Impact of a Well-being Promotion Training Program on Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience Conference Leaders.

Objective. The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the attitudes and self-efficacy of advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) conference leaders after completing the Well-being Promotion (WelPro) training program developed at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Pharmacy.Methods. The WelPro training program was developed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to assist APPE students in distress and promote student wellness. After completing the WelPro training program, a 20-item survey was administered to 10 conference leaders via a web-based survey tool to assess their attitudes about burnout and self-efficacy in assisting students in distress. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize attitudes and self-efficacy.Results. Ten conference leaders participated in the training program. Of these, nine reported experiencing burnout in their careers, and all believed burnout within the pharmacy profession could be avoided. After the WelPro training program, confidence levels of the conference leaders significantly improved in the following areas: identification of students in distress, identification of resources for students, and recognition of when and how to refer students in distress.Conclusion. Increased self-efficacy of conference leaders to identify and assist students in distress could be translated into their improved ability to support students' overall well-being. The WelPro training program can serve as a model for similar wellness training programs that directors and preceptors in experiential education can implement at their institutions.

A reusable neurotransmitter aptasensor for the sensitive detection of serotonin.

Serotonin is one of the important neurotransmitters in human nervous system and associated with central nervous system diseases. Herein, we have prepared a novel electrochemical aptasensor for rapid and sensitive detection of serotonin by using the pre-designed and prepared DNA aptamers. In the absence of serotonin, the electron transfer rate on the aptasensor was faster than that in the presence of serotonin due to the hairpin structure of the aptamer was loose and MB could be closer to the electrode surface. While in the presence of serotonin, the hairpin structure of the aptamer was extended and MB was far away from the electrode surface. The effect of MB labeled sites on analytical performances of the proposed aptasensors was discussed by comparing sensitivity of the aptasensors that MB labeled in the intermediate of the aptamer with that MB labeled at the 3' end of the aptamer. It was found that sensitivity of the intermediate-labeled aptasensor was much higher than the terminal-labeled aptasensor due to the specific conformational changes before and after aptamer binding to serotonin. The developed aptasensors exhibits a rapid electrochemical response and high sensitivity for the determination of serotonin. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the linear range for serotonin concentrations by the intermediate-labeled aptasensor was 1 pM-10 nM with a detection limit of 0.017 fM (S/N = 3). Moreover, the proposed aptasensor is reusable and shows good reproducibility and selectivity for the detection of serotonin in 100-fold diluted rat cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting a good application prospect in the detection of serotonin in real samples.

Heavy metal pollution and health risk assessment of agricultural land in the Southern Margin of Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, China.

The study aimed to analyze the level of heavy metal pollution in the agricultural lands in the southern margin of Tarim Basin, Xinjiang, and its risks to human health. A total of 1765 soil samples were collected from the Cele-Ruoqiang area. The contents of soil As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn were analyzed using the pollution load index method. The results showed that soil was slightly contaminated with Hg and Cd; the multivariate statistical analysis indicated that Cr, Ni, As, Cu, Zn, and Cd were formed mostly by geochemical genesis, whereas Hg and Pb contents by the geological origin and human activities. The health risk assessment showed that there is no unacceptable non-carcinogenic health risk. As levels posed carcinogenic risk, however, they were within human tolerance. Thus, this study provides a scientific basis for local agricultural production safety and prevention and control of soil heavy metal pollution.

[Spatial Distribution of Soil Arsenic and Arsenic Enrichment in Crops in the Oasis Region of the Southeastern Tarim Basin].

We use 3487 surface soil samples, 35 soil profile samples, and 93 agricultural products and root soil samples obtained from the southeastern Tarim basin, Xinjiang, northwestern China (Ruoqiang County and Qiemo County, Bayingguo Mongolia Autonomous Prefecture, and Minfeng County and Yutian County, Hetian Prefecture) to assess As contamination. Multivariate statistical analysis, geostatistics, and global information system (GIS) techniques are used to study:the spatial distribution characteristics of soil As, the effects of various agricultural products on As enrichment, and to compare the characteristics of the As content of agricultural products and root soils in spatially significantly and non-significantly autocorrelated regions. The As content of soil samples were relatively low, and the average As contents determined for agricultural land and non-agricultural land were 9.81 mg·kg-1 and 7.94 mg·kg-1, respectively. We found that 568 surface soil samples (16.3% of all samples) had an As content that exceeded Xinjiang soil background values (11.2 mg·kg-1) and that five samples exceeded the risk screening values (25 mg·kg-1). The Moran's indexes of spatial autocorrelation were>0, and the main aggregation types of spatial autocorrelation of soil As were high-high and low-low types, with the zone of the high-high type being mainly located in the agricultural land of each county. A GIS spatial distribution map showed that the high value area of soil As content presented a flaky or island-like scattered distribution. The standard deviation ellipses showed that the trend direction of soil As content in:Ruoqiang County was from north to south, Qiemo County and Minfeng County were both from southwest to northeast, and Yutian County was from northwest to southeast. The As content of the vertical profiles of the agricultural land in Ruoqiang County fluctuated from the surface to depth, whereas those of other counties were relatively stable. The As enrichment ability of crops was ranked as:root vegetables > walnuts > wheat > corn > red dates. The As contents of corn and red dates showed a significant positive correlation with that of the root soil. There was no significant difference in the As content of agricultural products between significant autocorrelation zones and non-significant autocorrelation zones, whereas there was a significant difference in the As content of root soils.

A novel electrochemical sensor based on a molecularly imprinted polymer for the determination of epigallocatechin gallate.

