Central activity in 60 micron peakers

The authors present charge coupled device (CCD) imaging results of their sample of Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) galaxies with spectral energy distributions peaking at 60 microns (Vader et al 1988). The results support the author's suggestion that the activity in 60 micron peaking galaxies is centrally concentrated, and represents an early stage of dust-embedded nuclear activity. This activity is probably triggered by a recent interaction/merger event as indicated by their peculiar optical morphologies. The authors propose that 60 micron peakers are the precursors of SO's in the case of amorphous systems, and ellipticals in the case of interacting galaxies

Time resolved structural dynamics of butadiyne-linked porphyrin dimers

In this work the timescales and mechanisms associated with the structural dynamics of butadiyne-linked porphyrin dimers are investigated through time resolved narrowband pump / broadband probe transient absorption spectroscopy. Our results confirm previous findings that the broadening is partly due to a distribution of structures with different (dihedral) angular conformations. Comparison of measurements with excitations on the red and blue sides of the Q-band unravel the ground and excited state conformational re-equilibration timescales. Further comparison to a planarized dimer, through addition of a ligand, provide conclusive evidence for the twisting motion performed by the porphyrin dimer in solution

Student level II fieldwork failure: strategies for intervention.

OBJECTIVE: This report describes how common student communicative and behavioral characteristics that appear to predict the existence of potential problems during Level II fieldwork were identified in order to develop and implement preventative interventions during the academic curriculum at New York University (NYU). RECORD REVIEW: A record review of NYU professional-level occupational therapy students from 1986 to 1995 was completed to identify common factors among students who performed well academically but failed clinical fieldwork. Eight communicative and behavioral characteristics were identified: (a) rigidity of thinking, (b) discomfort with the ambiguity that accompanies clinical reasoning, (c) lack of psychological insight, (d) difficulty interpreting feedback, (e) externalization of responsibility, (f) difficulty learning from mistakes, (g) discomfort with the physical handling of patients, and (h) dependence on external measures for self-esteem. INTERVENTION: On the basis of the identified characteristics, five intervention strategies were adopted: (a) academic seminars that address professional behavior and interpersonal skills, (b) faculty feedback to students regarding problematic behaviors, (c) clinician and senior student counseling with identified students, (d) student remediation programs consisting of community service, and (e) student learning contracts based on specific behavioral objectives. These strategies were administered before Level II fieldwork to 10 students in the 1996 class who exhibited the characteristics indicative of potential fieldwork failure. OUTCOME: Of the 10 students in the 1996 class, 7 passed fieldwork without further difficulty, two failed fieldwork midterm assessments but went on to achieve passing final evaluations, and one failed the final fieldwork assessment but passed an additional third fieldwork experience. The class of 1996, which was the first to receive formal intervention designed to decrease fieldwork failure, demonstrated lower fieldwork failure rates than did all other classes in the past 10 years

COLA II - Radio and Spectroscopic Diagnostics of Nuclear Activity in Galaxies

We present optical spectroscopic observations of 93 galaxies taken from the infra-red selected COLA (Compact Objects in Low Power AGN) sample. The sample spans the range of far-IR luminosities from normal galaxies to LIRGs. Of the galaxies observed, 78 (84%) exhibit emission lines. Using a theoretically-based optical emission-line scheme we classify 15% of the emission-line galaxies as Seyferts, 77% as starbursts, and the rest are either borderline AGN/starburst or show ambiguous characteristics. We find little evidence for an increase in the fraction of AGN in the sample as a function of far-IR luminosity but our sample covers only a small range in infrared luminosity and thus a weak trend may be masked. As a whole the Seyfert galaxies exhibit a small, but significant, radio excess on the radio-FIR correlation compared to the galaxies classified as starbursts. Compact (<0.05'') radio cores are detected in 55% of the Seyfert galaxies, and these galaxies exhibit a significantly larger radio excess than the Seyfert galaxies in which cores were not detected. Our results indicate that there may be two distinct populations of Seyferts, ``radio-excess'' Seyferts, which exhibit extended radio structures and compact radio cores, and ``radio-quiet'' Seyferts, in which the majority of the radio emission can be attributed to star-formation in the host galaxy. No significant difference is seen between the IR and optical spectroscopic properties of Seyferts with and without radio cores. (Abridged)Comment: 24 pages, 4 figures, 6 tables. Accepted for publication in ApJ, February 200

Raman vibrational dynamics of hydrated ions in the low-frequency spectral region

The hydration structure of ions in aqueous environments can have a significant influence on their chemical and biological properties. Due to its inherent dynamical character, determination of the hydration shell around dissolved ions has proved challenging, mainly so for cations such as sodium and potassium which form diffuse and dynamic hydrating structures. The low frequency polarized Raman spectrum, as retrieved by time resolved isotropic optical Kerr effect measurements, is sensitive to structural fluctuations and can reveal information about ion-water interactions through their Raman active vibrational modes. Here we study a series of mixtures of sodium, potassium and lithium hydroxide solutions by changing cation concentration pairwise (namely, sodium/potassium or sodium/lithium) while keeping constant the hydroxide concentration. The hydroxide-water hydrogen bond vibration, which produces a well-defined isotropic Raman mode, appears at higher frequencies from the cation-water Raman active vibrations. In addition to previously reported lithium-water low frequency vibrations, clear spectral features could be resolved from the concentration studies and assigned to sodium-water hydration shell vibrations. However, potassium related low frequency spectral features remain elusive. The same method was applied to mixtures of the same cations with a halide anion (chloride) in order to rule out any specific features related to the dissolved hydroxide anion. Comparison between halide and hydroxide measurements confirmed the presence of the cation modes and further revealed a low frequency spectral feature related to hydroxide induced changes in water polarizability

