Professional Practice

This one goes out to the students with a passion for practice. Many of these students aspire to become actual businesspeople after they graduate. Nonetheless, there is a lack of actual business-focused architectural courses offered at Iowa State University, and across the country. Without any training, students enter the business world armed with an educational arsenal that is only half-complete. Rendering and model making can only get us so far

Correlates of life satisfaction in an aged population

This study investigated life satisfaction correlates of elderly persons living in two residential centers. Based on the theoretical and empirical literature, it was hypothesized that all elderly subjects tested would report high levels of life satisfaction. In addition, it was hypothesized that factors such as health perception, developmental task resolution, locus of control, and satisfaction with one\u27s social network would be related to life satisfaction. Subjects were recruited from two residential centers for the elderly. The measures were administered to 42 subjects. There were 34 female subjects and 8 male subjects. The elderly subjects were interviewed individually at their place of residence. Life satisfaction was measured by the Life Satisfaction Index (Adams, 1969). The other correlates were measured by well-known instruments. Subjects were allowed several response options including undecided. The results should be viewed tentatively. Due to the low reliability of two of the measures, the correlations noted may not reflect the true relationships. Elderly people, in general, do express satisfaction with their lives. The successful completion of developmental tasks proved to be correlated with life satisfaction. In addition, satisfaction with the time the elderly people spent with their family and friends was related to life satisfaction. Neither marital status nor the existence of a confidant were found to be related to satisfaction in this population

Investigation on cutting metals using induced currents

textNon-contact magnetic cutting (NCMC) is a recently developed metal-cutting technology that uses pulsed magnetic fields to advance and steer fine cuts in metal sheet. With this process, a coil is used to induce currents in a workpiece that has a starter feature such as a notch or slit. The induced currents are forced to bend tightly around the starter feature, which enhances the current and magnetic field density. Under the right conditions, resistive heating and large J × B forces cause localized melting and ejection of material. Each cut is only a fraction of a millimeter long; however, the process can be repeated and the coil can be moved to cut arbitrary lengths and shapes. While some promising results have been obtained, the operating space for making controlled cuts appears to be narrow. Furthermore, the process by which cutting occurs is not well understood. The objective of this dissertation is to provide the scientific underpinnings of NCMC by experimentally assessing the conditions for controlled cutting, developing a method for predicting conditions for optimal cutting, and identifying a path to reduce NCMC to practice.Electrical and Computer Engineerin

Involvement of Platelet-Activating Factor in Ultraviolet B-Induced Hyperalgesia

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation causes cutaneous inflammation. One important clinical consequence of UVB-induced inflammation is increased pain or hyperalgesia, which is likely mediated by enhanced sensitivity of cutaneous sensory neurons. Previous studies have demonstrated that UVB radiation generates the lipid mediator, platelet-activating factor (PAF), as well as oxidized phospholipids that act as PAF-mimetics. These substances exert effects through the PAF receptor (PAF-R). This study was designed to assess whether PAF-R is involved in UVB-induced hyperalgesia. Intradermal injection of carbamoyl PAF (CPAF; 1-hexadecyl-2-N-methylcarbamoyl glycerophosphocholine) resulted in an enhanced response to mechanical stimuli in wild-type mice but not in PAF-R knockout (KO) mice. There was no significant change in paw withdrawal to noxious thermal stimuli in either genotype after intradermal injection of CPAF. Exposure of the hind paw to 1,500Jm-2 UVB radiation caused an increased sensitivity to both mechanical and thermal stimulation in wild-type mice but not in PAF-R KO mice. The thermal hyperalgesia caused by UVB irradiation was inhibited in mice that lacked PAF-R in bone marrow-derived cells. These data demonstrate that the PAF-R is important for UVB-induced hyperalgesia. Further investigation of the role of PAF-R signaling in UVB-induced hyperalgesia could provide better understanding of the pathological processes initiated by UVB-induced skin damage

Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Activity of Palladium-polyvinylpyrrolidone Complex in Oxidation of Octene-1

The metal complex catalysis with participation of unsaturated hydrocarbons gains great interest because of ecological aspect and a possibility of re-using of the catalyst. It has a number of advantages in comparison with a heterogeneous catalysis, such as high activity and selectivity, low temperatures of reaction and pressure. A palladium-polyvinylpyrrolidone complex was synthesized and characterized by potentiometry, conductometry, mass-, and IR-spectroscopy. The complex was tested for catalytic activity in reaction of octene-1 oxidation by inorganic oxidizers (KIO4, NaBrO3, Na2S2O8, K2S2O8) in dimethylsulfoxide or dimethylformamide under mild conditions. The reaction product was octanone-2, obtained in good yield (80-98 %) and characterized by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The catalysts can be easily recycled five consecutive runs without significant loss of catalytic efficiency. The use of different surface analysis techniques, such as: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), led to a better understanding of the polymer promoting effect.  Copyright © 2018 BCREC Group. All rights reserved Received: 18th December 2017; Revised: 6th August 2018; Accepted: 9th August 2018 How to Cite: Akbayeva, D.N., Bakirova, B.S., Seilkhanova, G.A., Sitzmann, H. (2018). Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Activity of Palladium-polyvinylpyrrolidone Complex in Oxidation of Octene-1. Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering & Catalysis, 13 (3): 560- 572 (doi:10.9767/bcrec.13.3.1980.560-572) Permalink/DOI: https://doi.org/10.9767/bcrec.13.3.1980.560-57

