James F. Jakobsen Graduate Conference Abstracts, 2010

Noble metal nanoparticles have novel, size-dependent optical properties that can be tuned throughout the visible to near-infrared wavelengths. Currently, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is the standard method for determining the size of these nanostructures. While TEM provides a high degree of information about the structures of the nanoparticles, it requires highly skilled operators, consumes a lot of time and money, and destroys the sample. Recently, a standard estimation model was developed that estimated the size of gold nanoparticles based on their extinction spectra (i.e. sum of scattered and absorbed light). This method is fast, non-destructive, and utilizes optical data routinely collected in the lab. In this work, we have synthesized four sizes of citrate reduced gold nanoparticles. The extinction coefficient and sizes of these nanoparticles are calculated from extinction spectroscopy and a standard estimation model. These data are compared to TEM and various (size-indicating) scattering methods. This approach and validation of the standard estimation model will provide a low cost and efficient method to evaluate the size of gold nanoparticles. Future work will focus on determining the flexibility of the model for the evaluation of gold nanoparticles with various surface chemistries.

In religious traditions around the world the intimacy of two human lovers has been the epitomized metaphor for the mystic's yearning for the uttermost point of union with the Ultimate. In the early Middle Ages the Biblical book the Song of Songs was appropriated as an allegorical work that gave vision to these mystic yearnings and thousands of pages of commentaries ensued in the coming centuries. Of the immense amount of recent studies done on either the exegesis of the Song of Songs or the works of Saint Teresa of Avila, comparatively very little scholarship is in extant on Teresa's Meditations on Song of Songs. Mr. Pschaida's thesis aspires to bring together the diverse, salient aspects of her self-interpretive work and the overall spirit of its message. Drawing on conceptual frameworks of Schleiermacher, Buber, and Heidegger, Pschaida suggests that Teresa of Avila's Meditations on the Song of Songs is an example of poetic phenomenology - where she aspires, by way of language, not just to describe, but to re-create and evoke in the reader her own experience of mystical union with the One. He argues that she enacts this poetic phenomenology by way of her epistemological assertions, engaging conceptual explanations, the declarative modality's ontological force, prayerful addresses to the Thou, informal-conversational prose, and the aesthetics of her writing.

Parkinson's Disease (PD), characterized by tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia, affects more than 300,000 people in the United States.  This disease has been correlated to pesticide exposure, and increased concentrations of dieldrin have been found in the brains of PD patients.  Dieldrin is a banned organochlorine pesticide, and one of the twelve most persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals ranked by the US EPA.  This compound has been shown to adversely affect a number of cellular processes thought to increase the likelihood of developing PD.  These effects include a modulation in the concentration of toxic intermediates such as 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL), increased levels of oxidative stress, and altered mitochondrial function.  The hypothesis of this study is the cellular effects observed from dieldrin exposure is dependent upon the chlorine content and the structure of this pesticide.  This hypothesis will be tested using two specific aims, first to synthesize analogs of dieldrin with varying chlorine content, and second to analyze the cellular effects of these compounds on DA catabolism and mitochondrial function in dopaminergic PC6-3 cells.  A correlation between the structure of the dieldrin analogs and cellular effects was observed.

Consider the problem of stabilizing an Internet-scale distributed system. Unlike traditional  systems, where every process runs predefined programs mandated by a single administrator, here different groups of processes may execute different programs to maximize their own payoffs. Optimizing individual payoffs without sacrificing the stabilization property of the system is the essence of selfish stabilization.The problem yields some interesting results, e.g., even for only two subsets of processes and selfish moves, there are examples for which equilibrium may never exist. In this paper, we consider a graph G= (V,E), and assume that there are p (p>1) different subsets of processes. Starting from an arbitrary initial configuration, p (p>1) different subsets cooperate with one another to form a rooted maximum flow tree, and at the same time compete against each other to maximize their flow to the root node. We investigate scenarios for the existence and non-existence of equilibrium, discuss the role of different daemons in the system, and propose a stabilizing solution provided equilibrium exists.

A benchmark characteristic of malignancy is an invasive phenotype often associated with tumor cell motility. The role of tetraspanin CD151 in human cancers is supported by clinical studies where increased CD151 expression correlated with poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer, colon carcinoma, and prostate cancer. Major binding partners for CD151 include the integrins α3β1 and α6β4. CD151 is important for both initial attachment and motility on laminin-5 in epidermal cells, functions that both require α3β1 association with CD151. My work as found an additional role for CD151 in forming stable attachments to basement membranes in long-term adhesion assays, a function often associated  with integrin α6β4 and hemidesmosomes. Although the involvement of α3 and α6 integrins in these separate cellular functions was already known, my work has shown that CD151 is critically involved in both as well.

Previous studies have demonstrated that integrins are important co-receptors for Adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) infection and endocytosis. However, signaling events regulating integrin-dependent endocytosis following AAV2 docking to the cell surface remain unclear. In the present, we sought to define the mechanisms that link integrin activation with downstream signaling pathways and hypothesized that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and c-Src play critical roles in this process. These integrin effectors are known to bind and regulate Rac1 and PI3K, both of which are known to regulate AAV2 endocytosis and vesicular trafficking. In support of our hypothesis, AAV2 endocytosis and transduction of FAK^-/- and c-Src^-/- fibroblasts was significantly lower than in FAK and c-Src positive control fibroblasts. Furthermore, pharmacologic activation of PKC (activates integrins) increased AAV2 transduction only in FAK and c-Src positive cells, suggesting that integrin-dependent endocytosis is an underutilized, but highly efficient transduction pathway. These experiments have begun to outline a basic endocytic model linking integrin activation to the initiation of intracellular signaling cascades via PKC and FAK/c-Src that are required for rAAV2 infection. This information can ultimately be used identify signaling events which may augment rAAV transduction for gene therapy applications.

Tau is a microtubule-associated protein expressed primarily in neurons.  While it has been established that tau is expressed in other cell types, its function in non-neuronal cells is not clear.  Recently, tau expression has been correlated with increased drug resistance in various cancers.  In this report, we investigate the tau expressed in cancerous prostate lines ALVA-31, DU 145, and PC-3.  Prostate cancer tau is heat-stable and highly phosphorylated, containing many of the modifications identified in Alzheimer's Disease brain tau.  RT-PCR and phosphatase treatment indicate that all six alternatively spliced adult brain tau isoforms are expressed in ALVA-31 cells, and that isoforms containing exon 6 are also present.  High molecular weight isoforms containing either exon 4A or a larger splice variant of exon 4A are also present.  Consistent with its hyperphosphorylated state, a large proportion of ALVA-31 tau does not bind to microtubules, as detected by confocal microscopy and biochemical tests.  Finally, endogenous ALVA-31 tau interacts with the p85 subunit of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, as demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitations and <em>in vitro</em> protein binding assays.

Dihydrofolate reductase (DFHR) is a small, flexible, monomeric protein that catalyzes a conversion of 7,8-dihydrofolate to 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate through simple chemical transformation (C-H→C transfer). DHFR is necessary for the maintenance of intracellular levels of THF, an essential intermediate in the biosynthetic pathways of purines, thymine and several amino acids. Due to its pivotal role in the nucleotide biosynthesis in many organisms, DHFR is the target for many antibiotic and chemotherapeutic agents. Moreover, its well-known mechanism makes it a good model for examination of the physical nature of the hydride transfer step. Nature of the hydride transfer as well as contribution of protein dynamics to the hydride transfer, are investigated through the systematic mutation of specific active site residues. Active site residue of interest, Ile14, is a conserved hydrophobic residue in contact with nicotinamide ring of NADPH.  It has been mutated into Ala in order to  increase the donor-acceptor distance in the C-H-C transfer, and to change the orientation and motility of the nicotinamide ring in the active site. Primary kinetic isotope effects for a full temperature range have been measured. The intrinsic kinetic isotope effects have been extracted and compared to wtDHFR values in order to examine the effect of the mutation on the environmental coupled tunneling.

In July 1980, the Department of Physical Education and Dance (now the Department of Heath and Sport Studies) at the University of Iowa invited leaders of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) to campus for a week-long Presidential Review. Iowa professors Peg Burke, Christine Grant, and Bonnie Slatton, prominent leaders in the AIAW, organized this event to preserve an AIAW "living history." Founded in 1971 to administer championship play for college women, the AIAW featured an educational, student-centered model of sport and was the largest sport governing association in the U.S. by 1980. My research involves using a feminist cultural studies approach to analyze 25 hours of videotape of the AIAW Presidential Review. Generally, the AIAW has been merely a footnote in sport history scholarship; however, my work offers new insights to the lived experiences of those at the center of the 1970s women's sport revolution. This revolution was emeshed in much controversy as women entered the previously male dominated college sports world. What emerges from the 1980 AIAW Presidential Review videotapes is a narrative that transcends a story about sport and reveals a "sage of power, money, and sex."

Humic and fulvic acids are macromolecular, multifunctional, polyacidic compounds that are important models for humic-like substances (HULIS) found in the troposphere.  In this research, the water uptake of Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA) and humic acid sodium salt (NaHA) were determined by hygroscopic tandem differential mobility analysis (HTDMA) and extinction Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.  The hygroscopic growth of 100 nm SRFA and NaHA aerosols was measured and used to determine both the ionic density (<em>ρ_ion</em>), and the value of <em>κ</em> from the <em>κ</em>-Köhler theory.  These two parameters were each used to model the hygroscopic growth and determine the critical percent supersaturations of the SRFA and NaHA. 

In the social domain, autistic symptoms include impaired use of nonverbal behaviors, such as eye contact, facial expression, little seeking to share enjoyment or interests with other people, and limited social-emotional reciprocity (South, et al., 2008). Apparently, these behaviors may affect the attachment relationship with their parents/caregivers, and may have an impact on parenting. Most of the studies on early attachment behaviors in children with autism were conducted in western countries. To date, information regarding attachment behavior in Chinese children with autism remains under explored. Thus, the present study was designed to obtain data on Chinese parental perceptions of child’s attachment behavior and other problem behavior characteristics, as well as the perceived parental stress. This study posed three research questions: a. Do children with ASD demonstrate differentiated attachment behaviors in comparison to normal children in the eyes of their parents; and how do these behaviors differ in two groups? b. What are the differences in parenting stress and factors underlying parenting stress between mothers of children with ASD and mothers who have typically developing children? c. What are the associations between mothers’ perceptions of child’s behavioral characteristics and perceived parenting stress in the group of children with ASD?

In the early 1970s, American composer Steve Reich shifted dramatically away from the tape manipulations for which he was known to a style marked by the use of acoustic instruments and a gradual abandonment of the minimalist aesthetic. The developments of this shift can be detected in his 1970 work <i>Four Organs</i> and particularly in his preceding experiments with a &quot;rhythmic computer&quot; called the Phase Shifting Pulse Gate. This paper describes the device and the music Reich composed using it. Many of the characteristics of <i>Four Organs</i> and the larger works following, such rhythmic augmentation and patterns of interlocking rhythms, can be traced to the failures of the experiments with the Pulse Gate. Additionally, a disastrous New York performance of <i>Four Organs</i> and its effect on the public's perception of Steve Reich will be discussed.

