cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Importance of integrin receptors in the field of pharmaceutical & medical science

Integrin receptors have remained as a key subject of interest in the pharmaceutical industry for the last few years. There are a total of 24 different types of integrin heterodimers. Each of these heterodimers plays important role in various biological processes that are inherent to different pathological conditions. As a result, integrin receptors have been extensively evaluated for their role in therapeutic targeting. There are different classes of inhibitors against integrin receptors and this review provides an overview on different classes of integrin inhibitors that are currently available. A number of review articles have been written on the possible application of integrin receptors in therapeutic targeting. Many of these articles have heavily emphasized on the importance of αvβ3 & αvβ5 receptors as major pharmaceutical target in cancer but little emphasis has been given on the importance of other integrin receptors, such as α5β1, αIIbβ3, α4β7, αvβ6 etc. While this review gives due importance to both αvβ3 & αvβ5 receptors and provides an historical perspective on how these two receptors have evolved as a potential target for cancer, significant emphasis has also been given on the other integrin receptors that have started enjoying the status of important drug target over the course of last few years. Effort has been maintained to discuss briefly on the key physiological basis of their importance as drug target. For example, involvement of αvβ3 in angiogenesis has made it a therapeutic target for the treatment of cancer. At the same time expression of this receptor on the surface of osteoclast has made it a target for the treatment of osteoporosis. Thus, emphasis has been given on discussing the role of the integrin receptors in different disease conditions followed by specific examples of drug molecules that have been trialed against these receptors. While hundreds of candidate molecules have been developed against different integrin receptors only a handful of them has been subject to phase-III clinical trial. That necessitates careful consideration of certain concerns that are associated with direct targeting of integrins and thus has also been an important goal of this review. In the last few years application of integrin receptors have extended beyond mere therapeutic targeting. Several integrin receptors are currently are studied for their potential of aiding at diagnostic imaging and drug delivery. In this review a brief overview has also been provided on how integrin are being targeted for diagnostic imaging and drug delivery with relevant examples. Thus the primary aim of this review has been to provide an comprehensive overview on the broad scope of application that integrin receptors have in the field of medical science.
A new technique for online measurement of total and water-soluble copper (Cu) in coarse particulate matter (PM).

Abstract This study presents a novel system for online, field measurement of copper (Cu) in ambient coarse (2.5–10 μm) particulate matter (PM). This new system utilizes two virtual impactors combined with a modified liquid impinger (BioSampler) to collect coarse PM directly as concentrated slurry samples. The total and water-soluble Cu concentrations are subsequently measured by a copper Ion Selective Electrode (ISE). Laboratory evaluation results indicated excellent collection efficiency (over 85%) for particles in the coarse PM size ranges. In the field evaluations, very good agreements for both total and water-soluble Cu concentrations were obtained between online ISE-based monitor measurements and those analyzed by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Moreover, the field tests indicated that the Cu monitor could achieve near-continuous operation for at least 6 consecutive days (a time resolution of 2–4 h) without obvious shortcomings.
Alternate-Day, Low-Dose Aspirin and Cancer Risk: Long-Term Observational Follow-up of a Randomized Trial

Daily aspirin seems to decrease risk for cancer, but evidence in women and for alternate-day aspirin use is lacking. This observational follow-up of the Women's Health Study found that long-term us...
Multiple Roles and Successes in Public Bioethics: A Response to the Public Forum Critique of Bioethics Commissions

National bioethics commissions have been critiqued for a variety of structural, procedural, and political aspects of their work. A more recent critique published by Dzur and Levin uses political philosophy to constructively critique the work of national bioethics commissions as public deliberative forums. However, this public forum critique of bioethics commissions ignores empirical research in political science and normative claims that suggest that advisory commissions can and should have diverse of functions beyond that of being public forums. The present paper argues that the public forum critique too narrowly considers the roles that bioethics commissions can play in public bioethics and ignores the moral obligation of commissions to fulfill their mandates. Evaluations of com- missions must consider that these institutions can serve in capacities other than those of a public deliberative forum and use additional measures to evaluate the multiple roles and successes of bioethics commissions in public policy.
A New Science: The Discovery of Religion in the Age of Reason, by Guy G. Stroumsa, Harvard University Press: Cambridge, 2010, x + 223 pp. ISBN 978 0 674 04860 7, US$35.00 (hardback), ISBN 978 0 521 70708 4, US$19.99 (paperback)

A New Science: The Discovery of Religion in the Age of Reason, by Guy G. Stroumsa, Harvard University Press: Cambridge, 2010, x + 223 pp. ISBN 978 0 674 04860 7, US$35.00 (hardback), ISBN 978 0 521...
Solar energy: Economics and engineering research at the university of Wisconsin

