Endothelial and smooth muscle cell interactions with a PCL-PU composite vascular scaffold with potential for bioactive release

Paper discussing endothelial and smooth muscle cell interactions with a PCL-PU composite vascular scaffold with potential for bioactive release

The Promotion of Successful Aging through Mindfulness Skills Training

This dissertation aims to contribute to the social work literature regarding successful aging. Specifically, the purpose of this study is to investigate if Mindfulness Meditation training (MM) is a possible method to promote successful aging. The first chapter of the proposal is an article, “Mindfulness: The present moment in clinical social work”, which has been published in Clinical Social Work Journal (Turner, 2009). Chapter One provides an understanding of the concept of mindfulness as well as the research into the neurological and behavioral benefits of mindfulness skills training. Four specific therapy protocols, which incorporate mindfulness skills including MBSR, are described. Clinical case examples are provided to demonstrate the impact of mindfulness skills training on both clients and on the social work helping relationship. In Chapter Two, the strengths and challenges for elders in contemporary American society are presented. Specifically, the importance of both skills to cope with loss and of positive self-perception of aging are emphasized as central to successful aging. Mindfulness skills training (MM) is presented as a potential method to promote emotion regulation and positive self-perception in elders. Chapter Three presents the research conducted for this dissertation. In this dissertation, I studied whether mindfulness skills can be taught to elders, and whether elders can improve their ability to regulate emotion and develop a positive self-perception of aging as a result of mindfulness skills training. The findings of this study are presented in chapter 4. MM training participants improved in their mindfulness, emotion regulation and self-perception of aging more than the control group. However, due to the small sample size (n=22) none of these findings met the criteria for statistical significance. Quotes from the participants are provided to demonstrate the benefits that each group experienced as a result of their training. The implications and limitations of this research are examined in chapter 5. Further research into mindfulness to promote successful aging is suggested, utilizing a training tailored to the needs of an older adult population. Further researchers should obtain a greater sample size in order to obtain results that are statistically significant. The connections between mindfulness, spirituality, the reduction of pain and the promotion of healthy sleep are identified as additional variables to be explored. The potential for social workers in promote successful aging through mindfulness skills training is identified as an area for future research

Predictors of Recurrent Child Maltreatment

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between child maltreatment recurrence and several predictor variables in 7 rural counties in central Illinois, an under-studied population in the child maltreatment literature. Additionally, factors that contributed to the decision by Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) to provide post-investigative services were also examined. Data were obtained from an integrated database maintained by Illinois DCFS. All indicated cases of maltreatment occurring between January 1, 2000 and March 31 of 2001 were examined for a 12-month period following the initial indicated report for child revictimization or perpetrator recidivism. The final sample consisted of 34 7 victims of child maltreatment. Of these initial maltreatment cases, 49 cases were indicated for recurrent abuse or neglect and 51 cases were opened for postinvestigative services. Results indicated that female perpetrators, multiple victims and neglect were associated with recurrent child maltreatment. The findings also suggested that the combination of having multiple victims and a female perpetrator enhanced the risk of reabuse and reneglect. Factors related to the decision to open a case for services were younger female victims, younger perpetrators, female perpetrators, younger female perpetrators, and neglect. Moreover, cases with a combination of multiple perpetrators and female perpetrators enhanced the likelihood that cases would be opened for post-investigative services. A surprising finding was that although cases with multiple victims were at more risk for recurrence, cases with multiple perpetrators were more likely to be opened for post-investigative services. Suggestions for future research as well as further DCFS policy recommendations are discussed

Predictors of Recurrent Child Maltreatment

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between child maltreatment recurrence and several predictor variables in 7 rural counties in central Illinois, an under-studied population in the child maltreatment literature. Additionally, factors that contributed to the decision by Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) to provide post-investigative services were also examined. Data were obtained from an integrated database maintained by Illinois DCFS. All indicated cases of maltreatment occurring between January 1, 2000 and March 31 of 2001 were examined for a 12-month period following the initial indicated report for child revictimization or perpetrator recidivism. The final sample consisted of 34 7 victims of child maltreatment. Of these initial maltreatment cases, 49 cases were indicated for recurrent abuse or neglect and 51 cases were opened for postinvestigative services. Results indicated that female perpetrators, multiple victims and neglect were associated with recurrent child maltreatment. The findings also suggested that the combination of having multiple victims and a female perpetrator enhanced the risk of reabuse and reneglect. Factors related to the decision to open a case for services were younger female victims, younger perpetrators, female perpetrators, younger female perpetrators, and neglect. Moreover, cases with a combination of multiple perpetrators and female perpetrators enhanced the likelihood that cases would be opened for post-investigative services. A surprising finding was that although cases with multiple victims were at more risk for recurrence, cases with multiple perpetrators were more likely to be opened for post-investigative services. Suggestions for future research as well as further DCFS policy recommendations are discussed

Surface modification of a polyether-urethane with RGD-containing peptides for enhanced cell attachment and signalling

Abstract of article examining the chemical modification of polyurethane with RGD-containing peptides offers a means of encouraging the adhesion, spreading and proliferation of cells cultured on its surface. This study assesses the efficacy of a modification procedure using surface analysis techniques and preliminary cell culture studies

Cerium Doped Glasses: Search for a New Scintillator

Single crystals have been the standard material when it comes to scintillators, but with the ability to easily be produced at a considerably lower cost and fabricated into tailored sizes and shapes there is increasing interest in the development of glass scintillators as an alternative. Ce-doped borosilicate and phosphate glasses were investigated focusing on the effect of different modifiers on their optical properties and luminescence. The borosilicate glasses were prepared aiming at the detection of thermal neutrons, utilizing B-10, while the phosphate glasses were targeting the detection of gamma-rays taking advantage of high Z elements such as, Ba, Bi, Ta, Pb and W. Structural characteristics determined by Raman spectroscopy were coupled with results from photoluminescence and UV-visible transmission measurements, while the index of refraction was estimated using the Gladstone-Dale relation using experimentally obtained density values. This work revealed barium, with its superior optical transmission and luminescent properties, to be the best high Z element for inclusion in the phosphate glasses studied

The role of calcium in the organization of fibrillin microfibrils

AbstractThe microfibrillar glycoprotein fibrillin has a multidomain structure which contains forty-three epidermal growth factor-like motifs with calciumbinding consensus sequences. We have utilized intact microfibrils isolated from human dermal fibroblast cultures to investigate the putative influence of bound calcium on microfibrillar organization and integrity. Incubation with EDTA or EGTA rapidly resulted in gross disruption of microfibril morphology. The treatment induced disorganization of the interbead domains although the regular beaded arrangement was always apparent. These changes were readily reversible on replacing calcium, indicating that the treatment had not compromised microfibrillar integrity. The data localize calcium binding EGF-like repeats to the interbead domains and indicate that lateral packing of fibrillin monomers is calcium-dependent. This arrangement suggests how mutations in epidermal growth factor-like domains of fibrillin might cause the disruption in microfibril organization and interactions which underlies the clinical symptoms of some Marian syndrome patients