Genetics

Alta Genetics | US

March 17, 2020 medical

N8350 High Road 53094 Watertown Wisconsininfo@altagenetics.com1 920-261-5065

1-263090 RGE RD 11 Rocky View County Albertainfo@altagenetics.com+1 403 226 0666

via G. Cesare 87/A 47838 Riccione (RN) ItaliaMon - Sat 8.00 - 18.00. Sunday CLOSED+39 0541 647087

Unit 17, 70-72 Lambeck Dr, Tullamarine, Victoria Mon - Sat 8.00 - 18.00. Sunday CLOSED+61 3 8336 1458

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Alta Genetics | US

Genetics

Podcast: Can you inherit more than half your genes from one parent? Debunking genomic myths and misconceptions – Genetic Literacy Project

March 17, 2020 medical

The Distaff Gospels, a collection of medieval Old Wives Tales, warns that if a pregnant woman eats hare shes likely to have a baby with a cleft palate, while eating fish heads leads to a trout pout. While these ideas certainly arent supported by modern science, there is still plenty of confusion surrounding genetics todayfor example, the idea that an inherited disease is the result of something bad happening in the family, that mutations are always bad, or that looking more like one parent than the other means youve inherited more of their genes.

Geneticist Kat Arney explores some of the myths and misconceptions about genetics, genomics and inheritance, in partnership with the Genomics Education Programme.

Genetic testsand increasingly, more detailed genomic analysisare providing an unprecedented amount of information about the underlying genetic variations and alterations that affect health. The pace at which genomic data and technologies are coming into the clinic is impressive. At the same time, it can leave patients, the public and healthcare providers feeling overwhelmed and trying to figure out what it all means.

Laura Boyes, Consultant Genetic Counselor for the West Midlands, explains where we get our ideas about inheritance from, and how they shape our family relationships. She also talks about the need to normalize the idea of genetic variation: nobody has a perfect genome, and we are all carrying our own unique alterations.

Anna Middleton, Head of Society and Ethics Research at the Wellcome Genome Campus in Cambridge, discusses whether media portrayals of genetics are helpful or harmful, and whether scientists should get worked up about bad science in the movies.

Finally, Arney speaks with Michelle Bishop, the Education Lead for the Genomics Education Programme, about the importance of providing accurate and understandable information about genomics, and the need for educators and healthcare professionals to keep up to date with advances in this fast-moving field.

The Genomics Education Programme is running a week of action from the 16th to the 20th March 2020, designed to raise awareness about the impact of genomics in healthcare and what we can all do to tackle some of the myths and misconceptions that are out there. Following @genomicsedu and #GenomicsConversation on Twitter or visit genomicseducation.hee.nhs.uk for more information.

Full transcript, links and references available online atGeneticsUnzipped.com

Genetics Unzippedis the podcast from the UKGenetics Society,presented by award-winning science communicator and biologistKat Arneyand produced byFirst Create the Media.Follow Kat on Twitter@Kat_Arney,Genetics Unzipped@geneticsunzip,and the Genetics Society at@GenSocUK

Listen to Genetics Unzipped onApple Podcasts(iTunes)Google Play,Spotify,orwherever you get your podcasts

Genetics

The full tool box: How breed associations contribute to the cow-calf sector – Bryan-College Station Eagle

March 17, 2020 medical

Breed associations make a big contribution to the cow-calf sector through their development of genetic evaluation systems. These systems provide commercial cattlemen with tools for selecting herd sires that can deliver genetic improvement to herd progeny.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association, NCBA, frequently organizes and hosts webinars featuring various breed association staff members who explain their latest genetic evaluation methods. This article summarizes a NCBA webinar presented in February 2019 titled, "Moving Forward with Superior Genetic Selection Tools."

Genetic tools

The first speaker was Mahdi Saatchi, lead genomicist for International Genetic Solutions, IGS. IGS is the world's largest multi-breed genetic evaluator representing 12 breed associations in the United States, Canada and Australia. Represented U.S. breeds include North American Limousin Foundation, American Simmental Association, Red Angus Association of America, American Gelbvieh Association and American Shorthorn Association. IGS has approximately 17 million animals represented in its data base with more than 400 thousand new animals added each year. Saatchi explained the tools used in genetic evaluation of animals and this section of the article is patterned after his presentation.

