cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
III-nitride tunnel diodes with record forward tunnel current density

We report on the design, fabrication, and characterization of the first interband tunnel junctions showing forward tunneling characteristics in the III-Nitride system. We have achieved record forward tunneling currents (>100 mA/cm2 at 10 mV, and > 10 A/cm2 peak current) using polarization engineered GaN/InGaN/GaN heterojunction diodes. We also report for the first time, negative differential resistance in interband III-Nitride tunnel junctions, with peak-valley current ratio (PVCR) of up to 5 at room temperature, and 147 at low temperature. Interband tunnel junctions can be utilized to connect multiple active regions devices such as multiple active region emitters and multi junction solar cells, which require efficient reverse tunneling and forward tunneling respectively. Efficient inter-band tunneling has been a challenge in III-Nitrides mainly due to the large band gaps found in this material system, which reduce tunneling probability. Recently, the unique property of polarization in III-nitrides was used to engineer band bending over smaller distances in nitride heterostructures to enhance tunneling [1, 2, 3], and we recently demonstrated a p-GaN/InGaN/n-GaN backward diode with record current density of 118 A/ cm2 at a reverse bias of 1 V where a thin high indium composition InGaN well was used to enhance tunneling between GaN regions [3]. Tunnel junctions are a critical component of multiple junction solar cells, and there is an interest to exploit the large band gap range of III-nitrides in such devices. However, such an application would require forward, rather than reverse tunnel diodes. In this work, we use polarization engineering to design and demonstrate the inter-band forward tunneling diodes with the high current density and low forward voltage drop.
Infectivity of hepatic allografts with antibodies to hepatitis B virus.

Background Since suitable recipients for hepatic allografts from donors with antibodies to hepatitis B virus (HBV) have not been determined, a review of our 7-year experience with donors positive for hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), or both was undertaken. Methods Recipients of hepatic allografts from donors with antibodies to HBV were identified by a retrospective review of procurement records and screened for HBV infection. Results From January 1, 1990, to January 1, 1997, 2578 liver transplants were performed and 140 (5.4%) recipients received an allograft from a donor with antibodies to HBV. Twenty-five of 48 recipients of a hepatic allograft from a donor positive only for anti-HBs were screened and none developed HBV infection. Twenty-five of 41 naive recipients of a hepatic allograft from an anti-HBc positive donor were screened and 18/25 (72%) developed HBV infection. Four of these 18 naive recipients with HBV infection received an allograft from a donor positive for both anti-HBc and anti-HBs. Seven of 13 anti-HBs-positive recipients of an allograft from an anti-HBc-positive donor were screened and none developed HBV infection. Fifteen of 16 recipients positive only for anti-HBc who received a hepatic allograft from an anti-HBc-positive donor were screened and 2/15 (13%) developed HBV infection. Conclusions Hepatic allografts from donors positive only for anti-HBs do not transmit HBV infection. Hepatic allografts from anti-HBc-positive donors frequently transmit HBV infection to naive recipients regardless of the donor anti-HBs status, and antiviral prophylaxis may be indicated. Anti-HBs-positive recipients appear resistant to HBV infection after orthotopic liver transplantation with an allograft from an anti-HBc-positive donor. Recipients positive only for anti-HBc infrequently develop HBV infection when transplanted with an allograft from an anti-HBc-positive donor; however, HBV prophylaxis may be justified.
Monte Carlo simulation of reentry plasmas

Attention is given to the treatment of ionization and plasma effects in the direct simulation Monte Carlo method. The requirements for accurate modeling of reentry plasmas are discussed along with the difficulties these requirements present. The current method for modeling such plasmas is reviewed and an alternative method is presented. Both methods are applied to the flow of a 10 km/s shock wave in air at 0.1 torr; a flowfield directly relevant to the projected aeroassisted orbital transfer vehicle. The results are compared and the differences between the methods are discussed.
Searching behavior and associational response of Zetzellia mali (Acarina: Stigmaeidae).

Experimental tests of the hypothesis that natural selection favors predators that search and select prey species that are more profitable are reported. The predator studies was the stigmaeid mite,Zetzellia mali (Ewing). It was observed thatAculus schlechtendali (Nalepa) andPanonychus ulmi (Koch) were more profitable prey thanTetranychus urticae Koch. However,Z. mali attacks prey independently of their nutritional value. Behavioral observations and experiments documented thatZ. mali does not detect kairomones of the prey species. Therefore, prey location is due only to random encounters. Apparently,Z. mali does not search and select prey that are more profitable. The correlation coefficients ofZ. mali, A. schlechtendali, andP. ulmi were investigated in an apple tree. Results revealed that the association depends on season and type of prey.Zetzellia mali andA. schlechtendali were positively associated in the spring (r=0.3,P<0.05) and fall (r=0.36,P<0.01).Zetzellia mali andP. ulmi were not statistically associated. The term ‘associational response’ is proposed as an ecological process that quantifies the association of predator and prey. The associational-response data suggest thatZ. mali, in the natural ecosystem, responds more to the density ofA. schlechtendali than to the density ofP. ulmi.
Reconstructing Iraq's Economy

Iraq's economic recovery in the short to medium term remains wholly dependent on security and political stability, legal certainty, and Iraqis buying in to the CPA's economic program. The U.S. must now move from dictating Iraq's economy to enabling an indigenous Iraqi course.
Accuracy of teen and parental reports of obesity and body mass index.

