cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Respiratory mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii with elevated levels of cytochrome d.

A method is described for the isolation of respiratory mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii with increased amounts of d-type cytochrome by selecting for the inability to reduce tetrazolium red. Five stable mutants were obtained that had six-fold higher levels of cytochrome d, increased amounts of b-type and lower amounts of o-type and c-type cytochromes than the wild-type strain. Spectral alterations in cytochrome a1 were also observed in the mutants. NADH and succinate oxidase activities of membrane particles were about two fold higher in the mutants compared to the wild-type strain. Ascorbate-N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylene diamine oxidase activity was barely detectable in membrane particles of the mutants. These results are consistent with an increase in the amount of the cytochrome d oxidase branch and a decrease in the amount and activity of the cytochrome o, a1 oxidase branch in the mutants. Growth rates under oxygen-excess conditions and respiratory-linked proton translocation ratios of the mutant and wild-type strains were similar as were the photochemical spectral and kinetic properties of cytochrome d.
Presentism and fatalism

It is widely believed that presentism is compatible with both a libertarian view of human freedom and an unrestricted principle of bivalence. I argue that, in fact, presentists must choose between bivalence and libertarianism: if presentism is true, then either the future is open or no one is free in the way that libertarians understand freedom.
Gene therapy for pituitary tumors: from preclinical models to clinical implementation

Gene therapy, which entails the use of nucleic acids as drugs, is a new approach to treat disease. Gene therapy has been successfully implemented in several preclinical animal models, including several paradigms of experimental pituitary tumors. In spite of these successes, several critical issues need to be addressed before gene therapy can become a clinical reality for the treatment of pituitary tumors. These include the development of safer and more effective gene delivery vectors, the uncovering of novel therapeutic targets, the development of molecular switches which will allow turning therapeutic transgene expression "on" and "off" as and when it is needed, and the ability to scale up the vector preparations devoid of any putative contaminants. There are still many basic science developments that must take place in order to allow this new therapeutic technology to make its way successfully into the clinical arena to treat pituitary disease. We envisage these developments taking place within the next five years, gene therapy for pituitary tumors will then form part of the armamentarium available to better treat and manage pituitary tumors.
Effects of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid, Auxin and Gibberellic Acid on Phytochrome Controlled Nyctinasty in Albizzia julibrissin

Nyctinastic closure of Albizzia julibrissin pinnules is inhibited by 5 × 10−2M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. At least two hours of incubation are required for maximum inhibition and destruction of the phytochrome effect. Concentrations of 10−3 to 10−5M naphthaleneacetic acid reduced the nyctinastic closure of pinnules but not the phytochrome response. Similar results were obtained with indoleacetic acid and gibberellic acid. No appreciable differences in pinnule movements could be attributed to pH. Chelation or the inhibition of ion transport resulting in, or caused by, changes in membrane permeability are suggested as possible mechanisms involved in these effects.
Resources: An Open Access Journal of Natural Resources and Their Management

Resources is an international, peer-reviewed open access journal that publishes original manuscripts, communications, review articles, and policy discussions about all aspects of natural resources and their management. The journal seeks to expand, in a rapid and rigorous way, our understanding of natural endowments, their management, and how they interact with the most personal of resources, the human community. [...]
The use of the pseudo-polyelectrolyte, poly(4-vinylphenol), in multilayered films as an antimicrobial surface coating

Abstract The use of weak polyelectrolytes in multilayer polymer systems provides a means of altering the physico-chemical properties of these thin films. We recently examined the p K a limits of the polyanions by incorporating the pseudo-polyelectrolytes (pPE), poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVPh), into multilayer systems with either the weak polyelectrolyte, poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and the strong polyelectrolyte, poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) from dilute aqueous media. Since PVPh exhibits moderate antimicrobial ability, we tested these newly developed multilayered systems to determine their ability to act as antimicrobial surface coatings. The PAH/PVPh system showed approximately 60% inhibition of growth under nutrient rich environment for Staphylococcus epidermidis when assembled at pH's 10.5 and 12.5. At assembly pH's between this range there was a decrease in efficacy. For the PDADMAC/PVPh multilayered coatings, >70% inhibition of growth of S. epidermidis was observed at an assembly pH of 10.5 and 11.0. This represents the first example of multilayered PVPh being used as an antimicrobial surface coating.
Spacer performance in the cationic isotachophoresis of proteins.

