Motivation to Learn, Quality of Life and Estimated Academic Achievement: Medical Students Studying in New Zealand

The quality of life of medical students and their motivation to learn are critical factors that have an impact on their ability to learn. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between medical students' perceptions of their quality of life, motivation to learn, and estimated grade at the end of the academic year. Two hundred and seventy-four medical students at years four and five of medical school participated in the study. Students filled in a demographic survey form, and shortened versions of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire. Significant correlations between quality of life and motivation to learn measures were obtained. Second, students who scored high on aspects of quality of life and motivation to learn also scored significantly higher on estimates of written grade. In conclusion, the results suggest that medical students’ perceptions about quality of life and motivation to learn are linked to estimation of academic achievement. The findings of this study further resonate with a key conceptual model in the motivation literature, which promotes the importance of creating opportunities for mastery learning, engaging task value, producing optimal learning contexts, and creating mechanisms for coping with and managing the inevitable anxiety-provoking learning experiences that medical students face.The quality of life of medical students and their motivation to learn are critical factors that have an impact on their ability to learn. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between medical students‟ perceptions of their quality of life, motivation to learn, and estimated grade at the end of the academic year. Two hundred and seventy-four medical students at years four and five of medical school participated in the study. Students filled in a demographic survey form, and shortened versions of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire. Significant correlations between quality of life and motivation to learn measures were obtained. Second, students who scored high on aspects of quality of life and motivation to learn also scored significantly higher on estimates of written grade. In conclusion, the results suggest that medical students‟ perceptions about quality of life and motivation to learn are linked to estimation of academic achievement. The findings of this study further resonate with a key conceptual model in the motivation literature, which promotes the importance of creating opportunities for mastery learning, engaging task value, producing optimal learning contexts, and creating mechanisms for coping with and managing the inevitable anxiety-provoking learning experiences that medical students face

Neuroactive Steroids Reverse Tonic Inhibitory Deficits in Fragile X Syndrome Mouse Model

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited intellectual disability. A reduction in neuronal inhibition mediated by γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of FXS. Neuroactive steroids (NASs) are known allosteric modulators of GABAAR channel function, but recent studies from our laboratory have revealed that NASs also exert persistent metabotropic effects on the efficacy of tonic inhibition by increasing the protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated phosphorylation of the α4 and β3 subunits which increase the membrane expression and boosts tonic inhibition. We have assessed the GABAergic signaling in the hippocampus of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) knock-out (Fmr1 KO) mouse. The GABAergic tonic current in dentate gyrus granule cells (DGGCs) from 3- to 5-week-old (p21–35) Fmr1 KO mice was significantly reduced compared to WT mice. Additionally, spontaneous inhibitory post synaptic inhibitory current (sIPSC) amplitudes were increased in DGGCs from Fmr1 KO mice. While sIPSCs decay in both genotypes was prolonged by the prototypic benzodiazepine diazepam, those in Frm1-KO mice were selectively potentiated by RO15-4513. Consistent with this altered pharmacology, modifications in the expression levels and phosphorylation of receptor GABAAR subtypes that mediate tonic inhibition were seen in Fmr1 KO mice. Significantly, exposure to NASs induced a sustained elevation in tonic current in Fmr1 KO mice which was prevented with PKC inhibition. Likewise, exposure reduced elevated membrane excitability seen in the mutant mice. Collectively, our results suggest that NAS act to reverse the deficits of tonic inhibition seen in FXS, and thereby reduce aberrant neuronal hyperexcitability seen in this disorder

Full Genome Characterization of the Culicoides-Borne Marsupial Orbiviruses: Wallal Virus, Mudjinbarry Virus and Warrego Viruses

Viruses belonging to the species Wallal virus and Warrego virus of the genus Orbivirus were identified as causative agents of blindness in marsupials in Australia during 1994/5. Recent comparisons of nucleotide (nt) and amino acid (aa) sequences have provided a basis for the grouping and classification of orbivirus isolates. However, full-genome sequence data are not available for representatives of all Orbivirus species. We report full-genome sequence data for three additional orbiviruses: Wallal virus (WALV); Mudjinabarry virus (MUDV) and Warrego virus (WARV). Comparisons of conserved polymerase (Pol), sub-core-shell 'T2' and core-surface 'T13' proteins show that these viruses group with other Culicoides borne orbiviruses, clustering with Eubenangee virus (EUBV), another orbivirus infecting marsupials. WARV shares <70% aa identity in all three conserved proteins (Pol, T2 and T13) with other orbiviruses, consistent with its classification within a distinct Orbivirus species. Although WALV and MUDV share <72.86%/67.93% aa/nt identity with other orbiviruses in Pol, T2 and T13, they share >99%/90% aa/nt identities with each other (consistent with membership of the same virus species - Wallal virus). However, WALV and MUDV share <68% aa identity in their larger outer capsid protein VP2(OC1), consistent with membership of different serotypes within the species - WALV-1 and WALV-2 respectively