The use of solar energy, in most applications, is dependent primarily on economic considerations; solar energy can become an important energy source when the costs of its use become competitive with the costs of energy from other sources. The basic and usually most costly item of equipment for solar energy utilization is the collector, or solar heat exchanger, and the amortization of the first cost of this and associated equipment is the major cost of solar energy. In this paper, the probable economic feasibility of several solar applications is assessed by using the costs of energy from present sources as a basis for estimating upper limits on the first cost of solar heat exchangers and their associated equipment. For example, for space heating in temperate climates, heat exchanger costs would have to be in the range of $1–6 for solar heating to be competitive; this appears to be within an attainable range. Economic considerations have helped shape the development of the Wisconsin solar energy program, and studies of solar heat exchangers and their application to heating, cooling and power generation are briefly described.
Malebranche and the General Will of God

Central to Nicolas Malebranche’s theodicy is the distinction between general volitions and particular volitions. One of the fundamental claims of his theodicy is that although God created a world with suffering and evil, God does not will these things by particular volitions, but only by general volitions. Commentators disagree about how to interpret Malebranche’s distinction. According to the ‘general content’ interpretation, the difference between general volitions and particular volitions is a difference in content. General volitions have general laws as their content and particular volitions have particular contents. The ‘particular content’ interpretation holds that all of God’s volitions have particular contents. The difference between general and particular volitions is whether the content of the volition is in accordance with the laws that God has established. A proper interpretation of this distinction is essential to understanding Malebranche’s theodicy, as well as his account of occasionalism a...
Lymphatic Reprogramming by Kaposi Sarcoma Herpes Virus Promotes the Oncogenic Activity of the Virus-Encoded G-protein–Coupled Receptor

Kaposi sarcoma, the most common cancer in HIV-positive individuals, is caused by endothelial transformation mediated by the Kaposi sarcoma herpes virus (KSHV)-encoded G-protein–coupled receptor (vGPCR). Infection of blood vascular endothelial cells (BEC) by KSHV reactivates an otherwise silenced embryonic program of lymphatic differentiation. Thus, Kaposi sarcoma tumors express numerous lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC) signature genes. A key unanswered question is how lymphatic reprogramming by the virus promotes tumorigenesis leading to Kaposi sarcoma formation. In this study, we present evidence that this process creates an environment needed to license the oncogenic activity of vGPCR. We found that the G-protein regulator RGS4 is an inhibitor of vGPCR that is expressed in BECs, but not in LECs. RGS4 was downregulated by the master regulator of LEC differentiation PROX1, which is upregulated by KSHV and directs KSHV-induced lymphatic reprogramming. Moreover, we found that KSHV upregulates the nuclear receptor LRH1, which physically interacts with PROX1 and synergizes with it to mediate repression of RGS4 expression. Mechanistic investigations revealed that RGS4 reduced vGPCR-enhanced cell proliferation, migration, VEGF expression, and Akt activation and suppressed tumor formation induced by vGPCR. Our findings resolve long-standing questions about the pathologic impact of KSHV-induced reprogramming of host cell identity, and they offer biologic and mechanistic insights supporting the hypothesis that a lymphatic microenvironment is more favorable for Kaposi sarcoma tumorigenesis. Cancer Res; 72(22); 5833–42. ©2012 AACR .
Theory of Precision in Linear Titration Curves

Abstract Error propagation in linear titration methods are considered in terms of the precision in measurement of the slopes and intercepts of the titration curve. Simulated curves including random errors were analyzed. The results indicate that the analytical precision is independent of the angle between the curves when the difference in slopes in fixed.
Adaptive vibrational behavior of cantilevered structures modeled as composite thin-walled beams

Abstract An integrated distributed actuator design methodology based upon the converse piezoelectric effect and aimed at actively controlling the vertical and lateral eigenvibration characteristics of cantilevered thin-walled beams is presented. The system of piezoelectric actuators bonded or embedded into the structure produces a localized strain field when an electric field is injected and, as a result, it yields an adaptive change of dynamic response characteristics. The numerical results which concern the eigenvibration properties suggest that this technology could play a major role in the control of dynamic instability and flutter of aircraft wings and helicopter blades, in particular, and in the improvement of the dynamic response behavior of cantilevered structures, in general.
Scanning Kelvin probe imaging of the potential profiles in fixed and dynamic planar LECs.

We measure the potential profiles of both dynamic and fixed junction planar light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) using Scanning Kelvin Probe Microscopy (SKPM) and compare the results against models of LEC operation. We find that, in conventional dynamic junction LECs formed using lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiTf), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), and the soluble alkoxy-PPV derivative poly[2-methoxy-5-(3‘,7‘-dimethyl-octyloxy)-p-phenylenevinylene (MDMO-PPV), the majority (>90%) of the potential is dropped near the cathode with little potential drop across either the film or the anode/polymer interface. In contrast, when examining fixed junction LECs where the LiTf is replaced with [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammonium 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethane-sulfonate (METMA/MES), the potential is dropped at both contacts during the initial poling. The potential profile evolves over a period of ∼60 min under bias to achieve a final profile similar to that obtained in the LiTf systems. In addition to eluci...
Solitons and kinks in a general car-following model.

