Health screenings with a medical interpreter in a required Ambulatory Care Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess second year student pharmacists' (P2) confidence in communicating with patients with limited English proficiency before and after a required community-based health screening experience. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: All P2s were required to complete a 0.5 credit hour Ambulatory Care Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE). As part of this experience, P2s conducted blood pressure (BP) and blood glucose (BG) screenings with a medical interpreter at a low-income apartment building that has a large Mandarin-speaking population. Each student was required to attend one health screening event. Between September 2022 and April 2023,we administered paper questionnaires to P2s and community members to obtain feedback about the experience. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, and paired t-tests while a content analysis was conducted on qualitative data. FINDINGS: P2s (n = 82, 100%) conducted an average of 5.7 (SD 2.6) BP and 5.9 (SD 2.7) BG screenings per two-hour event. P2s reported higher confidence in conducting assessments, communicating via a medical interpreter, and working on a team at the end of the event. P2s agreed that it should be kept as part of the IPPE (99%). Community members (n = 55, 22%) participated in a bilingual paper-based questionnaire. Community members reported positive experiences and a desire to continue to participate. SUMMARY: At the end of the health screening event, P2s were more confident in their ability to communicate with older adult community members using translated written documents and verbally with a medical interpreter. P2s and community members supported continuation of the program.

Practical Considerations for Community-Based Health Promotion Events during the COVID- 19 Pandemic.

Community-based health promotion events provide student pharmacists the opportunity to give back to the local community while simultaneously applying the knowledge and skills they are learning in the classroom (Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education Standards 3, 4, and 12). In turn, community members receive benefits, such as receiving a vaccination and learning their blood pressure, as well as strategies to manage their health conditions. Traditionally, both individual community members and student pharmacists receive benefit. As a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is critical to consider the impact of public health via the local community when choosing to hold or suspend these activities. It is necessary to consider whether the benefits to individual community members who choose to participate (e.g., older adult with type 2 diabetes or underserved adults with limited access to the influenza vaccine) outweigh the risks to the public due to the pandemic. If there is sufficient benefit, there are practical considerations related to regulations, recruitment of community members, involvement of students and preceptors, location, supplies, delivery of patient care services, and activities after the event.

Plutonium uptake and behavior in vegetation of the desert southwest: a preliminary assessment.

Eight species of desert vegetation and associated soils were collected from the Nevada National Security Site (N2S2) and analyzed for 238Pu and 239 + 240Pu concentrations. Amongst the plant species sampled were: atmospheric elemental accumulators (moss and lichen), the very slow growing, long-lived creosote bush and the rapidly growing, short-lived cheatgrass brome. The diversity of growth strategies provided insight into the geochemical behavior and bio-availability of Pu at the N2S2. The highest concentrations of Pu were measured in the onion moss (24.27 Bq kg-1 238Pu and 52.78 Bq kg-1 239 + 240Pu) followed by the rimmed navel lichen (8.18 Bq kg-1 and 18.4 Bq kg-1 respectively), pointing to the importance of eolian transport of Pu. Brome and desert globemallow accumulated between 3 and 9 times higher concentrations of Pu than creosote and sage brush species. These results support the importance of species specific elemental accumulation strategies rather than exposure duration as the dominant variable influencing Pu concentrations in these plants. Total vegetation elemental concentrations of Ce, Fe, Al, Sm and others were also analyzed. Strong correlations were observed between Fe and Pu. This supports the conclusion that Pu was accumulated as a consequence of the active accumulation of Fe and other plant required nutrients. Cerium and Pu are considered to be chemical analogs. Strong correlations observed in plants support the conclusion that these elements displayed similar geochemical behavior in the environment as it related to the biochemical uptake process of vegetation. Soils were also sampled in association with vegetation samples. This allowed for the calculation of a concentration ratio (CR). The CR values for Pu in plants were highly influenced by the heterogeneity of Pu distribution among sites. Results from the naturally occurring elements of concern were more evenly distributed between sample sites. This allowed for the development of a pattern of plant species that accumulated Ce, Sm, Fe and Al. The highest accumulators of these elements were onion moss, lichen flowed by brome. The lowest accumulators were creosote bush and fourwing saltbush. This ranked order corresponds to plant accumulations of Pu.

Plants as bio-monitors for Cs-137, Pu-238, Pu-239,240 and K-40 at the Savannah River Site.

