cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interaction of ac Josephson currents with surface plasmons in thin superconducting films

The coupling of low-frequency surface plasmons to the ac Josephson currents in superposed thin dielectric and superconducting metal films is examined. The $I\ensuremath{-}V$ characteristics for various superposed film systems are derived. The theory permits the magnitude of the parameters entering in the expression for the $I\ensuremath{-}V$ characteristics, as well as their dependence on various quantities (temperature, mean free path, etc.), to be determined and compared with existing experiments. We have extended the theory of steplike structures in the $I\ensuremath{-}V$ characteristics of a single Josephson junction to multiple films, and have found that more than one series of such steplike structures is possible. The theory provides a natural explanation for a three-film tunneling experiment of Giaever. Finally, the modifications of the dispersion relations for surface plasma oscillations in multiple-film systems, when admitting the presence of the ac Josephson effect, are derived.
Significance of the imidazoline receptors in toxicology.

AbstractIntroduction. The alpha-2 adrenergic (AA-2) receptor agonists and imidazolines are common exposures in the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) National Poison Data System (NPDS). Although the interaction between the AA-2 receptor and imidazoline receptors has been extensively studied, it largely remains unknown to health-care professionals. This review describes these interactions and mechanisms by which agonists affect physiologic responses binding to these receptors. Methods. Papers published in English from 1960 to 2013 were retrieved from PubMed. A total of 323 original articles were identified and 173 were included. Background. The toxicity associated with clonidine (e.g., bradycardia, miosis, and hypotension) is largely assumed to be secondary to the functional overlap of the AA-2 receptors and the mu receptors. However, the effects at the AA-2 receptor could not fully account for these symptoms. Subsequently, clonidine was found to produce its pharmacologic effect in the ...
On-chip product purification for complete microfluidic radiotracer synthesis

Solid phase extraction was incorporated into an electrowetting-on-dielectric chip for radiochemical purification of a positron emission tomography tracer that was radiolabeled on the same chip. The radiotracer droplet was mixed with alumina particles, and the alumina particles were filtered out from the droplet through a line of pillars, all by electrowetting droplet movement. Fluorination reaction and on-chip purification were analyzed with both Cerenkov imaging and off-chip radio-thin layer chromatography measurements. The measurements were compared to test the validity of the combined use of filtration on-chip and Cerenkov imaging as an alternative approach for monitoring reaction yield without the need to extract sample from the chip.
Recurrent diabetic ketoacidosis in two community teaching hospitals.

ABSTRACT Objective To identify the factors that influence recurrent (one or more previous episodes) diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which we refer to as recurrent DKA, in two private community teaching hospitals. Methods Retrospective chart review of the demographics, diabetes treatment regimens, diabetes education, medical comorbidities, medical insurance status, and mental illness/psychosocial factors of 80 patients with recurrent DKA who were admitted to the resident teaching services at two Birmingham, Alabama community teaching hospitals, Trinity Medical Center (TMC) and Princeton Baptist Medical Center (PBMC), between May 2006 and May 2012. Results The average number of admissions for recurrent DKA was 2.5 per patient. Eighty-four percent of the episodes of recurrent DKA were due to omission of insulin; 44% of patients reported omission of insulin because of illness and 40% stopped insulin for unknown reasons. Medical illnesses, including infection, accounted for only 31% of recurrent DKA admissions. Conclusion Omission of insulin is the major cause of recurrent DKA. Psychosocial and socioeconomic factors contribute to poor adherence to therapy. Identifying these factors and instituting appropriate interventions may reduce the incidence of recurrent DKA. (Endocr Pract. 2013;19:829-833)
Numerical observer for cardiac motion assessment

In this paper, we present a numerical observer for assessment of cardiac motion in nuclear medicine. Numerical observers are used in medical imaging as a surrogate for human observers to automatically measure the diagnostic quality of medical images. The most commonly used quality measurement is the detection performance in a detection task. In this work, we present a new numerical observer aiming to measure image quality for the task of cardiac motiondefect detection in cardiac SPECT imaging. The proposed observer utilizes a linear discriminant on features extracted from cardiac motion, characterized by a deformable mesh model of the left ventricle and myocardial brightening. Simulations using synthetic data indicate that the proposed method can effectively capture the cardiac motion and provide an accurate prediction of the human observer performance.
Catheter-Related Bacteremia and Outcome of Attempted Catheter Salvage in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis

Background: Dual-lumen cuffed catheters are used for vascular access in patients undergoing hemodialysis. The incidence and appropriate management of catheter-related bacteremia are unknown. Object...
Isothermal DNA amplification coupled with DNA nanosphere-based colorimetric detection.