"EPD (expected progeny difference) is a basic tool that has been in use for several years," Saatchi said. "It is the expected difference in future progeny performance of an individual relative to other individuals.

"For instance, if Bull A has a weaning weight EPD of +0 and Bull B has an EPD of +10, Bull B's progeny will have an average weaning weight of 10 pounds greater than the average weaning weight of Bull A's progeny. EPDs are calculated by entering the performance data of an animal and its contemporary group plus the individual's pedigree into a genetic evaluation model."

The American Angus Association describes contemporary group as a set of animals that have had an equal opportunity to perform -- same sex, managed in the same way and exposed to the same environmental conditions and feed sources. Contemporary groups are the cornerstone of genetic evaluation.

A more recent developed tool for genetic improvement is the use of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis. Oxford Dictionaries describe DNA as a self-replicating material which is present in nearly all living organisms. It is the main constituent of chromosomes and is the carrier of genetic information.

"DNA is composed of molecules that contain a phosphate group, sugar group and a nitrogen base," said Rachael Rettner of the website Live Science. "The four types of nitrogen bases are adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G) and cytosine (C). The order of these bases in DNA is what determines its instructions or genetic code. Similar to the way letters of the alphabet are used in various combinations to form words, the various arrangements of nitrogen bases in DNA form different genes.

"Molecules of DNA are attached together to form two long strands that spiral to create a double helix," Rettner said. "If you think of the double helix as the structure of a ladder, the phosphate and sugar molecules are the two sides and the bases are the rungs.

"Bases on one strand pair with bases on another strand. Adenine pairs with thymine and guanine pairs with cytosine. DNA molecules are so long that they are coiled tightly to fit inside a cell. The tightly coiled helixes are called chromosomes which contain a single DNA molecule."

Genomes are full sets of chromosomes that contain all the heritable traits of an organism. Genomic markers are used to measure relationships between animals. According to the National Cancer Institute, a genetic marker is a specific sequence of DNA at a known location on a chromosome. Genetic markers and genes that are close to each other on a chromosome are usually passed from a parent to the offspring. Examples of genetic markers are single polymorphism nucleotides (SNPs) and microsatellites.

"Genomic selection using SNPs is a powerful tool for selecting breeding animals," said George Seidel Jr. of Colorado State University. "Current SNP profiles for individual animals are generated using a small plastic computer chip that can diagnose as many as 50,000 or more SNPs throughout the bovine genomes (sets of chromosomes). Phenotypes, what organisms look like and how they perform, are usually averaged over offspring of bulls and matched mathematically with SNP profiles. This allows ranking herd sires for their ability to produce desirable phenotypes through their SNP profiles.

"Performance history, pedigree and SNP profiles are combined through computer models to calculate GE-EPDs," Seidel said. "If GE-EPDs are available, the standard non-enhanced EPDs are obsolete and generally not available. GE-EPDs are replacing standard EPDs because they are much more accurate."

Economic Index Selection

"Several beef breed associations have developed and released economic (profit) indices to aid producers in making selection decisions. Economic indexes allow for multiple-trait selection or simultaneous selection for more than one trait," said Matt Spangler, Extension beef cattle breeding and genetics specialist with Nebraska Extension. "These indices are derived by combining multiple EPDs, each weighted by an economic value, into one numeric value often expressed in dollars per animal."

Shane Bedwell, chief operating officer and director of breed improvement with the American Hereford Association, was the second speaker in the webinar. The American Hereford Association produces EPDs for 17 traits and calculates three profit indices. Their genetic evaluations involve the use of a marker effects model that allows calculation of EPDs through incorporation of pedigree and phenotypic and genomic profiles of an animal.

"Index selection was derived in 1943 and is meant to simplify sire selection and improve profit from commercial cattle. Ideally, index selection is formulated by using economically relevant traits (ERTs)," Bedwell said.

"Before choosing which ERTs to use in herd sire selection, a producer should identify his breeding or marketing goals and the traits that directly impact profit. Some producers have environmental constraints which dictate the acceptable performance level for a given trait."

