cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of prostaglandin E1 and norepinephrine on the gastric mucosal circulation.

SummarySecretion, mucosal blood flow, and the ratio (R) of blood flow to secretory rate were measured in conscious dogs provided with a gastric fistula. Secretion was stimulated to steady rates about one third of maximal with either pentagastrin or histamine. Prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) or norepinephrine was administered in doses of 0.1 or 1.0 μg kg-1 min-1. With the high dose of either agent, secretion was decreased, whether stimulated by histamine or pentagastrin, but the ratio of blood flow to secretory rate was decreased only with norepinephrine. It is concluded that norepinephrine operates to reduce secretion by limiting mucosal blood flow. On the other hand, PGE1, which is a powerful vasodilator, reduces secretion by a primary mechanism other than restricting gastric mucosal blood flow. The decrease in blood flow seen with PGE1 appears to be the result and not the cause of gastric secretory inhibition.I am indebted to Drs. Morton I. Grossman and Andre Robert for their critical comments and suggestions, ...
General consideration on organization of summary in pharmaceutical research

Pharmaceutical research is a basis for safety and efficacy studies in development process of pharmaceutical products.The summary of pharmaceutical research data should present an overall profile,including analysis and evaluation of results in each part of chemical development studies.The contents should provide comprehensive understanding of the product and its manufacturing process for applicants and reviewers.Based on the relevant guidelines,this article describes the suggested contents and key consideration for applicants and researcher,which will help to improve quality and efficiency of drug registration.
Objective Meteorological Analysis for Use on Personal Computers to Provide Air Quality Model Inputs

Typically, meteorological data are available from only a few sites in an area where air quality model applications are to be made. The most sophisticated air quality models require three-dimensional, gridded values of winds and turbulence. Even simple Gaussian plume models will benefit from the use of local conditions, rather than inputs from some remote observation site.
Ambient Air Quality (B).

Contemporary developments in spectroscopic remote sensing and real time monitoring have opened up new possibilities for the detection and measurement of hazardous air pollutants, especially when environmental justice is at stake. This special issue documents how such developments have been applied in a novel field campaign in the Houston Ship Channel region of Texas known as the Benzene and other Toxics Exposure (BEE-TEX) study. BEE-TEX was first conceived in 2007 as a means to demonstrate the potential of Computer Aided Tomography (CAT) using Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS), which was previously attempted only once by Laepple et al.1 in Germany to measure mobile source plumes. However, funding and implementation of BEE-TEX were postponed several times by events beyond the participants’ control, a delay which fortuitously enhanced the end result of the campaign, owing to many technical developments between 2007 and the ultimate performance period of the experiment in February 2015. These developments included the marriage of new tools for micro-scale air quality modeling and real-time measurement in a series of papers by Olaguer and various collaborators2–7, the enhancement of Web technologies to enable real-time data broadcasting (Olaguer, this issue), the development of new Light Emitting Diode (LED) sources for remote sensing applications by Prof. Jochen Stutz and collaborators at UCLA, and the invention of a new in vitro technique to measure the response of living human lung cells to ambient air pollution (Vizuete et al., this issue). All these technologies were wed together in what proved to be a much richer experiment than the original one conceived in 2007. There are three papers in this special issue documenting the design, implementation, and early results of the BEE-TEX study. The first is a general overview by Olaguer, including a discussion of the role of real time data broadcasting and source attribution in the field experiment. Unfortunately, a separate paper intended to discuss the specifics of the CAT scan implementation was never submitted due to the personal circumstances of the main author, Dr Stutz, so some details of this are provided in the overview. The second paper is a contribution by Aerodyne Research, Inc. (Yacovitch et al.) discussing mobile real-time measurements of various volatile organic compounds, including observed concentrations of 1,3-butadiene routinely exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s E-5 lifetime cancer risk level in the Manchester neighborhood of Houston. The third paper is the contribution by Vizuete et al. noted earlier, which discusses the results of the first field trials of the cultured human lung cell exposure technique, including interesting genetic changes accompanying observed pollution events. Together, these three papers demonstrate how air quality monitoring and modeling, and their application to the assessment of human health impacts, may be revolutionized by the latest technologies.
Global Equality of Opportunity Defended