Objectives. Adolescent obesity is becoming an increasing public health problem. This study determines: 1) differences in teen and parental report of obesity, 2) amount of misclassification using body mass index (BMI) from self-reported versus measured height and weight as an indicator of obesity, and 3) whether misclassification varies by gender and socioeconomic status. Design. Weighted data from 15 483 baseline (T1) youth and parental interviews from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were used. Seventy-four percent of teens were reinterviewed 1 year later (T2). Parents reported socioeconomic status indicators and whether their teen was obese. Teens reported height, weight, and weight perception. BMI was calculated from both self-reported height and weight at T1 and T2 and from measured height and weight at T2. Those with a BMI ≥95% corrected for age and gender were considered obese. Results. At T1, nearly one half of teens (47%) reporting they were very overweight were not obese by BMI. For teens obese by BMI, 19.6% were reported to be obese by both parent and teen, 6.4% by teen only, 29.9% by parent only, and 44.2% by neither teen nor parent. For those with persistent obesity, teen and/or parental report failed to identify more than one third (34%) as obese; 23.4% were identified by both teen and parent report, 5.4% by teen report only, and 37.2% by parent only. At T2, the correlation between BMI calculated from self-reported versus measured height and weight for the overall population was very strong (r = .92). Specificity of obesity status based on self-reported BMI, compared with obesity status based on measured BMI was .996; sensitivity, .722; positive predictive value, .860; and negative predictive value, .978. Overall, 3.8% of teens were misclassified using self-report measures. Girls were no more likely than boys to be misclassified as obese using BMI from self-reported height and weight. Conclusions. Parental report is a better indicator of obesity than teen report of weight status, but parental and teen reports are both poor predictors of adolescent obesity. Using BMI based on self-reported height and weight correctly classified 96% as to obesity status. Thus, studies can use self-reported height and weight to understand teen obesity and its correlates/sequelae.
Wnt Signal Amplification via Activity, Cooperativity, and Regulation of Multiple Intracellular PPPSP Motifs in the Wnt Co-receptor LRP6

Low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) and its homologue LRP5 serve as Wnt co-receptors that are essential for the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Wnt activation of LRP6 leads to recruitment of the scaffolding protein Axin and inhibition of Axin-mediated phosphorylation/destruction of β-catenin. We showed that five conserved PPPSP motifs in the LRP6 intracellular domain are required for LRP6 function, and mutation of these motifs together abolishes LRP6 signaling activity. We further showed that Wnt induces the phosphorylation of a prototypic PPPSP motif, which provides a docking site for Axin and is sufficient to transfer signaling activity to a heterologous receptor. However, the activity, regulation, and functionality of multiple PPPSP motifs in LRP6 have not been characterized. Here we provide a comprehensive analysis of all five PPPSP motifs in LRP6. We define the core amino acid residues of a prototypic PPPSP motif via alanine scanning mutagenesis and demonstrate that each of the five PPPSP motifs exhibits signaling and Axin binding activity in isolation. We generated two novel phosphorylation-specific antibodies to additional PPPSP motifs and show that Wnt induces phosphorylation of these motifs in the endogenous LRP6 through glycogen synthase kinase 3. Finally, we uncover the critical cooperativity of PPPSP motifs in the full-length LRP6 by demonstrating that LRP6 mutants lacking a single PPPSP motif display compromised function, whereas LRP6 mutants lacking two of the five PPPSP motifs are mostly inactive. This cooperativity appears to reflect the ability of PPPSP motifs to promote the phosphorylation of one another and to interact with Axin synergistically. These results establish the critical role and a common phosphorylation/activation mechanism for the PPPSP motifs in LRP6 and suggest that the conserved multiplicity and cooperativity of the PPPSP motifs represents a built-in amplifier for Wnt signaling by the LRP6 family of receptors.
Field‐dependent and Field‐independent Conceptualisations of Various Instructional Methods with an Emphasis on CAI: a qualitative analysis