We present a simple, rapid method for detecting short DNA sequences that combines a novel isothermal amplification method (EXPAR) with visual, colorimetric readout based on aggregation of DNA-functionalized gold nanospheres. The reaction is initiated by a trigger oligonucleotide, synthetic in nature for this proof-of-principle study, which is exponentially amplified at 55 °C and converted to a universal reporter oligonucleotide capable of bridging two sets of DNA-functionalized gold nanospheres. This reaction provides >106-fold amplification/conversion in under 5 min. When combined with a solution containing DNA nanospheres, the bridging reporter causes nanosphere aggregation. The resulting color change from red to dark purple or blue is enhanced through spotting the solution onto a C18 reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography plate. The reaction can easily be adapted for detection of different trigger oligonucleotides using the same set of DNA nanospheres. It permits detection of as low as 100 fM trigger...
Optimality criteria for the selection of a partially sequential indicator set

SUMMARY Wolfe (1977a) introduced the concept of a partially sequential two-sample hypothesis test and studied some of the properties for a general class of such procedures. In this paper we deal with criteria for selecting an indicator set for use in a partially sequential test. In particular, we show how the Neyman-Pearson lemma can be used to generate an asymptotically optimal indicator set, in the sense that it corresponds to an asymptotically most powerful partially sequential test. In addition, we provide an accurate upper bound for the asymptotic expected sample size of the sequentially obtained observations, and obtain a closed form approximation for the maximum number of these observations necessary in order to obtain prespecified asymptotic power bounds against alternatives of interest. Some key word8: Asymptotically most powerful partially sequential test; Asymptotic power bound; Expected sample size; Negative binomial distribution; Optimal indicator set; Partially sequential procedure; Two-sample test.
Experimental studies of frequency response of small-signal MOSFET amplifiers

Abstract Capacitance plays a dominant role in shaping the time and frequency response of modern electronic circuits. An extensive and in-depth experimental investigation has been performed the role of various capacitors in small-signal MOSFET amplifier circuit. Particular emphasis has been given to addressing basic issues involving capacitances in MOSFET amplifiers, rather than modifying the design. Three different enhancement n-channel MOSFETs (2N700 model, referred hereafter to as MOS-1, MOS-2 and MOS-3) manufactured by Motorola Inc. have been used for the experiment. The study uncovers several important new features of the amplifiers. It indicates that in the design of small-signal MOS amplifiers, it should never be taken for granted that coupling and bypass capacitors act as short circuit and have no effect on the ac input and output voltages. In fact, they contribute to the voltage levels seen at both the input and the output port of the amplifier. When chosen judiciously for coupling and bypass operations they dictate the actual voltage gain of the amplifier at various frequencies of input signal.
In vitro analysis of the control of cell death in a zone of prospective necrosis from the chick wing bud.

Abstract This report deals with the control of cell death in a zone of necrosis (PNZ) which is visible near the posterior junction of the wing bud and body wall of the chick embryo at stage 24. At this stage the zone is replete with dead cells ingested by phagocytes. Previous studies have shown that PNZ cells are committed to death as their developmental end point as early as stage 17 and that the commitment is irreversible after stage 21. This death program has been characterized as a “death clock” whose mechanism is intrinsic to the PNZ cells themselves. The accomplishment of the death program in the PNZ is temperature dependent; in cultures started at identical stages, it takes twice as long for death to occur in those incubated at 30°C as it does for those held at 37°C, and at 20°C death is postponed indefinitely. PNZ explants maintained at 20°C for 2 days past the time of necrosis in the controls show the normal pattern of degeneration when placed at 37°C, but they do so only after approximately the same lapse of time as would have been required had the explant originally remained at 37°C, thus indicating that the metabolic machinery accomplishing morphogenetic death is effectively brought to a stop at 20°C. PNZ's cultured transfilter to control wing mesoderm will survive indefinitely without differentiating the death pattern. If the transfilter mesoderm is removed from this association prior to 7 days, however, death of the PNZ cells ensues within 12 hours. After 7 days the PNZ explants remain without necrosis even if the wing mesoderm is removed, indicating that a prolonged period is necessary for the PNZ cells to reach a stabilized condition leading to a pattern of growth and differentiation instead of death.
Potentiometric ion- and bio-selective electrodes based on asymmetric cellulose acetate membranes

The potentiometric response properties of ammonium-, carbonate-, and proton-selective electrodes prepared by incorporating appropriate neutral carriers within novel asymmetric cellulose acetate membranes are reported. The membranes are formed by first casting a thin layer of cellulose triacetate without carrier, hydrolyzing one side of this film with base, and then on the other side casting a second layer of cellulose triacetate containing the membrane active components. The resulting asymmetric ion-selective membranes function equivalently, in terms of selectivity and response slopes, to non-asymmetric cellulose triacetate membranes and conventional poly(vinyl chloride)-based membranes. The hydrolyzed surface of the asymmetric membranes can be activated in aqueous solution with carbonyldiimidazole for the direct immobilization of proteins on the surface of the membranes, without loss in potentiometric ion-response. As an example, the immobilization of urease on the surfaces of ammonium- and carbonate-selective membranes yields potentiometric bio-selective urea-probes with desirable dynamic response properties.
Level dependence of auditory filters in nonsimultaneous masking as a function of frequency.