Despite the continued occurrence of semi-volatile PCBs in the atmosphere, few studies have investigated inhalation exposure. We developed nose-only inhalation system that generated controlled atmospheres of vapor-phase PCB mixtures with a congener profile of the Chicago airshed. We measured the uptake and toxicological responses in Sprague-Dawley rats. We generated vapor-phase PCBs into a moving airflow that was then diluted and fed to a nose-only exposure chamber. Chamber outflow was sampled using XAD cartridges and characterized for congener profiles using LC-tandem MS. Rats were exposed 2 hr/day for 10 days. Pulmonary responses were evaluated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and histopathology of lungs, trachea, nose, nasopharynx and thymus. Lungs, livers and blood were collected to measure PCB uptake. Exposure data showed that a very high dose could be achieved with a high degree of consistency in concentration and PCB congener profile distribution. In a high dose experiment, we generated 11.3±2.0mg/day total PCBs (mean ± SD) during the 2hr daily exposure period. The low molecular weight PCB congeners represented 90% of the total PCB load. PCB 1, 4, 6, 8, 15, 17, 18*30, 20*28, 21*33, 31, and 52 were most abundant by mass, accounting for 83±4 % of the total PCBs. Even at these very high doses there was minimal lung inflammation and little evidence of lung injury.

“HawkEyes” is a network of mobile, polarimetric, X-band radars with overlapping view of a small, experimental watershed in Iowa City area. The network is expected to provide superior precipitation data for detailed hydrologic studies. Radars operating at X-band provide high spatial and temporal resolution data, but need to have correction algorithms applied to the measurements to correct for attenuation of radar signals by the intervening rainfall. In order to evaluate performance of existing attenuation correction algorithms in a networked environment, a full radar network simulator has been build. The simulator is based on the T-matrix approach and provides polarimetric variables for individual radars constituting the network. Obtained results are used to support optimal configuration of an operational radar network. Early simulation results are presented and discussed.

Plasma membrane localized Drosophila Na/K ATPase depends on the beta subunit for its transport to the plasma membrane and for regulating its activity.nervana 3 is a gene encoding the beta subunit is expressed in a subset of CNS neurons and, peripherally, in chordotonal organ neurons. This expression pattern suggested the possibility that nrv3 could be important for hearing. We have three nrv3 mutant alleles which result in homozygous lethality at early larval stage. Immunohistochemical studies in late stage embryos show that the alpha subunit localizes to the plasma membrane of CNS neurons while Nrv3 localizes to the PNS, especially the lateral pentascolopidial organ and in a subset of the CNS. Nrv3 protein localizes in the brain, eye and chordotonal neurons in the second antenna of Johnstons organ in adults. Experiments are in progress to rescue the lethal mutant phenotype using the UAS/Gal4 system and to construct mosaic animals with a view to testing auditory function of nrv3 in Johnston’s organ. Knocking down nrv3 expression in the nervous sysem with a tissue specific Gal4 driver crossed with UAS-RNAi resulted in severe adult uncoordination and early mortality in the experimental animals as well as reduction in auditory response.

Base hydrolysis of aqueous Eu(ClO₄)₃ in the presence of the α-amino acid L-proline leads to hydroxy-bridged, tetrahedral, tetraeuropium(III) complexes of the type [Ln₄(µ₃-OH)₄(µ₂-pro)₆]²⁺ (pro = prolinate). In the presence of L-histidine and a templating halide, the pentadecaeuropium(III) complexes [Ln₁₅(µ₃-OH)₂₀(µ₅-X)_n(OH₂)₈(his)₁₅]^(10-n)+ (n = 1 for X = Cl^- or Br^- and n = 2 for I^-) were prepared. The results of solid-state structural, electrochemical, and fluorescence studies on these polyeuropium compounds will be discussed.

Iron from mineral dust, is an important source of iron for the open ocean. A number of recent studies have shown that iron dissolution in Fe-containing dust aerosol can be linked to source material (mineral or anthropogenic), mineralogy and iron speciation. All of these factors need to be incorporated into atmospheric chemistry models if these models are to accurately predict the impact of Fe-containing dusts into open ocean waters. In this study, we combine dissolution measurements along with spectroscopy and microscopy to focus on nanoscale size-effects in the dissolution of Fe-containing minerals in low pH environments and the importance of acid type, including HNO₃, H₂SO₄ and HCl, on dissolution. All of these acids are present in the atmosphere and dust particles have been shown to be associated with nitrate, sulfate and/or chloride. These measurements are done under light and dark conditions so as to simulate and distinguish between day time and night time atmospheric chemical processing. Both size (nano- versus micron-sized particles) and anion (nitrate, sulfate and chloride) are found to play significant roles in the dissolution of alpha-FeOOH under both light and dark conditions. The current study highlights these important, yet unconsidered, factors in the atmospheric processing of iron-containing mineral dust aerosol.

This essay reexamines the supposed disparity between Hegelian and Christian discourse in Golden Age Denmark. Specifically, I examine the relationship between J.L. Heiberg's On the Significance of Philosophy for the Present Age and J.P. Mynster's "On Religious Conviction." As Mynster's text was written in response to Heiberg's essay, these two texts provide an ideal example of the way in which the discourses of Hegelianism and Christianity interacted in Golden Age Denmark.

I will assert that Hegelian discourse supports the dominant Christian discourse of Golden Age Denmark. That is, as the discourse of Hegelianism maintains a knowable relation between the finite and the infinite, it participates in the same discursive system by and in which Christianity asserts its authority.

This essay concludes with a brief example of a discourse that is an actual threat to the dominant Christian discourse of the Danish Golden Age, Søren Kierkegaard's Stages on Life's Way. That is, as Kierkegaard's text takes away the individual's ability to posit a stable relation between the finite and the infinite while at the same time establishing this disparity as the necessary condition for faith, it shifts the epistemological basis of Christian discourse and thereby represents a real threat to Christian (and Hegelian) discourse.

This paper is about romantic relationship initiation, specifically, the practice of rejecting romantic relational advances. There are many books in the mainstream and much research from the pursuer's standpoint as to how to request a date or phone number from a potential mate. However, there is not much literature about how to reject a phone number or date request from an unwanted pursuer. This paper applies two theories of communication about this construct, highlights important issues surrounding it, and calls for future study on this topic. 

African-American infants have significantly poorer health outcomes compared to White infants. We study the effects of residential segregation on the birth outcomes of African-American infants and the extent to which population and area-level characteristics explain these effects. We also evaluate the role of unobserved heterogeneity in the relationship between segregation and infant health. We also assess the heterogeneity in the effects of residential segregation by unobserved area-level endowments that impact infant health. We measure residential segregation by the dissimilarity and the isolation indices. The study finds that ignoring unobserved factors, both measures of residential segregation have significant negative effects on infant health that is explained to a large extent by the observed population and area-level characteristics. The study also finds that the negative impacts of residential segregation are in areas with low rates of adverse birth outcomes and high area-level endowments that improve infant health, but that segregation has insignificant effects in areas with high rates of adverse birth outcomes and poor endowments for infant health. The study results suggest that residential policies alone may not have large effects on reducing disparities in infant health, especially in areas with high rates of adverse birth outcomes among African-American infants.

The interplay of internal and external spaces is a fundamental aspect of the portrait Carmen Laforet paints of Spain’s post-CivilWar era in her novel Nada (1945). Her protagonist Andrea straddles both worlds, finding herself stifled by the interior world of her adoptive extended family and simultaneously liberated when rejecting this reality to be in the external world of post-war Barcelona. Andrea enjoys the role of the outsider she creates for herself, as it affords her a necessary distance for making sense of the all that surrounds her. Most critics agree that it is her gaze that is crucial to understanding Andrea’s narration about her greater environment. Thus, in this paper, I maintain that space—and particularly Andrea’s negotiation of it—helps to explain this habit of hers of occupying and reoccupying the spectator role throughout the novel. Furthermore, I contest one common reading that the protagonist is almost completely passive and trapped in the space of literature to which she often evades, instead viewing Andrea’s negotiation of different spaces as a key way that she will assert her power within post-Civil War Spain.

Typically read a pastoral romance, Sir Philip Sidney’s The Old Arcadia serves as an early modern example of a “queering process.” A term borrowed from Tison Pugh, a queering process is a transition protagonists undergo in which they temporarily adopt non-normative gender or sexual expressions as a means to actually strengthen or justify their inclusion within the normative realm. Thus, texts portraying this kind of “queering process” demarcate sexual and gender transgression as not only essential to,but also a very part of, a larger heteronormative paradigm, blurring and bridging distinctions between Self and Other. In The Old Arcadia, for example, Pyrocles openly transgresses normative masculinity as a means to woo Philoclea and ultimately more securely establish himself as indeed a man. In passing himself as “Cleophila,”however, Pyrocles arouses a number of queer desires in both himself as well as those around him. The tale thus positions Pyrocles’ encounters as a woman, and the sexual object of both men and women, as absolutely essential if Pyrocles is to eventually seduce Philoclea.

Purpose: To identify the surface characteristics of nanoparticles which determine their mechanisms of uptake and transport across the nasal respiratory and olfactory mucosa. Methods: The in vitro uptake of 20 nm, fluorescently labeled polystyrene particles was investigated using bovine olfactory and nasal respiratory explants. Both carboxylated and amidine-modified nanoparticles were incubated on the mucosal side of the tissue explants for up to 3 hours. Two inhibitors, chlorpromazine and amiloride, were used to investigate the role of endocytotic uptake. Particle size, size distribution and zeta potential of the particles were measured using dynamic light scattering, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to characterize nanoparticle surface composition. Results: Carboxyl-modified nanoparticles showed significantly higher transport into and across the tissue explants than amidine-modified particles. No distinguishable differences of uptake between olfactory and respiratory tissue were observed. Conclusions: The surface properties of nanoparticles play a key role in determining the extent of particle uptake by the mucosal tissue. The inhibition of uptake by amiloride suggests that macropinocytosis plays a major role in the transport of small nanoparticles across the nasal mucosa.

