A Pilot Study of a Creative Bonding Intervention to Promote Nursing Students' Attitudes towards Taking Care of Older People

Although numbers of older people are increasing, nursing students have negative attitudes towards older people and do not plan to care for them following graduation. Multiple strategies have been implemented to reverse students' attitudes with mixed results. The purpose of this pilot quasi-experimental study was to test a Creative-Bonding Intervention (CBI) with students implementing art activities with older people to promote students' willingness to take care of them. Using a self-transcendence conceptual framework, control (n = 56) and experimental (n = 14) student groups were pre- and post-tested on attitudes toward older people, self-transcendence, and willingness to serve. The CBI improved attitudes towards older people with negative attitudes significantly changed (P = .008) but with no significant differences on self-transcendence and willingness to serve. However, willingness to serve results approached significance (P = .08). The willingness measure (one question) should be expanded. Curricula changes that incorporate creative activities such as the CBI with larger and equal numbers in student groups and longitudinal follow up to determine long-term results after graduation are suggested

Intersyngenic variations in the esterases of axenic stocks of Paramecium aurelia

The esterase isozymes were surveyed in axenic stocks of syngens 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8 of Paramecium aurelia by starch gel electrophoresis. In paramecia there appear to be four types of esterases which are clearer in axenic than in bacterized stocks. Each type differs in its substrate specificity and/or its response to the inhibitor eserine sulfate. Minor variations in type D esterases sometimes occur in different extracts of the same stock and may result from changes in the temperature of growth of the cells or growth cycle differences. Differences in the mobility of the A, B, or C (cathodal) types of esterases may occur in different syngens. They also occur for the A and B types among stocks within a syngen, but the frequency is low, except in the case of syngen 2. Since each of the types of esterases varies independently, at least four and possibly more genes appear to specify the esterases in the species complex. Some pairs of syngens vary in their electrophoretic positions for all types of esterases. Other pairs have identical zymograms. This observation suggests that some syngens may differ from each other by as many as four esterase genes, while others may not differ at all. The difference between P. aurelia and Tetrahymena pyriformis in the degree of intrasyngenic variation observed for enzymes is discussed in relation to other types of characters, the organization of the genetic material in the macronucleus, the presence of symbionts, and their breeding systems. It is suggested that enzyme variation is achieved by the action of different selective forces in these two groups of ciliated protozoa.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44170/1/10528_2004_Article_BF00485643.pd

A new era in aneuploidy screening: cfDNA testing in >30,000 multifetal gestations: Experience at one clinical laboratory.

Since introducing cell-free DNA screening, Sequenom Laboratories has analyzed over 1 million clinical samples. More than 30,000 of these samples were from multifetal gestations (including twins, triplets and higher-order multiples). The clinical laboratory experience with the first 30,000 multifetal samples will be discussed. Maternal plasma samples from multifetal gestations were subjected to DNA extraction and library preparation followed by massively parallel sequencing. Sequencing data were analyzed to identify autosomal trisomies and other subchromosomal events. Fetal fraction requirements were adjusted in proportion to fetal number. Outcome data, when voluntarily received from the ordering provider, were collected from internal case notes. Feedback was received in 50 cases. The positivity rate in multifetal samples for trisomy 21 was 1.50%, 0.47% for trisomy 18, and 0.21% for trisomy 13. Average total sample fetal fraction was 12.2% at a mean gestational age of 13 weeks 6 days. Total non-reportable rate was 5.95%. Estimated performance based on ad hoc clinical feedback demonstrates that possible maximum sensitivity and specificity meet or exceed the original performance from clinical validation studies. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening provides certain advantages over that of conventional screening in multifetal gestations and is available in higher-order multiples

MOLECULAR ORBITAL CONSTRAINT OF INTERACTION COORDINATES, MOCIC: AN APPROXIMATE POTENTIAL FUNCTION

$^{1}$ L. H. Jones and R. R. Ryan, J. Chem. Phys. 52, 2003 (1970) $^{2}$ M.J.S. Dewar and W, Thiel, J. Am. Chem. Soc. (in press); M.J.S. Dewar and M. McKee, ibid (in press); and M.J.S. Dewar and H. S. Rzepa, ibid (in press).Author Institution: Department of Chemistry, University of TexasAn approximato potential function method based on a combination of molecular orbital calculations and limited vibrational data has been developed. In the MOCIC (Molecular Orbital Constraint of interaction Coordinates) method interaction displacement $coordinates^{1}$ are first evaluated using a molecular orbital calculation. The Interaction displacement coordinates are then constrained in a least-squares evaluation of the general quadratic compliance function, where the calculated frequencies of vibration of the normal isotopic molecule are fitted to the observed frequencies. In effect, the constraint of the various Interaction displacement coordinate, (i)$_{j}$, fixes the relationship between primary and interaction compliants $C_{ij}$ and $C_{jj}$. Thus, a completely general quadratic compliant function may be obtained using vibrational data of only one isotopic species. The MOCIC method has been applied to several molecules, (including $CH_{4}, CF_{4}, BF_{3}, NF_{3}, C_{2}H_{4}, C_{2}H_{6}$, and $C_{6}H_{6}$) using the semi-empirical molecular orbital method MNDO (Modified Neglect of Diatomic Overlap).$^{2}$ The quadratic potential functions so obtained are in remarkable agreement with those potential functions determined uniquely from vibrational data

Inhibition of NGLY1 inactivates the transcription factor Nrf1 and potentiates proteasome inhibitor cytotoxicity

We discovered that the proteostasis modulating transcription factor Nrf1 requires cytosolic de-N-glycosylation by the N-glycanase NGly1 as part of its activation mechanism. Through a covalent small molecule library screen, we discovered an inhibitor of NGly1 that blocks Nrf1 activation in cells and potentiates the activity of proteasome inhibitor cancer drugs. The requirement of NGly1 for Nrf1 activity likely underlies several pathologies associated with a rare hereditary deficiency in NGly1