cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Facile synthesis of PEGylated PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating doxorubicin and its in vitro evaluation as potent drug delivery vehicle

The advent of nanotechnology has bolstered a variety of nanoparticle-based platforms for different biomedical applications. A better understanding for engineering novel nanoparticles for applications in cancer staging and therapy requires careful assessment of the nanoparticle’s physico-chemical properties. Herein we report a facile synthesis method for PEGylated PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating anti-cancer drug doxorubicin for cancer imaging and therapy. The simple nanoprecipitation method reported here resulted in very robust PEGylated PLGA nanoparticles with close to 95 % drug encapsulation efficiency. The nanoparticles showed a size of ~110 nm as characterized by TEM and DLS. The nanoparticles were further characterized by optical UV–Visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. The encapsulated doxorubicin showed a sustained release (>80 %) from the nanoparticles matrix over a period of 8 days. The drug delivery efficiency of the nanoparticles was confirmed in vitro confocal imaging with PC3 and HeLa cell lines. In vitro quantitative estimation of drug accumulation in PC3 cell line showed a 22 times higher concentration of drug in case of nanoparticle-based formulation in comparison to free drug and this was further reflected in the in vitro cytotoxicity assays. Overall the synthesis method reported here provides a simple and robust PLGA-based platform for efficient drug delivery and imaging of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
A numerical technique for three‐dimensional compressible boundary layers

The non-linear two-point boundary value problem for three-dimensional compressible boundary layers is solved through the application of a boundary value technique for a range of parameters characterizing the nature of stagnation point flows. The analytical boundary conditions, at infinity, are applied at the edge of the computational mesh with iterations on the size of the domain. The solutions obtained show excellent agreement with the established similarity solutions for three-dimensional flows. The present method has the potential advantage of yielding the wall values of f″w, g″w and θ′w as a part of the solution, contrary to the previously used ‘shooting’ methods. The algorithm is computationally simple and numerically stable and extremely suitable for engineering design applications.
Fiber optic oxygen sensor using metal-halide cluster luminescence

We report on a reflection mode fiber optic oxygen sensor based on the 3O2 quenching of the red emission from hexanuclear molybdenum chloride clusters. Measurements of the probe operating in a 0 - 20% gaseous oxygen environment have been obtained, which is suitable for biological and automotive applications. The luminescence signal increases with decreasing oxygen concentration in accordance with theory. We observe clearly resolvable steps in the sensor response for changes of 0.1% absolute oxygen concentration in the 0 to 1.0% range. The response time of the fiber probe is less than or equal to 30 s, limited at present by the gas mixing system. The sensor is fabricated by immobilizing the clusters in an oxygen permeable polymer at the end of an UV transmissive optical fiber. For a 1.5 m long fiber pumped at 325 nm, the auto-fluorescence is less than 4% of the reflected luminescence signal from 600 - 850 nm, enabling remote probing of oxygen in harsh environments. The present probe is thermally stable to 200 degrees Celsius, limited by the polymer matrix. Since the clusters are synthesized at 1000 degrees Celsius, immobilization of the clusters in an inert sol-gel matrix is an attractive alternative. This will enable oxygen sensing in gaseous environments at elevated temperatures as well as liquid environments with varying salinity and pH.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Teaching Method Effectiveness in Relation to Certain Student Characteristics

AbstractThe effectiveness of three teaching: methods (conventional lectures and class discussion, small-group discussion, and taped lectures) was investigated In relation to five student characteristics: cumulative grade-point average, creativity, achievement needs, social need, and attitude toward teaching method. Subjects were 300 college undergraduates. The instructional material was a unit In physiological psychology. Significant positive coefficients of correlation were obtained between scores on an achievement test, over the Instructional material, and social need under conventional lecture and small-group discussion methods. Social need was found to be significantly negatively related to achievement under the taped lecture method. Achievement was found to be positively related to creativity only for the small-group discussion method. Findings suggest that teaching method effectiveness varies considerably as a function of certain student characteristics.
Theoretical study of hydrogenation of the doubly aromatic B7- cluster.

We have studied the influence of hydrogenation on the relative stability of the low-lying isomers of the anionic B 7 − cluster, computationally. It is known that the pure-boron B 7 − cluster has a doubly (σ- and π-) aromatic C6v (3A1) quasi-planar wheel-type triplet global minimum (structure 1), a low-lying σ-aromatic and π-antiaromatic quasi-planar singlet C2v (1A1) isomer 2 (0.7 kcal mol−1 above the global minimum), and a planar doubly (σ- and π-) antiaromatic C2v (1A1) isomer 3 (7.8 kcal mol−1 above the global minimum). However, upon hydrogenation, an inversion in the stability of the species occurs. The planar B7H 2 − (C2v, 1A1) isomer 4, originated from the addition of two hydrogen atoms to the doubly antiaromatic B 7 − isomer 3, becomes the global minimum structure. The second most stable B7H 2 − isomer 5, originated from the quasi-planar triplet wheel isomer 1 of B 7 − , was found to be 27 kcal mol−1 higher in energy. The inversion in stability occurs due to the loss of the doubly aromatic character in the wheel-type global minimum isomer (C6v, 3A1) of B 7 − upon H2−addition. In contrast, the planar isomer of B 7 − (C2v, 1A1) gains aromatic character upon addition of two hydrogen atoms, which makes it more stable.
CANINE CERVICAL DISCOGRAPHY

