identify distinct subgroups with different IC impairments patterns. The associations between different IC impairments patterns and unfavorable medication utilization, including excess polypharmacy (EPP), potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), and adverse drug reactions (ADRs), were assessed by multivariate logistic regression models.Latent class analysis identified five distinct subgroups with different IC impairment patterns: robust (latent class prevalence: 59.4%), visual impairment (17.7%), physio-cognitive decline (PCD) with sensory impairment (12.3%), depression with cognitive impairment (7.7%), and impairments in all domains (2.9%). Compared to the robust group, all other groups were at higher odds for unfavorable medication utilization. The "depression with cognitive impairment" group (EPP: aOR=4.35, 95% CI 3.52-5.39, plt;0.01; PIMs: aOR=2.73, 95% CI 2.46-3.02, plt;0.01) and the "impairment in all domains" group (EPP: aOR=9.02, 95% CI 7.16-11.37, plt;0.01; PIMs: aOR=3.75, 95% CI 3.24-4.34, plt;0.01) remained at higher odds for EPP and PIMs after adjustment.We identified five distinct impairment patterns of IC, and each impairment pattern, particularly the "depression with cognitive impairment" and "impairment in all domains", was associated with higher odds of EPP and PIMs. Further longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to explore long-term outcomes of different impairment pattern and their reversibility.

Frailty may in most cases result from two main causes: the aging process (age-related frailty) and diseases (evolving chronic conditions or acute medical illnesses - disease-related frailty). The biological determinants characterizing these two main causes of frailty may be different.The aim of this study is to compare the biological and neuroimaging profile of people without frailty, those with age-related frailty, and subjects with disease-related frailty in community-dwelling older adults.We performed a secondary, cross-sectional analysis from the Multidomain Alzheimer Preventive Trial (MAPT). We included 1199 subjects without frailty throughout the 5-year follow-up, 82 subjects with incident age-related frailty, and 53 with incident disease-related frailty. Available blood biomarkers involved nutritional (eg, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids), inflammatory-related (IL-6, TNFR1, GDF15), neurodegenerative (eg, beta-amyloid, neurofilament light chain) and neuroimaging markers (MRI, Amyloid-PET).Although not statistically significant, the results of the unadjusted model showed increasing gradients for inflammatory markers (GDF15, TNFR1) and decreasing gradients for nutritional and neuroimaging markers (omega 3 index, hippocampal volume) from age-related frailty participants to individuals with disease-related frailty. Considering the linear models we observed higher GDF15 values in disease-related frailty group compared to age-related frailty individuals [β = 242.8 (49.5, 436.2)]. We did not find any significant difference between subjects without frailty and those with age-related frailty. Subjects with disease-related frailty compared to subjects without frailty had lower values of DHA [β = -2.42 (-4.76, -0.08)], Omega 3 Index [β = -0.50 (-0.95, -0.06)] and hippocampal volume [β = -0.22 (-0.42,-0.02)]. They also had higher values of GDF15 [β = 246.1 (88.9, 403.4)] and TNFR1 [β = 157.5 (7.8, 307.2)].Age-related frailty and disease-related frailty may represent different degrees of frailty severity on a biological level. Further research is needed to identify biomarkers potentially able to distinguish these classifications of frailty.