Joseph G. Doherty, SJ Papers

All physical materials associated with the New England Province Archive are currently held by the Jesuit Archives in St. Louis, MO. Any inquiries about these materials should be directed to Jesuit Archives. Electronic versions of some items and the descriptions and finding aids to the Archives, which are hosted in CrossWorks, are provided only as a courtesy. Historical Background: Joseph Gerard Doherty was born on September 11, 1904 in Charlestown, MA to Patrick and Sarah (Quigg) Doherty. Both his parents were born in Ireland. He was baptized on September 15, 1904 in St. Mary’s in Charlestown. He had one younger brother, Francis A.J. Doherty, who also was ordained a priest. He graduated from Boston College High School in 1921 and completed one year of studies at Boston College before entering the Society of Jesus at St. Andrew-on-Hudson in Poughkeepsie, NY on August 14, 1922. His novitiate and juniorate were completed at St. Andrew’s from 1922-1926. In 1926, he entered Weston College and completed his philosophy studies there in 1929. His regency was in Jamaica, where he taught mathematics at St. George’s College in Kingston from 1929-1931. Then he returned to Weston College to study Theology from 1931-1935. During that time, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas A. Emmet, S.J. on June 20, 1934 at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit of Weston College. His tertianship was at St. Robert’s Hall in Pomfret, CT during 1935-1936. Following tertianship in the fall of 1936, he was sent to St. Edmund’s House, Christ’s College, University of Cambridge, in England, where he was enrolled as a research student working on his Ph.D. in prehistory (anthropology and archaeology). His studies were financed by Boston College with an expectation that he would establish a prehistory department for Boston College once his studies were completed. His research was conducted at excavations at the prehistoric rock shelter of Ksâr ‘Akil, in the Valley of Antelias, a short distance from the town of Antelias on the coastal road, north of Beirut in Lebanon, then part of Syria, from May 1937 until June 1940, although he was away from the site from January to late June of 1938. Fr. Doherty’s main interest was flint tools. On August 23, 1938, he discovered the skeletal remains of a child who had lived about 35,000 years earlier. This skeleton became known as “Egbert.” The skeleton interested Fr. J. Franklin Ewing, S.J., an archaeologist from Fordham University. Fr. Ewing joined Fr. Doherty at Ksâr ‘Akil in 1939. During this time, in the spring of 1939, both Jesuits also worked on excavations of burial jars in Byblos, Lebanon. In 1940, as funds diminished and World War II seriously affected transportation, Fr. Doherty was recalled to the New England Province. “Egbert” had not yet been removed from the ground. The skeleton was protected by encasing it in cement and left in place. Frs. Doherty and Ewing traveled east via India and the Philippines. Fr. Ewing remained in the Philippines and Fr. Doherty continued across the Pacific Ocean to the West Coast of the United States. From 1940 to 1941 he taught prehistory and anthropology at Weston College. The next academic year, 1941-1942, he taught theology at Loyola University in New Orleans. From 1942 to 1952, he taught theology at Boston College. During this time, from July 23 to September 19, 1947, he returned to Ksâr ‘Akil with Fr. Ewing while the skeleton of “Egbert” was excavated. Following that, as well as teaching at Boston College, he served as the spiritual director for alumni from 1948 to 1952. From 1952 to 1961, Fr. Doherty was the Assistant Director of St. Joseph’s Retreat League for Workingmen and resided at St. Mary’s Church in the North End of Boston. In 1961, he was assigned to pastoral work at Holy Trinity Parish in the South End of Boston. From 1961 to 1968 he was assigned to Boston College High School where from 1963-1966 he taught religion. From 1968-1974, he did pastoral work at St. Mary’s in the North End. From 1974 until 1988 he was assigned to Campion Center in Weston, MA. Fr. Doherty died on June 9, 1988 and is buried at Campion Center. He was 83 years old and had been a Jesuit for 65 years. Scope and Content: The collection contains correspondence, poetry, writings, memorabilia, photographs, postcards and photo albums. There are letters to and from his family, his Jesuit superiors and prehistory researchers. Much of the correspondence is carbon copies of letters Fr. Doherty sent related to his work at Ksâr ‘Akil from 1937-40. One letter written in 1946 summarizes the “highlights” of his life from the time he left Lebanon in June of 1940 until 1946. Another provides a biographical sketch of Fr. Ewing and is accompanied by a vita and notes. The Ksâr ‘Akil Papers consist of items related to the two “campaigns” of excavation in Lebanon during 1937-40 and 1947. Of note are two papers, “Oriental ‘orizons” and “Northern Lights”, formatted as if newsletters, with chronological entries describing his work and the locale in Ksâr ‘Akil during 1937. There are also reports, fundraising material, an “interview” with Fr. Doherty, and some articles about Ksâr ‘Akil authored by others. The Pastoral Work Papers contain retreat outlines and blackboard lecture notes. The blackboard lecture was a format used at St. Joseph’s Retreat League for Men. The Other Papers are papers, writings and memorabilia from Fr. Doherty’s novitiate and juniorate years at St. Andrew-on-Hudson in Poughkeepsie, NY, his philosophy studies at Weston College, Weston, MA, some ephemera from his travels, and a variety of writings. The Poetry series contains his own as well as the work of others. The bulk of the photographs are from the 1938-1940 when Fr. Doherty was participating in archeological excavations in Lebanon while pursuing his doctorate in prehistory (anthropology and archaeology). There are photographs of excavations of burial jars at Byblos, Lebanon, and the discovery of a circa 35,000 year old skeleton, “Egbert” at the Ksâr ‘Akil site in Lebanon. The photo albums with descriptive captions can be used to identify photographs that were loose