Auditory filter bandwidths were measured using nonsimultaneous masking, as a function of signal level between 10 and 35dB SL for signal frequencies of 1, 2, 4, and 6kHz. The brief sinusoidal signal was presented in a temporal gap within a spectrally notched noise. Two groups of normal-hearing subjects were tested, one using a fixed masker level and adaptively varying signal level, the other using a fixed signal level and adaptively varying masker level. In both cases, auditory filters were derived by assuming a constant filter shape for a given signal level. The filter parameters derived from the two paradigms were not significantly different. At 1kHz, the equivalent rectangular bandwidth (ERB) decreased as the signal level increased from 10to20dB SL, after which it remained roughly constant. In contrast, at 6kHz, the ERB increased consistently with signal levels from 10to35dB SL. The results at 2 and 4kHz were intermediate, showing no consistent change in ERB with signal level. Overall, the results sugge...
The Priming Effect in Task Design Research

This paper investigated the existence of the priming effect. Two studies, a laboratory test with 157 undergraduates, and afield test of 62 government clerks, were conducted. Results of both studies demonstrated a significant presence of priming upon survey responses.
The Prenatal Medical Record: Purpose, Organization and the Debate of Print Versus Electronic

The obstetric prenatal record is one of the best, most organized medical record systems currently used in the United States. This has allowed a standardization of care and documentation that has benefited pregnant women over the past two decades. The transition to an electronic record must maintain these advances and, hopefully, strengthen them with the use of electronic prompts, seamless transfer of information, and universal accessibility to the records, regardless of the location of care.
Poly(methylene green) employed as molecularly imprinted polymer matrix for electrochemical sensing

This paper describes the development of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for theophylline that can be used for electrochemical sensing. Theophylline is a commonly used medication for the treatment of asthma. Due to its very narrow therapeutic index, it may have toxic and potentially fatal effects on the individual. Electrochemical detection of theophylline is difficult, because its molecular structure and standard reduction potential are very similar to that of caffeine. A new method for fabricating molecularly imprinted polymers is proposed utilizing methylene green. Poly(methylene green) (PMG), prepared by electropolymerization of an azine, methylene green, was imprinted for theophylline. PMG-based MIP-coated electrodes showed sensitivity towards the presence of the imprint molecule in solutions, as well as selectivity for the imprint over the interferent molecule caffeine. The PMG-based MIP-coated electrode described in this paper had an improved selectivity factor and reproducibility compared to other theophylline-imprinted MIP-coated electrodes in literature.
Radiation therapy and management of the irradiated patient

From the interviews of 14 patients in this study it can be concluded that facial prostheses are not completely acceptable. A number of factors thought to influence the acceptability of prostheses could not be shown to do so. The factors considered were associated with experiences of treatment and reactions of the environment. Some data, however, suggest that personal traits of the patient, especially self-concept, may explain differences between patients in the acceptance of facial prostheses.
Second‐look laparotomy

The second-look laparotomy has become an important means of assessing therapy response in ovarian cancer patients. This procedure enables the gynecologic oncologist to diligently search for small volume persistent disease, which often escapes detection by less invasive means. Subsequent treatment, if required, may then be tailored to the initial biologic response to therapy. However, many patients with negative findings at second look will develop recurrent disease, dampening enthusiasm for the operation. Although controversial, this procedure remains the gold standard for the detection of disease status following chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An autonomous operation microgrid for rural electrification

Energy is one of the most critical economic, environmental, and developmental issues in the world. Developing countries in particular need access to a reliable, affordable, clean, and efficient energy service to elevate standards of living and to reduce poverty. As the largest and most populous continent after Asia, Africa has only 2% of the world's industrial capacity. Its per capita income is only 15% of the world average and only consumes 3% of world energy. Approximately one-third of the estimated 1.5 billion people without access to electricity worldwide live in Africa. It is therefore urgent for these African countries, especially in rural areas, to find an accessible, reliable, efficient, and economically feasible way for electrification. This paper puts forward an intelligent microgrid as a solution for African rural electrification. Simulation verification and lab implementation are also presented in this paper.
The Representation of Counseling versus Clinical Psychology in Introductory Psychology Textbooks

The major purpose of our study was to determine how counseling and clinical psychology are represented in introductory psychology textbooks and to compare this representation with what is known about clinical and counseling psychology as specialties. We found that introductory psychology textbooks' representations of counseling and clinical psychology were generally consistent with existing empirical data. There was some evidence, however, of a shift in the representations of counseling psychology between the 1970s and the 1980s. Textbooks tended to provide more coverage of clinical than counseling psychology. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Intuitive inference strategies in interval learning tasks as a function of validity magnitude and sign