A novel electrochemical sensor based on the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was fabricated by electrochemical polymerization of ß-cyclodextrins (ß-CD) and epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) on the graphene oxide (GO) modified glassy carbon (GO/GC) electrode for the first time. The MIP/GO/GC electrode exhibits an excellent ability of specific binding of EGCG and a rapid electrochemical response, high sensitivity and selectivity for determination of EGCG. This prepared MIP sensor presents distinct advantages over conventional electrochemical methods for EGCG determination because it is a one-step preparation and the template molecule can be easily removed by cyclic voltammetry scans, and no elution reagent is required. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the linear response range for EGCG concentrations by the sensor was 3×10-8mol/L to 1×10-5mol/L and the detection limit was 8.78×10-9mol/L(S/N=3). The results demonstrate that the proposed MIP sensor can be a potential alternative for the determination of EGCG in tea samples.

A novel hydrogen peroxide biosensor based on the immobilization of hemoglobin on three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) gold-nanoparticle-doped titanium dioxide (GTD) film.

The three-dimensionally ordered macroporous gold-nanoparticle-doped titanium dioxide (3DOM GTD) film was modified on the indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode surface. Hemoglobin (Hb) has been successfully immobilized on the 3DOM GTD film and the fabrication process was characterized by Raman and UV-vis spectra. The results indicated that the Hb immobilized on the film retained its biological activity and the secondary structure of Hb was not destroyed. The direct electrochemistry and electrocatalysis of Hb immobilized on this film have been investigated. The Hb/3DOM GTD/ITO electrode exhibited two couples of redox peaks corresponding to the Hb intercalated in the mesopores and adsorbed on the external surface of the film with the formal potential of -0.20 and -0.48 V in 0.1M PBS (pH7.0), respectively. The Hb/3DOM GTD/ITO electrode exhibits an excellent eletrocatalytic activity, a wide linear range for H(2)O(2) from 5.0 µM to 1.0mM with a limit of detection of 0.6µM, high sensitivity (144.5 µA mM(-1)), good stability and reproducibility. Compared with the TiO(2) nanoneedles modified electrode, the GTD modified electrode has higher sensitivity and response peak current. The 3DOM GTD provided a good matrix for bioactive molecules immobilization, suggesting it has the potential use in the fields of H(2)O(2) biosensors.

Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) gold-nanoparticle-doped titanium dioxide (GTD) photonic crystals modified electrodes for hydrogen peroxide biosensor.

Gold nanoparticles have been introduced into the wall framework of titanium dioxide photonic crystals by the colloidal crystal template technique. The three-dimensionally ordered macroporous gold-nanoparticle-doped titanium dioxide (3DOM GTD) film was modified on the indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode surface and used for the hydrogen peroxide biosensor. The direct electron transfer and electrocatalysis of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) immobilized on this film have been investigated. The 3DOM GTD film could provide a good microenvironment for retaining the biological bioactivity, large internal area, and superior conductivity. The HRP/3DOM GTD/ITO electrode exhibited two couples of redox peaks corresponding to the HRP intercalated in the mesopores and adsorbed on the external surface of the film with the formal potential of -0.19 and -0.52V in 0.1M PBS (pH 7.4), respectively. The HRP intercalated in the mesopores showed a surface-controlled process with a single proton transfer. The direct electron transfer between the adsorbed HRP and the electrode is achieved without the aid of an electron mediator. The H(2)O(2) biosensor displayed a rapid eletrocatalytic response (less than 3s), a wide linear range from 0.5 microM to 1.4mM with a detection limit of 0.2 microM, high sensitivity (179.9 microAmM(-1)), good stability and reproducibility. Compared with the free-Au doped titanium dioxide photonic crystals modified electrode, the GTD modified electrode could greatly enhance the response current signal, linear detection range and higher sensitivity. The 3DOM GTD provided a new matrix for protein immobilization and direct transfer study and opened a way for low conductivity electrode biosensor.

[Effect of aggregation extent of microperoxidase-8 on its interaction with La3+].

Oxygen of two propionic acid groups of the heme group in an MP-8 molecule, leading to an increase in the non-planarity of the porphyrin ring of the heme group. The increasing extent in the non-planarity of the porphyrin ring of the heme group due to the interaction of La3+ and MP-8 molecule would be significantly decreased because NaCl could increase the aggregation extent of MP-8 molecules. Although methanol can reduce the aggregation extent of MP-8 molecules, it has little influence on the increasing extent in the non-planarity of the porphyrin ring of the heme group due to the interaction of La3+ and MP-8 molecule.

[Spectral study on the interaction mechanism between thionine and calf thymus DNA].

The interaction mechanism of thionine (TH) and calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was studied with UV-Vis absorption spectoscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was demonstrated that in the pH 7.2 phosphate buffer solution, the interaction of TH and CT-DNA is in the intercalative mode. The absorbance of the absorption peak of TH decreases and the peak position shifts to the red direction. The binding constant (K) of TH with CT-DNA is 1.45x 10(4) mol x L(-1). The fluorescence intensities of TH decrease drastically with increasing the concentration of CT-DNA. The Stem-Volmer quenching constant (Ksv) was calculated to be 1.01 x 10(4) mol x L(-1). The intercalative sites are mainly located at the G-C sequences of the CT-DNA molecule through the S atom in the TH molecule according to the experimental data obtained from the fluorescence spectra and XPS analysis. The secondary structure conformation of CT-DNA is changed due to its interaction with TH.