Community-Based Participatory Research partnership with faith-based organizations to address obesity and glucose control

OBJECTIVES

To explore the lived (narrative) experience of obesity and/or diabetes mellitus within focus groups consisting of individuals and community support persons residing in Genesee County, Michigan.

DESIGN

Qualitative study, using Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) methodology to design and conduct focus group interviews.

SAMPLE

Nineteen participants from faith-based organizations (FBOs) in Genesee County (74.5% Caucasian, 3.0% Hispanic American).

MEASUREMENTS

Semi-structured narrative focus group interviews, using thematic coding and qualitative analysis software (Otter.com).

RESULTS

Participants from diverse FBOs revealed barriers that prevent them from reaching their weight goals and preventing or controlling diabetes. A shared theme included the concern that providers do not actively inquire about patient concerns at appointments, and they fail to offer practical strategies beyond pharmaceutical interventions.

CONCLUSION

Focus group interviews with community residents revealed issues and barriers patients and their support persons face in health care experiences. Utilizing CBPR (methodology) is an opportunity for advanced practice nurses (health care professionals) to co-create strategies and interventions with the community that can assist them in successfully reaching their weight loss and diabetes prevention goals.

Children's Oral Health in Nursing Education and Practice: A Call for Action

Dental caries are preventable but remain all too common.

Integrating Environmental Sustainability Content Into an RN-to-BSN Program: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

The link between environmental sustainability, climate change, and health outcomes makes environmental sustainability an important topic for educators to include in nursing curricula.

METHOD

Students completed a sustainability in nursing learning module, over a 4-week period, during which students created blog posts based on the learning materials and clinical practice observations. The Sustainability Attitudes in Nursing Survey questionnaire was incorporated to measure changes in student attitudes regarding sustainability.

RESULTS

Descriptive statistics indicated that students had higher average scores on the posttest for all variables except one measurement. Paired t-test results revealed statistically significant differences in nine sustainability attitude items in the pretest and posttest scores. These findings suggest that the intervention likely contributed to improved attitudes about sustainability in the workplace.

CONCLUSION

Results of this study are promising because the brief intervention had a significant effect on practicing nurses' attitudes about sustainability in their work environments. [J Nurs Educ. 2020;59(11):637-641.].

Assessing student expectations and perceptions of a short-term international service-learning experience

OBJECTIVES

Despite nursing students' need for cultural education, few studies have measured what students expect from international service-learning experiences and how their perceptions of the actual experience compare to these expectations. To increase understanding of global nursing experiences, the purpose of this study was to examine the similarities and differences between nursing students' anticipated (pre-travel) personal and professional developmental expectations and reported (posttravel) personal and developmental outcomes.

DESIGN

This study employed a mixed descriptive research design. Quantitative data was secured through survey methodology. Written responses to open-ended questions provided qualitative data for analysis.

SAMPLE

Between 2012 and 2017, 43 undergraduate and graduate nursing students at a Midwestern university completed surveys and narratives about their participation in an international service-learning course in Kenya.

RESULTS

Students' anticipated learning was achieved through their international experiences. Participants also experienced personal growth, professional development, cultural competency enhancement, and transformation from the educational experience. They also described how their experiences would change their personal and professional lives.

CONCLUSION

The depth and breadth of the growth and learning described by students is consistent with the expectations of high-impact educational practices.

Isolation of sterol mutants inChlamydomonas reinhardi: Chromatographic analyses

Several sterol mutants ofChlamydomonas reinhardi were isolated by selecting for single colonies resistant to the polyene antibiotic, nystatin. The sterol profiles of three isolates-KD7, KD16, and KD21-as well as a wild type strain (137C) were determined by gas liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The wild type strain contained ergosterol (C28-5,7,22-triene) as the predominant sterol, with smaller amounts of a C28-5,7-diene, a C28-7-ene, and C-24 ethyl analogs of these three sterols. The three mutants had altered sterol composition, but none required exogenous sterol for growth. KD7 contained a C28-5,7,22,25-tetraene, a C28-5,7,25-triene, a C28-7,25-diene, and three C-24 ethyl analogs. The lesion in KD7 is apparently an inability to reduce the C-25 double bond required for the biosynthesis of ergosterol and an ethyl analog. The predominant sterols accumulated by KD16 and KD21 were a C28-5,7-diene, a C28-7-ene, and C-24 ethyl versions of these two sterols, suggesting that these strains are 22(23)-desaturase mutants.