Abstract Performance of narrow range ampholytes and a discrete spacer mixture is evaluated for improved protein separations by cationic isotachophoresis. A spacer mixture containing 22 cations is developed and relative step heights of components are presented. Different ampholytes and the discrete spacer give unique results for tes mixtures of model proteins. While no spacer mixture can be universally recommended, discrete spacers offer the possibility of optimizing separations based on component selection. An example of optimizing a separation of five model proteins is presented.
Physical and chemical response of zircons to deformation

An investigation of U-Pb isotopic systematics in zircons from mylonitized Henderson Gneiss (Sinha and Glover 1978) revealed that selected zircon fractions from the mylonite zone suffered total loss of radiogenic Pb at ∼ 460 m.y. To further investigate the relationship between Pb loss, U gain, and grain size reduction associated with increasing strain in the shear zone, we have characterized the chemistry and morphology of zircons in the mylonitic rocks, using both electron microprobe analysis and scanning electron microscopy. SEM photographs of the zircons indicate that strain-correlated fracturing and size reduction of the zircons accompanied Pb loss throughout the mylonite zone. Stresses imposed by the expansion of initially U-rich, α-damaged portions of the crystal resulted in microfracturing of the more brittle crystalline material proximal to the U-rich zones. During mylonitization, fractures propagated preferentially along these zones allowing metamorphic fluids to penetrate the easily-leached, α-damaged portions of the zircons. Removal of ∼75% of the radiogenic Pb from zircons in the least-deformed zone of the mylonites may have occurred via this mechanism. Irregular, porous zircon overgrowths are also evident from the SEM photographs. Overgrowths are strongly enriched in U, Y and P with respect to the relict, Henderson Gneiss-derived cores, and tend to increase in volume from the protomylonite to the blastomylonite. Thus, the development of overgrowths on the zircons accounts for the U gain observed by Sinha and Glover (1978), and indicates that the transport of high field strength cations (e.g., Zr4+, Hf4+, U4+, etc.) occurred during prograde mylonitization at 460 m.y. A retrograde shearing event at ∼ 273 m.y. caused no further disturbance in the U-Pb isotopic systematics of the zircons. Pb retention by zircons during the later episode may have been the result of 1) the participation of H2O-rich, relatively noncorrosive fluids and/or 2) the lack of further fracturing and size reduction in a strain gradient of lower magnitude than the prograde event.
Temperature gradients and clear-air turbulence probabilities

In order to forecast clear-air turbulence (CAT) in jet aircraft flights, a study was conducted in which the data from a special-purpose instrument aboard a Boeing 747 jet airliner were compared with satellite-derived radiance gradients, conventional temperature gradients from analyzed maps, and temperature gradients obtained from a total air temperature sensor on the plane. The advantage of making use of satellite-derived data is that they are available worldwide without the need for radiosonde observations, which are scarce in many parts of the world. Major conclusions are that CAT probabilities are significantly higher over mountains than flat terrain, and that satellite radiance gradients appear to discriminate between CAT and no CAT better than conventional temperature gradients over flat lands, whereas the reverse is true over mountains, the differences between the two techniques being not large over mountains.
Laboratory and field measurements of the modification of radar backscatter by sand

Abstract Over the last two decades, the use of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to address geologic problems has expanded as new applications for radar have been developed. One of the earliest and perhaps most surprising results from orbital SAR images of the Sahara was that, under certain conditions, radar signals penetrated up to several meters of sand to reveal subsurface features such as ancient river channels. Subsequent studies of radar penetration of arid sand deposits have dealt with factors that govern the ability of radar to penetrate a sand cover. This paper presents results from a laboratory experiment in which radar backscatter from a surface of rocks was measured under controlled conditions as a function of frequency, polarization, incidence angle, and sand cover thickness. The sand used in the experiment had a moisture content of 0.28 vol.% and caused calculated average attenuations of 4.2±1 dB/m for C-band and ∼11±2 dB/m for X-band. Results from the experiment were compared to field measurements of sand thickness during acquisition of airborne radar images. In AIRSAR images, the extent of dry sand in a dune field appears best in C-band because longer wavelength L- and P-band signals penetrate thinner sand deposits. Images of wet sand (4.9 vol.%) suggest that L-band was able to penetrate thin sand even though that sand was wet. Together, these laboratory and field measurements contribute towards a better understanding of how a sand cover modifies the radar backscatter of a surface.
Environmental Degradation and Vulnerability in Cuba

The paper presents a review of what is known about environmental degradation and vulnerability in Cuba. It has sections on air pollution, water pollution, deforestation, soil degradation, decaying urban infrastructure, and hazards and disasters. It outlines some of the worst environmental abuses known to date: poor air quality in the City of Havana; water pollution in the Bay of Havana and the Almendares River; the multiple problems of the town of Nuevitas, a major industrial hub; the decline of the Cauto River basin; the growth of saline soils in eastern Cuba, Camaguey, Sancti Spiritus, and Pinar del Rio Provinces; lack of access to fresh water; decaying sewage systems; and the disastrous impact of these environmental degradations on public health and agricultural production.
The electron spin resonance lineshape in hydrogenated amorphous silicon germanium alloys