A technique was developed to perform cervical discography in dogs. The radiographic appearance of 70 normal canine cervical discograms was established. No clinical effects were detected when the contrast medium was injected into the discs. No abnormalities were found in subsequent pathologic examinations. In four dogs with cervical disc disease, dorsal and lateral ruptures of the annulus fibrosus were detected by discography. When combined with myelography, discography allowed differentiation between various causes of spinal compression at intervertebral spaces.
Elemental abundances of ultraheavy cosmic rays

The elemental composition of the cosmic-ray source is different from that which has been generally taken as the composition of the solar system. No general enrichment of products of either r-process or s-process nucleosynthesis accounts for the differences over the entire range of ultraheavy (Z > 30) elements; specific determination of nucleosynthetic contributions to the differences depends upon an understanding of the nature of any acceleration fractionation. Comparison between the cosmic-ray source abundances and the abundances of C1 and C2 chondritic meteorites suggests the possibility that differences between the cosmic-ray source and the “standard (C1) solar system” may not be due to acceleration fractionation of the cosmic rays, but may be due instead to a fractionation of the C1 abundances with respect to the interstellar abundances.
Pushing the Limits of Vehicle Design: Utilizing a Parametric Shape Grammar to Explore Cross-Over Vehicle Concepts

As consumers express a desire for vehicles that are useful for multiple purposes, automobile manufacturers are responding with vehicles that blur the distinctions between vehicle classes. By understanding the traditional classes, new cross-over vehicles can be developed. Parametric shape grammars offer the flexibility to create innovative new designs both within and across classes, while staying within appropriate form and functional constraints attributed to automobiles. Through the use of universal rules and the understanding of allowable parametric ranges, many novel cross-over vehicle concepts can easily be created.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Knowledge-based simulation at RAND

The current object-oriented simulation paradigm is a powerful discrete-state modeling technique that allows modelers to encapsulate the definitions of objects while allowing users to view models at meaningful levels. Yet object-oriented simulation has many limitations, notably its inability to answer questions that go beyond the "What if...?" analysis that is the traditional domain of simulation. The following describes ongoing research by the Knowledge-Based Simulation project (KBSim) at RAND to extend object-oriented simulation in fundamental ways.
Predicting the need for hospitalization of ambulatory patients with pneumonia.

Objective:To develop clinical guidelines to identify patients with pneumonia who might be safely treated as outpatients. Design:Retrospective chart review to derive guidelines, with subsequent prospective validation. Setting:Initial review completed for patients seen in the emergency room (ER) of a university hospital and a community-based internal medicine practice. Validation conducted in the ERs of a university hospital and a community teaching hospital. Patients/participants:Individuals aged 16 years and older presenting with newly diagnosed pneumonia. Follow-up obtained through mail or telephone contact and chart review. Interventions:None. Measurements and main results:During the initial retrospective review, 141 pneumonia patients without obvious reasons for hospital admission were identified and then classified as hospitalization necessary or unnecessary. Of these patients, 33 were classified as requiring admission. Multivariate analysis identified five variables that differentiated low-risk from high-risk study patients. These variables (and their relative weights) were: serious comorbid illness (3 points); preexisting lung disease (2 points); multilobar lung involvement by the disease by chest x-ray (2 points); observed or likely aspiration (2 points); and symptom duration of 28 days (1 point). Risk scores were calculated using these variables. Patients with low scores (0–2 points) rarely bad complications, and only one of 53 such patients (2%) was judged to require hospitalization. In contrast, patients with high scores (≥6 points) had frequent complications and 20 of 29 (69%) were felt to need hospitalization. Similar results were found during the validation phase. Conclusions:Clinical findings appear to help distinguish patients who need admission for treatment of pneumonia from those who do not. If validated in other settings, the clinical utility of these guidelines in assisting decision making about hospitalization should be determined.
The inevitability of renal function loss in patients with hypercreatinemia.

