Cosmid Cloning of Five \u3cem\u3eZymomonas trp\u3c/em\u3e Genes by Complementation of \u3cem\u3eEscherichia coli\u3c/em\u3e and \u3cem\u3ePseudomonas putida trp\u3c/em\u3e Mutants

A library of Zymomonas mobilis genomic DNA was constructed in the broad-host-range cosmid pLAFR1. The library was mobilized into a variety of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida trp mutants by using the helper plasmid pRK2013. Five Z. mobilis trp genes were identified by the ability to complement the trp mutants. The trpF, trpB, and trpA genes were on one cosmid, while the trpD and trpC genes were on two separate cosmids. The organization of the Z. mobilis trp genes seems to be similar to the organization found in Rhizobium spp., Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and Pseudomonas acidovorans. The trpF, trpB, and trpA genes appeared to be linked, but they were not closely associated with trpD or trpC genes

Using Expert Panels to Elicit Potential Indicators and Predictors of EBPH in Local Health Departments

Research Objective: To identify appropriate indicators of local health department (LHD) use of EBPH strategies and factors that influence their use. Data Sets and Sources: Transcripts of interviews with 12 members of an expert panel representing researchers and practitioners working in PHSSR and Evidence-Based Public Health. Study Design: Participants responded to a series of questions regarding: their definition of EBPH; ways to identify and assess the use of EBPH strategies; and perceived barriers/enablers to the use of these strategies at the state and local levels. Analysis: Content analysis performed using QSR NVivo V. 9. Data matrices were created highlighting each participant\u27s comments related to EBPH strategies and factors influencing the use of EBPH strategies (including state level, local health department level and community level factors). Strategies were categorized based on definitions of EBPH used by participants. Principal Findings: Two basic definitions of EBPH emerged, with one reflecting the use of data in decision-making processes, and the other reflecting the adoption of scientifically tested interventions. Factors at the state, local health department and community levels that influenced EBPH depended, in part, on the definition of EBPH used by participants. Conclusion: LHD use of EBPH was influenced by health officer training and leadership, characteristics of the workforce, and training and technical assistance provided at the state and local levels. Familiarity with resources on tested interventions was key for one definition of EBPH. Community partnerships and competency in using data were key for others. Implications for the Field of PHSSR: PHSSR and practice related to EBPH need to include precise definitions of terms to have meaningful discussions regarding how to encourage the use of EBPH strategies

Intimate Partner Violence and Disabilities among Women Attending Family Practice Clinics

Purpose: To estimate the frequency and type of disabilities preventing work among those experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) compared with those never experiencing IPV. Methods: We used a large cross-sectional survey of women, ages 18–65, attending family practice clinics from 1997 through 1998. Participation included a 5–10-minute in-clinic survey assessing IPV experience and a longer telephone survey assessing health status and chronic disabilities that prevented work outside the home or housework. Results: Of 1,152 eligible women surveyed, 54% experienced some type of IPV, and 24% were currently in a violent relationship. Women who had ever experienced IPV were more than twice as likely to report a disability (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] _ 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6, 3.0). The most commonly reported disabilities were those associated with heart or circulatory disease (4.9%), followed by back problems (3.5%), chronic pain (3.4%), arthritis (3.0%), nerve system damage (2.4%), asthma or another respiratory problem including emphysema (1.7%), and either depression (1.6%) or another mental illness (1.0%). Women ever experiencing IPV were more likely to report a disability due to generalized chronic pain (aOR _ 2.5, 95% CI 1.5, 4.3) and mental illness (aOR _ 4.5, 95% CI 1.5, 13.1). IPV-related injuries were associated in a dose-dependent manner with having any disability and with disability from chronic pain, asthma and other respiratory diseases, mental illness, and chronic diseases. Conclusions: Primary care-based efforts to screen for IPV and effectively intervene to reduce the impact of IPV on women’s lives must be a public health priority to reduce the shortterm and long-term health effects, including disabilities

Predictors of Evidence-Based Decision Making and Population Health Practice in LHDs

Research Objective: To identify the frequency with which LHDs carry out Evidence-Based Decision Making (EBDM) and population health strategies in LHDs and state-, LHD-, and community-levels predictors of LHDs\u27 use of these strategies. Data Sets and Sources: Harmonized PHSSR dataset consisting of 2010 NACCHO Profile of Local Health Departments Survey, Module 2 respondents, 2010 ASTHO Profile of State Health Departments, US Census data, and Area Resource File data. Study Design: The study used multivariate analysis to identify predictors of EBDM and population health. We identified items in the 2010 NACCHO Profile Survey representing EBDM and population health strategies and constructed two composite dependent variables. Based on the PHSSR literature, we identified potential predictors at the state-, LHD-, and community levels. Analysis: Using descriptive analyses, we determined the frequency with which LHDs carry out EBDM strategies and population health strategies. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was used to identify factors that best predict LHDs\u27 use of EBDM and population health strategies. Principal Findings: Fourteen percent of LHDs engaged in six or seven (out of seven) EBDM strategies; and 15% used six or more (out of 10) population health strategies. Hierarchical linear modeling results will identify modifiable state health department, LHD, and community context predictors of LHDs\u27 use of these strategies. Conclusion: Based on data from the NACCHO Profile Survey, LHDs vary greatly in the extent to which they focus on EBDM and population health practice. The paths that lead LHDs to focus on EBDM and population health practice are complex and diverse. Implications For The Field Of PHSSR: For PHSSR research, more precise data definitions and questions are needed in national surveys such as the NACCHO and ASTHO surveys. More research is needed to understand how LHDs use EBDM strategies (and which ones they use) as well as how they make decisions about focusing on population health practice

