The Patient-Provider Relationship and HIV Medication Adherence: Indirect Effects of Medication Beliefs

Research examining variables that influence medication adherence among HIV-positive individuals remains an important priority. The patient-provider relationship may influence HIV medication adherence, though findings have varied across studies and there is a paucity of research examining mechanisms that may account for patient-provider influences on adherence. One potential mechanism that may explain this relationship is patient’s beliefs about medications, specifically how patients weigh the necessity of medications relative to concerns about negative side effects. Using data from a sample of 116 HIV patients recruited during outpatient care, this study aimed to (a) examine the effect of the patient-provider relationship on both adherence and intentional nonadherence; and (b) clarify whether there is an indirect effect of this relationship through medication beliefs. Primary study hypotheses were tested using bootstrapped mediation models. Results showed that the patient-provider relationship was positively associated with adherence but not intentional nonadherence. There was strong support for an indirect effect of this relationship through medication beliefs for adherence but not intentional nonadherence. This study could inform interventions to improve the patient-provider relationship as well as target potentially modifiable patient beliefs about their medications

The Effect of Pulsed Field DC Electrophoresis and Field Amplified Sample Stacking on the Microchip Electrophoretic Separation of Organic Dyes

The utility of field amplified sample stacking and pulsed field electrophoresis toward improving electrophoretic outcomes was studied with regards to the electrophoretic separation of three organic dyes rhodamine B, 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescein, and fluorescein salt in microchip electrophoresis conditions. In this study, there were four experimental groups: nonstacking nonpulsed, nonstacking pulsed, sample stacking nonpulsed, and sample stacking pulsed. Electrophoretic outcomes were evaluated by examining the electrophoretic separations under an epifluoresence detection method, plotting the signal intensities vs. time, and comparing separation resolutions and signal-to-noise ratios between experimental groups. From this it was shown that sample stacking nonpulsed conditions yielded the best outcome when evaluating the signal intensity vs. time plot. At a distance of 0.750 mm from the microchannel channel cross-section, the separation resolution between RB and DCF was 0.944 in the sample stacking nonpulsed group which was an improvement compared to the separation resolution of 0.885 between dyes RB and DCF in the nonstacking nonpulsed group. However, the separation resolution between DCF and FS in the sample stacking nonpulsed group was worse than that of the same dyes in nonsample stacking nonpulsed group at 0.3933 compared to 0.885. The sample stacking nonpulsed group exhibited the fastest electrophoretic migration of the organic dyes with FS reaching at 0.750 mm in 0.653 seconds and nonsample stacking pulsed was the slowest group with regards to electrophoretic migration with FS reaching 0.750 mm in 0.959 seconds. The signal intensities of the fluorescent dyes in the sample stacking groups were significantly lower than those of the nonsample stacking groups and so the potential roles of electrokinetic instability and electrokinetic mixing in preventing signal amplification were investigated. Electrokinetic instability was shown to occur at electric field strengths equal to and greater than 20 kV/m in our MCE setup, suggesting that electrokinetic instability and/or electrokinetic mixing may have been a factor in preventing signal amplification in the FASS groups. These hindrances to achieving optimal electrophoretic outcomes could be overcome by reducing the switching frequency in pulsed field DC electrophoresis and by reducing the gating and injection voltage in sample stacking conditions. This way, mixing could be reduced in nonsample stacking pulsed and sample stacking pulsed groups and EKI could be reduced in sample stacking and sample stacking pulsed groups and separation outcomes with higher separation resolutions and signal-to-noise ratios could be achieved

pyWitness 1.0 : A python eyewitness identification analysis toolkit

Acknowledgements We are grateful to John T. Wixted for sharing his MATLAB code for the model fits presented in this paperPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Conserving Endangered Black-Footed Ferrets: Biological Threats, Political Challenges, and Lessons Learned

