cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of hydration status on pesticide uptake in anurans following exposure to contaminated soils

In this study, the impact of hydration status on dermal uptake of pesticides in two species of amphibians is examined. Absorption of pesticides in anurans occurs primarily through a highly vascularized dermal seat patch; however, pesticides can also enter through the superficial dermis following exposure. Despite the growing body of literature on dermal exposure in amphibians, little is known on how hydration status influences uptake. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the influence of hydration status on absorption of pesticides (atrazine, triadimefon, metolachlor, chlorothalonil, and imidacloprid) in southern leopard frogs (Lithobates sphenocephala) and Fowler’s toads (Anaxyrus fowleri). Amphibian treatments included dehydration periods of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 h prior to exposure to pesticide-contaminated soils for 8 h. Following exposure, soil and whole-body homogenates were extracted and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Dehydration time was then regressed against post-exposure concentrations to infer the impact of dehydration on dermal pesticide uptake. Increased dehydration time resulted in significantly lowered pesticide concentrations in both species (F6, 293 = 67.66, p = 0.007) for the five pesticides studied. This phenomenon could be due to an energy and/or dilution effect.
Signposting for Repositories

Digital repositories can often easily be navigated by humans but not by machines. We introduce Signposting, a mechanism to show ma- chines how to maneuver repositories' objects and how to interpret their relationships. Signposting is based on standard and widely adopted web technologies - typed links and HTTP link headers.
Automatic solution of differential equations

A compiler program has been developed for the automatic computer solution of differential equations. The inputs to this compiler are FORTRAN statements of the equations (differential and algebraic) and of the initial and/or boundary conditions. The automatic computations are performed under a present error-limit, which is controlled by maintaining the integration stepsize to be well within the radius of convergence. The automatic solution is shown to be both faster and more accurate than standard techniques. This is achieved by using optimum stepsizes determined from the calculations of the radius of convergence at every step. This compiler program is particularly powerful in the solution of boundary-value problems and of “stiff” differential equations. This compiler program will accept up to 99 coupled 4-th order differential equations with ease.
An Etched Glass Master and a Photomask for an Optical Disk Substrate

Abstract A new manufacturing process of a preformatted glass disk substrate and a photomask for producing the glass substrate was studied. In the substrate, the depth in the pit area differs from that in the track area. In the photomask, the pit area has different transmissivity from the track area. In this new process, latent preformatted patterns are formed in photoresist with either a laser cutting method or a contact printing method, and a new etching method comprising the first etching, the first ashing, the second etching and the second ashing is carried out. The mass production of the optical disk glass substrate can be realized with this new process. This technique can also be applied to forming an etched glass master for fabricating a polycarbonate disk substrate.
Manifold Recovery Using Kernel Low-Rank Regularization: Application to Dynamic Imaging

In this paper, we introduce a novel kernel low-rank algorithm to recover free-breathing and ungated dynamic MRI data from highly undersampled measurements. The image frames in the free breathing and ungated dataset are assumed to be points on a bandlimited manifold. We show that the nonlinear features of these images satisfy annihilation conditions, which implies that the kernel matrix derived from the dataset is low-rank. We penalize the nuclear norm of the feature matrix to recover the images from highly undersampled measurements. The regularized optimization problem is solved using an iterative reweighted least squares (IRLS) algorithm, which alternates between the update of the Laplacian matrix of the manifold and the recovery of the signals from the noisy measurements. To improve computational efficiency, we use a two-step algorithm using navigator measurements. Specifically, the Laplacian matrix is estimated from the navigators using the IRLS scheme, followed by the recovery of the images using a quadratic optimization. We show the relation of this two-step algorithm with our recent SToRM approach, thus reconciling SToRM and manifold regularization methods with algorithms that rely on explicit lifting of data to a high dimensional space. The IRLS-based estimation of the Laplacian matrix is a systematic and noise-robust alternative to current heuristic strategies based on exponential maps. We also approximate the Laplacian matrix using a few eigenvectors, which results in a fast and memory efficient algorithm. The proposed scheme is demonstrated on several patients with different breathing patterns and cardiac rates.
Mental health treatment among older adults with mental illness on parole or probation.