An investigation was conducted into the prominent lithium electrochromic performance of flexible organo-tungsten-iron oxide (WFe x O y C z ) films deposited onto flexible (60 Ω/□ polyethylene terephthalate/indium tin oxide) substrates. The simple one-step low temperature (∼23 °C) plasma polymerization method was used to inject the precursors tungsten hexacarbonyl [W(CO) 6 ] and biscyclopentadienyl iron [Fe(C 5 H 5 ) 2 ] into the plasma chamber, whilst being mixed with O 2 gases at various gas flow rates. The plasma-polymerized WFe x O y C z films at a certain addition of oxygen gases achieved outstanding lithium electrochemical reversibility of Li + ion intercalation and de-intercalation proven by a potential sweep switching between −1 V and 1 V at a scan rate of 50 mV/s in a 1 M LiClO 4 -propylene carbonate electrolyte. High values for optical transmittance modulation (Δ T ) of up to 83.2%, optical density (Δ OD ) of up to 1.08 and color efficiency (η) of up to 62.3 cm 2 /C at a wavelength of 854.9 nm were obtained for the amorphous WFe x O y C z films synthesized by the addition of oxygen gases at a flow rate of 17 sccm. The results verified that the proper addition of oxygen gas provides a suitable routine to enhance the electrochromic properties of plasma-polymerized WFe x O y C z films.

Previous studies indicated that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM

An investigation has been undertaken into the improved lithium electrochromic performance of flexible tungsten oxide films by the addition of iron oxides via one step synthesis onto flexible 60 Ω/square polyethylene terephthalate/indium tin oxide substrates using a low temperature plasma polymerization method. The flexible organic–inorganic hybrid nanocomposite WOyCz, WFexOyCz and FeOyCz films are synthesized by injecting the precursors tungsten carbonyl [W(CO)6] and/or ferrocence [Fe(C5H5)2] into the plasma chamber. The capable fractions of the nano-grain boundaries between the nano-grains produced in the WOyCz and WFexOyCz films assure the reversible Li+ intercalation and deintercalation properties. The addition of iron oxides into tungsten oxide films at a certain Fe gas flow ratio enhances the optical modulation (ΔT) from 74.4 to 80.7 %, increases the optical density (ΔOD) from 0.71 to 0.92, and raises the color efficiency (η) from 48.8 to 56.6 cm2/C, respectively, at a wavelength of 721 nm, even after 200 cycles of reversible Li+ ion intercalation/de-intercalation in a 1 M LiClO4-propylene carbonate electrolyte.

Stroke is a non-communicable disease of increasing socioeconomic importance in aging populations. This study compared the risk factors implicated in two subtypes of ischemic stroke: lacunar stroke (LS) and non-lacunar stroke (NLS). A retrospective case control study was conducted on a total of 368 patients [220 cases (59.8%) of NLS and 148 cases (40.2%) of LS] with first-time onset of ischemic stroke. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to compare multiple non-cerebrovascular risk factors between the two groups. More patients with a history of diabetes were found in the NLS than the LS group (40.5 vs 26.4%), and that both fasting glucose and HbA1C levels before the onset of stroke were higher in NLS than LS patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients with a history of diabetes were 1.57 times more likely to have NLS than LS (OR = 1.57, 95%CI = 0.95-3.26). Moreover, male patients were more likely to develop NLS than females (OR = 1.46, 95%CI = 0.79-2.69), and patients with elevated fibrinogen levels were 1.4 times more likely to develop NLS than LS (OR = 1.40, 95%CI = 1.09-1.80). Additionally, patients who were heavy drinkers (OR = 1.39, 95%CI = 0.68-2.84) or smokers (OR = 1.62, 95%CI = 0.91-2.89) were more likely to develop NLS than LS. Other risk factors, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, age, and average blood pressure, did not differ between the two types of stroke. Thus, distinct non-cerebrovascular risk factors (male gender, long history of diabetes, elevated fibrinogen, heavy smoking, and heavy drinking) are associated with a higher risk of developing non-lacunar stroke than lacunar stroke.

