665 research outputs found
Ariel - Volume 2 Number 2
Editors
Delvyn C. Case, Jr.
Paul M. Fernhoff
News Editors
Richard Bonanno
Daniel B. Gould
Ronald A. Hoffman
Lay-Out Editor
Carol Dolinskas
Sports Editor
James J. Nocon
Contributing Editors
MichaeI J. Blecker
Lin Sey Edwards
Jack Guralnik
W. Cherry Light
Features Editor
Donald A. Bergman
Stephen P. Flynn
Business Manager
Nick Grego
Public Relations
Robin A. Edward
Sea-level Rise, Storm Surges, and Extreme Precipitation in Coastal New Hampshire: Analysis Of Past And Projected Trends
Dynactin-dependent cortical dynein and spherical spindle shape correlate temporally with meiotic spindle rotation in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Oocyte meiotic spindles orient with one pole juxtaposed to the cortex to facilitate extrusion of chromosomes into polar bodies. In Caenorhabditis elegans, these acentriolar spindles initially orient parallel to the cortex and then rotate to the perpendicular orientation. To understand the mechanism of spindle rotation, we characterized events that correlated temporally with rotation, including shortening of the spindle in the pole-to pole axis, which resulted in a nearly spherical spindle at rotation. By analyzing large spindles of polyploid C. elegans and a related nematode species, we found that spindle rotation initiated at a defined spherical shape rather than at a defined spindle length. In addition, dynein accumulated on the cortex just before rotation, and microtubules grew from the spindle with plus ends outward during rotation. Dynactin depletion prevented accumulation of dynein on the cortex and prevented spindle rotation independently of effects on spindle shape. These results support a cortical pulling model in which spindle shape might facilitate rotation because a sphere can rotate without deforming the adjacent elastic cytoplasm. We also present evidence that activation of spindle rotation is promoted by dephosphorylation of the basic domain of p150 dynactin
Ariel - Volume 2 Number 6
Editors
Richard J. Bonanno
Robin A. Edwards
Associate Editors
Steven Ager
Stephen Flynn
Shep Dickman
Tom Williams
Lay-out Editor
Eugenia Miller
Contributing Editors
Michael J. Blecker
W. Cherry Light
James J. Nocon
Lynne Porter
Editors Emeritus
Delvyn C. Case, Jr.
Paul M. Fernhof
Positive Family Connections for families of children with a developmental disability : cluster randomized controlled trial
Positive Family Connections is a co-produced, positively-oriented, family-systems program for families of children with a developmental disability aged 8-13 years. The study was a feasibility cluster randomized-controlled trial registered prospectively (ISRCTN 14809884). Families (clusters) were randomized 1:1 to take part in Positive Family Connections immediately or to a waitlist condition and were followed up 4-months and 9-months after randomization. Feasibility outcomes included participant and facilitator recruitment rates, retention, intervention adherence, and fidelity. The proposed primary outcome measure was the family APGAR, a measure of family functioning. Quantitative data were analyzed using multilevel modelling. 60 families (60 primary parental carers and 13 second carers) were randomized. 73.33% of primary parental carers and 71.43% of second carers in the intervention group attended ≥4 intervention sessions and fidelity of delivery was high (mean=94.02% intervention components delivered). Retention for the proposed primary outcome was 97.26% at 4-month follow-up and 98.63% at 9-month follow-up. Intervention condition was not associated with family APGAR scores at 9-month follow-up (estimate=0.06, 95% CI= -0.49, 0.61, p=0.86, Hedges g=0.03, 95% CI=-0.43, 0.49). However, meaningful improvements were observed for other secondary outcomes related to parental wellbeing and family relationships. A definitive randomized-controlled trial of Positive Family Connections is feasible. Preliminary evaluation of outcomes shows that Positive Family Connections may be beneficial for parental psychological wellbeing and family relationships
Silica-Supported Oligomeric Benzyl Phosphate (Si-OBP) and Triazole Phosphate (Si-OTP) Alkylating Reagents
The syntheses of silica-supported oligomeric benzyl phosphates (Si-OBPn) and triazole phosphates (Si-OTPn) using ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) for use as efficient alkylating reagents is reported. Ease of synthesis and grafting onto the surface of norbornenyl-tagged (Nb-tagged) silica particles has been demonstrated for benzyl phosphate and triazole phosphate monomers. It is shown that these silica polymer hybrid reagents, Si-OBPn and Si-OTPn, can be used to carry out alkylation reactions with an array of different nucleophiles to afford the corresponding benzylated and (triazolyl)methylated products in good yield and high purity
