bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STRUCTURAL AND SPECTRAL STUDIES OF THE MIXED-LIGAND CATION COMPLEX OF LANTHANUM [Lа(L)2bipy2]BPh4 WITH CARBACYLAMIDOPHOSPHATE (CAPH) TYPE LIGAND AND 2,2'-BIPYRIDINE
Authors: Struhatska M. , Olyshevets I. , Dyakonenko V. , Ovchynnikov V. , Shishkina S. , Amirkhanov V.
Published: July 2021

A new cationic mixed-ligand complex [Lа(L)2bipy2]BPh4 (where L-= bis(N,N'-diethylamide)(N'-trichloroacetyl)-triamidophosphate anion, bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) has been synthesized and studied by the means of IR, 1H NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and X-ray structural analyses. Low-frequency shifts of the absorption bands of the carbonyl and phosphoryl groups of phosphorylated ligand in the IR spectra of the complex compared with similar absorption bands in the spectrum of "free" CAPh ligand are Δν(C = O) = 117 cm–1 and Δν(P = O) = 137 cm–1. The analysis of integral signal intensity in the investigated NMR spectra of coordination compounds [Lа(L)2bipy2]BPh4 indicates the molar ratio of ligand : bipyridine : tetraphenylborate anion as a 2:2:1, which corresponds to the proposed structure of the complexes. The compound has been obtained in monocrystalline form. The structure of the complex has been determined by X-ray structural analysis, its ionic structure was proved, and the coordination of two CAPh ligands through the oxygen atoms of the carbonyl and phosphoryl groups was confirmed. Based on the structural data, it was determined that the La3+ ion is octocoordinated (surrounded by four oxygen atoms from two chelated phosphoryl ligands and four nitrogen atoms from two 2,2'-bipyridine molecules). The coordination polyhedron of central ion is interpreted as a square antiprism. Complex cations and tetraphenylborate anions are connected both by electrostatic interaction and by weak intermolecular C – H ∙∙∙ π-contacts between phenyl substituents of BPh4- and molecules of 2,2'-bipyridine. It was established by thermogravimetric analysis that the complex [Lа(L)2bipy2]BPh4 obtained is thermally stable up to a temperature of 150 °C. Significant decomposition of the complex begins at a temperature of 150 °C, occurs in one stage and most intensively continues up to 300 °C. The total weight loss is 78 %.
CATECHOLASE ACTIVITY OF A COPPER(II) COMPLEX WITH THE 2-(5-(1,2,4)TRIAZOLE-1-ILMETHYL-1H-(1,2,4)-TRIAZOLE-3-IL)-PYRIDYL
Authors: Khomenko D. , Doroschuk R. , Odarych I. , Raspertova I. , Lampeka R.
Published: July 2021

Methods of the synthesis of 2-(5-(1,2,4)triazol-1-ylmethyl-1H-(1,2,4)-triazol-3-yl)-pyridine and a binuclear copper complex are described. The structure of the complex is established by X-ray structural analysis. The complex is a centrosymmetric [Cu2(L)2(NO3)2·2H2O]·H2O dimer. The Cu-Cu distance is 4.0408 (3) Å. In the complex the ligand is in a deprotonated state. Due to this, the triazole fragment acts as a bridge between the two metal centers. Copper ions are in an octahedral environment. The equatorial plane is formed by three triazole nitrogen atoms and one pyridyl nitrogen atom. The axial positions are occupied by a water molecule and a nitrate ion.

Isotropic patterns corresponding to binuclear copper particles of the [Cu2L2-H]+ composition were registered in the ESI mass spectra of the solution of the [Cu2(L)2(NO3)2(H2O)2]·H2O complex. These data confirm the presence of a binuclear complex in solution.

The catecholoxidase activity of the binuclear copper (II) complex based on 2-(5-(1,2,4)triazol-1-ylmethyl-1H-(1,2,4)-triazol-3-yl)-pyridine was studied. The kinetics of model reactions of the catecholase type were investigated by the method of initial velocities using a model substrate of 3,5-di-tert-butyl catechol (3,5-DTBK). At low concentrations of 3,5-DTBK, the dependence of the initial oxidation rate on the concentration of the substrate is linear, which corresponds to the first order of the reaction on the substrate. However, the dependence graph at higher concentrations of 3,5-DTBK is nonlinear and indicates the saturation of the catalyst with the substrate. The form of the dependence of the initial reaction rate on the substrate concentration is explained within the framework of the Michaelis-Menten model, which well describes the behavior of natural metaloenzymes.
TRYPTOFAN TRANSFORMATION DURING THE REACTION WITH TETRACHLOROAURIC ACID
Authors: Makarenko T. , Linnik R. , Malysheva M. , Mukha Iu. , Vityuk N. , Severinovskaya O. , Eremenko A.
Published: July 2021

Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) are effective agents for early diagnostic and treatment of a variety of diseases, including cancer. However, initial components in the synthesis like surfactants, which are commonly used to stabilize nanoparticles, can produce toxic effects on living organisms. Thus, finding ways to reduce the toxicity of nanoscale preparations is an actual problem. In this regard the essential aminoacid tryptophan (Trp) is a promising reagent for the synthesis of Au NPs that can serve as a reducer of Au(ІІІ) ions and particle stabilizer.