The number of older adults on parole and probation is growing at an unprecedented rate, yet little is known about the mental health needs and treatment utilization patterns among this group. The objective of this study is to compare the prevalence of serious or moderate mental illness (SMMI), and the proportion of those with SMMI who receive mental health treatment, among community-dwelling older adults on correctional supervision (parole or probation) vs. not on correctional supervision. Design: Cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2008–2014 National Surveys for Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Setting: Population-based national survey data. Participants: Older adults (age ≥ 50) who participated in the NSDUH between 2008 and 2014 (n = 44,624). Participants were categorized according to whether they were on parole or probation during the 12 months prior to survey completion (n = 379) vs. not (n = 44,245). Measurements: Probable SMMI was defined using a validated measure in the NSDUH. Mental health treatment included any outpatient mental health services or prescriptions over the 12 months prior to survey completion. We compared the prevalence of SMMI, and the proportion of those with SMMI who received any treatment, by correctional status. Overall, 7% (N = 3266) of participants had SMMI; the prevalence was disproportionately higher among those on parole or probation (21% vs. 7%, p < 0.001). Sixty-two percent of those with SMMI received any mental health treatment, including 81% of those on parole or probation and 61% of those who were not (p < 0.001). This result remained statistically significant after logistic regression accounted for differences in sociodemographics and health. SMMI is disproportionally prevalent among older adults on parole or probation, and community correctional supervision programs may be facilitating linkages to needed community-based mental health treatment.
A Compact Beamforming Concept Based on Element-to-Element Mixing for 5G Applications

Recent studies focus on exploring the untouched millimeter-wave spectrum as it offers more bandwidth and higher data rates. Nevertheless, the high losses, power consumption, and cost of RF components at such frequencies remain prohibitive. In this paper, we present a novel compact beamforming concept using self-mixing techniques in an effort to downsize the overall number of RF components required and achieve higher efficiency. To do so, we introduce a novel analog beamforming method based on element-to-element mixing (BEEM) with flexibility in signal reception for any angle of arrival (AoA). Preliminary evaluation of the proposed BEEM topology is presented here. More specifically, we have conducted simulations with 16-quadrature amplitude modulation (16-QAM) to evaluate our beamforming concept. Simulations show that phase delay cancellation as well as coherent summation can be achieved using our BEEM topology, implying a near-theoretical diversity gain.
The sixteenfold way and the quantum Hall effect at half-integer filling factors

Fractional quantum Hall states at half-integer filling factors have been observed in many systems beyond the $5/2$ and $7/2$ plateaus in GaAs quantum wells. This includes bilayer states in GaAs, several half-integer plateaus in ZnO-based heterostructures, and quantum Hall liquids in graphene. In all cases, Cooper pairing of composite fermions is believed to explain the plateaus. The nature of Cooper pairing and the topological order on those plateaus are hotly debated. Different orders are believed to be present in different systems. This makes it important to understand experimental signatures of all proposed orders. We review the expected experimental signatures for all possible composite-fermion states at half-integer filling. We address Mach-Zehnder interferometry, thermal transport, tunneling experiments, and Fabry-Perot interferometry. For this end, we introduce a uniform description of the topological orders of Kitaev's sixteenfold way in terms of their wave-functions, effective Hamiltonians, and edge theories.
Price Behavior in a Dynamic Oligopsony: Washington Processing Potatoes—A Reply

In her comment, Lavoie suggests that the oligopsony model used in Richards, Patterson, and Acharya (RPA) contains errors that "... have important implications for the interpretation of the results and associated policy recommendations." In this response, we contend that the error she identifies does not significantly impact the conclusions we draw, nor does it invalidate our empirical results. In fact, it strengthens our conclusion that oligopsony power in the processing potato industry is significant and warrants further investigation. Lavoie correctly points out the error that we made in deriving the industry average conjectural variation (CV) term. However, she also correctly states that "... the mistake in the benchmark values of CV has no impact on the calculation of welfare loss..." so her point does not impact the primary objective of the article. Second, Lavoie argues that the conduct parameter estimates during cooperative and non-cooperative regimes are inconsistent with the trigger price framework. We do not disagree that the theory developed in Green and Porter and Porter (1983a) clearly maintains that firms revert to Cournot behavior during reversionary periods. However, we do not claim perfect adherence of our data to the predictions of the trigger price model. Because we conduct what is necessarily an exercise in applied econometrics, we can only report evidence either supporting or not supporting the possibility that a trigger price mechanism exists. As we state in our article, the conduct parameter measures the degree to which behavior in each regime departs from perfect competition and perfect collusion. All that is required is that the conduct parameters in each regime differ from each other, which we show rough our econometric results. As Porter (1983b) argues, "...what matters is that cooperative period prices exceed those implied by competitive price setting..." which is exa tly what we find. In his JEC data, which arguably present a stronger prima facie case for implicit collusion, Porter (1983b) does not claim to have found complete reversion during punishment periods either. Lavoie also uses the relatively high conduct parameter estimates as an evidence of inherent flaws in our analysis. However, there is no requirement in theory nor in logic that new r sults must adhere to the pattern of previous ones. Indeed, it is not surprising that we find significantly greater departure from perfect competition in the processing potato case relative to the results from other industries that
Testing Densities and Refractive Indices of Extraterrestrial Ice Components Using Molecular Structures—Organic Compounds and Molar Refractions

