Behavioral phenotype of Vang6 mutant Drosophila melanogaster pertaining to the Olfactory System

There are many proteins that aid in the development of the olfactory system, specifically Wnt pathway and planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway proteins. It has been shown that Vang6 mutant flies have distinct olfactory abnormalities, as do Wnt5 mutant flies. In addition, Drosophila melanogaster (Drosophila) Wnt5 mutants have an improper olfactory response compared to wildtype Drosophila. After using a T-maze to explore the behavioral tendencies of Vang6 mutant Drosophila and wildtype WT1118 flies, it was shown that there is no significance between wildtype and Vang6 mutant Drosophila selecting air (control component) or Carbon Dioxide (CO2) (test component)

Oral status of residents of long-term care facilities in Kentucky.

Oral health is a critical component of every individual\u27s general health and well-being. There is evidence that consistently demonstrates that age, poverty, education levels, minority status, and living in a rural area are risk factors for poorer oral status. In Kentucky, it is projected that there will continue to be an increase in the rural population and a decrease in the urban population; this projection is more pronounced for the aged 65 and over cohort. In 2005, a state-wide oral health survey (KEOHS) which assessed the oral health status and treatment needs of residents aged 65 and over was completed. The KEOHS gathered information on homebound residents, long-term care facility residents, and independently-living adults. To date, only data pertaining to the homebound residents have been analyzed. The focus of this study, therefore, was on data involving residents of long-term case facilities and assisted living facilities. Specifically, it will be determined if there is a relation between actual oral health and self-reported oral health as well as the nature of the relationship between oral health status and the type of community. The study group was comprised of a total of 912 individuals from 27 nursing homes and assisted living facilities around the state. Every elder who participated was given the questionnaire (or interviewed by the research team) and the clinical examination performed by a trained and calibrated dentist. The first study question concerned the agreement between an individual\u27s self-reported oral health status (excellent, good, fair, or poor) and the examiner evaluation of that same individual\u27s oral health status. Analyses revealed a significant correlation between an individual\u27s self-reported oral status and the examiner-reported oral health status of the same individual. The second research question concerned the relation between the examiner-reported oral health status and place of residence prior to entering a nursing home. Analyses indicated that there was not a significant difference in oral health based upon place of residence prior to entering a nursing home. Further research is necessary to determine the change in oral health status of the individuals who were examined in 2005. If it were shown that individuals who had higher clinician-rated oral health status at admission maintained their oral health better than individuals with lower clinician-rated oral health status, there would be additional support for development of policy that mandated a minimal level of oral health at admission to a long-term care facility

Distribution of uranium and other trace constituents in drainages downstream from reclaimed uranium mines in Cove wash, Arizona

This study examined the distribution of uranium in drainages in Cove wash in northeastern Arizona. The dispersion of uranium from reclaimed mine sites on the Navajo Nation is not well studied in soils, sediment, and water. During the 1950s and 1960s, the Cove mining region produced relative uranium and vanadium ore. Legacy uranium mines in Cove Mesa were reclaimed in phases between the early 1990s to 1998. Following reclamation, however, in 1999, elevated concentrations of uranium were detected in well, seeps and surface water in the watershed, which are above the EPAs MCL (30 μg/L). In August 2011, solid (sediment, soil, and rock), and water (surface and ground) samples were collected down-gradient from reclaimed uranium mines on Cove Mesa and in background areas to determine the distribution and characteristics of uranium and other trace metals. In addition, radiometric surveys were conducted in the study drainage area (4.3 mi2). Surface and groundwater samples were analyzed for major cations and anions, trace metals, alkalinity, and 18O. Solid samples were analyzed to determine trace element composition. The results were compared with a 1999 EPA study to determine changes in water chemistry and provide a new baseline value for future investigation. The hypothesis that concentrations of uranium in surface water remain elevated since 1999 was supported. This research provides better understanding of the current distribution of uranium and other trace metals on the Navajo Nation

Weed versus wildflower : mating system ecology in a taraxacum native-exotic contact zone

Closely related plant species often exhibit differences in ploidy level, mode of reproduction, and traits related to reproduction. Differences in ploidy levels are often associated with mating system differentiation, especially in genera capable of clonal seed production through apomixis, which are derived from ancestral sexual lineages. The evolution of apomixis and associated changes in ploidy level contributes to niche differentiation and geographic separation between closely related plant species. Incomplete reproductive isolation between sexual and apomict taxa can lead to introgression of apomictic genotypes into sexual populations, and also to possible reproductive interference following cross-pollination. Furthermore, the evolution of apomixis relaxes selection on traits subject to sexual selection in sexual lineages, eventually leading to distinct phenotypes in closely related sexual and apomict species. Niche differentiation among species of different ploidy levels could also lead to the evolution of distinct secondary metabolites. ... Taken together, these studies demonstrate a new mechanism by which exotic species may negatively impact native plants- through induced inbreeding depression accompanied by hybridization. Furthermore, my research sheds new light on how pollen morphology evolves within and between taxa, and sets the stage for future studies on the physical mechanisms and genetic pathways underlying pollen transfer. Differences in pollen morphology between sexual and apomictic taxa provide an additional barrier to reproductive interference, hybridization, and introgression of apomictic genotypes into sexual populations. Overall, Taraxacum provides a great system for research in species interactions and ecology, and additionally is amenable for use in teaching and outreach activities

Guided reading: The effects of using guided reading in the classroom

This project set out to find the best methods for use in a Guided Reading classroom as well as the results that would be produced from a year long use of guided reading in a first grade classroom. Guided Reading produces reading results in early and emergent readers as it provides structure and assessment practices for the teacher to instruct and guide students through the process of learning to read

The role of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool in palliative home care: A qualitative study of practitioners' perspectives of its impact and mechanisms of action.

BACKGROUND: The importance of supporting family carers is well recognised in healthcare policy. The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool is an evidence-based, comprehensive measure of carer support needs to facilitate carer support in palliative home care. AIM: To examine practitioner perspectives of the role of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool intervention in palliative home care to identify its impact and mechanisms of action. DESIGN: Qualitative - practitioner accounts of implementation (interviews, focus groups, reflective audio diaries) plus researcher field notes. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: A total of 29 staff members from two hospice home-care services - contrasting geographical locations, different service sizes and staff composition. A thematic analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Existing approaches to identification of carer needs were informal and unstructured. Practitioners expressed some concerns, pre-implementation, about negative impacts of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool on carers and expectations raised about support available. In contrast, post-implementation, the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool provided positive impacts when used as part of a carer-led assessment and support process: it made support needs visible, legitimised support for carers and opened up different conversations with carers. The mechanisms of action that enabled the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool to make a difference were creating space for the separate needs of carers, providing an opportunity for carers to express support needs and responding to carers' self-defined priorities. CONCLUSION: The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool delivered benefits through a change in practice to an identifiable, separate assessment process for carers, facilitated by practitioners but carer-led. Used routinely with all carers, the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool has the potential to normalise carer assessment and support, facilitate delivery of carer-identified support and enable effective targeting of resources.The pilot work was funded by the Phillip Poole-Wilson Seed Corn Fund, the BUPA Foundation (Grant reference number 22094791). The feasibility study was supported by a grant from Dimbleby Cancer Care Research Fund.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from SAGE via http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/026921631559666

Who cares for the carers at hospital discharge at the end of life? A qualitative study of current practice in discharge planning and the potential value of using The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) Approach.

BACKGROUND: Carer factors prevent patients achieving timely and appropriate hospital discharge. There is a lack of research into interventions to support carers at hospital discharge. AIM: To explore whether and how family carers are currently supported during patient discharge at end of life; to assess perceived benefits, acceptability and feasibility of using The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) Approach in the hospital setting to support carers. DESIGN: Qualitative. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Three National Health Service Trusts in England: focus groups with 40 hospital and community-based practitioners and 22 carer interviews about experiences of carer support during hospital discharge and views of The CSNAT Approach. Two workshops brought together 14 practitioners and five carers to discuss implementation issues. Framework analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Current barriers to supporting carers at hospital discharge were an organisational focus on patients' needs, what practitioners perceived as carers' often 'unrealistic expectations' of end-of-life caregiving at home and lack of awareness of patients' end-of-life situation. The CSNAT Approach was viewed as enabling carer support and addressing difficulties of discussing the realities of supporting someone at home towards end of life. Implementation in hospital required organisational considerations of practitioner workload and training. To enhance carer support, a two-stage process of assessment and support (hospital with community follow-up) was suggested using the CSNAT as a carer-held record to manage the transition. CONCLUSION: This study identifies a novel intervention, which expands the focus of discharge planning to include assessment of carers' support needs at transition, potentially preventing breakdown of care at home and patient readmissions to hospital

What Should a Psychiatrist Know About Genetics? Review and Recommendations From the Residency Education Committee of the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics.

The International Society of Psychiatric Genetics (ISPG) created a Residency Education Committee with the purpose of identifying key genetic knowledge that should be taught in psychiatric training programs. Thirteen committee members were appointed by the ISPG Board of Directors, based on varied training, expertise, gender, and national origin. The Committee has met quarterly for the past 2 years, with periodic reports to the Board and to the members of the Society. The information summarized includes the existing literature in the field of psychiatric genetics and the output of ongoing large genomics consortia. An outline of clinically relevant areas of genetic knowledge was developed, circulated, and approved. This document was expanded and annotated with appropriate references, and the manuscript was developed. Specific information regarding the contribution of common and rare genetic variants to major psychiatric disorders and treatment response is now available. Current challenges include the following: (1) Genetic testing is recommended in the evaluation of autism and intellectual disability, but its use is limited in current clinical practice. (2) Commercial pharmacogenomic testing is widely available, but its utility has not yet been clearly established. (3) Other methods, such as whole exome and whole genome sequencing, will soon be clinically applicable. The need for informed genetic counseling in psychiatry is greater than ever before, knowledge in the field is rapidly growing, and genetic education should become an integral part of psychiatric training