Calcium as a Limiting Factor in the Distribution of the Amphipod Gammarus pseudolimnaeus

BiologyMaster of Arts (M.A.

Primary Care Employees\u27 Knowledge and Self Efficacy about Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a worldwide issue that is detrimental to individuals, families, and communities. However, it is a hidden issue, and without proper training, it goes unnoticed. Many primary care employees do not know much about trafficking or how to identify trafficked persons, but with proper training they could potentially help clients that are trafficked persons. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine if human trafficking training would increase primary care employees’ knowledge and self-efficacy about human trafficking. The training included topics such as general knowledge, risk factors, identifiers, and the role of healthcare employees. Participants in the intervention group (n=25) took a pretest and posttest survey and received a 40-minute human trafficking training. Participants in the comparison group (n=13) took one survey. Quantitative data analysis was used to analyze the survey responses and there was a statistically significant positive difference in the mean score of the intervention group’s knowledge and self-efficacy tests pre/posttest and posttest with the comparison group. Primary care employees knew more about trafficking and expressed a greater confidence in their ability to identify clients who may be trafficked persons. Ultimately, the human trafficking training did increase primary care employees’ knowledge and self-efficacy about trafficking, indicating a need for further training in the healthcare field

Primary Care Employees\u27 Knowledge and Self Efficacy about Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a worldwide issue that is detrimental to individuals, families, and communities. However, it is a hidden issue, and without proper training, it goes unnoticed. Many primary care employees do not know much about trafficking or how to identify trafficked persons, but with proper training they could potentially help clients that are trafficked persons. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine if human trafficking training would increase primary care employees’ knowledge and self-efficacy about human trafficking. The training included topics such as general knowledge, risk factors, identifiers, and the role of healthcare employees. Participants in the intervention group (n=25) took a pretest and posttest survey and received a 40-minute human trafficking training. Participants in the comparison group (n=13) took one survey. Quantitative data analysis was used to analyze the survey responses and there was a statistically significant positive difference in the mean score of the intervention group’s knowledge and self-efficacy tests pre/posttest and posttest with the comparison group. Primary care employees knew more about trafficking and expressed a greater confidence in their ability to identify clients who may be trafficked persons. Ultimately, the human trafficking training did increase primary care employees’ knowledge and self-efficacy about trafficking, indicating a need for further training in the healthcare field

Acyl-CoA synthetase 3 promotes lipid droplet biogenesis in ER microdomains

Control of lipid droplet (LD) nucleation and copy number are critical, yet poorly understood, processes. We use model peptides that shift from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to LDs in response to fatty acids to characterize the initial steps of LD formation occurring in lipid-starved cells. Initially, arriving lipids are rapidly packed in LDs that are resistant to starvation (pre-LDs). Pre-LDs are restricted ER microdomains with a stable core of neutral lipids. Subsequently, a first round of “emerging” LDs is nucleated, providing additional lipid storage capacity. Finally, in proportion to lipid concentration, new rounds of LDs progressively assemble. Confocal microscopy and electron tomography suggest that emerging LDs are nucleated in a limited number of ER microdomains after a synchronized stepwise process of protein gathering, lipid packaging, and recognition by Plin3 and Plin2. A comparative analysis demonstrates that the acyl-CoA synthetase 3 is recruited early to the assembly sites, where it is required for efficient LD nucleation and lipid storag

Potential vectors of equine arboviruses in the UK

There is growing concern about the increasing risk of disease outbreaks caused by arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) in both humans and animals. There are several mosquito-borne viral diseases that cause varying levels of morbidity and mortality in horses and that can have substantial welfare and economic ramifications. While none has been recorded in the UK, vector species for some of these viruses are present, suggesting that UK equines may be at risk. We undertook, therefore, the first study of mosquito species on equine premises in the UK. Mosquito Magnet traps and red-box traps were used to sample adults, and larvae were collected from water sources such as tyres, buckets, ditches and pools. Several species which are known to be capable of transmitting important equine infectious arboviruses were trapped. The most abundant, with a maximum catch of 173 in 72 hours was Ochlerotatus detritus, a competent vector of some flaviviruses; the highest densities were found near saltmarsh habitats. The most widespread species, recorded at >75% of sites, was Culiseta annulata. This study demonstrates that potential mosquito vectors of arboviruses, including those known to be capable of infecting horses, are present and may be abundant on equine premises in the UK

Fsp27 promotes lipid droplet growth by lipid exchange and transfer at lipid droplet contact sites

The lipid droplet–associated protein Fsp27 mediates lipid droplet growth by promoting directional lipid transfer from smaller to larger lipid droplets

Genetic Characterization of Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis Virus from Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru: Identification of a New Subtype ID Lineage

Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) has been responsible for hundreds of thousands of human and equine cases of severe disease in the Americas. A passive surveillance study was conducted in Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador to determine the arboviral etiology of febrile illness. Patients with suspected viral-associated, acute, undifferentiated febrile illness of <7 days duration were enrolled in the study and blood samples were obtained from each patient and assayed by virus isolation. Demographic and clinical information from each patient was also obtained at the time of voluntary enrollment. In 2005–2007, cases of Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) were diagnosed for the first time in residents of Bolivia; the patients did not report traveling, suggesting endemic circulation of VEEV in Bolivia. In 2001 and 2003, VEE cases were also identified in Ecuador. Since 1993, VEEV has been continuously isolated from patients in Loreto, Peru, and more recently (2005), in Madre de Dios, Peru. We performed phylogenetic analyses with VEEV from Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru and compared their relationships to strains from other parts of South America. We found that VEEV subtype ID Panama/Peru genotype is the predominant one circulating in Peru. We also demonstrated that VEEV subtype ID strains circulating in Ecuador belong to the Colombia/Venezuela genotype and VEEV from Madre de Dios, Peru and Cochabamba, Bolivia belong to a new ID genotype. In summary, we identified a new major lineage of enzootic VEEV subtype ID, information that could aid in the understanding of the emergence and evolution of VEEV in South America