Diversity of Rhizobia Nodulating Phaseolus vulgaris L. in Two Kenyan Soils with Contrasting pHs

Rhizobia were isolated from two Kenyan soils with pHs of 4.5 and 6.8 and characterized on the basis of their host ranges for nodulation and nitrogen fixation, colony morphologies, restriction fragment fingerprints, and hybridization with a nifH probe. The populations of rhizobia nodulating Phaseolus vulgaris in the two soils were similar in numbers and in effectiveness of N(inf2) fixation but were markedly different in composition. The population in the Naivasha soil (pH 6.8) was dominated by isolates specific in host range for nodulation to P. vulgaris; these all had multiple copies, in most cases four, of the structural nitrogenase gene nifH. Only one of the isolates from this soil formed effective nodules on Leucaena leucocephala, and this isolate had only a single copy of nifH. By contrast, the population in the acid Daka-ini soil (pH 4.5) was composed largely of broad-host-range isolates which had single copies of nifH. The isolates from the Daka-ini soil which were specific to P. vulgaris generally had three copies of nifH, although one isolate had only two copies. These rhizobial isolates are indigenous to Kenyan soils and yet have marked similarities to previously described Rhizobium species from other continents.

Development of polymorphic expressed sequence tag-derived microsatellites for the extension of the genetic linkage map of the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon)

In this study, microsatellite markers were developed for the genetic linkage mapping and breeding program of the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon. A total of 997 unique microsatellite-containing expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were identified from 10 100 EST sequences in the P. monodon EST database. AT-rich microsatellite types were predominant in the EST sequences. Homology searching by the blastn and blastx programs revealed that these 997 ESTs represented 8.6% known gene products, 27.8% hypothetical proteins and 63.6% unknown gene products. Characterization of 50 markers on a panel of 35-48 unrelated shrimp indicated an average number of alleles of 12.6 and an average polymorphic information content of 0.723. These EST microsatellite markers along with 208 other markers (185 amplified fragment length polymorphisms, one exon-primed intron-crossing, six single strand conformation polymorphisms, one single nucleotide polymorphism, 13 non-EST-associated microsatellites and two EST-associated microsatellites) were analysed across the international P. monodon mapping family. A total of 144 new markers were added to the P. monodon maps, including 36 of the microsatellite-containing ESTs. The current P. monodon male and female linkage maps have 47 and 36 linkage groups respectively with coverage across half the P. monodon genome.

Predictors for non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy

Objectives: To determine the risk factors for non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Methods: Two hundred clients attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre completed a questionnaire about lifestyle, self-efficacy, depression, drug or alcohol use, social supports, and attitudes to health care. Self-reported adherence (SRA) was measured by missed doses in the last 4, 7 and 28 days. Routinely collected viral load levels were reviewed. Results: Two hundred (85%) out of 231 eligible clients participated in the study. Viral load was most strongly associated with SRA for the last 28 days (P < 0.001). Non-adherence was defined as <98.2% SRA. Non-adherence was most strongly associated with having regular daily routines [odds ratio and 95% confidence interval = 0.4 (0.2, 0.7], having set times for getting up and going to bed [0.5 (0.3, 1.0)], using marijuana more than 4 times per week [0.4 (0.2, 1.0)] and lower self-efficacy which included; being sure that you will be able to take medications as directed [0.2 (0.1, 0.6)] and being sure that missing doses of HIV medication will result in drug resistance [0.4 (0.2, 0.7)]. When significant questions were combined into a composite score to screen for non-adherence, the sensitivity to predict non-adherence was as high as 71% with a specificity of 59%. Conclusions : This study showed that a 10-min questionnaire was associated with clients past non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy and may be useful for predicting future adherence.

Structure-Based design, synthesis and sAR of a novel series of thiopheneamidine urokinase plasminogen activator inhibitors

The serine protease urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) is thought to play a central role in tumor metastasis and angiogenesis. Molecular modeling studies suggest that 5-thiomethylthiopheneamidine inhibits uPA by binding at the S1 pocket of the active site. Further structure based elaboration of this residue resulted in a novel class of potent and selective inhibitors of uPA.

Synthesis of thiophene-2-carboxamidines containing 2-aminothiazoles and their biological evaluation as urokinase inhibitors

The serine protease urokinase (uPa) has been implicated in the progression of both breast and prostate cancer. Utilizing structure based design, the synthesis of a series of substituted 4-[2-amino-1,3-thiazolyl]-thiophene-2-carboxamidines is described. Further optimization of this series by substitution of the terminal amine yielded urokinase inhibitors with excellent activities.

