Informal Support Systems for the Aged: Limitations and Issues

The need for community social services to enable older persons to remain in their homes has been well documented (Gold, 1974; Lohman, 1978; Atchley, 1977; Blenkner, 1977). Inspite of a growing service industry and professional corps of helpers, it does not reach the growing numbers of elderly, especially the older-elderly who are most likely to be frail (Gold, 1974; Lohmann, 1978; Heyman and Polansky, 1977). The aged share of the population has grown relative to the younger age group. In 1900, 6.4% of the U. S. population was 60 years or older; in 1975, it had increased to 14.8% (U. S. Bureau of the Census, 1976). The ratio of older dependents to those in their productive years, age 20-59, has also increased. In 1900, those 60 and over to the younger group were 13 in every 100; in 1975, the number was 29 to 100, with predictions that the growth will continue (U. S. Bureau of the Census, 1976)

The Effects of Steam Stripping Contaminated Kraft Condensates

The effects of steam stripping contaminated Kraft condensates were evaluated in relation to the removal of odorous sulfur-containing compounds. The investigation was carried out in a packed distillation column. The mill streams investigated were multiple effect evaporator condensates, waste heat evaporator condensates, and concentrator condensates. Measured volumes of distillate were removed and analyzed for chemical oxygen demand by oxidation, and for component make-up by gas chromatography. This study indicates that the use of steam stripping not only reduces the amount of sulfur-containing compounds, but reduces mill water requirements and the BOD load placed on effluent treatment facilities

Examining Addiction Treatment Facilities: An Observational Study from the Perspective of Medical Students

At the Institute for Research, Education, and Training in Addictions (IRETA), medical students are selected nationwide to learn about addiction and interact with patients undergoing treatment. It is well known that most medical schools do not provide significant training in addiction, and part of IRETA\u27s goal is to remedy this need. In this study, medical students took observational field notes during site visits to various addiction treatment facilities. The data consisted of a comparison of treatment programs, as well as the results of motivational interviewing of patients. A thematic analysis was then conducted by the three students and the IRETA Education Director. The data was coded into five themes essential to the doctor-patient relationship specific to these experiences with patients suffering from substance abuse. The Alcohol and Alcohol Problems and Perceptions Questionnaire (AAPPQ) and the Drug and Drug Problems and Perceptions Questionnaire (DDPPQ) were used as well. From the results, it was found that in categories of Role Support, Therapeutic Commitment, and Role Security, medical students were significantly more comfortable in treating patients with substance abuse. The themes found from compiled data included: Communication, Support, Environment, Empathy, and Physician Education. These themes are useful in educating medical students and professionals alike about the needs of patients suffering from addiction, and the most efficacious way to provide treatment

Measurements of Unsteady Periodic Forces generated by the Blowfly Flying in a Wind Tunnel

A technique was developed for the measurement of the instantaneous lift and drag forces generated by the blowfly, Sarcophaga bullata, flying fixed in a wind tunnel. Apparatus for the measurement of insect-generated forces was checked in part for mean force accuracy by measurement of the drag on a circular cylinder. Our experimental device detects the sum of the aerodynamic forces and wing inertial forces as experienced by the thorax. The streamwise and vertical force waveforms show a surprising lack of higher harmonic content. Wind speeds in the neighbourhood of the known preferred flying speed were used, without an explicit attempt to nullify the mean vertical and horizontal forces to simulate free flight. Several measurements of the phase angle between the force waveform and the wing beating kinematics indicated that vertical forces in the liftward direction achieved a maximum during the downstroke and thrustward forces achieved a maximum during the upstroke

Acute bioactivation and hepatotoxicity of ketoconazole in rat and the determinant presence of flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) isoforms in human duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon microsomes and Caco-2 cell line