Although it is anticipated that most patients with renal insufficiency will progress towards end-stage renal disease (ESRD) there have been few population-based studies to validate this assumption. We examined serial creatinines from 3,874 anonymous patients at an urban VA medical center who had a baseline creatinine of 1.4 mg/dl or greater to estimate the frequency of deterioration in renal function (DRF). DRF was defined as the first Cr (1stCr) value being lower than the last Cr (LCr) for each patient. The median follow-up was 48.3 ± 0.5 months with 18 ± 0.5 creatinine values per patient. The median 1stCr was 1.6 ± 0.1 mg/dl with 32.2% of the patients having a 1stCr greater than or equal to 1.7 mg/dl. In the study group, 1,723 (44.4%) had DRF including 1,089 (41.4%) of those patients with a 1stCr of 1.4–1.7 mg/dl. However, 45 (36.6%) of those with a 1stCr value 3.0–5.0 mg/dl did not have DRF, the percent with stable creatinine in this group did not vary with length of follow-up. Over the study period, 299 (7.7%) of all the patients had a creatinine rise to 7.0 mg/dl, with 104 (4%) of those with a 1stCr of 1.4–1.7 mg/dl reaching this endpoint. Conclusion: A majority, but not all, patients with renal insufficiency lose renal function over time and those with even mild hypercreatinemia are at risk for deterioration in renal function. Hypercreatinemia, however, does not accurately discriminate between those renal insufficiency patients who are stable versus those at high risk for ESRD.
Cooperative effect in ion pairing of oligolysine with heptafluorobutyric acid in reversed-phase chromatography

The retention behavior of an oligolysine mixture, consisting of two to eight residues, was examined at different concentrations of heptafluorobutyric acid (HFBA) in the mobile phase using a C18 column. A single ion record (SIR) mode of the mass spectrometer produced a distinct retention time for each oligomer component. As the concentration of HFBA increased, the retention time of each oligomer increased. Furthermore, the increase in retention time is chain-length dependent such that, the longer the oligomer chain, the more rapid was the rate that retention time increased. A closed pairing model that presumes an equilibrium between the unpaired state and the paired state with a fixed number of HFBA molecules was used to analyze the retention factor as a function of [HFBA]. Curve fitting gave estimates of the ion-pairing equilibrium constant (K(ip,m)), the distribution constant of paired oligolysine (K(D,ip)), and the number of paired HFBA for each oligolysine (n). The plot of the fraction of paired oligolysine in the mobile phase, estimated from K(ip,m) and n as a function of [HFBA], revealed a cooperative effect. In contrast, an open pairing model that assumes independent pairing of HFBA with each residue failed to describe the observed retention behavior.
Determination of the forging-heating schedule or a large “HASTELlOY” alloy X ingot

The thermal stresses generated by nonuniform temperature distribution during the heating of cold large-diameter HASTELLOY alloy X ingots were determined; the stress figures were obtained by way of temperature profiles calculated during representative heating cycles. The thermal stress along the longitudinal axis at the center of the ingot (in tension) was selected as the critical parameter, and a maximum allowable stress of 90 pct of the 0.2 pct yield strength was imposed to avoid fracture. From this analysis, a heating practice which maximizes the in-furnace heating rate and still avoids ingot fracture can be designed.
A PHASE SPACE ANALYSIS OF A NON-LINEAR OSCILLATOR EQUATION

The purpose of this note is to prove that all solutions of the studied equation are periodic. This is accomplished by using methods from the qualitative theory of differential equations
222RN at Bermuda and Mauna Loa: Local and distant sources

Continuous measurements of atmospheric222Rn were made for the past three years by the Environmental Measurements Laboratory (EML) at the Atmosphere/Ocean Chemistry Experiment site located at Tudor Hill, Bermuda and at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory Mauna Loa Observatory. The222Rn analyzer is based on the two-filter tube method. At the Bermuda site, monthly median222Rn concentration range from ∼50 to 700 mBq m−3, and the concentrations vary seasonally, with a maximum in the winter and a minimum in the summer. The concentrations are significantly elevated when local winds traverse the island. At MLO, monthly median222Rn concentrations range from ∼ 100 mBq m−3 during the fall months to ∼ 400 mBq m−3 during the spring months. The springtime maximum values correspond to periods of rapid transport in the free troposphere from the Asian continent, corroborated by backward air mass trajectories. The222Rn data are also used to help decipher local daily upslope/downslope conditions present at MLO. This study illustrates the value of atmospheric222Rn monitoring, when screened through the filter of local meteorology, in studying the transport of continental air to the oceans, as well as the dynamics of local meteorological effects.
Buffer induced modification of 6-sulfated disaccharide in chondroitin lyase digestions.

Abstract High-performance liquid chromatographic analyses of chondroitin lyase AC or ABC hydrolysates revealed unexpected high content of material coeluting with the nonsulfated disaccharide 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3- O -(β- d -gluco-4-enepyranosyl uronic acid)- d -galactose. Incubation of a commercial preparation of the 6-sulfated disaccharide, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3- O -(β- d -gluco-4-enepyranosyl uronic acid)-6- O -sulfo- d -galactose with “enriched Tris buffer” generated material coeluting with nonsulfated disaccharide. The amount of material exhibiting this anomalous chromatographic behavior was proportional to the amount of 6-sulfated disaccharide added to the incubation mixture. This suggested a precursor/product relationship between the 6-sulfated disaccharide and the anomalous peak. The result was specific for the 6-sulfated disaccharide: incubation of the 4-sulfated disaccharide, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3- O -(β- d -gluco-4-enepyranosyl uronic acid)-4- O -sulfo- d -galactose, with enriched Tris buffer did not generate material with anomalous chromatographic properties. When [ 35 S]sulfate labeled cartilage glycosaminoglycans were hydrolyzed with chondroitin lyases, some of the radioactivity coeluted with the nonsulfated disaccharide. Thus, buffer-induced modification of 6-sulfated disaccharide was not caused by hydrolysis of ester sulfate. Although the proportion of the 6-sulfated disaccharide which was recovered in the anomalous peak was constant for incubations done simultaneously, incubations done at different times gave variable results. Thus, control incubations of 6-sulfated disaccharide with chondroitinase buffer must be included with each reaction series to allow correction for the proportion of the material eluting with nonsulfated disaccharide which is actually 6-sulfated.
The distribution of /s/vs./š/ and related issues in Aztecan phonology and etymology

