NUDC is critical for rod photoreceptor function, maintenance, and survival.

NUDC (nuclear distribution protein C) is a mitotic protein involved in nuclear migration and cytokinesis across species. Considered a cytoplasmic dynein (henceforth dynein) cofactor, NUDC was shown to associate with the dynein motor complex during neuronal migration. NUDC is also expressed in postmitotic vertebrate rod photoreceptors where its function is unknown.

Displacement of the Lamina Cribrosa With Acute Intraocular Pressure Increase in Brain-Dead Organ Donors.

Purpose: To examine deformations of the optic nerve head (ONH) deep tissues in response to acute elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP).

Methods: Research-consented brain-dead organ donors underwent imaging by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCT imaging was repeated while the eye was sequentially maintained at manometric pressures of 10, 30, and 50 mm Hg.

NUDC is critical for rod photoreceptor function, maintenance, and survival.

Unlabelled: NUDC ( nu clear d istribution protein C) is a mitotic protein involved in nuclear migration and cytokinesis across species. Considered a cytoplasmic dynein (henceforth dynein) cofactor, NUDC was shown to associate with the dynein motor complex during neuronal migration. NUDC is also expressed in postmitotic vertebrate rod photoreceptors where its function is unknown.

Mechanisms of retinal ganglion cell injury following acute increases in intraocular pressure.

The maintenance of intraocular pressure (IOP) is critical to preserving the pristine optics required for vision. Disturbances in IOP can directly impact the optic nerve and retina, and inner retinal injury can occur following acute and chronic IOP elevation. There are a variety of animal models that have been developed to study the effects of acute and chronic elevation of IOP on the retina, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) morphology, intracellular signaling, gene expression changes, and survival.

Remodeling of the Lamina Cribrosa: Mechanisms and Potential Therapeutic Approaches for Glaucoma.

Glaucomatous optic neuropathy is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. The chronic disease is characterized by optic nerve degeneration and vision field loss. The reduction of intraocular pressure remains the only proven glaucoma treatment, but it does not prevent further neurodegeneration.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Y-Balance Test Lower Quarter: Reliability, Discriminant Validity, and Predictive Validity.

Background: Deficits in dynamic neuromuscular control have been associated with post-injury sequelae and increased injury risk. The Y-Balance Test Lower Quarter (YBT-LQ) has emerged as a tool to identify these deficits.

Purpose: To review the reliability of the YBT-LQ, determine if performance on the YBT-LQ varies among populations (i.

The Dorsiflexion Range of Motion Screen: A Validation Study.

Background: Limited ankle dorsiflexion (DF) is associated with ankle sprains and other lower extremity injuries. Current ankle measurements can be laborious to perform in an athletic environment.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and discriminant validity of a novel closed-chain ankle DF ROM test, the standing ankle dorsiflexion screen (SADS).

Quality Improvement of Pastoral Care for Major Depression in the Community of an African American Religious Organization.

Mental illness is a complex personal and social problem. In the African American community, cultural and ethnic stigma concerning mental illness often discourages this population from seeking the help they need. African Americans are more likely to rely on religious coping strategies such as prayer and/or informal trusted community social supports such as a senior pastor, members of a ministerial team who provide pastoral care in their churches, family members, and a limited number of friends.

EXERCISE INTERVENTION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DYSFUNCTIONAL BREATHING: A MATCHED CONTROLLED TRIAL.

Introduction: Dysfunctional breathing (DB) is common (60-80%) in adults. Individuals with DB may have decreased pain thresholds, impaired motor control and balance, and movement dysfunction. These impairments likely adversely affect performance.

In-Plane Thorium(IV), Uranium(IV), and Neptunium(IV) Expanded Porphyrin Complexes.

Here we report the first series of in-plane thorium(IV), uranium(IV), and neptunium(IV) expanded porphyrin complexes. These actinide (An) complexes were synthesized using a hexa-aza porphyrin analogue, termed dipyriamethyrin, and the nonaqueous An(IV) precursors, ThCl(DME), UCl, and NpCl(DME). The molecular and electronic structures of the ligand, each An(IV) complex, and a corresponding uranyl(VI) complex were characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and UV-vis spectroscopies as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.

Isolation of a TMTAA-Based Radical in Uranium bis-TMTAA Complexes.

We report the synthesis, characterization, and electronic structure studies of a series of thorium(IV) and uranium(IV) bis-tetramethyltetraazaannulene complexes. These sandwich complexes show remarkable stability towards air and moisture, even at elevated temperatures. Electrochemical studies show the uranium complex to be stable in three different oxidation states; isolation of the oxidized species reveals a rare case of a non-innocent tetramethyltetraazaannulene (TMTAA) ligand.

New supporting ligands in actinide chemistry: tetramethyltetraazaannulene complexes with thorium and uranium.

We report the synthesis, characterization, and preliminary reactivity of new heteroleptic thorium and uranium complexes supported by the macrocyclic TMTAA ligand (TMTAA = Tetramethyl-tetra-aza-annulene). The dihalide complexes Th(TMTAA)Cl(THF) (1), [UCl(TMTAA)] (2) and U(TMTAA)I (3) are further functionalized to the Cp* derivatives ThCp*(TMTAA)Cl (4), UCp*(TMTAA)Cl (5) and UCp*(TMTAA)I (6) (Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienide). Compounds 4-6 are also obtained through a one-pot reaction from standard thorium(iv) and uranium(iv) starting materials, Li2TMTAA and KCp*.

Thorium Metallacycle Facilitates Catalytic Alkyne Hydrophosphination.

The bis(NHC)borate-supported thorium-bis(mesitylphosphido) complex (1) undergoes reversible intramolecular C-H bond activation enabling the catalytic hydrophosphination of unactivated internal alkynes. Catalytic and stoichiometric experiments support a mechanism involving reactive Th-NHC metallacycle intermediates (Int and 2).