Research and development to improve naval shipboard waste management using a compact closed-loop-controlled waste incinerator

Research has been conducted into the application of forced acoustics for enhancing the performance of a pyrolyzed waste afterburner configured as a dump combustor. Subscale studies showed that acoustic forcing of an air jet entering a dump chamber could trigger the formation of coherent vortices generated by entrainment of ambient gases. Subsequent studies showed that combustible gases could be introduced into the coherent vortices, and with additional modulation this configuration would lead to an enhanced combustion rate with low emissions of pollutants. The acoustically forced burner concept was scaled up to practical levels and tested as an afterburner on a commercial waste incinerator operating in pyrolysis mode. Results show that the afterburner can promote both compactness, due to the rapid combustion rate, and low pollutant emissions resulting from enhanced mixing prior to combustion.

Phylogenetic diversity of bacteria associated with the marine sponge Rhopaloeides odorabile

Molecular techniques were employed to document the microbial diversity associated with the marine sponge Rhopaloeides odorabile. The phylogenetic affiliation of sponge-associated bacteria was assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing of cloned DNA fragments. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to confirm the presence of the predominant groups indicated by 16S rDNA analysis. The community structure was extremely diverse with representatives of the Actinobacteria, low-G+C gram-positive bacteria, the beta- and gamma-subdivisions of the Proteobacteria, Cytophaga/Flavobacterium, green sulfur bacteria, green nonsulfur bacteria, planctomycetes, and other sequence types with no known close relatives. FISH probes revealed the spatial location of these bacteria within the sponge tissue, in some cases suggesting possible symbiotic functions. The high proportion of 16S rRNA sequences derived from novel actinomycetes is good evidence for the presence of an indigenous marine actinomycete assemblage in R. odorabile. High microbial diversity was inferred from low duplication of clones in a library with 70 representatives. Determining the phylogenetic affiliation of sponge-associated microorganisms by 16S rRNA analysis facilitated the rational selection of culture media and isolation conditions to target specific groups of well-represented bacteria for laboratory culture. Novel media incorporating sponge extracts were used to isolate bacteria not previously recovered from this sponge.

Five Crustacean Hyperglycemic Family Hormones of Penaeus monodon: Complementary DNA Sequence and Identification in Single Sinus Glands by Electrospray Ionization-Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry

Five novel neuropeptides, designated Pm-sgp-I to -V, of the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) family have been identified from the giant tiger prawn Penaeus monodon by isolation of the preprohormone genes from an eyestalk complementary DNA library. On the basis of sequence similarity, the encoded peptides have been classified as CHH-like type I hormones, which include all known CHHs and the molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH) of the lobster Homarus americanus. Consistent with CHH type I preprohormones, the Pm-sgp precursors include a signal peptide, a CHH precursor-related peptide (CPRP), and the CHH-like hormone. Analysis by electrospray ionization-Fourier transform mass spectrometry enabled the neuropeptide complement of individual sinus glands to be resolved. It also confirmed the presence of the five Pm-sgp neuropeptides within the sinus gland of an individual animal, in that the masses observed were consistent with those predicted from the gene sequence of the Pm-sgps after posttranslational modification. These modifications included cleavage of the signal peptide and precursor protein, carboxy-terminal amidation, and formation of three disulfide bridges. Analysis of crude extracts of single sinus glands from different animals revealed variation in neuropeptide content and will provide a tool for determining whether the content varies as a function of the physiological state of the animal.

Tissue-Specific Expressed Sequence Tags from the Black Tiger Shrimp Penaeus monodon

: Expressed sequence tag data were generated from complementary DNA libraries created from cephalothorax, eyestalk, and pleopod tissue of the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon). Significant database matches were found for 48 of 83 nuclear genes sequenced from the cephalothorax library, 22 of 55 nuclear genes from the eyestalk library, and 6 of 13 nuclear genes from the pleopod library. The putative identities of these genes reflected the expected tissue specificity. For example, genes for digestive enzymes were identified from the cephalothorax library and genes involved in the visual and neuroendocrine system from the eyestalk library. A few sequences matched anonymous EST or genomic sequences, and others contained mini-satellite or microsatellite repeat sequences. The remainder, 31 from the cephalothorax library, 25 from the eyestalk library, and 5 from the pleopod library, were sequences of high nucleotide complexity with no matches in any database searched and thus may represent novel genes.