As the waves of modernization sweep across the world, country after country is developing an "aubomobility culture," putting the global environment under jeopardy.  China and the U.S. are the two largest car markets of the world, and are especially burdened with environmental debts. In the U.S., hybrid car consumption, together with the trend of eco-consumerism, recently rose to popularity and became hailed as an efficient environmental solution. Chinese car consumers, however, are reluctant to "buy" the hybrid and seem nonchalant to its environmental appeals. This essay analyzes hybrid car advertisements in the U.S. and China and focuses on the cultural and ideological factors that interrupt the translation of hybrids' environmental appeals into China. This analysis uses a combination of semiotic, rhetorical, and psychoanalytic methods. On the one hand, I read these ads as cultural symptoms to see the different dynamics of desire that motivate eco-consumerism in the two countries; on the other hand, I treat these ads as active rhetorical agents that actively restructure consumer desire and bring social changes. The analysis is to shed light on the relationship between (1) advertising aesthetics and consumer desire and (2) global consumer culture and its environmental impacts.

Eukaryotic genomes encode many long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with diverse cellular functions. One example of a Drosophila lncRNA is the developmentally regulated, alternatively spliced and polyadenylated yar RNA. This RNA is transcribed from the yar gene, located in the intergenic region separating yellow (y) and achaete (ac), two protein-coding genes with neural function. Here, we complete evolutionary comparisons of the y-ac intergenic region, coupled with RNA analyses, to show that yar is conserved over 40 to 60 million years of evolution. Using homologous recombination, null yar alleles were generated. Studies of these mutants revealed that yar is not required for transcriptional regulation of the neighboring y or ac genes. Instead, we find that loss of yar causes behavioral defects. These mutants exhibit decreased and fragmented nighttime sleep, due to shortened sleep bouts within a normal circadian sleep-wake cycle. Further, yar mutants had diminished levels of sleep rebound following deprivation, due to an inability to increase sleep bout lengths under these conditions. A transgene encompassing the yar gene rescues all mutant phenotypes. These data indicate that yar is required for sleep regulation, representing the first example of a lncRNA involved in Drosophila sleep behavior.

Imagine you are a civil engineer hired to design a road network connecting several cities.  Keeping the budget in mind, you might ask how to connect the cities using as little road as possible.  This is essentially the Euclidean Steiner tree problem.  The Euclidean Steiner tree problem (ESTP) asks for a tree of minimal length spanning a set of n points (terminal points) in Euclidean d-space, while allowing for the addition of auxiliary points (Steiner points) to shorten the overall length of the network.  The flexibility to add these Steiner points generalizes the "easy" minimum spanning tree problem to the "difficult" (aka NP-Hard) Steiner tree problem.  Steiner trees have applications in network design, circuit layout, and molecular modeling, in addition to having a realization via soap films.  The graph theory literature contains extensive studies of exact, approximation, and heuristic algorithms for ESTP in the plane, but less is known in higher dimensions.  My research focuses on heuristic and exact algorithms for solving this classic NP-hard problem, with emphasis on d>2.

"Fresh Threads of Connection: Mother Nature and British Women Writers," an exhibition currently on display in the Humanities Gallery of the Old Capitol Museum, is a joint project sponsored by the UI Museum of Art, UI Special Collections, the UI Department of English, the Old Capitol Museum, and local public libraries, in conjunction with the 2009 British Women Writers Conference, which will be hosted at the University in April. Designed to attract local elementary school field trips, reading groups, families, university classes, and scholars, the exhibit considers changing conceptions of nature within women's literature in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Britain, and includes rare books and portraits of authors such as Mary Shelley, George Eliot, and Charlotte Bronte. Events held in conjunction with the exhibit include lectures by UI and visiting faculty, a parlour performance of Jane Austen's Emma, and a Peter Rabbit-themed petting zoo.

In the study of American literature, those texts written from or about the American Midwest frequently take a backseat to the regional literature of other areas of the country.  Similarly, there is a general lack of knowledge or interest in the existence and survival of its prairie landscapes, both by those living within and outside of the Midwest.  Part of this may be due to the fact that, over the last two centuries, the native ecosystems of this region have been increasingly lost to the forces of industrialized agriculture, and so simply finding a native prairie is a difficult thing to do.  Furthermore, just as studies of regional literature tend to focus on coasts, mountains, and forests, so too have most large-scale preservation efforts as initiated by environmental groups in the last fifty years.  The project that I am proposing would seek to address these many issues by creating a literature course with three main objectives: reading texts written from our about the American Midwest, learning about the history and ecology of prairie landscapes, and actively engaging in prairie restoration efforts.  The overall goal of these activities is for students to acquire stronger aesthetic and ethical appreciation for prairie landscapes.

Attention is able to select relevant information based on the objects present in the visual input (e.g., Duncan, 1984; Egly et al., 1994; Vecera, 1994), but it is less clear how attention selects information from auditory input. In the current experiments, we examined whether auditory attention could select relevant information based on the auditory objects present in the input. Specifically, we asked if two features of a single auditory object were selected more efficiently than two features of different auditory objects. Participants listened to two simultaneous, spatially superimposed auditory objects and reported two features, either both from the same object (i.e., same-object condition) or one from each object (i.e., different-object condition). Participants were equally accurate for two reports when the features came from the same object. However, participants were significantly worse at reporting two features from different objects, indicating the presence of an object-based effect. Thus, attention is sensitive to not only visual objects but also to auditory objects.

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have demonstrated the efficacy of chemotherapy to moderately prolong survival for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Yet whether these results can be applied to older patients is unknown because of the underrepresentation of elderly women in these clinical trials. In real practice, more than 50% of all new breast cancer patients are elderly women who are 65 years of age or older. Not all the MBC patients will choose chemotherapy. Therefore, the question of policy relevance is not whether chemotherapy should or should not be used, but how widely it should be used. In addition, MBC is a highly heterogeneous disease in terms of risk and benefit profile due to treatment. Chemotherapy would help some patients live longer while put other patients’ lives at risk. This study will adopt both a risk adjustment (RA) model and instrumental variable (IV) analysis to estimate the treatment effectiveness of chemotherapy on survival among elderly women. The estimate from a RA model answers the question whether chemotherapy improves survival among patients who are treated by chemotherapy; whereas an IV estimate can provide additional evidence to help assess treatment effects and potentially uncover whether chemotherapy is over- or under-used.

Task performance has been shown to decline with exposure to combined vertical vibration conditions. In the current study, electromyography was used to capture the muscle activity of the back during single and combined whole-body vertical vibration conditions to try to explain this phenomenon.  Participants were exposed to the following four conditions: non-vibration control environment, vibration at 2.5 Hz, vibration at 5 Hz, vibration combining 2.5 Hz and 5 Hz.  It was shown that the participants were able to respond cyclically to the 2.5 Hz and 5 Hz vibration conditions when encountered independently, but only responded to the 2.5 Hz component of the combined vibration condition.  This study has revealed a significant musculoskeletal control system limitation.

Background Numerous researches have investigated the relationship between provider volumes and clinical outcome in various surgical procedures. However, this relationship has rarely been examined for the long term survival after breast cancer surgeries.  Objective investigating the relationship between the hospital volume, surgeon volume and long term clinical outcome for early stage breast cancer patients, using current year volumes, lag year volumes and volumes in the 12-month period prior to the surgery as predictors. Method The retrospective study cohort includes women aged over 66 years with early stage breast cancer from the SEER-Medicare data. Multivariate logistic regression is performed. Preliminary Results When using current year provider volumes as predictors, women underwent surgeries with low volume surgeons (&lt;6) are less likely (OR=0.89, P&lt;0.01) to survive than with high volume surgeons (&gt;10); those underwent surgeries with medium volume surgeons (6~10) is less likely (OR=0.92, P&lt;0.05) to survive. Women underwent surgeries in low volume hospitals (&lt;21) are less likely (OR=0.83, P&lt;0.01) to survive than women in high volume hospitals (&gt;80); those in medium volume hospital (21~80) is also less likely (OR=0.88, P&lt;0.05) to survive than high volume hospitals. Conclusion Lower provider volumes are associated with poorer clinical outcomes.

The University of Iowa Atomic Energy Commission Former Worker Program (UIA-FWP) in the College of Public Health is part of a nationwide Department of Energy (DoE)program to screen former nuclear weapons workers for adverse effects from DOE operations. The UIA-FWP screens workers for beryllium sensitization, lung disease, and cancers that may have resulted from exposure to ionizing radiation, beryllium and other substances common in manufacture of nuclear weapons at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Burlington, IA from 1949 through mid -1975. We screened 1006 former Department of Energy workers. We found 19 (1.9 %) with confirmed abnormal test defined as 1) two or more abnormal results from the same laboratory or from two different laboratories, or 2) one abnormal and one or more borderline result from the same laboratory or again from two different laboratories. The Chi square test of linear trend for degree of beryllium exposure and rate of sensitization to Beryllium was statistically significant. (p < 0.0001). These data support the recommendations for screenings of Beryllium exposed populations.

Side-to-side strength ratios are commonly used to assess knee strength in clinical settings and research on patients with knee disorders. Previous studies have demonstrated that healthy young people typically have side-to-side differences in knee strength of about 10% when the peak torque generated by the stronger leg is contrasted with that of the weaker leg. However, the mechanisms responsible for side-to-side differences in knee strength have not been clearly defined. The current study tested the hypothesis that side-to-side knee extensor strength differences are explained by inter-limb variations in voluntary quadriceps muscle activation (ability to completely activate the muscles in front of the thigh), antagonistic hamstrings activity (activity of the muscles that opposes the attempted movement), and electrically evoked torque at rest. Twenty-two volunteers served as subjects. Side-to-side differences in quadriceps activation and electrically evoked torque explained 69% of the strength differences by side. Antagonistic hamstrings activity did not contribute significantly. The results suggest both central and peripheral mechanisms contribute to inter-limb variations in strength. The results of this study also indicate that knowledge of quadriceps activation levels is helpful in interpreting strength tests and may lead to more valid assessment of muscle function.

The problematic location of the self “at home” or “outside home”: analyzing the migrant- identity in brick lane. In this dissertation, I explore the problematic diasporic subjectivity in Monica Ali's Brick Lane. Indeed, in this postcolonial novel the experience of displacement complicates the definitions of "homeland" and at the same time the definition of identity. Nazneen as a muslim immigrant woman struggles to have an independent voice while facing the twin difficulties of her male-dominated community and the other difficulty of mapping Home. In addition to analyzing the figure of the immigrant, my study will focus on the particular figure of Nazneen, this young girl has an arranged marriage and must depart from her little village and her sister to live with her husband in England. Thus I will analyze the metamorphose Nazneen undergoes within her identity though the light of the notion of the old and the new home as well as the notion of hybridity. Nazneen lives in Brick lane, a geographically boarded community that located in the margin of the London. Thus we can easily notice the gap created between the self and “the others” which is accentuated by the spatial division, the “spatialized culture” of foreign Indian community. However I will demonstrate that home can be destabilized as it contains multiple connotations.