Abstract Extract 1. There always seems to be more to say about the phonological development of the various attested Uto-Aztecan (UA) languages from Proto-Uto-Aztecan (PUA). Since the groundbreaking work of Sapir (1913, 1915), much progress has been made in many areas of UA studies, among them the description of individual languages, the collection of sets of cognates or possible cognates and the discovery of a number of sound laws (e.g., Voegelin, Voegelin, and Hale 1963, Miller 1967, 1988), and the beginnings of a comparative morphology (e.g., Langacker 1977, Heath 1977, 1978) which Sapir had promised but never wrote. But the goal of formulating a precise phonological system for the proto-language and a rigorous account of its developments in each of the daughter languages has not yet been fully accomplished, not even for the most widely studied UA language, Nahuatl (together with the other Aztecan dialects), 2 Unless otherwise indicated, all Nahuatl forms are from Karttunen (1983), Pochutec from Boas (1...
Some Notes on Wettability and Relative Permeabilities of Carbonate Reservoir Rocks, II

Abstract Extensive research work (examination of 161 limestone, dolomitic limestone, calcitic dolomite, and dolomite cores) on wettability of carbonate reservoir rocks by the writers indicate that 15 percent of these rocks are strongly oil-wet (θ = 160°-180°; some are bitumen coated), 65 percent are oil-wet (θ = 100°-160°), 12 percent have intermediate wettability (θ = 80°-100°), and 8 percent are water-wet (θ = 0°-80°). These results on carbonate reservoir rock cores from all over the world show that the majority of carbonates are oil-wet.
Confinement times in quasi-trapping orbits

Baker proposed a method of injecting charged particles into a static magnetic field such that particles on these ‘trapping orbits’ never return to the vicinity of the injector and remain permanently trapped. Their infinite confinement time requires that their energy, E o , be specified with infinite precision. When the energy differs from this by a small amount, E , the particle escapes after a finite confinement time, of the order of In ( E o /E ) cyclotron periods.
Coverage theories for metagenomic DNA sequencing based on a generalization of Stevens’ theorem

Metagenomic project design has relied variously upon speculation, semi-empirical and ad hoc heuristic models, and elementary extensions of single-sample Lander–Waterman expectation theory, all of which are demonstrably inadequate. Here, we propose an approach based upon a generalization of Stevens’ Theorem for randomly covering a domain. We extend this result to account for the presence of multiple species, from which are derived useful probabilities for fully recovering a particular target microbe of interest and for average contig length. These show improved specificities compared to older measures and recommend deeper data generation than the levels chosen by some early studies, supporting the view that poor assemblies were due at least somewhat to insufficient data. We assess predictions empirically by generating roughly 4.5 Gb of sequence from a twelve member bacterial community, comparing coverage for two particular members, Selenomonas artemidis and Enterococcus faecium, which are the least (\(\sim \)3 %) and most (\(\sim \)12 %) abundant species, respectively. Agreement is reasonable, with differences likely attributable to coverage biases. We show that, in some cases, bias is simple in the sense that a small reduction in read length to simulate less efficient covering brings data and theory into essentially complete accord. Finally, we describe two applications of the theory. One plots coverage probability over the relevant parameter space, constructing essentially a “metagenomic design map” to enable straightforward analysis and design of future projects. The other gives an overview of the data requirements for various types of sequencing milestones, including a desired number of contact reads and contig length, for detection of a rare viral species.
Anomalous Single Left Pulmonary Vein Mimicking A Parenchymal Nodule

A patient with the preoperative diagnosis of indeterminate pulmonary nodule which proved at operation to be a single left pulmonary vein has been presented. No resection was performed and delayed postoperative pulmonary angiography confirmed the operative diagnosis. We discuss differential diagnosis and a retrospective analysis of how unnecessary thoracotomy might have been avoided.
Proposed Solution Methodology for the Dynamically Coupled Nonlinear Geared Rotor Mechanics Equations