Prediction of peptide affinity to HLA DR molecules

A method to quantitatively predict peptide binding to HLA DRB1*0401, B1*0101, and B1*1501 has been developed using a dataset of the relative contributions of each of the naturally occurring amino acids in the context of a simplified peptide backbone. The prediction assumed that the relative role of each of the peptide sidechains could be treated independently and could be measured by assaying each of the twenty naturally occurring amino acids at the central eleven positions of a 13 residue peptide previously shown to contain the minimal requirements for high affinity binding to HLA DR proteins. Three separate databases were generated. They were shown to have predictive value when tested on a set of 13 unrelated peptides known to bind the DR proteins with a wide range of apparent affinity. The DRB1*0401 database was tested further by analyzing myelin basic protein. All 13 amino acid peptides containing a hydrophobic amino acid at the third position were synthesized and assayed for binding purified DRB1*0401. In every case, the measured affinity correlated with the predictive values within the experimental error of the assays. Finally, the ability to predict peptide binding to MHC class II molecules was shown to help in identifying T cell determinants. The specificity of DRB1*0401 restricted T cell hybridomas against human serum albumin corresponded to two peptides, predicted, and shown to bind the class II protein with high affinity.

Down-regulation of poison ivy/oak-induced contact sensitivity by treatment with a class II MHC binding peptide:hapten conjugate

Immune regulation of contact sensitivity to the poison ivy/oak catechol was studied at the level of class II MHC-restricted T cell recognition of hapten:peptide conjugates. In this study we have shown that 1) T cells from C3H/HeN (H-2k) mice, immunized with a synthetic I-Ak binding peptide coupled to 3-pentadecyl-catechol (PDC; a representative catechol in urushiol), recognized peptides derived from syngeneic cells linked to the same catechol; 2) T cells from draining lymph nodes of C3H/HeN mice skin-painted with PDC proliferated in response to a peptide carrier:PDC conjugate only when it was linked at the 7th, but not the 4th or the 10th, position on the peptide carrier; and 3) tolerization studies confirmed down-regulation of PDC-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity following treatment with a single I-Ak binding peptide carrying PDC covalently bound to a lysine residue at the middle (7th) TCR contact position. Tolerization with peptide:PDC conjugate resulted in abrogation of hapten-specific T cell proliferative responses that correlated with diminished IL-2 secretion. On the basis of these data we propose that it may be sufficient to couple the hapten at a single, well-chosen position on a carrier peptide to target a relevant population of T cells involved in contact sensitivity.

Effect of ovariectomy and steroid hormone replacement on the recovery of arterial blood pressure following haemorrhage in anaesthetized Brattleboro rats

There is increasing evidence that ovarian steroids inhibit vascular responsiveness to the neurohypophysial hormone vasopressin. The present study examined the recovery of the arterial blood pressure following a single (2 ml/100 g body weight) haemorrhage in ovariectomized (OVX) Brattleboro rats with hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus (BDI) and rats of the parent Long Evans (LE) strain. Some groups of OVX rats received subcutaneous implants of either 17 beta-oestradiol (E2) or progesterone 7 days prior to haemorrhage. The arterial blood pressure recovery immediately following haemorrhage was significantly impaired in both groups of steroid-treated OVX LE rats compared with the OVX controls (both comparisons P < 0.05). The impairment in blood pressure recovery seen in the steroid-replaced OVX LE rats was similar to that seen in pro-oestrous rats (when ovarian steroid levels are raised) compared with male rats of this strain (P < 0.05). In contrast, ovariectomy with or without steroid replacement in BDI rats had no further effect on the already attenuated recovery of arterial blood pressure after haemorrhage in this strain. Heart rate responses to haemorrhage also showed strain differences, which were dependent on steroid treatment. Pro-oestrous female LE rats showed a small decrease in heart rate after haemorrhage, followed by a recovery process, and this initial bradycardia was markedly enhanced in the OVX steroid-treated animals. In contrast, untreated OVX LE rats showed an initial and sustained increase in heart rate which was significantly higher than in the steroid-treated OVX animals (P < 0.05). All BDI rats, irrespective of treatment, consistently showed an increased heart rate after haemorrhage. In conclusion, ovarian steroid replacement in OVX LE, but not vasopressin-deficient BDI, rats was associated with an attenuated pressor recovery after haemorrhage. This provides further evidence for the existence of an important inhibitory interaction between ovarian steroids and vasopressin. The initial decrease in heart rate observed in pro-oestrous and steroid-treated OVX LE rats after haemorrhage also appears to be related to an ovarian steroid-vasopressin interaction.

