Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Diabetes Managment Training Program for Unlicensed Assistive Personnel in Schools

This study evaluated the diabetes management-training program for unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP). The purpose of the program was to prepare UAP to recognize and respond to the health care needs of students diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Twenty UAP participated. Teaching strategies were based on Albert Bandura\u27 s social learning theory~ Two instruments were administered before and after the program. One was a 1 0-question survey addressing self-efficacy; the other was a 10 question multiple-choice test measuring knowledge of diabetes. Results of paired t tests indicate consistent and significant improvement in both perceptions of self-efficacy and knowledge (p \u3c .05). This program provides a framework for school nurses training UAP that assist in the health care of students with diabetes. It is important that school nurses capitalize on the contribution that informed confident UAP might contribute to the provision of safe quality care to students with diabetes

Surface Roughening Studies by Field Emission

Measurements of surface self-diffusion by the field emission fluctuation method along the zones (011)-(112) and (011)-(001) of a tungsten emitter show both 2 and I dimensional diffusion, attributed to diffusion of W atoms on the terraces and of kinks along the edges of the stepped surfaces found in these zones. At 950 K -1000 K the steps along (011)-(112) disorder completely, as indicated by the merging of the two types of diffusion into a single, 2-dimensional regime. Along (011)-(001) definite transitions can only be seen on (023) and (017). The transition temperatures are much lower, ~750 K

Coherence properties and quantum state transportation in an optical conveyor belt

We have prepared and detected quantum coherences with long dephasing times at the level of single trapped cesium atoms. Controlled transport by an "optical conveyor belt" over macroscopic distances preserves the atomic coherence with slight reduction of coherence time. The limiting dephasing effects are experimentally identified and are of technical rather than fundamental nature. We present an analytical model of the reversible and irreversible dephasing mechanisms. Coherent quantum bit operations along with quantum state transport open the route towards a "quantum shift register" of individual neutral atoms.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Inequalities for electron-field correlation functions

I show that there exists a class of inequalities between correlation functions of different orders of a chaotic electron field. These inequalities lead to the antibunching effect and are a consequence of the fact that electrons are fermions -- indistinguishable particles with antisymmetric states. The derivation of the inequalities is based on the known form of the correlation functions for the chaotic state and on the properties of matrices and determinants.Comment: 8 pages Latex2e, 2 eps figure

Polarization-correlated photon pairs from a single ion

In the fluorescence light of a single atom, the probability for emission of a photon with certain polarization depends on the polarization of the photon emitted immediately before it. Here correlations of such kind are investigated with a single trapped calcium ion by means of second order correlation functions. A theoretical model is developed and fitted to the experimental data, which show 91% probability for the emission of polarization-correlated photon pairs within 24 ns.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figure

Dictyostelium cells bind a secreted autocrine factor that represses cell proliferation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Dictyostelium </it>cells secrete the proteins AprA and CfaD. Cells lacking either AprA or CfaD proliferate faster than wild type, while AprA or CfaD overexpressor cells proliferate slowly, indicating that AprA and CfaD are autocrine factors that repress proliferation. CfaD interacts with AprA and requires the presence of AprA to slow proliferation. To determine if CfaD is necessary for the ability of AprA to slow proliferation, whether AprA binds to cells, and if so whether the binding requires the presence of CfaD, we examined the binding and effect on proliferation of recombinant AprA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We find that the extracellular accumulation of AprA increases with cell density and reaches a concentration of 0.3 μg/ml near a stationary cell density. When added to wild-type or <it>aprA</it>^-cells, recombinant AprA (rAprA) significantly slows proliferation at 0.1 μg/ml and higher concentrations. From 4 to 64 μg/ml, the effect of rAprA is at a plateau, slowing but not stopping proliferation. The proliferation-inhibiting activity of rAprA is roughly the same as that of native AprA in conditioned growth medium. Proliferating <it>aprA</it>^-cells show saturable binding of rAprA to 92,000 ± 11,000 cell-surface receptors with a <it>K</it>_{<it>D </it>}of 0.03 ± 0.02 μg/ml. There appears to be one class of binding site, and no apparent cooperativity. Native AprA inhibits the binding of rAprA to <it>aprA</it>^-cells with a <it>K</it>_{<it>i </it>}of 0.03 μg/ml, suggesting that the binding kinetics of rAprA are similar to those of native AprA. The proliferation of cells lacking CrlA, a cAMP receptor-like protein, or cells lacking CfaD are not affected by rAprA. Surprisingly, both cell types still bind rAprA.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Together, the data suggest that AprA functions as an autocrine proliferation-inhibiting factor by binding to cell surface receptors. Although AprA requires CfaD for activity, it does not require CfaD to bind to cells, suggesting the possibility that cells have an AprA receptor and a CfaD receptor, and activation of both receptors is required to slow proliferation. We previously found that <it>crlA</it>^-cells are sensitive to CfaD. Combined with the results presented here, this suggests that CrlA is not the AprA or CfaD receptor, and may be the receptor for an unknown third factor that is required for AprA and CfaD activity.</p

