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Biomedical subjects

J A MacLeod

Publications and source records attributed to J A MacLeod.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

nimO, an Aspergillus gene related to budding yeast Dbf4, is required for DNA synthesis and mitotic checkpoint control.

The nimO predicted protein of Aspergillus nidulans is related structurally and functionally to Dbf4p, the regulatory subunit of Cdc7p kinase in budding yeast. nimOp and Dbf4p are most similar in their C-termini, which contain a PEST motif and a novel, short-looped Cys2-His2 zinc finger-like motif. DNA labelling and reciprocal shift assays using ts-lethal nimO18 mutants showed that nimO is required for initiation of DNA synthesis and for efficient progression through S phase. nimO18 mutants abrogated a cell cycle checkpoint linking S and M phases by segregating their unreplicated chromatin. This checkpoint defect did not interfere with other checkpoints monitoring spindle assembly and DNA damage (dimer lesions), but did prevent activation of a DNA replication checkpoint. The division of unreplicated chromatin was accelerated in cells lacking a component of the anaphase-promoting complex (bimEAPC1), consistent with the involvement of nimO and APC/C in separate checkpoint pathways. A nimO deletion conferred DNA synthesis and checkpoint defects similar to nimO18. Inducible nimO alleles lacking as many as 244 C-terminal amino acids supported hyphal growth, but not asexual development, when overexpressed in a ts-lethal nimO18 strain. However, the truncated alleles could not rescue a nimO deletion, indicating that the C terminus is essential and suggesting some type of interaction among nimO polypeptides.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Competency: a basis for the selection of staff nurses.

This article describes a process for competency interviewing of staff nurse applicants based on an evaluation of their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Planning an interview with consideration of job requirements and organizational expectations is essential. Guidelines for developing interview tools, conducting the interview, and rating applicants are included.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1994

Evaluation of a new high protein variety of soybeans as a source of protein and energy for dairy cows.

Twenty Holstein cows in midlactation were used in a Latin square design to evaluate the nutritional quality of a high protein soybean (CP 45%) fed raw or roasted. Treatments were 1) control (soybean meal); 2) conventional soybean (Maple Isle), raw; 3) conventional soybean, roasted; 4) high protein soybean (AC Proteus), raw; and 5) high protein soybean, roasted. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and consisted of approximately 10% whole crop barley silage, 15% corn silage, 19% alfalfa silage, 31% rolled barley, 17% cracked corn, and from 6.5 to 8.6% of the appropriate protein source on a DM basis. Replacement of conventional soybean with the high protein soybean increased milk and milk component yields. All soybean treatments lowered milk protein percentages versus soybean meal although milk protein yield was only reduced for the raw Maple Isle soybean treatment. Milk fat percentage was reduced for the roasted AC Proteus soybean treatment versus soybean meal and both Maple Isle soybean treatments, although total milk fat yield did not differ among treatments. Heat treatment by roasting tended to affect total milk yield positively for both types of soybeans, but only the increase for Maple Isle was significant. Milk from cows fed full fat soybeans had more long-chain fatty acids than milk from cows fed soybean meal. Roasting the soybeans further increased the amounts of long-chain fatty acids. The new high protein soybean, AC Proteus, appears to be an excellent source of supplemental protein and energy for lactating dairy cows.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1991

One year later: evaluating a changing delivery system.

One year after the introduction of primary nursing on four medical and surgical units in the tertiary hospital, a 23-item survey was distributed to primary and associate nurses on these units to evaluate the nurses' perceptions of the status of this change in nursing care delivery. Lewin's theory of change provided direction for evaluation of the change. The survey assessed improvements in patient care, changes in nursing practice, and interactions with other disciplines. The majority of nurses surveyed reported that patient care had improved under primary nursing; 100% of the primary nurses agreed that care had improved. The nurses identified continuity of care, communications, and awareness of patient problems as specific areas of improvement. They also identified improved interactions with many members of the healthcare team; the greatest were with dietitians, social workers, and physicians. The authors reported both positive and negative perceptions of how practice had changed under primary nursing. Results from the survey provided suggestions for continued support for staff nurses in this change in nursing care delivery within the studied facility, and suggested the need for future assessment and further evaluation.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1988

High blood pressure in the Western Isles: a comparative study with Dundee.

A screening programme for cardiovascular risk factors in men aged 50-59 was undertaken in North Uist, and the results compared with an age- and sex-matched control group from Dundee screened as part of the Scottish Heart Health Study. Blood pressure levels were higher in the Islanders than in controls (148 +/- 20/89 +/- 10 mmHg vs 134 +/- 19/84 +/- 11 mmHg (P less than 0.001). Analysis of standard twelve-lead electrocardiograms revealed a greater prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy in the Islanders (51% vs 16%, P less than 0.005), suggesting that the recorded BP differences were real and not artefacts of measurement. The explanation for the higher BP on North Uist is less clear. Environmental factors that might influence BP including body mass index, the amount of exercise taken, alcohol consumption, dietary salt and potassium intake were similar in North Uist and Dundee. By contrast, an analysis of family names in the two centres indicated a greater degree of common ancestry in North Uist (28 surnames/84 islanders v 98 surnames/110 controls, P less than 0.001). These results suggest that known environmental causes of hypertension are not responsible for higher BP amongst men of North Uist, and this with the data on family names raises the possibility that genetic factors are more important.

Electrocardiography↗
PubMedDate not supplied

One year later: using role theory to evaluate a new delivery system.

This is the second part of a two-part article that presents findings from a staff nurse survey one year after the implementation of primary nursing on four medical and surgical pilot units in a tertiary teaching hospital. The introduction of primary nursing was one phase of a project to develop theory-based nursing practice within the institution. The researchers hoped that obtaining the staff nurse perspective on the change to primary nursing would provide evaluative information and suggestions to provide additional support in the project. Role theory (Hardy, 1978) provides the theoretical framework for this study. While the previous article discussed issues related to the change process, this article focuses on evaluation of role transitions.

Hospitals, Teaching↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Coping, satisfaction, and the life cycle in families with mentally retarded persons.

The study focused on the variables influencing the functioning of 62 families with MR (mentally retarded) persons, living at home, in various stages of the life cycle. Results demonstrated the importance of some father characteristics to maternal coping skills in two-parent households. Although mean maternal coping scores were not statistically different between two-parent and single-parent households, single mothers' coping skills showed strong negative associations with both the number of children in the household and the age of the mother. This was not true of mothers in two-parent households. Single-parent mothers also appeared to be considerably more dissatisfied with family functioning than mothers in two-parent households. The supportive role of older fathers in mothers' coping in two-parent households also was apparent. Clinical implications of the study point to the need for greater support for mothers of young children with MR, mothers who are sole caregivers, and parents with many children. Differential support to mothers and fathers of an MR person may be required over the life cycle.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

It's not a drill, it's for real!

In this article, the authors describe an actual fire on a 40-bed surgical ward in a university-affiliated medical center. By the time staff members discovered the fire, one patient's bed and room were engulfed in flames and smoke was pouring into the hallway. Rapid and appropriate responses of members of the nursing and hospital staff prevented injuries to patients and staff members. Eighteen patients were evacuated within minutes, and the area of the fire was contained quickly. The importance of staff education and preparedness for an internal disaster with an emphasis on fire and safety standards is reviewed in this article.

Disaster Planning↗