An investigation is conducted into the enhanced lithium electrochromic performance of flexible tungsten/molybdenum-mixed oxide (WMo x O y C z ) films deposited onto 40 Ω/□ flexible polyethylene terephthalate/indium tin oxide substrates, using a low temperature (~23 °C) atmospheric pressure plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition with an atmospheric pressure plasma jet at various substrate distances. The rapid synthesis of flexible WMo x O y C z films is performed by injecting the mixed hexacarbonyl and precursors W(CO)6 and Mo(CO)6 into an air plasma jet and exposing the substrate in the plasmas for short exposure durations (19–34 s) at various substrate distances. The flexible WMo x O y C z films possess the remarkable Li+ ion electrochromic performance, even though after being bent 360° around a 2.5-cm diameter rod for 1,000 cycles and tested for 200 cycles of reversible Li+ ion intercalation and deintercalation in a 1-M LiClO4-propylene carbonate electrolyte, respectively, by a potential sweep switching at the scan rates of ±50 mV/s from the potential of −1 to 1 V and a potential step switching at the potentials of −1 and 1 V. Significant optical modulation and optical density change of up to 71.2 % and 0.73 at a wavelength of 622 nm are respectively achieved.

The aim of this study was to explore the clinical impact of transverse aortic arch hypoplasia (TAH) after stent implementation for isthmal coarctation of the aorta (CoA). From a retrospective chart review, 51 children (median age 11.1 years) were identified who had TAH and a CoA stent implanted between 10/1995 and 4/2015. Arm–leg cuff blood pressure measurements, echocardiographic arch imaging, and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, prior to and after stent implantation, were reviewed. At catheterization, peak systolic gradients across the CoA’s were 25 mmHg before and 4 mmHg after stent implantation. At a median 37-month follow-up, echocardiographic imaging showed no significant catch-up growth in the transverse arch (median z-score; proximal and distal arch −1.54 and −1.99 vs. −1.78 and −1.63, p = 0.13 and 0.90). A trend to increasing systolic blood pressure (SBP) differentials between the right and left arms was noted (11 mmHg [prior to]; 16 mmHg [follow-up], p = 0.09). Age-adjusted percentiles for right arm SBP decreased from 99.7% prior to, and 87.6% in follow-up (p

Micro-motion feature is one of the crucial features used for ballistic target recognition. Aiming at the problem that single-view observation can't extract the nutation parameters, a novel algorithm based on the radar network is proposed to extract the target features. Firstly, the nutation model of cone-shaped target is built, the micro-Range modulation trait caused by nutation is analyzed in detail. Then under the precondition of considering the invisible problem of scattering centers, each scattering center in different perspectives is matched based on the scattering center' microRange difference, and the periodicity of target nutation is proved by Bessel function expansion, what' more, the target nutation and configuration parameters are estimated by utilizing the change rule of nutation angle combined with curve fitting method. Finally, Simulation results are given for validating the proposed algorithms.

Aiming at the problem of consulting huge amount of data and diagrams when designing the transmission system of mounter worktable, the main parts of the transmission system, including guide rail, ball screw, servo motor and coupling, are analyzed. By using API function of SolidWorks, a rapid design prototype system for the transmission system of mounter worktable is developed via VC++6.0. This system can realize calculation and selection for the main parts of the transmission system accomplish the design and generate 3D drawing automatically. It improves the efficiency of the product design and reduces development cycle.

In this study, the effects of heating rate and two‐step sintering on the sintering behaviour, the microstructure and the silver diffusion of (Zn,Mg)TiO3 based multilayer ceramic capacitors (ZMT MLCCs) with pure silver electrodes were investigated. The energy dispersive spectroscopy results showed that the silver ions diffused into the dielectric layer significantly when ZMT MLCC was sintered directly up to 900°C with a fixed heating rate (conventional sintering). However, ZMT MLCC was presintered (first step sintering) at 600–800°C then sintered at 900°C (second step sintering); it was found to effectively suppress silver ion diffusion into the dielectric layer. For example, the concentration of silver ions was identified by energy dispersive spectrometer, and both the Ag ion concentrations for conventional and two‐step sintering are 2 and 0·1 at‐% respectively. In addition, SEM observations showed that the silver electrode of ZMT MLCCs was greatly discontinuous by conventional sintering. Unlike ...

