Using active learning strategies to teach DPT students how to assertively address inappropriate patient sexual behavior (IPSB)

PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS Inappropriate sexual behavior is defined as a “verbal or physical act of an explicit, or perceived, sexual nature, which is unacceptable within the social context in which it is carried out.” In a survey of U.S. PTs, 86% of the respondents reported experiencing at least one type of IPSB. PT education programs are required to teach concepts of professional duty, communication skills, and cultural competency, however, management techniques of IPSB in the clinic are not uniformly taught in schools. The use of active learning methods such as role play simulation and small group discussion has been successful with other healthcare professionals allowing students to practice behaviors in a safe place. The aim of this study was to use flipped and active learning methods to effectively teach DPT students assertive approaches to managing IPSB. This study describes the effects on students’ knowledge and attitudes pre- and post-instruction. NUMBER OF SUBJECTS Forty-five first-year DPT students participated as part of a course on psychosocial issues. MATERIALS/METHODS Faculty developed eight case scenarios for the in-class discussion and role play. Students completed pre- and post-class paper surveys about their beliefs and knowledge on IPSB. The flipped model involved reading an assigned article on the topic prior to the class, brief instruction by faculty, interactive small-group discussion, role play, and a large group debrief in class. RESULTS: Forty-three students reported reading the preparatory article prior to class. Significant improvements were observed in students’ perceptions including: 1) the ability to address sexuality with young patients (p CONCLUSIONS The students responded well to the learning experience and believed they improved their ability to address IPSB. There was an interaction between males and females on the self-efficacy question. Females perceived their abilities to be lower than the males initially, but they scored higher post-instruction. While both groups’ perceptions changed, we observed that the females gained more from the experience. We recommend using the flipped classroom model and simulation methods to instruct DPT students in assertive behaviors. CLINICAL RELEVANCE PT’s may encounter IPSB in the clinic. Practicing strategies for these situations could lead to more appropriate therapist-patient interactions and fewer adverse effects. FUNDING SOURCE UNMC Division of Physical Therapy Educatio

Nmr Solution Structure Of Plastocyanin From The Photosynthetic Prokaryote, Prochlorothrix Hollandica

The solution structure of a divergent plastocyanin (PC) from the photosynthetic prokaryote Prochlorothrix hollandica was determined by homonuclear H-1 NMR spectroscopy. Nineteen structures were calculated from 1222 distance restraints, yielding a family of structures having an average rmsd of 0.42 +/- 0.08 Angstrom, for backbone atoms and 0.71 +/- 0.07 Angstrom for heavy atoms to the mean structure. No distance constraint was violated by more than 0.26 Angstrom in the structure family. Despite the low number of conserved residues shared with other PC homologues, the overall folding pattern of P. hollandica PC is similar to other PCs, in that the protein forms a two-sheet beta-barrel tertiary structure. The greatest variability among the backbone structures is seen in the loop region from residues 47-60. The differences seen in the P. hollandica PC homologue likely arise due to a small deletion of 2-4 residues compared to the PC consensus; this yields a less extended loop containing a short alpha-helix from residues Ala52-Leu55. Additionally, the protein has an altered hydrophobic patch thought to be important in binding reaction partners. Whereas the backbone structure is very similar within the loops of the hydrophobic region, the presence of two unique residues (Tyr12 and Pro14) yields a structurally different hydrophobic surface likely important in binding P. hollandica Photosystem I