In this work, in order to increase the biocompatibility of the nanoscale system, the synthesis of gold nanoparticles was performed in the presence of Trp. The reaction between HAuCl4 and Trp proceeded in aqueous medium with neutral pH at different temperatures. Spectral characteristics of products formed in Au/Trp systems and were studied.

In the absorption spectra the main band of Trp at 280 nm was shifted to 250 nm during the reaction; for all studied systems upon excitation of fluorescence with the wavelength of λex = 340 nm the maximum of the emission bands were observed at λem = 450 nm, while for initial tryptophan (λex = 280 nm) it was located at λex = 375nm.

Mass spectra of Trp solution in positive mode contained the signal at 131 Da, that was characteristic for ionized indole moiety of amino acid. For supernatants of studied Au/Trp systems in positive mode signals of ionized fragments with masses of 118, 146 and 174 Da were observed. Based on the data it was revealed that amino acid oxidation proceeded through the formation of kynurenine or through the "kynurenine pathway", that corresponds to the metabolic conversion of amino acid in human organism and proves the biocompatibility of formed products.
Delayed inflammatory reaction of hyaluronic acid fillers against the background of flu-like illness
Authors: Ikonnikova Evgeniya V. , Manturova Nataliya E. , Kruglova Larisa S.
Published: July 2021

Traditionally, it is considered that inflammatory reactions with delayed onset that occur due to the use of fillers based on hyaluronic acid (HA) are included in the category of rare complications. But in recent years, due to the increasing popularity of injection procedures, such reactions have become more common, which attracts the attention of both the scientific community and clinicians.
This article presents a clinical case of a late inflammatory response, describes the diagnosis and tactics of therapy, and provides an overview of the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy of such reactions. 7 months ago, HA filler was injected into the area of both tear troughs. 3 months after the procedure, the patient underwent acute respiratory viral infection, against which for the first time she noted the sudden appearance of inflammation. 3 months after the first episode of an inflammatory reaction in the tear troughs, against the background of acute pharyngitis, its relapse occurred, accompanied by similar symptoms.
Similar inflammatory reactions can occur with any HA filler, but their frequency may vary depending on various factors. Timely detection and proper treatment can successfully eliminate the inflammatory reaction within a few days.
Experience of work of multidisciplinary hospital in conditions of mass admission of patients with COVID-19
Authors: Konovalov P. P. , Shperling I. A. , Arsentyev O. V. , Buyanov A. L. , Ankudinova A. V.
Published: July 2021

Objective. Generalization of management decision-making experience and analysis of organizational measures taken during the preparation of a multidisciplinary hospital for mass admission of infectious patients with COVID-19.

Materials and methods. The materials of the study included the generalized data on the results of work of a multidisciplinary hospital in conditions of mass admission of patients with COVID-19. The current guidelines, defining the key spheres of work of the head of medical organization and practical results of their implementation are analyzed.

Results. The article analyzes the main activities of a multidisciplinary hospital in conditions of mass admission of patients with COVID-19. It is established that a set of measures, including preparatory preventive solutions, timely planning, re-profiling into a multidisciplinary infectious hospital with reserve beds (including resuscitation beds), creation of mobile teams to provide medical care in the foci of the territorial area of medical responsibility, timely training and reallocation of medical personnel to maximize the effective use of staff resources, reasonable routing of infectious patients, introduction of a three-level system for providing medical care to patients with COVID-19, made it possible to effectively use the available forces and resources of a multidisciplinary hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions. The measures taken proved to be effective, allowing a full provision of emergency medical care throughout the epidemic period, and resuming the provision of planned care in a full volume without reducing the safety of patients' stay in the hospital. Differentiation of patients flows, constant monitoring of the body temperature in both patients and medical workers themselves, constant use of PPE and motivated disinfection, regular check of employees for coronavirus infection (nasopharyngeal smear for COVID-2019 as well as blood ELISA for this infection) permitted to minimize the risks of spreading coronavirus infection in conditions of medical organization.
Modern view on the problem of splint therapy in treatment of chronic tension type headache
Authors: Astashina N. B. , Starikova N. L. , Valiakhmetova K. R.
Published: July 2021