Star Formation in Sculptor Group Dwarf Irregular Galaxies and the Nature of "Transition" Galaxies

We present new H-alpha narrow band imaging of the HII regions in eight Sculptor Group dwarf irregular (dI) galaxies. Comparing the Sculptor Group dIs to the Local Group dIs, we find that the Sculptor Group dIs have, on average, lower values of SFR when normalized to either galaxy luminosity or gas mass (although there is considerable overlap between the two samples). The properties of ``transition'' (dSph/dIrr) galaxies in Sculptor and the Local Group are also compared and found to be similar. The transition galaxies are typically among the lowest luminosities of the gas rich dwarf galaxies. Relative to the dwarf irregular galaxies, the transition galaxies are found preferentially nearer to spiral galaxies, and are found nearer to the center of the mass distribution in the local cloud. While most of these systems are consistent with normal dI galaxies which currently exhibit temporarily interrupted star formation, the observed density-morphology relationship (which is weaker than that observed for the dwarf spheroidal galaxies) indicates that environmental processes such as ``tidal stirring'' may play a role in causing their lower SFRs.Comment: 35 pages, 10 figures, accepted for Feb 2003 AJ, companion to astro-ph/021117

Physician assessments of medication adherence and decisions to intensify medications for patients with uncontrolled blood pressure: still no better than a coin toss

Abstract Background Many patients have uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) because they are not taking medications as prescribed. Providers may have difficulty accurately assessing adherence. Providers need to assess medication adherence to decide whether to address uncontrolled BP by improving adherence to the current prescribed regimen or by intensifying the BP treatment regimen by increasing doses or adding more medications. Methods We examined how provider assessments of adherence with antihypertensive medications compared with refill records, and how providers’ assessments were associated with decisions to intensify medications for uncontrolled BP. We studied a cross-sectional cohort of 1169 veterans with diabetes presenting with BP ≥140/90 to 92 primary care providers at 9 Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities from February 2005 to March 2006. Using VA pharmacy records, we utilized a continuous multiple-interval measure of medication gaps (CMG) to assess the proportion of time in prior year that patient did not possess the prescribed medications; CMG ≥20% is considered clinically significant non-adherence. Providers answered post-visit Likert-scale questions regarding their assessment of patient adherence to BP medications. The BP regimen was considered intensified if medication was added or increased without stopping or decreasing another medication. Results 1064 patients were receiving antihypertensive medication regularly from the VA; the mean CMG was 11.3%. Adherence assessments by providers correlated poorly with refill history. 211 (20%) patients did not have BP medication available for ≥ 20% of days; providers characterized 79 (37%) of these 211 patients as having significant non-adherence, and intensified medications for 97 (46%). Providers intensified BP medications for 451 (42%) patients, similarly whether assessed by provider as having significant non-adherence (44%) or not (43%). Conclusions Providers recognized non-adherence for less than half of patients whose pharmacy records indicated significant refill gaps, and often intensified BP medications even when suspected serious non-adherence. Making an objective measure of adherence such as the CMG available during visits may help providers recognize non-adherence to inform prescribing decisions.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/112850/1/12913_2012_Article_2450.pd

Control of surface plasmon resonance in out-diffused silver nanoislands for surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Abstract We present the studies of self-assembled silver nanoislands on the surface of silver ion-exchanged glasses. The nanoislands were formed by out-diffusion of reduced silver atoms from the bulk of the glass to its surface. Control of silver ions distribution in the glass by thermal poling after the ion exchange allowed formation of relatively big, up to 250 nm, isolated silver nanoislands while without the poling an ensemble of silver nanoislands with average size from several to tens of nanometers with random size distribution was formed. The nanoislands were characterized using atomic force microscopy and spectral measurements. We used optical absorption spectroscopy for “random” nanoislands and dark field scattering spectroscopy for isolated ones, corresponding spectra showed peaks in the vicinity of 450 nm and 600 nm, respectively. The “random” nanoislands significantly enhanced Raman scattering from Rhodamine 6G, also the modification of Raman signal from deposited on the surface of the samples bacteriorhodopsin in purple membranes was registered

Study protocol: The Adherence and Intensification of Medications (AIM) study - a cluster randomized controlled effectiveness study

Abstract Background Many patients with diabetes have poor blood pressure (BP) control. Pharmacological therapy is the cornerstone of effective BP treatment, yet there are high rates both of poor medication adherence and failure to intensify medications. Successful medication management requires an effective partnership between providers who initiate and increase doses of effective medications and patients who adhere to the regimen. Methods In this cluster-randomized controlled effectiveness study, primary care teams within sites were randomized to a program led by a clinical pharmacist trained in motivational interviewing-based behavioral counseling approaches and authorized to make BP medication changes or to usual care. This study involved the collection of data during a 14-month intervention period in three Department of Veterans Affairs facilities and two Kaiser Permanente Northern California facilities. The clinical pharmacist was supported by clinical information systems that enabled proactive identification of, and outreach to, eligible patients identified on the basis of poor BP control and either medication refill gaps or lack of recent medication intensification. The primary outcome is the relative change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements over time. Secondary outcomes are changes in Hemoglobin A1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), medication adherence determined from pharmacy refill data, and medication intensification rates. Discussion Integration of the three intervention elements - proactive identification, adherence counseling and medication intensification - is essential to achieve optimal levels of control for high-risk patients. Testing the effectiveness of this intervention at the team level allows us to study the program as it would typically be implemented within a clinic setting, including how it integrates with other elements of care. Trial Registration The ClinicalTrials.gov registration number is NCT00495794.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78258/1/1745-6215-11-95.xmlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78258/2/1745-6215-11-95.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78258/3/1745-6215-11-95-S1.DOCPeer Reviewe