Abstract The electron spin-resonance lineshape of the D-center was measured in a series of hydrogenated amorphous silicon-germanium alloys (a-Si1−xGex:H). The lineshape was fitted to obtain the principal g-tensor components g| and g⊥ of a cylindrically symmetric defect; inhomogeneous strains were represented by isotropic Gaussian broadening. For elemental a-Ge:H we obtained g⊥ = 2.013 and g| = 2.042; the result g| >g⊥ is not consistent with the model that the D-center in a-Ge:H is an isolated dangling bond. The lineshape in alloys was modeled by superposing the unshifted D-center lineshapes in a-Si:H and a-Ge:H with an additional cylindrical symmetry line with arbitrary g-tensor and broadening. The parameters of this new line were fairly constant for x > 0.20. Models for these results based on delocalization onto two dangling bonds are discussed.
Enhanced robotic cleaning with a low-cost tool attachment

Robots that can reliably manipulate human tools can do a diverse range of useful tasks in human environments. However, these tools are often difficult to manipulate, particularly given force requirements for applying the tool. This is often due to the mismatch between the robot's gripper and the tool handle designed for human hands. In this paper, we present the design of a low-cost universal tool attachment that makes the tool gripper-friendly. We demonstrate the performance gain provided by the attachment on 10 different tools in the three stages of tool use: grasping the tool, applying the tool, and placing the tool. Our experiments demonstrate that the attachment performs significantly better in all three stages of tool use.
A MicroRNA196a2* and TP63 Circuit Regulated by Estrogen Receptor-α and ERK2 that Controls Breast Cancer Proliferation and Invasiveness Properties

Estrogen receptor α (ERα) is present in about 70 % of human breast cancers and, working in conjunction with extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2), this nuclear hormone receptor regulates the expression of many protein-encoding genes. Given the crucial roles of miRNAs in cancer biology, we investigated the regulation of miRNAs by estradiol (E2) through ERα and ERK2, and their impact on target gene expression and phenotypic properties of breast cancer cells. We identified miRNA-encoding genes harboring overlapping ERα and ERK chromatin binding sites in ERα-positive MCF-7 cells and showed ERα and ERK2 to bind to these sites and to be required for transcriptional induction of these miRNAs by E2. Hsa-miR-196a2*, the most highly estrogen up-regulated miRNA, markedly down-regulated tumor protein p63 (TP63), a member of the p53 family. In ERα-positive and ERα-negative breast cancer cells, proliferative and invasiveness properties were suppressed by hsa-miR-196a2* expression and enhanced by hsa-miR-196a2* antagonism or TP63 target protector oligonucleotides. Hsa-miR-196a2* and TP63 were inversely correlated in breast cancer cell lines and in a large cohort of human breast tumors, implying clinical relevance. The findings reveal a tumor suppressive role of hsa-miR-196a2* through regulation of TP63 by ERα and/or ERK2 signaling. Manipulating the hsa-miR-196a2*-TP63 axis might provide a potential tumor-suppressive strategy to alleviate the aggressive behavior and poor prognosis of some ERα-positive as well as many ERα-negative breast cancers.
Cyclic AMP-dependent and -independent protein kinases in HeLa cells☆

Abstract The protein kinase activities of HeLa cell cytosol have been characterized. Differentiation between cyclic AMP-dependent and -independent kinase activities was achieved by the use of purified specific cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor. HeLa cells were found to contain high levels of soluble cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity, as well as of cyclic AMP-independent kinases which phosphorylate casein and endogenous substrates. Also present were low levels of cyclic AMP-independent histone kinase activity. These various activities were characterized by differences in their substrate specificities and response to NaCl. The cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase was characterized further and conditions achieved for the in vitro stabilization of its activity ratio (activity in absence of cAMP/activity in presence of cAMP). Type I and type II cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases, as well as casein kinase, were separable by DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. Asynchronously growing cells had 60% type I and 40% type II cyclic AMP-dependent kinase. Type I, but not type II, holoenzyme was readily dissociable by NaCl. NaCl prevented reassociation of type II subunits. Type I and type II activity ratios in crude supernatants were stable in 150 m m NaCl. Activity ratios in log phase cells were found to be low (about 0.1), despite relatively high concentrations of cellular cyclic AMP, and a low k a for cyclic AMP in extracts. This may be explained by the relatively high enzyme content, since the k a for cyclic AMP increased with protein kinase concentration. When cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of 1-methyl-3-isobutyl-xanthine, with or without isoproterenol, cyclic AMP levels and activity ratios rose in a parallel fashion, though activity ratio changes were rather insensitive to cyclic AMP changes. As synchronized cells progressed through the cell cycle cyclic AMP-independent histone kinase and casein kinase both underwent a peak at mitosis. Cyclic AMP levels and activity ratios of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase both declined to their lowest level at mitosis, rising again during the G 1 -phase. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that cyclic AMP may exert regulatory influence in mitosis via alteration of the activation state of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.
Evaluation of the effects of various anti-arthritic drugs on type II collagen-induced mouse arthritis model