Nine groups of ten subjects each performed for 200 trials on interval learning tasks in which the stimulus, response and reinforcement continua were continuous scaled variables. The nine experimental conditions were defined by the size and sign of the product-moment correlation between the stimulus and reinforcement (criterion) distributions. That is, γeranged from −.80 to +.80 in steps of .20. There was little or no evidence for matching behavior with correlational performance measures. Subjects learning positive γe relationships tended to overmatch (γs > γe), with the tendency to do so increasing as the size of γe decreased. Subjects who learned negative γe values consistently undermatched (γs < γe), apparently due to a general set to regard “relatedness” as a positive phenomenon. Analysis of subjects' conditional response arrays showed that subjects' conditional response distributions had greater dispersion than the corresponding conditional reinforcement distributions. The size of this effect increased as a function of the absolute magnitude of γe and was most evident with high and low stimulus arrays. A tendency for subjects to displace the array means followed a similar pattern.
REE diffusion in feldspar

Abstract Diffusion of several rare-earth elements has been characterized in natural plagioclase under dry, 1-atm conditions. Polished or cleaved sections of feldspar were surrounded by source powders in Pt capsules and annealed in air. Sources of diffusant were rare-earth aluminate garnet powders produced by combustion synthesis. Prepared sample capsules were annealed for times ranging from 30 min to a few months, at temperatures from 925 to 1350 °C. The REE distributions in the feldspars were profiled by Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS). The following Arrhenius relation is obtained for Nd diffusion in oligoclase (An23), for diffusion normal to (010): D=2.3×10 −3 exp (−425 kJ mol −1 /RT) m 2 s −1 . Diffusion in normal to (001) appears to be slightly faster than diffusion normal to (010). For anorthite (An93), Nd diffusion normal to (010) corresponds to the Arrhenius relation: D=5.9×10 −6 exp (−398 kJ mol −1 /RT) m 2 s −1 . Diffusion rates of four rare earths (La, Nd, Dy, Yb) were measured in labradorite (An67). For transport normal to (010), the Arrhenius relations are: D La =1.1×10 −2 exp (−464 kJ mol −1 /RT) m 2 s −1 D Nd =2.4×10 −2 exp (−477 kJ mol −1 /RT) m 2 s −1 D Dy =7.1×10 −3 exp (−461 kJ mol −1 /RT) m 2 s −1 D Yb =3.2×10 −1 exp (−502 kJ mol −1 /RT) m 2 s −1 . Diffusivities for all of the rare earths investigated in labradorite are similar, in contrast to the significant variations in diffusivities among the rare earths noted in zircon and diopside. This observation is consistent with elastic models for diffusion, in which differences in ionic radii among the rare earths will have greater influence on diffusion rates in stiffer lattices such as those of zircon and clinopyroxene than in the more flexible feldspar structure. REE diffusion in all of the feldspar compositions is slower than diffusion of divalent and univalent cations, indicating a decrease in diffusion rates with increasing cation charge. Diffusivities of Nd also vary with plagioclase composition, with diffusion faster in more sodic plagioclase. This trend is similar to that noted for Sr, Pb and Ba diffusion in previous studies, and may be due to the fact that the comparatively greater flexibility of more sodic plagioclase permits easier migration of diffusants through the mineral lattice.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase is autonomous from the dominant extrasynaptic NMDA receptor extracellular signal-regulated kinase shutoff pathway

NMDA receptors bidirectionally modulate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) through the coupling of synaptic NMDA receptors to an ERK activation pathway that is opposed by a dominant ERK shutoff pathway thought to be coupled to extrasynaptic NMDA receptors. In the present study, synaptic NMDA receptor activation of ERK in rat cortical cultures was partially inhibited by the highly selective NR2B antagonist Ro25-6981 (Ro) and the less selective NR2A antagonist NVP-AAM077 (NVP). When Ro and NVP were added together, inhibition appeared additive and equal to that observed with the NMDA open-channel blocker MK-801. Consistent with a selective coupling of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors to the dominant ERK shutoff pathway, pre-block of synaptic NMDA receptors with MK-801 did not alter the inhibitory effect of bath-applied NMDA on ERK activity. Lastly, in contrast to a complete block of synaptic NMDA receptor activation of ERK by extrasynaptic NMDA receptors, activation of extrasynaptic NMDA receptors had no effect upon ERK activation by brain-derived neurotrophic factor. These results suggest that the synaptic NMDA receptor ERK activation pathway is coupled to both NR2A and NR2B containing receptors, and that the extrasynaptic NMDA receptor ERK inhibitory pathway is not a non-selective global ERK shutoff.
Comparison of two wood filler types with respect to relative shrinkage across variations in temperature, in humidity, and within wood species