The use of infrared spectra to determine molecular abundances of icy astronomical objects and to study their chemistry requires laboratory measurements of reference spectra and related quantities, such as the index of refraction (n) and density (p) of candidate ices. Here we present new n and p measurements on ices involving over 30 C-, H-, and O-containing compounds, both acyclic and cyclic, representing seven chemical families. We examine the results in a way that is rare in the astrochemical literature, namely one in which data from an ice formed from molecules of a particular chemical family are compared to measurements on another member of the same family, such as of a homologous series or a pair of isomers. Apart from the intrinsic usefulness of the n and data, a structure-based comparison can help establish trends and identify possibly spurious results. As liquid-phase data sometimes are used in low-temperature astrochemical work in the absence of solid-phase measurements, we compare our new ice results to those for the corresponding room-temperature liquids. We emphasize the use of our n and p data to compute the molar refraction (RM) for each of our ices, and how the resulting RM values compare to those expected from molecular structures. The use of calculated RM values and measured n values to calculate ice densities, in the absence of direct measurements, is also addressed.
Effects of Post Metallization Annealing on InGaAs-on-Insulator MOSFETs on Si

We investigate the effects of hydrogen-based post-metallization annealing on InGaAs MOSFETs integrated on insulator on Si substrates. We find that several aspects of device performance are improved by post-metallization annealing. While a 325°C anneal offers maximum improvement of the subthreshold slope, a 300°C anneal yields the highest transconductance and lowest on-resistance. We correlate these improvements with a reduction of contact resistance as well as density of interface traps near the conduction band edge. Overall, by use of the high-temperature annealing scheme, the on-current at V DD = 0.5 V and I OFF = 100 nA/µm was improved by 66% compared to no annealing.
Cutaneous Manifestations of COVID-19: An Evidence-Based Review.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected 18 million people and killed over 690,000 patients. Although this virus primarily causes respiratory symptoms, an increasing number of cutaneous manifestations associated with this disease have been reported. The aim of this review was to collate and categorize the dermatologic findings reported in patients with COVID-19 and identify specific lesions that may facilitate diagnosis and prognostication. An evidence-based review of the PubMed database was conducted on 14 May, 2020 using the search terms “Covid-19 skin,” “Covid-19 rash,” “Covid-19 exanthem,” and “Covid-19 chilblains.” Peer-reviewed publications containing original COVID-19 patient cases and a discussion of the associated cutaneous findings were included in the analysis. The literature search identified 115 records, of which 34 publications describing 996 patients with dermatologic conditions were included. Case reports (n = 15), case series (n = 13), and observational prospective studies (n = 4) were the most common publication types. Acral lesions resembling pseudo-chilblains were the most frequent lesion identified (40.4% of cases), appearing in young adults (mean age, 23.2 years) after the onset of extracutaneous COVID-19 symptoms (55/100 patients). Erythematous maculopapular rashes affected 21.3% of patients, most frequently impacting middle-aged adults (mean age, 53.2 years) and occurring at the same time as non-cutaneous symptoms (110/187 patients). Vesicular rashes affected 13.0% of patients, appearing in middle-aged adults (mean age, 48.3 years) after the onset of other symptoms (52/84 patients). Urticarial rashes affected 10.9% of patients, appearing in adults (mean age, 38.3 years) and occurring at the same time as non-cutaneous symptoms (46/78 patients). Vascular rashes resembling livedo or purpura were uncommon (4% of cases), appearing in elderly patients (mean age, 77.5 years) and occurring at the same time as non-cutaneous COVID-19 symptoms (18/29 patients). Erythema multiforme-like eruptions, although infrequent (3.7% of cases), affected mostly children (mean age, 12.2 years). Vesicular rashes may suggest an initial diagnosis of COVID-19, acral lesions may be most appropriate for epidemiological uses, and vascular rashes may be a useful prognostic marker for severe disease. As a potential correlate to disease severity, prognosis, or infectibility, it is critical that all healthcare professionals be well versed in these increasingly common cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19.
Green- or rose-coloured lenses for Globalization Matters? Transdisciplinary epistemic practices and paradigmatic transformations in ecologies and equalities

For the global studies scholar, the lofty ambitions in Globalization Matters are challenging ones. Since ours is a collective endeavour, the global studies community needs just a few more practical...
Assortment optimization under cardinality effects and novelty for unequal profit margin items

This work focuses on assortment optimization problems concerned with the three ways a recommender system increases conversion rates: (1) improve accuracy, (2) provide consideration sets and (3) introduce novelty and diversity. To do so, we introduce a new random utility-based model, which in addition to item and user attributes, captures context effects, as well as the need to introduce novel items. We use this new model and an existing random utility model to study assortment optimization problems in which the value that a customer derives from an assortment reaches a maximum and then begins to decline with increase in size. We focus on an online retail environment, in which a trade-off exists between recommending items with high profit margins, but low consumer choice probability. We present polynomial-time algorithms to solve both optimization models. We computationally analyze the performance of the algorithms using real-world online transactional data.
Effect of correlated oxide electrodes on disorder pinning and thermal roughening of ferroelectric domain walls in epitaxial Pb Zr 0.2 Ti 0.8 O 3 thin films