A Dictyostelium chalone uses G proteins to regulate proliferation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several studies have shown that organ size, and the proliferation of tumor metastases, may be regulated by negative feedback loops in which autocrine secreted factors called chalones inhibit proliferation. However, very little is known about chalones, and how cells sense them. We previously identified two secreted proteins, AprA and CfaD, which act as chalones in <it>Dictyostelium</it>. Cells lacking AprA or CfaD proliferate faster than wild-type cells, and adding recombinant AprA or CfaD to cells slows their proliferation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show here that cells lacking the G protein components Galpha8, Galpha9, and Gbeta proliferate faster than wild-type cells despite secreting normal or high levels of AprA and CfaD. Compared with wild-type cells, the proliferation of <it>galpha8^-</it>, <it>galpha9^-</it>and <it>gbeta^-</it>cells are only weakly inhibited by recombinant AprA (rAprA). Like AprA and CfaD, Galpha8 and Gbeta inhibit cell proliferation but not cell growth (the rate of increase in mass and protein per nucleus), whereas Galpha9 inhibits both proliferation and growth. <it>galpha8^-</it>cells show normal cell-surface binding of rAprA, whereas <it>galpha9^-</it>and <it>gbeta^-</it>cells have fewer cell-surface rAprA binding sites, suggesting that Galpha9 and Gbeta regulate the synthesis or processing of the AprA receptor. Like other ligands that activate G proteins, rAprA induces the binding of [³H]GTP to membranes, and GTPgammaS inhibits the binding of rAprA to membranes. Both AprA-induced [³H]GTP binding and the GTPgammaS inhibition of rAprA binding require Galpha8 and Gbeta but not Galpha9. Like <it>aprA^-</it>cells, <it>galpha8^-</it>cells have reduced spore viability.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study shows that Galpha8 and Gbeta are part of the signal transduction pathway used by AprA to inhibit proliferation but not growth in <it>Dictyostelium</it>, whereas Galpha9 is part of a differealnt pathway that regulates both proliferation and growth, and that a chalone signal transduction pathway uses G proteins.</p

Spreading of a density front in the K\"untz-Lavall\'ee model of porous media

We analyze spreading of a density front in the K\"untz-Lavall\'ee model of porous media. In contrast to previous studies, where unusual properties of the front were attributed to anomalous diffusion, we find that the front evolution is controlled by normal diffusion and hydrodynamic flow, the latter being responsible for apparent enhancement of the front propagation speed. Our finding suggests that results of several recent experiments on porous media, where anomalous diffusion was reported based on the density front propagation analysis, should be reconsidered to verify the role of a fluid flow

Feasibility of Photofrin II as a radiosensitizing agent in solid tumors - Preliminary results

Background: Photofrin II has been demonstrated to serve as a specific and selective radiosensitizing agent in in vitro and in vivo tumor models. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of a clinical application of Photofrin II. Material and Methods: 12 patients were included in the study (7 unresectable solid tumors of the pelvic region, 3 malignant gliomas, 1 recurrent oropharyngeal cancer, 1 recurrent adenocarcinoma of the sphenoid sinus). The dose of ionizing irradiation was 30-50.4 Gy; a boost irradiation of 14 Gy was added for the pelvic region. All patients were intravenously injected with 1 mg/kg Photofrin II 24 h prior to the commencement of radiotherapy. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) controls and in some cases positron emission tomography (PET) were performed in short intervals. The mean follow-up was 12.9 months. Results: No major adverse events were noted. Minor adverse events consisted of mild diarrhea, nausea and skin reactions. A complete remission was observed in 4/12 patients. A reduction in local tumor volume of > 45% was achieved in 4/12 patients. Stable disease was observed in 4/12 patients. 1 patient showed local disease progression after 5 months. Conclusion: The early follow-up results are encouraging regarding the feasibility of the application of Photofrin II as a radiosensitizing agent