The review presents the epidemiology of tension type headache. The key points of etiology, pathogenesis and clinical picture are described, modern therapeutic approaches to the treatment of chronic tension headache are considered. The data on the possibility of using prosthetic and splint therapy for correction of health status in patients with chronic tension type headache are presented. The necessity of conducting research aimed at determining the role of using occlusive splints and the significance of correcting occlusive relationships in chronic tension type headache is grounded.
Capabilities of computer analysis of breath sounds in patients with COVID-19
Authors: Furman E. G. , Charushin A. O. , Eirikh E. S. , Furman G. B. , Sokolovsky V. L. , Malinin S. V. , Sheludko V. S. , Polyanskaya D. A. , Kalinina N. M. , Shtivelman D. K.
Published: July 2021

Objective. To develop methods for a rapid distance computer diagnosis of COVID-19 based on the analysis of breath sounds. It is known that changes in breath sounds can be the indicators of respiratory organs diseases. Computer analysis of these sounds can indicate their typical changes caused by COVID-19, and can be used for a rapid preliminary diagnosis of this disease. Materials and methods. The method of fast Fourier transform (FFT) was used for computer analysis of breath sounds, recorded near the mouth of 14 COVID-19 patients (aged 1880 years) and 17 healthy volunteers (aged 548 years). The frequency of breath sound records ranged from 44 to 96 kHz. Unlike the conventional methods of computer analysis for diagnosis of diseases based on respiratory sound studying, we offer to test a high-frequency part of FFT (20006000 kHz). Results. While comparing the breath sound FFT in patients and healthy volunteers, we developed the methods for COVID-19 computer diagnosis and determined the numerical criteria in patients and healthy persons. These criteria do not depend on sex and age of the examined persons. Conclusions. The offered computer methods based on the analysis of breath sound FFT in patients and volunteers permit to diagnose COVID -19 with relatively high diagnostic parameters. These methods can be used in development of noninvasive means for preliminary self-express diagnosis of COVID-19.
Authenticity and Intersubjectivity in the Music Therapy Relationship
Authors:   , Lederer LiQian J. , Ierardi Florence M
Published: July 2021

Within the therapeutic relationship, the concept of authenticity is an important factor in eliciting positive change for the client and strengthening the therapeutic relationship. This writer defines authenticity in its philosophical origins in both Confucianism and key Western philosophers as well as its definition and use in psychology. Through the exploration of authenticity, this writer also defines the concept of intersubjectivity and how musical authenticity is formed. Since music therapists work with clients from various backgrounds, the literature includes the multicultural perspectives on musical preferences, musical biases, and musical stereotypes. The author then explored the commonalities among authenticity, intersubjectivity, and cross-racial relationships. In this exploration, a clinical vignette is applied to emphasize how authenticity in the moment can create an intersubjective phenomenon within a musical and cross-racial therapeutic relationship, resulting in positive change for both the client and the therapist. The conclusion of this thesis reflects on the clinical vignette and discusses the author's personal interpretation of the literature.
Feminist-informed approaches to art therapy in cancer care
Authors:   , Cyrus Stephanie K. , Carlton Natalie
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this capstone thesis was to develop a method that incorporated the use of verbal processing, art making, and patient narrative exploration through feminist theory and art therapy among patients living with life-threatening diseases. Adults with cancer tend to have a variety of psychosocial and physical challenges that come with cancer and cancer treatments. Many individuals living with cancer may also experience intense emotions, feelings of grief and loss, fears of reoccurrence or death, or changes in perceptions in the way they view the world or how others might view them. The literature demonstrated that art therapy sessions with adults living with cancer tend to be beneficial in the exploration of meaning-making, decision making, emotion regulation, reduction of anxiety and depression, and to strengthen sense of self and control. Literature that explored art therapy in oncology through a feminist approach was limited to date, but demonstrated the importance of empowerment and human connection. Through my work as an art therapy intern at an inner-city hospital, I found that feminist-informed art therapy approaches allowed patients to explore their narrative, promoted empowerment, and encourage attunement in a way that was different to "traditional" art therapy. I uncovered four main principles through my research, my studies, and working directly with patients; variability and flexibility, empowerment and control, the socioemotional states alongside the medical, and the use of the clinician as the material. I am sure with further research that more principles will be added but these four principles allowed my method to become more organized and solidified.
Viewing termination as a transformation
Authors:   , Leone Kristy B. , Kress Victoria , Awais Yasmine J.
Published: July 2021

Termination is a complex phase of therapy. Although endings can cause feelings of loss and separation, endings can also lead to new beginnings. The purpose of this capstone was to develop of a method regarding planned termination in art therapy. This capstone reviewed theoretical perspectives, creative rituals, and the use of transitional objects during termination. A three-session intervention was developed based on the literature; this intervention included the artwork created during the course of therapy. Reflections and recommendations are offered for art therapists interested in implementing this intervention.
Clarifying the Role of Values in Weight Control
Authors:   , Dallal Diane H. , Forman Evan M.
Published: July 2021