I began this book by citing several cases of extreme inequality of opportunity across the globe. We do well to recall some of this as background for the present discussion. Consider opportunities for longevity: A baby born in Mali in 2001 had an approximately 13 percent chance of dying before reaching the age one, while a baby born in the USA the same year had a less than 1 percent chance of dying.1 Or consider educational attainment: ‘The average American born between 1975 and 1979 has completed more than 14 years of schooling (roughly the same for men and women, and in urban and rural areas), while the average school attainment for the same cohort in Mali is less than two years, with women’s attainment less than half that for men, and virtually zero in rural areas.’2 Finally consider opportunities for income: In 1994 the average income in Mali was less than $2 PPP per day, or $54 per month; in the USA it was more than 20 times greater, $1,185 per month.3
Availability of Advance Care Planning Documentation for Older Emergency Department Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract Introduction: Increasing advance care planning (ACP) among older adults is a national priority. Documentation of ACP in the electronic health record (EHR) is particularly important during emergency care. Objective: We sought to characterize completion and availability of ACP among a subset of older patients at an academic emergency department (ED) with an integrated EHR. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients were eligible if aged ≥80 years or aged 65–79 with ≥1 indicator of high risk for short-term mortality. Patient-reported completion of ACP and availability of ACP documentation in the EHR were assessed. Results: Among study patients (n = 104), 59% reported completing some form of ACP: living will 52%, heathcare power of attorney 54%, do not resuscitate 38%, and medical orders for scope of treatment or physician orders for life-sustaining treatment 6%. Whites were more likely to report having some form of ACP than minorities (66% vs. 37%, p < 0.01), as were patients aged ≥80 years th...
New species of Middle Asian Longitarsus Latreille with discussion of their subgeneric placement (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The subgenus Testergus Weise of Longitarsus Latreille is redefined based on the characters of male genitalia and four new species are described and illustrated: L. borisi sp. nov. (Tadzhikistan), L. danilevskyi sp. nov. (Kazakhstan), L. igori sp. nov. (Tadzhikistan), and L. nadiae sp. nov. (Kirgizstan). The lectotypes for L. fuscoaeneus Redtenbacher, L. tmetopterus Jacobson and L. nurataicus Palij are designated. A key to the known Testergus species from Greece, Caucasus and Middle Asia is provided.
Stress and Decision Making: Effects on Valuation, Learning, and Risk-taking

A wide range of stressful experiences can influence human decision making in complex ways beyond the simple predictions of a fight-or-flight model. Recent advances may provide insight into this complicated interaction, potentially in directions that could result in translational applications. Early research suggests that stress exposure influences basic neural circuits involved in reward processing and learning, while also biasing decisions towards habit and modulating our propensity to engage in risk-taking. That said, a substantial array of theoretical and methodological considerations in research on the topic challenge strong cross study comparisons necessary for the field to move forward. In this review we examine the multifaceted stress construct in the context of human decision making, emphasizing stress' effect on valuation, learning, and risk-taking.
The Middle Ages. By Johannes Fried. Translated by Peter Lewis. (Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2015. Pp. xi, 632. $35.00.)

It is always a cause for celebration when an established scholar, eminent within his or her own field, incorporates the myriad technical, even esoteric, publications of topical specialists into a r...
Abstract 2073: A systematic investigation of the effect of scheduling of targeted combination therapies on response and dynamics of relapse in triple negative breast cancer cells

Cancer treatment typically involves administration of combination of targeted therapies, but initial response is often followed by disease relapse. The efficacy of a treatment regimen depends on the complex interplay between cancer growth dynamics, drug specificity and kinetics, treatment dose and its scheduling. In standard high-throughput drug screening assays, cells are treated with a single drug cocktail bolus and cell viability is assessed after 2-3 days, thus not considering treatment interactions and long-term effects. Recently we have reported a promising synergistic combination of crizotinib (ALK/MET inhibitor) and ABT-263 (BCL2/BCL-XL inhibitor) against triple negative breast cancer cells. To understand the effect of the sequence and combination doses of crizotnib and ABT-263, we designed a comprehensive experimental plan that involved a total of 567 treatment regimens by varying treatment duration with the first drug (1, 2, or 3 days), followed by drug withdrawal and recovery period (2, 5 or 10 days) and then by a second cycle of treatment and recovery periods over a 26-day period. Cell viability was assessed by the CellTiter-Glo luminescence assay. Interestingly, ABT-263 alone induced higher cytotoxicity than an equivalent dose of crizotinib, but the remaining viable cells recovered much faster after ABT-263 withdrawal than cells after crizotinib withdrawal. Furthermore, cells exposed to higher doses of ABT-263 eventually become less sensitive to crizotinib. Among sequential regimens, crizotinib followed by ABT-263 was significantly more effective than ABT-263 followed by crizotinib, and combinations that included lower doses of ABT-263 were most effective. Taken together, our results show a significant interaction between the two targeted therapies, and suggest that it may be possible to select treatment scheduling that can delay drug resistance and tumor relapse in vivo. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Gauri A. Patwardhan, Vikram B. Wali, Lajos Pusztai, Christos Hatzis. A systematic investigation of the effect of scheduling of targeted combination therapies on response and dynamics of relapse in triple negative breast cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2073. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2073
Structure of a Thyrotropin Receptor Monoclonal Antibody Variable Region Provides Insight into Potential Mechanisms for its Inverse Agonist Activity.

Background: The high constitutive, or ligand-independent, activity of the thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) is of clinical importance in some thyroid conditions, particularly well-differentiated thyroid ...
Regulation of tumor dormancy and role of microenvironment: a mathematical model.