Abstract Learning preferences differences and similarities of field‐dependent/independent college students were investigated with an emphasis on the usage of a computer‐assisted instruction (CAI) program designed for an ornamental horticulture class. The study was undertaken to improve the quality of a CAI program and the quality of instruction within the course. After administration of the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT) instrument, qualitative interviews further investigated how each participant conceptualised their learning process. The findings were congruent with the theory of field dependency. In addition, results indicated that field‐independent students felt that using CAI was beneficial, but may prove to be more advantageous with provided structure. In contrast, field‐dependent students did not feel there was benefit in using the CAI program, but with provided structure, benefits may occur. However, both field‐dependent/independent students would prefer a greater usage of visuals in this CAI p...
Feeding patterns of full-term and preterm infants at forty weeks postconceptional age

Little research exists that addresses the differences in feeding skills between preterm (PT) infants at term and full-term (FT) infants. The purpose of this study was to quantify and examine the differences in sucking abilities of PT infants when measured at 40 weeks postconceptional age (PCA) and newly born FT infants. The sample consisted of 213 infants who were divided into three groups on the basis of their gestational age at birth (24-29 wk, 30-32 wk, and 38-42 wk). The Kron Nutritive Sucking Apparatus (KNSA) was used to examine the microstructure of sucking and feeding behaviors. There were significant differences among the three groups in several of the sucking variables: number of bursts (p = .005), intersuck interval (p = .0212), sucks per burst (p = .0003), suck width (p < .0001), intersuck width (p < .0001), mean maximum pressure (p < .0001), and intersuck width/interburst width (p = .02). The findings from this study demonstrate the importance of both maturation at birth and experience as factors influencing feeding behaviors.
Identification of eight genes that are potentially involved in tamoxifen sensitivity in breast cancer cells

Although the antiestrogen agent tamoxifen has long been used to treat women with hormone receptor positive invasive breast carcinoma, the mechanisms of its action and acquired resistance to tamoxifen during treatment are largely unknown. A number of studies have revealed that over-activation of some signaling pathways can cause tamoxifen resistance; however, very little information is available regarding the genes whose loss-of-function alternation contribute to tamoxifen resistance. Here we used a forward genetic approach in vitro to generate tamoxifen resistant cells from the tamoxifen sensitive breast cancer cell line ZR-75-1, and further identified the disrupted gene in different tamoxifen resistant clones. Retinol binding protein 7, DNA polymerase-transactivated protein 3, g-glutamyltransferase-like activity 1, slit-robo RhoGTPase-activating protein, tetraspan NET-4, HSPC194, amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel gene, and Notch2, were the eight mutated genes identified in different tamoxifen resistant clones, suggesting their requirement for tamoxifen sensitivity in ZR-75-1 cells. Since the functions of these genes are not related to each other, it suggests that multiple pathways can influence tamoxifen sensitivity in breast cancer cells.
DNA conformation and base number simultaneously determined in a nanopore

When dsDNA polymers containing identical number of base pairs were electrophoresed through a nanopore in a voltage biased silicon nitride membrane, the measured time integral of blocked ionic current (the event-charge-deficit, ecd, Fologea, D., Gershow, M., Ledden, B., McNabb, D. S. et al.., Nano Lett. 2005, 5, 1905-1909) for each translocation event was the same regardless of whether the molecules were in a linear, circular relaxed, or supercoiled form. Conversely, when DNA polymers containing different numbers of base pairs were electrophoresed through a nanopore, the ecd depended strongly on, and predicted the value of, the molecule's number of base pairs. Measurements showed that the magnitude of the current blockages was strongly affected by a molecule's form. The current blockages exhibited characteristic differences that distinguished among single-stranded linear, double-stranded linear, circular relaxed, and supercoiled forms. Because the data that establish ecd are usually determined concomitantly with current blockade measurements, our results show that a single nanopore assay can simultaneously determine both DNA conformation and base number.
A phenomenonological model of T violation in nonleptonic decays

Abstract A phenomenonological model of T violation, which assumes constant T-violating phases in an effective Hamiltonian describing nonleptonic interactions, is applied to all nonleptonic decays of hyperons and kaons in order to place constraints on the phases and to establish some connections between the T-violating characteristics of the various decays. It is found that within the framework of existing data, the model is consistent, but that more diverse and accurate experiments are needed to determine the phases introduced in the model. In principle, by comparing all nonleptonic decays, the phases can be determined uniquely although they cannot, in general, be obtained by considering any one decay. The performance of certain experiments is suggested. Accurate results from these will enable the phases to be determined if the mechanism of T violation is the same, or closely related, in different decays. These include, among others, the following experiments which could throw light on whether or not T violation takes place via some dominant mechanism. (1) Determination of the asymmetry parameters in the various hyperon decays would enable us to distinguish between T violation in the |ΔI| = 1 2 , 3 2 amplitudes . (2) A measurement of the charge asymmetry in the decay K20 → π+π−π0 is a direct test for T violation in the |ΔI| = 3 2 amplitude . (3) A comparison of either the τ+ with the τ− rate or the τ′+ with the τ′− rate is a test of T violation in the |ΔI| = 5 2 amplitude, and it is worth noting that, of the two, the τ′± comparison provides a much more sensitive test.
Cluster synthesis via ligand-arrested solid growth: triethylphosphine-capped fragments of binary metal chalcogenides.