There may be few stories in the annals of wildlife management that are as dramatic as the near demise and comeback of the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes). Endemic only to North America, this charming little carnivore found only in the continent’s central grasslands was hardly known to science until the mid-20th century. By then, vast colonies of the prey it depended on for food and shelter, the prairie dog (Cynomys spp.), had been wiped out through disease (sylvatic plague) and an agricultural industry with little tolerance for burrowing and grazing rodents. At its low point, the species’ fate would come down to 18 remaining ferrets and a scientific gamble that humans could intervene to save a species on the very brink of extinction. With heroic efforts by federal, state, and private scientists, immediate extinction was forestalled, and a comeback effort mounted. Like so many endangered species stories, the ferret’s tale is a story of tragedy, luck, science, and the acts of people that will determine its ultimate fate. Understanding the challenges going forward for the ferret requires an understanding of the natural history and ecology of black-footed ferrets and prairie dogs, diseases and disease management, and the political landscape, which we present here. The future for black-footed ferrets remains unclear. Ultimately we will need to summon the efforts of conservation biologists, policy makers, and the agricultural industry to determine if ferrets will continue to exist as a valued and unique part of North America’s natural heritage

Layers of advocacy: How librarians everywhere can make a difference and lessons for LIS education

Lobbying and advocacy are critical to the success of libraries, because they play a key role in communicating to decision-makers and communities why libraries are essential resources in an information-driven society. However, despite the importance of lobbying and advocacy to the profession, it is not always clear how library schools should teach about this aspect of librarianship. Taking an international, comparative approach, this panel discusses the complexities associated with lobbying and advocacy, as well as some challenges faced by LIS educators when teaching about the topic. To make teaching about lobbying and advocacy in LIS easier, six panelists with experience in a range of political, social, and cultural contexts will talk about issues such as: levels of government where lobbying takes place; varying definitions of advocacy, especially across countries with different traditions of librarianship; and the time frame in which lobbying and advocacy efforts take place. Panelist presentations will emphasize “lessons learned” that can be used to teach LIS students how to cultivate support for libraries. Using panelist presentations as a starting point, this panel will include a follow-up discussion about teaching advocacy in LIS. A primary goal of this panel is to identify powerful content for LIS curricula and instructional approaches that can support more effective advocacy. We will conclude by opening the door to audience participation with the purpose of integrating new ideas into the discussion.This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under Grant No. 182222

A minimal binding footprint on CD1d-glycolipid is a basis for selection of the unique human NKT TCR

Although it has been established how CD1 binds a variety of lipid antigens (Ag), data are only now emerging that show how αβ T cell receptors (TCRs) interact with CD1-Ag. Using the structure of the human semiinvariant NKT TCR–CD1d–α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) complex as a guide, we undertook an alanine scanning mutagenesis approach to define the energetic basis of this interaction between the NKT TCR and CD1d. Moreover, we explored how analogues of α-GalCer affected this interaction. The data revealed that an identical energetic footprint underpinned the human and mouse NKT TCR–CD1d–α-GalCer cross-reactivity. Some, but not all, of the contact residues within the Jα18-encoded invariant CDR3α loop and Vβ11-encoded CDR2β loop were critical for recognizing CD1d. The residues within the Vα24-encoded CDR1α and CDR3α loops that contacted the glycolipid Ag played a smaller energetic role compared with the NKT TCR residues that contacted CD1d. Collectively, our data reveal that the region distant to the protruding Ag and directly above the F′ pocket of CD1d was the principal factor in the interaction with the NKT TCR. Accordingly, although the structural footprint at the NKT TCR–CD1d–α-GalCer is small, the energetic footprint is smaller still, and reveals the minimal requirements for CD1d restriction

Portfolio Vol. I N 2

Wiley, Thomas R. In the Cathedral, Mexico City . Picture. 2. Whitehead, Richard Jr. Izzy was a Lady, After All . Prose. 3. Beckham, Adela. Rain on a March morning . Poem. 6. Beckham, Adela. Heaven . Poem. 6. Deane, Dorothy. Temptation . Poem. 6. Kellogg, Elizabeth. Gruess Dich Gott . Prose. 7. Nadel, Norman. The Duchess . Poem. 8. Dick, Pewilla. The Sligo Fisherman . Prose. 9. Deane, Dorothy. Against the Winter . Poem 12. Flory, Doris Jean. A problem . Poem 12. Travis, Paul Bough. My First View of the Congo Forest . Picture. 13. Bellows, George. Stag at Sharkey\u27s . Picture. 13. B.C.W. Aspiration . Poem. 14. Stewart, John. On Record . Prose 14. Sweitzer, Harry J. Playing Around . Prose. 15. Ellsberg, Edward. Book Parade: Hell on Ice . Prose. 15. B.C.W. End of Winter . Poem. 16. Wiley, Thomas R. End of Winter . Picture. 16. Deeter, Robert. Television, How, Where, and When . Prose. 17. Brush, Jane. Love A La Mode . Poem. 20. Brush, Jane. Radio! . Poem. 20. Brush, Jane. Backward Glance . Poem. 20. Brush, Jane. Homo Paradoxus . Poem. 20. Brush, Jane. The Sardonic Slant . Poem. 20. Brush, Jane. Baths . Prose. 20. Wilson, Gordon. Brushword . Cartoon. 20