Herein, a mathematical model of a molecular control system for the regulation of secondary tumors is formulated and analyzed to explore how secondary tumors can be controlled by a primary tumor with/without a surgery and the microenvironment. This control system is composed of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), plasmin, transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ), latent TGFβ (LTGFβ), and tumor density. The control of secondary tumors by primary tumors was first modeled by Boushaba, Nilsen-Hamiton and Levine in [46]. The model is based on the idea that the vascularization of a secondary tumor can be suppressed by inhibitors from a larger primary tumor. The emergence of tumors at secondary sites 5–7 cm from a primary site was observed after surgical removal of the primary tumor in silico. The model supports the notion that the fate of secondary tumors after surgery depends on the distance from the primary tumor and the surrounding microenvironment. As such, the primary tumor did not influence the growth of remote secondary tumors, but it could effectively suppress the growth of the secondary tumors if they were too close to the primary tumor, even after it was removed. Thus, the model predicts the emergence of secondary tumors after the excision of the primary tumor when the distance between these tumors is in the “distance window.” It also predicts that the growth behaviors of the secondary tumors depend on the local microenvironment. Based on these findings, we propose several treatment options for better clinical outcomes.
Genetic draft and valley crossing

Living systems are characterized by complex adaptations which require multiple coordinated mutations in order to function. Empirical studies of fitness landscapes that result from the many possible mutations in a gene region reveal many fitness peaks and valleys that connect them. Thus, it is possible that some complex adaptations have arisen by evolutionary paths whose intermediate states are neutral or even deleterious. When intermediates are deleterious, traversing such an evolutionary path is known as "crossing a fitness valley". Previous efforts at studying this problem have rigorously characterized the rate at which such complex adaptations evolve in populations of roughly equally fit individuals. However, populations that are very large or have broad fitness distributions, such as many microbial populations, adapt quickly, which substantially alters the fate and dynamics of individual mutations due to the action of genetic draft. We investigate the rate at which complex adaptations evolve in these rapidly adapting populations in regions without recombination. We confirm that rapid adaptation overall increases the time required to cross a valley; however, rapid adaptation can make it easier for deeper valleys to be crossed relative to the time required for single beneficial mutations to sweep to fixation.
Numerical 3D Solutions of Maxwell Equations Based on Hybrid Method Combining Generalized T Matrix and Foldy-Lax Multiple Scattering Theory for Vegetation/Trees Scattering

In this paper, we develop a hybrid method based on Foldy-Lax multiple scattering theory (FL) and generalized T matrix of a single object, for full wave simulations of vegetation/trees. The hybrid method of solving the Maxwell equations has three steps: (1) extracting the T matrix of every single object, (2) wave transformations and (3) solving the coupled wave interaction equations. To calculate the generalized T matrix of a single object, we use HFSS which is a 3D full-wave electromagnetic field simulation tool. The method of T matrix extraction from HFSS is verified by comparing with the analytical solution of a sphere. The method is applicable to find the T matrix for the complicated object where the analytical solutions are not available. Then, the wave transformations are performed based on the translation addition theorem. Numerical methods of calculating the transformation coefficients are developed. Finally, the wave interactions among the single objects are accounted for by FL. The results of the hybrid method agree with those of the HFSS brute force method. In comparison, the hybrid method is much more efficient than HFSS for vegetation scattering and applicable to large problems such as full wave simulations of a tree.
Issues and Solutions for Applying Process Control to Semiconductor Manufacturing

To follow the historical trend of 30%/function per year reduction in cost of integrated circuits and to meet the future processing challenges, semiconductor processing equipment must include improved control systems and semiconductor manufacturers must deploy more advanced control techniques. In this paper, the challenges of applying process control to semiconductor processing will be examined. Specifically, the various sources of variation which need controlling and diagnosing will be presented. The variation due to physical process changes will be introduced first, and their dynamics will be clarified. Current control practices and metrology limitations will then be reviewed, and the issues for achieving tight control that these practices and limitations generate will be highlighted. The paper will conclude with some examples of and suggestions for successful application of process control.
Evaluation of energy recovery potential in wastewater treatment based on codigestion and combined heat and power schemes

Abstract The future goal for wastewater treatment industry is to transform existing wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) into water and energy recovery facilities (WERFs). The first step to reach this goal is to achieve energy-neutral or energy-positive status in its operations. This research study develops a systematic quantitative analysis to assess the performance of different wastewater treatment scenarios. The effects of the influent wastewater strength (or concentration), plant capacity, primary treatment efficiency, and different supplemental feedstock have been evaluated to assess the potential for energy recovery in WTTPs. Further, energy performance of the WWTP is optimized using different combined heat and power (CHP) schemes. For the first time, a quantitative mass and energy balance methodology was used to evaluate carbon and energy balance and combined heat and power system optimization. Increasing the primary treatment efficiency, process equipment upgrades, and use of supplemental biodegradable organic waste are identified as influential factors. Increasing the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 10% in primary treatment resulted in an estimated reduction in total energy requirement by 8.5% and increased recoverable energy by 8.8%. This result illustrates that influent wastewater COD strength and the plant capacity may have significant impact on the energy recovery potential. Energy production from a WERF can be enhanced by codigesting sewage sludge with highly biodegradable organic waste. Further analysis shows that specifying an appropriate CHP engine is integral in minimizing the energy losses.
Nutrition and cancer. Recent developments

Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome that results in involuntary weight loss, even in the face of adequate nutritional intake. The profound metabolic abnormalities associated with cancer cachexia affect a large percentage of animals with cancer even before any clinical signs are seen. This paraneoplastic syndrome results in alterations in carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism that, if left untreated, decrease the animal's quality of life and lead to a poor response to cancer therapy. An understanding of the metabolic abnormalities associated with cancer cachexia is of paramount importance to the practicing veterinarian to determine an accurate prognosis and to choose the optimal type of intravenous fluids and nutritional therapy for each patient. Although research identifying the optimal diet for cancer-bearing dogs and cats is still underway, some general principles apply. The first is that the patient should receive nutritional elements orally whenever possible. When oral feeding is not possible, nasogastric, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy tube feeding are viable options. When feeding by the gastrointestinal tract is not possible, parenteral feeding is a practical alternative.
Using supervised machine learning classifiers to estimate likelihood of participating in clinical trials of a de-identified version of ResearchMatch.

Introduction: Lack of participation in clinical trials (CTs) is a major barrier for the evaluation of new pharmaceuticals and devices. Here we report the results of the analysis of a dataset from ResearchMatch, an online clinical registry, using supervised machine learning approaches and a deep learning approach to discover characteristics of individuals more likely to show an interest in participating in CTs. Methods: We trained six supervised machine learning classifiers (Logistic Regression (LR), Decision Tree (DT), Gaussian Naive Bayes (GNB), K-Nearest Neighbor Classifier (KNC), Adaboost Classifier (ABC) and a Random Forest Classifier (RFC)), as well as a deep learning method, Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), using a dataset of 841,377 instances and 20 features, including demographic data, geographic constraints, medical conditions and ResearchMatch visit history. Our outcome variable consisted of responses showing specific participant interest when presented with specific clinical trial opportunity invitations (‘yes’ or ‘no’). Furthermore, we created four subsets from this dataset based on top self-reported medical conditions and gender, which were separately analysed. Results: The deep learning model outperformed the machine learning classifiers, achieving an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.8105. Conclusions: The results show sufficient evidence that there are meaningful correlations amongst predictor variables and outcome variable in the datasets analysed using the supervised machine learning classifiers. These approaches show promise in identifying individuals who may be more likely to participate when offered an opportunity for a clinical trial.
Atom Trapping with Metasurface Optics

We present results on trapping ensembles of cold atoms with metasurface optics for portable atomic clock application, and progress towards single atom trapping and detection in high-NA optical tweezers with dielectric metalenses.
Is Allograft Reconstruction of the Medial Ulnar Collateral Ligament of the Elbow a Viable Option for Nonelite Athletes? Outcomes at a Mean of 8 Years.

Background:The rate of elbow medial ulnar collateral ligament (MUCL) injury and surgery continues to rise steadily. While authors have failed to reach a consensus on the optimal graft or anchor con...
Morphological differentiation of Peromyscus leucopus and P. maniculatus in East Texas

The white-footed deer mouse ( Peromyscus leucopus ) and the North American deer mouse ( P. maniculatus ) are widely distributed throughout North America, often with overlapping distributions. These species are believed to be sympatric east of the Balcones fault zone in Texas, but records from natural history collections indicate that P. maniculatus is not common from this region. Given that these two species are notoriously difficult to differentiate morphologically, it is possible that specimens have been incorrectly identified and that P. maniculatus may be rare or not present in East Texas. This study aims to determine if P. leucopus and P. maniculatus can be differentiated morphologically east of the Balcones fault zone in Texas. Cranial and external characters from genetically identified specimens representing each species were analyzed using traditional and geometric morphometric methods. Morphological analyses revealed that genetically identified specimens of P. leucopus and P. maniculatus from east of the Balcones fault zone could be differentiated using a suite of morphological characters. Many of the specimens of P. leucopus used in this study were originally misidentified, suggesting that P. maniculatus is rare in East Texas.
Sodium Butyrate Protects Against Ethanol-Induced Toxicity in SH-SY5Y Cell Line.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD), brought about by excessive alcohol use, is associated with damages to several organs including the brain. Chronic excessive use of alcohol can compromise intestinal integrity, leading to changes in gut microbiota (GM) composition known as dysbiosis. Dysbiosis, by disruption of the gut-brain axis (GBA), further exacerbates the deleterious effects of alcohol. One of the fermentation by-products of GM is butyrate (BUT), a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) that plays an important role in maintaining homeostasis of the GBA. Alcohol metabolism results in formation of acetaldehyde, a highly reactive compound that reacts with dopamine in the brain to form toxic adducts such as salsolinol. Recent studies indicate potential neuro-protective effects of BUT against various toxicants including salsolinol. Here, we sought to investigate whether BUT can also protect against alcohol toxicity. Pretreatment of neuroblastoma-derived SH-SY5Y cells with 500 mM ethanol (ETOH) for 24 h resulted in approximately 40% reduction in cell viability, which was totally blocked by 10 µM of either BUT or AR 420,626 (AR), a selective fatty acid 3 receptor (FA3R) agonist. The neuro-protective effects of both BUT and AR were significantly (80%) attenuated by beta-hydroxy butyrate (BHB), a selective FA3R antagonist. Interestingly, combination of BUT and AR resulted in synergistic protection against ETOH, which was totally blocked by BHB. These findings suggest potential utility of butyrate and/or FA3R agonists against ETOH-induced toxicity.
Teaching residents to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder: Insights from a community-based residency program