A new and potentially highly generalizable technique for synthesizing molecular fragments of binary solids is demonstrated through application to selected transition metal chalcogenides. Employing ...
Secondary Prevention After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Findings of a National Randomized Controlled Trial and Sustained Society-Led Incorporation Into Practice

Background— Despite evidence supporting the use of aspirin, β-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and lipid-lowering therapies in eligible patients, adoption of these secondary prevention measures after coronary artery bypass grafting has been inconsistent. We sought to rigorously test on a national scale whether low-intensity continuous quality improvement interventions can be used to speed secondary prevention adherence after coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods and Results— A total of 458 hospitals participating in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Cardiac Database and treating 361 328 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting were randomized to either a control or an intervention group. The intervention group received continuous quality improvement materials designed to influence the prescription of the secondary prevention medications at discharge. The primary outcome measure was discharge prescription rates of the targeted secondary prevention medications at intervention versus control sites, assessed by measuring preintervention and postintervention site differences. Prerandomization treatment patterns and baseline data were similar in the control (n=234) and treatment (n=224) groups. Individual medication use and composite adherence increased over 24 months in both groups, with a markedly more rapid rate of adherence uptake among the intervention hospitals and a statistically significant therapy hazard ratio in the intervention versus control group for all 4 secondary prevention medications. Conclusions— Provider-led, low-intensity continuous quality improvement efforts can improve the adoption of care processes into national practice within the context of a medical specialty society infrastructure. The findings of the present trial have led to the incorporation of study outcome metrics into a medical society rating system for ongoing quality improvement.
Yeast prions: evolution of the prion concept.

Prions (infectious proteins) analogous to the scrapie agent have been identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Podospora anserina based on their special genetic characteristics. Each is a protein acting as a gene, much like nucleic acids have been shown to act as enzymes. The [URE3], [PSI+], [PIN+] and [Het-s] prions are self-propagating amyloids of Ure2p, Sup35p, Rnq1p and the HET-s protein, respectively. The [b] and [C] prions are enzymes whose precursor activation requires their own active form. [URE3] and [PSI+] are clearly diseases, while [Het-s] and [b] carry out normal cell functions. Surprisingly, the prion domains of Ure2p and Sup35p can be randomized without loss of ability to become a prion. Thus amino acid content and not sequence determine these prions. Shuffleability also suggests amyloids with a parallel in-register b-sheet structure.
A Functional Analysis of the Acquisition and Maintenance of Janitorial Skills in a Competitive Work Setting.

There is a need for empirically based studies to support public school on-the-job training programs for students with severe disabilities. This study examined the use of supported employment via the supported jobs model to provide competitive work experience for a 19-year-old student with severe disabilities. The job trained involved a complex set of janitorial skills, including emptying trash cans, detail cleaning, and daily cleaning. Training consisted of a combination of total task presentation and an individualized prompting hierarchy. A multiple baseline across behaviors design was employed across the three sets of behaviors. Results demonstrated the acquisition and maintenance of all skills at 100% accuracy. The use of supported employment as a means of providing competitive work experience for students with severe disabilities and the need for further research on effective community-based vocational training strategies are discussed.
The Demise of Soviet Industry: A Regional Perspective

Abstract This study examines the sources of Soviet industrial decline by using production function analysis disaggregated by both republic and branch of industry. Although declining availability of inputs contributed to falling growth rates in all branches and regions, other factors had a more regional character. Furthermore, allocative efficiency in Soviet industry declined markedly during the 25 years prior to Gorbachev and by the mid-1980s misallocations of capital and labor were prevalent. I conclude that earlier studies were unable to come to a consensus regarding the cause of the retardation of industrial growth because they were based upon overly aggregated data.
Management algorithm for repairing partial mastectomy defects and oncologic safety: evaluation of oncoplastic reduction

Oncoplastic breast reduction is a novel technique that involves surgical treatment of breast lesions in combination with plastic surgery reconstructive techniques. According to recent data, it provides better cosmetic outcomes; however, concerns still exist about oncologic safety. The goal of this study is to evaluate the latest evidence concerning oncologic safety of oncoplastic techniques and to provide a management algorithm for repairing partial mastectomy defects. Medline and PubMed searches were performed from 1998 until 2012 of publications using the search terms “oncoplastic,” “mastopexy,” “breast conservation surgery,” “therapeutic mammoplasty,” and “breast reduction.” All abstracts were studied and the papers that primarily discussed oncoplastic surgery were included. From this investigation, we concluded that oncoplastic surgery can be a safe alternative to breast conserving therapy in females with large breasts. Evidence suggests that contralateral breast reduction reduces metachronous breast cancer recurrence by up to one third simply by reducing the load of breast epithelium. It also adds to the oncologic safety of breast conserving treatment because wider margins can be achieved. The majority of the patients undergoing therapeutic mammoplasty have good to excellent cosmetic outcomes. Oncoplastic techniques require a multidisciplinary approach between oncologists, breast surgeons, and plastic surgeons. We provide a management algorithm that can be useful in the decision making process to determine the best approach for patients requiring partial mastectomy.
Aquinas's Argument against Self-Hatred

