Social Workers\u27 Perceptions of Family Preservation Programs

The passage of the Adoptions and Safe Families Act of 1997, with its focus on child safety and concurrent planning, has presented family preservation workers with new challenges and new opportunities. Twenty volunteers from a large comprehensive social service agency were interviewed to determine their experiences with two models of family preservation—Multisystemic Therapy (MST) and Traditional Family Preservation Service (TFPS) or practice as usual. Workers from both programs were able to articulate values consistent with family preservation as important strengths of the programs— keeping families together and empowering families for example. Information from referring agencies was described as variable and not especially useful when working with seriously troubled families, especially as it related to risk and child safety. Both groups indicated that the jargon of family preservation had permeated their agencies, and that working with other agencies was at times a challenge, though for different reasons. Finally, despite some reservations about the effectiveness of short-term treatment with families that face serious challenges, both groups of workers were generally satisfied with family preservation as an approach to practice

Sigma1 Targeting to Suppress Aberrant Androgen Receptor Signaling in Prostate Cancer.

Suppression of androgen receptor (AR) activity in prostate cancer by androgen depletion or direct AR antagonist treatment, although initially effective, leads to incurable castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) via compensatory mechanisms including resurgence of AR and AR splice variant (ARV) signaling. Emerging evidence suggests that Sigma1 (also known as sigma-1 receptor) is a unique chaperone or scaffolding protein that contributes to cellular protein homeostasis. We reported previously that some Sigma1-selective small molecules can be used to pharmacologically modulate protein homeostasis pathways. We hypothesized that these Sigma1-mediated responses could be exploited to suppress AR protein levels and activity. Here we demonstrate that treatment with a small-molecule Sigma1 inhibitor prevented 5α- dihydrotestosterone-mediated nuclear translocation of AR and induced proteasomal degradation of AR and ARV, suppressing the transcriptional activity and protein levels of both full-length and splice-variant AR. Consistent with these data, RNAi knockdown of Sigma1 resulted in decreased AR levels and transcriptional activity. Furthermore, Sigma1 physically associated with ARV7 and A

Photoinactivation of bacteria attached to glass and acrylic surfaces by 405nm light : potential application for biofilm decontamination

Attachment of bacteria to surfaces and subsequent biofilm formation remains a major cause of cross-contamination capable of inducing both food-related illness and nosocomial infections. Resistance to many current disinfection technologies means facilitating their removal is often difficult. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of 405 nm light for inactivation of bacterial attached as biofilms to glass and acrylic. Escherichia coli biofilms (103–108 CFU mL1) were generated on glass and acrylic surfaces and exposed for increasing times to 405 nm light (5–60 min) at ca 140 mW cm2. Successful inactivation of biofilms has been demonstrated, with results highlighting complete/near-complete inactivation (up to 5 log10 reduction on acrylic and 7 log10 on glass). Results also highlight that inactivation of bacterial biofilms could be achieved whether the biofilm was on the upper “directly exposed” surface or “indirectly exposed” underside surface. Statistically significant inactivation was also shown with a range of other microorganisms associated with biofilm formation (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes). Results from this study have demonstrated significant inactivation of bacteria ranging from monolayers to densely populated biofilms using 405 nm light, highlighting that with further development this technology may have potential applications for biofilm decontamination in food and clinical settings

Ferromagnetism in Electronic Models for Manganites

Ground state properties of the Kondo model for manganese oxides in one dimension are studied using numerical techniques. The large Hund coupling ($J_{H}$) limit is specially analyzed. A robust region of fully saturated ferromagnetism (FM) is identified at all densities. For open boundary conditions it is shown exactly that the ground state is FM at $J_{H} = \infty$. Hole-spin phase separation competing with FM was also observed when a large exchange $J$ between the $Mn^{3+}$ ions is used. As the spin of the transition metal ion grows, the hole mobility decreases providing a tentative explanation for the differences between Cu-oxides and Mn-oxides.Comment: 4 pages with 3 figures embedded in the text, Submitted for publication on August 20, 1996, Minor change

Shadow band in the one-dimensional large UU Hubbard model

We show that the factorized wave-function of Ogata and Shiba can be used to calculate the $k$ dependent spectral functions of the one-dimensional, infinite $U$ Hubbard model, and of some extensions to finite $U$. The resulting spectral function is remarkably rich: In addition to low energy features typical of Luttinger liquids, there is a well defined band, which we identify as the shadow band resulting from $2k_F$ spin fluctuations. This band should be detectable experimentally because its intensity is comparable to that of the main band for a large range of momenta.Comment: Latex file. 4 pages. Figures upon reques

