Extrapunitive and intropunitive anger of HIV caregivers: Nursing implications

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the anger of individuals who have provided direct patient care to loved ones who are living with or who have died from AIDS. The sample consisted of eight individuals who are currently involved in an AIDS service organization in northeast Tennessee. Data were collected using semistructured taped interviews. At the beginning of the study, two group interviews were conducted. Subsequently, each of the participants was interviewed privately. Extrapunitive and intropunitive anger were predominant themes in each of the interviews. Participants also reported ways of coping with their anger. Nurses can suggest these strategies to other caregivers who are experiencing anger. Recommendations for additional nursing interventions are offered

Distribution, biology, and control of downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) in southwestern Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedDowny brome was likely introduced near Maple Creek in 1960, and has since spread to infest parts of four Agricultural Extension Districts in southwestern Saskatchewan (Maple Creek, Leader, Swift Current, Shaunavon). By 1987, a total of 150 downy brome reports from 72 townships have been confirmed. During the first weed survey of annual crop fields infested with downy brome, 35 fields were visited and the kinds and numbers of weeds were identified according to standardized weed survey procedures. Downy brome density averaged 213 plants per square metre, and associated weeds were Japanese brome, flixweed, green foxtail, and wild buckwheat. Japanese brome was found in 5 fields, and was less abundant than downy brome in the area surveyed. Large numbers of downy brome seeds (50,000 seeds per square metre) were extracted from soil samples. Downy brome seeds buried in soil germinated more rapidly than those seeds on the soil surface. Most downy brome seeds (98 %) buried 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, or 20.0 cm in soil germinated or deteriorated within 3 months. However, a few seeds remained viable in the soil after 3 months. Research is in progress to determine the relative winter hardiness of downy brome and winter wheat, and to develop chemical control methods

Coexpression of rat P2X2 and P2X6 subunits in Xenopus oocytes.

Transcripts for P2X(2) and P2X(6) subunits are present in rat CNS and frequently colocalize in the same brainstem nuclei. When rat P2X(2) (rP2X(2)) and rat P2X(6) (rP2X(6)) receptors were expressed individually in Xenopus oocytes and studied under voltage-clamp conditions, only homomeric rP2X(2) receptors were fully functional and gave rise to large inward currents (2-3 microA) to extracellular ATP. Coexpression of rP2X(2) and rP2X(6) subunits in Xenopus oocytes resulted in a heteromeric rP2X(2/6) receptor, which showed a significantly different phenotype from the wild-type rP2X(2) receptor. Differences included reduction in agonist potencies and, in some cases (e.g., Ap(4)A), significant loss of agonist activity. ATP-evoked inward currents were biphasic at the heteromeric rP2X(2/6) receptor, particularly when Zn(2+) ions were present or extracellular pH was lowered. The pH range was narrower for H(+) enhancement of ATP responses at the heteromeric rP2X(2/6) receptor. Also, H(+) ions inhibited ATP responses at low pH levels (<pH 6.3). The pH-dependent blocking activity of suramin was changed at this heteromeric receptor, although the potentiating effect of Zn(2+) on ATP responses was unchanged. Thus, the rP2X(2/6) receptor is a functionally modified P2X(2)-like receptor with a distinct pattern of pH modulation of ATP activation and suramin blockade. Although homomeric P2X(6) receptors function poorly, the P2X(6) subunit can contribute to functional heteromeric P2X channels and may influence the phenotype of native P2X receptors in those cells in which it is expressed

Attempting to break the chain: Reimaging Inclusive Pedagogy and Decolonising the Curriculum within the Academy