A battery of drugs which are commonly used as therapeutic agents for arthritis was tested for effects on the inflammatory and immunological responses of DBA/1J mice, after immunization with type II collagen. All the drugs were tested at more than one dosage. The mice were protected from the development of arthritis by treatment with paramethasone (0.25 mg/kg/day) or cyclophosphamide (5 mg/kg/day). The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used in these studies, viz. aspirin (200 mg/kg/day), benoxaprofen (100 mg/kg/day) and naproxen (200 mg/kg/day), had no significant effect on the joint involvement, although naproxen and benoxaprofen at these high doses caused some reduction of immune responses of mice to collagen. Chloroquine (100 mg/kg/day), levamisol (50 mg/kg/day) and gold chlorophosphene (5 mg/kg/day) had no effect on the inflammatory or humoral response, while treatment with D-penicillamine (100 mg/kg/day) led to an early onset of arthritis in mice. These data suggest that the type II collagen-induced mouse arthritis model may not be highly suitable for detection of the traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory class of drugs or the anti-rheumatic drugs, although the possibility remains that some new and novel immunosuppressive agents may be detected with this model.
Value-based purchasing and hospital acquired conditions: Are we seeing improvement?

Abstract Objective To determine if the Value-Based Purchasing Performance Scoring system correlates with hospital acquired condition quality indicators. Data sources/study setting This study utilizes the following secondary data sources: the American Hospital Association (AHA) annual survey and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Value-Based Purchasing and Hospital Acquired Conditions databases. Study design Zero-inflated negative binomial regression was used to examine the effect of CMS total performance score on counts of hospital acquired conditions. Hospital structure variables including size, ownership, teaching status, payer mix, case mix, and location were utilized as control variables. Data collection The secondary data sources were merged into a single database using Stata 10. Principal findings Total performance scores, which are used to determine if hospitals should receive incentive money, do not correlate well with quality outcome in the form of hospital acquired conditions. Conclusions Value-based purchasing does not appear to correlate with improved quality and patient safety as indicated by Hospital Acquired Condition (HAC) scores. This leads us to believe that either the total performance score does not measure what it should, or the quality outcome measurements do not reflect the quality of the total performance scores measure.
Theory of surface magnetoplasmon polaritons in truncated superlattices.

A theoretical investigation has been made of surface-magnetoplasmon-polariton modes in truncated superlattices using a local theory with retardation. The modes are characterized by electric fields that decrease exponentially away from each interface and that have an envelope that decreases exponentially away from the end of the truncated superlattice. The external magnetic field is taken to be parallel to the surface and perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the polariton. Numerical results are presented for several illustrative cases.
Simultaneously quantifying parent drugs and screening for metabolites in plasma pharmacokinetic samples using selected reaction monitoring information-dependent acquisition on a QTrap instrument.

Bioanalytical support of plasma pharmacokinetic (PK) studies for drug discovery programs primarily involves the quantitative analysis of dosed compounds using liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) operated in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. However, there is a growing need for information on the metabolism of new chemical entities (NCEs), in addition to the time-concentration profiles from these studies. In this paper, we present a novel approach to not only quantify parent drugs with SRM, but also simultaneously screen for metabolites using a hybrid triple quadrupole/linear ion trap (QqQ L I T ) instrument. This was achieved by incorporating both the conventional SRM-only acquisition of parent compounds and the SRM-triggered information-dependent acquisition (IDA) of potential metabolites within the same scan cycle during the same LC/MS/MS run. Two test compounds were used to demonstrate the applicability of this approach. Plasma samples from PK studies were processed by simple protein precipitation and the supernatant was diluted with water before injection. The fast scanning capability of the linear ion trap allowed for the information-dependent acquisition of metabolite MS/MS spectra (<1 s/scan), in addition to the collection of adequate data points for SRM-only channels. The MS/MS spectra obtained from potential metabolites in post-dose samples correlated well with the spectra of the parent compounds studied, therefore providing additional confirmatory structure information without the need for repetitive analyses. Relative quantitative time-concentration profiles of identified metabolites were also obtained. Furthermore, this articulated SRM+SRM-IDA approach generated equivalent quantitative results for parent compounds to those obtained by conventional SRM-only analysis. This approach has been successfully used to support discovery PK screening programs.
Max-fit biarc fitting to STL models for rapid prototyping processes

This paper presents a method of Max-Fit biarc curve fitting technique to improve the accuracy of STL files and to reduce the file size for rapid prototyping. STL file has been widely accepted as a de facto standard file format for the rapid prototyping industry. However, STL format is an approximated representation of a true solid/surface model, and a huge amount of STL data is needed to provide sufficient accuracy for rapid prototyping. This paper presents a Max-Fit biarc curve fitting technique to reconstruct STL slicing data for rapid prototyping. The Max-Fit algorithm progresses through the STL slicing intersection points to find the most efficient biarc curve fitting, while improving the accuracy. Our results show the proposed biarc curve-fitting technique can significantly improve the accuracy of poorly generated STL files by smoothing the intersection points for rapid prototyping. Therefore less strict requirements (i.e. loose triangle tolerances) can be used while genarating the STL files.
Experimental observation of forces acting during scanning tunneling microscopy.