Aquinas's argument against the possibility of genuine self-hatred runs counter to modern intuitions about self-hatred as an explanatorily central notion in psychology, and as an effect of alienation. Aquinas's argument does not deny that persons experience hatred for themselves. It can be read either as the claim that the self-hater mistakes what she feels toward herself as hatred, or that, though she hates what she believes is her “self,” she actually hates only traits of herself. I argue that the argument fails on both readings. The first reading entails that all passions are really self-love, and so is incompatible with Aquinas's own “cognitivist” view of what it is that distinguishes specific passions in experience. The second reading entails that persons have no phenomenal access to “self,” rendering self-reference—how it is that the self can be an intentional object of conscious mental states—a mystery. Augustine's claim, which Aquinas accepts on authority, that all sin originates in inordinate self-love seems to entail the impossibility of genuine self-hatred because both thinkers fail to distinguish between two distinct forms of self-love: amor concupiscentiae and amor benevolentiae.
Collision strengths and line strengths for all transitions among the levels of the 1s22s22p, 1s22s2p2, and 1s22p3 configurations of boron-like ions

Abstract Collision strengths and electric-dipole line strengths have been calculated for all fine-structure transitions among the levels of the 1 s 2 2 s 2 2 p , 1 s 2 2 s 2 p 2 , and 1 s 2 2 p 3 configurations in 17 boron-like ions with nuclear charge number Z in the range 10 ⩽ Z ⩽ 74. From these results the collision strengths and line strengths for transitions between energy terms and their analogs in jj coupling can also be obtained. The collision strength data cover impact-electron energies ⩽ 3.25 Z 2 Ry or 44.2 Z 2 eV. The effects of configuration mixing, parentage mixing, and intermediate coupling have been included in the calculations. The method used in calculating the collision strengths is a Coulomb-Born-Exchange method well suited for treating many members of an isoelectronic sequence simultaneously. The complete results have been given in terms of fits to simple functions of the impact-electron energy that are readily integrated over a Maxwellian distribution to obtain collision rates. Some discussion is given of important differences between the present method and the more usual Coulomb-Born-Exchange method, where it is assumed that the free electron sees the screened nuclear charge ( Z - N ).
Mathematical modeling and verification of pulse electrochemical micromachining of microtools

Pulse electrochemical micromachining (PECMM) is an unconventional manufacturing method suitable for the production of micro-sized components on a wide range of electrically conductive materials. PECMM in this study has been used to manufacture microtools. The non-contact nature of PECMM has necessitated the modeling of the process to estimate the anodic profile (microtool profile). This paper presents a mathematical model for predicting the diameter of the microtools fabricated by PECMM process. Tungsten microtools of diameters less than 100 μm were fabricated using an in-house built microelectrochemical machining system. Experimental results confirm the theoretical prediction of reduction in tool diameter with respect to increasing machining time. Further, from the experimental verification, it was found that the deviations in the tool diameters were within 9 % of the theoretical predictions.
Childhood Predictors of an At-Risk Transition into Early Adulthood Among African American and Caucasian Males

Early adulthood represents a period of transition that is marked by change and exploration. For some, this transition is uncomplicated, yet for others, it is problematic. While many studies have explored factors that predict adjustment in childhood and adolescence, substantially less is known about childhood factors that predict adjustment during the transition into adulthood. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether childhood factors that predict adult adjustment differ between African American and Caucasian males. Accordingly, the current study examined childhood predictors of early adult (age 19–20) adjustment in a community sample of 397 African American and Caucasian males. Findings indicated that African American and Caucasian males who experienced high levels of peer delinquency, depressive symptoms, and conflicted parent–child communication in childhood were more likely to experience adjustment issues in early adulthood. For African American males, low academic achievement was important for predicting adult adjustment, while low organization involvement uniquely predicted adult adjustment for Caucasian males.
Selection of an Enteral Product Formulary