We study a general car-following model of traffic flow on an infinitely long single-lane road, which assumes that a car's acceleration depends on time-delayed values of its own speed, the headway between it and the car ahead, and the rate of change of headway, but makes minimal assumptions about the functional form of that dependence. We present a detailed characterization of the onset of linear instability; in particular we find a specific limit on the delay time below which the marginal wave number at the onset of instability is zero, and another specific limit on the delay time above which steady flow is always unstable. Crucially, the threshold of absolute stability generally does not coincide with an inflection point of the steady-state velocity function. When the marginal perturbation at onset has wave number 0, we show that Burgers and Korteweg--de Vries (KdV) equations can be derived under the usual assumptions, and that corrections to the KdV equation ``select'' a single member of the one-parameter set of its one-soliton solutions by driving a slow evolution of the soliton parameter. While in previous models this selected soliton has always marked the threshold of a finite-amplitude instability of linearly stable steady flow, we find that it can alternatively be a stable, small-amplitude jam that occurs when steady flow is linearly unstable. The model reduces to the usual modified Korteweg--de Vries (mKdV) equation only in the special situation that the threshold of absolute stability coincides with an inflection point of the steady-state velocity function; in general, near the threshold of absolute stability the model reduces instead to a KdV equation in the regime of small solitons, while near an inflection point it reduces to a Hayakawa-Nakanishi equation. Like the mKdV equation, the Hayakawa-Nakanishi equation admits a continuous family of kink solutions, and the selection criterion arising from the corrections to this equation can be written down explicitly.
Evolutionary Biology and Pathology of Vitamin D

There is mounting evidence that essentially all fungi, plants and animals living on earth produce provitamin D. It is likely that once exposed to sunlight, these provitamins are converted to previtamin D. It is unclear why fungi, phytoplankton, zooplankton and plants have the capacity to produce such large quantities of provitamin D. It is likely, however, that provitamin D and possibly vitamin D play an important biologic role in these organisms. Buchala and Schmid [20] found, for example, that vitamin D3 promoted adventitious root development. It may be that provitamin D has a more fundamental function in lower life forms. Provitamin D and its photoproducts have UV absorption spectra that overlap with the ultraviolet absorption spectra from ultraviolet radiation-sensitive macromolecules including DNA, RNA and proteins. Thus, provitamin D and photoisomers could serve as a photon sink, and therefore, act as a natural sunscreen to protect lower life forms from the damaging effects of the high energy ultraviolet radiation that they are exposed to.It is more clear, however, that amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and humans all require vitamin D and that the vitamin D must be metabolized to 1, 25 (OH)2D3 before it can carry-out its physiologic functions on calcium and bone metabolism. The intense research activities during the past decade on the antiproliferative and differentiation activities of 1, 25(OH)2D3 has opened a new chapter for this vitamin/hormone [21-23]. 1, 25(OH)2D3 and its analogs are being developed for the treatment of psoriasis, breast cancer, and leukemia. As we approach the 21st century, it is likely that vitamin D compounds will be of clinical value not only for the treatment acquired disorders of 25-OH-D metabolism but also for the treatment of such diverse diseases as osteoporosis, arthritis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, cancer and as an agent to enhance wound healing.
Plastic creep flow effects in the diffusive cavitation of grain boundaries

The growth of cavities along grain interfaces was analyzed by the combined processes of grain boundary diffusion and plastic dislocation creep in the adjoining grains. It is shown that the coupling between the processes can be expressed in terms of a parameter L, which has the dimensions of length and which is a function of material properties, temperature and applied stress; L decreases with increasing temperature and stress and has values in the range of 0.25 to 25 ..mu..m for various pure metals when stressed to 10/sup -3/ x shear modulus at 0.5 T/sub m/. The contribution of dislocation creep to the cavity growth rate is shown to be negligible when L is comparable to or larger than the cavity spacing, but significant interactions occur, leading to growth rates very much in excess of those predicted on the basis of boundary diffusion alone, when L is comparable to or smaller than the cavity size. The coupling occurs because extensive dislocation creep allows local accomodation of matter diffused into the grain boundary from the cavity walls. The cavity growth rate is analyzed by formulating a new variational principle that governs combined processes of grain boundary diffusion and non-linear viscous creep, andmore » by implementing this principle through the finite-element method to obtain numerical solutions. Results for the cavity growth rate are presented for a wide range of ratios of L to cavity spacing, and of cavity radius to spacing. Also, results are presented for the total growth time of cavities from an initial size to final coalescence.« less
Rectal and brain temperatures in ethanol intoxicated mice.