Forces acting between tunnel tip and sample during scanning tunneling microscopy were explored experimentally. Force gradients were detected as resonance shifts of cantilever beams used as sample stage. Beam deflections caused by force variations were also recorded. We present data for tungsten tips and polycrystalline silver surfaces prepared under UHV conditions. Large positive force gradients were found for the range of tunnel distances investigated. Force maps show pronounced features correlating directly with topographic images.
Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer Using Serum Proteomic Profiling

In the United States, mortality rates from pancreatic cancer (PCa) have not changed significantly over the past 50 years. This is due, in part, to the lack of early detection methods for this particularly aggressive form of cancer. The objective of this study was to use high-throughput protein profiling technology to identify biomarkers in the serum proteome for the early detection of resectable PCa. Using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, protein profiles were generated from sera of 49 PCa patients and 54 unaffected individuals after fractionation on an anion exchange resin. The samples were randomly divided into a training set (69 samples) and test set (34 samples), and two multivariate analysis procedures, classification and regression tree and logistic regression, were used to develop classification models from these spectral data that could distinguish PCa from control serum samples. In the test set, both models correctly classified all of the PCa patient serum samples (100% sensitivity). Using the decision tree algorithm, a specificity of 93.5% was obtained, whereas the logistic regression model produced a specificity of 100%. These results suggest that high-throughput proteomics profiling has the capacity to provide new biomarkers for the early detection and diagnosis of PCa.
Managing an institutional patient assistance program in the Part D environment

This interview was conducted on July 26, 2006, with Laurel M. Loyd, B.S.Pharm., ambulatory care services pharmacy manager at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System (VCUHS) in Richmond. Loyd was interviewed by Donna Young, news writer for the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. The
Tunable spin polarization in III-V quantum wells with a ferromagnetic barrier

We demonstrate the epitaxial growth of optical-quality electrically-gated III-V ferromagnetic quantum structures. Photoluminescence spectroscopy reveals that initially unpolarized photoexcited holes in a GaAs quantum well become spin-polarized opposite to the magnetization of an adjacent digital ferromagnetic layer in the ${\mathrm{Al}}_{0.4}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{0.6}\mathrm{As}$ barrier. A vertical bias is used to tune the spin polarization from $\ensuremath{-}0.4%$ to 6.3% at $T=5\mathrm{K}$ and $B=1\mathrm{kG}$ during which the luminescence becomes quenched, indicating that the polarization is mediated by wave function overlap between heavy holes in the quantum well and Mn ions in the barrier. Polarization is observed under negligible current flow and is insensitive to the initial spin orientation of the carriers, differentiating the effect from both electrical and optical spin injection.
How Muslim and non-Muslim chaplains serve Muslim patients? Does the interfaith chaplaincy model have room for Muslims' experiences?

Chaplaincy is typically practiced within the contexts of the Jewish and Christian traditions, and little attention has been paid to the influence of the Islamic perspective of nursing and caring. Therefore, many Muslim patients might not receive appropriate care for their religious and spiritual needs, especially as they relate to daily religious practices and worship, medical ethics, and end-of-life treatment choices. This study examined Muslim and non-Muslim chaplains’ approaches to pastoral care used with Muslim patients in New York City hospitals. The study used in-depth interviews with 33 Muslim and non-Muslim chaplains. The results indicate areas of both convergence and divergence.
Evaluative Feedback: Perspectives on Media Effects

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) makes it possible to deliver evaluative feedback, an essential component of learning, over distance. This article presents a theoretical model of the CMC-based evaluative feedback process from the perspective of both senders and receivers of feedback. Hypotheses suggested by the model were tested in a quasi-laboratory experiment with part-time MBA students comparing email with voicemail. Within matched-pair dyads, email senders, but not voicemail senders, viewed their negative feedback as being significantly more negative than did their receivers. Voicemail senders, but not email senders, reported significantly lower comfort levels than did their receivers. No feedback effectiveness differences were found between media conditions, although determinants of feedback effectiveness differed significantly depending on the medium. These results are generally consistent with the theoretical model.
A note on megaripples in the surf zone: evidence for their relation to steady flow dunes