This study compared two different types of wood filler with respect to fill capability and relative shrinkage across varying levels of temperature, humidity and species of wood. Characteristics exhibited by the filler material are crucial for assuring the production and delivery of quality wood flooring. This research specifically focused on the investigation of relative shrinkage of filled voids in hardwood flooring before finishing. Both fillers were applied to a consistent premachined defect cavity and evaluated based on dimensional changes. Shrinkage data was collected using a coordinate measuring machine. Results showed that relative shrinkage of both wood fillers can be affected by variations in humidity while curing during an initial 1 h set time. This research aimed to improve production quality of hardwood flooring in western North Carolina and eliminate processing extremes at an industry client’s facility.
Impact of Unstable Angina on Outcomes of Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization Combined With Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background For sole therapy transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMR), unstable angina has been demonstrated to be a significant independent predictor of operative mortality. The objective of this study was to investigate the preoperative risk profile of patients undergoing TMR plus coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and to determine the impact of unstable angina on outcomes. Methods Using The Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Cardiac Database from 1998 to 2003, 5,618 patients underwent TMR plus CABG. These patients were compared with 932,715 patients who underwent CABG only operations. Results The TMR plus CABG patients had a significantly higher incidence of diabetes (50% versus 34%), renal failure (7% versus 5%), peripheral vascular disease (20% versus 16%), reoperative surgery (26% versus 9%), three-vessel coronary artery disease (80% versus 71%), hyperlipidemia (73% versus 62%; p Conclusions It is likely that patients who undergo TMR plus CABG have a higher prevalence of diffuse coronary disease based on their preoperative demographics. Despite the increased risk associated with such anatomy, the mortality rate was not significantly increased when TMR was added to CABG in an effort to provide a more complete revascularization. As was noted from the outcomes of sole therapy TMR, in unstable angina patients, TMR plus CABG carries a higher risk, but this risk is not significantly different from that of such patients treated with CABG alone.
Suture-Button Suspensionplasty for the Treatment of Thumb Carpometacarpal Joint Arthritis

Despite the numerous techniques available to treat thumb carpometacarpal arthritis, studies show no long-term differences in outcomes among these techniques. However, simple trapeziectomy has been gaining popularity because of its low propensity for complications and relatively short intraoperative procedural time. Current approaches to trapeziectomy use Kirschner wire fixation to prevent subsidence. Unfortunately, this fixation method requires at least 4 weeks of immobilization of the thumb. We describe a novel technique involving suture-button (SB) suspensionplasty (Mini TightRope, Arthrex, Naples, FL) that allows for earlier mobilization of the thumb and faster overall recovery. This method uses a SB device that suspends the thumb ray after arthroscopic hemitrapeziectomy or full trapeziectomy. Preliminary results are promising, but further studies must be conducted to confirm the safety and efficacy of this SB suspensionplasty technique.
Effect of Crohn's disease on bone metabolism in vitro: a role for interleukin-6.

Circulating proinflammatory cytokines may be involved in osteopenia associated with Crohn's disease (CD). Therefore, the effect of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α contained in Crohn's serum on bone formation was examined in a bone organ culture system. Initially, serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were determined by ELISA in newly diagnosed, untreated children with CD and healthy age-matched controls. Serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients with CD than in controls (23.9 ± 2.8 pg/ml vs. 0.7 pg/ml ± 0.2; p < 0.001), whereas IL-1β and TNF-α serum levels were not. In the organ culture studies, 20-day-old fetal rat parietal bones were incubated for 96 h with CD or control serum, serum preincubated with a neutralizing antibody to each cytokine or a nonimmune immunoglobulin control, and with IL-6. Bone formation measured by assaying calcium content and dry weight was significantly decreased in bones exposed to Crohn's serum. Light microscopy of the bones treated with CD serum revealed a discontinuous, uneven mineralized bone matrix and disorganized osteoblasts with altered morphology. Incubation with an antibody that neutralized IL-6 activity prevented the change in osteoblast and bone morphology. TNF-α and IL-1β antibodies had no apparent effects. Collagen synthesis and DNA content were not affected by CD serum. Also, addition of IL-6 to the culture medium decreased mineralization. These results suggest that IL-6 is a mediator of the effects of Crohn's serum on in vitro mineralization and may be a contributing factor to the osteopenia associated with CD.
Normoglycemia and preserved insulin secretory reserve in diabetic patients 10-18 years after pancreas transplantation