The equations which describe the three-dimensional motion of an unbalanced rigid disk in a shaft system are nonlinear and contain dynamic-coupling terms. Traditionally, investigators have used an order analysis to justify ignoring the nonlinear terms in the equations of motion, producing a set of linear equations. This paper will show that, when gears are included in such a rotor system, the nonlinear dynamic-coupling terms are potentially as large as the linear terms. Because of this, one must attempt to solve the nonlinear rotor mechanics equations. A solution methodology is investigated to obtain approximate steady-state solutions to these equations. As an example of the use of the technique, a simpler set of equations is solved and the results compared to numerical simulations. These equations represent the forced, steady-state response of a spring-supported pendulum. These equations were chosen because they contain the type of nonlinear terms found in the dynamically-coupled nonlinear rotor equations. The numerical simulations indicate this method is reasonably accurate even when the nonlinearities are large.
THYROID ADENOMAS IN SHEEP ADMINISTERED IODINE-131 DAILY

THE role of iodine-131 in the possible development of thyroid tumours has been a matter of considerable concern in view of its widespread clinical use. The occurrence of thyroid tumours in rats after single-dose administration of iodine-131 has been described by Goldberg and Chaikoff1; but no reports of such tumour development in other species have been recorded. During the course of an extended investigation of the effects of iodine-131 administered daily to sheep2,3, thyroid adenomas were encountered in four of a group of five sheep which were exposed to 5 µc. iodine-131 per day for their lifetime. The development of a fibrosarcoma in the thyroid region of the remaining member of this group is reported separately4.
Imitations of Insanity and Victorian Medical Aesthetics

The pre-eminent figure in mid-Victorian psychological medicine, Dr. John Conolly had his reputation damaged in the 1850s by scandals linking him to cases of wrongful confinement, including one that figures in Charles Reade’s novel, Hard Cash. This essay looks at two major works Conolly published during the scandals and argues that they are responses to the charges against him. Both works focus on representations of insanity in art, rather than actual patients. “The Physiognomy of Insanity” (1858-59) is a series of essays on photographic portraits of asylum patients, and his essays prove to be more fictional than factual. A Study of Hamlet (1863) looks at the ambiguity of madness in Shakespeare’s portrayal of Hamlet, but it explains how Conolly understood the relationship between fact and fiction in cases of insanity. In both works, Conolly defends himself as an aesthete and defines his diagnostic method as a deliberate and necessary form of impressionism.
Paulin Hountondji, African Philosophy, and Philosophical Methodology

Soulignant le danger de ghettoisation qui accompagne la creation institutionnelle de departements de philosophie consacres a la tradition africaine et aux autres minorites culturelles, l'A. etudie la double finalite de l'ouvrage de P. Hountondji intitule «African philosophy: myth and reality» (1996) qui consiste a evaluer a la fois les mythes et la realite de la philosophie africaine, apprehendee comme un ensemble arbitraire d'etudes de cas. Deplorant l'absence d'une representation collective de la conception africaine du monde, et mesurant l'influence d'une discrimination geographique sur la motivation politique des Africains a prendre en main leur destin intellectuel, Hountondji denonce une forme de racisme intellectuel qui consiste a considerer comme philosophiques en Afrique certains materiaux methodologiques, ethnophilosophiques et anthropologiques, qui ne le seraient pas dans la tradition euro-americaine
The rich get richer: patterns of plant invasions in the United States

Observations from islands, small-scale experiments, and mathematical models have generally supported the paradigm that habitats of low plant diversity are more vulnerable to plant invasions than areas of high plant diversity. We summarize two independent data sets to show exactly the opposite pattern at multiple spatial scales. More significant, and alarming, is that hotspots of native plant diversity have been far more heavily invaded than areas of low plant diversity in most parts of the United States when considered at larger spatial scales. Our findings suggest that we cannot expect such hotspots to repel invasions, and that the threat of invasion is significant and predictably greatest in these areas.
Gender and Work during Transition Job Loss in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, and Russia

Did gender affect access to jobs during the transition from state socialism to market capitalism in Eastern Europe and Russia? Using cross-national survey data from 1993 and 2000, this analysis tes...
Conjugated Poly-P-Phenylene (PPP) From Poly(1,3-Cyclohexadiene) (PCHD) Homo- and Block Copolymers: Controlled Processability and Properties

Conjugated polymers have been used as solid-state materials for a variety of opto-electronic applications. Thus, their processability in a number of device fabrication protocols is an important consideration. In this report, we indicate our results on the synthesis of conjugated poly- p-phenylene (PPP) materials derived from poly(1, 3-cyclohexadiene) (PCHD). The precursor PCHD polymers were synthesized by living anionic polymerization to produce homo-and block copolymer configurations with polystyrene. We have used a variety of initiators, solvent, and temperature conditions to determine the right parameters for obtaining narrow MWD polymers. The conditions for polymerization determined the ratio of 1, 2 and 1, 4 isomers in the microstructure. We then proceeded with conversion to PPP derivatives using a dehydrogenation reaction with chloranil. Our results indicate a systematic conversion to a conjugated polymer with increased solubility and photoluminescence properties. The microstructure, MW and block copolymer composition affecting the processability and conversion properties dramatically.
Effects of cigarette smoke condensate on oral squamous cell carcinoma cells.

