Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Forced motion of a cylinder within a liquid-filled elastic tube – a model of minimally invasive medical procedures

This work analyses the viscous flow and elastic deformation created by the forced axial motion of a rigid cylinder within an elastic liquid-filled tube. The examined configuration is relevant to various minimally invasive medical procedures in which slender devices are inserted into fluid-filled biological vessels, such as vascular interventions, interventional radiology, endoscopies and laparoscopies. By applying the lubrication approximation, thin shell elastic model, as well as scaling analysis and regular and singular asymptotic schemes, the problem is examined for small and large deformation limits (relative to the gap between the cylinder and the tube). At the limit of large deformations, forced insertion of the cylinder is shown to involve three distinct regimes and time scales: (i) initial shear dominant regime, (ii) intermediate regime of dominant fluidic pressure and a propagating viscous-peeling front, (iii) late-time quasi-steady flow regime of the fully peeled tube. A uniform solution for all regimes is presented for a suddenly applied constant force, showing initial deceleration and then acceleration of the inserted cylinder. For the case of forced extraction of the cylinder from the tube, the negative gauge pressure reduces the gap between the cylinder and the tube, increasing viscous resistance or creating friction due to contact of the tube and cylinder. Matched asymptotic schemes are used to calculate the dynamics of the near-contact and contact limits. We find that the cylinder exits the tube in a finite time for sufficiently small or large forces. However, for an intermediate range of forces, the radial contact creates a steady locking of the cylinder inside the tube.
Online Home Based Businesses: Systematic Literature Review And Future Research Agenda

Home based businesses account for a significant proportion of all businesses in both developed and developing economies. They are highly heterogeneous and therefore studies in the domain should focus on distinct types of home based businesses. This study describes a systematic review of the literature that addresses online home based businesses. The review addresses three related topics: the development of an up to date definition, identification of the salient characteristics of online home based business entrepreneurs and their businesses and the proposal of an agenda for future research. This review shows that certain characteristics are more salient in online home based entrepreneurs and their businesses. We describe how the salient characteristics of the businesses are inter-related with those of the entrepreneurs, suggesting these businesses attract different types of individuals and hence broaden access to the social and economic benefits that entrepreneurship can yield.
An integrated a-Si TFT demultiplexer for driving gate lines in active-matrix arrays

This paper reports on the analysis, design, and implementation of integrated amorphous silicon thin film transistor demultiplexers (a-Si TFT DEMUXs) for driving the gate lines in active matrix display/imaging board reduces the pin-count of the system, and consequently the system cost. Three different integrated a-Si TFT DEMUX are examined. The two-proposed a-Si TFT DEMUX circuits outperform previously proposed circuit by providing larger output voltage swings (OVSs), faster dynamic responses and less sensitivity to the device instability. The measurement result shows a 15 to 20 percent improvement in the OVS over that of a previous circuit under the same bias condition. As a key issue in the design of a-Si TFT circuits, the a-Si TFT instability, particularly the threshold voltage (V/sub T/) shift, and its mechanisms are studied. Then, the expressions of circuit OVS sensitivity to the TFT's V/sub T/ are derived and compared. Pulse-bias stress experiments, simulating the normal conditions of operation, are conducted on the a-Si TFT DEMUX circuits, and the deviations of the circuit electrical characteristics are measured over a period of 24hours. The measurement results are in agreement with the analysis in this work.
Monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies to human melanoma-associated proteoglycan antigen: generation and characterization of anti-idiotype antibodies.