Bedwell discussed the American Hereford Association New Baldy Maternal Index which originally was formulated in 2004 and expanded in 2017. ERTs used in the New Maternal Index are shown in Table 1. The index is built on the assumptions that Hereford bulls are used on mature Angus cows and daughters are kept in the herd. It also assumes that the producer sends cull heifers and steers to a feedlot while retaining title and then markets on the grid.

Tommy Perkins, executive vice president of the International Brangus Breeders Association, IBBA, was the next speaker in the webinar. He reported that IBBA has more than 2 million genetic records with approximately 25 thousand Brangus represented. Perkins briefly discussed the value of GE-EPDs and then described new genetic evaluation systems developed by IBBA and those in which the association has an interest in developing.

New reproduction trait EPDs available for Brangus cattle include heifer pregnancy, stayability and mature cow weight. New selection indices are listed in Table 2. IBBA is interested in establishing EPDs to predict climate adaptation which would include thermotolerance and hair shedding. The ability to shed hair gives an animal a better chance of adapting to warm climates. IBBA is also interested in developing an EPD for feet and leg scoring.

The webinar was concluded with a presentation on the next generation of genetic selection by Kelli Retallick, genetic services director of Angus Genetics Inc. Angus Genetics is a for-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary of the American Angus Association. They are the leading provider of genetic information to the beef industry. AGI delivers genetic evaluation services to the American Angus Association and five other breed organizations.

"During 2019, AGI released two new EPDs -- foot structure (claw set and foot angle) and high-altitude disease (pulmonary arterial pressure). We are also updating our dollar values for the indices," Retallick said. "Using a survey completed by our members, revised economic and production inputs were put into a more sophisticated model."

Genetics is hard to understand without formal training in the subject. This, however, should not cause cow-calf producers to shy away from using EPDs, GE-EPDs and economic indices for bull selection. Most breed associations have field service representatives that are willing to help decipher genetic data. In addition, reputable seedstock producers are willing to help select sires that match the ranch environment, production goals and management style.

graphic

Special to The Post

DNA - Breed associations make a big contribution to the cow-calf sector through their development of genetic evaluation systems.

Photo by Robert Fears

Calves - Production capability of these calves is largely determined by inherited genetics.

Photo by Robert Fears

Which one of these bulls will provide the best genetic improvement in your herd? EPDs or GE-EPDs can provide information to help make the right decision.

Photo by Jesse Wright

EPDs are usually listed in bull sale catalogs.

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The full tool box: How breed associations contribute to the cow-calf sector - Bryan-College Station Eagle

Genetics

Progressive Genetics to suspend manual milk recording due to Covid-19 – Agriland

March 17, 2020 medical

Progressive Genetics is suspending its manual milk recording service from 12:00pm tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, due to the ongoing developments with Covid-19.

Taking measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, the agricultural services firm sent out a text to customers of its manual milk recording service earlier today, Monday, March 16, to inform them of the development.

The manual milk recording will be suspended for a two-week period and is expected to resume on Monday, March 30, according to the company.

Speaking to AgriLand about the decision, Progressive Genetics milk recording manager Stephen Connolly explained: We have to be responsible.

We want to protect our staff, our contractors and our farmers. Thats whats most important.

The manager assured that Electronic do it yourself (EDIY) milk recording will continue over the two-week period, adding:

We have a protocol in place to minimise contact with the farmer and if a farmer is under pressure with a [somatic] cell count issue or anything like that we will get EDIY staff to drop bottles out so that the farmer can do samples themselves, if there is a spike in cell count.

Commenting on the suspension, Connolly said: It is unfortunate and regrettable, but you need a bit of common sense. We do need to put best practice in place and then hopefully after the next two weeks we can get back manual milk recording.

We all have to play our part. Its trying to minimise everything as much as possible. We all need to do our bit, whether it be Progressive Genetics or farmers or the public, just to minimise the risk.

The manager reiterated that EDIY services remain in place, adding that strict protocols are being adhered to regarding minimising contact and disinfecting equipment between farms.

If a farmer has a problem, we will get bottles out to them for milk recording and cell count; we wont leave anyone in the lurch.

Were available to be contacted in the office or our supervisors are available to be contacted if farmers have any issues or anything like that well be on call.

Its just unfortunate. Its a challenge but we have to put common sense and peoples safety before anything else, Connolly concluded.