Perinatal Lead (Pb) Exposure Results in Sex-Specific Effects on Food Intake, Fat, Weight, and Insulin Response across the Murine Life-Course

Developmental lead (Pb) exposure has been associated with lower body weight in human infants and late onset obesity in mice. We determined the association of perinatal Pb exposure in mice with changes in obesity-related phenotypes into adulthood. Mice underwent exposure via maternal drinking water supplemented with 0 (control), 2.1 (low), 16 (medium), or 32 (high) ppm Pb-acetate two weeks prior to mating through lactation. Offspring were phenotyped at ages 3, 6, and 9 months for energy expenditure, spontaneous activity, food intake, body weight, body composition, and at age 10 months for glucose tolerance. Data analyses were stratified by sex and adjusted for litter effects. Exposed females and males exhibited increased energy expenditure as compared to controls (p<0.0001 for both). In females, horizontal activity differed significantly from controls (p = 0.02) over the life-course. Overall, food intake increased in exposed females and males (p<0.0008 and p<0.0001, respectively) with significant linear trends at 9 months in females (p = 0.01) and 6 months in males (p<0.01). Body weight was significantly increased in males at the medium and high exposures (p = 0.001 and p = 0.006). Total body fat differed among exposed females and males (p<0.0001 and p<0.0001, respectively). Insulin response was significantly increased in medium exposure males (p<0.05). Perinatal Pb exposure at blood lead levels between 4.1 µg/dL and 32 µg/dL is associated with increased food intake, body weight, total body fat, energy expenditure, activity, and insulin response in mice. Physiological effects of developmental Pb exposure persist and vary according to sex and age

Of course we fly unmanned—we're women!

[Extract] Striving to achieve a diverse and inclusive workplace has become a major goal for many organisations around the world. We recognise that not only is it the right thing to do, but that it is proven to achieve better outcomes in terms of innovation, reativity, science, and even financial success. However, sometimes the task of change can feel overwhelming and amorphous—what steps do we need to take to reach this goal? Within the disciplines of drone technology and drone science, let us start with the first rung on the ladder: gender-neutral languag

Assessment of abdominal fat compartments using DXA in premenopausal women from anorexia nervosa to morbid obesity

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test a newly developed DXA method for abdominal fat depot quantification in subjects with AN, normal weight, and obesity using CT as a gold standard. Design and Methods 135 premenopausal women (overweight/obese: n=89, normal-weight: n=27, AN: n=19); abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and total adipose tissue (TAT) areas determined on CT and DXA. Results: There were strong correlations between DXA and CT measurements of abdominal fat compartments in all groups with the strongest correlation coefficients in the normal-weight and overweight/obese groups. Correlations of DXA and CT VAT measurements were strongest in the obese group and weakest in the AN group. DXA abdominal fat depots were higher in all groups compared to CT, with the largest % mean difference in the AN group and smallest in the obese group. Conclusions: A new DXA technique is able to assess abdominal fat compartments including VAT in premenopausal women across a large weight spectrum However, DXA measurements of abdominal fat were higher than CT, and this percent bias was most pronounced in the AN subjects and decreased with increasing weight, suggesting that this technique may be more useful in obese individuals

Phosphoinositide 3-OH Kinase Regulates Integrin-Dependent Processes in Neutrophils by Signaling through Its Effector ARAP3

ARAP3, a GTPase activating protein for Rho and Arf family GTPases, is one of many phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase (PI3K) effectors. In this study, we investigate the regulatory input of PI3K upstream of ARAP3 by analyzing neutrophils from an ARAP3 pleckstrin homology (PH) domain point mutation knock-in mouse (R302, 303A), in which ARAP3 is uncoupled from activation by PI3K. ARAP3 PH domain point mutant neutrophils are characterized by disturbed responses linked to stimulation by either integrin ligands or immobilized immune complexes. These cells exhibit increased β2 integrin inside-out signaling (binding affinity and avidity), and our work suggests the disturbed responses to immobilized immune complexes are secondary to this. In vitro, neutrophil chemotaxis is affected in the mutant. In vivo, ARAP3 PH domain point mutant bone marrow chimeras exhibit reduced neutrophil recruitment to the peritoneum on induction of sterile peritonitis and also reduced inflammation in a model for rheumatoid arthritis. The current work suggests a dramatic regulatory input of PI3K into the regulation of β2 integrin activity, and processes dependent on this, by signaling through its effector ARAP3. Copyright © 2012 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc