Showing papers by "Saint Anselm College published in 2006"

The effects of physical and vocal attractiveness on impression formation of politicians

Abstract: In order to investigate the nature of the combination of varying levels of vocal and physical attractiveness on the perception of hypothetical political candidates, 90 adults rated photographs of target politicians on scales for the dimensions of competency, trustworthiness, qualification, and leadership ability. It was hypothesized and confirmed that the halo effect (higher ratings for highly attractive targets) elicited by physical attractiveness is stronger and more robust than the halo effect elicited by vocal attractiveness; however vocal attractiveness did impact the perception of the candidates by lowering the ratings associated with candidates that were presented as highly attractive but possessing an unattractive voice.

Perceptions of graduating nursing students regarding life experiences that promote culturally competent care

Abstract: This article describes a qualitative study that explored the perceptions of graduating students from a northeast baccalaureate nursing program regarding their life experiences with cultural diversity. Thirteen students were interviewed using an interview guide, and interviews were recorded on audiotape. Information obtained included participants' cultural heritage, life experiences before entering a nursing program, educational and clinical experiences in the nursing program, knowledge about cultural competence, and the students' reflections on their ability to provide culturally competent care. Primarily qualitative methods were used to gather and analyze data. This article focuses on one of the major themes that emerged: defining life experiences related to cultural diversity. Data were reanalyzed focusing on this theme, and three life patterns emerged: positive, neutral, and conflicted. These patterns affected the students' interest and desire to provide culturally competent care. Implications for further research and nursing education are discussed.

Pavlovian-Instrumental Transfer of the Discriminative Stimulus Effects of Nicotine and Ethanol in Rats

Abstract: To date, only 1 study has evaluated the impact of a Pavlovian drug conditional stimulus (CS) on operant responding. A within-subject operant 1-lever go/no-go (across sessions) design was used to evaluate the impact of Pavlovian contingencies on the discriminative stimulus effects of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg) and ethanol (800 mg/kg) in male Sprague Dawley rats. Drugs were administered 10 min before each acquisition and test session. One drug predicted sessions of food reinforcement and the other drug predicted sessions of non reinforcement; stimulus roles were counterbalanced. In Experiment 1 (n = 7), operant lever pressing was initially maintained on a VI-30 s schedule of food reinforcement. This phase was followed by 20 (CS+ vs. CS-) Pavlovian drug discrimination training sessions without the levers present. Two extinction tests revealed significantly more operant lever pressing under the CS+ drug conditions compared to the CS- drug conditions, suggesting evidence for Pavlovian-instrumental transfer. Operant training significantly strengthened stimulus control. In Experiment 2 (n = 7), the drugs functioned as operant drug discriminative stimuli first. Next, the predictive roles of the drug S D s and S Δ S were reversed under Pavlovian CS- and CS+ contingencies, respectively. The original stimulus control was significantly undermined but was not reversed. These studies suggest that Pavlovian drug-reinforcer contingencies embedded within the operant 3-term contingency may play a partial role in mediating the discriminative stimulus effects of drugs.

Electrostatics of DNA–DNA juxtapositions: consequences for type II topoisomerase function

Abstract: Type II topoisomerases resolve problematic DNA topologies such as knots, catenanes, and supercoils that arise as a consequence of DNA replication and recombination. Failure to remove problematic DNA topologies prohibits cell division and can result in cell death or genetic mutation. Such catastrophic consequences make topoisomerases an effective target for antibiotics and anticancer agents. Despite their biological and clinical importance, little is understood about how a topoisomerase differentiates DNA topologies in a molecule that is significantly larger than the topoisomerase itself. It has been proposed that type II topoisomerases recognize angle and curvature between two DNA helices characteristic of knotted and catenated DNA to account for the enzyme's preference to unlink instead of link DNA. Here we consider the electrostatic potential of DNA juxtapositions to determine the possibility of juxtapositions occurring through Brownian diffusion. We found that despite the large negative electrostatic potential formed between two juxtaposed DNA helices, a bulk counterion concentration as small as 50 mM provides sufficient electrostatic screening to prohibit significant interaction beyond an interhelical separation of 3 nm in both hooked and free juxtapositions. This suggests that instead of electrostatics, mechanical forces such as those occurring in anaphase, knots, catenanes, or the writhe of supercoiled DNA may be responsible for the formation of DNA juxtapositions.