We report the competing effects of disorder pinning and thermal roughening on ferroelectric domain walls as a function of temperature in epitaxial $\mathrm{Pb}{\mathrm{Zr}}_{0.2}{\mathrm{Ti}}_{0.8}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ thin films deposited on (001) $\mathrm{SrTi}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ substrates buffered by three types of correlated oxide electrodes, ${\mathrm{La}}_{0.67}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{0.33}\mathrm{Mn}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, $\mathrm{LaNi}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, and $\mathrm{SrIr}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$. Piezoresponse force microscopy studies show that the 50-nm $\mathrm{Pb}{\mathrm{Zr}}_{0.2}{\mathrm{Ti}}_{0.8}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ films are uniformly polarized in the as-grown states, with the patterned domain structures persisting above 700 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. For all three types of films, the domain wall roughness is dominated by two-dimensional (2D) random bond disorder at room temperature, and transitions to 1D thermal roughening upon heating. The roughness exponent $\ensuremath{\zeta}$ increases progressively from 0.3 to 0.5 within a temperature window that depends on the bottom conducting oxide type, from which we extracted the distribution of disorder pinning energy. We discuss the possible origins of the disorder pinning and the effect of the correlated oxide electrodes on the energy landscape of DW motion.
Progress in doping of ruthenium silicide (Ru2Si3)

Ruthenium silicide is currently under development as a promising thermoelectric material suitable for space power applications. Key to realizing the potentially high figure of merit values of this material is the development of appropriate doping techniques. In this study, manganese and iridium have been identified as useful p- and n-type dopants, respectively. Resistivity values have been reduced by more than 3 orders of magnitude. Anomalous Hall effect results, however, complicate interpretation of some of the results and further effort is required to achieve optimum doping levels.
Organized arrangement of orientation-sensitive relay cells in the cat's dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus

We studied the physiological orientation biases of over 700 relay cells in the cat9s dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNd). Relay cells were sampled at regular intervals along horizontally as well as vertically oriented electrode penetrations in a fashion analogous to that used previously in studies of visual cortex (Hubel and Wiesel, 1962). The strengths of the orientation biases and the distributions of the preferred orientations were determined for different classes of relay cells, relay cells in different layers of the LGNd, and relay cells subserving different parts of the visual field. We find that, at the population level, LGNd cells exhibit about the same degree of orientation bias as do the retinal ganglion cells providing their inputs (see also Soodak et al., 1987). Also, as in the retina (Levick and Thibos, 1982; Leventhal and Schall, 1983), most LGNd cells tend to prefer stimuli oriented radially, i.e., parallel to the line connecting their receptive fields to the area centralis projection. However, the radial bias in the LGNd is weaker than in the retina. Moreover, there is a relative overrepresentation of cells preferring tangentially oriented stimuli in the LGNd but not in the retina. As a result of the overrepresentation of cells preferring radial and tangential stimuli, the overall distribution of preferred orientations varies in regions of the LGNd subserving different parts of the visual field. Reconstructions of our electrode penetrations provide evidence that, unlike in the retina, cells having similar preferred orientations are clustered in the LGNd. This clustering is apparent for all cell types and in all parts of laminae A and A1. The tendency to cluster according to preferred orientation is evident for cells preferring radially, intermediately, and tangentially oriented stimuli and thus is not simply a reflection of the radial bias evident among retinal ganglion cells at the population level. It is already known that cells having inputs from different eyes, on-center, off-center, X-, Y-, W-type, and color-sensitive ganglion cells are distributed nonrandomly in the LGNd of cats and monkeys (for review, see Rodieck, 1979; Stone et al., 1979; Lennie, 1981; Stone, 1983). The finding that relay cells having similar preferred orientations are also distributed nonrandomly suggests that the initial sorting of virtually all properties segregated in visual cortex may begin in the LGNd.
Low Cost Energy Storage Flywheels from Structural Sheet Molding Compound

Compression molded structural sheet molding compound (SMC) composed of S-2 GlassR and polyester resin has been used to fabricate energy storage flywheel rotors. This technique has the potential of low cost, high throughput production of rotors for the automobile industry.
How Bacteriophage χ Attacks Motile Bacteria

Bacteriophage chi attaches to the filament of a bacterial flagellum by means of a tail fiber, but the ultimate receptor site for the phage is located at the base of the bacterial flagellum. Here, the phage injects its deoxyribonucleic acid into the bacterium, leaving the empty phage attached at the base. It is suggested that chi slides along the filament of the flagellum to the base, owing to the movement of the flagellum. The role of motility would thus be to provide for rapid adsorption of the phage by guiding the phage to the adsorption sites at the bases of the flagella. Bacteria whose motility has been strongly inhibited by cold or anaerobic conditions still adsorb chi at the filaments and bases of flagella if a high multiplicity is used. This indicates that direct collisions with the bases may also be possible. Bacteria must be flagellated in order for chi to attach, but only a short flagellum, perhaps only the flagellar base, is necessary.
An automated procedure logging system improves resident documentation compliance.