The present study tested the assumption that deep rectal temperature reflects brain temperature in ethanol-intoxicated mice exposed to a range of ambient temperatures. Adult C57BL/6J mice were injected IP with one of three hypnotic doses of ethanol (3.2, 3.6, or 4.0 g/kg, 20% w/v) or with normal saline and were exposed to ambient temperatures of 15, 22, 32, or 34° C. Thirty minutes post-injection, the mice were killed by cervical dislocation, decapitated and their rectal and brain temperatures were recorded simultaneously. Rectal and brain temperatures in the intoxicated mice increased significantly as the ambient temperature increased and were highly correlated and linearly related with each other. Although correlated, brain and rectal temperatures in these mice did not change in parallel, with brain temperatures increasing less rapidly than rectal temperatures. Additional studies indicated that similar relationships (correlated, but non-parallel) exist between the brain and rectal temperatures at 60, 120, and 180 min after injection of 3.6 g/kg ethanol. These findings suggest that rectal temperature can be used to quantify brain temperature in intoxicated mice, and extend to intoxicated animals evidence that brain temperature is controlled independently from rectal temperature.
Signaling contours by neuromorphic wave propagation

We describe a neuromorphic retina that signals a luminance edge as a spike. In a fast process, the luminance profile of the receptor layer determines the membrane potential of the ganglion cells and their individual, adjustable spiking thresholds. In a slower process, a wave-propagation process, the charge of ganglion cells with high membrane potential will propagate toward neighboring cells with low membrane potential and low spiking threshold, thus signaling the edge as a spike. Following that, the signaled edge (or contour) actively propagates across the retinal map. The retinal signal can be used for a contour-integration or a contour-propagation approach.
Multitemporal characterization and mapping of montane sagebrush communities using Indian IRS LISS‐II imagery

Abstract The sagebrush landscape of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, forms four distinct communities: low sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula); mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata); mixed low sagebrush/big sagebrush; and a big sagebrush/bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) mosaic. Collectively, the sagebrush communities provide a significant source of forage for deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, and bison, particularly in winter. The objective of this research was to characterize seasonal changes in spectral reflectance for four sagebrush communities and to develop a multitemporal mapping procedure for the four sagebrush communities using Indian IRS LISS‐II multispectral satellite imagery. Results indicate that the four sagebrush communities can be best differentiated using visible bands of the IRS‐1B LISS‐II, independent of image date. Near‐infrared reflectance was of value for distinguishing between sites only in late fall (October). Statistically significant differences in NDVI values existed between t...
A biomechanical comparison of three lower extremity tendons for ligamentous reconstruction about the knee.

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate 3 previously unreported allograft tendons for use in knee surgery. These are the doubled tibialis anterior (TA), doubled tibialis posterior (TP), and doubled peroneus longus (PL) tendons. Type of Study: A biomechanical evaluation of the properties of the TA, TP, and PL. Methods: Sixteen fresh-frozen cadaveric lower limbs were used for testing. All specimens had the TA, TP, and PL tendons harvested. All specimens were tested in a custom-designed hydraulic testing machine using dry ice clamps. Each tendon was elongated at a rate of 1 mm/s. Load and displacement were recorded with an analog to digital interface board. Stiffness, modulus of elasticity, and stress and strain at failure were calculated. Results: The average tested lengths of the TA, TP, and PL were 37 cm (range, 13–68 cm), 33 cm (range, 7–74 cm), and 42 cm (range, 17–69 cm), respectively. The average cross-sectional areas of the doubled TA, TP, and PL were 38 mm 2 , 48 mm 2 , and 37 mm 2 , respectively. The average failure loads for the doubled TA, TP, and PL tendons were 3,412 N, 3,391 N, and 2,483 N, respectively. The maximum stresses of the 3 tendons did not differ significantly (85–108 Mpa). The TA had the greatest stiffness (344 N/mm), followed by the TP (302 N/mm) and the PL (244 N/mm). Previous authors have documented the biomechanical strength of grafts for ACL reconstruction between 1,700 and 2,900 Newtons. The ultimate tensile strength and stiffness reported for the TA and TP grafts exceeded that for all previously reported grafts, including the doubled semitendinosus-gracilis. Conclusions: The TA, TP, and PL tendons showed excellent biomechanical properties when compared with historical data evaluating other graft sources. The biomechanical properties observed for the TA, TP, and PL were noted in specimens despite an average age of 78.3 years.
Methods for Quasi-Linear Viscoelastic Modeling of Soft Tissue: Application to Incremental Stress-Relaxation Experiments

The quasi-linear viscoelastic (QLV) model was applied to incremental stress-relaxation tests and an expression for the stress was derived for each step. This expression was used to compare two methods for normalizing stress data prior to estimating QLV parameters. The first and commonly used normalization method was shown to be strain-dependent. Thus, a second normalization method was proposed and shown to be strain-independent and more sensitive to QLV time constants. These analytical results agreed with representative tendon data. Therefore, this method for normalizing stress data was proposed for future studies of incremental stress-relaxation, or whenever comparing stress-relaxation at different strains.
Auto-immunity in the Study of Religion(s): Ontotheology, Historicism and the Theorization of Indic Phenomena