Pancreas transplantation is a controversial form of therapy for type I diabetes. A major obstacle to acceptance of this procedure for many physicians is the lack of demonstrable long-term success. We performed these studies to assess the hypothesis that successful pancreas transplantation is efficacious in normalizing endogenous insulin secretion and glycemia in the long term (1-2 decades). Sixteen patients with a history of diabetic complications who had undergone a transplant 10-18 years earlier involving either a whole or a segment of pancreas were recruited for measurements of fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, intravenous glucose tolerance, and insulin secretory reserve. All patients were taking immunosuppressive drugs, but none was using insulin or other hypoglycemic agents. All recipients had normal levels of fasting blood glucose, intravenous glucose tolerance, and HbA1c, and 15 of 16 stated that their quality of life had improved after transplantation. They had intact acute insulin responses to intravenous pulses of glucose and to arginine and insulin secretory reserve. Glucose potentiation of arginine-induced insulin secretion, the measure of insulin secretory reserve, correlated significantly (r = 0.095, P < 0.001) with the acute insulin response to intravenous glucose, rendering the latter a much simpler and valid measure of functional beta-cell mass. We conclude that successful pancreas transplants are efficacious for periods as long as 1-2 decades in returning euglycemia to type 1 diabetic patients by restoring endogenous insulin secretion and insulin secretory reserve. Thus, concern about long-term deterioration, as distinct from rejection, should not be a major obstacle when deciding whether to recommend pancreas transplantation.
Outer membrane mutation effects on UDP-glucose permeability and whole-cell catalysis rate

In whole-cell biocatalysis, cell envelopes represent a formidable barrier for substrates to permeate. The present research addresses this critical issue by investigating the effects of outer membrane mutation on uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucose-utilizing enzymes in whole-cell systems. Owing to the severe limitation in substrate permeability, the wild-type Escherichia coli cells only exhibited as low as 4% of available enzyme activities. The reduction of the barriers of the outer membrane permeability (by mutations in its structure) led to a striking acceleration (up to 14-fold) of the reaction rate in cells expressing UDP-glucose dehydrogenase. Mutations in the lipopolysaccharide synthesis pathway or Braun's lipoprotein are both effective. The acceleration was dependent upon the substrate concentrations as well as the enzyme expression level. In addition, the mutation has been demonstrated to be much more effective than the freeze-thaw permeabilizing method. An application of outer membrane mutants was illustrated with the synthesis of a disaccharide (N-acetyllactosamine) from UDP-glucose. Both reaction rate and product yield were enhanced significantly (more than twofold) in the lipoprotein mutant, demonstrating the importance of the outer membrane permeability barrier and the advantages of using outer membrane mutants in synthesis. This research and the results outlined in this paper point to a valid strategy in addressing permeability issues in whole-cell biocatalysis. It also highlights a need for an assessment of substrate permeability in biocatalysis research and development.
Opportunities for bio-based packaging technologies to improve the quality and safety of fresh and further processed muscle foods

It has been well documented that vacuum or modified atmosphere packaging materials, made from polyethylene- or other plastic-based materials, have been found to improve the stability and safety of raw or further processed muscle foods. However, recent research developments have demonstrated the feasibility, utilization, and commercial application of a variety of bio-based polymers or bio-polymers made from a variety of materials, including renewable/sustainable agricultural commodities, and applied to muscle foods. A variety of these bio-based materials have been shown to prevent moisture loss, drip, reduce lipid oxidation and improve flavor attributes, as well as enhancing the handling properties, color retention, and microbial stability of foods. With consumers demanding more environmentally friendly packaging and a desire for more natural products, bio-based films or bio-polymers will continue to play an important role in the food industry by improving the quality of many products, including fresh or further processed muscle foods.
Effect of estrogenic perturbations on δ-aminolevulinic acid-induced porphobilinogen deaminase and protoporphyrin IX Levels in Rat Harderian Glands, Liver, and R3230AC tumors

Abstract The Harderian gland in rodents highly expresses enzymes of the heme biosynthetic pathway that are responsible for porphyrin production. Interestingly, many of the steps in Harderian gland heme biosynthesis, including protoporphyrin production, are controlled hormonally. We hypothesized that estrogenic alterations, ovariectomy or tamoxifen administration, might also alter the response of porphobilinogen deaminase activity and/or protoporphyrin IX production to δ-aminolevulinic acid administration in the hormonally responsive R3230AC rat mammary adenocarcinoma. We also determined whether the response of the R3230AC tumor, borne on ovariectomized hosts, to δ-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy was altered compared with tumors treated on intact hosts. Ovariectomy of female Fischer rats bearing the hormonally responsive R3230AC mammary adenocarcinoma caused a significant reduction in δ-aminolevulinic acid-induced protoporphyrin IX levels and porphobilinogen deaminase activity in tumors compared with levels in tumors from intact animals treated with δ-aminolevulinic acid. In contrast, although porphobilinogen deaminase activity in the Harderian gland from ovariectomized animals was reduced significantly compared with that in glands from intact animals, protoporphyrin IX levels were unaltered. Administration of the anti-estrogen tamoxifen to tumor-bearing rats resulted in a significant increase in porphobilinogen deaminase in both tumor and Harderian gland. Although administration of δ-aminolevulinic acid increased protoporphyrin IX levels in Harderian glands in tamoxifen-treated animals, tumor levels of protoporphyrin IX remained unaltered in the tamoxifen-treated rats. Treatment of R3230AC tumors with δ-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy in ovariectomized rats resulted in a significantly reduced response compared with the same treatment regimen in intact animals, 4.9 ± 0.39 versus 10.6 ± 0.6 days to reach twice the initial tumor volume, respectively. These results indicate that the hormonal status of the host should be considered when treating hormonally sensitive tumors with δ-aminolevulinic acid-based photodynamic therapy.
Teacher Educators for Today's Diverse Learners: A Model for the Preparation of Interprofessional Clinical Faculty