Academic Emergency Medicine 2011; 18:S54–S58 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Abstract Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an automated procedure logging (APL) system on the number of procedures logged by emergency medicine (EM) residents. Secondary objectives were to assess the APL’s effect on completeness and accuracy of procedure logging and to measure resident compliance with the system. Methods: This was a before-and-after study conducted at a university-affiliated, urban medical center, with an annual emergency department census of >130,000. The EM residency is a 4-year, Residency Review Committee (RRC)-accredited program with 12 residents per year. We developed software to electronically search and abstract resident procedures documented in the electronic medical record (EMR) and automatically export them into a Web-based residency management system. We compared the mean daily number of procedures logged for two 6-month periods: October 1, 2009, to March 31, 2010 (pre-APL), and October 1, 2010, to March 31, 2011 (post-APL), using a two-sample t-test. We also generated a random sample of 231 logged procedures from both the pre- and post-APL time periods to assess for completeness and accuracy of data transfer. Completeness and accuracy in the pre- and post-APL periods were compared using Fisher’s exact test. Aggregate resident compliance with the system was also measured. Results: The mean daily number of procedures logged increased by 168% (10.0 vs. 26.8, mean difference = 16.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 15.4 to 18.2, p < 0.001) after the implementation of APL. Procedures logged with the APL system were more complete (76% vs. 100%, p < 0.001) and more accurate (87% vs. 99%, p < 0.001). Most residents (42/48, 88%) used APL to log at least 90% of procedures. Only 4% of procedures eligible for automation were logged manually in the post-APL period. Conclusions: There was a significant increase in the daily mean number of procedures logged after the implementation of APL. Recorded data were more complete and more accurate during this time frame. This innovative system improved resident logging of required procedures and helped our assessment of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Patient Care and Practice-Based Learning Competencies for individual residents.
Sprinting a media marathon: Uses and gratifications of binge-watching television through Netflix

“Binge-watching” represents a radical shift for twenty-first century media consumption. Why do people select this method of television viewing? A survey administered to 262 television binge-watchers identified factors that influence binge watching, several of which are somewhat different than factors impacting other types of television viewing. Factors salient for regular bingers are relaxation, engagement, and hedonism. For those who plan ahead to binge, program quality (aesthetics) and the communal aspect (social) also come into play. Those who binge on an entire series in one or two days value engagement, relaxation, hedonism, and aesthetics. We also discuss the theoretical implications and future development of uses and gratifications.
Fetal breathing movements and the nonstress test in high-risk pregnancies.

Abstract Three hundred ninety-eight observations of fetal breathing movements (FBM) and the nonstress test (NST) were made in 223 patients. The presence of FBM was noted in a significantly higher proportion of tests with a reactive NST (88%) than a nonreactive NST (67%). Conversely, a significantly higher proportion of tests were reactive when FBM were present (82.6%) than when FBM were absent (49%). A significant relationship existed between either test and the outcome of pregnancy as judged by the five-minute Apgar score or the incidence of fetal distress in labor. Combining two normal tests did not improve the accuracy in predicting outcome; but the combination of both tests, when abnormal, produced a significant improvement in predicting fetuses likely to have an abnormal outcome. The combination of the normal with the abnormal test had a predictive accuracy similar to a single normal test in predicting a normal five-minute Apgar. This combination was associated with an incidence of fetal distress in labor intermediate between that seen with either the normal or abnormal test when alone. Neither a single test nor the combination of tests as helpful in identifying the small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants. These data indicate antepartum fetal evaluation may be improved when more than one biophysical variable is used.
Development and testing of emergency department patient transfer communication measures.

Purpose: Communication problems are a major contributing factor to adverse events in hospitals.1 The contextual environment in small rural hospitals increases the importance of emergency department (ED) patient transfer communication quality. This study addresses the communication problems through the development and testing of ED quality measurement of interfacility patient transfer communication. Methods: Input from existing measures, measurement and health care delivery experts, as well as hospital frontline staff was used to design and modify ED quality measures. Three field tests were conducted to determine the feasibility of data collection and the effectiveness of different training methods and types of partnerships. Measures were evaluated based on their prevalence, ease of data collection, and usefulness for internal and external improvement. Findings: It is feasible to collect ED quality measure data. Different data sources, data collection, and data entry methods, training and partners can be used to examine hospital ED quality. There is significant room for improvement in the communication of patient information between health care facilities. Conclusion: Current health care reform efforts highlight the importance of clear communication between organizations held accountable for patient safety and outcomes. The patient transfer communication measures have been tested in a wide range of rural settings and have been vetted nationally. They have been endorsed by the National Quality Forum, are included in the National Quality Measurement Clearinghouse supported by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ), and are under consideration by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for future payment determinations beginning in calendar year 2013.
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Regulates Cholecystokinin Production in β-Cells to Protect From Apoptosis