Within the modern study of religion the division between philosophy of religion and the history of religions — long regarded as a truism insofar as it reflects the distinction between universal and particular — has become increasingly blurred in recent years with the growing influence of cultural and critical theory on the humanities and social sciences. Unlike the earlier paradigmatic split between theology and anthropology (or social science methodology), cultural theory has helped not only to dismantle well worn dualisms such as religion/politics, theism/atheism, sacred/secular, but more importantly has helped to narrow the gap between academic practices and cultural practices such as religion that scholars seek to study (Davaney 2002: 140). That is to say, cultural theory has simultaneously problema-tized and challenged essentialist and theological tendencies (such as dreams of absolute principles, supernatural origins, ahistorical authorities, pure traditions etc.) as well as scholars' claims to methodological objectivity and impartiality, since the academy far from being a site of neutral value-free analysis, is itself thoroughly implicated in cultural realities (Davaney 2002; Taylor 1999: 13–16). Indeed in what might seen as a reversal of critical theory's atheistic roots in the “masters of suspicion” (Marx, Nietzsche, Freud) contemporary cultural theory has been adapted by scholars not only to successfully dispute the atheistic presuppositions of modern secular thinking in the social sciences, thereby revitalizing religious and theological reflection in the Christian and Judaic traditions, but, more surprisingly perhaps, it has legitimized the use of phenomena from these particular traditions as resources for critical thinking about religion per se.
Use of Budner's Intolerance of Ambiguity Measure for Entrepreneurial Research:

The paper discusses the application of Budner's 16-item measure of intolerance of ambiguity in research with entrepreneurs. Results from two similar recent studies by Schere and Dollinger differ dramatically. Schere's sample of 52 tested low for intolerance of ambiguity while Dollinger's sample of 79 tested high. The statistically significant difference is attributed to the definition of the population and the sampling procedure employed.
Best approximation of a nonnormal operator in the trace norm

On determine quand certains operateurs non normaux ont un approximant positif unique dans la norme trace. On considere des operateurs sur un espace de Hilbert complexe separable H
Subscapularis tendon integrity: an examination of shoulder index tests.

Abstract Reference: Hegedus EJ, Goode A, Campbell S, et al. Physical examination tests of the shoulder: a systematic review with meta-analysis of individual tests. Br J Sports Med. 2008;42(2):80–92...
Effects of ultraviolet radiation and sunlight on the entomogenous nematode, Neoaplectana carpocapsae

Abstract Infective-stage juveniles of Neoaplectana carpocapsae were acutely sensitive to short uv radiation (254 nm) and natural sunlight. High nematode mortality, although delayed, accompanied uv exposure. Irradiation rapidly reduced nematode pathogenicity, so that nematodes exposed for 7 min were unable to cause lethal infections in Galleria mellonelia larvae. Moreover, the median survival time of Galleria larvae increased progressively as nematode exposure to uv was lengthened. Inhibition of nematode reproduction and development was noted at exposure periods longer than 2.45 and 5 min, respectively. However, irradiation did not appear to affect juvenile motility. Exposure to direct sunlight also reduced pathogenicity, in a range from 6.9 to 94.9% at 30 and 60 min of exposure, respectively. Long uv (366 nm) did not affect juveniles at the exposures tested.
DYNAMICS OF CALCIUM METABOLISM IN NEWBORNS (NB)

The dynamics of calcium (Ca) metabolism in NB are poorly defined although disorders are often encountered. We studied Ca dynamics in NB to improve our understanding of calcium physiology and provide a rational basis for therapy. An injection of radioactive Ca-47 was given to two NB monkeys and Ca-45 administered with each feeding; specific activities were determined in plasma, feces, and urine. Risks of radioisotopes led us to the analogous use of stable Ca-46 and Ca-48 in two low birth weight infants; these were measured by mass spectrometry. Analysis by computer modeling gave the following results in mg/kg/hr. The observed similarities between NB monkeys and humans in their calcium metabolism suggests this laboratory animal is an appropriate model. The exchangeable calcium turnover rate in NB is 14 times the adult rate, and bone calcium dynamics are likewise accelerated. Endogenous fecal Ca loss is also markedly increased in NB despite similarities to the adult in % absorption and urinary excretion. These studies demonstrate the value, safety, and potential of stable isotopes in defining Ca metabolism and disclosing related abnormalities in human infants. We are currently analyzing similar data from infants with short-gut syndrome and isolated dermal ossification.
Qualitative Comparative Analysis and Analytical Induction The Case of the Emergence of the Social Security State