More than 160 million American adults are overweight or obese. Existing weight loss interventions from self-help to gold standard behavioral treatments, while often effective, do not sufficiently maintain motivation to adhere to dietary goals in the face of powerful biological and environmental influences to consume highly palatable foods. Clarification and awareness of values, a staple of acceptance-based treatments drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, are thought to enhance autonomous motivation to engage in behaviors consistent with one's personal life values (e.g., health) in the presence of countervailing forces (e.g., hunger, deprivation). However, the independent efficacy of values clarification and awareness in facilitating weight control has never been tested. This pilot study sought to investigate whether a series of analog weight loss workshops (based off the gold standard), infused with techniques to enhance clarity and momentary awareness of values, could produce meaningful improvements in values-based mechanistic processes (i.e., target engagement). Nineteen participants attended three group-based, values-infused workshops over three weeks. Results indicate that the values-based intervention was feasible, acceptable, and capable of producing potentially meaningful improvements in values clarity and values awareness. There was mixed evidence of improvement in constructs highly related to values targets. The intervention was modestly effective in facilitating weight loss, and mixed associations were observed between changes in values targets and related constructs over time. Taken together, results demonstrate preliminary proof of concept that an isolated, values-based treatment can act on some, but not all, theorized mechanisms of action. Further research with larger samples and more intensive interventions are needed to establish longer-term mechanistic effects, as well as the additive efficacy of the values component in producing weight loss.
Computational Models of Endothelial Cell Growth Factor Kinetics and Glucose Metabolism
Authors:   , Garcia Jonathan , Clyne Alisa Morss
Published: July 2021

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, and endothelial dysfunction contributes to CVD progression. While experimental studies attribute endothelial dysfunction to changes in cell signaling, protein expression, and metabolism, it remains unclear how these individual changes interact within the complex endothelium to lead to the dysfunctional phenotype. Computational models provide an essential tool to understand the endothelium as a system. The dissertation objective was to use mass action kinetics and stoichiometric computational models to predict endothelial growth factor binding and glucose metabolic flux. I first created a mass action kinetics model to investigate fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) binding to endothelial cells under laminar flow by incorporating flow-induced changes to the endothelial cell apical surface. FGF2 model dynamics were described by a set of ordinary differential equations and kinetic parameters from the literature. When the model included increased heparan sulfate proteoglycan production and binding site availability with shear stress, as well as increased FGF2 dissociation with shear stress, the model successfully predicted FGF2 biphasic binding response as a function of shear stress. Next, I created a carbon transition model to predict endothelial cell intracellular metabolic fluxes using isotope labeling experiments. The model traces carbon movement through glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway and the TCA cycle. The model was iteratively updated to reduce the error between the predicted and measured experimental data. The final model highlighted the importance of glutamine in reproducing TCA cycle intermediates and in feeding back into glycolysis. Finally, I developed a stoichiometric endothelial model to describe the metabolic state of a quiescent endothelial cell in vitro. A genome scale cell model was curated into an endothelial-specific model using publicly available transcriptomic data to remove reactions associated with proteins that were not expressed in endothelial cells. The carbon transition model fluxes were used to constrain the minimum and maximum fluxes in the stoichiometric endothelial model. I then used the model to explore possible endothelial metabolic objective functions, including minimizing oxidative stress or resource consumption. I concluded that no single metabolic objective function accurately predicted quiescent endothelial monolayer metabolism. Together these models provide valuable insight into FGF2 binding kinetics and steady state metabolic endothelial cell objectives. In addition, the mass action kinetic and stoichiometric endothelial models provide a systems-level analysis of endothelial function, enhancing our understanding of the complex interactions that contribute to endothelial dysfunction and eventual cardiovascular disease.
Through a Viewfinder
Authors:   , Phillips Maria E. , Awais Yasmine J.
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this arts-based heuristic study was to explore the experience of an art therapy graduate student interning at a hospice care facility using photography and journaling as a means of identity exploration. The researcher engaged in a heuristic inquiry as modeled by Moustakas's six-phase process. The rationale for this study was to gain a greater understanding of an art therapy intern's experience in hospice care and explore how end of life care impacts one's spiritual, personal, and professional identity. The themes identified by the researcher were nature, grief process, flexibility, seeking support, humor, self-care, and wishes, which contributed to the researchers' greater understanding of working in hospice care. Implications include reengagement in this heuristic process to explore long term impacts of end of life care. Additionally, other clinicians interested in self-exploration or the heuristic process may benefit from the photography and narrative methodology.
Optimal Paths in Time-Varying Flow Fields
Authors:   , Kularatne Dhanushka N. , Hsieh M. Ani
Published: July 2021