Training peers to support older people with chronic low back pain following physiotherapy discharge: a feasibility study

Objective: To determine the feasibility and acceptability of a training programme for peer volunteers to support older adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP) following discharge from physiotherapy.Design: Feasibility study.Setting: Community-based.Participants17 adults (4 male, 13 female) with CLBP or experience of supporting someone with CLBP enrolled and 12 (2 male, 10 female) completed the volunteer training. Intervention: Volunteers took part in a face-to-face or blended delivery peer support training programme based on the Mental Health Foundation’s “Principles into Practice” and adapted for CLBP by the study team. Main outcome measures. Recruitment/retention rates; demographics; time & resources used to deliver training; training evaluation (questionnaire); knowledge questionnaire, and self-efficacy questionnaire.Results17 participants enrolled on the training programme (11 face-to-face, 6 blended delivery). 12 (71%) completed the training (73% face-to-face, 67% blended delivery). The training was positively evaluated. All but two participants passed the knowledge quiz at the end of the training, and the majority of self-efficacy scores (90%) were high.Conclusions: It is feasible to develop, implement and evaluate a peer support training programme for the facilitation of CLBP self-management in older adults following discharge from physiotherapy. Blended delivery of training may facilitate the recruitment of greater numbers of peer support volunteers in future studies. Supported self-management of CLBP pain is widely recommended but can be difficult to achieve. Peer support might be a promising method of facilitating CLBP self-management without additional burden to health services, and should be further evaluated in a larger study

PALS: Peer support for community dwelling older people with chronic low back pain: a feasibility and acceptability study

Objectives: (i) examine the feasibility and acceptability of a peer support intervention (PALS) to facilitate self-management in community dwelling older adults with Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP), and (ii) examine the feasibility of study methods in order to inform the design of a future randomised controlled trial. Design: Mixed methods feasibility and acceptability study. Setting: Community. Participants: 18 older adults (aged 65-79) with CLBP and 6 peer support volunteers (PSVs) aged 34-65. Intervention: Six sessions of 1 to 3 hours duration, approximately 2 weeks apart, delivered in mutually convenient public places, or by telephone. Each session had a suggested topic and each participant and PSV had a PALS manual detailing aims and target outcomes for each session. Outcome measures: Recruitment, retention, integrity, acceptability and feasibility of the PALS intervention, feasibility of study processes, appropriateness and usefulness of outcome measures. Results: We recruited to target and retained 2/3 of participants. PALS was delivered as intended and acceptable to people with CLBP and PSVs. Most participants were satisfied with PALS and would recommend it to someone else with CLBP. Study processes worked well, but recruitment procedures need to be refined. Outcome measures were returned and were mostly complete, but further work on the most appropriate measures is required. Conclusions: PALS was feasible to deliver and acceptable to the older people and PSVs who took part in this study. We identified amendments to PALS and the study processes that, once implemented, will allow the effectiveness of PALS to be tested in a large-scale study

C—H⋯π packing inter­actions in 2-[5,5-bis­(4-benzyl­oxyphen­yl)-3-cyano-4-methyl-2,5-dihydro­furan-2-yl­idene]malononitrile

The title mol­ecule, C35H25N3O3, packs utilizing C—H⋯π attractive inter­actions causing the identical 4-benzyl­oxyphenyl groups to pack with different conformational angles. This difference is consistent with the variable inter­planar dihedral angles found in closely related structures

A Pilot Study: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Sensation Seeking, and Pubertal Changes

This study was designed to examine the relationship of pubertal changes and sensation seeking (SS) in adolescents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Patients with current or past histories of uncomplicated stimulant medication use for ADHD between the ages of 11 and 15 (13 ± 1.5) were recruited from a Child Psychiatry and a General Pediatric Clinic. SS was measured using the SS Scale for Children. Pubertal development was measured using Tanner staging, free testosterone, and DHEAS. Subjects and their parent were interviewed with the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC). SS total score was correlated with Tanner stage, free testosterone, and DHEAS (p ≤ 0.01). The combined parent and child reports of symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder from the DISC were inversely related to age (p ≤ 0.05). Understanding SS in ADHD adolescents as they move through puberty will aid clinicians in monitoring ADHD adolescents and their trajectory into high-risk behaviors

Stat5 determines the development of mammary alveolar cells

Functional development of mammary epithelium during pregnancy depends on prolactin signaling. However, the underlying molecular and cellular events are not fully understood. We examined the specific contributions of the prolactin receptor (PrlR) and the signal transducers and activators of transcription 5a and 5b (referred to as Stat5) in the formation and differentiation of mammary alveolar epithelium. PrlR- and Stat5-null mammary epithelia were transplanted into wild-type hosts, and pregnancy-mediated development was investigated at a histological and molecular level. Stat5-null mammary epithelium developed ducts but failed to form alveoli, and no milk protein gene expression was observed. In contrast, PrlR-null epithelium formed alveoli-like structures with small open lumina. Electron microscopy revealed undifferentiated features of organelles and a perturbation of cell–cell contacts in PrlR- and Stat5-null epithelia. Expression of NKCC1, an Na-K-Cl cotransporter characteristic for ductal epithelia, and ZO-1, a protein associated with tight junction, were maintained in the alveoli-like structures of PrlR- and Stat5-null epithelia. In contrast, the Na-Pi cotransporter Npt2b, and the gap junction component connexin 32, usually expressed in secretory epithelia, were undetectable in PrlR- and Stat5- null mice. These data demonstrate that signaling via the PrlR and Stat5 is critical for the proliferation and differentiation of mammary alveoli during pregnancy