We have characterized a number of monoclonal anti-idiotype antibodies (mAb2s) made against a monoclonal antitumor antibody, MEM136. The monoclonal antibody 1 (mAb1) MEM136 recognizes an epitope on human melanoma-associated proteoglycan and blocks melanoma cell interaction with basement membrane components in vitro. The anti-idiotype antibodies (Ab2s) made against MEM136 each cross-inhibited, to varying degrees, their binding to MEM136. Thus, the mAb2s recognized overlapping idiotopes on MEM136. In an attempt to identify potential internal image candidates we set up a cell migration inhibition assay. In this assay, migration of melanoma-associated proteoglycan-positive Colo38 cells was determined through a membrane barrier impregnated with Matrigel, which is composed of extracellular matrix components, i.e., collagen type IV, heparan sulfate, and laminin. Interestingly, only Ab2s IM06 and IM32 inhibited melanoma cell migration. Additional studies indicate that of eight mAb2s tested, only IM32 and IM06 induced anti-MPG responses in rabbits. The possibility that IM32 and IM06 bear images of melanoma cell surface-associated proteoglycan epitopes is discussed.
Addiction and Cognition

The brain regions and neural processes that underlie addiction overlap extensively with those that support cognitive functions, including learning, memory, and reasoning. Drug activity in these regions and processes during early stages of abuse foster strong maladaptive associations between drug use and environmental stimuli that may underlie future cravings and drug-seeking behaviors. With continued drug use, cognitive deficits ensue that exacerbate the difficulty of establishing sustained abstinence. The developing brain is particularly susceptible to the effects of drugs of abuse; prenatal, childhood, and adolescent exposures produce long-lasting changes in cognition. Patients with mental illness are at high risk for substance abuse, and the adverse impact on cognition may be particularly deleterious in combination with cognitive problems related to their mental disorders.
Phantom and methodology for fluorescence molecular imaging systems benchmarking

A critical issue associated with the clinical translation of fluorescence molecular imaging relates to the reproducibility of the collected measurements. In particular, images acquired from the same target using different fluorescence cameras may vary considerably when the employed systems have markedly different specifications. Methods that standardize fluorescence imaging are therefore becoming necessary for assessing the performance of fluorescence systems and agents and for providing a reference to the data collected. In the work presented herein we propose a composite phantom for integrating multiple targets within the field of view of a fluorescence camera. Each quadrant of this phantom resolves different fluorescence features: (1) sensitivity as a function of the optical properties; (2) sensitivity as a function of the depth from the top surface; (3) resolution of the fluorescence and optical imaging; and (4) cross-talk from the excitation light. In addition, there exist structures in the phantom for assessing homogeneity of the incident illumination. In order to validate our main hypothesis that standardization of fluorescence imaging systems is feasible through imaging such a phantom, we employed two systems of different specifications and quantified all relevant performance metrics. The derived results showcase the feasibility of fluorescence cameras calibration. Additionally, we demonstrate a methodology of comparing fluorescence cameras by means of benchmarking scoring. We expect that such approaches will boost the clinical translation of fluorescence molecular imaging and will allow for the investigation of novel fluorescence agents.
A complex plasma plant sterol locus on mouse chromosome 14 has at least two genes regulating intestinal sterol absorption Published, JLR Papers in Press, July 13, 2006.

We previously identified two inbred mouse strains, C57BL/6J and CASA/Rk, with different plasma plant sterol levels. An intercross between these strains revealed a broad plasma plant sterol locus on chromosome 14, which peaked at 17 centimorgan (cM) with a maximum logarithm of the odds score of 9.9. Studies in a chromosome 14 congenic strain, 14KK, with a 4–60 cM CASA/Rk interval on the C57BL/6J background revealed that males, but not females, had decreased plasma plant sterol levels and intestinal cholesterol absorption. In two subcongenic strains, 14PKK and 14DKK, with 4–19.5 and 19.5–60 cM CASA/Rk intervals, respectively, both males and females had decreased plasma plant sterol levels and decreased intestinal cholesterol absorption. Compatible with the decreased plasma plant sterol phenotype, 14PKK mice had increased biliary plant sterol excretion, whereas 14DKK mice did not. Therefore, gender-dependent interactions of genes at the 14PKK and 14DKK intervals are likely to underlie the 14KK interval effect on plasma plant sterol levels and sterol absorption from the intestine. These studies confirm the plasma plant sterol locus on mouse chromosome 14 and provide evidence that there are at least two sets of genes operating: one set affecting intestinal sterol absorption and biliary excretion, and the other set mainly affecting intestinal sterol absorption.
Structure and Function of the Type III Secretion System of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a dangerous pathogen particularly because it harbors multiple virulence factors. It causes several types of infection, including dermatitis, endocarditis, and infections of the urinary tract, eye, ear, bone, joints and, of particular interest, the respiratory tract. Patients with cystic fibrosis, who are extremely susceptible to Pseudomonas infections, have a bad prognosis and high mortality. An important virulence factor of P. aeruginosa, shared with many other gram-negative bacteria, is the type III secretion system, a hollow molecular needle that transfers effector toxins directly from the bacterium into the host cell cytosol. This complex macromolecular machine works in a highly regulated manner and can manipulate the host cell in many different ways. Here we review the current knowledge of the structure of the P. aeruginosa T3SS, as well as its function and recognition by the immune system. Furthermore, we describe recent progress in the development and use of therapeutic agents targeting the T3SS.
Improving vision: neural compensation for optical defocus