Abstract Objective Epidemiological studies have reported that tobacco use is a major etiological factor for oral cancer. Several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been shown to play important roles in the invasion and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinomas, especially MMP-2 and MMP-9. This study examined the effects of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) on oral cancer cells. Design Two oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, SCC-25 (metastatic) and CAL-27 (non-metastatic), were exposed to different concentrations of CSC and examined for their collagen degrading ability and MMP production using collagen degradation assays, zymograms and Western blots. Results Exposure to CSC increased the collagen degrading ability of the metastasizing cell line (SCC-25) by a mechanism involving increased MMP-2 and MMP-9 production. Conclusion CSC increased the collagen degrading ability of SCC-25 by increasing the MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein levels. Continued cigarette smoking in oral cancer patients may result in decreased survival rates due to enhanced metastatic potential of the cancer cells.
Muon Physics: A Pillar of the Standard Model

Since its discovery in the 1930s, the muon has played an important role in our quest to understand the sub-atomic theory of matter. The muon was the first second-generation standard-model particle to be discovered, and its decay has provided information on the ( Vector – Axial Vector ) structure of the weak interaction, the strength of the weak interaction, G F , and the conservation of lepton number (flavor) in muon decay. The muon's anomalous magnetic moment has played an important role in restricting theories of physics beyond the standard standard model, where at present there is a 3.4σ difference between the experiment and standard-model theory. Its capture on the atomic nucleus has provided valuable information on the modification of the weak current by the strong interaction which is complementary to that obtained from nuclear β decay.
Update on HHV-8-Associated Malignancies

The human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is the oncogenic virus associated with Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) and lymphoproliferative disorders, namely, primary effusion lymphoma and multicentric Castleman’s disease. KS is among the most common malignancies seen in HIV-infected patients despite the decreased incidence of KS in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. Advances in molecular pathology reveal HHV-8 tumorigenesis is mediated through molecular mimicry wherein viral-encoded proteins can activate several cellular signaling cascades while evading immune surveillance. This knowledge has led to the evolution of multiple therapeutic strategies against specific molecular targets. Many such therapeutic modalities have shown activity, but none have proven to be curative. Identifying possible prognostic factors is another active area of research. This review summarizes the recent developments in the fields of virus transmission, molecular biology, and treatment of HHV-8-related neoplasms.
The contexts of knowing: natural history of a globally distributed team

Summary The focus of this paper is cognitive convergence in a globally distributed team (GDT), defined as the process by which cognitive structures of distributed team members gradually become more similar over time. To explore the convergence process, we employed a longitudinal, ethnographic research strategy that allowed us to follow a naturally occurring GDT over a 14-month period, producing a rich case study portraying factors and processes that influence convergence. Confirming previous studies, we find that increases in shared cognition alone are not sufficient to account for performance gains on a GDT. Rather, it may be necessary not only to increase the sharing of cognition, but also to reverse a pattern of increasing divergence that can result from rejection of key knowledge domains. We also found that several factors influence the process of cognitive convergence beyond direct knowledge sharing. These include: separate but parallel or similar learning experiences in a common context; the surfacing of hidden knowledge at remote sites by third-party mediators or knowledge brokers; and shifts in agent self-interest that motivate collaboration and trigger the negotiation of task interdependence. Also relevant to cognitive convergence on a GDT is the geographical distribution pattern of people and resources on the ground, and the different ways in which leaders exploit the historical, cultural and linguistic dimensions of such distribution to further their own political agendas. Several propositions related to these observations are suggested. We conclude that GDTs can be effective in bringing together divergent points of view to yield new organizational capabilities, but such benefits require that leaders and members recognize early and explicitly the existence and validity of their differences. Copyright # 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Light particle correlations in intermediate energy heavy ion collisions

Abstract Various light particle coincidence techniques will be reviewed that were employed to study the emission of energetic light particles in nucleus-nucleus collisions at energies above 10 MeV/nucleon. Several reaction mechanisms have been shown to contribute to the emission of energetic light particles, ranging from the sequential statistical decay of excited projectile residues, direct breakup and knock-out reactions, to multistep emission processes that can be rather well described in terms of the concept of local thermal equilibrium.
STRATEGIES FOR INDOOR WAYFINDING: THE ROLE OF ORIENTATION

This study identified self-reported strategies for indoor wayfinding, and examined their correlation with strategies previously identified for outdoor wayfinding. Relationships of indoor strategies with spatial anxiety and gender differences were also examined. Validity of the self-report measures was assessed in relation to accuracy in an actual pointing task. Results from 278 college students showed that indoor reliance on directional cues correlated with the outdoor orientation strategy and indoor reliance on route information correlated with the outdoor route strategy. Consistent with findings for outdoor strategies, men reported higher use of the indoor orientation strategy and women reported higher use of the indoor route strategy. Indoor and outdoor orientation strategies were associated with low levels of spatial anxiety, and gender, orientation strategies, and spatial anxiety predicted pointing accuracy.
Novel treatment for desmoplastic small round cell tumor: hyperthermic intraperitoneal perfusion.