Viable seeds from dry-fruited forbs growing in the Tianshan Mountains of China are often found in livestock dung. However, the effect of ingestion on their morphological characteristics and germination remains unclear. This research assessed the germination of 15 forbs after simulated ingestion (insertion through a rumen fistula) by Kazakh sheep. Seed accessory structures (such as wings, trichomes and mucilage) were digested. Seed length, width and thickness were negatively correlated with digestion time, and 100-seed mass was negatively (but not significantly) correlated with digestion time. The means of seed morphological traits (except for the seed shape index) and germination generally decreased. Germination was negatively correlated with digestion time. Germination of Rumex acetosa, Leontice incerta and Lonicera hispida initially increased and then decreased with increased digestion time, while germination of the other 12 seeds all significantly decreased with increased digestion time. Germination of Plantago depressa, Alyssum desertorum, Lachnoloma lehmannii, Tulipa gesneriana, Tauscheria lasiocarpa and Calligonum rubicundum decreased to zero after 24h digestion, whereas the other nine seeds still had some level of vigour. Seeds of several forbs survived rumen digestion, indicating the potential for endozoochorous seed dispersal, a dispersal mechanism known to enhance survival in dynamic and harsh desert habitats.

In order to obtain the design, manufacture and operation experiences on the Superconducting Radio Frequency (SRF) cryomodule for the International Linear Collider (ILC), a test cryomodule for 1.3 GHz single 9-cell SC cavity was designed by IHEP (Institute of High Energy Physics) and TIPC (Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry) jointly. This cryomodule will be used as a horizontal test facility for a 1.3 GHz 9-cell SC cavity. The cryogenic system for the cryomodule was also designed, which will be operated at 2.0 K with saturated superfluid helium. The major requirements, design, simulation results of the cryomodule are reported in the paper. This key component of a superconducting accelerator test unit will be built in the near future at IHEP.

The effects of a low-modulus high-strain interleaf layer, introduced at the midplane, on unidirectional carbon/epoxy laminates under flexural loading were investigated. The apparent energy-to-fail of the laminates increased significantly whereas the maximum load decreased slightly upon interleaving. Real-time microscopic observations during static flexure tests at the lowest deflection rate indicated a dramatic change of failure mode from the dominantly compressive fracture of the baseline laminate to the dominantly tensile fracture process upon interleaving. Failure modes of interleaved and baseline laminates showed no significant changes with test rate in the deflection rate range of 10−6 to 100 m/sec.

Instrumented drop-weight impact response of a unidirectional carbon/epoxy composite and that of the corresponding laminate interleaved with poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) at the midplane were studied. The impact penetration energy of the unidirectional composite beam increased strongly upon interleaving. Realtime observations using a microscope in a static flexure test indicated a dramatic change of failure mode from the dominantly compressive fracture of the baseline laminate to the dominantly tensile fracture process upon interleaving, in accordance with the corresponding fractographic features of the impact specimens. These observations were attributed to the change in stress distribution upon introduction of the interleaf layer. The relevance of the present observations to the role of high-strain, low-modulus adhesive layers in the toughening of composites is discussed.

Composites of YBa2Cu307−x and a thermosetting epoxy have been fabricated to study the effectiveness of the epoxy as a protective coating against aqueous decomposition of the oxide, and to determine the effects of the polymer on the oxide's superconducting properties. Reaction with water depletes the ceramic of barium, causes cracks perpendicular to the surface, and decreases the volume fraction of superconducting phase. Microstructural studies show that the epoxy coating is an effective barrier against the decomposition of YBa2Cu307−x immersed in 70 ° C water. In addition, resistivity and AC susceptibility measurements indicate that the epoxy has no deleterious effect on the superconducting transition temperature of the ceramic.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the possibility and the performance of a helium compressor modified from a commercial air conditioning, reciprocating compressor. The focus is on the modification of a commercial air conditioning compressor with the input power of 7.5 kW. The discharge temperature of the compressed helium gas will exceed 180oC if the original cooling system is not improved. The new type lubricant oil is processed to remove the water content before operating the machine. A bypass valve is set in the oil injection circuit to control the atomizing pressure and mass flow rate of the oil through the atomizers so that an optimum value of the injection pressure in various operating conditions can be achieved. A new cooling method has been developed to intensify the heat exchange of the helium gas in the cylinder with the lubricant oil so an acceptable lower discharge temperature can be obtained. A temperature reduction of more than 70oC is achieved in the experiments.