Anecdotal reports abound of vision improving in myopia after a period of time without refractive correction. We explored whether this effect is due to an increased tolerance of blur, or whether it reflects a genuine improvement in vision. Our results clearly demonstrated a marked improvement in the ability to detect and recognize letters following prolonged exposure to optical defocus. We ensured that ophthalmic change did not occur, and thus the phenomenon must be due to a neural compensation for thedefocus condition. A second set of experiments measured contrast sensitivity and found a decrease in sensitivity to mid–range (5–25) cycles deg−1 spatial frequencies following exposure to optical defocus. The results of the two experiments may be explained by the unmasking of low contrast, high spatial frequency information via a two–stage process: (1) the pattern of relative channel outputs is maintained during optical defocus by the depression of mid–range spatial frequency channels; (2) channel outputs are pooled prior to the production of the final percept. The second set of experiments also provided some evidence of inter–ocular transfer, indicating that the adaptation process is occurring at binocular sites in the cortex.
Loss of heterozygosity at the short arm of chromosome 3 in renal‐cell cancer correlates with the cytological tumour type

A majority of renal‐cell tumours retain heterozygosity at the short arm of chromosome 3. To investigate possible histopathological differences between tumours with and without such losses, we compared loss of heterozygosity data from 51 tumours with 1 histological and 2 different cytological classifications of renal‐cell tumour. Using the cytological classification of Thoenes et al., we only found tumours with loss of heterozygosity in these authors' clear‐cell category. Possibly, only these tumours arise by a mechanism of double loss of a tumour‐suppressor gene on 3p, non‐clear‐cell renal tumours having a different genetic background. Alternatively, deletions may occur in all subtypes, in which case those subtypes in which no LOH is found may also contain deletions too small to be detected with the set of 3p probes we used. A cytogenetic analysis was carried out on 30 of the tumours. Results of molecular and microscopic cytogenetic analyses did not seem to be in agreement in 12 cases. In 6 of these we found allelic losses in tumours showing morphologically normal copies of chromosome 3. Mitotic recombination or loss of one chromosome 3 homologue followed by duplication of the remaining homologue is a likely explanation. The other 6 cases showed microscopic abnormalities of chromosome 3 which were not reflected, or only partly reflected, as allelic losses. These discrepancies are caused either by the limitations of microscopic analysis in exactly determining a breakpoint or tracing a translocated part of a chromosome, or by the failure of molecular analysis to demonstrate LOH if this occurs in only a minority of cells.
Invariant NKT Cells: Regulation and Function during Viral Infection