Anti-racist education within the Academy holds the potential to truly reflect the cultural hybridity of our diverse, multi-cultural society through the canons of knowledge that educators celebrate, proffer and embody. The centrality of Whiteness as an instrument of power and privilege ensures that particular types of knowledge continue to remain omitted from our curriculums. The monopoly and proliferation of dom- inant White European canons does comprise much of our existing cur- riculum; consequently, this does impact on aspects of engagement, inclusivity and belonging particularly for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) learners. This paper explores the impact of a dominant Eurocentric curriculum and the Decolonising the Curriculum agenda within higher education and its influence upon navigating factors such as BAME attainment, engagement and belonging within the Academy. This paper draws on a Critical Race Theory (CRT) theoretical framework to centralize the marginalized voices of fifteen BAME students and three academics of colour regarding this phenomena. Aspects examined con- sider the impact of a narrow and restrictive curriculum on BAME students and staff and how the omission of diverse histories and multi- cultural knowledge canons facilitates marginalization and discrimin- atory cultures

Biodiversity research sets sail: showcasing the diversity of marine life

The World Congress on Marine Biodiversity was held in the City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia, from 10 to 15 November 2008, showcasing research on all aspects of marine biodiversity from basic taxonomic exploration to innovative conservation strategies and methods to integrate research into environmental policy

Visible Light-Driven MADIX Polymerisation via a Reusable, Low-Cost and Non-Toxic Bismuth Oxide Photocatalyst

The continuous amalgamation of photocatalysis into existing reversible deactivation radical polymerisation processes has initiated a rapidly propagating area of polymer research in recent years. We introduce bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) as a heterogeneous photocatalyst for polymerisations, operating at room temperature with visible light. We demonstrate formidable control over degenerative chain-transfer polymerisations, such as macromolecular design by interchange of xanthate (MADIX) and reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerisation. We achieved narrow molecular weight distributions and attribute the excellent temporal control to a photo-induced electron transfer (PET) process. This methodology was employed to synthesise diblock copolymers combining differently activated monomers. The Bi2O3 catalyst system has the additional benefits of low toxicity, reusability, low-cost, and ease of removal from the reaction mixture.Australian Research Counci

Selection of Pressure Angle based on Dynamic Effects in Asymmetric Spur Gear with Fixed Normal Contact Ratio

Asymmetric spur gears are finding application in many fields including aerospace propulsion and automobile which demand unidirectional or relatively higher load on one side of the gear flank. Design intend to maximise the load carrying capacity of the drive side of asymmetric gear by increasing the pressure angle is achieved at the expense of coast side capacity. Multiple solution for coast to drive side pressure angle exist for a given contact ratio and each of these have relative merits and demerits. In the present work asymmetric spur gears of theoretically equal contact ratio as that of corresponding symmetric gears are selected to investigate the change in gear tooth static transmission error and dynamic behaviour with coast and drive side pressure angle. Study shows that dynamic factor of normal contact ratio asymmetric spur gears below resonance speed are relatively lower than corresponding symmetric gears of same module, contact ratio, number of teeth, coast side pressure angle and fillet radii. Results also show that, coast and drive side pressure angle can be suitably selected for a given contact ratio to reduce the single tooth and double tooth contact static transmission error and dynamic factor of asymmetric spur gears

Macrostructural analysis : unravelling polyphase glacitectonic histories

Many Pleistocene glacial profiles look extremely simple, comprising till, or glacitectonite, overlying older sediments or bedrock (Figure 4.1). In more complex sequences the till may itself be overlain by younger sediments laid down as the ice retreated or during a completely separate, later phase of advance. Macroscopically, subglacial traction tills (Evans et al., 2007) are typically massive, unstructured deposits suggesting that it should be relatively straightforward to unravel the glacitectonic deformation history recorded by the sequence. Many reconstructions do indeed look very simple, slabs of sediment have been tilted and stacked and then overridden by the glacier to cap the structure with till. Added to this is the use of vertical exaggeration which makes the whole structure look like alpine tectonics (for an example see fig. 5 in van Gijssel, 1987). Dropping the exaggeration led to the recognition that actually we were looking at much more horizontal structures, i.e. overriding nappes and not imbricated slabs (van der Wateren, 1987). Traditionally (van der Meer, 1987) glaciotectonics was thought to relate to large structures like big push moraines and not to smaller structures like drag structures underneath tills (Figure 4.2), let alone to the tills themselves. With the notion that deforming bed tills are tectonically and not sedimentologically structured and could be regarded as tectomicts (Menzies et al., 2006), comes the realisation that glacitectonics happens across a wide range of scales, from the microscopic to tens of kilometres. Only by realising the full range of glaciotectonic scales can we hope to understand the processes