This paper focuses on the intonation patterns in two sentence types in the Spanish corresponding to Spain and Mexico: declaratives and wh- or yes/no questions. While Mexican Spanish may select its standard form to utter a declarative sentence, the same melody may be used to express a wh- question in Castilian Spanish. The goal of this investigation is to provide evidence that speakers of Mexico Spanish and Peninsular Spanish have different selections of intonation contours available to express equivalent ideas. I am suggesting that there is variation in the distribution of meaning. Thus, we are facing a pragmatic issue in which meaning is conveyed in different ways.

This short play is an experiment, an exploration, me having fun with words and bodies, me pushing myself and scaring myself with language and imagery. I have a growing fascination in the possibility of pain and discomfort leading to spiritual ecstasy or revelation. I ask these questions: What is pain? Why do we fear it? How can we move past it, or through it? Does the antidote to pain lie in being entirely concentrated on the pain itself, entirely present with it? I hope this play will lead performers and audience to engage with these questions for themselves.

The purpose of this study is to explore the relation between skintone and police contact, in particular, the effect of Blacks and Latinos skintone on their experienced number of police stops and arrests.  Society’s perception of physical appearance has always favored lighter skin, and in the case of African Americans and Latinos lighter skin tone is a culturally valued status marker. Evaluations of outsiders lead to perceptions that Blacks and other racial minorities are threatening and more hostile than those with lighter skin. By using data collected from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) I am able to examine whether or not these perceptions have had an effect on why police stop some individuals more than others? Although all police stops do not result in an official arrest, preliminary analysis indicate that darker skinned individuals are still experiencing more police contact than lighter skinned individuals. This leads me to the hypothesis that the darker the skintone of Blacks and Latinos the more likely they are to be stopped by the police.

The Spanish costumbrista writer Ramon de Mesonero Romanos (1803-1882) observed and portrayed Madrid's rapidly changing society, helping to shape Spanish national identity. While claiming political objectivity, Mesonero upheld Madrid's bourgeoisie as representative of true Spanish character, thereby promoting a centralizing moderate liberalism that worked to wipe out Spain's peripheral cultures. Like Mesonero, Antonio de Trueba (1819-1889) dedicated his literary career to depicting the population surrounding him, in his case the Basque region of northern Spain. Ideologically, Trueba's work clashes with Mesonero's, specifically in its attacks on liberalism, praise of the Church, identification with rural laborers, and Carlist support. Also unlike Mesonero, Trueba has not been kindly received by literary critics; Trueba, along with Basque Carlism as a whole, is generally accused of promoting neocatholicism, patriarchy, and backwards traditionalism. Through a comparative analysis of the costumbrista writings of Mesonero and Trueba, I will demonstrate that the ideology underlying Trueba's work is far more paradoxical and ambiguous than has been previously recognized, reflecting the deep contradictions among Basque Carlist sympathizers who were fearful of the powerful centralizing tendencies of Spanish liberalism.

With the broad applications of nanomaterials in science and technology, there is an increased interest in the understanding of transport and dynamics at the nanometer dimensions. Recently, much discussion has occurred regarding the diffusion and sorption processes of a variety of silica-based materials, which have broad applications in many fields such as drug delivery, catalysis, and chemical separations. The interest in mesoporous silica is due to its ability to offer tunable diameters, pore sizes, volumes, and surface modifications. These silica particles are also strong and stable, offer a large surface area, do not shrink or swell, resist pH changes and yield highly reproducible results. The porous silica particles are durable, inert, and compatible to biological applications. To better understand the process of diffusion out of nanopores, an investigation of the transport of Rhodamine 6G, a fluorescent cationic dye, is used as a molecular probe for the nanostructured silica material. Through surface modification, the mesoporous silica beads contain a monolayer of octadecylsilane and possess a nominal diameter of 10 µm with an average pore size of 10 nm. These particles were loaded with R6G through a method of immersion; molecular diffusion of the dye was monitored using confocal microscopy.

This poster describes efforts to engage undergraduate students using service learning projects in classes across the University of Iowa campus.  First, selected service project guidelines are outlined and issues related to identifying and enlisting community partners are discussed.  Next, examples of particularly noteworthy student projects are presented.  Finally, qualitative and quantitative feedback collected from students 2-3 months after they completed a course with a service learning component is analyzed.   The analysis suggests that many Iowa students find service learning experiences to be beneficial, memorable, and engaging, particularly when projects are closely connected to course objectives.

Jorge Luis Borges translated into Spanish two works by Virginia Woolf, each of which would become corner-stone texts of major branches of cultural studies. Both in English and in Spanish, A Room of One's Own (1929, translated 1935) has long been central to feminist literary theory, while Orlando (1928, translated 1936) has become essential reading in Sexuality Studies.

This paper will consider how heterosexual male translation of feminist- and queer-identified texts may be viewed as writing in drag. Such an approach reveals the gender constructs--in the form of the stylistic and thematic features--the translator understands to constitute feminine/queer writing. At the same time, it reveals the privileged position from which the translator may impose his anxieties and expectations onto the text under the guise of gender impersonation.

What some might call a guilty pleasure, I call research. In watching every reality show that has been made by production company 51 Minds, and aired on Vh1, I have developed an admiration for the more sucessful contestants. I view all the shows as one show, as one game with its own rules, and as a contest not of strength or intelligence, but rather one of understanding of narrativity and storytelling. The game is the MetaGame and the object is to become famous. To win, one must self-produce, writing one's own story and creating one's own character. Being a reality tv star has been called the "business of being watched", but in modern reality TV, that is not quite enough. One must be worth watching. The Reality of Love examines the goals, strategies, winners, losers, and cultural effects of the MetaGame.

The aim of this study was to measure Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHQoL) in children with Ectodermal Dysplasia (ED) ages 6-19 years with respect to age and gender, and compare the child and caregiver assessment of the child OHQoL. Data were collected in a prospective cross-sectional study on a convenience sample of 90 children affected with EDs and their caregivers. Child and caregiver surveys had 23 common questions (scores range 0-92) with median scores of 16 for children and 26 for caregiver's assessment of child OHQoL. This child-caregiver difference was significant for total, functional limitations and emotional domains. Females reported higher scores in the total and all domains with a significantly higher emotional domain score. There was an ascending gradient of median scores as age increased; with a significant increase in emotional scores. Gender and age differences exist in the OHQoL of children affected with ED, particularly with respect to emotional well-being. OHQoL scores increase (QoL decreases) with age and scores are higher (quality of life lower) in females. Caregivers of children with ED report significantly higher OHQoL scores than do the affected children. Child-caregiver agreement was slight; correlations of total OHQoL scores were modest, but increased with age. 

We prospectively investigated the effect of stroke on the discharge destination, mortality, and functional and cognitive status of older adults in the nationally representative Survey on Assets and Health Dynamics among the Oldest Old (AHEAD) linked to Medicare claims.  There were 325 post-baseline ischemic strokes among the 5,511 self-respondents.  Mean age at stroke was 83, 50% were white women, 33% experienced paralysis, and 10% required a feeding tube.  Forty-one percent of patients were discharged to their homes, 35% were discharged to a nursing facility and 6% died in the hospital.  Declines in functional status ranged from 36% on the fine motor skills scale to 49% on the depression scale.  Mean declines in function included 3.8 Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), 2.2 depressive symptoms and 2.2 mobility and gross motor skill abilities.  Cognitive declines included a worsening of immediate and delayed word recall and cognitive status scale scores of 1.9, 2.2, and 2.3.  Characteristics of the stroke, socioeconomic status, and age were significantly associated with discharge destination.  These older adults experienced serious functional and cognitive declines and were less likely to return home after a stroke.  Age, characteristics of the stroke, and pre-stroke functional status were significantly associated with mortality.

Eleven pre-service college students piloting a computer-based curriculum called Videocases for Science Teaching Analysis (ViSTA) took part in this study, which analyzed online responses submitted after students watched a fifth-grade classroom learning about how plants live and grow. In their responses they were asked how they felt about the instruction they watched and how they might question and organize student learning in their own classroom in support of a science content story-line approach. The notion of how a pre-service teacher elicits a student's story of the content by way of questioning was mostly framed around their own need to convey her/his (or the scientific community's) own story rather than asking students to describe their own ways of understanding a scientific idea. This awareness of difference - whose story matters - seems to be a critical missing link in helping these pre-service teachers understand the nuances of the science content story-line lens approach.

As crises of climate change, global economic uncertainty, and environmental degradation converge on Middle America, small towns in Iowa are increasingly struggling to adapt to their changing worlds.  The Decorah Water and Energy Community Action Network (Decorah WE CAN), a partnership between University of Iowa Urbanand Regional Planning students and the City of Decorah, recognizes that small towns throughout the state have the capacity to craft more sustainable futures for their current citizens and for future generations.   The Decorah WE CAN sustainability initiative relies on empowering the community base towards making household efficiency improvements in stormwater collection and energy usage.  Small changes in daily habits, a new light bulb here or a rain barrel there, aggregate in dramatic ways for the city as a whole.  As our motto goes, “It all begins at home.”  We think that if we can encourage residents to make these small changes in their own homes, there will be potentially profound impacts on collective outcomes.  By this margin, Decorah WE CAN has a twofold objective: ensuring a more sustainable Decorah and empowering the community to determine its own future.  

The only real critical consensus on William Gaddis’s J R(1975), is that it is a novel about disorder. Beyond that, critics are divided on Gaddis’s engagement with this disorder, on the role of the reader within such chaos, and the cultural and political import the novel. I propose that Jean-Joseph Goux’s terms gold-language and token-language can bridge these critical impasses. However, this approach would seem to continue another failing within critical readings of the text: the failure to consider the novel within its economic context. Most readings that deal explicitly with money call on older and/or a historical theories, such as Marx, Shaw, and Freud. But, since Goux’s terms are firmly rooted in the specific historical moment of the 1920s, to deploy them in reading J R would fail once more to connect the novel to anything material. However, the Bretton Woods Agreement pushed the date of transition from gold money to token-money in America forward to 1971, when Nixon suspended gold convertibility of US dollars in the “Nixon Shock.” In this context, gold-language and token-language link J R to the historical conditions of its production. Further, I claim that this mode of linkage, what I shall term structural mimesis, enables J R to be historically engaged without being limited to a strictly local historical interest.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial biofilms, present in 80% to 90% of cystic fibrosis patients, are the leading cause of mortality among the population. Biofilms resist the host's immune system and treatment by antibiotics. It is our goal to develop dry powder aerosols to co-deliver dispersion and antibiotic compounds to break up and eradicate bacterial colonies.Dry powders were formulated with 10 wt% excipient (L-leucine) and 90 wt% antibiotic (ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, cipro) and dispersion compound (glutamic acid, glu) in varying ratios (overall solid concentrations of 0.1625% - 0.5%). The parameters of cipro concentration (0.5-9.5 µg/mL), glu concentration (50-550 µg/mL), overall solids percent (0.05-0.5 wt %), and liquid flow rate (5-14 mL/min) were varied to investigate the resulting powder physical properties. An in vitro bacteria model was cultured to approximately 108 colony forming units per mL and treated with cipro and glu. All powders had tap density values ranging from 0.53 g/cm3 to 0.78 g/cm3 and aerodynamic properties appropriate for tracheobronchial and alveolar deposition (3.50 - 4.77µm). All in vitro treatments significantly (p<0.05) reduced the percent live bacteria cells when normalized by volume compared to the untreated control. This co-delivery system has promise to improve the elimination of persistent infections in the lungs.

