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The use of patient educators is one of many teaching strategies meant to foster principles of patient-centred care. We previously found that early patient educator exposure helped to shape the understanding of patient-centredness in pre-clerkship learners. We now expand on this work to evaluate whether there is persistence of initial perceptions and to explore general reflections on longer-term impacts of early patient educator exposures once learners are immersed in the clinical phase of their training. In this follow-up study, we conducted group interviews with a sample of learners who wrote reflections as part of their pre-clerkship patient educator experience. We explored how perspectives on patient educators changed over time, and determined which themes identified during pre-clerkship remained relevant to clinical trainees. Audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed thematically using a hybrid inductive and deductive analysis to construct a thematic framework derived through a method of constant comparison. We identified three new themes: "value of early clinical experience", "change in learners' perspectives", and "valuing and applying CanMEDS roles other than Medical Expert". Themes from pre-clerkship that remained relevant included: "patients' perspective humanizes disease", "patients' experiences with navigating the healthcare system", "learners' perceptions of the learning strategy", and "inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the learning experience." Many themes identified in pre-clerkship learners remain relevant in early clinical trainees. Further, insights from pre-clerkship experiences with patient educators evolve as learners experience clerkship with definite shifts in emphasis and new perspectives. This work illuminates the utility of patient educators for those considering this strategy for supporting the development of patient-centredness in undergraduate medical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The influence of treatment conditions on Pt/SnO2 properties and its catalytic activity in CO oxidation was investigated. It was found that the temperature and atmosphere of catalyst heating had a great impact on the active phase dispersion, the chemical composition of the surface layer and the O2 adsorption capacity of the Pt/SnO2 catalysts. TOF-SIMS analysis and XRD measurements showed that the heat treatment in an atmosphere of H2 promotes the formation of bimetallic compounds of Pt-Sn and different species such as PtOH, PtO2, PtO2H, PtOCl, PtSnO, PtSnOH. It was stated that their presence significantly affects the activity of the catalyst in the CO oxidation. The catalyst capacity of O2 adsorption varied depending on the treatment conditions. The catalyst treated at 600 °C in oxygen showed the greatest ability of oxygen adsorption. A significant difference in the activities between the catalyst samples heated in O2 or H2 atmosphere was found. The highest activity was obtained for 1%Pt/SnO2 sample treated in oxygen at 700 °C. The treatment in hydrogen above 100 °C caused a decrease in the catalyst activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This paper reports that Pt/TiO2 and to some extent, Pt/Al2O3 and Pt/SiO2 catalysts show some activity in the photocatalytic oxidation of CO by water at low temperature (< 100 °C) in the absence of oxygen. For Pt/TiO2 catalysts, CO conversion is dependent on the Pt loading as well as the temperature of their reduction. There are an optimal platinum loading (5 wt%) and catalyst reduction temperature (500 °C) ensuring the best photocatalytic efficiency. Catalytic performance results from the combined effects of electron-hole photogeneration and partial photodesorption of CO from the platinum surface, followed by the adsorption and subsequent dissociation of H2O. The probable mechanism of photooxidation of CO by H2O was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Purpose. The aim of this study was to investigate asparagine (Asn) deamidation and aspartate (Asp) isomerization and to measure the content of isoaspartate (isoAsp) in recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11). Methods. The rhIL-11 control and heat stressed samples were characterized with trypsin and endoproteinase Asp-N peptide mapping, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDSPAGE), reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) and capillary electrophoresis (CE). The total isoAsp content and bioactivity were also assessed. Results. Stress of rhIL11 at 30°C for 6 weeks in liquid resulted in significant isomerization of Asp[sup 45] and Asp[sup 47]. Isomerization of Asp[sup 51] and deamidation of Asn[sup 49] were also detected at low levels. The stressed rhIL-11 molecule contained 0.3 mol of isoAsp per mol of protein, compared to only 0.007 mol/mol of protein in the control. Conclusions. Asp and Asn residues, located in a loop structure of rhIL-11, undergo isoAsp formation under stressed conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The distribution of synaptic zinc after short-term (up to 48 h) tactile deprivation of vibrissae was investigated in the barrel cortex of mice using histochemical staining. In adult mice, 12 h after trimming selected rows of vibrissae, an increase in zinc staining in the deprived barrels was observed. This increase was still present 48 h after trimming. These results indicate that the level of synaptic zinc is rapidly regulated by neuronal activity in adult mice. In young (8-day-old) mice, the short-term deprivation did not alter zinc staining and only chronic sensory deprivation produced an increase in zinc staining. However, after long-term deprivation no changes were found in adult mice. These results suggest that different mechanisms might be involved in functional reorganization of zinc containing terminals in young and fully mature cerebral cortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The unique monoclonal antibody FXXXIX 12G9 obtained against Tetrahymena cortices was used to label cytoskeletal structures related to basal body proliferation in Paraurostyla weissei. The antibody binds to an amorphous material interconnecting basal bodies in compound ciliary structures: dorsal units, cirri and membranelles in interfission cells, and filamentous structures supporting the primordia of ciliary structures and fission line in dividing cells. The antibody visualized meridional filaments preceding proliferation of new basal bodies in the oral primordium and structures accompanying all developing ciliary primordia. It congregated in differentiating new procirri and membranelles, whereas another population of transient meridional structures accompanied the final distribution of new structures. A meridional filament connecting transverse cirri with the oral apparatus, marking the future stomatogenic meridian, persisted in both division products until completion of cell elongation. The fission line was found to originate from an anterior extension of the pre-oral filament toward the parental oral structures. It then encircled the cell's midbody demarcating the boundary between daughter cells; two additional circumferential structures bordering the anterior and posterior ends of differentiating division products participate in formation of the new poles. They disappear after separation of daughter cells and completion of resorption of parental ciliature. In the enhanced multi-left-marginal mutant expressing gross hyperduplication of basal bodies, the location of the 12G9 antigen corresponded to that in wild-type cells. The sequence of formation of meridional filaments in the mutant was found to be altered. The filaments in the left lateral domain preceded the formation of the preoral filament, yet the temporal pattern of basal body assembly was not modified. The fission line, as in wild-type cells, originated in connection with the oral primordium. We conclude that the nucleation of the filamentous structures bearing the 12G9 antigen and the basal body assembly occur by independent mechanisms reading the same cell cycle signals. We suggest that the 12G9-antigen-bearing protein might be similar to septins: involved in signaling the position of the oral primordium and the fission line and functioning in establishing and maintaining the asymmetric cortical domain characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...