Five antibiotics compounds, tetracycline (TC), oxytetracycline (OTC), doxycycline (DOC), chlortetracycline (CTC) and chloramphenicol (CP), were successfully separated and determined by high performance capillary electrophoresis(HPCE). Effects of buffer pH, various organic additives and temperature on electrophoretic separation of antibiotics were investigated. Satisfactory separation of these five antibiotics was achieved in the buffer of pH 3.2, 0.02 mol/L Na2HPO4-0.01 mol/L citric acid with addition of 4% (V/V) N-methylmorpholine and 12% (V/V) acetonitrile within 20 minutes. The calibration graphs were linear by plotting the peak area against the sample concentration over the range of 150 micrograms/L to 750 micrograms/L and the correlation coefficients were greater than 0.9917. The detection limits were 10 micrograms/L for CP, 20 micrograms/L for TC, OTC and DOC and 40 micrograms/L for CP (signal to noise ratio5). HPCE method was successfully applied to the analysis of trace antibiotics in honey.

To compare pharmacodynamics of decoction and powder of Leech; To identify effect of pharmacodynamics of Leech with new methods of process and ultrmicro-pulverization.The size of ultramicor-powder of Leech and new method processed Leech is determined by BT-1500 size distributive instrument. It is compared that the pharmacodynamics of Leech decoction and powder as well as ultramicro-powder with new method processed of 1/2 decoction dose by anticoagulation and antithrombus action of mice. The safety of different samples is identified.The pharmacodynamics of samples is as ultramicro-powder of Leech with new method processedultrmicro-powder of Leechpowder of Leechdecoction of Leech.The ultramicro-powder of Leech with new method processed has better pharmacodynamic effect and the smell of Leech is improved.

To study the alteration of the level of sIL-2R in acute and chronic hepatic diseases and its relation between alteration and the extent of damage to liver, the level of sIL-2R with hepatic disease was measured by a monoclonal and polyclonal Antibody ELISA. The result showed that the level increased differently in various hepatic diseases. The level of sIL-2R decreased when turning into severe hepatitis, acute hepatitis, active cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis, hepatocarcinoma, compensative cirrhosis, chronic persistent hepatitis. It was suggested that the level of sIL-2R be considered of clinical value to estimate the extent of damage to liver in patients with progressive liver damage.

Contents of water, alcohol, ether soluble components and amygdalin of differently processed peach kernel (raw drug, scalded, stir-baked and steamed) were determined. The security of the decoctions from the four processed samples was compared. This paper provides a preliminary experimental basis for the rational utilization of peach kernel.

The gradient properties of Metrizamide in three buffer solutions (0.005 M phosphate buffer at pH 6.2, 0.5 M acetate buffer at pH 4.6, and 1.0 M borate buffer at pH 8.2) were measured. Concentration-dependent diffusivities were measured by a microinterferometric method over a solute concentration range from 0.1054 to 0.4862 g/mL. Empirical formulas for the diffusivity and activity coefficient of Metrizamide in three buffer solutions are presented as a function of solute concentration. A generalization factor was obtained for the use of Metrizamide in different buffers at different pH values.