Megaripples in the combined flow environment of the nearshore are proposed to behave like dunes or large ripples in rivers, tidal estuaries, and deserts. Their profile basically is symmetric and thus significantly different from the traditional asymmetric triangular features observed in steady flows. Similarly their planform often exhibits little directionality, unlike crescentic or lunate steady flow dunes that point in the downstream direction. These characteristics are the result of complex combined flows in the nearshore, including oscillatory flows, wave skewness, and steady currents (undertow, rips and alongshore flows). Recent observations of megaripples in the nearshore suggest that they occur frequently. However, they are rarely considered in studies of flow resistance or sediment transport. In addition, megaripples are thought to be the source of hummocky cross-stratification in sedimentary sequences and are generally attributed to storm waves on inner continental shelves. However, observations show that they also exist inside the surf zone and under lower-energy conditions. A better understanding of their dynamics and thus their occurrence and characteristics would improve the understanding of nearshore wave and circulation dynamics, sediment transport, large-scale morphodynamics, and the resulting sedimentary sequences. It is hypothesized that megaripples in the nearshore are dynamically similar to steady flow features, which are observed in rivers, estuaries and deserts and have been studied in much more detail.
Structure of the thyroid gland, serum thyroid hormones, and the reproductive cycle of the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina.

This study examines the role of the thyroid gland in the control of reproduction in the viviparous Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina. Thyroid activity in individuals in different reproductive stages was assessed both by microscopic examination of the gland, and by analysis of circulating levels of thyroid hormones from the same individuals. The thyroid gland is a cylindric organ, embedded in a connective tissue capsule, and composed of follicles, i.e., monolayer spheres of thyroid epithelial cells. Stingray follicular cells possess several characteristic features, namely apical cilia and a well-developed endoplasmic reticulum. Cells vary in size and shape, according to the activity of the gland. No structural differences were observed between the thyroid glands of the two sexes. Both thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine, [T(3)], and thyroxine, [T(4)], were detected in the serum of all animals examined. Levels ranged from 1.3-2.6 microg/100 ml for total T(4), and from 1.2-2.6 ng/ml for total T(3). The T(4) levels did not vary significantly in any group. Immature individuals and females undergoing oogenesis had the lowest levels of circulating T(3) and mature females from ovulation throughout gestation had high thyroid gland activity and high levels of circulating T(3). J. Exp. Zool. 284:505-516, 1999.
DPP-4 INHIBITOR THERAPY IN PATIENTS AFTER PANCREATIC TRANSPLANT

ABSTRACT Objective: Management of new onset hyperglycemia after pancreas transplantation (PT) is not well studied. There is a lack of information on effective and safe management options for hyperglycemia after PT. We tested the hypothesis that early intervention for hyperglycemia using a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor prolongs insulin-free graft function in patients after PT. Methods: Twenty-six patients who developed noninsulin-dependent hyperglycemia at least 1 year after PT met the inclusion criteria for this retrospective chart review. Sitagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, was a commonly used therapy for hyperglycemia after PT due to its wide availability and coverage. The standard therapy group included patients who did not receive any oral or noninsulin injection therapy until insulin was clearly required to control hyperglycemia. The intervention group included patients who had received sitagliptin soon after hyperglycemia developed. The median follow-up period was 45 months. The time to hyper...
Uncontained Failure of a U.S. Navy Rolls-Royce 250-KS4, Root Cause Investigation and Subsequent Corrective Actions

In 2008, a US Navy DDG-51 Class destroyer experienced an uncontained failure of a Rolls Royce 250-KS4 turbine engine which serves as a starter for the Ship Service Gas Turbine Generator (SSGTG). This paper discusses the events that preceded the failure, the root cause and contributing factors. It also describes multiple corrective actions, including design improvements that have been implemented with the goal of preventing this type of failure in the future.
Conductivity and Ftir Measurements of the Hydrogen Content of Heat Treated Diamond Films

The content of bonded hydrogen in hot filament grown diamond films was determined by Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) measurements before and after annealing. The quantity of bonded hydrogen was found to remain unchanged on annealing in diamond films with high amounts of microcrystalline diamond and amorphous carbon. The hydrogen content was found to decrease on annealing ~9 times in diamond film of good crystalline quality. The change of the bulk hydrogen content did not seem to be linked to changes in resistivity of the samples.
Interaction of neurotensin with caerulein or secretin on digestive tract growth in rats.

Abstract Because neurotensin may potentiate exocrine pancreatic secretory responses to cholecystokinin and secretin, we examined interactions of neurotensin with caerulein or secretin on growth of pancreas, stomach, small intestine, and colon. Rats were injected with saline, neurotensin (100 μg/kg), caerulein (0.67 μg/kg), secretin (100 μg/kg), or neurotensin plus caerulein or secretin every 8 h for 5 days. Pancreas, stomach, small intestine, and colon were weighed and assayed for DNA, protein, and digestive enzymes. Although neurotensin increased pancreatic weight ( P P P P P P
Pre‐surgical targeted molecular therapy in renal cell carcinoma

Pre-surgical systemic therapy with targeted molecular agents is an attractive option as an approach to the treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma. This treatment strategy offers a rational approach for selecting patients with metastatic disease who are most likely to benefit from cytoreductive nephrectomy, but also allows access to treated tumour tissue to study the molecular mechanisms of response and resistance. In patients with locally advanced disease, this strategy offers the potential for improved resectability and timely delivery of systemic therapy to treat subclinical metastatic disease. Preliminary evidence indicates that the use of targeted therapies before nephrectomy is safe. Reliable therapy-specific prognostic biomarkers are needed for the optimal integration of aggressive surgical intervention and systemic therapy to maximize the oncological benefits for the patient.
Neurobehaviors and psychotic symptoms in Alzheimer's disease.