This article bridges two research traditions, analytical induction (AI) and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) in the context of a study of early welfare state formation. First, the article differentiates classical AI from neoanalytical induction (NAI), tracing the latter to the former and identifying some problems with NAI. Next, it outlines QCA and identifies some problems with it. Third, it sketches two bridges, along with solutions that they offer for some limitations of NAI and QCA. One bridge links NAI's method, in essence a logical implementation of the idea of the working hypothesis, to QCA's powerful Boolean technology. The second bridge joins AI's stress on the reformulation of hypotheses in the face of negative evidence to QCA's capacities for complex inductive and logical specifications of the relations of explanatory to dependent variables. Following that, the article summarizes portions of a study of early 20th-century welfare state formation and uses them to illustrate the bridges. It c...
Simulation of Bubble Breakup Dynamics in Homogeneous Turbulence

This article presents numerical simulation results for the deformation and breakup of bubbles in homogeneous turbulence under zero gravity conditions. The lattice Boltzmann method was used in the simulations. Homogeneous turbulence was generated by a random stirring force that acted on the fluid in a three-dimensional periodic box. The grid size was sufficiently small that the smallest scales of motion could be simulated for the underlying bubble-free flow. The minimum Weber number for bubble breakup was found to be about 3. Bubble breakup was stochastic, and the average time needed for breakup was much larger for small Weber numbers than for larger Weber numbers. For small Weber numbers, breakup was preceded by a long period of oscillatory behavior during which the largest linear dimension of the bubble gradually increased. For all Weber numbers, breakup was preceded by a sudden increase in the largest linear dimension of the bubble. When the Weber number exceeded the minimum value, the average surface a...
Offspring production with cryopreserved sperm from a live-bearing fish Xiphophorus maculatus and implications for female fecundity

Abstract Xiphophorus fishes are well-established models for biomedical research of spontaneous or induced tumors, and their use in research dates back to the 1930s. Currently, 58 well-pedigreed lines exist among 24 Xiphophorus species housed as live animals at the Xiphophorus Genetic Stock Center. The technique of sperm cryopreservation has been applied to preserve these valuable genetic resources, and production of offspring has been reported with cryopreserved sperm in two species (X. helleri and X. couchianus). The goal of this research was to establish protocols for sperm cryopreservation and artificial insemination that yield live young in X. maculatus, a widely used research species. The objectives were to: 1) collect basic biological characteristics of males, and quantify the sperm production yield after crushing of dissected testis; 2) cryopreserve sperm from X. maculatus by adapting as necessary the protocols for sperm cryopreservation of X. helleri and X. couchianus; 3) use cryopreserved sperm to inseminate virgin females of X maculatus and other species (X. helleri and X. couchianus), and 4) compare experimental trials over a 3-year period to identify opportunities for improving female fecundity. In total, 117 males were used in this study with a standard length of 2.5 ± 0.3 cm (mean ± SD), body weight of 0.474 ± 0.149 g, and dissected testis weight of 7.1 ± 3.7 mg. Calculation of sperm availability showed 5.9 ± 2.8 × 106 sperm cells per mg of testis weight. Offspring were produced from cryopreserved sperm. Male-to-male variation (1–70%) was observed in post-thaw motility despite little variation in motility before freezing (60–90%) or genetic variation (~ 100 generations of sib-mating). Comparisons of biological factors of males did not have significant correlations with the production of live young, and the influence of females on production of young was identified from the comparison of artificial insemination over 3 years. Overall, this study describes offspring production from cryopreserved sperm in a third species of Xiphophorus fishes, and identifies the opportunities for improving female fecundity which is essential for establishment of germplasm repositories for Xiphophorus fishes.
Meningeal Hemangiopericytoma with Intracranial Metastases in an HIV-Positive Male: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Background: Meningeal hemangiopericytoma is a rare, aggressive CNS tumor that tends to invade locally, metastasize, and has a high rate of recurrence. HIV classically increases the risk of 3 AIDS-defining malignancies: Kaposi’s sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and invasive cervical cancer. More recently, considerable interest has been paid to the link between HIV and a wider range of non-AIDS-defining cancers. An HIV-positive patient with meningeal hemangiopericytoma is described. Case Description: A 36-year-old HIV-positive male presented with worsening headache and ataxia. The patient had experienced similar neurologic symptoms 4 months prior and MRI at that time had showed an extra-axial left cerebellar mass most consistent with benign meningioma. Repeat MRI showed the tumor had increased in size by a factor of greater than 20 in this 4-month period, with 4 small additional foci of similar enhancement. Subtotal resection was performed on the mass and final pathological diagnosis was meningeal hemangiopericytoma. Conclusions: This represents the first reported case of meningeal hemangiopericytoma in an HIV-positive patient. This is also the shortest time to intracranial metastasis ever reported for a meningeal hemangiopericytoma. Although the increased risk in the HIV-positive population of non-AIDS-defining cancers that has been observed in recent years can largely be attributed to cancers with a known viral pathogenesis, it is speculated that HIV infection in this patient may have contributed to the occurrence or unique behavior of this rare tumor.
A simple hardware-based statistical model on 65nm SOI CMOS technology

