Energy transfer between thulium and holmium in laser hosts

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 1993.Includes bibliographical references (p. 204-210).by Kenneth Michael Dinndorf.Ph.D

Therapeutic targeting of membrane-associated GRP78 in leukemia and lymphoma : preclinical efficacy in vitro and formal toxicity study of BMTP-78 in rodents and primates

Translation of drug candidates into clinical settings requires demonstration of preclinical efficacy and formal toxicology analysis for filling an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Here, we investigate the membrane-associated glucose response protein 78 (GRP78) as a therapeutic target in leukemia and lymphoma. We evaluated the efficacy of the GRP78-targeted proapoptotic drug bone metastasis targeting peptidomimetic 78 (BMTP-78), a member of the D (KLAKLAK)2-containing class of agents. BMTP-78 was validated in cells from patients with acute myeloid leukemia and in a panel of human leukemia and lymphoma cell lines, where it induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity in all samples tested. Based on the in vitro efficacy of BMTP-78, we performed formal good laboratory practice toxicology studies in both rodents (mice and rats) and nonhuman primates (cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys). These analyses represent required steps towards an IND application of BMTP-78 for theranostic first-in-human clinical trials.Peer reviewe

Biodistribution, clearance, and long‐term fate of clinically relevant nanomaterials

Realization of the immense potential of nanomaterials for biomedical applications will require a thorough understanding of how they interact with cells, tissues, and organs. There is evidence that, depending on their physicochemical properties and subsequent interactions, nanomaterials are indeed taken up by cells. However, the subsequent release and/or intracellular degradation of the materials, transfer to other cells, and/or translocation across tissue barriers are still poorly understood. The involvement of these cellular clearance mechanisms strongly influences the long-term fate of used nanomaterials, especially if one also considers repeated exposure. Several nanomaterials, such as liposomes and iron oxide, gold, or silica nanoparticles, are already approved by the American Food and Drug Administration for clinical trials; however, there is still a huge gap of knowledge concerning their fate in the body. Herein, clinically relevant nanomaterials, their possible modes of exposure, as well as the biological barriers they must overcome to be effective are reviewed. Furthermore, the biodistribution and kinetics of nanomaterials and their modes of clearance are discussed, knowledge of the long-term fates of a selection of nanomaterials is summarized, and the critical points that must be considered for future research are addressed

Dancing with the Stars: Stepping Up and Stepping Out in Honors Education

One of the most profound statements in James Herbert’s lead essay— simple as it seems at the very beginning of his piece—concerns his discovery early in his career that “a liberal education in honors was good preparation for life.” At Columbia College, where I have the privilege of serving as President, such a statement is life blood, and our honors program is at the front of our efforts to maintain a strong emphasis on the value of liberal learning while addressing the many challenges all of our institutions face today in the changing landscape of higher education. Liberal learning and the liberal arts are, indeed, at the core of our mission while we also strive to prepare students for life after college, whether they decide to pursue other degrees, begin a professional career, enter the job market, serve their various communities, or even backpack around the world. We ask our students to step up as learners and leaders and step out as individuals with a strong sense of identity and purpose. We want that stepping to occur in all our efforts, but we know that in our honors program we are dancing with the stars, the kinds of motivated, high-achieving, creative, and talented young women unafraid of taking risks and accepting challenges in order to make the program and our college proud. Liberal education as “preparation for life” is what honors is about, and our program is one of the college’s crown jewels in making such rich and practical learning a reality

Moral Courage in Practice: Implications for Patient Safety

This descriptive correlational study examined moral courage in response to a threat to patient safety. A mailed questionnaire was randomly distributed to Midwest perioperative registered nurses. Multiple regression analysis results indicate that the moral courage in perioperative nurses is significantly influenced by education level, certification, peer support, institutional culture and Magnet designation, fear of reprisal and retaliation, and previous operating room experience. Significant findings clustered influencing factors of fear, previous experience, peer support, and institutional culture. Future research is indicated for supportive nursing management and policy creation promoting moral courage in situations that threaten patient safety in the perioperative area

Perioperative Nurses Perceptions of Moral Courage

Problem: Threats to patient safety exist in perioperative nursing. Nurse appraisal of these threats and the likelihood to act with moral courage have not been documented. Design: This descriptive correlational study examined moral courage in response to threat to patient safety. The moral courage model is based on Lazarus and Folkman’s theory of stress and coping. The Dillman, Smythe, and Christenson (2009) tailored design method was used to construct the Moral Courage Questionnaire for Nurses (MCQN) instrument. Moral courage frequency and intensity were explored relative to personal experience and institutional operating room environment.Methods: A mail questionnaire was randomly distributed to Midwest perioperative registered nurses yielding a 50% response rate (N = 154).Results: Multiple regression analysis results indicate moral courage in perioperative nurses is significantly influenced by Magnet® status, certification, peer support, institutional culture, fear, and previous operating room experience. Perioperative nurses from Magnet® hospitals were significantly more likely than nurses from non-Magnet® hospitals to stop a surgical procedure performed by a physician with alcohol breath (F = 7.99, p = .005). Urban perioperative nurses were significantly more likely to stop the procedure than nurses from smaller rural hospitals (F = 4.95, p = .028). Significant positive correlations were shown between previous OR experience and the level of moral courage addressing physician substandard practice (p = .004). Significant negative correlations occurred between fear of reprisal and retaliation and (a) reporting ethical issues to administration (p = .001), (b) questioning provider when not in best interest of patient (p = .001), (c) frequency of speaking up when risks to the patient are known (p = .006), and (d) moral courage overcoming being silent about an ethical issue (p = .005). Fear of reprisal and retaliation were positively correlated with moral distress (p = .000). Sufficient performance of the MCQN Likert-type scale showed contrast of scale scores to reflect variance; Cronbach’s alpha measured 0.81.Conclusions: Findings indicate the moral courage model performance was robust with the exception of the motivational value systems variable. Perioperative nurses reported high moral courage in situational threats to patient safety. Significant findings clustered influencing factors of fear, previous experience, peer support, and institutional culture. Furthermore, Magnet® status, peer support, previous operating room experience, institution’s urban location, supportive nursing management and administration promote perioperative nurses’ exhibition of moral courage. Future research is indicated for supportive nursing management and policy creation promoting moral courage in situations that are threats to patient safety within the perioperative area

Elders adapting to a Chronic Diagnosis within a Nursing Refuge

The increasing numbers of people seeking care for chronic disease has placed unparalleled demands on nurses who journey with them as they grasp the meaning of their altered health status. The complexity of the newly diagnosed chronic disease can be overwhelming. Newly diagnosed elder patients need a refuge in which to explore the uncertainties and challenges in managing a chronic illness. Reactions to a new diagnosis are uniquely shaped by the elder person\u27s culture, age, life circumstances, and previous coping strategies. Six dichotomous response pairs are posed: relief versus devastation, courage versus cowardice, disease obsession versus disease aversion, rational thinking versus intuition, reawakening versus stuck, and self-reliance versus dependence. Nurses can create a sanctuary for elderly patients with protected space, presence, partnership, past to future orientation, and perspective on life. Nurses who embrace this mission may find themselves returning to the reasons they sought a nursing career, to support and strengthen elderly people in the most vulnerable moments of their live