Early diagnosis and immediate treatment help children with rare genetic disorders live healthy – The Peninsula Qatar

March 17, 2020 medical

16 Mar 2020 - 8:30

Dr. Tawfeg Ben Omran, Senior Consultant, Clinical and Metabolic Genetics at HMC

An inherited metabolic disorder specialist at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) says most children born in Qatar with a rare genetic or metabolic disorder will grow and develop normally, largely due to HMCs ability to provide early diagnosis and advanced treatment.According to Dr. Tawfeg Ben Omran, Senior Consultant, Clinical and Metabolic Genetics at HMC, most babies diagnosed through the Qatar National Expanded Newborn Screening Program are not only surviving but are meeting many of their developmental milestones. He says this is largely attributed to advanced dietary management, and specifically the use of metabolic formulas and medically tailored meals, in addition to medication.Nowadays, effective and very advanced treatments available to children with inherited metabolic disorders are assisting in their survival and growth. The availability of metabolic formulas, enzyme-replacement and gene therapies for genetic disorders also greatly contributes to our success in caring for these children, said Dr. Ben Omran.Dr. Ben Omran notes that the most common genetic conditions seen in Qatar are inherited metabolic disorders like classical homocystinuria, which has an incidence rate of 1:1,500, and inherited neuromuscular disorders like spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).Classical homocystinuria is relatively prevalent in Qatar, partly because of consanguineous marriages among the Qatari population, but also because of the rapid population growth in recent years. Advances in the countrys medical infrastructure and healthcare system, increased awareness among healthcare professionals about inherited disorders, and the availability of the expanded metabolic newborn screening program have all contributed to earlier diagnosis and immediate management, said Dr. Ben Omran.Homocystinuria is an inherited disorder in which the body is unable to properly process certain building blocks of proteins (amino acids). Patients who are undiagnosed or untreated are at risk of cognitive and physical developmental delays, eye problems, bone abnormalities, neurologic and heart problems, blood clots, and strokes. There are multiple forms of homocystinuria, which are distinguished by their signs and symptoms and underlying genetic cause. The signs and symptoms of homocystinuria typically develop within the first years of life, although some mildly affected individuals may not develop features of the disorder until later in childhood or even adulthood.To date, over 295,000 babies, including over 96,000 Qatari babies, have been screened under the expanded Qatar National Newborn Screening Program, which was established in 2003.Dr. Ben Omran said that the treatment for inherited metabolic conditions is completely dependent on the disorder or syndrome, its prognosis, and parental wishes. He says treatment plans are tailored to each patient.While most genetic conditions are not curable, Dr. Ben Omran said the establishment of prenatal and preimplantation genetic diagnosis services in the country has been an important step in reducing their prevalence.He says the creation of the National Premarital Genetic Screening program, mandatory premarital genetic tests, has also been significant in terms of alerting couples to potential health risks for their future offspring.

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Early diagnosis and immediate treatment help children with rare genetic disorders live healthy - The Peninsula Qatar

Physiology

Renowned neurodegeneration expert receives top accolade – News – The University of Sydney

March 17, 2020 medical

Internationally renowned neurodegeneration academic, Professor Glenda Halliday, who is shaping the treatment of non-Alzheimers dementias and Parkinsons disease, has been recognised as one of Australias leading female medical researchers.

Professor Halliday, from the Faculty of Medicine and Health and the Brain and Mind Centre, was awarded the NHMRC Elizabeth Blackburn Investigator Grant Award for Leadership in Clinical Medicine and Science.

The award is named in honour of Professor Elizabeth Blackburn, an Australian molecular biologist who received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2009.

Professor Hallidays groundbreaking research has shaped current international diagnostic criteria and recommendations for neurodegenerative patient identification and management.

After developing quantitative methods to evaluate the symptoms of patients with Parkinson's disease, she revealed more extensive neurodegeneration in Parkinson's and related syndromes than previously thought.

Her 70 strong research team in the Brain and Mind Centres Dementia and Movement Disorders Lab is now focused on finding biomarkers that identify under-recognised non-Alzheimer diseases to target with disease modifying strategies.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Duncan Ivison congratulated Professor Halliday on this prestigious award, adding that her work is at the forefront of understanding the origins of neurodegeneration and developing new treatments.

