Design and manufacture of direct current torquer amplifiers Final summary report

Design and manufacture of direct current torquer amplifier with pulse width modulation circui

The effect of beta blockers on heart rate response during the Chester Step Test

The objective of this study is to ascertain that as the intensity of exercise increases through the stages of the Chester Step Test (CST) does the difference between the beta blocked(BB) and the non beta blocked(NBB) participants heart rate(HR) response increase. The study utilised a repeated measures design. Twenty males with a mean age of 58.9 (±6.1) taking Beta Blocker medication completed the CST on two occasions within one week of another. A further Seven males and thirteen females with mean age 61.5 (± 6.3) who were not taking Beta Blockers data from previous study data using the Chester Step Test was used to compare the HR and Rating of Perceived Exertion(RPE) responses at each stage of the CST. Each stage of the CST lasted two minutes after which HR and RPE were collected until the participant achieved 80% of predicted Maximum Heart Rate or RPE 15. HR was significantly different between the two groups at each stage of the CST p=<0.05. RPE was significantly different between the two groups at each stage of the CST p=<0.05. Limits of Agreement suggested test-re-test reliability of the CST for BB participants with the worse case HR being 11bpm above the mean in the final stage of the CST. The data suggests that as intensity of exercise increases as does the difference between the BB and NBB HR response. The data implies there may be some sex differences which will need investigating further. RPE was shown to be significantly different between the two groups. The data also showed that the CST is reliable for participants taking BB

TomKat!: Linking Theory and Practice in Communication Studies Course Through the Introduction and Application of Social Exchange Theory

This article describes an activity suitable for either high-school or university-level communication courses. Combining outside online research, small group discussion, and class interaction, this exercise uses Social Exchange Theory, applied to examples of celebrity relationships generated by students and discussed in groups, to illustrate the process by which individuals decide whether or not to initiate and sustain interpersonal relationships. Although students should be reminded that the reasons relationships do or do not survive are difficult enough to understand when we are involved in them, let alone when we view them from an outside perspective, the activity proves intriguing and involving for students and serves as a good starting point for a more in-depth discussion of their own relationship challenges and choices

The Semiotics of Teaching with Reality TV: A Theory-Based Approach to Teaching and Modeling Communication Theory

This article begins by establishing a rationale for not only teaching with reality television in the communication classroom, but also taking a theory-based approach to doing so. A theoretical framework for the pedagogical use of reality TV—semiotic theory, based on the work of Peirce— is presented. The discussion then moves to a specific outline of a sample classroom activity that demonstrates a semiotic approach, using the BRAVO TV website as a means of illustrating and teaching Cultural Studies Theory. The author concludes by qualifying the case for using reality TV as one—but not the only—means of teaching communication, and offers other alternative texts and media sources that can also help instructors illustrate abstract communication theories and concepts for their students

Inhibition of Melanoma Angiogenesis by Telomere Homolog Oligonucleotides

Telomere homolog oligonucleotides (T-oligos) activate an innate telomere-based program that leads to multiple anticancer effects. T-oligos act at telomeres to initiate signaling through the Werner protein and ATM kinase. We wanted to determine if T-oligos have antiangiogenic effects. We found that T-oligo-treated human melanoma (MM-AN) cells had decreased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor 2, angiopoeitin-1 and -2 and decreased VEGF secretion. T-oligos activated the transcription factor E2F1 and inhibited the activity of the angiogenic transcription factor, HIF-1α. T-oligos inhibited EC tubulogenesis and total tumor microvascular density matrix invasion by MM-AN cells and ECs in vitro. In melanoma SCID xenografts, two systemic T-oligo injections decreased by 60% (P<.004) total tumor microvascular density and the functional vessels density by 80% (P <.002). These findings suggest that restriction of tumor angiogenesis is among the host's innate telomere-based anticancer responses and provide further evidence that T-oligos may offer a powerful new approach for melanoma treatment.National Institutes of Health (CA10515); American Skin Associatio

Factors affecting controlled vocabulary usage in art museum information systems

This paper describes the results of a study designed to assess the state of controlled vocabulary adoption behavior in United States fine art museums. Personnel responsible for collections data at thirty art museums were asked to report on aspects of vocabulary control, staff resources and data utilization within their institutions. Sixty percent of the museums studied reported using at least one controlled vocabulary reference while entering data, and nearly ninety percent use a customized list of local authority terms. The factors affecting adoption of controlled terminology were found to be: institutional resistance to change, lack of staff time, training, financial and administrative support. In addition, the complexity of the vocabularies themselves and/or their inability to adequately represent the scope of many collections were also cited as barriers to use