Exceptional fracture toughness of CrCoNi-based medium- and high-entropy alloys close to liquid helium temperatures
Medium- and high-entropy alloys based on the CrCoNi-system have been shown to
display outstanding strength, tensile ductility and fracture toughness
(damage-tolerance properties), especially at cryogenic temperatures. Here we
examine the JIc and (back-calculated) KJIc fracture toughness values of the
face-centered cubic, equiatomic CrCoNi and CrMnFeCoNi alloys at 20 K. At flow
stress values of ~1.5 GPa, crack-initiation KJIc toughnesses were found to be
exceptionally high, respectively 235 and 415 MPa(square-root)m for CrMnFeCoNi
and CrCoNi, with the latter displaying a crack-growth toughness Kss exceeding
540 MPa(square-root)m after 2.25 mm of stable cracking, which to our knowledge
is the highest such value ever reported. Characterization of the crack-tip
regions in CrCoNi by scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy
reveal deformation structures at 20 K that are quite distinct from those at
higher temperatures and involve heterogeneous nucleation, but restricted
growth, of stacking faults and fine nano-twins, together with transformation to
the hexagonal closed-packed phase. The coherent interfaces of these features
can promote both the arrest and transmission of dislocations to generate
respectively strength and ductility which strongly contributes to sustained
strain hardening. Indeed, we believe that these nominally single-phase,
concentrated solid-solution alloys develop their fracture resistance through a
progressive synergy of deformation mechanisms, including dislocation glide,
stacking-fault formation, nano-twinning and eventually in situ phase
transformation, all of which serve to extend continuous strain hardening which
simultaneously elevates strength and ductility (by delaying plastic
instability), leading to truly exceptional resistance to fracture.Comment: 31 pages, 10 figures, including Supplementary Informatio
Solutions trial: Solution focused brief therapy (SFBT) in 10–17-year-olds presenting at police custody: a randomised controlled trial
Background: Within England, children and young people (CYP) who come into police custody are referred to Liaison and Diversion (L&D) teams. L&D teams have responsibility for liaising with healthcare and other support services while working to divert CYP away from the criminal justice system but have traditionally not provided targeted psychological interventions to CYP. Considering evidence that Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) leads to a reduction in internalising and externalising behaviour problems in CYP, the aim of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) was to determine whether there is a difference between services as usual (SAU) plus SFBT offered by trained therapists working within a L&D team, and SAU alone, in reducing offending behaviours in 10–17-year-olds presenting at police custody.
Methods:Â Design: two-arm individually RCT with internal pilot and process evaluation.
Participants: N = approximately 448 CYP aged 10–17 years presenting at one of three police custody suites in the area served by Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) who are referred to the L&D team. Participants will be recruited and allocated to intervention:control on a 1:1 basis. Interviews will be performed with 30–40 CYP in the intervention arm, 15 CYP in the control arm, up to 20 parents/guardians across both arms, up to 15 practitioners, and up to 10 site staff responsible for screening CYP for the trial.
Intervention and control: Those allocated to the intervention will be offered SAU plus SFBT, and control participants will receive SAU only.
Primary outcome: CYP frequency of offending behaviours assessed through the Self-Report Delinquency Measure (SRDM) at 12 months post-randomisation.
Secondary outcomes: criminal offence data (national police database); emotional and behavioural difficulties (self-report and parent/guardian reported); gang affiliation (self-report).
Process evaluation: evaluation of acceptability and experiences of the CYP, parents/guardians, site staff and practitioners; fidelity of SFBT delivery.
Discussion: This two-arm individually RCT will evaluate the effectiveness of SFBT in reducing offending behaviours in CYP presenting at police custody suites within the area served by LSCFT. Our process evaluation will assess the fidelity of delivery of SFBT, the factors affecting implementation, the acceptability of SFBT in CYP aged 10–17 years and recruitment and reach. We will also examine systems and structures for future delivery, therefore assessing overall scalability.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ISRCTN14195235. Registered on June 16, 2023
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