Abstract Teacher educators today are faced with presenting a realistic view of the clientele their future teachers will be serving in the classrooms of tomorrow. Recognizing that the role a teacher plays in the lives of students has become more than simply that of classroom instructor, collaborative measures must be undertaken with families, human service providers, and schools, to meet the needs of all students. To effectively present such ideas to preservice teachers in a traditional teacher education program, college instructors must enlist the expertise and assistance of community agencies, school administrators, and teachers. Combining the concepts of the “clinical master teacher” and “interprofessional education,” teacher educators, in tandem with these community experts, can create a field experience which will significantly enhance the knowledge base of preservice teachers. The authors present a model by which such collaborative efforts can be initiated.
Control use of data to protect privacy

Massive data collection by businesses and governments calls into question traditional methods for protecting privacy, underpinned by two core principles: (i) notice, that there should be no data collection system whose existence is secret, and (ii) consent, that data collected for one purpose not be used for another without user permission. But notice, designated as a fundamental privacy principle in a different era, makes little sense in situations where collection consists of lots and lots of small amounts of information, whereas consent is no longer realistic, given the complexity and number of decisions that must be made. Thus, efforts to protect privacy by controlling use of data are gaining more attention. I discuss relevant technology, policy, and law, as well as some examples that can illuminate the way.
One-sample Bayes inference for symmetric distributions of 3-D rotations

A variety of existing symmetric parametric models for 3-D rotations found in both statistical and materials science literatures are considered from the point of view of the ''uniform-axis-random-spin'' (UARS) construction. One-sample Bayes methods for non-informative priors are provided for all of these models and attractive frequentist properties for corresponding Bayes inference on the model parameters are confirmed. Taken together with earlier work, the broad efficacy of non-informative Bayes inference for symmetric distributions on 3-D rotations is conclusively demonstrated.
Near [corrected] painless, nonablative, immediate skin contraction induced by low-fluence irradiation with new infrared device: a report of 25 patients.

BACKGROUND Nonablative radiofrequency (NARF) has been the only method for producing noninvasive skin tightening. Nevertheless, significant pain during the procedure is an important downside of this technology. A new nonablative medical device, Titan (Cutera, Inc., Brisbane, CA, USA), capable of fluences much lower than those possible with NARF, was tested as a less painful alternative. OBJECTIVES To produce skin contraction leading to lifting of eyebrows and/or improvement of lower face and neck skin laxity using fluences below pain levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-five patients were treated. Standardized photographs were obtained preoperatively, after a few days, a few weeks, and up to 12 months after the procedure. RESULTS Immediate changes were obtained in 22 of 25 patients. Examination of photographs revealed that the initial improvement was maintained throughout the follow-up period. CONCLUSION Immediate true skin contraction persisting through the immediate, intermediate, and long-term follow-up was found in the vast majority of patients in this group. Edema as an artifact simulating immediate improvement was excluded by serial photographs taken during the follow-up period. Skin contraction occurred at low fluences, below the threshold of pain. This, to the best of our knowledge, has not been previously described in the medical literature.
A Name by Any Other Tree

If you read other articles in this issue carefully, you might begin to wonder if animal life is going through a hushed up identity crisis: Hummingbirds and canaries have finally come out as dinosaurs (Angielczyck 2009; Chiappe 2009). Despite lacking the four feet of tetrapods (tetra = four, pod = foot), snakes and whales have been embraced by this group (Clack 2009). Elephants are simply confused; they may or may not be ungulates (Prothero 2009). This taxonomic soul searching and the resulting strange bedfellows (e.g., lumping budgies with brachiosaurus) do not, of course, stem from long therapy sessions, but from a quiet revolution gripping biology: phylogenetics. Phylogenetics is the area of biology that deals with evolutionary relationships among organisms. In the past few decades, technological advances have produced a flood of genetic data, computing power has exploded, and scientists have developed new mathematical algorithms for building phylogenies—or evolutionary trees. As a result, biologists have been increasingly able to reconstruct the evolutionary histories of groups of organisms. We can now draw the family trees of close-knit groups, like Darwin’s finches (Petren et al. 1999), and sketch the deepest lines of descent that connect animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria (Ciccarelli et al. 2006; Figs. 1 and 2). The widespread availability of evolutionary trees is reshaping how biologists ask and answer biological questions. For a review of how to read and understand evolutionary trees, see Gregory (2009). Phylogenies have even invaded what is, perhaps, the most foundational area of biology: taxonomy—how we classify and name life forms. This is the reason that elephants are left on the fence about their identity, while birds have landed in the dinosaur camp, and snakes can boast the paradoxical title of tetrapod. Biologists have changed the fundamental ways that they think about classification.
The Neural Mechanisms of Coreference