The Savannah River Site was constructed in South Carolina to produce plutonium (Pu) in the 1950s. Discharges associated with these now-ceased operations have contaminated large areas within the site, particularly streams associated with reactor cooling basins. Evaluating the exposure risk of contamination to an ecosystem requires methodologies that can assess the bioavailability of contaminants. Plants, as primary producers, represent an important mode of transfer of contaminants from soils and sediments into the food chain. The objective of this study was to identify local area plants for their ability to act as bio-monitors of radionuclides. The concentrations of cesium-137 ((137)Cs), potassium-40 ((40)K), (238)Pu and (239,240)Pu in plants and their associated soils were determined using γ and α spectrometry. The ratio of contamination concentration found in the plant relative to the soil was calculated to assess a concentration ratio (CR). The highest CR for (137)Cs was found in Pinus palustris needles (CR of 2.18). The correlation of soil and plant (137)Cs concentration was strong (0.76) and the R(2) (0.58) from the regression was significant (p = 0.006). This suggests the ability to predict the degree of (137)Cs contamination of a soil through analysis of the pine needles. The (238)Pu and (239,240)Pu concentrations were most elevated within the plant roots. Extremely high CR values were found in Sparganium americanum (bur-reed) roots with a value of 5.86 for (238)Pu and 5.66 for (239,240)Pu. The concentration of (40)K was measured as a known congener of (137)C. Comparing (40)K and (137)C concentrations in each plant revealed an inverse relationship for these radioisotopes. Correlating (40)K and (137)Cs was most effective in identifying plants that have a high affinity for (137)Cs uptake. The P. palustris and S. americanum proved to be particularly strong accumulators of all K congeners from the soil. Some species that were measured, warrant further investigation, are the carnivorous plant Utricularia inflata (bladderwort) and the emergent macrophyte Juncus effusus. For U. inflata, the levels of (137)Cs, (238)Pu, and (239,240)Pu (which were 3922, 8399, and 803 Bq kg(-1), respectively) in the leaves were extremely high. The highest (137)Cs concentration from the study was measured in the J. effusus root (5721 Bq kg(-1)).

gerT, a newly discovered germination gene under the control of the sporulation transcription factor sigmaK in Bacillus subtilis.

We report the identification of a gene, herein designated gerT (formerly yozR), that is involved in germination by spores of Bacillus subtilis. The gerT gene is induced late in sporulation under the positive control of the transcription factor sigma(K) and under the negative control of the DNA-binding protein GerE. The gerT gene product (GerT) is a component of the spore coat, and its incorporation into the coat takes place in two stages. GerT initially assembles into foci, which then spread around the developing spore in a process that is dependent on the morphogenetic protein CotE. Mutant spores lacking GerT respond poorly to multiple germinants and are impaired at an early stage of germination.

The Bacillus subtilis spore coat protein interaction network.

Bacterial spores are surrounded by a morphologically complex, mechanically flexible protein coat, which protects the spore from toxic molecules. The interactions among the over 50 proteins that make up the coat remain poorly understood. We have used cell biological and protein biochemical approaches to identify novel coat proteins in Bacillus subtilis and describe the network of their interactions, in order to understand coat assembly and the molecular basis of its protective functions and mechanical properties. Our analysis characterizes the interactions between 32 coat proteins. This detailed view reveals a complex interaction network. A key feature of the network is the importance of a small subset of proteins that direct the assembly of most of the coat. From an analysis of the network topology, we propose a model in which low-affinity interactions are abundant in the coat and account, to a significant degree, for the coat's mechanical properties as well as structural variation between spores.

The program of gene transcription for a single differentiating cell type during sporulation in Bacillus subtilis.

Asymmetric division during sporulation by Bacillus subtilis generates a mother cell that undergoes a 5-h program of differentiation. The program is governed by a hierarchical cascade consisting of the transcription factors: sigma(E), sigma(K), GerE, GerR, and SpoIIID. The program consists of the activation and repression of 383 genes. The sigma(E) factor turns on 262 genes, including those for GerR and SpoIIID. These DNA-binding proteins downregulate almost half of the genes in the sigma(E) regulon. In addition, SpoIIID turns on ten genes, including genes involved in the appearance of sigma(K). Next, sigma(K) activates 75 additional genes, including that for GerE. This DNA-binding protein, in turn, represses half of the genes that had been activated by sigma(K) while switching on a final set of 36 genes. Evidence is presented that repression and activation contribute to proper morphogenesis. The program of gene expression is driven forward by its hierarchical organization and by the repressive effects of the DNA-binding proteins. The logic of the program is that of a linked series of feed-forward loops, which generate successive pulses of gene transcription. Similar regulatory circuits could be a common feature of other systems of cellular differentiation.