The purpose of this study was to establish whether there was enhancement or impairment of the migratory abilities of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMN) released prematurely into the circulation during the inflammatory response, as a consequence of their shortened bone-marrow transit time. Sixteen healthy young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received an i.v. injection of 1 microCi (methyl-3H) thymidine per g body wt, followed 40 h later by the i.p. injection of 2 ml of a mixture of Brain Heart Infusion/Proteose Peptone (BHI/PP). Four, 8 and 12 h after injection of BHI/PP, isotope incorporation in blood and peritoneal exudates was compared by liquid scintillation counting. During the first 12 h of the inflammatory response there was no significant difference between levels of isotope incorporation in blood and peritoneal exudates. Thus the accelerated release of cells from the bone marrow did not affect their ability to emigrate into the local lesions during this period.

To establish whether local inhibition of emigration or a centrally acting mechanism is responsible for the diminished response to a second inflammatory stimulus, three groups of young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats received in intrapleural injections of glycogen followed 4 h later by intra-peritoneal Beef Heart Infusion/protease Peptone. Two, 4 and 8 h after the second injection cell counts were made on both the pleural and peritoneal effusions. Circulating PMNs were also monitored using tail vein blood. The prior injection of glycogen intrapleurally significantly suppressed the subsequent accumulation of peritoneal PMNs in response to the second stimulus. The mechanism of this suppression is discussed.

Rocket immunoelectrophoresis was used to assay the change in alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin (Alb) in bile of rats 10 to 14 days after intrahepatic or intraperitoneal inoculation of BERH-2 hepatoma. The bile was collected from the common bile duct cannula. Total protein was determined by the Lowry method. The results showed that the excretion of total protein and Alb was reduced to 54% and 24% of the control in the intrahepatic group, and 65% and 56% of the control in the intraperitoneal group. Bile-AFP can be detected in rats in both groups and its concentration increased gradually during the tumor progression. In the hepatic group, the bile-AFP content per gram of tumor tissue was 29% of that in the intraperitoneal group. It suggests that decreased excretion of AFP, Alb and total protein in bile of rat bearing tumor in the liver be related to local obstruction of excretion by the tumor mass leading to constriction of biliary canaliculi.

Huperzine A (Hup-A) is a new alkaloid extracted from Huperzia serata in China. The effects of Hup-A on learning and memory are superior to those of physostigmine (Phys). The purpose of this paper is to observe the effects of Hup-A on EEG and EEG power spectrum in rabbits with micro-computer analysis. Hup-A 0.1 mg/kg iv in conscious rabbits produced, after 0.5 min, an alert EEG pattern, which showed decreases of lower frequency components and the total EEG power in cortical area, and the dominant frequency transferred from delta rhythm to theta rhythm in hippocampus. The same effects were seen with Phys 0.1 mg/kg. Scopolamine (Scop, 0.2 mg/kg iv) reversed significantly these effects of Hup-A (10 micrograms/rabbit, icv), but Scop butylbromide (0.4 mg/kg, iv) which can not pass the blood-brain barrier did not. Hup-A 0.2 mg/kg iv or Phys 0.3 mg/kg iv antagonized the EEG effects of Scop 0.3 mg/kg iv. The results indicate that the effects of Hup-A are closely related to the action on the central cholinergic system.

A variety of diseases, sharing only hypergammaglobulinemia in common, are associated with impaired urinary-concentrating ability and with impaired urinary acidification after acid-loading. Forty-seven patients with leprosy were studied to determine whether or not elevated concentrations of serum globulins are related causally to abnormal distal renal tubular function. In nine patients, urinary pH did not decrease appropriately in response to NH4Cl. Two of these patients and five more without defective acidification were unable to adequately concentrate the urine after water deprivation and vasopressin administration. These defects were unrelated to the type of leprosy, to the concentrations of serum globulins or individual immunoglobulins, to the presence of rheumatoid factor or cryoglobulins, or to the administration of diaminodiphenylsulfone. Renal biopsy specimens from six patients with impaired urinary acidification and/or concentration showed no interstitial inflammatory cell infiltrates or other abnormalities. Impaired distal renal tubular function in patients with leprosy may be another of the nonspecific immunologic abnormalities that have been encountered in patients with this disease.