Benzoquinonoid-bridged dinuclear actinide complexes.

We report the coordination chemistry of the tripodal tris[2-amido(2-pyridyl)ethyl]amine ligand, L, with thorium(iv) and uranium(iv). Using a salt-metathesis strategy from the potassium salt of this ligand, K3L, new actinide complexes were isolated, namely the dimeric thorium complex [ThCl(L)] (1) and the monomeric uranium complex UI(THF)(L) (2); under different crystallisation conditions, the dimeric uranium complex is also isolated, [UI(L)] (2-dimer). With the aim of studying electronic phenomena such as magnetic exchange between two actinide ions, we have synthesised the first examples of dinuclear, quinoid-bridged actinide complexes from dianionic 2,5-bis[2,6-(diisopropyl)anilide]-1,4-benzoquinone (QDipp) and 2,5-bis[2-(methoxy)anilide]-1,4-benzoquinone (QOMe) ligands.

A Thorium Chalcogenolate Series Generated by Atom Insertion into Thorium-Carbon Bonds.

A new thorium monoalkyl complex, Th(CHSiMe)(L) (L = MeC(NPr)) (2), undergoes insertion of chalcogen atoms resulting in a series of thorium chalcogenolate complexes, Th(ECHSiMe)(L) (E = S, SS, Se, Te; 5-8). Complex 6 represents the first alkyl disulfide thorium species and illustrates the ability of 2 to undergo controllable, stoichiometric atom insertion. All complexes have been characterized by H and C NMR spectroscopy, FTIR, EA, and melting point, and in the case of 1, 2, and 4-8, X-ray crystallography.

A Practitioner's Instrument for Measuring Secondary Mathematics Teachers' Beliefs Surrounding Learner-Centered Classroom Practice.

In this paper we present the development and validation of a Mathematics Teaching Pedagogical and Discourse Beliefs Instrument (MTPDBI), a 20 item partial-credit survey designed and analyzed using Rasch measurement theory. Items on the MTPDBI address beliefs about the nature of mathematics, teaching and learning mathematics, and classroom discourse practices. A Rasch partial credit model (Masters, 1982) was estimated from the pilot study data.

Carbon-Nitrogen Bond Cleavage by a Thorium-NHC-bpy Complex.

Actinide complexes demonstrate unparalleled reactivity towards small molecules. However, utilizing these powerful transformations in a predictable and deliberate manner remains challenging. Therefore, developing actinide systems that not only perform noteworthy chemistry but also demonstrate controllable reactivity is a key goal.

Development and Analysis of a Scale for Meauring Teachers' Sense of Efficacy in Urban Schools (SEUS).

Research in teacher self-efficacy has a long history that can be traced back to Bandura (1986) and has been shown to be linked to teacher performance. This article presents evidence for teacher self-efficacy in urban schools, a construct that is separate from but related to the more general construct of teacher self-efficacy. An instrument was developed and validated by a team of university faculty, urban teachers, and school administrators.

N-heterocyclic carbene gold(I) and silver(I) complexes bearing functional groups for bio-conjugation.

This work describes several synthetic approaches to append organic functional groups to gold and silver N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes suitable for applications in biomolecule conjugation. Carboxylate appended NHC ligands (3) lead to unstable Au(I) complexes that convert into bis-NHC species (4). A benzyl protected carboxylate NHC-Au(I) complex 2 was synthesized but deprotection to produce the carboxylic acid functionality could not be achieved.

Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase increases toxicity of mutant and zinc-deficient superoxide dismutase by enhancing protein stability.

When replete with zinc and copper, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-associated mutant SOD proteins can protect motor neurons in culture from trophic factor deprivation as efficiently as wild-type SOD. However, the removal of zinc from either mutant or wild-type SOD results in apoptosis of motor neurons through a copper- and peroxynitrite-dependent mechanism. It has also been shown that motor neurons isolated from transgenic mice expressing mutant SODs survive well in culture but undergo apoptosis when exposed to nitric oxide via a Fas-dependent mechanism.

Using paired comparison matrices to estimate parameters of the partial credit Rasch measurement model for rater-mediated assessments.

The purpose of this paper is to describe a technique for estimating the parameters of a Rasch model that accommodates ordered categories and rater severity. The technique builds on the conditional pairwise algorithm described by Choppin (1968, 1985) and represents an extension of a conditional algorithm described by Garner and Engelhard (2000, 2002) in which parameters appear as the eigenvector of a matrix derived from paired comparisons. The algorithm is used successfully to recover parameters from a simulated data set.

Prevention of peroxynitrite-induced apoptosis of motor neurons and PC12 cells by tyrosine-containing peptides.

Although peroxynitrite stimulates apoptosis in many cell types, whether peroxynitrite acts directly as an oxidant or the induction of apoptosis is because of the radicals derived from peroxynitrite decomposition remains unknown. Before undergoing apoptosis because of trophic factor deprivation, primary motor neuron cultures become immunoreactive for nitrotyrosine. We show here using tyrosine-containing peptides that free radical processes mediated by peroxynitrite decomposition products were required for triggering apoptosis in primary motor neurons and in PC12 cells cultures.

An eigenvector method for estimating item parameters of the dichotomous and polytomous Rasch models.

The purpose of this paper is to describe a technique for obtaining item parameters of the Rasch model, a technique in which the item parameters are extracted from the eigenvector of a matrix derived from comparisons between pairs of items. The technique can be applied to both dichotomous and polytomous data. In application to a previously published data set, it is shown that the technique provides item parameter estimates comparable to those produced by joint maximum likelihood estimation, and for the most difficult items, the technique appears to produce superior estimates.