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To define a process of selecting cost effective enteral formulas. The large number and variety of adult enteral formula products make enteral product selection a challenging task. Objectives of this process are to select appropriate formulas to meet patient requirements, limit the number of products stocked by the institution, restrict use of high cost products to appropriate clinical situations, and to meet these goals at the lowest cost to the institution. Implementation of this process should include the following: 1) Develop a concensus among clinical staff regarding the general formula types and characteristics required in the institution. 2) Establish specifications for each formula category and determine formula products that meet those specifications. 3) Access a closed competitive bid for enteral formula products. 4) Determine the comparative cost of each product per 1000 kcal or per gram protein. 5) Select the lowest cost product within each formula category. 6) Require special approval procedures for use of high cost products or specialty products not routinely stocked. Establishment of product specifications allow comparable products to be objectively evaluated. Conversion of cost to a per calorie or gram protein basis provides an effective measure when evaluating cost with variable can and case sizes. Special approval procedures ensures high cost products are used in an appropriate manner. Advantages to this process include: routine, careful evaluation of formula requirements for the institution, awareness of cost and cost differences between formula products and categories, and pressure on formula companies to supply their most competitive price for products. This formula bid process provides an objective means of selecting an enteral formulary and may result in significant cost savings for the institution.
Adsorption of amino acids on indium arsenide (100) surfaces: Assessment of passivation capabilities

Abstract Angle-Resolved X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (ARXPS) was used to examine amino acid bonding and oxide removal on InAs(1 0 0) surfaces. Five amino acids were studied, including cysteine, lysine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and arginine. Observations on the ability of specific functional groups to prevent oxide formation were made by examining the thickness of oxide films on the functionalize surfaces. Amino acids that possessed more than one functional group having resonance were shown to most effectively affect oxide formation. The influence of these groups on the electronic structure of InAs(1 0 0) provides insight into how multifunctional passivation strategies could be beneficial, as well as showing how biological molecules might affect detection when InAs(1 0 0) is used as a platform.
Serial MRI evaluation of cardiac structure and function in mice after reperfused myocardial infarction

This study evaluated the utility of cardiac MRI for assessing the impact of myocardial infarction (MI) on cardiac structure and function in mice following reperfused 1- or 2-hr occlusions of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). When assessed 1 day after MI, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) had declined by more than half, and remained depressed for the duration of the study. Furthermore, MI initiated dramatic increases in both LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) and end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), with a greater than threefold increase in LVESV and a twofold increase in LVEDV by 4 weeks post-MI. Transmural LV wall thickening (WTh) analysis revealed that noninfarcted myocardium in the remote septal region exhibited an early deficit in contractile function after MI that transiently resolved by day 7, only to be followed by a late phase of dysfunction that became fully manifest by day 28 post-MI. In conclusion, MRI allows the serial assessment of cardiac structure and function after MI in mice, with a resolution adequate to document both regional and temporal changes. The application of these imaging techniques in transgenic and knock-out mice will greatly expedite research aimed at defining the functional roles of individual genes in the pathophysiology of LV remodeling (LVR) after reperfused MI.
Initial Evaluation of (99m)Tc(CO)3(ASMA) as a Renal Tracer in Healthy Human Volunteers.

Preclinical studies in rats showed that two of 99mTc(CO)3(ASMA) isomers (rac- and L-ASMA) had pharmacokinetic properties equivalent to that of 131I-OIH, the radiopharmaceutical standard for the measurement of effective renal plasma flow. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of 99mTc(CO)3(ASMA) isomers in healthy human subjects. Three ASMA ligands (rac-, L- and D-ASMA) were labeled with 99mTc(CO)3 using an IsoLink kit (Covidien), and each formed 99mTc(CO)3(ASMA) tracer was co-injected with 131I-OIH into healthy human subjects followed by sequential imaging, plasma clearance measurements and timed urine collection. Plasma protein binding, red cell uptake and percent injected dose in the urine were determined. Urine from each group of volunteers was analyzed for metabolites by HPLC. Image quality was excellent with all three agents. Each 99mTc(CO)3(ASMA) preparation was excreted unchanged in the urine. The plasma clearance ratio (99mTc(CO)3(ASMA)/131I-OIH) was 81 ± 3 % for D-ASMA compared to only 20 ± 4 % for L-ASMA and 37 ± 7 % for rac-ASMA; the 81 % clearance ratio for D-ASMA isomer is still ∼ 30 % higher than the 99mTc-MAG3/131I-OIH clearance ratio (∼50-60 %). Red cell uptake was similar for all three tracers (6-9 %), and all tracers had a relatively rapid renal excretion; at 3 h, the 99mTc(CO)3(ASMA)/131I-OIH urine ratio was 100 ± 3 % for D-ASMA, 80 ± 2 % for L-ASMA and 88 ± 1 % for rac-ASMA. The renal excretion characteristics of 99mTc(CO)3(D-ASMA) in humans are superior to those of the other two 99mTc(CO)3(ASMA) isomers studied, but are still inferior to 131I-OIH, even though there was no difference in the clearance of two of 99mTc(CO)3(ASMA) isomers and 131I-OIH in rats. The work described here demonstrates the sensitivity in in vivo biological behavior of 99mTc(CO)3(ASMA) isomers to their subtle structural differences.
A Welcome Step: Let's Climb to the Next Tier