An investigation into the cultural sensitivity of the curriculum: Its impact on students' engagement in higher education

Imperatives to eliminate racial inequalities in UK higher education (HE) have led to calls for diversification of curricula. Qualitative evidence is growing about ethnic minority students' perceptions of their curricula and its impact on them. Yet, there are no specific quantitative instruments to facilitate larger-scale evaluation of curricular diversification and its impact on students. In this study, I examined the relationship between university students' perceptions of the cultural sensitivity of their curriculum and their engagement, as measured by students' interactions with their teachers and their interest in their programme of study. To do so, a new set of four Culturally Sensitive Curriculum Scales (CSCS) was conceptualised and developed, making a significant, original conceptual and methodological contribution. An ethnically diverse sample (N=262) rated the cultural sensitivity of the curriculum of their programme of study, their interactions with teachers, and their interest. Ethnic minority students (N=157) perceived their curriculum as less culturally sensitive on all four dimensions of the CSCS, reported fewer academic interactions with teachers, and had lower levels of interest than White students (N=100). Each of the four Culturally Sensitive Curriculum Scales was significantly related to academic interactions with teachers and to interest. Regression analyses showed that all dimensions of cultural sensitivity mediated effects of ethnicity on interactions with teachers. Two dimensions of cultural sensitivity (Diversity Represented and Challenge Power) mediated effects of ethnicity on interest. Therefore, ensuring curricula are diverse and critical may support minority ethnic students' engagement and, in turn, may contribute to reducing achievement gaps. Further implications are discussed

The chronology and kinematics of late Palaeozoic deformation in the NW contact metamorphic aureole of the Land's End Granite

A structural investigation of coastal exposures between Cape Cornwall and Pendeen Watch, in the NW contact metamorphic aureole of the Land’s End Granite, has confirmed a similar deformation chronology as in a reference section around Porthleven. D1 deformation is represented by an ubiquitous bedding-parallel S1 cleavage although F1 folds have not been recognised. D2 deformation is more localised and characterised by open F2 folds that verge WSW to NW and are associated with an ENE to SE dipping S2 crenulation cleavage. These structures are commonly obscured by later deformation and contact metamorphism and have not been described previously. A set of steeply inclined NNW-SSE trending, and subordinate set of moderately SE dipping, post-D2 metamorphic quartz veins formed coevally during an episode of strike-slip deformation prior to, or during, the early stages of D3 deformation. D3 deformation is widespread and represented by F3 folds and a WNW to NW dipping S3 crenulation cleavage; it has been recorded previously as D2 deformation. Two orders of F3 folds are developed; first order folds have a wavelength of up to 50 m, verge ESE, and result in vertical or steeply inclined bedding and S1 cleavage on their short limbs. Second order folds usually have a wavelength of 1 m or less and usually verge ESE, unless on the short limb of first order folds, where they verge WNW. Previously published data, indicating a dominant NW to WNW vergence of F3 folds on the northern flank of the Land’s End Granite are incorrect. D3 structures are consistent with formation during the extensional reactivation of large-scale thrust faults. Granite emplacement post-dates all three episodes of ductile deformation but granites and their host rocks are deformed by a late brittle expression of D3 deformation. The Land’s End pluton has been accommodated, at the current exposure level, primarily by roof uplift that has resulted in the tilting of D3 and earlier structures to the NW by 40-50º; this may have been accompanied by differential vertical axis rotations of the host rock. The last significant Palaeozoic deformation episode formed F4 folds and S4 cleavage and was a consequence of Mid- to Late Permian ENE-WSW shortening