As CMOS devices further scale down, the variation of electrical parametric becomes significant and is critical for VLSI design. However, the difficulty in device statistical modeling also increases. The parasitics and second-order effect are not negligible, and the impact of process variations on device parametrics are usually correlated, which complicates the extraction of industry standard models (e.g. BSIM). Moreover, there is a critical trade-off on the number of independent variates in the model: too many variates makes the simulation and design impractical, while too few makes the statistics modeled incorrect. In this paper, for the first time, a novel strategy to determine the independent variates of the state-of-the-art CMOS technology without losing simplicity and accuracy is demonstrated, and a statistical modeling approach using these variates is presented. This modeling methodology is applied to characterize IBM 65nm SOI device. It directly shows major variations of the technology, and greatly reduces the model complexity. Moreover, it exhibits excellent model-hardware agreement on a large number of samples. The simplified model offers an explicit electrical approach to analyze the control of key process steps. It is well fit for advanced device technology characterization and VLSI design.
Preparation and characterization of new proton conducting chalcogenide glasses

Abstract Proton modified sulfide glasses analogous to ion conducting alkali-modified glasses have been prepared and characterized. Meta-thioboric acid (H 3 B 3 S 6 ) was used as a precursor for anhydrous protons and several series of ternary systems with a general formula (H 2 S + B 2 S 3 + M n S m ; M n S m = GeS 2 , As 2 S 3 , SiS 2 ) have been studied. The preparation, structural characterization, and proton conductivity of these materials are reported. These materials are anhydrous proton conductors at temperatures above 100 °C and as such are based on a new type of proton bonding and motion. These materials are unique and proton migration occurs without the aid of hydrogen bonding (liquid H 2 O) or a special sub-lattice for proton migration. The present study illustrates the importance of chalcogenide materials towards the development of novel fast proton conductors.
Spontaneous splenic rupture following the administration of intravenous heparin: case report and retrospective case review.

We report the case of a 40-year-old African-American female who presented to the Emergency Department with unstable angina. The patient, who had multiple risk factors for coronary artery disease, was admitted to the coronary care unit for cardiac work-up and management. Shortly after the intravenous administration of unfractionated heparin, she suffered the acute onset of upper abdominal pain and shock. A CT scan of the abdomen revealed splenic rupture with hemoperitoneum. The patient, who was managed surgically, had complete recovery before discharge. A review of systems and medical records revealed no obvious risk factors or other potential etiology for this rupture. We herein provide the characteristics of this rarely documented causal relationship between heparin and spontaneous splenic rupture and retrospectively review similar cases in the literature.
Physicians and Managed Care: Challenges in the New Environment

The online version of the original article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.1999.00265.x
Concentrations of iodine determined by pre-irradiation combustion and neutron activation analysis in powdered grass as a function of particle size

Abstract Pre-irradiation combustion of a sample to liberate iodine, trapping the iodine on charcoal and quantifying the element by neutron activation analysis (NAA), has proven to be a reliable technique for the determination of iodine in biological samples. This method has been applied to the determination of iodine content of a powdered grass material that was prepared by another laboratory for use as an in-house quality assurance material. Analyses of aliquots of the material yielded results that ranged from 0.45 to 0.96 μg/g of iodine, so additional studies were undertaken in order to determine material homogeneity. Visual inspection indicated that the material was inhomogeneous with respect to particle size. To determine whether various sizes of particles contained different amounts of iodine, the material was sieved into four differently sized fractions and a portion of each fraction was analyzed. Variations in iodine concentration as a function of particle size were observed. The fraction containing particles of sizes greater than 350 μm, the woody and fibrous plant parts, contained the least iodine (0.43 ± 0.09 μg/g, average ± expanded uncertainty), while iodine concentrations in the subsequent three fractions increased with decreasing particle size with a maximum concentration of 0.89 ± 0.13 μg/g for particles less than 75 μm. These results support conclusions of many researchers that trace element concentrations are inhomogeneously distributed in various cells and structural parts, and emphasize the importance of achieving uniform particle sizes during sample grinding and blending in the preparation of reference materials.
A 1,2,4-diazaphospholane complex of rhodium.

The crystal structure of a prospective olefin catalyst, namely [2-[1-acetyl-5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-1,2,4-diazaphospholan-3-yl]phenyl acetate-kappaP]chloro(eta(4)-cycloocta-1,5-diene)rhodium(I) dichloromethane solvate, [RhCl(C(8)H(12))(C(24)H(23)N(2)O(4)P)].CH(2)Cl(2), has been determined at 173 K. The five-membered heterocycle of the phosphine ligand is in a slightly distorted twist conformation. An intramolecular N1-H1.Cl1 hydrogen bond contributes to the adopted conformation and may additionally participate in secondary interactions with substrates during catalysis.
Flexor Tendon Repair Using a Stainless Steel Internal Anchor: Biomechanical study on human cadaver tendons