Dynamic Multicontrast X-Ray Imaging Method Applied to Additive Manufacturing

We present a dynamic implementation of the beam-tracking x-ray imaging method providing absorption, phase, and ultrasmall angle scattering signals with microscopic resolution and high frame rate. We demonstrate the method’s ability to capture dynamic processes with 22-ms time resolution by investigating the melting of metals in laser additive manufacturing, which has so far been limited to single-modality synchrotron radiography. The simultaneous availability of three contrast channels enables earlier segmentation of droplets, tracking of powder dynamic, and estimation of unfused powder amounts, demonstrating that the method can provide additional information on melting processes

Stage-specific fluorescence intensity of GFP and mCherry during sporulation In Bacillus Subtilis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fluorescent proteins are powerful molecular biology tools that have been used to study the subcellular dynamics of proteins within live cells for well over a decade. Two fluorescent proteins commonly used to enable dual protein labelling are GFP (green) and mCherry (red). Sporulation in the Gram positive bacterium <it>Bacillus subtilis </it>has been studied for many years as a paradigm for understanding the molecular basis for differential gene expression. As sporulation initiates, cells undergo an asymmetric division leading to differential gene expression in the small prespore and large mother cell compartments. Use of two fluorescent protein reporters permits time resolved examination of differential gene expression either in the same compartments or between compartments. Due to the spectral properties of GFP and mCherry, they are considered an ideal combination for co-localisation and co-expression experiments. They can also be used in combination with fluorescent DNA stains such as DAPI to correlate protein localisation patterns with the developmental stage of sporulation which can be linked to well characterised changes in DNA staining patterns.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>While observing the recruitment of the transcription machinery into the forespore of sporulating <it>Bacillus subtilis</it>, we noticed the occurrence of stage-specific fluorescence intensity differences between GFP and mCherry. During vegetative growth and the initial stages of sporulation, fluorescence from both GFP and mCherry fusions behaved similarly. During stage II-III of sporulation we found that mCherry fluorescence was considerably diminished, whilst GFP signals remained clearly visible. This fluorescence pattern reversed during the final stage of sporulation with strong mCherry and low GFP fluorescence. These trends were observed in reciprocal tagging experiments indicating a direct effect of sporulation on fluorescent protein fluorophores.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Great care should be taken when interpreting the results of protein localisation and quantitative gene expression patterns using fluorescent proteins in experiments involving intracellular physiological change. We believe changes in the subcellular environment of the sporulating cell leads to conditions that differently alter the spectral properties of GFP and mCherry making an accurate interpretation of expression profiles technically challenging.</p

Preclinical characterization of zuranolone (SAGE-217), a selective neuroactive steroid GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator

Zuranolone (SAGE-217) is a novel, synthetic, clinical stage neuroactive steroid GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator designed with the pharmacokinetic properties to support oral daily dosing. In vitro, zuranolone enhanced GABAA receptor current at nine unique human recombinant receptor subtypes, including representative receptors for both synaptic (γ subunit-containing) and extrasynaptic (δ subunit-containing) configurations. At a representative synaptic subunit configuration, α1β2γ2, zuranolone potentiated GABA currents synergistically with the benzodiazepine diazepam, consistent with the non-competitive activity and distinct binding sites of the two classes of compounds at synaptic receptors. In a brain slice preparation, zuranolone produced a sustained increase in GABA currents consistent with metabotropic trafficking of GABAA receptors to the cell surface. In vivo, zuranolone exhibited potent activity, indicating its ability to modulate GABAA receptors in the central nervous system after oral dosing by protecting against chemo-convulsant seizures in a mouse model and enhancing electroencephalogram β-frequency power in rats. Together, these data establish zuranolone as a potent and efficacious neuroactive steroid GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulator with drug-like properties and CNS exposure in preclinical models. Recent clinical data support the therapeutic promise of neuroactive steroid GABAA receptor positive modulators for treating mood disorders; brexanolone is the first therapeutic approved specifically for the treatment of postpartum depression. Zuranolone is currently under clinical investigation for the treatment of major depressive episodes in major depressive disorder, postpartum depression, and bipolar depression