A central question in second language (L2) acquisition research asks why certain properties are more difficult to acquire in L2 than others. In syntactic theory, a basic distinction is made between the interpretable (meaningful) parts of language and the functional categories (FC) like articles, prepositions, etc; these are widely observed to cause problems for L2 learners (L2ers). The Impaired Functional Representation hypothesis says FC are permanently impaired in L2 after a “critical period” (ie puberty) and new functional categories different from those in the first language (L1) cannot be acquired as an adult, explaining the problems experienced in L2 acquisition. The Full Functional Representation (FFR) hypothesis contradicts this, saying it is possible for new functional categories to be acquired in L2 development, thus accounting for near-native L2ers. This study focuses on differences in word order between English and German, properties due to functional features. Three native English speakers of German and one German native speaker completed a grammaticality judgement task and a sentence completion task. The advanced learners were shown to have successfully acquired the V2 properties of German, supporting FFR and refuting IFR. Is it possible for us to learn a second language the same way as we learned our first? While it may be difficult, our results seem to say yes.

NAYSAYERS' PICNIC expresses theatrically, the unique charge that occurs when individuals voice their views in the presence of others with opposing or like views.  The play is comprised of three conceptual layers, the play-script itself, which I’d describe as a linguistic backdrop, or a canvas, primed for questions, along with another theatrical layer of information, or “crumbs”, that get passed and read by the hungry picnickers and audience as they await the “food” itself. The play relies upon audience' playful experience of disjuncture, between “what is said” and “what is heard.” The play questions how political engagement is reinvigorated by social exchange.

Since Michael Faraday first synthesized them in the 1850s, gold nanoparticles have been used as enhancing substrates for biological species via surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) but are limited by inherently low signals. Silver nanoparticles, however, exhibit larger SERS enhancements versus gold but lack biocompatibility. Therefore, methods to synthesis hybrid nanoparticles in which silver seeds are covered with a thin gold layer are sought as these structures are hypothesized to simultaneously exhibit both biocompatibility and more intense SERS signals versus bare silver or gold nanoparticles. Herein, the synthesis and characterization of gold coated silver nanoparticles with a defined silver core and variable gold shell thickness is demonstrated. The optical properties and morphology of these core-shell nanoparticles are characterized by extinction spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. These results are in good agreement with theoretical calculations of gold thickness. Finally, these hybrid materials are incubated with 2-naphthalenethiol for SERS analysis. Further studies will investigate the stability of these structures in biologically relevant environments.

Is High Fructose Corn Syrup healthy? Is it a safe substitute for sugar or honey? Who should be in charge of answering these questions? Whose responsibility is it to educate the public on the safety of “artificial” sweeteners like HFCS? These are all questions prompted by the “Sweet Surprise” advertisements and website created by the Corn Refiners Association that promote HFCS as a safe and healthy food additive. My study will attempt to place these advertisements in the context of this larger conversation about nutrition and public health as well as the recent debates over the corn industry prompted by texts such as King Corn.

The rise of modern sport that occurred within the US during the latter half of the nineteenth century has been characterized by many structural and social elements. During this rise different sports were relegated as vice and deemed disreputable while others were crafted to reflect sensibilities of the elite. Despite legal segregation and Jim Crow laws that permeated US culture, multiple accounts exist of racial minorities participating in the formational decades of professional baseball, cycling, and horseracing. Oftentimes informal exclusionary practices known as “gentlemen’s agreements‚” barred racial minorities during critical moments in institutional developments of particular sports. The inaugural years of national competition and the formation of state or national governing bodies often articulated with the declining participation minority athletes. This paper intends to examine the initial yet temporary crossing of the color line in professional golf at the second US Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, NY in August of 1896.

Sulfation of steroids, bile acids, catecholamines, and xenobiotics is catalyzed by sulfotransferases (SULTs). Environmental pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) have been implicated in a variety of adverse health effects, and metabolism by cytochrome P450 yields their hydroxylated forms (OHPCBs). These OHPCBs have been shown to interact with phenol (family 1) SULTs. Our hypothesis is that OHPCBs also interact with hSULT2A1 as substrates or inhibitors based on predictable structural characteristics. Of the fifteen OHPCBs examined, seven were inhibitors of the hSULT2A1-catalyzed sulfation of dehydroepiandrosterone and seven were substrates of hSULT2A1. The most potent inhibitors were 4’-OHPCB 6 and 4’-OHPCB 9. In general, OHPCBs without chlorine atoms on the phenolic ring were inhibitors. Chlorine atoms in the 2 and 4 positions of the non-phenolic ring also affected inhibition. Both of the catechol-OHPCBs studied were also inhibitors. As seen in four of the OHPCBs that were substrates, a 3,5-dichloro-4-hydroxy substitution pattern was favorable for sulfation. One OHPCB, 4’-OH PCB 36, did not show any significant interaction with hSULT2A1. These and future studies on structural characteristics important for OHPCB-interaction with hSULT2A1 will aid in assessing potential roles of the enzyme in metabolism and toxicology of OHPCBs.

2-deoxyglucose (2DG) is a glucose analog. Cancer cells have been proposed to have increased sensitivity to 2DG due to dysregulation of glucose metabolism. 2DG has also been reported to interfere with N-linked glycosylation and protein folding. Therefore, we hypothesize that 2DG-induced cell killing in murine T cell lymphomas is caused by N-linked glycosylation and metabolic oxidative stress. Tumor cell lines were derived from Lck-Bax driven murine lymphomas (Bax TCLs). The sensitivity of these cell lines to 2DG was determined by Guava ViaCount dye exclusion assay. Mitochondrial functioning (JC-1 staining) and ROS levels(DHE) were examined. Antioxidant scavengers were used to inhibit oxidative stress. Bax TCLs showed to be sensitive to 20 mM 2DG treatment. 2DG-caused cell death was not blocked by qVD-OPh suggesting caspase activity was not required to initiate cell death. 2DG led to 2-3 fold increases in DHE oxidation and mitochondrial membrane depolarization that preceded cell death. Adding PEG-SOD and PEG-Cat did not protect from 2DG-caused effects. Surprisingly, both the increase in DHE oxidation and cell killing were temporarily reversed by exogenous mannose, an important molecule in the N-Linked glycosylation pathway. Reversal of 2DG-induced increases in ROS and toxicity by mannose suggests a link between N-linked glycosylation, ER stress, and metabolic oxidative stress.

In this paper, I examine the gender dynamics of community participation and the relationship of that participation to town council representation in rural communities.  I find that where groups of people are excluded from socializing with their neighbors, the town councils have lower percentages of women in office.

On the southwestern edge of Lake Michigan sits East Chicago, a heavily-industrialized community.  Bisecting the area is the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal (IHSC) which is known to be contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), is designated as an Area of Concern by the International Joint Commission, and which flows near to residential areas and schools.  Although the fate of these IHSC PCBs in relation to human exposure is still unclear, we hypothesize that residents of East Chicago have elevated levels of PCBs in their blood.  In contrast, demographically-similar residents of the rural Columbus Junction, Iowa have no known PCB exposure from current or past industrial sources.  We have analyzed blood from children and their mothers in East Chicago and Columbus Junction for all 209 PCBs as part of an ongoing, four-year project through the Iowa Superfund Basic Research Program called the AESOP Study (Airborne Exposures to Semi-volatile Organic Pollutants).  We present our methods for sample collection and analysis and the results of the first six months of blood analysis.

Peptide and protein aggregation plays an important role in the pharmaceutical properties and bioactivity. Daptomycin is a novel cyclic 13-membered anionic lipopeptide antibiotic approved by FDA for the treatment of complicated skin infections and bloodstream infections (bacteremia/endocarditis). The daptomycin aggregation induced by calcium ions is regarded as the essential step to disrupt the bacterial membrane through the formation of trans-membrane channels. To better understand daptomycin action mechanism, daptomycin aggregation and the effects of aggregation on its pharmaceutical properties have been investigated. The critical aggregation concentrations (CAC) of daptomycin in various pH aqueous solutions were first identified by using intrinsic fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and confirmed by light scattering and NMR spectroscopy. Due to containing six ionizable side chains, the net surface charge of daptomycin varies with pH and directly affects daptomycin aggregation. Daptomycin aggregation is very sensitive to pH value and dependent on concentration. The apparent pKa values varied as a function of daptomycin aggregation. The distinctions of the aggregation effects on the hydrolytic degradation of daptomycin in alkaline and acidic solutions were elucidated.

Near infrared spectroscopy is under development for measuring glucose and other bio-molecules in biological fluids at wavelengths between 2.0 and 2.5 µm. High quality spectra are needed to successfully extract analytical information from near infrared spectra collected from clinical samples.  A solid-state near infrared spectrometer would advance the field by providing a means for collecting high quality spectra under non-laboratory conditions.  We are developing solid-state light emitting diode (LED) sources from unique InAsGaSb semiconductor materials. Physical geometry of the LED region is a critical parameter and the physical geometry depends on many factors associated with the etching process, such as composition of the etching solution, relative concentrations of the etching components, and time of the etching reaction.  This presentation will focus on the optimization of the etching solution to produce LED’s with high radiant powers.  Results indicate that the depth of etched piece and the angle of the etched sidewalls can be optimized by controlling the etching conditions. Our experiments demonstrate promising results in increasing the depth of the etch by a factor of 3. The original etch depth was 18.2 µm while the etch depth of an optimized solution was 60.4 µm.

Metallosupramolecular chemistry has attracted tremendous attention in material sciences in the last 25 years. Recent advances in this area gave rise to functional materials, which were successfully used for gas-storage and separation purposes, as well as in catalysis. Interestingly, the research in this area is exclusively based on organic ligands that contain backbones based on five- and six-membered rings (e.q. benzene). At the same time, metallosupramolecular assemblies based on ligands that have a cyclobutane ring as backbones remained virtually unexplored. <br />
With this in mind, we have developed a methodology that allows the synthesis of cyclobutane-based ligands predetermined for the design and construction of metallosupramolecular assemblies with nanometer-sized cavities and voids. The synthesis of such ligands is based on post-synthetic modifications of synthons derived from a template-directed synthesis in the solid state. In particular, bromo-stilbazoles were used to obtain bromo-phenyl-containing cyclobutane derivatives, which were subjected to palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions to yield ligands with extended pyridine handles. In this contribution, we present the solid-state synthesis of several bromo-phenyl-containing cyclobutane derivatives, the products of their post-synthetic modifications, and their potential applications in metallosupramolecular chemistry.