Contribution of cell blocks obtained through endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration to the diagnosis of lung cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Conventional smears of samples obtained by endobronchial ultrasound with real-time transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) have proven useful in lung cancer staging, but the value of additional information from cell-block processing of EBUS-TBNA samples has only been marginally investigated. This study focussed on the contribution of cell block analysis to the diagnostic yield in lung cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients referred for lung cancer diagnosis and/or staging by means of EBUS-TBNA were enrolled, the adequacy of the obtained samples for preparing cell blocks was assessed, and the additional pathologic or genetic information provided from cell block analysis was examined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In 270 lung cancer patients referred for EBUS-TBNA (mean age, 63.3 SD 10.4 years) 697 aspirations were performed. Cell blocks could be obtained from 334 aspirates (47.9%) and contained diagnostic material in 262 (37.6%) aspirates, providing information that was additional to conventional smears in 50 of the 189 samples with smears that were non-diagnostic, corresponding 21 of these blocks to malignant nodes, and allowing lung cancer subtyping of 4 samples. Overall, cell blocks improved the pathologic diagnosis attained with conventional smears in 54 of the 697 samples obtained with EBUS-TBNA (7.7%). Cell blocks obtained during EBUS-TBNA also made epithelial growth factor receptor mutation analysis possible in 39 of the 64 patients with TBNA samples showing metastatic adenocarcinoma (60.1%). Overall, cell blocks provided clinically significant information for 83 of the 270 patients participating in the study (30.7%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Cell-block preparation from EBUS-TBNA samples is a simple way to provide additional information in lung cancer diagnosis. Analysis of cell blocks increases the diagnostic yield of the procedure by nearly seven per cent and allows for genetic analysis in a sixty per cent of the patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma.</p

Analysis of the Rumen Microbiota of Beef Calves Supplemented During the Suckling Phase

A study was conducted to examine the effects of supplementing beef calves during their suckling phase (popularly known as creep feeding) with supplements that contained or did not contain the enzyme xylanase. Forty-two cow-calf pairs were divided into three groups and assigned to one of three treatments for a period of 105 days, as follows: (1) No supplemental feed for calves (control; CON); (2) Corn and soybean meal-based supplement feed for calves (positive control; PCON); and (3) Same feed regimen as PCON with xylanase added to the supplement (enzyme; ENZ). After 105 days, out of the 42 calves participating in the study, 25 male calves were randomly selected (8 from CON, 9 from PCON, and 8 from ENZ) and samples of their forestomach were collected by esophageal tubing. Immediately after this procedure, all calves were weaned, commingled, and placed in a common post-weaning diet for 4 weeks. At the end of this period, ruminal fluid was once again collected from the same 25 calves. All samples were subjected to DNA extraction and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. At weaning, most of the alpha diversity indexes were greater in CON; however, no differences (P ≥ 0.23) in alpha diversity were observed in samples collected 4 weeks after weaning. Regardless of treatment, 2 phyla – Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes – comprised approximately 80% of the total bacterial abundance of samples collected on both days. At the genus level, an effect of diet (P = 0.02) was observed for Prevotella in the samples collected at weaning; however, no differences were detected in the samples collected 4 weeks after weaning. Calf average daily gain (ADG) during the 105-day creep feeding trial tended (P = 0.09) to be greater in the groups that received supplementation, with the greatest numerical value observed in ENZ. Moreover, there was a positive correlation (ρ = 0.43; P = 0.03) between ADG and abundance of Prevotella, indicating the importance of this bacterial group for ruminants. In summary, most of the significant differences found in this study were detected at weaning, and the majority of them disappeared 4 weeks after the calves were weaned and commingled