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a classic gut hormone that is also expressed in the pancreatic islet, where it is highly up-regulated with obesity. Loss of CCK results in increased β-cell apoptosis in obese mice. Similarly, islet α-cells produce increased amounts of another gut peptide, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), in response to cytokine and nutrient stimulation. GLP-1 also protects β-cells from apoptosis via cAMP-mediated mechanisms. Therefore, we hypothesized that the activation of islet-derived CCK and GLP-1 may be linked. We show here that both human and mouse islets secrete active GLP-1 as a function of body mass index/obesity. Furthermore, GLP-1 can rapidly stimulate β-cell CCK production and secretion through direct targeting by the cAMP-modulated transcription factor, cAMP response element binding protein (CREB). We find that cAMP-mediated signaling is required for Cck expression, but CCK regulation by cAMP does not require stimulatory levels of glucose or insulin secretion. We also show that CREB directly targets the Cck promoter in islets from obese (Leptin(ob/ob)) mice. Finally, we demonstrate that the ability of GLP-1 to protect β-cells from cytokine-induced apoptosis is partially dependent on CCK receptor signaling. Taken together, our work suggests that in obesity, active GLP-1 produced in the islet stimulates CCK production and secretion in a paracrine manner via cAMP and CREB. This intraislet incretin loop may be one mechanism whereby GLP-1 protects β-cells from apoptosis.
Determination of fracture behavior of ferritic steels using miniaturized specimens

Abstract Miniaturized Specimen Technology (MST) permits mechanical behavior to be determined using a minimum volume of material. A method for obtaining the ductile-brittle transition temperature (DBTT) of ferritic steels was developed using a miniaturized notched bar test. Comparisons between conventional and miniaturized specimen DBTTs are encouraging. Fracture toughness values were calculated for the miniaturized notched specimens and compared with large-specimen data.
Alternaria fungal dermatitis in a free-ranging javelina (Pecari tajacu)

We report a javelina from Pinal County, Arizona, USA, with severe fungal dermatitis and cellulitis. Extreme emaciation and rostral disfiguration, including left-lateral displacement of the nasal planum, justified euthanasia. A pus-filled tract within the rostrum was observed. Histopathology revealed granulomatous inflammation with hyphae morphologically consistent with Alternaria sp. isolated by culture.
MEMBRANE IMMUNOGLOBULINS OF B LYMPHOCYTES : Inability to Detect Certain Characteristic IgM and IgD Antigens

Hemagglutination and fluorescent antibody studies have provided strong evidence for the unavailability or absence of specific antigenic sites on membrane-bound IgM which are present in serum and intracellular IgM. Antisera specific for different parts of the molecule indicated that a portion but not all of the Fc was involved. Absorption experiments with normal and leukemic viable B lymphocytes failed to remove a population of Fc antibodies found in IgM-specific antisera. Similar findings were made for IgD, the other major membrane immunoglobulin of human peripheral blood B cells. Various interpretations of these observations are discussed. The most likely possibility appears that the C-terminal portion of the heavy chains of the immunoglobulin molecule is buried in the membrane.
Preliminary assessment of Tongue Drive System in medium term usage for computer access and wheelchair control

Tongue Drive System (TDS) is a wireless, wearable assistive technology that enables individuals with severe motor impairments access computers, drive wheelchairs, and control their environments using tongue motion. In this paper, we have evaluated the TDS performance as a computer input device using ISO9241–9 standard tasks for pointing and selecting, based on the well known Fitts' Law, and as a powered wheelchair controller through an obstacle course navigation task. Nine able-bodied subjects who already had tongue piercing participated in this trial over 5 sessions during 5 weeks, allowing us to study the TDS learning process and its current limiting factors. Subjects worn tongue rings made of titanium in the form of a barbell with a small rare earth magnetic tracer hermetically sealed inside the upper ball. Comparing the results between 1st and 5th sessions showed that subjects' performance improved in all the measures through 5 sessions, demonstrating the effects of learning.
Economics: Musing or Reality—Some Thoughts on Bergmann's Methodology

Most of us have a good idea of what is contained in the standard college introductory course. After reviewing a number of high school textbooks, one could, without much difficulty, correctly anticipate the content of high school courses and the "understandings" students will achieve. There is an apparent consensus about what should be taught in these courses. But this consensus may not be warranted and may very well veil some serious theoretical problems. In focusing on methodological issues in economics, Barbara Bergmann (1986) has raised some important theoretical questions. In fact, she delivers a broad indictment of economic theory. Bergmann argues that economists' practice of building models on the basis of musings and introspection has left them vulnerable. Rather than deducing from a few "crumbs of factual content," she calls for a different methodology-one that observes human behavior. When we do, she predicts, many of our favorite doctrines will fall.
Plasma derivatives: new products and new approaches.