A long‑term precision agriculture system sustains grain profitability

After two decades of availability of grain yield-mapping technology, long-term trends in field-scale profitability for precision agriculture (PA) systems and conservation practices can now be assessed. Field-scale profitability of a conventional or ‘business-as-usual’ system with an annual corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean (Glycine max [L.]) rotation and annual tillage was assessed for 11 years on a 36 ha field in central Missouri during 1993 to 2003. Following this, a ‘precision agriculture system’ (PAS) with conservation practices was implemented for the next 11 years to address production, profit and environmental concerns. The PAS was multifaceted and temporally dynamic. It included no-till, cover crops, crop rotation changes, site-specific N and variable-rate or zonal P, K and lime. Following a recent evaluation of differences in yield and yield variability, this research compared profitability of the two systems. Results indicated that PAS sustained profits in the majority (97%) of the field without subsidies for cover crops or payments for enhanced environmental protection. Profit was only lower with PAS in a drainage channel where no-till sometimes hindered soybean stands and wet soils caused wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) disease. Although profit gains were not realized after 11 years of PA and conservation practices, this system sustained profits. These results should help growers gain confidence that PA and conservation practices will be successful

Prospectus, September 9, 2004

https://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2004/1018/thumbnail.jp

Enhanced cortical neural stem cell identity through short SMAD and WNT inhibition in human cerebral organoids facilitates emergence of outer radial glial cells

Cerebral organoids exhibit broad regional heterogeneity accompanied by limited cortical cellular diversity despite the tremendous upsurge in derivation methods, suggesting inadequate patterning of early neural stem cells (NSCs). Here we show that a short and early Dual SMAD and WNT inhibition course is necessary and sufficient to establish robust and lasting cortical organoid NSC identity, efficiently suppressing non-cortical NSC fates, while other widely used methods are inconsistent in their cortical NSC-specification capacity. Accordingly, this method selectively enriches for outer radial glia NSCs, which cyto-architecturally demarcate well-defined outer sub-ventricular-like regions propagating from superiorly radially organized, apical cortical rosette NSCs. Finally, this method culminates in the emergence of molecularly distinct deep and upper cortical layer neurons, and reliably uncovers cortex-specific microcephaly defects. Thus, a short SMAD and WNT inhibition is critical for establishing a rich cortical cell repertoire that enables mirroring of fundamental molecular and cyto-architectural features of cortical development and meaningful disease modelling

Switchable Membrane Remodeling and Antifungal Defense by Metamorphic Chemokine XCL1

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of molecules which generally kill pathogens via preferential cell membrane disruption. Chemokines are a family of signaling proteins that direct immune cell migration and share a conserved α–β tertiary structure. Recently, it was found that a subset of chemokines can also function as AMPs, including CCL20, CXCL4, and XCL1. It is therefore surprising that machine learning based analysis predicts that CCL20 and CXCL4’s α-helices are membrane disruptive, while XCL1’s helix is not. XCL1, however, is the only chemokine known to be a metamorphic protein which can interconvert reversibly between two distinct native structures (a β-sheet dimer and the α–β chemokine structure). Here, we investigate XCL1’s antimicrobial mechanism of action with a focus on the role of metamorphic folding. We demonstrate that XCL1 is a molecular “Swiss army knife” that can refold into different structures for distinct context-dependent functions: whereas the α–β chemokine structure controls cell migration by binding to G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), we find using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) that only the β-sheet and unfolded XCL1 structures can induce negative Gaussian curvature (NGC) in membranes, the type of curvature topologically required for membrane permeation. Moreover, the membrane remodeling activity of XCL1’s β-sheet structure is strongly dependent on membrane composition: XCL1 selectively remodels bacterial model membranes but not mammalian model membranes. Interestingly, XCL1 also permeates fungal model membranes and exhibits anti-Candida activity in vitro, in contrast to the usual mode of antifungal defense which requires Th17 mediated cell-based responses. These observations suggest that metamorphic XCL1 is capable of a versatile multimodal form of antimicrobial defense

Switchable Membrane Remodeling and Antifungal Defense by Metamorphic Chemokine XCL1