Reduced H3K27me3 Expression Is Common in Nodular Melanomas of Childhood Associated With Congenital Melanocytic Nevi But Not in Proliferative Nodules

The formation of a nodule within a congenital melanocytic nevus (CMN) raises concerns about possible melanoma. Most new nodular growths that develop during childhood, however, are benign proliferative nodules (PN); melanoma is very rare. The distinction of melanoma from PN can at times be difficult clinically and histopathologically, requiring ancillary molecular tests for diagnosis. While the application of molecular methods has revealed new insights into the mutational and genomic landscape of childhood melanomas, little is known about epigenetic events that may drive the growth of a melanoma or PN in a CMN. In this study we compared the expression of H3K27me3, a key regulator in chromatin remodelling-controlled transcription, in PNs and pediatric nodular melanomas arising within medium-sized to large CMN by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Significant loss of H3K27me3 expression was seen in four of five melanomas, but not in any of the 20 PNs. This observation suggests that epigenetic events likely play a role in the pathogenesis of melanoma developing in the dermis or subcutis of CMN. Furthermore, assessing for H3K27me3 expression by IHC may be diagnostically useful for problematic cases

Feasibility of Surgeon-Delivered Audit and Feedback Incorporating Peer Surgical Coaching to Reduce Fistula Incidence following Cleft Palate Repair: A Pilot Trial

Background: Improving surgeons\u27 technical performance may reduce their frequency of postoperative complications. The authors conducted a pilot trial to evaluate the feasibility of a surgeon-delivered audit and feedback intervention incorporating peer surgical coaching on technical performance among surgeons performing cleft palate repair, in advance of a future effectiveness trial. Methods: A nonrandomized, two-arm, unblinded pilot trial enrolled surgeons performing cleft palate repair. Participants completed a baseline audit of fistula incidence. Participants with a fistula incidence above the median were allocated to an intensive feedback intervention that included selecting a peer surgical coach, observing the coach perform palate repair, reviewing operative video of their own surgical technique with the coach, and proposing and implementing changes in their technique. All others were allocated to simple feedback (receiving audit results). Outcomes assessed were proportion of surgeons completing the baseline audit, disclosing their fistula incidence to peers, and completing the feedback intervention. Results: Seven surgeons enrolled in the trial. All seven completed the baseline audit and disclosed their fistula incidence to other participants. The median baseline fistula incidence was 0.4 percent (range, 0 to 10.5 percent). Two surgeons were unable to receive the feedback intervention. Of the five remaining surgeons, two were allocated to intensive feedback and three to simple feedback. All surgeons completed their assigned feedback intervention. Among surgeons receiving intensive feedback, fistula incidence was 5.9 percent at baseline and 0.0 percent following feedback (adjusted OR, 0.98; 95 percent CI, 0.44 to 2.17). Conclusion: Surgeon-delivered audit and feedback incorporating peer coaching on technical performance was feasible for surgeons

Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection for Lumbosacral Radiculopathy: Preganglionic versus Conventional Approach

OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) with using a preganglionic approach for treating lumbar radiculopathy when the nerve root compression was located at the level of the supra-adjacent intervertebral disc. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of the patients who received conventional TFESI at our department from June 2003 to May 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. TFESI was performed in a total of 13 cases at the level of the exiting nerve root, in which the nerve root compression was at the level of the supra-adjacent intervertebral disc (the conventional TFESI group). Since June 2004, we have performed TFESI with using a preganglionic approach at the level of the supra-adjacent intervertebral disc (for example, at the neural foramen of L4-5 for the L5 nerve root) if the nerve root compression was at the level of the supra-adjacent intervertebral disc. Using the inclusion criteria described above, 20 of these patients were also consecutively enrolled in our study (the preganglionic TFESI group). The treatment outcome was assessed using a 5-point patient satisfaction scale and by using a VAS (visual assessment scale). A successful outcome required a patient satisfaction scale score of 3 (very good) or 4 (excellent), and a reduction on the VAS score of > 50% two weeks after performing TFESI. Logistic regression analysis was also performed. RESULTS: Of the 13 patients in the conventional TFESI group, nine showed satisfactory improvement two weeks after TFESI (69.2%). However, in the preganglionic TFESI group, 18 of the 20 patients (90%) showed satisfactory improvement. The difference between the two approaches in terms of TFESI effectiveness was of borderline significance (p = 0.056; odds ratio: 10.483). CONCLUSION: We conclude that preganglionic TFESI has the better therapeutic effect on radiculopathy caused by nerve root compression at the level of the supra-adjacent disc than does conventional TFESI, and the difference between the two treatments had borderline statistical significance