Abstract Introduction Despite the impact of the opioid overdose crisis on the United States, few physicians are trained to provide treatment with buprenorphine. While research has described some factors contributing to comfort in providing buprenorphine treatment, more research is needed to identify optimal strategies to produce physicians who prescribe this medication. Methods A community-based family medicine residency in Massachusetts sought to improve residents' comfort with prescribing buprenorphine by integrating patients treated with buprenorphine directly into resident continuity clinic panels in addition to existing mandatory didactic teaching. Results The program saw a significant increase in buprenorphine prescribing among residency graduates three years after graduation after integration of patients on buprenorphine into resident continuity panels. Conclusion Efforts to further increase the number of graduates prescribing buprenorphine nationwide should emphasize supervised management of patients treated with buprenorphine during residency.
Evaluation of Antitumor and Antioxidant Activity of Oxalis Corniculata Linn. against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma on Mice

: Background: Present investigations were carried out to evaluate an ethanolic extract of Oxalis corniculata Linn. For its anticancer and antioxidant activity in Ehrlich acsites carcinoma (EAC) - induced in swiss albino mice. Methods: Cancer was induced in mice by aspiration of peritoneal fluid of EAC inoculated mice and diluted to get 1x106 cells/ml in phosphate buffer. Cancerous animals were divided into four groups having six mice in each in which Group III and IV cancerous animals were treated with the ethanolic extract of Oxalis corniculata Linn. One hundred and 400 mg/kg b.w. respectively, whereas Group V cancerous animals received standard drug cyclophosphamide 25 mg/kg b.w. The test and standard drugs were administered orally 24 hrs after the inoculation of EAC for 9 days. The several changes of antitumor potential of EEOC were accessed. Biochemical parameters such as total protein, albumin, Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), lipid peroxidation and enzymatic antioxidants were determined. Results: The present study revealed that EEOC showed significant antitumor and antioxidant activities in EAC bearing mice. The dose dependent reduction in body weight, tumor volume, packed cell volume, tumor cell counts and increase in median survival time (MST) and percentage increase in life span in EEOC treated animals were observed. There was a significant increase in RBC count; Hb content in EEOC treated animals and reduction in total WBC count. There was a significant increase in total protein and albumin content, but decrease in AST, ALT and ALP contents in EEOC treated animals. A significant decrease in liver MDA levels and increase in catalase and reduced glutathione levels were observed in EEOC treated animals. Conclusion: Results conclude that the EEOC was effective in inhibiting the tumor growth in ascitic and solid tumor models. The biochemical and antioxidants studies were also supported its antitumor properties.
Elementary Linear Algebra Review

We briefly review, mostly without proof, the basic concepts and results taught in an elementary linear algebra course. The subjects are vector spaces, basis and dimension, linear transformations and their eigenvalues, and inner product spaces.
Kurzfassungen und Erbstreitigkeiten: Die zwei Versionen des Testamentes des Aristoteles

There are two versions of Aristotle’s will. One of them is found in Diogenes Laertios’ account of Aristotle in his Lives of the Philosophers, the second one is preserved (only) in an Arabic translation as a part of Ptolemy’s biography of Aristotle. A comparison of these two versions shows that the Arabic translation is a faithful rendering of a lost Greek version. This Greek version, furthermore, is not based on that preserved in Diogenes Laertios, but is rather an independent second version, whose function inter alia was to support the case of Aristotle’s son Nikomachos within inheritance disputes.
Chromosome Damage and Repair in Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia and Long-Term Hydroxycarbamide Exposure

Hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea) provides laboratory and clinical benefits for adults and children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA). Given its mechanism of action and prior reports of genotoxicity, concern exists regarding long-term toxicities and possible carcinogenicity. We performed cross-sectional analyses of chromosome stability using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 51 children with SCA and 3-12 years of hydroxycarbamide exposure (mean age 13·2 ± 4·1 years), compared to 28 children before treatment (9·4 ± 4·7 years). Chromosome damage was less for children receiving hydroxycarbamide than untreated patients (0·8 ± 1·2 vs. 1·9 ± 1·5 breaks per 100 cells, P = 0·004). There were no differences in repairing chromosome breaks after in vitro radiation; PBMC from children taking hydroxycarbamide had equivalent 2 Gy-induced chromosome breaks compared to untreated patients (30·8 ± 16·1 vs. 31·7 ± 8·9 per 100 cells, P = not significant). Radiation plus hydroxycarbamide resulted in similar numbers of unrepaired breaks in cells from children on hydroxycarbamide compared to untreated patients (95·8 ± 44·2 vs. 76·1 ± 23·1 per 100 cells, P = 0·08), but no differences were noted with longer exposure (97·9 ± 42·8 breaks per 100 cells for 3-6 years of hydroxycarbamide exposure vs. 91·2 ± 48·4 for 9-12 years of exposure). These observations provide important safety data regarding long-term risks of hydroxycarbamide exposure for children with SCA, and suggest low in vivo mutagenicity and carcinogenicity.
Calibration Update Technique for a Zoom Lens

A technique for a zoom lens camera is presented that enable to update continuously camera intrinsic parameters while zooming. This is based on the fact that the spatial angle subtended by the optical center and the same two 3-D points in the standard camera coordinate system remains invariant for subsequent image frames on which the two 3-D points are located. The new focal length value is obtained as the solution of the quadratic equation we derive from the angular invariance. We give an error estimate to show how the uncertainty in the localization of corresponding points in the image frames may affect the accuracy of the updated value of the focal length. We report the results of two experiments when sequences of magnified images were taken by fixed and by rotating camera.
A P.S. on B.S.: Some Remarks on Humbug and Bullshit

While lies have attracted philosophical attention since antiquity, phenomena in the near area have generated considerably less interest. Lately, however, Max Black and Harry Frankfurt have visited a close relative: humbug or bullshit, as it's either more politely or more rudely called. In this article their views on humbug and bullshit are exposed, explained, critiqued, and, ultimately, rejected. An alternative view is then proposed and defended.
Periodic systems with drift. II. Robust adaptive control

This paper deals with an indirect model-reference adaptive control algorithm for periodic systems presenting drift in either the period itself, the inter-period behavior, or both. The controller design uses induced l/sub 2/-norm (H/sub /spl infin//) robust control tools. As a result, the adaptive law is robust against unstructured uncertainty, measurement noise, and changes in the parameters. The paper also formalizes the concept of frozen period systems as a vehicle to characterize the drift in close-to-periodic systems.
Effectiveness of Message Sidedness and Credibility on Healthy Eating to Prevent Cancer

Abstract This study uses an experimental approach to test the influence of message sidedness and credibility on the attitude and intention toward following the guidelines for healthy eating and preventing cancer. The findings indicate a strong effect of credibility on attitude as well as intention. The influence of message sidedness is significant with respect to attitude, but not significant on intention. Implications for marketers in terms of message strategy are discussed.
The functional mu opioid receptor (OPRM1) Asn40Asp variant predicts short-term response to nicotine replacement therapy in a clinical trial

To determine whether the functional mu-opioid receptor (OPRM1) Asn40Asp variant predicts the comparative efficacy of different forms of NRT, we conducted a clinical trial of transdermal nicotine (TN) vs nicotine nasal spray (NS) in 320 smokers of European ancestry. Smokers carrying the OPRM1 Asp40 variant (n=82) were significantly more likely than those homozygous for the Asn40 variant (n=238) to be abstinent at the end of treatment, and reported less mood disturbance and weight gain. The genotype effect on treatment outcome was most pronounced among smokers receiving TN, particularly during the 21 mg dose phase. Smokers who carry the OPRM1 Asp40 variant are likely to have a favorable response to TN and may benefit from extended therapy with the 21 mg dose.
An Allylstannane Reagent on Non-Cross-Linked Polystyrene Support

[reaction: see text] A new allylstannane reagent on non-cross-linked polystyrene was developed for the first time. This support differs markedly from standard cross-linked polymers because it is completely soluble in organic solvents; moreover, the reactions can be conveniently monitored directly by standard 1H NMR methods. The allylstannane underwent a free radical reaction with an alkyl halide to form a new allyl appendage. Tin byproducts can be easily recovered from cold methanol as white crystalline solids.
POLYMERS DERIVED FROM HEXAFLUOROACETONE