The use of autonomous marine vehicles (AMV) have seen a significant growth in the last few decades. This growth has been driven not only by advances in vehicle technology, but also by a need from the scientific and industrial communities for increased autonomy in marine environments. The use of AMVs for scientific activities in aquatic environments has increased data availability, reliability and consistency while their use in commercial activities has made marine based systems safer and more reliable. AMVs have been used for scientific activities such as migration tracking, measurement of temperature and salinity profiles, and monitoring of harmful algae blooms. AMVs have also been used in mapping and characterizing ocean structures, monitoring submerged pipelines and power transmission cables, locating plane crash and ship wreckage, and assessing oil spills. They have helped us to better understand oceanic processes ranging from biological phenomena to climate change. However, these platforms are generally small and resource constrained. While this helps with maneuverability and allows for unobtrusive monitoring of marine phenomena, it also means that the AMV missions have limited durations. To increase the utility of these vehicles and further increase their adoption in marine applications, their mission durations have to be made longer. To this end, developers of AMVs are actively looking at ways of optimizing on-board resource usage, from using better senors and computers to more efficient hull designs. In this work, efficient navigation is explored as an alternate method to improve mission durations. The high inertia environments that AMVs operate in presents a unique opportunity for vehicles to exploit the surrounding flows for more efficient navigation. Trajectories of AMVs should try to use a 'go with the flow' strategy to reduce its energy consumption. To this end, the thesis considers the general problem of optimal path planning in timevarying flow fields for resource constrained marine vehicles. A graph based framework to obtain solutions to this problem is developed. The developed framework encompasses the inherently time varying nature of the problem and also considers uncertainties in flow velocity forecasts available for planning. The presented methods are validated in extensive simulations and in experiments. In addition, a method is developed to track a class of flow structures known as Lagrangian coherent structures that are beneficial to energy efficient navigation in the ocean. These structures can be used as energy efficient pathways in the ocean, when explicit flow velocity information is unavailable to plan optimal paths using the graph based methods.
In the Wake of Hoffman
Authors:   , Thornewill Alice H. , Heilbrun Kirk
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this study was to examine the opinions of the general public and psychologists regarding the roles of psychologists in national security interrogations and other contexts that do not involve the delivery of traditional assessment and treatment services. The discussion following the release of the Hoffman Report has underscored the sharp differences in how the Report's findings are regarded. This survey of psychologists engaged in traditional and non-traditional professional activities, as well as the general public, sheds light on the broader perceptions of the Report's conclusions and implications, and helps determine future directions for the profession of psychology. Results revealed that the general public appears to be more accepting of psychologist involvement in national security settings - the type of activities highlighted in the Report as problematic - than psychologists. In addition, findings demonstrated that the perceptions of traditional and non-traditional psychologists regarding the appropriate role of psychologists across myriad settings do not differ significantly, perhaps indicating that the profession is less divided than initially thought after the Report's release. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.
Nonverbal Aspects of Early Childhood Development, the Caregiver/Infant Relationship, and the Therapist/Client Relationship
Authors:   , Bomberg Lauren R. , Rosenberg Adina
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this thesis is to explore how early human experience with a caregiver underlies and contributes to the therapeutic process between dance/movement therapists and their clients. It critically reviews relevant literature on aspects of nonverbal interaction, early movement and psychosocial development, the caregiver/infant relationship, and the therapist/client relationship. Interested in the targeted realm where these four bodies merge, ultimately it addresses implications for early intervention dance/movement therapy to promote child development and attachment in healthy caregiver/infant dyads. Upon synthesis of the literature, three themes emerged: 1. The body in relationship, including the importance of nonverbal observation and attunement, 2. Holding environment, and 3. Space-physical space, emotional space, and relational space-as it pertains to early developmental outcomes. The thesis also describes the unique, inherent qualities of DMT as comparable to other caregiver/infant interventions reviewed. It concludes with 20 suggestions for best practice and further research, as well as a reflection of how this work has impacted the author's practice and theoretical orientation as an emerging dance/movement therapist.
Medical Marijuana Usage as a Coping Mechanism for Psychological Distress among Los Angeles Young Adults
Authors:   , Moss Ashley D. , Rossi John A.
Published: July 2021