This comment argues that although the proposal by Sheldon, Joiner, Pettit, and Williams in this issue to uphold the self-actualizing principles of client volition, client-therapist collaboration, and relational alliance in psychotherapy is well taken, it does not go far enough to assuage key humanistic concerns. Among these are the authors’ formulations of the self-actualizing principles, their implementation of them in practice, and their rejection of a qualitative-quantitative complement that could enhance evidence-based practice. It is concluded that Sheldon et al.'s assertions about the need to achieve a humanistic-scientific rapprochement through quantification (e.g., empirically supported treatments) is shortsighted. Quantification is neither necessary nor desirable for such a rapprochement, and a qualitative-quantitative complement is posed as an alternative.
Determination of amiodarone and its n-deethylated metabolite in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method utilizing hexane extraction and a normal bonded phase column (NH 2 ,-alkylamine) was developed to measure serum concentrations of amiodarone and its N-deethylated metabolite. A single analysis requires 8 min. The one-step extraction efficiencies of amiodarone and the internal standard are greater than 90%. The method is linear between 0.05 and 20.0 μg/ml. The average relative standard deviation of the slope of the standard curve is 4% and the single day coefficient of variation is 3.2%. The use of hexane extraction for sample cleanup and a bonded phase column for chromatography result in a sensitive and reproducible system well suited to laboratories monitoring serum concentrations of multiple drugs by HPLC. A preliminary study has shown the assay to be useful for the investigation of the pharmacokinetics of this agent.
A comparison of two teaching strategies on nutrition knowledge, attitudes and food behavior of preschool children

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two teaching strategies, benefit appeal and threat appeal , on the nutrition knowledge, attitudes and food behavior of 103 preschool children. Nutrition information was conveyed using three traditional fairy tales that were rewritten to present basic nutrition concepts. The fairy tales modified for the benefit appeal group emphasized the positive, favorable results of eating a variety of vegetables, while those modified for the threat appeal group focused on the health and nutrition risks arising from not eating vegetables. Classes of preschool children were randomly assigned to a control group or to one of two experimental groups (the benefit appeal or threat appeal ). The researcher used a flannel board to illustrate the fairy tales as they were presented to the two experimental groups. One fairy tale was presented on each of three consecutive school days. Control group children did not hear the modified fairy tales. Nutrition knowledge, attitude and behavior were assessed prior to and after the story presentations. Results revealed that the benefits appeal group had higher adjusted mean posttest knowledge scores than the threat appeal group, and that both experimental groups had significantly higher adjusted mean post-test knowledge scores than the control group. Both experimental groups had similar significantly higher adjusted mean post-assessment attitude scores than the control group, but the experimental groups did not differ significantly. Results of the food behavior assessment varied with the snack choice offerings. Children in the benefit appeal group had significantly higher adjusted mean post-intervention scores than the control group for all snack choices and significantly higher adjusted mean post-intervention scores than those of the threat appeal group for half of the snack food choices; the adjusted mean post-intervention scores for the threat appeal group were significantly higher than those of the control group for only half of the snack food choices. Further research is needed, with a more demographically diverse sample, to validate the positive effect of the benefit appeal teaching strategy with preschool children.
Acute Alcohol Effects on Attentional Bias in Heavy and Moderate Drinkers

Heavy drinkers show an increased attentional bias to alcohol-related stimuli compared to moderate drinkers, and this bias is thought to promote motivation for alcohol consumption (Field & Cox, 2008). Studies have begun to examine acute alcohol effects on attentional bias; however, little is known regarding how these effects might differ based on drinker type. Further, the degree to which attentional bias in response to alcohol is associated with excessive alcohol consumption remains unexplored. For the current study, 20 heavy drinkers and 20 moderate drinkers completed a visual probe task in response to placebo and two active doses of alcohol (0.45g/kg and 0.65g/kg). Participants' eye-movements were monitored and attentional bias was calculated as the difference in time spent focused on alcohol compared to neutral images. Participants' alcohol consumption was assessed by a timeline follow-back calendar and a laboratory ad lib consumption task. Results showed that heavy drinkers displayed significantly greater attentional bias than did moderate drinkers following placebo. However, heavy drinkers displayed a dose-dependent decrease in attentional bias following alcohol, whereas the drug had no effect in moderate drinkers. Individual differences in attentional bias under placebo were strongly associated with both self-reported and laboratory alcohol consumption, yet bias following alcohol administration did not predict either measure of consumption. These findings suggest that attentional bias is strongest before a drinking episode begins. As such, an attentional bias might be most influential in terms of initiation of alcohol consumption, and less of a factor in promoting continued consumption within the drinking episode. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Enhancing Binding Affinity by the Cooperativity between Host Conformation and Host–Guest Interactions