Two specific goals were addressed for this dissertation. First to investigate and identify the mechanistic profile of ketoconazole (KT)-induced hepatotoxicity by utilizing in vivo and in vitro approaches determining the mechanism of action for the hepatotoxicity incurred. To date, there has not been a mechanistic determination of the hepatotoxicity associated with KT in vivo. This dissertation evaluates the possible metabolic bioactivation of KT by cytochrome-P450 (CYP) or flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMO) resulting in covalent binding with hepatic macromolecules. The hypothesis of this study was to reveal whether covalent binding by the parent compound, KT, and/or reactive metabolites produces hepatic damage associated with increased serum alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) release and decreased hepatic glutathione (GSH). The first objective was determination of in vivo covalent binding in a dose-time response comparison in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat ALT and GSH levels. Increased ALT and reduced hepatic GSH levels occurred. The second objective was an in vitro comparison of covalent binding with GSH levels utilizing SD microsomal protein with incubations of KT. Covalent binding decreased with added GSH to microsomal incubations. Thirdly, correlate in vivo with in vitro findings. Covalent binding of KT in vivo and in vitro occurred with increased doses and time. The final objective was to determine the bioactivation pathway utilizing heat inactivation and no NADPH in vitro. Covalent binding of KT decreased in the absence of NADPH and deactivation of FMO. The second goal was to determine and quantitate in vitro the presence of FMO isozymes in microsomes of the human intestinal duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon as well as the Caco-2 (HTB-37), epithelial intestinal (CCL-241) and colon (CRL1790) cell lines. The presence of FMO could result in a first-pass effect decreasing the bioavailability of soft nucleophiles or a toxicity effect due to inhibition or modulation of the enzyme from co-administration. To date, this is the first evaluation of FMO isoforms in human intestine and cell lines. Western blot techniques were utilized for detection of human FMO1, FMO3, and FMO5 using human FMO-expressed recombinant cDNA from a baculovirus system

Radiation-hard ASICs for optical data transmission in the ATLAS pixel detector

We have developed two radiation-hard ASICs for optical data transmission in the ATLAS pixel detector at the LHC at CERN: a driver chip for a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) diode for 80 Mbit/s data transmission from the detector, and a Bi-Phase Mark decoder chip to recover the control data and 40 MHz clock received optically by a PIN diode. We have successfully implemented both ASICs in 0.25 um CMOS technology using enclosed layout transistors and guard rings for increased radiation hardness. We present results from prototype circuits and from irradiation studies with 24 GeV protons up to 57 Mrad (1.9 x 10e15 p/cm2).Comment: 8th Tropical Seminar on Innovative Particle and Radiation Detectors, Siena, Italy (2002

Effect of Shear Surface Boundaries on Stress for Shearing Flow of Dry Metal Powders-An Experimental Study

I Introduction The mechanical behavior of granular materials is important in a wide variety of industrial, engineering, and scientific fields. Despite this many aspects of the behavior of flowing granular solids are still not well understood primarily because experimental observations of the details of such flows are quite sparse. However, experiments to test dry, cohesionless, granular materials at high shear-rates have recently been developed by The motivation for this study arose from the process of xerography. In this process a dry powder image is formed upon a xerographic plate by optical and electrostatic mechanisms. Toner, a dry, thermoplastic powder, is used and the powder image is then transferred to a sheet of ordinary Contributed by the Tribology Division of THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS and presented at the ASME/ASLE Joint Tribology Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, October 20-22, 1986. Manuscript received by the Tribology Division March 8, 1986. Paper No. 86-Trib-8. paper. This process relies upon the use of both a magnetic field and the use of flow of metal powders to transport the thermoplastic powder. In this paper both the shear and normal stress results are reported for the rapid flow of aluminum beads. These results are compared with the results for the rapid flow of carbon steel beads reported earlier by Craig, Buckholz, and Domoto (1986). One of the central issues related to the prediction of granular material flow is characterization of its material properties. One view, the one adopted in this paper, is a continuum approach. Another view could consider the dynamics of the individual particles. The continuum mechanics pointof-view to describe the granular flow involves determining an appropriate constitutive equation. Experimental methods similar to those used in the characterization of fluid properties are used. Therefore, we focus on the issue of stress as a function of shear-rate. The purpose of this experiment is to study the stresses associated with the shearing motion of metal powers. The results obtained can guide the theoretical development of constitutive equations for metal powders. Stress measurements are obtained that are analogous to the type obtained in rheological tests of both viscous fluids and solid suspensions. In this experiment it is essential to control as many of the independent parameters as possible. One of these independent parameters, the fractional solids content, is the ratio of the volume occupied by the granular material to the shear-cell test volume. This parameter is maintained at a prescribed constant value for a range of experimental conditions. The average stresses on the top drive surface are then 232/Vol. 109, APRIL 1987 Transactions of the ASM

Eukaryotic G Protein Signaling Evolved to Require G Protein-Coupled Receptors for Activation