Prisoners and Autonomy: Implications for the Informed Consent Process with Vulnerable Populations

Abstract: This article uses certain essential characteristics of the principle of autonomy to explore the issue of prisoners' rights to decision-making and action in general, and research participation in particular. Exploring the moral principle of autonomy and its importance in furthering human rights will inform nurses who are conducting research with prisoners or other vulnerable populations.

Syringe-exchange programs and HIV prevention: if they're effective, what's the controversy?

Abstract: Overview: Injection drug users and their sexual partners and children represent an increasing proportion of Americans living with HIV or AIDS. Syringe-exchange programs (SEPs), which are based on the theory of harm reduction, are effective in preventing the transmission of HIV and other pathogens th

Local Alignments of DNA Sequences with the Connex Array

Abstract: This paper presents a heuristic for finding close to optimal solutions to the local alignment problem of two DNA sequences, and more precisely to the gene prediction problem on the Connex Array circuit, a new hierarchical parallel in-memory device. Though not optimal, the solutions generated by our algorithm compare well with those generated by other algorithms in the public domain. When aligning a probe of N symbols to a target of M symbols, the algorithm has a theoretical time complexity of O(N log(N)), with a small constant of proportionality, and requires no preprocessing of the data. However, experimental results exhibit quasi-linear time complexity.

Rethinking the history of solar wind studies: eddington's analysis of comet morehouse

Abstract: Arthur Eddington’s very early career is often overshadowed by his later accomplishments. For many years the work he performed at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, was little studied. In some cases, citations to his work in major journals did not appear for more than three decades. One of his earliest works was a mathematical analysis of the shapes of the envelopes of Comet Morehouse, a non-periodic comet discovered in 1908. Eddington’s description of the envelopes, in mathematical terms, as paraboloids projected in two dimensions as parabolas, was not studied in earnest until after his death. Although the primary conclusion of his work has recently been modified, there are several other statements he makes about the source of the creation of these envelopes that suggest he should be acknowledged as the first person to suggest that there is a continuous outflow of ions from the Sun.

Complex vs. Intensive in Parallel Computation

Abstract: The distinction between complex computation and intensive computation becomes more meaningful now, when all high performance computing machines are de facto parallel machines. The distinction is stated by introducing the concept of integral parallel computation as the most natural and efficient way to increase the performance using all kinds of parallel computations. A new functional taxonomy of parallel machines is used to support the integral approach. Finally, the new concepts and distinctions are exemplified describing the Connex Architecture and its first embodiment: the video-chip CA1024 launched by Connex Technology, Inc.

A derivation of Bell's inequalities in Wigner form from the fundamental assumption of statistical mechanics

Abstract: Bell's inequalities in the form given by Wigner are derived from the so-called fundamental assumption of statistical mechanics. I then demonstrate the possible relationship between these inequalities and the second law, particularly if assuming the Pauli exclusion principle dictates the expected outcomes.

Hamas, Islam, and Israel

Abstract: The electoral triumph of Hamas in the Palestinian elections of January 2006 has made it imperative for policy makers around the world to understand this group and its ideology Is Hamas likely to soften its hostility to Israel? Is Hamas likely to receive significant support from the Muslim world? What are the odds that Hamas can be either placated or isolated? If Hamas can make a strong claim to be authentically Islamic in its ideological underpinnings, then it is more likely to receive support from portions of the Muslim world and less likely to be conciliatory vis-a-vis Israel Unfortunately, a careful study of the ideology of Hamas and its parent, the Muslim Brotherhood, shows that that ideology is firmly rooted in traditional Islamic principles Far from distorting or perverting classical Islamic law, Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood can claim very plausibly that shari'a requires implacable and violent resistance to Israel, including terrorism, and denial of Israel's right to exist as a non-Muslim state located on Islamic territory Efforts to placate or isolate Hamas are therefore unlikely to succeed