Coreference (the mechanism by which two linguistic expressions are taken to refer to the same entity in the world) is a universal and essential feature of discourse. Without this tool, our ability to comprehend language would be severely impaired. Due to their central role in discourse comprehension, the processes by which coreference is established have been the focus of numerous behavioral studies. In this article, we review studies that build upon that body of work by employing the event-related potential technique to elucidate the neuronal bases underlying the representation and processing of discourse. We include in our review studies that violate the formal constraints on the establishment of coreference described by linguistic theory; studies that examine the relative ease or difficulty of establishing coreference under different conditions as predicted by processing models; and studies that examine the modulation of lexico-semantic processing (such as priming) by processes associated with the establishment of coreference. Additionally, we discuss the implications of this research for models of coreference.
Using population viability analysis to predict the effects of climate change on the extinction risk of an endangered limestone endemic shrub, Arizona cliffrose.

The threat of global warming to rare species is a growing concern, yet few studies have predicted its effects on rare populations. Using demographic data gathered in both drought and nondrought years be- tween 1996-2003 in central Arizona upper Sonoran Desert, we modeled population viability for the federally endangered Purshia subintegra (Kearney) Henrickson (Arizona cliffrose). We used deterministic matrix projec- tion models and stochastic models simulating weather conditions during our study, given historical weather variation and under scenarios of increased aridity. Our models suggest that the P. subintegra population in Verde Valley is slowly declining and will be at greater risk of extinction with increased aridity. Across patches at a fine spatial scale, demographic performance was associated with environmental factors. Moist sites (patches with the highest soil moisture, lowest sand content, and most northern aspects) had the highest densities, high- est seedling recruitment, and highest risk of extinction over the shortest time span. Extinction risk in moist sites was exacerbated by higher variance in recruitment and mortality. Dry sites had higher cumulative adult survival and lower extinction risk but negative growth rates. Steps necessary for the conservation of the species include introductions at more northern latitudes and in situ manipulations to enhance seedling recruitment and plant survival. We demonstrate that fine spatial-scale modeling is necessary to predict where patches with highest extinction risk or potential refugia for rare species may occur. Because current climate projections for the 21st century imply range shifts at rates of 300 to 500 km/century, which are beyond even exceptional examples of shifts in the fossil record of 100-150 km, it is likely that preservation of many rare species will require human intervention and a long-term commitment. Global warming conditions are likely to reduce the carrying capacity of many rare species' habitats.
Latino and Asian Students' Perceptions of the Quality of Their Educators: The Role of Generational Status and Language Proficiency

Extant research has primarily assessed the quality of the American school experience for immigrant students by focusing on performance-based outcomes (e.g., grade point average [GPA]). Unlike such research, the current study examines the impact of generational status and language proficiency on Latino and Asian students’ ( n = 2,261) attitudes regarding the quality of their educators, a nonperformance outcome. Multivariate findings of data from two waves of the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study reveal that first- and second-generation immigrant students offered similar appraisals of the quality of their educators, whereas students fluent in an ethnic language generally expressed more favorable impressions of the quality of their school officials than did exclusively English-speaking students. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Picosecond Photomodulation Spectroscopy In Amorphous Semiconductors

Picosecond trapping of photogenerated carriers in gap states of doped, compensated and undoped amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-Si:H) and of a-Si:H based superlattices was studied by the pump and probe photomodulation technique. In undoped a-Si:H the photogenerated carriers are trapped in bandtail states and in compensated a-Si:H in impurity states introduced by doping. In singly doped a-Si:H the photoexcited majority carriers are trapped in impurity states whereas the photoexcited minority carriers are trapped in charged dangling bond defects. In a-Si:H/a-SiNx:H superlattices photocarriers are trapped in interface related defects. In all cases we found that electron trapping is about 50 times faster than hole trapping. This intrinsic property of a-Si:H originates from a larger electron hopping rate among localized states in the conduction band-tail.
Cadmium chloride induced hyperglycemia in the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii: Possible role of crustacean hyperglycemic hormone

Exposure to 5 ppm cadmium chloride for up to 72-hr produces hyperglycemia in intact Procambarus clarkii, but not in eyestalkless individuals. Extracts of eyestalks, regardless of whether the eyestalks are from cadmium exposed crayfish or crayfish kept in clean water, produce a greater hyperglycemia in eyestalkless crayfish kept in clean water than in cadmium exposed eyestalkless crayfish. This difference in effectiveness of the extracts may represent a decreased responsiveness of cadmium exposed crayfish to the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone. These results support the hypothesis that cadmium induced hyperglycemia is mediated at least in part by the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone that is produced in the eyestalk.