Challenges to engaging Black male victims of community violence in healthcare research: Lessons learned from two studies.

A dearth of literature exists on barriers to conducting research with Black male victims of community violence, despite the need for evidence-based postinjury interventions. This study used qualitative data from a cross-sectional interview study (n = 16) and a pilot intervention study (n = 11) conducted in Boston, MA to identify challenges and facilitators to conducting research with Black male victims of community violence, particularly with regard to recruitment and maintenance of a study sample. Qualitative methods, including Grounded Theory and ethnography, were used to analyze the data. Challenges included a fear of police involvement, an impression of “snitching” when disclosing personal information, mistrust of research motives, suspicion of the informed consent process, the emotional impact of the trauma itself, and logistical issues. Facilitators to research included monetary incentives and motivation to help oneself and others. Participant recommendations on recruitment methods relating to approach and timing are provided. Findings from this study may assist in the planning of research studies for Black male victims of community violence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Water Activity and Temperature Effects on Fungal Growth and Ochratoxin A Production by Ochratoxigenic Aspergillus carbonarius Isolated from Tunisian Grapes

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the effects of temperature (15 to 37 °C) and water activity (0.90 to 0.99) on the growth and production of ochratoxin A (OTA) by Aspergillus carbonarius cultured on synthetic nutrient medium (SNM) after 5 and 10 d of incubation. Total of 8 ochratoxigenic A. carbonarius, isolated from vineyards located in different regions of Tunisia, were used. Growth data were modeled by the flexible model of Baranyi and growth rates at each set of conditions were obtained. For both growth and OTA production, optimal water activity was 0.99; however, optimal temperature varied. The optimal temperature for growth was 30 °C. At 37 °C, the growth rate decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Maximum toxin production occurred at temperatures in the range of 15 to 25 °C with the optimum one depending on the isolate tested. Significant amounts of OTA were produced after only 5 d of incubation. Our results showed that A. carbonarius isolated from Tunisian grapes behave as those from European and Australian grapes, as reported in the literature, although some differences in trends for growth and OTA production were observed.     

Study of propagation phenomena in three-phase form wound machines operating at medium and high frequency

A three-phase model of asynchronous machines operating at medium or high frequencies is presented. It can be used to study the propagation of surge waves along the stator windings of induction form wound machines.The model is derived from an analogy with a three-phase transmission line. The use of time-space Clarke vectors allows the introduction of mutual coupling between phases. The analytical expressions for voltage waves are derived by means of the Laplace approach to the solution of hyperbolic partial differential equations.Some applicative examples confirm the model validity and can underline some aspects of the project of three-phase windings.     

Tape casting of strontium and cobalt doped lanthanum chromite suspensions

Lanthanum chromite (LaCrO₃) is currently the most widely studied material as interconnector layers for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). The complexity of microstructures and geometries of SOFC devices, which are usually built-up by lamination of the different constitutive layers, make it necessary a precise control of processing parameters to achieve the desired combination of properties. Much effort has been devoted to the processing of electrodes and electrolytes but the other layers, such as that of interconnecting material, have received scarce attention. This work deals with the preparation and optimisation of the rheological behaviour of concentrated suspensions of Sr- and Co-doped LaCrO₃ and the subsequent tape casting to produce homogeneous thin sheets to be used in the SOFC stack.The starting powder was produced by combustion synthesis from the corresponding nitrates and urea as a fuel, and had a final composition of La_0.80Sr_0.20Cr_0.92Co_0.08O₃. These powders were dispersed in ethanol with commercial copolymers (Hypermer, KD6) to solids loading of up to 58 wt%. The binding system (BS) consisted of a mixture of a binder, polyvinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate (PVA-PVAc), and two plasticizers, polyethyleneglycol (PEG400) and benzylbutylphthalate (BBP). The effect of the binding system content and the binder-to-plasticizer ratio on the tape casting performance and the characteristics of the green and the sintered tapes, were studied, as well as the influence of the casting parameters (casting speed and blades height).     

On the Mediation of Everything: ICA Presidential Address 2008

As our field moves beyond the traditional dualism of mass and interpersonal forms of communication to encompass new, interactive, networked forms of communication whose influence may be traced across multiple spheres of modern life, it is commonly claimed that "everything is mediated" and that this represents a historically significant change. This article inquires into these rhetorically grand claims: first, noting the parallels with other processes of mediation (e.g., language, money, and myths); second, raising questions of value since, unlike for other forms of mediation, the media's role is typically construed as negative rather than positive; and third, observing that the difficulties of translating "mediation" into a range of languages reveals some conceptual confusions. As a step toward clarification, I contrast the terms "mediation" and "mediatization," these roughly mapping onto situational and historical influences, conceived primarily at micro- and macrolevels of analysis, respectively. I then argue for a broad conception of mediation that encompasses those processes variously referred to as "mediatization,""mediazation," or "medialization." The analysis is illustrated by unpacking the claim that "childhood is mediated," before concluding that distinct aspects of the concept of mediation invite communication scholars to attend to the specific empirical, historical, and political implications of the claim that "everything is mediated."     

