Super-resolution SERS imaging beyond the single-molecule limit: an isotope-edited approach.

Super-resolution imaging of single-molecule surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SM-SERS) reveals a spatial relationship between the SERS emission centroid and the corresponding intensity. Here, an isotope-edited bianalyte approach is used to confirm that shifts in the SERS emission centroid are directly linked to the changing position of the molecule on the nanoparticle surface. By working above the single-molecule limit and exploiting SERS intensity fluctuations, the SERS centroid positions of individual molecules are found to be spatially distinct.

Shedding Light on Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Hot Spots through Single-Molecule Super-Resolution Imaging.

Super-resolution imaging has recently been utilized to develop a better understanding of the properties of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) hot spots. SERS hot spots are much smaller than the diffraction limit of light, and therefore, obtaining a clear picture of the enhanced electromagnetic (EM) fields comprising these hot spots is a challenging task. In this Perspective, we discuss recent work applying super-resolution imaging to single-molecule SERS (SM-SERS) of rhodamine 6G (R6G) adsorbed to randomly assembled silver colloidal aggregates, allowing the shape, size, and local enhancement of the hot spots to be imaged with <5 nm resolution.

Polarized Raman spectroscopy of oligothiophene crystals to determine unit cell orientation.

Raman spectra were recorded experimentally and calculated theoretically for bithiophene, terthiophene, and quaterthiophene samples as a function of excitation polarization. Distinct spectral signatures were assigned and correlated to the molecular/unit cell orientation as determined by X-ray diffraction. The ability to predict molecular/unit cell orientation within organic crystals using polarized Raman spectroscopy was evaluated by predicting the unit cell orientation in a simulated terthiophene crystal given a random set of simulated polarized Raman spectra.

Discriminating nanoparticle dimers from higher order aggregates through wavelength-dependent SERS orientational imaging.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) orientational imaging is a recently developed all-optical technique able to determine SERS-active silver nanoparticle dimer orientations by observing lobe positions in SERS emission patterns formed by the directional polarization of SERS along the longitudinal axis of the dimer. Here we extend this technique to discriminate nanoparticle dimers from higher order aggregates by observing the wavelength dependence of SERS emission patterns, which are unchanged in nanoparticle dimers but show differences in higher order aggregates involving two or more nanoparticle junctions. The ability of SERS orientational imaging to identify stacked nanoparticles in higher order aggregates is also demonstrated.

The use of dreams in spiritual care.

This paper explores the use of dreams in the context of pastoral care. Although many people dream and consider their dreams to hold some significant spiritual meaning, spiritual care providers have been reluctant to incorporate patients' dreams into the therapeutic conversation. Not every dream can be considered insightful, but probing the meaning of some dreams can enhance spiritual care practice.

Super-resolution optical imaging of single-molecule SERS hot spots.

We present the first super-resolution optical images of single-molecule surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SM-SERS) hot spots, using super-resolution imaging as a powerful new tool for understanding the interaction between single molecules and nanoparticle hot spots. Using point spread function fitting, we map the centroid position of SM-SERS with +/-10 nm resolution, revealing a spatial relationship between the SM-SERS centroid position and the highest SERS intensity. We are also able to measure the unique position of the SM-SERS centroid relative to the centroid associated with nanoparticle photoluminescence, which allows us to speculate on the presence of multiple hot spots within a single diffraction-limited spot.

Bis-anthracenyl isoxazolyl amides have enhanced anticancer activity.

Dimeric analogs of Anthracenyl Isoxazole Amides (AIMs) (the designation AIM is in honor of the memory of Professor Albert I. Meyers) were prepared and dimer 6 exhibited the highest efficacy to date for this class of anti-tumor compounds against the human glioma Central Nervous System cell line SNB-19.

A spiritual screening tool for older adults.

Objective: The purpose of this non-experimental study was to investigate the reliability and validity of a self-administered screening tool for spiritual distress in older adults. The tool was unique in that items were consistent with a conceptual definition of spirituality presented in the professional literature and supported by theories of behavioral development for older adults.

Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to residents of a continuing care retirement community participating in a class on spirituality.

Spiritual perception, attitudes about spiritual care, and spiritual care practices among nurse practitioners.

The purpose of the nonexperimental study was to examine the relationships among spiritual perception, attitudes about spiritual care, and spiritual care practices in nurse practitioners. Attitudes about providing spiritual care and spiritual care practices have been studied among nurse generalists, but little research has been conducted on nurses in advanced practice. All nurse practitioners registered by the state of Indiana were sent Reed's Spiritual Perspective Scale (SPS) and a modified version of the Nurses' Spiritual Care Perspectives Scale developed by Taylor, Highfield, and Amenta.

Family intervention after stroke: does counseling or education help?

Two interventions for improving stroke caregiver knowledge, stabilizing family function, promoting patient adjustment, and enlisting the use of social resources after stroke were compared with routine medical and nursing care of stroke patients (n = 61) at a 440-bed Veterans Administration Medical Center. The education intervention (n = 64) consisted of classroom instruction for caregivers about basic stroke care principles. The counseling condition (n = 63) consisted of education plus seven follow-up problem-solving sessions with a social worker (for the caregiver).

The urban poor: an appropriate population for breastfeeding promotion programs.

Breastfeeding has won universal endorsement as a major contributor to child survival. The proliferation of breastfeeding promotion programs demonstrates the importance health professionals and funding agencies place on improving the incidence and duration of breastfeeding. An effective, cost-efficient breastfeeding promotion program should be directed at those who will receive the greatest health benefit from such an intervention, i.

Family interaction and treatment adherence after stroke.

Caregivers of 60 stroke patients were assessed five months after patient discharge from a stroke care unit to determine the relationship between family function and poststroke treatment adherence. Areas of family interaction which were significantly related to ratings of treatment adherence included problem solving, communication, and affective involvement. Better functioning families were consistently high on signs of treatment adherence.

Prestroke family interaction as a predictor of stroke outcome.

The Family of Assessment Device and clinical data for 60 stroke patients were used to predict outcome at six months and one year poststroke. Ratings of behavior control and affective responsiveness of the family predicted number of days of rehospitalization during the study. Problem solving scores, family communication skills, and patient self-care ability predicted family-rated patient adjustment.

Alzheimer's disease: choline acetyltransferase activity in brain tissue from clinical and pathological subgroups.

Choline acetyltransferase activity was measured postmortem in five brain regions to determine if such activity provided biochemical support for clinical and pathological subgrouping of Alzheimer's disease. Seven patients with Alzheimer's disease were divided into groups based on age at onset, severity of neuropathological changes, history of myoclonus, family history of dementia, cerebellar amyloid plaques, and congophilic angiopathy. Thirty-two age-matched normal control subjects and 17 neurological control patients with Huntington's disease were also studied.

Genetic control of developmental patterns of cerebral enzyme activities: further differences between C3H and ICR strains of mice.

We have investigated developmental changes in activity for five enzymes associated with different cerebral metabolic systems in two separate strains of mice. The enzymes studied were acid beta-galactosidase, arylsulfatase A, cerebroside beta-galactosidase, cerebroside sulfotransferase, and glutamate decarboxylase. The two strains of mice were C3H/SWV and ICR/SWV.

Developmental dissociation of myelin synthesis and "myelin-associated" enzyme activities in the shiverer mouse.

Developmental changes in three enzymes associated with myelin lipids were studied in the shiverer mouse, a murine mutant showing a severe deficiency of CNS myelin. Age-related changes in cerebroside sulfotransferase (measured in brain) and arylsulfatase A and cerebroside B-galactosidase (measured in brain and liver) were the same for shiverer and control mice. The shiverer mouse, therefore, demonstrates a dissociation between the genetic mechanisms regulating myelination in the CNS and developmental changes in enzyme activities thought to be closely related to the synthesis of myelin.