The emergence of patient-centered care has sparked considerable interest in the psychological underpinnings of preferences for treatment and how involvement in the decision-making process is related to outcomes. "Shared decision-making" has been coined as the approach that lies between the traditional paternalistic model, wherein the physician is responsible for all health care decisions, and the informed choice model, that promotes empowerment by giving patients full responsibility for decision-making. Understanding the effects of the collaborative effort emphasized in the shared decision-making approach has been the focus of much empirical attention, specifically with regard to life-threatening illness decisions. More recently, the applicability of this approach to chronic disease management has been of interest to researchers in the field. This review examines and integrates the empirical literature on shared decision-making in the context of chronic physical illness, with specific focus on diabetes due to its increasing prevalence and presentation in primary care. The feasibility of a shared decision-making approach is delineated, as well as the utility of this approach in improving patient satisfaction and health outcomes. Challenges to implementation in clinical care and recommendations for future research are offered.

Interaction of the solid particles with water is a process with implications in areas like mineral processing, environmental protection, food industry. In the case of materials permeated by interconnected nanometer sized pores, the molecular transport processes like wetting, diffusion and adsorption processes are governed by different laws comparing to the micrometric scale. The goal of the study was to investigate the wetting process of the hydrophobic nanopores of C18 derivatized silica particles using supra-micellar aqueous solutions of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecylsulfate at atmospheric pressure. By using an electrophoretic method, the amount of surfactant adsorbed on particles was estimated. We showed that, even in the absence of pressure as driving force, the hydrophobic domains confined in nanometer-sized spaces can be wetted completely in the presence of surfactants. We demonstrated also that, although counterintuitive, the process did not require the presence of a compact uninterrupted monolayer of SDS adsorbed on C18 layer (coverages around 10%). The study has practical implications in the field of preparing phantom tissues of biological samples for spectroscopic experiments by offering simple protocols to achieve selective wetting of either the total available surface of the hydrophobic particles (the outer surface plus nanopores) or only their outer surface.

Calculations of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters for Cu(II) diethylenetriamine imidazole complexes were calculated using density functional theory.  The orientation of three different types of imidazole ligands, imidazole, 1-methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole, were investigated by rotating the ligand about the Cu(II) imidazole bond.  The calculated <i>g</i>- and copper <i>A</i>-tensors show little variation between the different imidazole complexes or the dihedral bond angle.  The values calculated using the B3LYP density functional show the best agreement with the experimental <i>g</i>- and copper <i>A</i>-tensor.  Calculated values for the EPR parameters of the remote nitrogen atom on the imidazole ligands are in good agreement with experimental electron spin echo envelope modulation data.  The best agreement is achieved when an explicit water molecule is located near the remote nitrogen atom.  The electronic configuration of the remote nitrogen is approximately the same as 1-methylimidazole for all complexes studied in the absence of the explicit water.  The calculated EPR values indicate that the imidazole ligands studied occupy an orientation of ±45° with respect to the ligand plane.

Supramolecular chemistry involves the construction or self-assembly of single or multiple components based on non-covalent interactions.  Intrinsic to their design, these architectural frameworks exhibit properties that are different from the individual components while preserving the structure of the molecules. They are increasingly important with potential applications as materials, catalysts, pharmaceutics, data storage and processing. Toxic or hazardous solvents are generally used as a medium to construct these self-assembled structures. A ‘greener’ approach to producing these self-assembled structures has been achieved by reducing or eliminating the use of solvent via mechanochemical methods (e.g. solvent-free and solvent-assisted grinding), however, fundamental aspects of this process have not yet been explored. Using principles of supramolecular chemistry and mechanochemistry, we have demonstrated here the rapid formation of cocrystals based on resorcinol (res) and trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene ) (4,4’-bpe). With this in mind, we aim to eliminate the use of solvent by establishing fundamental principles of applying mechanochemistry to the construction of self-assembled structures.

In response to the alarming news that the Iowa River is the third most endangered river in the country, MFA playwright Andrew P. Saito proposes to conduct oral histories of farmers and other residents from various communities in the Iowa River watershed.  The oral histories will shed perspectives on both the current, polluted state of the river, contributing behaviors, and ideas for concrete actions that can be taken to alleviate the situation.  The oral histories will serve as primary texts for the creation of a play, which will be performed in the communities of origin, serving as a springboard for engaged cross-community, regional dialog about what can be done.

In the longer version of this paper argue for three distinct claims, all of which I take to be fairly controversial, but when put together I think offer compelling evidence against the claim that ‘species’ can have genuine, mind-independent, ontological existence. I offer a modal objection that brings into question any sort of realism about species.  I then consider Ghiselin’s (1974) and Hull’s (1970, 1976, 1978) suggestion that species should be understood as spatio-historical individuals.  I argue that ultimately this description of species ends up ushering in the very essentialism that motivated the move away from classes to individuals in the first place.  The aim of this paper is ultimately to give reason to believe that, regardless of what Mayr may suggest, realism about species qua mind-independent classifications is a position that is wholly unjustified.

Rocket is an experimental narrative fiction movie about trying to construct the story of a person's disappearance. Rocket has two main characters: Charlie, who disappears, leaving behind a series of clues in the form of voicemails, text messages, and images; and Narrator, who attempts to put those clues together in order to form a narrative of Charlie's disappearance. Narrator acts as a detective, reconstructing the past by piecing together the recorded clues. However, complete reconstruction fails, because Rocket is built in such a way that the construction of a complete story-world (the fabula) is impossible on the basis of the work itself (syuzhet). Articulation, both in the sense of “to say” and “to put together” is impossible for both Narrator and viewer.

Rocket is currently a work in progress, a movie at the rough cut stage. As the creator of Rocket, I am in a position similar to Narrator – trying to assemble the various elements I am working with into a coherent (or coherently incoherent, if that makes any sense) movie.

The main goal of this research is to simulate the interaction between in-stream and floodplain physical processes which will allow a more reliable output from stream bank erosion modeling. This study is comprised of three subsequent tasks: (1) performing field and laboratory measurements to collect input data used for CONCEPTS (CONservational Channel Evolution and Pollutant Transport System) simulations; (2) simulating bank erosion using CONCEPTS; and (3) conducting model validation using observed erosion rates. Field work includes collecting   required input data, i.e. upstream flow & sediment discharge, downstream rating curve, bank  stratigraphy, groundwater table, bed and bank erodibility parameters, soil hydraulic conductivity, pore water pressure, and vegetation related data. Soil and sediment samples will be collected from each representative stream cross sections to be tested in laboratory. The tests mainly focus on determining the sediment and soil physical properties. In-stream and floodplain processes will be simulated using CONCEPTS, a physically based computer model capable of simulating open-channel hydraulics, sediment transport, and channel morphodynamics.

A common finding that points to the continuing significance of race, even for relatively socioeconomically advantaged African Americans, is that the effect of parental education on adolescent educational achievement and attainment is considerably smaller for African Americans than whites (Gosa and Alexander 2007). Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, my research evaluates potential explanations for why highly educated black parents are less able to confer their educational advantages to their offspring by examining the potential role of neighborhood disadvantage. Social disorganization theory is useful in examining neighborhood effects in adolescent outcomes because it helps explain the differences in social controls that help shape social networks and educational achievement. This analysis, therefore, examines the roles of both structural neighborhood disadvantage and collective efficacy in explaining the differential effect of parental education. In part, this is one way of assessing an oppositional culture explanation, which would predict that black sons and daughters of highly educated parents are less likely than their white counterparts to select high achievers as friends.

Capillary electrophoresis coupled with nanoparticles has been shown to improve detection of analytes, facilitate the separation of nanoparticles, and dramatically improve the resolution of target molecules. Despite advances, little research performed correlates the separation of analytes to nanoparticle attributes such as surface chemistry and stability. In this work, we will demonstrate nanoparticle influence in the capillary electrophoresis-based separations of four potential Parkinson's disease biomarkers: dopamine, epinephrine, pyrocatechol and uric acid. To develop a structure-function understanding of the role of nanoparticles as additives in the separation buffer, gold nanoparticles will be thoroughly characterized using extinction spectroscopy, NMR, TEM, and zeta potential prior to separation experiments. Next, varying concentrations of gold nanoparticles will be included in the run buffer during the separation of the biomarkers. It will be shown that the separation of the Parkinson's disease biomarkers is dictated by nanoparticle concentration and stability as well as by attractive and repulsive interactions between the nanoparticles and each individual biomarker. We envision the integration of capillary electrophoresis with nanoparticles for enhanced bioanalysis and separation of samples in applications relating to Parkinson's and other disease diagnosis

Background ozone (O3) together with photo-chemically produced ozone contributes to surface O3 levels. Previous work reported a wide range of background O3 in North America, and indicated its increasing trend. As a receptor of pollutants from eastern Pacific Ocean,impacts of transported background O3 on California air quality have attracted attention. This study focused on coastal site Trinidad Head, three northern Californian and a southern Californian inland site. Two resolutions and various boundary conditions sensitivity studies were applied to STEM chemical transport model simulations. O3 measured during ARCTAS/California experiment were used to evaluated and improve model performance as boundary conditions. In addition, meteorological fields was also concluded to be an influential factor in simulating O3 transport from both oceanic background to inland and inland from upwind to downwind areas. With observations and model results generated with high quality meteorological fields, pollutant transport patterns were analyzed. We compared the whole campaign period and a shorter period when California received strong Asian inflows and the situations of northern and southern California. Back trajectories, source contribution analyses and correlation calculations were used for analyses.

This paper investigates the two major factors that influence L2 acquisition: the L1 grammar and the accessibility of the Universal Grammar (UG) with its principles and parameters. The research focuses on how these two components can be observed in L2 acquisition by testing English native speakers who are L2 learners of Hungarian.

The two properties tested are related to noun phrase (DP) structures. In Hungarian, as opposed tp English, a possessor can co-occur with determiner within the same DP. Secondly, there is a restriction in Hungarian that allows only one possessor constituent in a DP. Therefore, an English speaking L2 learner has to acquire two properties: the possibility of a possessor and an article appearing in the same DP, and the ungrammaticality of two co-occurring possessors.

The study is based on a Grammaticality Judgment Task focusing on possessor-article co-occurrence and the restriction on possessors in focus. The participants were three native speakers of English who had studied Hungarian for different amount of time and in different circumstances. The L2ers were compared to a control group of five native speakers of Hungarian.

The results suggest that the learners had built their acquisition of the second language grammar on that of their native language; and also that they had re-formulated it by using universal grammatical structures accessed from UG.