Introduction: The Proposition 215/Compassionate Use Act was adopted in the state of California in 1996 which allowed physicians to provide written recommendations for marijuana for medicinal usage. Since the passage of this law, medical marijuana usage has increased among the young adult population. There is a lack of information on these young adults using medical marijuana as coping mechanism for traumatic experiences resulting in psychological distress. Methods: The study design utilizes a mixed-methods approach by integrating quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews among Los Angeles young adults recruited between February 2014 to August 2015. The enrollment criteria were: ages 18-26 years old; used marijuana from 30 to 90 days frequently; and lived in the Los Angeles area. Medical marijuana patients (MMP) had a current recommendation while participants without a recommendation were non-patient users (NPU). Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded, and uploaded into Atlas.ti. Demographic data are summarized in quantitative tables created using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 22. Results: Among participants with traumatic experiences, a majority whom were Hispanic and MMPs. Participants used marijuana to relieve psychological distress symptoms such as having sleep issues, coping with insomnia, and coping with depression. These participants transitioned their medical marijuana usage from self-medication to medicinal usage over time. Overall, the majority of participants from the qualitative cases have seen positive, psychological effects from their usage of marijuana. Conclusion: Medical marijuana can be used as a coping mechanism for psychological distress among young adults with a history of trauma. This marijuana medical usage does reduce stress in this population.
Stress and deformation of biological membranes during cellular outgrowth and cell and liposome injection
Authors:   , Allen Kathleen Bridget , Layton Bradley E.
Published: July 2021

Revealing the molecular events of neuronal growth is critical to obtaining a deeper understanding of nervous system development, neural injury response, and neural tissue engineering. Central to this is the need to understand the mechanical interactions between the cytoskeleton and the cell membrane, and how these interactions affect the overall growth mechanics of neurons. Using finite element analysis, the normal contact stress produced by a protein filament that is acting against a deformable membrane was modeled, and the deformation, stress, and strain were computed for the membrane. The model predicts that a single actin filament is able to produce a normal contact stress on the cell membrane that is sufficient to cause membrane deformation, but not rupture. During single-cell and single-organelle injection, damage to the cell will often result. By first determining the mechanical properties of the cell, and then quantifying the amount of force that is required for cell membrane puncture, the use of excessive force during injection can be avoided. This will serve to minimize the damage done to the cell during these procedures. Using micropipette-deformation-based methods and an imageprocessing based algorithm for measuring deformation, the mechanical roperties of spherical DOPC:DOPS liposomes, model cells, were measured. From these values, the forces that injection pipettes of various sizes exert onto liposomes during manipulation were determined. Forces ranged from ~1 - 6 pN, and these forces increased as the pipette size decreased.
The role of unawareness on functional status in mild Alzheimer's dementia
Authors:   , Roseman Emily C. , Schultheis Maria T.
Published: July 2021

Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is characterized by a progressive decline in memory in addition to decline in at least one other cognitive domain. Integral to the diagnosis is a simultaneous decline in functional abilities such as driving skills, and often an unawareness of this decline. Individuals who are unaware of deficits are often unable to accept the help that they need in completing functional tasks and may put themselves in dangerous situations. For example, individuals with an unawareness of their own deficits may prolong driving cessation. Cognitive status explains some, but not all, of the variability in functional abilities. This study examined the relationship between cognition, unawareness, and functional ability in individuals with mild AD as well as in healthy older adults. Understanding this relationship in healthy older adults will help to establish a baseline prior to disease onset. This baseline is not well understood thereby potentially compromising the safety of even healthy older adults. For example, current driving laws with older adults rely on the assumption that individuals will be able to regulate their driving behaviors as they become aware of age-related changes. This study used a virtual reality driving simulator (VRDS) to assess driving performance in healthy controls with exploratory analyses conducted on individuals with mild AD. Awareness was measured by participant-reliable informant discrepancy scores on the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) Questionnaire, as well as discrepancy scores between the participant's perception of performance on the VRDS versus actual performance. Results with healthy controls established no relationship between functional ability and awareness when holding performance on cognitive testing constant. Instead, a relationship was found between functional ability, as measured by the IADL questionnaire, and awareness of functional ability in healthy older adults (r= -.747, p<.01). As functional ability decreased, awareness of functioning also decreased suggesting that those individuals with greater functional impairments are less aware of such impairments and therefore pose a safety risk. The MMSE was also linked to functional ability in healthy controls, as measured by the IADL, suggesting a relationship continuum between global cognitive status and functioning in healthy older adults from the community. Additionally, trends in the data for individuals with mild AD suggest a correlation between global cognitive status, as measured by the MMSE, and measures of awareness on both functional measures. Findings suggest that unawareness can lead to increased safety risks in healthy older adults. Measurement tools such as the IADL and MMSE may serve to identify those individuals at risk for both healthy older adults as well as individuals with mild AD.
A case study
Authors:   , Ye Jing , Bartch Catherine
Published: July 2021