Abstract Background Less than 200 cases have been reported in the world literature since desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) was first described in 1989. To date, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery have resulted in a poor survival of 30% to 55%. We used hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) at the time of complete tumor resection as an adjunct to treatment of pediatric and adolescent patients with DSRCT. Purpose The aim of this study was to assess survival as a function of disease burden and response to HIPEC in patients with DSRCT. Methods Twenty-four patients with DSRCT from 1995 to 2008 were evaluated. Eight patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC were compared with 16 historical controls that had chemotherapy ± radiation therapy or surgery alone. Results Median age was 12 years in 8 patients who underwent HIPEC. Significant morbidity after HIPEC included renal insufficiency and gastroparesis. There were no operative mortalities. The estimated median overall 3-year survival for patients not undergoing surgery or HIPEC was 26% compared with 71% in patients who underwent HIPEC. Extraabdominal metastasis correlated with poor survival ( P = .021). Conclusion Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is safe in children with DSRCT. It may prolong disease-free survival in selected cases of DSRCT. It may have a limited role as an adjunct to local control in patients with DSRCT.
Optimized Approximation Algorithm in Neural Networks Without Overfitting

In this paper, an optimized approximation algorithm (OAA) is proposed to address the overfitting problem in function approximation using neural networks (NNs). The optimized approximation algorithm avoids overfitting by means of a novel and effective stopping criterion based on the estimation of the signal-to-noise-ratio figure (SNRF). Using SNRF, which checks the goodness-of-fit in the approximation, overfitting can be automatically detected from the training error only without use of a separate validation set. The algorithm has been applied to problems of optimizing the number of hidden neurons in a multilayer perceptron (MLP) and optimizing the number of learning epochs in MLP's backpropagation training using both synthetic and benchmark data sets. The OAA algorithm can also be utilized in the optimization of other parameters of NNs. In addition, it can be applied to the problem of function approximation using any kind of basis functions, or to the problem of learning model selection when overfitting needs to be considered.
New cache designs for thwarting software cache-based side channel attacks

Software cache-based side channel attacks are a serious new class of threats for computers. Unlike physical side channel attacks that mostly target embedded cryptographic devices, cache-based side channel attacks can also undermine general purpose systems. The attacks are easy to perform, effective on most platforms, and do not require special instruments or excessive computation power. In recently demonstrated attacks on software implementations of ciphers like AES and RSA, the full key can be recovered by an unprivileged user program performing simple timing measurements based on cache misses.We first analyze these attacks, identifying cache interference as the root cause of these attacks. We identify two basic mitigation approaches: the partition-based approach eliminates cache interference whereas the randomization-based approach randomizes cache interference so that zero information can be inferred. We present new security-aware cache designs, the Partition-Locked cache (PLcache) and Random Permutation cache (RPcache), analyze and prove their security, and evaluate their performance. Our results show that our new cache designs with built-in security can defend against cache-based side channel attacks in general-rather than only specific attacks on a given cryptographic algorithm-with very little performance degradation and hardware cost.
Economic impact of biofouling on a naval surface ship

In the present study, the overall economic impact of hull fouling on a mid-sized naval surface ship (Arleigh Burke-class destroyer DDG-51) has been analyzed. A range of costs associated with hull fouling was examined, including expenditures for fuel, hull coatings, hull coating application and removal, and hull cleaning. The results indicate that the primary cost associated with fouling is due to increased fuel consumption attributable to increased frictional drag. The costs related to hull cleaning and painting are much lower than the fuel costs. The overall cost associated with hull fouling for the Navy's present coating, cleaning, and fouling level is estimated to be $56M per year for the entire DDG-51 class or $1B over 15 years. The results of this study provide guidance as to the amount of money that can be reasonably spent for research, development, acquisition, and implementation of new technologies or management strategies to combat hull fouling.
Integration of the Nondivergent Barotropic Vorticity Equation with AN Icosahedral-Hexagonal Grid for the SPHERE1

Abstract A finite difference scheme is developed for numerical integration of the nondivergent barotropic vorticity equation with an icosahedral-hexagonal grid covering the sphere. The grid is made by dividing the 20 triangular faces of an icosahedron into smaller triangles, the vertices of which are the grid points. Each grid point is surrounded by six neighboring points, except the 12 vertices of the icosahedron which are surrounded by five points. The difference scheme for the advection of vorticity exactly conserves total vorticity, total square vorticity, and total kinetic energy. A numerical test is made, with a stationary Neamtan wave as the initial condition, by integrating over 8 days with 1-hr. time steps and a grid of 1002 points for the sphere. There is practically no distortion of the waves over the 8 days, but there is a phase displacement error of about 1° of long. per day toward the west.
Is There a Role for BMPs in the Treatment of Osteonecrosis