Glutamate-functionalized oligocholate foldamers bound Zn(OAc)2, guanidine, and even amine compounds with surprisingly high affinities. The conformational change of the hosts during binding was crucial to the enhanced binding affinity. The strongest cooperativity between the conformation and guest-binding occurred when the hosts were unfolded but near the folding–unfolding transition. These results suggest that high binding affinity in molecular recognition may be more easily obtained from large hosts capable of strong cooperative conformational changes instead of those with rigid, preorganized structures.
Calculations and measurements of contact resistance of semi-transparent Ni/Pd contacts to p-GaN

Calculations of specific contact resistance as a function of doping and barrier height were performed for p-type GaN. These calculations took into account two valence bands, each with different effective masses, and show that at low doping, the heavy hole band accounts for most of the conduction, whereas at heavier doping, the light hole band dominates conduction. These calculations also indicate the barrier height for typical contacts to p-GaN is between 0.75 eV and 1 eV. Specific contact resistance measurements were made for oxidized Ni/Au, Pd, and oxidized Ni/Pd ohmic contact metal schemes to p-GaN. The Ni/Pd contact had the lowest specific contact resistance, 6×10−4 Ω cm2. Auger sputter depth profile analysis showed some Ni diffused away from the GaN surface to the contact surface with the bulk of the Pd located in between two areas of Ni. Both Ni and Pd interdiffused with the GaN at the semiconductor surface. The majority of the oxygen observed was with the Ni as NiO. Angle-resolved-x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (AR-XPS) analyses showed the formation of predominantly NiO and PdO species, with higher Ni and Pd oxides at the contact surface.
Autologous fat grafting: a technique for stabilization of the microvascular pedicle in DIEP flap reconstruction.

Proper orientation of the microvascular pedicle is essential to ensure a high success rate in microvascular surgery. The inset of a deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction can sometimes be problematic given the long vascular pedicle, the acute takeoff from an internal mammary anastomosis, and the positioning of the flap on top of the vascular pedicle. In the postoperative period, the flap can also shift as the patient's activity level increases. We present a technique where nonvascularized autologous fat grafts are used to stabilize and cushion the vascular pedicle. Over a 14-month period, 117 consecutive DIEP flaps were performed to the internal mammary vessels with autologous fat grafting to the microvascular pedicle. Six flaps (5.1%) were explored during the immediate postoperative period for anastomotic compromise. Only one total flap failure (0.8%) was observed during this time. We had no direct complications related to the fat grafts. The use of nonvascularized autologous fat grafts is a simple and safe technique for stabilization of a microvascular pedicle. It should be considered in DIEP flap breast reconstruction and other microvascular cases where the vascular pedicle might be compressed by adjacent structures. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2008.
Approximate optimal trajectories for flexible-link manipulator slewing using recursive quadratic programming

The method of recursive quadratic programming, coupled with a homotopy method, has been used to generate approximate minimum-time and minimum tracking-error tip trajectories for two-link flexible manipulator movements in the horizontal plane. The manipulator is modeled with an efficient finite-element scheme for a multi-link, multi-joint system with bending only in the horizontal-plane. Constraints on the trajectory include boundary conditions on link tip position, final joint velocities, accelerations and torque inputs to complete a rest-to-rest maneuver, straight-line tip tracking between boundary positions, and motor torque limits. Trajectory comparisons demonstrate the impact of torque input smoothness on structural mode excitation
Sex differences in hemispheric specialization for synthetic visuospatial functions

Abstract Right-handed normal males and females performed two visuospatial tasks, one requiring perceptual synthesis, one requiring more perceptual analysis, and a vocabulary task. Electroencephalographic (EEG) analysis indicated right hemisphere specialization for males for the synthetic visuospatial task and greater desynchrony in the occipital regions for females on the analytic visuospatial and vocabulary tasks. The results are discussed with reference to the effects of bilateral representation upon the compatibility of synthetic and analytic psychological functions and the importance of considering regional as well as hemispheric specialization.
Analysis of transient visual sensations above the flicker fusion frequency.

Abstract A momentary brightness change is experienced when a luminance stimulus that is modulated at frequencies above fusion undergoes a jump in its oscillation period. Such visual transients, due to any abrupt change in modulation waveform (its period, amplitude or phase), are analyzed here by a general theory for temporal variation in brightness vision. The abstract theory yields a simple, general expression for the transient responses that facilitates the analysis of various observations. Psychophysical experiments on the period-jump transient, in particular, are presented and analyzed. The chief results of the paper are to demonstrate the elemental and sensitive nature of the phenomenon, and to accurately validate the general theory. By its aid then, some subsidiary conclusions are drawn: the data are compatible with the most precise brightness discrimination experiments, and confirm the peculiar polarity and resulting model criterion we reported earlier. More broadly, the abstractness of the theory admits similar theoretical-experimental analyses of physiological manifestations of this transient phenomenon.