We have developed a stainless steel internal tendon anchor that is used to strengthen a tendon repair. This study tested its use in vitro to produce a repair that can withstand the tensile strength demands of early active flexion. Fresh human cadaver flexor digitorum profundus tendons were harvested, divided, and then repaired using four different techniques: Kessler, Becker or Savage stitches, or the internal tendon anchor. The internal splint repairs demonstrated a 99-270% increase in mean maximal linear tensile strength and a 49-240% increase in mean ultimate tensile strength over the other repairs. It is hoped that this newly developed internal anchor will provide a repair that will be strong enough to allow immediate active range of motion.
The adaptive control of smart structures using neural networks

The application of adaptive control algorithms for vibration suppression of smart structures is investigated in this paper. The controller adapts to the parameter variations of the structural system by updating the controller gains. When the desired performance of an unknown plant with respect to an input signal can be specified in the form of a linear or a non-linear differential equation, stable control can be achieved using model-reference adaptive control (MRAC) techniques. The conventional MRAC techniques have been successfully implemented on a smart-structure test article resulting in perfect model following. The authors have also investigated the design of neural-network-based adaptive control system for smart structures. A direct variable model identification technique using neural networks has been developed. An iterative inversion of a neural model of the forward dynamics of the plant has been utilized for the implementation of a neural controller. This algorithm generates a smooth control. The authors have also developed an adaptive neuron activation function for reducing the learning time of neural networks.
Relationship between chemotherapy use and cognitive impairments in older women with breast cancer: findings from a large population-based cohort.

Background: Several small scale clinical trials indicated a possible relationship between chemotherapy administration and the increased risk of cognitive impairments in patients with breast cancer, but little information was available from large population-based cohort studies. Methods: We studied 62,565 women who were diagnosed with stages I-IV breast cancer at age ≥65 years from 1991 through 2002 from 16 regions in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program who were free of cognitive impairments at diagnosis with up to 16 years of follow-up, and also studied 9752 matched cohort based on the propensity of receiving chemotherapy. The cumulative incidence of cognitive impairments was calculated and the time to event (cognitive impairments) analysis was conducted using Cox hazard regression model. Results: Overall, patients who received chemotherapy were 8% more likely to have drug-induced dementia compared with those without chemotherapy, but that was not statistically significant after adjusting for patient and tumor characteristics (hazard ratio = 1.08, 95% confidence interval = 0.85–1.37). The risk of developing Alzheimer disease, vascular dementia, or other dementias was significantly lower in patients receiving chemotherapy except for cognitive disorder which was not significantly different between the 2 chemotherapy groups. The results were somewhat similar in the entire cohort and the matched cohort based on the probability of receiving chemotherapy. Conclusion: There was no significant association between chemotherapy and the risk of developing drug-induced dementia and unspecified cognitive disorders. The risk of developing Alzheimer disease, vascular dementia, or other dementias was significantly lower in patients receiving chemotherapy. This study with long-term follow-up did not support the findings that chemotherapy was associated with an increased risk of late stage cognitive impairments.
The role of insulin and IGF-1 signaling in longevity

There are many theories of aging and parameters that influence lifespan, including genetic instability, telomerase activity and oxidative stress. The role of caloric restriction, metabolism and insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling in the process of aging is especially well conserved throughout evolution. These latter factors interact with each other, the former factors and histone deacetylases of the SIR family in a complex interaction to influence lifespan.
Cellular immunity in patients with malignant melanoma and their household contacts

Immune reactivity was measured in control subjects and in 86 patients with malignant melanoma using four tests of cellular immunity. In addition, cellular immune reactivity to melanoma extract was studied in 13 household contacts of patients with melanoma. Thirty percent (4/13) of the household contacts showed reactivity to melanoma extract as determined by lymphocyte stimulation as compared to 20% of patients and 5% of controls. Seventy-two percent (8/11) household contacts showed reactivity as measured by the indirect MIF test, compared to 38% of patients and 23% of normal controls. As determined by the leukocyte migration inhibition test, 71% (5/7) of household contacts showed reactivity to melanoma extract versus 20% of patients and 22% of controls. The number of household contacts studied was low; however, it was observed that these subjects showed responses to melanoma extract with considerably greater frequency than did normal control subjects, and the frequency of positive responses in patients with melanoma was intermediate between that of the household contacts and the normal controls.
Long-Term Forecasting with Innovation Diffusion Models: The Impact of Replacement Purchases

The model presented in this paper integrates two distinct components of the demand for durable goods: adoptions and replacements. The adoption of a new product is modeled as an innovation diffusion process, using price and population as exogenous variables. Adopters are expected to eventually replace their old units of the product, with a probability which depends on the age of the owned unit, and other random factors such as overload, stylechanges etc. It is shown that the integration of adoption and replacement demand components in our model yields quality sales forecasts, not only under conditions where detailed data on replacement sales is available, but also when the forecaster's access is limited to total sales data and educated guesses on certain elements of the replacement process.