Imaging the proteins pseudoazurin and apo-pseudoazurin on gold by STM in air: effect of the bias voltage

We have applied scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) to the study of two proteins: pseudoazurin and apo-pseudoazurin. Both proteins adsorbed onto a Au (1 1 1) surface are visible to STM individually, forming into layers and multilayers, with currents from about 55 to 600 pA. The images reproduce well the expected dimensions laterally but not in the z direction. The apparent height of the proteins varies with the voltage polarity, being higher at negative sample voltages. The bias also affects their shape. Negative sample voltages of more than 1.5 V orient the proteins present on a gold terrace in parallel rows. The layer of water adsorbed on surfaces in ambient conditions can be related to our results to explain the reduced z dimensions, the asymmetry with the voltage polarity and the alignment of proteins at voltages more negative than -1.5 V.     

Prevalence of Clostridium botulinum in food raw materials used in REPFEDs manufactured in France

Food raw materials used in refrigerated processed foods of extended durability (REPFEDs) manufactured in France were surveyed for Clostridium botulinum types A, B and E using PCR-Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA) and mouse bioassay for detection respectively of cells and toxins in enrichment broth. Portions of 25 to 50 g of food were analysed. A total of 8 out of the 102 samples of fish and shellfish, 12 out of the 143 samples of meat and poultry, 1 out of the 62 samples of aroma, sauce and gravy, 4 out of the 25 samples of thickening agents, 3 out of the 26 samples of dehydrated dairy ingredients, and none of the 65 samples of spices, herbs and dehydrated mushroom were positive for C. botulinum in PCR-ELISA, i.e., 6.6% of all the samples tested. The 28 positive samples comprised 10 type A, 10 type B, 4 with both types A and B, and 4 undetermined by PCR typing. No sample positive for type E was detected. Of the 28 samples positive in PCR-ELISA, 15 were also positive in the mouse bioassay. The MPN count was between 1 and 3 C. botulinum/kg of food, which is similar to or in the lower range of values reported in the literature.     

Functionalized silicon membranes for selective bio-organism capture

Membranes with various pore size, length, morphology and density have been synthesized from diverse materials for size-exclusion-based separation. An example is the sterilization of intravenous lines by exclusion of bacteria and viruses using polyvinylidene fluoride membranes with 0.1-microm-diameter pores. Chemically specific filtration has recently been addressed for small molecules. Nevertheless, specific bio-organism immobilization and detection remains a great technical challenge in many biomedical applications, such as decontamination or analysis of air and liquids such as drinking water and body fluids. To achieve this goal, materials with controlled pore diameter, length and surface chemistry are required. In this letter, we present the first functionalized silicon membranes and demonstrate their ability to selectively capture simulated bio-organisms. These extremely versatile and rigid devices open the door to a new class of materials that are able to recognize the external fingerprints of bio-organisms-such as size and outer membrane proteins-for specific capture and detection applications.     

Chemical Ecological Characteristics of Herbivory of Siparuna guianensis Seeds by Buffy-Headed Marmosets (Callithrix flaviceps) in the Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil

The buffy-headed marmoset (Callithrix flaviceps) is apparently the only predispersal herbivore of the seeds of Siparuna guianensis at the Caratinga Biological Station in southeastern Brazil. Both the fruit receptacles and the frutioles (seeds) of S. guianensis are relatively rich in nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, but the receptacles contain high concentrations of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. The latter presumably act as a qualitative chemical defense, impeding the access of potential predators to the alkaloid-poor frutioles. However, on ripening, the receptacle splits open, exposing the frutioles, which enables C. flaviceps to avoid the plant's chemical defenses effectively. Taking care to avoid contact with the receptacle, the marmosets pluck out the frutioles and ingest the seeds. Qualitative and quantitative changes (in particular a significant reduction in daily ranging) in the marmosets' behavior during the period when S. guianensis frutioles were accessible indicate that this was a preferred plant resource. This is the first record of the consumption of S. guianensis seeds by callitrichine monkeys (which are not known to be systematic seed eaters), despite the fact that both are widely distributed in the Neotropics. It is thus possible that the behavioral strategy observed here is a unique phenomenon resulting from a specific combination of factors, including the abundance of S. guianensis within the study area. The lack of other records may nevertheless be a result of insufficient sampling effort, in which case, the feeding strategies of callitrichines may have an important influence on the reproductive biology of S. guianensis in many areas.     

A method to evaluate mechanical performance of thin transparent films for flexible displays

Mechanical flexing of plastic substrates coated with thin film permeation barriers causes stress-induced cracks that may lead to device degradation. This phenomenon is of particular importance for organic light emitting diodes, an emerging display technology that can be implemented on flexible substrates but imposes stringent requirements on the barrier performance. We demonstrate a dry-etch-based method to highlight cracks in thin films of transparent materials and make them visible under a conventional optical microscope on samples in a neutral, relaxed position. This approach allows for rapid evaluation of the mechanical performance of thin film barriers on flexible substrates.