Abstract The continuing demand for polymeric materials with a unique combination of properties has brought forth a sizable research effort concerning the use of trifluoromethyl substituents, particularly the 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropylidene (HFIP) function derived from the incorporation of hexafluoroacetone (HFA) into the monomer. This work had its beginnings approximately 25 years ago when Rogers briefly reported in a patent the preparation of polyimides (PIs) from an hexafluoroisopropylidenebrideged diamine [1,2]. Since then numerous efforts have been made toward the synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of CF3-containing polymers. Much of this information is found in patents, indicating the importance of these polymers to industry. At the present time, at least 11 known classes of polymers containing pendant or backbone-incorporated bis-trifluoromethyl groups have been reported. These polymers show promise as film formers, gas separation membranes, seals, soluble polymers, coatings, and in ot...
Are pattern and probe aberration monitors ready for prime time

The first experimental results for interferometric pattern and probe-based aberration monitors designed for use at 193nm wavelength have been obtained using the Zeiss Aerial Image Measurement System (AIMSFab 193TM). Designs developed earlier are being tested on phase-shifting masks in collaboration with Photronics Inc. for use as precision instruments to measure aberrations. Comparison of the results with SEM measurements of the mask and simulations help to characterize second-order effects due to mask topography, high-NA electric-field vector addition, and mask fabrication tolerances in projection printing of advanced process monitors on special phase-shifting test reticles. For this study the aberration targets have been factored into their basic elements, such as probes, rings, lines, and rings surrounding probes. Through-focus studies of well-formed 120nm probes showed peak intensities for actual mask dimensions that were below ideal mask values by a factor of 0.70, 0.49, 0.26, and 0.29 for 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°, respectively. Measurements for lines and outer rings were consistent with probes and showed intensities of 0.86 and 0.61 of those expected for ideal 0° and 180° 125nm lines in wafer dimensions. The focus sensitivity of the composite mask was clearly larger than that of typical features. However, to leverage the full sensitivity from interference with the probe, the probe must be resized as a function of its phase depth due to electromagnetic effects and the probes must be protected by the use of larger 2D feature biases. Operation at a partial coherence factor of 0.15 or below is recommended to preserve the contribution of the second ring and balance out unwanted proximity effects.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Lysophosphatidylcholine increases C-type natriuretic peptide expression in human vascular smooth muscle cells via membrane distortion

Abstract C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) inhibits the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and related cell types induced by oxidized LDL and its major atherogenic component, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). CNP expression is increased in smooth muscle in atherosclerotic and restenotic lesions, but mechanisms underlying this increase have not been elucidated. We therefore investigated the role of LPC in CNP expression in human aortic VSMC. Both LDL and HDL elevated CNP transcript levels ~ 3-fold in VSMC, but not in endothelial cells. Increasing LPC in both VSMC and endothelial cells induced significant elevations in CNP transcript levels that were correlated with the degree of LPC-induced membrane distortion, and that were abolished by stabilizing cell membranes with cholesterol:methyl-β cyclodextrin complexes or by chelating intracellular Ca 2+ with BAPTA/AM. CNP up-regulation in HAoSMC by both LPC and lysophosphatidic acid was dependent on intact tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C (PKC)-signaling, whereas it was independent of these pathways in endothelial cells. LPC-induced up-regulation of CNP mRNA in human VSMC results from membrane damage and Ca 2+ influx and subsequent tyrosine kinase and PKC signaling, suggesting a means by which vascular damage by ox-LDL and LPC could initiate CNP-mediated vasoprotection.
Mechanical Regulation of Cardiac Myofibrillar Structure

The excitation-contraction coupling cycle (ECC) consists of a complex cascade of electrochemical and mechanical events; however, the relative contributions of these different processes in the regulation of cardiac myofibrillar structure are not well understood. There is extensive evidence to suggest that the mechanical aspects of the ECC play a crucial role in controlling the availability of contractile proteins for myofibrillar assembly. To examine if these physical forces might also serve to stabilize the structure of preexisting myofibrils, beating and nonbeating cultures of neonatal cardiac myocytes (NCM) were subjected to a 5% static stretch. Contractile arrest was achieved by treating NCM with 12 microM nifedipine, which resulted in immediate and sustained contractile arrest and initiated the evolution of marked myofibrillar abnormalities within 24 hours. As judged by scanning confocal and transmission electron microscopic examination, an external load appears to partially stabilize myofibrillar structure in nonbeating NCM. These results suggest that the maintenance of myofibrillar structure may be highly dependent upon the mechanical aspects of ECC.
End‐binding protein 1 (EB1) up‐regulation is an early event in colorectal carcinogenesis

Abstract End-binding protein (EB1) is a microtubule protein that binds to the tumor suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli (APC). While EB1 is implicated as a potential oncogene, its role in cancer progression is unknown. Therefore, we analyzed EB1/APC expression at the earliest stages of colorectal carcinogenesis and in the uninvolved mucosa (“field effect”) of human and animal tissue. We also performed siRNA-knockdown in colon cancer cell lines. EB1 is up-regulated in early and field carcinogenesis in the colon, and the cellular/nano-architectural effect of EB1 knockdown depended on the genetic context. Thus, dysregulation of EB1 is an important early event in colon carcinogenesis.
Degeneracies when only T = 1 two-body interactions are present