Meatpacking in Iowa has fundamentally changed the demographics of rural towns.  In a state that is 90% white there are towns that are have increasing populations of Latinos and other immigrants.  This research seeks to provide representations of the experiences of meatpacking workers interviewed in and around a small meatpacking town in Iowa.  From these interviews a testimony of the lives of workers emerges, which speaks to the positive and negative aspects of working in the meatpacking industry.  Many workers are not aware of the rules and regulations which are meant to protect them, and efforts to solve this issue have led to workers taking active roles in educating and empowering their peers.

The previous studies on the relationship between marriage and subjective well-being (SWB) have mainly focused on the issue of the causal direction between the two because they have generally accepted the existence of the positive relationship. In this paper, I examine the relationship between marriage and SWB with 72 nation data collected during the last 10 years. The results indicate that the positive relationship is reproduced only in the 33 nations when life satisfaction is used as the dependent variable and in the 38 nations when happiness is used as the dependent variable. Further analyses show that the positive effect of marriage is stronger in a society where the economy is highly developed and the secular-rational values are dominant. In this society, marriage is regarded as a choice rather than a responsibility. Finally, in the two different groups of nations, one of which reveals an overall positive effect of marriage, and the other of which does not, the patterns of the effect of marriage on SWB are different depending on respondents' age. In the former nations, the positive effect of marriage disappears from the 40 year old group. In the latter nations, the positive effect of marriage does not appear even in the youngest group.

This paper will analyze the leading Tibetan diasporic website, www.phayul.com, and how the website constructs symbols of nation on the Internet. The web portal has become an important media for the geographically dispersed and marginalized population of Tibet, helping create an imagined community in exile. Thanks to technology, the Internet had allowed members of the community to invent and imagine of symbols of nation. As the land of Tibet fades further into memory, this paper will investigate how new media technology plays a critical role in reviving nationalist consciousness.

Internally etched silica-coated gold nanoparticles (IE-AuSiO2 NPs) are synthesized for the surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection of target molecule. These IE-AuSiO2 NPs are synthesized in a three step process. First, bare gold nanoparticles are seeded using a metal salt and reducing agent. Next, these nanoparticles are coated with a silica layer which stabilizes their optical properties by preventing electromagnetic coupling between adjacent metal cores. Finally, basic conditions induce the formation of silica membranes surrounding these gold-silica nanostructures via selective etching of the silica layers nearest the gold core. Extinction spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are used to characterize the optical properties of the gold cores and to observe the formation of the silica membrane. In these studies, the etching process has been stopped at 5 distinct times. The structure and porosity of these composite structures as well as SERS responses of 2-naphthalenethiol were compared. Kinetic responses of the SERS signals have been correlated to the structural morphology results from TEM. These results indicate that silica etching time greatly impacts the observed SERS signal in a predictable and reproducible manner.

As one gets older our standards might change, transform, and even sometimes, sadly lower. In this work three women amplify the behavior towards a dream that somebody wonderful might still be out there. It is only human to even after having great disappointment to continue to believe in that special somebody. These three women find themselves in that situation, one full of hope, despair and cardboard.

When Native American activist and author Vine Deloria reflected on the ideological differences of the Black and Native civil rights movements of the 1960s, he saw the issue of land as a philosophical wedge that separated the two groups.  As Deloria understood it, having (or lacking) a physical and spiritual connection to a specific homeland greatly affected the worldview and goals of a people.  We see these diverse interpretations not just in the political and social actions of each group, but also within their respective basketball cultures. What are the effects of a centralized homeland on basketball culture?  How does basketball culture reflect the psychic energies of a people who have or lack a homeland?  What happens to that culture when home is not a stable and fixed idea, but constantly shifting?  Analyzing these forces allows us to search for answers across a wide variety of sources.  Histories, journalism and works of fiction provide us with the Black and Native perspective and allow us to see that poverty alone does not necessarily make the experiences of diverse groups of people in any way identical.  It is the responses, understandings and interpretations of these conditions that are as diverse as the people who experience them. Basketball allows us the opportunity to see how many of these feelings, desires and reactions to larger forces are expressed.

To improve conventional medical devices, advances must be made for quicker response times, miniaturization, more accurate results, cheaper costs and enhanced detection capabilities for specific target biomolecules. My research goal is to develop next generation medical diagnostic devices which integrate capillary/microchip electrophoresis with nanoparticles for improved separation and enhanced detection of samples for diagnosis, management, and treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Capillary/microchip electrophoresis will be utilized for small sample volume requirements, excellent separation capabilities, and fast analysis times. Gold nanoparticles will serve a dual role to both enhance detection and separation efficiencies of the targeted biomarkers. Initial investigations have focused on the mechanism of nanoparticle-assisted separations in capillary electrophoresis. Currently, we have demonstrated the effective surface charge of nanoparticles impacts interactions with analytes, the capillary wall and other nanoparticles. This research will increase the understanding of nanoparticle-assisted separation and detection of potential PD biomarkers with the long term goal of engineering a clinical tool for the early diagnosis of PD.

Fluoroquinolones are broad-spectrum antimicrobials that trap gyrase and topoisomerase IV on DNA.  The resulting ternary complexes block DNA replication, RNA synthesis, and growth.  Rapid cell death has been correlated to chromosome fragmentation and can occur by two pathways: one which requires ongoing protein synthesis and one which does not.  Moxifloxacin and PD161144, each with an N-1 cyclopropyl and a C-8 methoxy substituent, cause rapid lethality in cells; molecular modeling and SAR suggest that these substituents arrange in a relative trans configuration.  Previously, we have attempted to confirm this hypothesis using analogs of levofloxacin and ofloxacin, which contain a ring between the N-1 and C-8 positions with an exocyclic methyl group.  The reduced activity of these compounds is thought to be related to the N-1 and C-8 substituents being limited in three dimensional flexibility.  Recently, we have begun to investigate analogs of ulifloxacin, a fluoroquinolone with a 2-methyl-[1,3]thiazetidine ring between the N-1 and C-2 positions.  Additionally, modeling data suggests that C-2 <i>S</i>-methyl and C-2 <i>S</i>-phenyl may impart antimutant activity due to the interaction with gyrase.  Also being investigated is the effect of the thiazetidine ring on lethality. Here, we attempt to determine the effect of the C-2 <i>S </i>substituents on the lethal activity of C-8 methoxy fluoroquinolones.

Sidney Crosby is a young, incredibly talented NHL hockey player, and as well as his on ice achievments his plethora of endorsments and media attention is increasing his status as a celebrity. As products of the media celebrities can become sources of cultural identification through which individuals negotiate their own lived experience (Andrews & Jackson, 2001). This paper explore the construction and  consumption of the NHL hockeystar and his co-articulation to the performance of communal nation-hood in Canada. As the celebrity-hood of Crosby has increased ober the past few years so has his imagined position as a represenative figure of white, heterosexual, masculine Canadianess. As we witness Crosby's star power, we are admist an era of neo-liberalism that is cutting social welfare programs, refusing to recgonize diversity, and removing any space for critical dialogue (Giroux, 2004). The representation and consumption of contemporary Canadian identity through the white, heterosexual, male hockey player is one way in which to homogenize the diverse nation of Canada to all viewers and also reinforce neo-liberal ideology. Thus this paper looks to add to the discussion on the danger of neo-liberal politics, and how they are manifested in the nation of Canada.

High stereocontrol of reactivity, formation of unique products, and a solvent-free environment have made solid state an intriguing medium for target oriented covalent syntheses. Unfortunately, controlling reactivity in the organic solid state has remained a challenge owing to the structure demands of close packing. Previously, we reported that that a resorcinol based linear template could circumvent effects of close packing by preorganizing reactant olefins within discrete supermolecules suitable for undergoing [2+2] photocycloadditions in solid state. In particular, templates based on resorcinol and pyridine functionalized olefins have been shown to offer a reliable means to synthesize molecules in solids using the strength and directionality of hydrogen-bonds. This modular approach led to the synthesis of a variety of synthetically-challenging targets (e.g. cyclophanes, ladderanes) stereospecifically, quantitatively, and in gram amounts. In order to establish this method as a general way of performing targeted synthesis in solid state, we have undertaken a series of experiments to modify the handles. Here, we show the effect of ortho substituents on the pyridine handles in terms of both self-assembly and photoreactivity. Our studies demonstrate that substitution is tolerated, providing an increase in generality and synthetic viability of our approach.

As the global recession continues to unfold, many have asked what policies should be adopted in order to diminish in its impact.  However, such discussions rarely pay sufficient attention to the moral underpinnings of capitalism.  Rather than focusing on how to get the system working as usual, it is time to consider how the system might be reformed in ways that promote the flourishing of human as well as non-human life.  As a small step in that direction, this paper will undertake a religious ethical reflection on the virtues and vices of capitalism in order to challenge the ways in which we traditionally think about the role of morality in the economic realm and hopefully to open up the conversation to greater ethical possibilities. 

My presentation will investigate the role of mythmaking in creative nonfiction writing. Pairing examples from my own essays with other relevant historical essays, I will argue that mythmaking allows the writer to both explore and complicate issues of identity and place. As a writer constantly at odds with my own beginnings--I was adopted from Korea as an infant and raised in a white, middle class family--I will attempt to respond to questions such as, How do we constitute mythmaking--a form of fiction-writing--as nonfiction? What is lost or gained by the use of such a loaded literary device? Does mythmaking make sense in a post-postmodern society? In looking at these issues alongside my personal narrative, I hope to insert my dialogue into the larger conversation concerning both the cusps and the extending horizons of contemporary nonfiction.

Objectives: (1) Describe where and what types of contraceptives were purchased (2) Explore if embarrassment concerning purchase of contraceptives vary by age, marital status, education, insurance coverage, income, race, and rural/urban (3) Explore if embarrassment is related to contraceptive availability or information in pharmacies. Methods: Design. Secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional telephone survey. Subjects. 796 woman age 18-30. Data Collection. Purchasing was measured using partially closed ended items. Embarrassment was measured using a dichotomous item. Availability and information were measured using 4-point Likert scales. Analysis. Descriptive statistics quantified where and what types of contraceptives were purchased. Chi-square determined if embarrassment varied by demographics as well as availabiliy of contraceptives and information. Results: The most frequent place to purchase contraceptives was drug store/pharmacy (37.7%). The most frequently purchsed were pills (36.4%) and condoms (30.5%). Women with some college education were more embarrassed to purchase OTC (31.7%) and prescription (33.3%) contraception(p<0.001,P<0.001). The most embarrassment in purchasing prescriptions was found with good availability of contraceptives (p=0.01). The most embarrassed to purchase OTC were found with fair availability of info (p=0.031).

This is a research project that aims to apply Virtual Reality and Computer-Aided Design Technologies in real-time experiences of Interior Spaces. The final prodcut were two designs, one for a bookstore booth and the other for a restaurant located in Iowa City, IA. Virtual Reality technology allows the user to experience the built space around him different from traditional presentation modes such as models and drawings. The user can interact and walk through the interior as desired and also has the option of sound and video playing as the experience occurs.