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of molecules which generally kill pathogens via preferential cell membrane disruption. Chemokines are a family of signaling proteins that direct immune cell migration and share a conserved α–β tertiary structure. Recently, it was found that a subset of chemokines can also function as AMPs, including CCL20, CXCL4, and XCL1. It is therefore surprising that machine learning based analysis predicts that CCL20 and CXCL4’s α-helices are membrane disruptive, while XCL1’s helix is not. XCL1, however, is the only chemokine known to be a metamorphic protein which can interconvert reversibly between two distinct native structures (a β-sheet dimer and the α–β chemokine structure). Here, we investigate XCL1’s antimicrobial mechanism of action with a focus on the role of metamorphic folding. We demonstrate that XCL1 is a molecular “Swiss army knife” that can refold into different structures for distinct context-dependent functions: whereas the α–β chemokine structure controls cell migration by binding to G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs), we find using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) that only the β-sheet and unfolded XCL1 structures can induce negative Gaussian curvature (NGC) in membranes, the type of curvature topologically required for membrane permeation. Moreover, the membrane remodeling activity of XCL1’s β-sheet structure is strongly dependent on membrane composition: XCL1 selectively remodels bacterial model membranes but not mammalian model membranes. Interestingly, XCL1 also permeates fungal model membranes and exhibits anti-Candida activity in vitro, in contrast to the usual mode of antifungal defense which requires Th17 mediated cell-based responses. These observations suggest that metamorphic XCL1 is capable of a versatile multimodal form of antimicrobial defense

Cytokines and growth factors cross-link heparan sulfate

The glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate (HS), present at the surface of most cells and ubiquitous in extracellular matrix, binds many soluble extracellular signalling molecules such as chemokines and growth factors, and regulates their transport and effector functions. It is, however, unknown whether upon binding HS these proteins can affect the long-range structure of HS. To test this idea, we interrogated a supramolecular model system, in which HS chains grafted to streptavidin-functionalized oligoethylene glycol monolayers or supported lipid bilayers mimic the HS-rich pericellular or extracellular matrix, with the biophysical techniques quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D) and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). We were able to control and characterize the supramolecular presentation of HS chains—their local density, orientation, conformation and lateral mobility—and their interaction with proteins. The chemokine CXCL12α (or SDF-1α) rigidified the HS film, and this effect was due to protein-mediated cross-linking of HS chains. Complementary measurements with CXCL12α mutants and the CXCL12γ isoform provided insight into the molecular mechanism underlying cross-linking. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), which has three HS binding sites, was also found to cross-link HS, but FGF-9, which has just one binding site, did not. Based on these data, we propose that the ability to cross-link HS is a generic feature of many cytokines and growth factors, which depends on the architecture of their HS binding sites. The ability to change matrix organization and physico-chemical properties (e.g. permeability and rigidification) implies that the functions of cytokines and growth factors may not simply be confined to the activation of cognate cellular receptors

Information Source’s Influence on Vaccine Perceptions: An Exploration into Perceptions of Knowledge, Risk and Safety

Background: College-age students are a particularly important population regarding establishing beliefs about vaccines that carry on into later adulthood. One of the primary ways these beliefs can be influenced is via the source of information that students turn to concerning vaccine information. Method: We administered a survey to 180 college-age students based on the WHO Report of the SAGE Working Group on Vaccine Hesitancy (2014). Questions focused on vaccine beliefs, perceived knowledge, perceived safety and perceived risk. Participants were also measured on sources they would use to obtain information on vaccines (e.g. healthcare providers, news media, government official, social media, friends, and parents). Results: Based on regression analyses, vaccine beliefs were significantly impacted by safety (β = .44) and risk perceptions (β = .29) at the expense of knowledge perceptions. Furthermore, various information sources influenced perceptions of safety (healthcare provider (β = .24)), risk (social media (β = −.19)), and knowledge (social media (β = −.20) and healthcare providers (β = .16)). Specifically, increases in social media source usage resulted in more negative vaccine beliefs. Conversely, utilization of healthcare providers resulted in more positive vaccine beliefs. Conclusion: Results suggest, in cases of college-age students, vaccine information should focus on issues dealing with students’ perceptions of risk and safety, not their level of knowledge. Additionally, while parents and friends may act as a primary information sources, more attention needs to be paid to the negative impact of social media and the positive impact of healthcare providers