Glenda has rightly been recognised as one of Australias, and the worlds, leading experts on neurodegeneration. Her research is critical to improving the lives of those with Parkinsons, dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases and we are proud to support her and her team to conduct this important research.

Professor Halliday has produced more than 430 publications, has a h-index of 83, and was named among the world's most influential academics on the Clarivate Analytics 2019 Highly Cited Researchers List.

She is on the editorial boards of five international journals, and on the scientific advisory boards for a number of international organisations and research institutes. She is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.

The University of Sydney is ranked 18th in the world for medicine, according to the latest QS Subject rankings.

Physiology

A programme to smooth the transition from student to newly qualified nurse – Nursing Times

March 17, 2020 medical

A collaborative project has created a training programme to bridge the theory-practice gap for student and newly qualified nurses

There is a gap between what student nurses learn and what they experience in practice; this causes anxiety as they transition into the newly qualified nurse role. To address this, Birmingham Womens and Childrens Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Birmingham City University collaborated to develop a programme of additional teaching sessions for student nurses, covering self-reflection, physiology and clinical competencies. The aim was to upskill the student nurses and prepare them for clinical practice, thereby benefitting both the nurses and the trust. The programme has been delivered to 200 students and feedback shows it improves their confidence and competency. The programme recently won a Student Nursing Times Award and has now been rolled out to other trusts.

Citation: Paget S, Britten L (2020) A programme to smooth the transition from student to newly qualified nurse. Nursing Times [online]; 116: 4, 60-62.

Authors: Stephanie Paget is senior lecturer, Department for Children and Young Peoples Health, Birmingham City University; Louis Britten is practice placement manager, Birmingham Womens and Childrens Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

There is a difference between what student nurses are taught in the classroom and what they experience in clinical practice this is referred to as the theory-practice gap, and has been widely addressed in research literature (Ajani and Moez, 2011). There has been much debate about where this gap exists, whether it is positive or negative, and whether attempts to bridge it should be made. Corlett (2000) found that student nurses thought improved communication, information sharing and collaboration were necessary to improve the theory-practice gap. They also identified that visits to clinical settings would support students and help them discuss problems; this remains relevant to what is currently being observed in practice.

Student nurses can experience heightened anxiety and stress during their training, and often feel unable to perform clinical tasks, even if they know the theory. It can be difficult for mentors and supervisors to find a balance between supporting them and encouraging them to work more independently, which is required later in their training (Sharif and Masoumi, 2005). By having clear support in place and being allowed to practise in a safe environment, student nurses can gain the confidence to use their knowledge and skills in practice. This gives qualified nurses an active role in students education and gives mentors and supervisors the chance to pass on their own skills and knowledge.

Student nurses also experience elevated anxiety when finishing their undergraduate course and while transitioning into the newly qualified nurse (NQN) role (Maben et al, 2006). Health Education England (2018) has stated that the transition needs to be as smooth as possible. With the current shortage of nurses, it is vital for universities to retain students and for employers to retain qualified nurses; minimising their anxiety is likely to help with this. Henderson (2002) showed that the disparity between university and professional practice is an ongoing concern and must be challenged during the pre-registration phase, so NQNs are better prepared for practice. Monaghan (2015) found that preceptorship programmes reduces the stress on newly qualified nurses.

Birmingham Womens and Childrens NHS Foundation Trust (BWC) which cares for women, children and families through a variety of specialist services identified a need to support the transition from student nurse to NQN to retain these nurses and help them become confident practitioners as quickly as possible. To do this, it collaborated with Birmingham City University (BCU) to develop an education programme called Theory into Practice (TiP) to bridge the theory-practice gap for student childrens nurses.

The development of TiP was based on research conducted by Pressick and Taylor, (2018), collaboration and student experience. BCU conducted a literature review in 2015, which found that NQNs felt unprepared for practice and lacked confidence in their ability. We identified that NQNs resilience and confidence in their own skills, knowledge and leadership were key problems while transitioning from student nurse. It also identified the three issues most commonly reported by students as perceived risks during the transition:

TiP is a comprehensive programme of teaching sessions that supplement the curriculum and offer extra support for student nurses while on placement. Box 1 lists examples of subjects covered. The programme is delivered every week when students are on clinical placement throughout the academic year; attendance is optional and there are one or two sessions per week, each of which lasts for 2-4hours.