Down-regulation of poison ivy/oak-induced contact sensitivity by treatment with a class II MHC binding peptide:hapten conjugate

Immune regulation of contact sensitivity to the poison ivy/oak catechol was studied at the level of class II MHC-restricted T cell recognition of hapten:peptide conjugates. In this study we have shown that 1) T cells from C3H/HeN (H-2k) mice, immunized with a synthetic I-Ak binding peptide coupled to 3-pentadecyl-catechol (PDC; a representative catechol in urushiol), recognized peptides derived from syngeneic cells linked to the same catechol; 2) T cells from draining lymph nodes of C3H/HeN mice skin-painted with PDC proliferated in response to a peptide carrier:PDC conjugate only when it was linked at the 7th, but not the 4th or the 10th, position on the peptide carrier; and 3) tolerization studies confirmed down-regulation of PDC-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity following treatment with a single I-Ak binding peptide carrying PDC covalently bound to a lysine residue at the middle (7th) TCR contact position. Tolerization with peptide:PDC conjugate resulted in abrogation of hapten-specific T cell proliferative responses that correlated with diminished IL-2 secretion. On the basis of these data we propose that it may be sufficient to couple the hapten at a single, well-chosen position on a carrier peptide to target a relevant population of T cells involved in contact sensitivity.

Simultaneous detection of different Rhizobium strains marked with either the Escherichia coli gusA gene or the Pyrococcus furiosus celB gene

A new marker system for gram-negative bacteria was developed on the basis of the celB gene from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus, which encodes a thermostable beta-glucosidase with a high level of beta-galactosidase activity. The celB gene is highly suitable as a marker for studying plant-bacterium interaction because endogenous background beta-glucosidase and beta-galactosidase enzyme activity can readily be inactivated by heat and because inexpensive substrates for detection are commercially available. Two celB-expressing transposons were constructed for use in ecological studies of a variety of gram-negative bacteria. The combined use of the gusA marker gene and celB allowed the simultaneous detection of several Rhizobium strains on a plant, and multiple-strain occupancy of individual modules also could be easily detected.

Differential stability of HLA-DR alleles independent of endogenous peptides

Purified HLA DRB1*0101 was shown to be inherently more stable to dissociation than DRB1*0401. The residues responsible for the differential stability were defined by constructing hybrid molecules, which contained a small number of residues from DRB1*0101 substituted into the framework of DRB1*0401. One of the hybrid molecules, containing six substituted amino acids, was as stable as DRB1*0101, but exhibited the binding specificity of DRB1*0401. This result indicated that the differential stability between the alleles arose from structural differences, and was not due solely to varying populations of endogenous peptides.

Differential stability of HLA-DR alleles independent of endogenous peptides

Purified HLA DRB1*0101 was shown to be inherently more stable to dissociation than DRB1*0401. The residues responsible for the differential stability were defined by constructing hybrid molecules, which contained a small number of residues from DRB1*0101 substituted into the framework of DRB1*0401. One of the hybrid molecules, containing six substituted amino acids, was as stable as DRB1*0101, but exhibited the binding specificity of DRB1*0401. This result indicated that the differential stability between the alleles arose from structural differences, and was not due solely to varying populations of endogenous peptides.

beta-Glucuronidase (GUS) transposons for ecological and genetic studies of rhizobia and other gram-negative bacteria

A series of transposons are described which contain the gusA gene, encoding beta-glucuronidase (GUS), expressed from a variety of promoters, both regulated and constitutive. The regulated promoters include the tac promoter which can be induced by IPTG, and nifH promoters which are symbiotically activated in legume nodules. One transposon contains gusA with a strong Shine-Dalgarno translation initiation context, but no promoter, and thus acts as a promoter-probe transposon. In addition, a gus operon deletion strain of Escherichia coli, and a transposon designed for use in chromosomal mapping using PFGE, are described. The GUS transposons are constructed in a mini-Tn5 system which can be transferred to Gram-negative bacteria by conjugation, and will form stable genomic insertions. Due to the absence of GUS activity in plants and many bacteria of economic importance, these transposons constitute powerful new tools for studying the ecology and population biology of bacteria in the environment and in association with plants, as well as for studies of the fundamental molecular basis of such interactions. The variety of assays available for GUS enable both quantitative assays and spatial localization of marked bacteria to be carried out.