The Enchantment Theatre Company (ETC) is to create original theater for young audiences and families in Philadelphia. Because the children's theatre is important for children to thrive and China is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, the author is exploring the opportunity of organizing a tour to China for the ETC. The author conducted the research on general cultural exchange procedure; analyzed successful samples and described the communication process of the ETC's case including direct government authorization agency and indirect government authorization agency. Three key factors important to the success of cultural exchange were concluded at the end, theatre's originality, professional promotion and government support. The author hopes to lead this cultural exchange project to be successful. It will help the Enchantment Theatre achieve a higher identity and development, especially in China. At the same, China's children will have the opportunity to enjoy one of high quality children's theatres in the world.
Spatial Ecology of the Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) and Northern Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey
Authors:   , Smith Ronald M. , Bien Walter F.
Published: July 2021

In New Jersey, Crotalus horridus, a state-endangered species, and Pituophis melanoleucus, a state-threatened species, are vulnerable to extirpation due to habitat loss and direct human impacts. I used radio-telemetry to determine the spatial ecology of these two species at the Warren Grove Range (WGR). Crotalus horridus had no significant differences in home range size, seasonal activity, core activity area, range length, distance traveled per day, or seasonal differences in distance traveled per day between male and female snakes. They utilized hardwood swamp habitat the greatest proportion of use as compared to the six other habitat types identified at WGR. Pituophis melanoleucus had no significant differences in home range size, core activity area, range length, or distance traveled per day, between sexes or between locations in or outside of the target zone. Pituophis melanoleucus tracked in 2005 and 2006 traveled larger total distance, larger distance per day, and had larger home range compared to snakes in 2003 and 2004. There were no significant differences in maximum distance dispersed or location of hibernacula within home range by year or sex for P. melanoleucus, which moved in all potential directions away from their hibernaculum, up to 2764.1 m away. A circular buffer around a hibernation site, based on dispersal distances, encompasses 2388 ha of land need to protect habitat and resources for the subpopulations of each hibernaculum. A minimum of 2388 ha, should be protected around hibernacula to support the current population of P. melanoleucus. The WGR is an important location for snakes because the landscape is protected, relatively inaccessible, and free of negative impacts associated with urban development, agriculture, and high-use paved roadways. These data on the spatial ecology of these two snakes are important as baselines for evaluating threats to these snakes and can aid in developing mitigation and conservation strategies in light of the continued development in the Pine Barrens.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-[alpha] Effects on Endothelial Cell Adhesion Strength and Traction Force on Substrates of Varied Stiffness
Authors:   , Buckner Isabel Munroe , Clyne Alisa Morss
Published: July 2021

Hypertension, a cardiovascular disease characterized by high blood pressure, affected 25.8% of American adults in 2008 (59.4 million people). Hypertension is associated with increased vascular stiffness, which historically has been thought to be caused by vascular adaptation to increased pressure. More recently, human and animal studies demonstrated increased vascular stiffness prior to high blood pressure development. Like many cardiovascular diseases, hypertension is also associated with increased inflammation marked by elevated inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-[alpha] (TNF-[alpha]). A combination of early reversible vascular stiffness and TNF-[alpha] may lead to long-term arterial stiffening via vascular remodeling. Both stiff substrates and TNF-[alpha] can alter endothelial cell adhesion and traction forces. However, the impact of TNF-[alpha] on endothelial cell adhesion and traction force has not been studied in endothelial cells on substrates of different stiffness. I designed and tested a procedure to measure endothelial cell adhesion strength on substrates of varied stiffness using a spinning disc apparatus. Polyacrylamide gels were micropatterned with 30 [mu]m diameter fibronectin spots using microfabricated polydimethylsiloxane stamps. Only 50 to 60% of the micropattern transferred onto polyacrylamide gels due to the large stamp size, and subsequent cell seeding covered less than 60% of the patterned spots. Over 15% of the spots with attached cells had multiple cells on each spot. These design challenges could not be overcome and prevented use of the system to test the effects of TNF-[alpha] on endothelial cell adhesion strength. I subsequently used traction force microscopy to quantify single and monolayer endothelial cell-substrate forces with TNF-[alpha] stimulation on 6 and 55 kPa polyacrylamide gels. Single cell traction forces were not significantly different with TNF-[alpha] treatment, possibly due to the lack of cell-cell junctions. In contrast, cell monolayers on soft substrates doubled overall traction force (from 150 to 300 Pa) with TNF-[alpha] stimulation, while cells on stiff substrates doubled traction force (from 500 to 1200 Pa) only at cell-cell junctions. These data suggest that endothelial cell monolayer response to TNF-[alpha] depends on substrate stiffness, which could impact long-term irreversible vascular remodeling. Early arterial stiffness and inflammatory cytokine measurements could prevent hypertension complications in millions of Americans.
Mechanotransduction of substrate stiffness in endothelial cell collective migration
Authors:   , Canver Adam Charles , Clyne Alisa Morss
Published: July 2021