Natural killer T cells (NKT cells) represent a subset of T lymphocytes that express natural killer (NK) cell surface markers. A subset of NKT cells, termed invariant NKT cells (iNKT), express a highly restricted T cell receptor (TCR) and respond to CD1d-restricted lipid ligands. iNKT cells are now appreciated to play an important role in linking innate and adaptive immune responses and have been implicated in infectious disease, allergy, asthma, autoimmunity, and tumor surveillance. Advances in iNKT identification and purification have allowed for the detailed study of iNKT activity in both humans and mice during a variety of chronic and acute infections. Comparison of iNKT function between non-pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection models and chronic HIV-infected patients implies a role for iNKT activity in controlling immune activation. In vitro studies of influenza infection have revealed novel effector functions of iNKT cells including IL-22 production and modulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, but ex vivo characterization of human iNKT cells during influenza infection are lacking. Similarly, as recent evidence suggests iNKT involvement in dengue virus pathogenesis, iNKT cells may modulate responses to a number of emerging pathogens. This Review will summarize current knowledge of iNKT involvement in responses to viral infections in both human and mouse models and will identify critical gaps in knowledge and opportunities for future study. We will also highlight recent efforts to harness iNKT ligands as vaccine adjuvants capable of improving vaccination-induced cellular immune responses.
Declines in strength and balance in older adults with chronic knee pain: a 30-month longitudinal, observational study.

OBJECTIVES To document changes in lower extremity strength and balance over a 30-month period in older adults with chronic knee pain, and to identify relationships among these variables that may prove useful in designing a subsequent clinical intervention trial. METHODS This longitudinal, 30-month, observational study was designed to examine the association of physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors with severity and progression of physical disability caused by chronic knee pain. This article will focus on 2 physical measures: strength and dynamic balance. The participants were a cohort of 480 adults 65 years of age or older with chronic knee pain. Measurements included: 1) force platform dynamic balance measure of the center of pressure excursion during a forward and subsequent backward lean, 2) isokinetic strength measures of concentric and eccentric knee flexion and extension, and concentric ankle plantar flexion and dorsiflexion, and 3) body mass index and a knee pain scale to measure obesity and knee pain, respectively. RESULTS A maximum-likelihood analysis revealed an overall significant decline in knee (P < 0.001) and ankle (P = 0.012) strength, and balance (P < 0.001) after a 30-month followup period. Participants with greater knee strength at baseline had less expected decline in balance at followup than their weaker counterparts (4.2% versus 7.7% for the 75th versus 25th percentiles of strength; P = 0.023). However, the absolute decline in balance over 30 months was similar regardless of baseline ankle strength. CONCLUSIONS Adults age >or=65 years with chronic knee pain experience significant declines in balance and lower extremity strength over a 30-month period. Moreover, greater knee and ankle muscular strength is associated with better balance. Previous studies have shown that weight training is effective in improving balance in older adults with knee osteoarthritis. Taken together, these studies present a strong rationale for incorporating weight training into an exercise prescription for older adults with chronic knee pain.
A Survey of the Prescription Patterns of Allergen Immunotherapy in Korea