Due to the expanding use of nanoparticles, the risk of human exposure has increased rapidly. The most critical concern over health and environmental effects occurs when nanoparticles are aerosolized. Airborne nanoparticles are highly mobile and can enter the human body <em>via</em> inhalation. We examined pulmonary inflammatory responses, oxidative stress biomarkers and host defense mechanisms (assessed by <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em> challenge) in mice following inhalation sub-acute exposure (4 hr/day, 10 days) to commercially manufactured copper (Cu) nanoparticles. Concentration and aerosol size distribution for sub-acute Cu exposures were 3.5 mg m^-3 and near 200 nm of geometric mean diameter, respectively. The amount of Cu measured in lungs of Cu-exposed animals was 31 mg kg^-1 lung (dry weight). Immediately following sub-acute exposure, Cu-exposed mice showed increased inflammation compared to sham exposed animal as indicated by the number of total cells and neutrophils, levels of total protein, and LDH activity in lung lavage fluid. Bacterial clearance from the lung was found to be significantly higher in Cu-exposed mice than sham-exposed animals. We conclude that inhalation sub-acute exposure of Cu nanoparticles in mice produces inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. Increased lung bacterial clearance may be associated with antimicrobial activity of Cu.

The use of contact network epidemiology to understand the spread of nosocomial infections has been limited, likely due to the absence of reliable data from which to infer epidemiologically meaningful contact networks. We propose an approach that uses spatial data along with the login data generated by Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems used in most modern U.S. hospitals to construct hospital contact networks. Based on EMR login data from the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics (UIHC) we construct a variety of social contact networks and use these networks to investigate the e ectiveness of targeted vaccination policies.

Nox1 is a transmembrane protein that is activated and upregulated in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) response to injury, growth factors, or cytokines. Under these conditions, VSMCs exacerbate vascular disease by contributing to neointimal formation and arterial occlusion. In this study, we compared the trafficking of Nox1 after stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and thrombin, two agonists present during vascular disease states that are important in VSMC activation that signal via Nox1. In VSMCs cultured from murine aorta, immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that Nox1 is primarily localized at intracellular membranes. Additionally, SMC surface proteins were labeled with biotin and cells were stimulated with TNF-α or thrombin. Surface biotin was cleaved and the cell lysate subjected to streptavidan immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting for Nox1. These data showed that in response to TNF-α, but not thrombin, Nox1 is internalized. These results suggest that in quiescent SMCs, Nox1 is primarily an intracellular protein that depending on the agonist can either be internalized into a signaling endosome or remain within intracellular compartments, both pathways resulting cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis. Agonist-dependent differences in trafficking of Nox1 may provide specificity in Nox1 signaling.

Two years ago I began volunteering in the Four Oaks facility that houses homeless teens ages 11-17 in Iowa City. Though I was initially asked to teach yoga, in the back of my mind brewed a far more ambitious plan: I wanted the impassioned peers in my graduate writing program at UI to work with these teens. Why? As overworked and underpaid we graduate students feel to be, we have much to contribute and learn by working iwth marginalized populations. I was convinced that not only would at-risk teens gain invaluable reading and writing skills, but by working with writers/artists the teens would be given the opportunity to channel their energy into an artistic field that potentially engenders a postitive identity. Last spring six graduate students from various writing programs partnered with Four Oaks to teach weekly creative writing and reading workshops. It sounds romantic. It was not. Some of us worked in the evening and some during school hours, coordinating our assignments with the in-house teachers. One week a nine year old girl worte, "I want to be a writer when i grow up and that would be just great for me." At the end of the semester we created a 24 page book of their work.

The Davidson Fellowship is a national talent award competition founded by the Davidson Institute in 2001, which awards money to students under the age of 18 who have "completed a significant piece of work" in one of six academic areas. Science winners did projects in alternative energy, AIDS research, nanotechnology, breast cancer research, alternative power sources, and technology to prevent wildfires, among others. Studying how talent develops and what impacts the lives of eminent individuals is a prominent area of gifted education research. One model of talent development in gifted education is the Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT). The DMGT portrays competence or giftedness as the result of the interactions among natural abilities, and environmental and interpersonal catalysts along a developmental process. The main research question for this study is how have the different facets of the talent development process interacted to produce such a high level of competence in science at such a young age in the Davidson Fellows? A multiple-case study procedure will be used to investigate the lives of these students. Interviews will be conducted with the students, their parents, and the mentor for their Fellowship project.

Purpose: Cytochrome P450 is the major family of drug metabolizing enzymes present in the nasal mucosa and their action can limit the systemic bioavailability of drug compounds administered intranasally. The aim of the present study was to characterize the expression of three CYP450 isoforms (2A6, 3A4 and 2C) in bovine olfactory and respiratory mucosa using immunohistochemical techniques. Methods: For immunofluorescence studies, formalin fixed and paraffin embedded sections were treated with HIER, blocking, incubations with primary and secondary antibodies against CYP isoforms and examined under a confocal laser-scanning microscope. Results: Immunofluorescence revealed the presence of proteins reacting with anti-CYP antibodies in several regions. The nasal epithelium showed intense staining in the cytoplasmic region of the pseudostratified columnar epithelium and the basal cells. In the submucosal layer, the cells of Bowman's glands were immunopositive. Conclusions: Our immunohistochemical studies showed the presence of CYP 2A6, 3A4 and 2C in the pseudostratified columnar epithelium, the basal cells and the cells of Bowman's glands in bovine olfactory and respiratory mucosa. This distribution pattern indicates that drug molecules may encounter metabolic barriers both when crossing the nasal epithelium and within the submucosal region prior to transfer to systemic circulation.

Objective: To use data to design social marketing messages/materials for a pharmacy intervention to reduce unintended pregnancies. Methods: Pharmacy Access Partnership social marketing materials were supplemented with 5 Iowa-specific data sources. Data were obtained through (1) advisory board of consumers and pharmacists, (2) 52-item pharmacy fax survey, (3) individual pharmacist phone interviews, (4) four consumer focus groups of 18-30 year olds, and (5) 89-item telephone survey of Iowa women. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Main themes were identified using content analysis of focus groups and phone interview data. Results: The social marketing materials will consist of posters, section signs, educational brochures and shelf-talkers that pharmacists will display. An example of a shelf-talker (5" by 3" sign on shelf next to products) message is "Did you know?" with facts such as "there are more choices than pills and condoms," or "50% of pregnancies in Iowa are not planned." Pharmacists indicated a desire to have materials suggest consumers talk with them. Consumers indicated availability of pharmacists to discuss pregnancy prevention and a private area were important. Conclusion: New social marketing messages were developed for future pharmacy intervention.

Modeling the mechanics of woven textiles is essential to analyzing the physical performance of clothing systems that consist of layers of woven fabric that are cut and sewn together into desired shapes that conform to the body of the wearer.  An essential aspect of modeling the mechanics of clothing is capturing the stress-strain behaviors of woven fabrics, which invariably feature highly nonlinear, anisotropic, and hysteretic behaviours.  Constitutive models that represent this mechanical behaviour must be properly formulated for invariance under large deformations and rigid body motions.  The objective of this research is first to experimentally measure the mechanical behaviour of clothing fabrics, and secondly to develop realistic yet robust and efficient constitutive models that can be employed in whole-body shell finite element clothing simulations.

Great singing results from musicality and artistry built on the foundation of a healthy instrument. The entire body is a singer’s instrument. Proper body alignment must be achieved and maintained for the health of the singing mechanism. Elements from movement methods, such as the Alexander Technique, Laban Movement Studies, Bartinieth Fundamentals,Feldenkrais Technique, and Yoga and Pilates methods, can be combined to create an individualized routine to suit a singer’s alignment needs. With proper alignment, a singer may be able to enhance aspects of the voice, including breath management, freedom in movement of the larynx and the release of tension throughout the body. Other benefits of alignment exercises for singers include the promotion of body awareness to decrease the occurrence of injury to the voice, the management of performance anxiety, and the encouragement of focus and visualization in a singer’s performance.

Girls on the Run-Johnson County isin its third year of offering girls in the Iowa City Community School Districtan opportunity to learn about themselves, their teammates, and their communitythrough a program that helps them train to complete a 5K race. More than 200girls have completed a season with GOTR-JoCo, but what do they remember threemonths after their season ends? How are they living out the lessons that theylearn about healthy eating, being a good friend, and staying physically active?Through a questionnaire, an interview, and the use of the draw-and-writetechnique, we will examine what GOTR-JoCo alumni internalize and how they livethose lessons in their daily lives after their season ends. Additionally, wewill give GOTR-JoCo the results in a format that will be easy to use whenapplying for grants or visiting with current and potential donors. 

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive disorder that leads to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons inthe substantia nigra. This neurodegeneration has been shown to correlate with anumber of environmental factors, including exposure to pesticides such asdieldrin (DI). This pesticide is ranked one of the twelve most persistent,bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals by the US EPA. Previous studies found anincreased concentration of DI in the brains of PD patients, and that DI adversely affects a number of cellular processes known to increase the likelihoodof developing PD. However, the mechanism(s) responsible for DI-mediated cellular dysfunction has not been defined. The hypothesis of this study is that the toxicity profile is unique for each analog of DI, indicative of astructure-activity relationship. In order to test this hypothesis, analogs of DIwere used in various cellular assays using dopaminergic PC6-3 cells. These experiments assessed mitochondrial activity, the cytotoxicity of each compound, and quantified extracellular dopamine metabolites. The results of these experiments indicate astructure-specific effect that will be very important for elucidating the mechanisms of DI toxicity as they relate to PD.

Rill erosion is a major form of soil and nutrient loss that affects the productivity of agricultural lands and threatens our environment.  In this study, laboratory experiments are currently being conducted to identify the effects of different land use management practices on soil surface roughness, which in-turn affects rill erosion processes.  Identification of the role that management practices has on erosion processes will lead to more sustainable agriculture practices, thus avoiding the loss of vital nutrients and reduction of the soil's water-holding ability.  A state-of-the-art laser scanner technique is utilized to determine the soil surface roughness, providing an accurate spatial resolution of 0.5 mm.  In this technique, a laser beam is projected vertically onto the bed surface while an infra-red camera detects the light spot reflected from the surface.  Knowledge of the bed topography allows us to determine the associated drainage networks, flow direction, and stream segmentation via GIS (Geographic Information System) modeling.  Data sets obtained from this study will be used as input files to simulate the development of rills using a newly developed 1-D hydrodynamic and sediment transport model namely, RILL1D, which handles transcritical flows over abrupt changes in rill bed and predicts changes in rill bed elevation.

This study investigated the relationship between prewriting and writing performance in four writing domains.  Results indicated students who employed lists, graphic organizers or combinations of strategies performed better on the writing assessment than those who employed only written rough drafts or no strategy at all.