Psychotic symptoms are common in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and clinicoanatomical and neuropsychological evidence indicate an association between these symptoms and frontal lobe dysfunction. Neurobehaviors associated with frontal dysfunction were assessed in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with ( n = 20) and without psychotic symptoms ( n = 21) matched for mean age, education, gender, and dementia severity. The Frontal Lobe Personality Scale (FLOPs) was completed by patient caregivers to measure behaviors typically associated with frontal dysfunction. Findings indicated that AD patients with psychotic symptoms exhibited significantly greater neurobehavioral dysfunction (FLOPs M = 130.69, SD = 24.70) than AD patients without psychotic symptoms (FLOPs M = 111.10, SD = 25.83). Subscale analyses indicated that psychotic AD patients were more disinhibited ( M = 28.28, SD = 7.54) than patients without psychotic symptoms ( M = 20.92, SD = 4.9). Findings are consistent with and contribute to previous neuropsychological and clinicoanatomical research suggesting increased frontal dysfunction in AD with psychotic symptoms and lend additional empirical support to subtyping AD based on the presence of psychotic symptoms. Furthermore, findings provide preliminary evidence indicating which specific type of neurobehavioral abnormalities are related to the presence of distressing psychotic symptoms. ( JINS , 2000, 6 , 815–820.)
Engaging College Students and Cadets in Training Tomorrow’s Leaders of Character

In this article, the authors describe the experiences of five cadets and college students serving as camp leaders for the United States Air Force Academy’s (USAFA) Leaders of Character Camp (LoCC). Additionally, they describe the work in which three other universities are engaged to adapt the LoCC model to their own university contexts. In so doing, the authors seek to offer insights into how such camp experiences foster college students’ leadership and character and to highlight some of the efforts to expand the reach of such experiences across the nation.
Chaos in differential equations driven by a nonautonomous force

Nonautonomous forces appear in many applications. They could be periodic, quasiperiodic and almost periodic in time; or they could take the form of a sample path of a random forcing driven by a stochastic process, which is without any periodicity in time. In this paper, we study the chaotic behaviour of differential equations driven by a general nonautonomous forcing without assuming any periodicity in time, aiming at applications to systems driven by a bounded random force. As a direct application, we prove that, for the Duffing equation driven by a bounded stationary stochastic process induced by a Brownian motion, chaotic dynamics exist almost surely. We also obtain various chaotic behaviour that are exclusively associated with equations driven by nonautonomous forcing without any periodicity in time. It has turned out that, unlike the systems driven by a periodic or almost periodic forcing, the transversal intersections of the stable and unstable manifolds are neither necessary nor sufficient for chaotic dynamics to exist. Finally, we apply all our results to the Duffing equation.
Turning the Lens Inward: Cultural Competence and Providers’ Values in Health Care Decision Making

The population of older adults in the United States is growing in size and diversity, presenting challenges to health care providers and patients in the context of health care decision making (DM), including obtaining informed consent for treatment, advance care planning, and deliberations about end-of-life care options. Although existing literature addresses providers' need to attend to patients' cultural values and beliefs on these issues, less attention has been paid to how the corresponding values and beliefs of providers color the care they deliver and their assessments of older adults' DM capacity. The provider's challenge is to understand her own unacknowledged anxieties, prejudices, and fears around such charged issues as truth telling, individual agency, capacity, death and dying, and the value of life itself and address their impact on the delivery of care. A social constructivist perspective and the clinical concept of cultural countertransference are proposed as aides in achieving this awareness and improving care.
FEMALE URINARY INCONTINENCE

Urinary incontinence is not a disease but rather a symptom that corresponds to various social and pathophysiological factors. Contrary to popular belief it's not an inevitable part of aging; it's often curable, and always manageable. Nurses caring for women need to understand the effects of incontinence in a woman's life and be prepared to suggest treatment options, make referrals as needed and provide information regarding evaluation and management options. Nurses can play a significant role in identifying women that are at risk for urinary incontinence, initiating screenings, and encouraging them to discuss their symptoms with their providers.
A Contemporary View of Tracheoesophageal Voice Restoration

Voice restoration following total a laryngectomy has evolved over the past several decades. The patient who undergoes a total laryngectomy with tracheoesophageal (TE) puncture moves through several...
Direct Measurement of the Absolute Seebeck Coefficient for Pb and Cu at 300 K to 450 K