Purpose Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been used as a curative and specific treatment of allergic diseases. However, no data on the prescription patterns of AIT in Korea is available. Therefore, we surveyed the prescription patterns of AIT by allergy specialists in Korea. Methods We emailed a questionnaire on AIT prescription patterns to the 690 members of the Korean Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology with clinical practice experience. All returned answers were evaluated. Results The response rate was 21.0%. Only 69.0% of the respondents performed AIT in practice. Hindrance factors for performing AIT in the practice included a lack of facilities (21%), lack of practical experience during their subspecialty or postgraduate educational training programs (15.8%), no need for AIT because of sufficient pharmacotherapy (14.5%), insufficient economic profits (14.5%), and risks for adverse reactions (13.2%). Ninety-two allergy specialists (82%) performed AIT subcutaneously subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) and 20 allergy specialists (18%) performed it sublingually sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Only 8 specialists performed both SCIT and SLIT. The allergens used for SCIT were house dust mites (98.9%), pollens (72.8%), and animal dander (23.9%). SLIT was prescribed only for house dust mites. Twenty-eight physicians (30.4%) observed anaphylactic reactions during SCIT. Eight physicians (40.0%) who prescribed SLIT observed adverse reactions, including local reactions, but none of them observed anaphylactic reactions. Conclusions In this survey, 69.0% of the respondents performed AIT in clinical practice. SCIT prescription is more popular than SLIT. The Lack of facilities and clinical education is a critical barrier to performing AIT. Therefore, proper clinical education of AIT is necessary for Korean allergists.
Independent factors associated with major depressive disorder in a national sample of individuals with diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether perceived poor physical health, duration of diabetes, and smoking are associated with major depressive disorder in a national sample of individuals with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Data on 1,810 individuals with diabetes from the 1999 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were analyzed. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) Short-Form (CIDI-SF) developed by the World Health Organization was used to identify individuals with major depressive disorder. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine whether perceived poor physical health, duration of diabetes, and smoking were associated with major depressive disorder. The model controlled for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, employment, marital status, and health status. Other control variables included BMI, smoking, duration of diabetes, presence or absence of major complications, and type of treatment for diabetes. SUDAAN software was used for statistical analyses to account for the complex sampling design of NHIS. RESULTS Independent factors associated with major depressive disorder were age <64 years, female sex, at least high school education, income <124% of federal poverty level, perceived worsening of health status, and smoking. CONCLUSIONS In addition to other psychosocial factors such as younger age, female sex, lower income, at least high school education, and smoking, perceptions about the effect of diabetes on overall health seems to play an important role in the etiology of depression.
BEST RESPONSE DYNAMICS FOR CONTINUOUS ZERO{SUM GAMES

We study best response dynamics in continuous time for continuous concave-convex zero-sum games and prove convergence of its trajectories to the set of saddle points, thus providing a dynamical proof of the minmax theorem. Consequences for the corresponding discrete time process with small or diminishing step-sizes are established, including convergence of the fictitious play procedure.
Progression of spontaneous seizures after status epilepticus is associated with mossy fibre sprouting and extensive bilateral loss of hilar parvalbumin and somatostatin‐immunoreactive neurons

The development of spontaneous limbic seizures was investigated in a rat model in which electrical tetanic stimulation of the angular bundle was applied for up to 90 min. This stimulation produced behavioural and electrographic seizures that led to a status epilepticus (SE) in most rats (71%). Long‐term EEG monitoring showed that the majority of the rats (67%) that underwent SE, displayed a progressive increase of seizure activity once the first seizure was recorded after a latent period of about 1 week. The other SE rats (33%) did not show this progression of seizure activity. We investigated whether these different patterns of evolution of spontaneous seizures could be related to differences in cellular or structural changes in the hippocampus. This was the case regarding the following changes. (i) Cell loss in the hilar region: in progressive SE rats this was extensive and bilateral whereas in nonprogressive SE rats it was mainly unilateral. (ii) Parvalbumin and somatostatin‐immunoreactive neurons: in the hilar region these were almost completely eliminated in progressive SE rats but were still largely present unilaterally in nonprogressive SE rats. (iii) Mossy fibre sprouting: in progressive SE rats, extensive mossy fibre sprouting was prominent in the inner molecular layer. In nonprogressive SE rats, mossy fibre sprouting was also present but less prominent than in progressive SE rats. Although mossy fibre sprouting has been proposed to be a prerequisite for chronic seizure activity in experimental temporal lobe epilepsy, the extent of hilar cell death also appears to be an important factor that differentiates between whether or not seizure progression will occur.
Analysis of Slotted Nonpersistent CDMA

Radio channel has been a precious resource to manage since the take off of the mobile communications in late 70s. Several techniques have proposed over the years trying maximize utilization while allowing a number of users to share the channel. Among those techniques, CDMA has arisen as one of the most popular ones, and several approaches have been taken following the concept of carrier sensing before transmission. In this paper we analyze one of the CDMA variants called nonpersistent slotted CDMA, where the popular nonpersisten CDMA is modified dividing the time axis into time slots.