Abstract The infusion of plasma-derived or recombinant factors to treat bleeding disorders such as hemophila A and B is a success story in the management of a chronic disease. The effectiveness of this approach is however limited by challenges with adverse effects of treatment. The most notable of these are the development of inhibitory antibodies that target the protein therapeutic. The current standard of care for management of hemophiliacs is prophylactic treatment that includes frequent infusions of a Factor VIII product. Failure to comply with the prophylactic regimen is a major hurdle in the management of these patients. We discuss here more recent findings that argue for a pharmacogenetic approach to understanding (and eventually circumventing) immunogenicity. We also review strategies used to bioengineer coagulation factors to extend the half-lives of coagulation proteins. The rapid progress in the last few years to bioengineer coagulation factors in different ways to attain this goal is described. Finally, novel technologies and potential products are emerging that utilize synthetic molecules in lieu of replacement proteins obviating the limitations associated with replacement therapies.
Methanogenic degradation of ozonation products of biorefractory or toxic aromatic compounds.

The anaerobic biodegradability and inhibition potential of ozonation products of four biorefractory aromatic compounds (o-cresol, benzenesulfonic acid, 2,5-dichlorophenol and 2,4-dinitrophenol) were evaluated in this study. The ozonation products of all four compounds tested were biodegradable to methane and the biodegradability improved with increasing dose of ozone. Early ozonation products of o-cresol and benzenesulfonic acid were more inhibitory than the initial compounds while ozonation reduced the toxicity of 2,5-dichlorophenol and 2,4-dinitrophenol. Ozonation products formed in the basic pH range were more biodegradable and were less inhibitory than those formed in the acid pH range under the same dose of ozone.
The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA): What They Mean for Breast Cancer Patients and Their Families

From 2007 to 2011, deaths in females due to breast cancer declined in the USA. This decline has been attributed to improved access to breast cancer screening and subsequent effective treatments for female with invasive breast cancer. In this same time period, two federal health-care policies were enacted, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), to decrease fear of discrimination based on genetic information (genetics tests results and/or family history) in health insurance and employment arenas, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA), health-care reform to improve access for breast cancer screening. Health-care providers need to be knowledgeable about GINA and PPACA so they can apply these legislative provisions and be aware of their limitations in their clinical practice of breast cancer patients, in order to effectively advocate for these patients and their families.
Layer-by-layer growth of GaN induced by silicon

We present in situ x-ray scattering studies of surface morphology evolution during metal–organic chemical vapor deposition of GaN. Dosing the GaN(0001) surface with Si is shown to change the growth mode from step-flow to layer-by-layer over a wide temperature range. Annealing of highly doped layers causes Si to segregate to the surface, which also induces layer-by-layer growth.
Treatment of Weight Gain with Fluoxetine in Olanzapine-Treated Schizophrenic Outpatients *

Significant weight gain is a side effect associated with olanzapine treatment in some patients. We investigated the efficacy of high-dose fluoxetine as a weight-reducing agent for patients who develop early weight gain with olanzapine treatment. Patients that gained >/=3% of their baseline weight in the initial 8 weeks of olanzapine treatment (n=31) were randomized to double-blind treatment with placebo or fluoxetine (60 mg/day). Clinical, weight, and weight-related measures were assessed. Fluoxetine failed to demonstrate weight-reducing effects (fluoxetine group: baseline mean 80.5 kg, SD=19.1, last mean=83.5 kg, SD=19.8; placebo group: baseline mean=77.1 kg, SD=12.1, last mean=78.8 kg, SD=10.6; F=1.3; df=1, 18; p=0.3). There were no differential effects in psychopathology, extrapyramidal side effects or weight-related measures between the placebo and fluoxetine groups. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors are probably not a practical option to counteract weight gain induced by atypical antipsychotics. Atypical-induced weight gain may result from mechanisms other than 5HT reuptake blockade.
A Follow-Up Study of Behavior Problems Associated with Child Sexual Abuse.

The objectives of this study were to examine: (a) behavior in children evaluated for sexual abuse, (b) the stability of their behavior over 4 months, and (c) the relationship between aspects of the abuse and the children's behavior. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was completed by parents of 93 prepubertal children evaluated for sexual abuse and 80 nonabused children matched on age, gender, and race. A follow-up CBCL was completed after 4 months by 45% of parents of abused children. Sexually abused children had significantly more behavior problems than comparison children, including depression, aggression, sleep and somatic complaints, hyperactivity, and sexual problems. At follow-up, only those children who initially had externalizing behavior in the clinical range improved significantly. During the initial evaluation, behavior problems were associated with the child's disclosure of abuse and during follow-up, behavior problems were associated with abnormal physical findings. However, behavior problems were not related to characteristics of the abuse or perpetrator, likelihood of abuse, or therapeutic services. The persistence of behavior problems suggests that children suspected of having been sexually abused should receive an assessment of their psychological status and careful follow-up. Language: en
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PHAGE T4 PINA PROTEIN, AN INHIBITOR OF THE ATP-DEPENDENT LON PROTEASE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI

The bacteriophage T4 PinA protein, expression of which leads to inhibition of protein degradation in Escherichia coli cells, has been purified from cells carrying multiple copies of the pinA gene. PinA is a heat-stable protein with a subunit Mr of 18,800 and an isoelectric point of 4.6. Under nondenaturing conditions on a gel filtration column, PinA migrated in two peaks corresponding to a dimer and a tetramer. Purified PinA inhibited ATP-dependent protein degradation by Lon protease in vitro; it did not inhibit the activity of other E. coli ATP-dependent proteases, ClpAP or ClpYQ. Furthermore, PinA did not inhibit ATP-independent proteolysis in E. coli cell extracts. PinA binds with high affinity to Lon protease (Kd approximately 10 nM for dimer binding), and a complex with approximately 1 dimer of PinA per tetramer of Lon protease could be isolated by gel filtration. Lon activity was partially restored upon dilution of the PinA-Lon complex to subnanomolar concentrations, indicating that inhibition was reversible and that PinA did not covalently modify Lon protease. PinA was not cleaved by Lon protease, and heating the Lon-PinA complex at 65 degrees C denatured Lon protease and released active PinA. The properties of PinA in vitro suggest that PinA inhibits protein degradation in vivo by forming a tight, reversible complex with Lon protease.
Droplet translocation by focused surface acoustic waves

This paper presents the experimental investigations of droplet movement driven by focused surface acoustic waves (SAWs) generated by a circular-arc interdigital transducer (CIDT). Surface acoustic waves propagating through a droplet in contact with the substrate exerted an acoustic streaming force on the droplet, as demonstrated by numerical modeling in this study. Different from the straight droplet movement driven by a straight interdigital transducer (SIDT), the droplets were focused to the center region of the CIDT. In addition, the droplets driven by the CIDT moved much faster than those driven by the SIDT with an identical input power because of the concentrated acoustic energy in the CIDT. Merging of two moving droplets using the CIDT was also demonstrated. The present results show that focused SAWs can be more efficient than uniform SAWs for droplet and fluid actuation in microfluidics.
Decontamination of aromatic amine cancer-suspect agents on concrete, metal, or painted surfaces

(1978). Decontamination of aromatic amine cancer-suspect agents on concrete, metal, or painted surfaces. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal: Vol. 39, No. 9, pp. 758-762.
AFM Indentation and Material Property Identification of Soft Hydrogels

There is growing evidence of the importance of mechanical deformations on various facets of cell functioning. This asks for a proper understanding of the cell’s characteristics as a mechanical system in different physiological and mechanical loading conditions. Many researchers use atomic force microscopy (AFM) indentation and the Hertz contact model for elastic material property identification under shallow indentation. For larger indentations, many of the Hertz assumptions are not inherently satisfied and the Hertz model is not directly useful for characterizing nonlinear elastic or inelastic material properties. We have used exponential hyperelastic material in FE simulations of the AFM indentation tests. A parameter identification approach is developed for hyperelastic material property determination from the simulated data. We collected AFM indentation data on agarose gel and developed a simple algorithm for contact point detection. The contact point correction improves the prediction of elastic modulus over the case of visual contact point identification. The modulus of 1% agarose gel was found to be about 15 kPa using the proposed correction, with mild but non-trival hardening with deeper indentation. The experimental data is compared with the results from the FE simulations and shows that over the hardening portion of the indentation response, our proposed parameter identification approach successfully captures the experimental data.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Suppression of chondrogenesis by Id helix-loop-helix proteins in murine embryonic orofacial tissue.

Inhibitors of differentiation (Id) proteins are helix-loop-helix (HLH) transcription factors lacking a DNA binding domain. Id proteins modulate cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation in embryonic/fetal tissue. Perturbation of any of these processes in cells of the developing orofacial region results in orofacial anomalies. Chondrogenesis, a process integral to normal orofacial ontogenesis, is known to be modulated, in part, by Id proteins. In the present study, the mRNA and protein expression patterns of Id1, Id2, Id3 and Id4 were examined in developing murine orofacial tissue in vivo, as well as in murine embryonic maxillary mesenchymal cells in vitro. The functional role of Ids during chondrogenesis was also explored in vitro. Results reveal that cells derived from developing murine orofacial tissue: (1) express Id1, Id2, Id3 and Id4 mRNAs and proteins on each of gestational days 12-14, (2) express all four Id proteins in a developmentally regulated manner, (3) undergo chondrogenesis and express genes encoding various chondrogenic marker proteins (e.g. Runx2, Type X collagen, Sox9) when cultured under micromass conditions, and (4) can have their chondrogenic potential regulated via alteration of Id protein function through overexpression of a basic HLH factor. In summary, results from the current report reveal for the first time, the expression of all four Id proteins in cells derived from developing murine orofacial tissue, and demonstrate a functional role for the Ids in regulating the ability of these cells to undergo chondrogenesis.