The utilization of thermal fluctuations or Johnson/Nyquist noise as a spectroscopic technique to experimentally measure transport properties is applied to Pb and Cu metal films. Through cross-correlation and autocorrelation functions obtained from power spectral density measurements, multiple transport coefficients are obtained through the Green-Kubo formalism. Supported rigorously by the underlying fluctuation-dissipation theory, this new experimental technique provides a direct measurement of absolute thermoelectric coefficients in addition to the electrical resistivity, electronic contribution to thermal conductivity, Lorentz number and various diffusion coefficients. This work reports the validation results of the experiment accomplished through the use of materials with thermoelectric properties widely accepted by the thermoelectric community, Pb and Cu. Further validation of the data was accomplished by comparing resistivity results to standard collinear four-probe resistivity measurements. Thermal fluctuation data for Pb at 300 K resulted in 5.9% and 2.02% agreement with the published Seebeck and four-probe resistivity data respectively. The Cu thermal fluctuation measurements at 300 K showed agreement within 3.76% and 6.14% for the published Seebeck and four-probe data respectively thus lending further credibility to the experimental method and underlying theory.
Behavioral intervention to promote smoking cessation and prevent weight gain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aims The prospect of weight gain discourages many cigarette smokers from quitting. Practice guidelines offer varied advice about managing weight gain after quitting smoking, but no systematic review and meta-analysis have been available. We reviewed evidence to determine whether behavioral weight control intervention compromises smoking cessation attempts, and if it offers an effective way to reduce post-cessation weight gain. Methods We identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared combined smoking treatment and behavioral weight control to smoking treatment alone for adult smokers. English-language studies were identified through searches of PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Of 779 articles identified and 35 potentially relevant RCTs screened, 10 met the criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Results Patients who received both smoking treatment and weight treatment showed increased abstinence [odds ratio (OR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.01, 1.64] and reduced weight gain (g = −0.30, 95% CI = −0.57, −0.02) in the short term ( 6 months). Conclusions Findings provide no evidence that combining smoking treatment and behavioral weight control produces any harm and significant evidence of short-term benefit for both abstinence and weight control. However, the absence of long-term enhancement of either smoking cessation or weight control by the time-limited interventions studied to date provides insufficient basis to recommend societal expenditures on weight gain prevention treatment for patients who are quitting smoking.
Response of herbaceous plant community diversity and composition to overstorey harvest within riparian management zones in Northern Hardwoods

Partial timber harvest within riparian management zones (RMZs) may permit active management of riparian forests while protecting stream ecosystems, but impacts on herbaceous communities are poorly understood. We compared herbaceous plant community abundance, diversity and composition in RMZs along small streams in northern Minnesota, USA, among four treatments before harvest and 1 year and 9 years following treatment. Treatments included a no-harvesting control and three different treatments of the RMZs where the adjacent upland forest was clearcut: (1) an RMZ control, with no harvesting in the RMZ; (2) RMZ TL, in which the RMZ was partially harvested (60 per cent removal of basal area) using tree-length harvesting and (3) RMZ cut-to-length (CTL), in which the RMZ was partially cut (also 60 per cent removal) using CTL harvesting. Herbaceous cover, richness, diversity and most synecological coordinate scores (reflecting tolerances for light, heat, moisture and nutrients) varied over time but not among riparian treatments, whereas composition varied over time and by treatment but not differentially among treatments over time. These results indicate a lack of herbaceous plant community response to partial timber harvesting within these RMZs, which is consistent with previous work suggesting that understorey communities may be resistant to change below thresholds of disturbance intensity.
Isentropic Slopes, Downgradient Eddy Fluxes, and the Extratropical Atmospheric Circulation Response to Tropical Tropospheric Heating

Climate change experiments run on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)‐class numerical models consistently suggest that increasing concentrations of greenhousegases will lead to a poleward shift of the midlatitude jets and their associated eddy fluxes of heat and potential vorticity (PV). Experiments run on idealized models suggest that the poleward contraction of the jets can be traced to the effects of increased latent heating and thus locally enhanced warming in the tropical troposphere. Here the authors provide new insights into the dynamics of the circulation response to tropical tropospheric heating using transient experiments in an idealized general circulation model. It is argued that the response of the midlatitude jets to tropical heating is driven fundamentally by 1) the projection of the heating onto the meridional slope of the lower tropospheric isentropic surfaces, and 2) a diffusive model of the eddy fluxes of heat and PV. In the lower and middle troposphere, regions where the meridional slope of the isentropes (i.e., the baroclinicity) is increased are marked by anomalously poleward eddy fluxes of heat, and vice versa. Near the tropopause, regions where the meridional gradients in PV are increased are characterized by anomalously equatorward eddy fluxes of PV, and vice versa. The barotropic component of the response is shown to be closely approximated by the changes in the lower-level heat fluxes. As such, the changes in the eddy fluxes of momentum near the tropopause appear to be driven primarily by the changes in wave generation in the lower troposphere.