In the nuclear f{sub 7/2} shell, the nucleon-nucleon interaction can be represented by the eight values E(J)= ,J=0,1,...,7, where for even J the isospin is 1, and for odd J it is 0. If we set the T=0 (odd J) two-body matrix elements to zero (or to a constant), we find several degeneracies that we attempt to explain in this work. We also give more detailed expressions than previously for the energies of the states in question. New methods are used to explain degeneracies that are found in {sup 45}Ti (I=25/2{sup -} and 27/2{sup -}), {sup 46}V (I=12{sub 1}{sup +} and 13{sub 1}{sup +}, as well as I=13{sub 2}{sup +} and 15{sup +}), and {sup 47}V (I=29/2{sup -} and 31/2{sup -})
Explaining interfirm cooperation and performance: toward a reconciliation of predictions from the resource-based view and organizational economics

Interfirm cooperation and its performance implications are examined in the context of two widely cited theoretical approaches to organizations. Broadly speaking, the resource-based view suggests that firms seek to capitalize on and increase their capabilities and endowments, whereas organizational economics asserts that firms focus on minimizing the costs of organizing. Although these perspectives agree on managers’ likely actions in many areas, their predictions diverge when interfirm cooperation is considered. We take a step toward reconciling these differences by positing that firms place resource-based concerns in front of considerations from organizational economics when deciding whether or not to engage in interfirm cooperation. We examined this prediction using data from 94 publicly held restaurant chains. The results support our integrated view, but also suggest that giving primacy to resource concerns detracts from the performance of some firms. We derive several implications of these findings in an effort to guide subsequent inquiry. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Special issue on multisensor integration and fusion for intelligent robots

Multi-sensor integration refers to the synergistic use of the information provided by multiple sensory devices to assist in the accomplishment of a task by a system. The more restricted notion of multisensor fusion refers to any stage in the integration process where there is an actual combination (or fusion) of different sources of sensory information into one representational format. The articles in this special issue on multisensor integration and fusion for intelligent robots represent the wide scope of multisensor integration and fusion issues and methods in the design of intelligent robotic systems
Immunocytochemical demonstration of S-phase cells by anti-bromodeoxyuridine monoclonal antibody in human brain tumor tissues.

Five patients with various brain tumors received bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), 150–200 mg/m2 i.v.; at the time of craniotomy. Biopsied materials were fixed in 70% ethanol, sectioned, denatured with hydrochloric acid, and reacted with monoclonal antibodies against BrdU. Immunofluorescence and immunocytochemical methods were used to visualize BrdU-labeled nuclei. Our results showed that both methods demonstrated BrdU-labeled nuclei satisfactorily in tissue sections. Thus, BrdU can be used to measure the proliferative potential of human tumors in situ.
Assessing the veracity of Precambrian ‘sponge’ fossils using in situ nanoscale analytical techniques

Abstract Paleontological inferences, molecular clocks, and biomarker fossils indicate sponges evolved in the Cryogenian, but Precambrian sponge fossils are rare, poorly substantiated, and controversial. Spicule-like microstructures (SLMs) hosted in phosphatized fossils from the Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation (∼635–551 Ma) at Weng’an of South China have been interpreted as cylindrical siliceous monaxons, and their hosting fossils as the oldest demosponges in the fossil record. In order to assess their veracity as the oldest spiculate demosponges, we utilize a suite of in situ nanoscale analytical techniques—including scanning electron microscopy, synchrotron X-ray fluorescence mapping, X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy, focused ion beam electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy—to evaluate the ultrastructures and elemental, chemical, and mineralogical compositions of the SLMs. Our data decisively shows that the SLMs are carbonaceous in composition and rectangular in transverse sections, and therefore, are not cylindrical siliceous spicules. Instead, the SLMs may be microbial strands, axial filaments of early hexactinellids, or acicular crystals molded by organic matter. Regardless, our new data invalidate the oldest and only Precambrian demosponges with mineralized spicules. These results indicate that interpretations of Precambrian sponge fossils should be scrutinized with compositional, mineralogical, and ultrastructural data collected using in situ analytical techniques. In addition, our conclusions affirm that no unequivocal biomineralizing sponges occur below the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary. If hexactinellids and demosponges did diverge in the Cryogenian as suggested by molecular clocks and biomarkers, they either evolved biomineralization long after their divergence or their biomineralized spicules were never preserved until after the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary. In either case, the dearth of biomineralizing sponge fossils in the Precambrian and their abundance in the early Cambrian must reflect a geobiologically significant aspect of the Precambrian–Phanerozoic transition.