Although bioinformatic analysis of the increasing numbers of diverse genome sequences and amount of functional data has provided insight into the evolution of signaling networks, bioinformatics approaches have limited application for understanding the evolution of highly divergent protein families. We used biochemical analyses to determine the in vitro properties of selected divergent components of the heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide–binding protein (G protein) signaling network to investigate signaling network evolution. In animals, G proteins are activated by cell-surface seven-transmembrane (7TM) receptors, which are named G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) and function as guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). In contrast, the plant G protein is intrinsically active, and a 7TM protein terminates G protein activity by functioning as a guanosine triphosphatase–activating protein (GAP). We showed that ancient regulation of the G protein active state is GPCR-independent and “self-activating,” a property that is maintained in Bikonts, one of the two fundamental evolutionary clades containing eukaryotes, whereas G proteins of the other clade, the Unikonts, evolved from being GEF-independent to being GEF-dependent. Self-activating G proteins near the base of the Eukaryota are controlled by 7TM-GAPs, suggesting that the ancestral regulator of G protein activation was a GAP-functioning receptor, not a GEF-functioning GPCR. Our findings indicate that the GPCR paradigm describes a recently evolved network architecture found in a relatively small group of Eukaryota and suggest that the evolution of signaling network architecture is constrained by the availability of molecules that control the activation state of nexus proteins

Altered emotional interference processing in the amygdala and insula in women with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

AbstractBackgroundPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is characterized by distinct behavioral and physiological changes. Given the significant impairments related to PTSD, examination of the biological underpinnings is crucial to the development of theoretical models and improved treatments of PTSD.MethodsWe used an attentional interference task using emotional distracters to test for top-down versus bottom-up dysfunction in the interaction of cognitive-control circuitry and emotion-processing circuitry. A total of 32 women with PTSD (based on an interpersonal trauma) and 21 matched controls were tested. Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging was carried out as participants directly attended to, or attempted to ignore, fear-related stimuli.ResultsCompared to controls, patients with PTSD showed hyperactivity in several brain regions, including the amygdala, insula, as well as dorsal lateral and ventral PFC regions.ConclusionsThese results are consistent with previous studies that have higher amygdala and insular activation in PTSD subjects. However, inhibition of suppression of PFC regions is inconsistent with the fear circuitry model hypothesized by prior research. We suggest that the specific emotional conflict task used appears to target implicit or automatic emotional regulation instead of explicit or effortful emotional regulation. This is particularly relevant as it posited that emotional regulatory difficulties in anxiety disorders such as PTSD appear to occur in implicit forms of emotion regulation

Development and Evaluation of a Palliative Medicine Curriculum for Third-Year Medical Students

Abstract Objective: To assess the impact, retention, and magnitude of effect of a required didactic and experiential palliative care curriculum on third-year medical students' knowledge, confidence, and concerns about end-of-life care, over time and in comparison to benchmark data from a national study of internal medicine residents and faculty. Design: Prospective study of third-year medical students prior to and immediately after course completion, with a follow-up assessment in the fourth year, and in comparison to benchmark data from a large national study. Setting: Internal Medicine Clerkship in a public accredited medical school. Participants: Five hundred ninety-three third-year medical students, from July 2002 to December 2007. Main outcome measures: Pre- and postinstruction performance on: knowledge, confidence (self-assessed competence), and concerns (attitudes) about end-of-life care measures, validated in a national study of internal medicine residents and faculty. Medical student's reflective written comments were qualitatively assessed. Intervention: Required 32-hour didactic and experiential curriculum, including home hospice visits and inpatient hospice care, with content drawn from the AMA-sponsored Education for Physicians on End-of-life Care (EPEC) Project. Results: Analysis of 487 paired t tests shows significant improvements, with 23% improvement in knowledge (F1,486=881, p<0.001), 56% improvement in self-reported competence (F1,486=2,804, p<0.001), and 29% decrease in self-reported concern (F1,486=208, p<0.001). Retesting medical students in the fourth year showed a further 5% increase in confidence (p<0.0002), 13% increase in allaying concerns (p<0.0001), but a 6% drop in knowledge. The curriculum's effect size on M3 students' knowledge (0.56) exceeded that of a national cross-sectional study comparing residents at progressive training levels (0.18) Themes identified in students' reflective comments included perceived relevance, humanism, and effectiveness of methods used to teach and assess palliative care education. Conclusions: We conclude that required structured didactic and experiential palliative care during the clinical clerkship year of medical student education shows significant and largely sustained effects indicating students are better prepared than a national sample of residents and attending physicians.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98455/1/jpm%2E2010%2E0502.pd