The cause for osteonecrosis (ON) is still largely unknown and might in fact be multifactorial [1–3]. Multiple theories exist and almost all lead to impaired osseous blood flow with subsequent bone and marrow cell death. In cases of steroid- and alcohol-induced ON, current research points towards a predominance of adipogenic over osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, leading to osteocyte death and impaired remodeling with fatty atrophy of the subchondral bone [4, 5]. The foundation for the vascular insult theory is thought to be either from a traumatic disruption of the vasculature, from stenosis (i.e., compression), or from occlusion (i.e., thromboembolic event) [6]. After the initial ischemic event, necrosis of the cancellous bone and adjacent bone marrow ensues. This leads to an activation of signaling pathways that cumulate in an inflammatory response. Macrophages and osteoclasts home to the site of acute necrosis and initiate a resorption phase. In cases where only a small area of bone is involved, creeping substitution will replace the necrotic bone and the process will likely resolve without any clinically significant sequelae. If, however, the area of necrosis exceeds the size that can be regenerated through creeping substitution, then osteoclastic resorption can lead to structural compromise with the detrimental result of collapse. At this final stage of osteonecrosis, regenerative treatment options are futile and replacement of the involved joint is most commonly the last option. It is estimated that about 5–12 % of total hip arthroplasties are performed for sequelae of osteonecrosis of the femoral head [7, 8]. Current research focuses on the development of regenerative strategies that could lead to an osteogenic response during the pre-collapse state. Growth factors are the main target of this research. If we understand how to control the choice between proliferation and differentiation, then theoretically we will have the ability to expand what might be a limited population of progenitor cells within the site of osteonecrosis, induce their timely differentiation, and thus restore the function of the involved bone segment.
From Idea to Bedside: The Process of Surgical Invention and Innovation

Contemporary surgery utilizes extensive equipment and devices to enable its performance. As specialties develop and new frontiers are crossed, technology needs to advance in a parallel fashion. A modern surgical device is the end point of a sophisticated, complicated, and potentially treacherous route, which incorporates new skills and knowledge acquisition. Processes including Technology transfer, Commer cialization, Corporate and Product Development, Intellectual Property, and Regulatory Routes play pivotal roles in this voyage. Many good ideas may fall by the wayside for a multitude of reasons, including them not being protected by intellectual property, or being badly marketed or poorly adopted by clinicians. In this chapter, we attempt to illuminate the components required in the process of Surgical Innovation, which we believe must remain in the remit of the modern day Surgeon.
Direct quantitation of peptide-mediated protein transport across a droplet-interface bilayer.

We introduce a new method for monitoring and quantitating the transport of materials across a model cell membrane. As a proof-of-concept, the cell-penetrating peptide, Pep-1, was used to carry horseradish peroxidase (HRP) across droplet–interface bilayers (DIBs). Two submicroliter, lipid-encased aqueous droplets form a membrane at the contacting interface, through which enzyme–peptide complexes pass during transport. Following transport, the droplets are separated and the captured enzymes are assayed by a fluorogenic reaction. The DIB method recapitulates the findings of earlier studies involving Pep-1, including the dependence of protein transport on voltage and membrane charge, while also contributing new insights. Specifically, we found that leaflet charge symmetry may play a role in Pep-1-mediated protein translocation. We anticipate that the DIB method may be useful for a variety of transport-based studies.
BIS(CHLOROPHYLL)CYCLOPHANES. NEW MODELS OF SPECIAL PAIR CHLOROPHYLL

The synthesis of a series of bis(chlorophyll) cyclophanes was undertaken to study the photochemical and redox properties of chlorophyll special pairs. This paper reports on the first member of this series, bis(chlorophyll) cyclophane 8. Results support the earlier proposal that special pair geometries exist which account for the redox and spin delocalization properties of chlorophyll special pairs in vivo, yet do not give rise to unusually red-shifted optical spectra. (DLC)
Zero Valley Splitting at Zero Magnetic Field for Strained Si/SiGe Quantum Wells

The electronic structure for a strained silicon quantum well grown on a tilted SiGe substrate is calculated using an empirical tight-binding method. For a zero substrate tilt angle the two lowest minima of the conduction band define a non-zero valley splitting at the center of the Brillouin zone. A finite tilt angle for the substrate results in displacing the two lowest conduction band minima to finite k0 and -k0 in the Brillouin zone with equal energy. The vanishing of the valley splitting for quantum wells grown on tilted substrates is found to be a direct consequence of the periodicity of the steps at the interfaces between the quantum well and the buffer materials.
Intracellular sites of lipid synthesis and the biogenesis of mitochondria

Experimental data are presented on the intracellular localization in rat liver of three enzymes which are involved in the biosynthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine and diphosphatidylglycerol. These enzymes are phosphatidylserine decarboxylase, CDP-diglyceride-l-alpha-glycerophosphate phosphatidyl transferase, and phosphatidylethanolamine-l-serine phosphatidyl transferase. It was found that the first two enzymes are primarily mitochondrial while the latter enzyme is primarily microsomal. The intracellular sites for the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and diphosphatidylglycerol are discussed, and the implications of their sites of biosynthesis on the assembly processes involved in the biogenesis of mitochondria are considered.