Endothelial damage during life-saving percutaneous angioplasty contributes to re-stenosis rates of nearly 20% within 5 years. Re-endothelialization, the collective endothelial cell migration over exposed extracellular matrix (ECM) and stent struts, can restore a continuous, functional endothelium. During atherosclerotic disease, vascular ECM becomes stiffer. ECM stiffness affects epithelial cell collective migration in other pathogenic contexts. However, substrate stiffness effects on endothelial cell collective migration have yet to be explored. We developed quantitative computational image processing algorithms for assessing collective migration. We then used these image analysis techniques to measure the effect of substrate stiffness on critical aspects of porcine aortic endothelial cell (PAEC) two-dimensional collective migration: (1) migration distance, (2) directedness, and (3) togetherness. PAEC were seeded on collagen-coated polyacrylamide hydrogels (4-50 kPa) in a 5 mm cloning ring and then allowed to migrate outwards. We found that migration distance increased with substrate stiffness and that there was a concomitant increase in PAEC alignment. We found that decreased togetherness on stiffer substrates led to enhanced proliferation at the migratory interface. We used the specific Rho kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y27632 to show that ROCK-mediated contractility limited endothelial cell collective migration on soft substrates. We observed that PAEC secrete and remodel fibronectin on collagen-coated substrates. Interestingly, [alpha]5 integrin, but not fibronectin, was important for directed collective migration on stiff substrates. These findings provide insight into how substrate stiffness affects endothelial cell collective migration. This work will inform how the mechanical properties of tissue and tissue engineered construct could be designed to promote a functional endothelium.
Effectiveness of an Educational Tool on Nurses' Willingness To Screen Patients Who Are At Risk For Abusing Alcohol and/or Illicit Drugs in the Emergency Department
Authors:   , Landis Philip G. , Rundio Al , Greene-Ryan Jane
Published: July 2021

Background: A new generation of patients who have a documented lifetime use of drug abuse will require a unique approach to their healthcare needs. For patients presenting to the emergency department (ED), there are no standards or randomized control trials for screening tools for these patients. Methods: This project sought to answer the question: What is the effectiveness of an educational tool on emergency department nurses' willingness to screen patients who are at risk for abusing alcohol and/or illicit drugs? This was a quasi-experimental, mixed methods (quantitative/qualitative) study, which included a pilot of a two-item conjoint screen (TICS), which simultaneously identifies patient who are at-risk for alcohol and/or drug abuse. Results: The data analysis suggested that nurses already had an accurate knowledge of their ED population who are at risk for drug or alcohol abuse, and that they play a crucial role in identifying this population. In addition, the qualitative analysis extrapolated three themes that ED nurses identified as they cared for this population. Conclusions: ED nurses possess an accurate understanding of their patients who are at-risk for abusing drugs or alcohol. In addition, the TICS screen can easily be administered during triage in the ED to identify these patients. Randomized control trials need to be conducted in the ED to confirm what kind of screening tool is statistically significant to intervene with this population.
Content Validation of the Perinatal Palliative Care Advance Care Birth Plan Following the American Psychological Association's Guidelines
Authors:   , Bonecutter Cheryl J. , Zuzelo Patti Rager
Published: July 2021

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this project was to validate the content of the perinatal palliative care advance care birth plan (ACBP). Families of these infants experience a myriad of emotions when faced with the diagnosis that their baby will not survive. The healthcare team should support these families with a level of comfort and confidence. Without a formalized program or document of families' wishes and expectations, communication within the team of specialists and consultants can be challenging for the family and the healthcare team. In order to provide ethical, psychosocial, spiritual, cultural and clinical care, a confident team requires coordination and organization. Methods: Experts in perinatal bereavement, hospice and palliative care were asked to evaluate the content of the ACBP for clarity, comprehensiveness, and relevance. Each section of the ACBP was evaluated and comments were extrapolated and trends identified to affect revisions to the document. Evaluation: Prior to distributing the ACBP to the nationally recognized experts, professionals that would be utilizing the ACBP in a large university-based hospital system in the southern United States were asked to evaluate the ACBP for content and clarity. Combined comments were extrapolated and revisions to the ACBP document were completed. A letter included with the ACBP explained the evaluation process and need to validate the content of the ACBP. Clinical Implications/Recommendations: The ACBP will provide a template for difficult conversations between the healthcare team and the family of these infants with life-limiting conditions. The ACBP provides a bridge of communication with the entire healthcare team ensuring a comprehensive care model and structure. Healthcare teams, patients and their families will have integrated, informed decision-making capacity in the birth, life and death of their infant.