Box 1. Theory into Practice: examples of topics covered

Although the programmes central focuses were originally patient assessment, medicine management and communication, over time it was expanded to include fortnightly reflective coaching sessions. These enable students to identify areas for their own development and build resilience and problem-solving techniques. Self-reflection was then incorporated into all sessions to enable students to:

TiP also involves scenario-based physiology sessions that assimilate the medical conditions and changes observed in patients during clinical practice with associated anatomy and physiology; games and real-life case studies are included to engage students. The sessions improve students understanding of the potential causes of ill health and treatment in the patients they see.

TiP also helps student nurses to achieve clinical competencies in intravenous medication and blood-glucose monitoring; this prepares them for the transition into clinical practice. Students feedback highlighted that attaining these skills enabled them to excel on clinical placement. As the largest placement and employment provider for childrens nursing in the West Midlands, BWC employs a large proportion of student nurses going from BCUs undergraduate programme to their first job after qualifying, so the trust also benefits from the students developing these skills. This is why it wanted to deliver teaching through TiP, which enables students to both attend study and have their competencies signed off.

The purpose of developing TiP was to give student nurses a greater understanding of how the theory they learn applies to the care they provide. The programme aimed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to recognise their individual learning style and strengths. This is key during their transition to NQN, as it enables them to adjust to life in their professional role. The aim of using reflective practice was to give them the skills to cope, learn and develop when they are receiving less-intensive support as an NQN, as suggested by Frankel (2009).

Another aim of the programme was to help students get the most out of their clinical placements by linking them to the theoretical components of the curriculum. This has benefits for both the students and the trust: by investing in student nurses before they qualify, the trust hoped to bridge the theory-practice gap and ensure they would be as prepared for qualifying as possible. BWC also aimed to give mentors and supervisors a better understanding of the student nurses journey by involving them in their education. They encourage students to attend TiP sessions and help them use what they have learned in teachging sessions when they are back in the placement area.

Getting involved in partnership working that can bring benefits to NQNs was another objective. A senior manager at BWC said: I think its really important for us to have the strong relationships with the HEIs [higher-education institutions]. The students are being encouraged to feel part of [the] BWC team from the beginning.

Students select their first nursing job based on the reputation of the preceptorship programme and level of support they will receive (HEE, 2018). BWC already provided preceptorship to all NQNs, focusing on certain skills and pastoral support, but intended that TiP would further alleviate students worries about the NQN role. The programme would do this by upskilling them and reassuring them they would be supported by a recognisable, approachable team when they first qualified.

To make sure this happened, BWC merged its practice education, advancing practice and newly qualified teams with its clinical education team, which supports, educates and innovates non-medical practice at the trust. This allowed developments or impacts in practice to be incorporated into other areas and ensured that there was a more-consistent approach to the nurses education journey, from pre-registration to advanced practice. BWC made sure this team worked closely with the TiP programme.

A total of four focus groups were held to identify how TiP affects students learning, confidence and competence. Participants reported increased confidence and competence in patient assessment, medicine management and communication. They also reported that the programme helped reduce loneliness and isolation while they were on placement, due to their having regular contact with staff and other students (Pressick and Taylor, 2018). Bryan (2018) also observed that students appreciated seeing a familiar face in clinical practice.

To date, TiP has delivered sessions to approximately 200 students. Sine 2017, attendance has increased from between four and eight students per session to between 15 and 20. The TiP team also continues to grow; when faculty staff join BCUs children and young peoples health team from clinical practice, the head of department asks, and supports, them to help facilitate TiP and assist students in clinical practice.

The programme was originally intended to support transition into the NQN role but has evolved to provide numerous learning experiences to all student nurses at all points in their development. In 2019, it was a huge honour for the partnership between BWC and BCU to be recognised nationally: it won the Student Nursing Times Award for Partnership of the Year. This award has been fundamental in sustaining the continuing growth and development of the programme, enabling TiP to be recognised by other BCU departments and external institutions.

Due to TiPs success, other departments and practice partners approached us and the education programme has been rolled out to other trusts and services. This means it is being made available to an increasing number of students across fields outside of childrens nursing, including mental health.

The core values of BCU align with those of BWC and the two institutions share a joint vision for student nurses to provide high-quality care to children, young people and their families. As TiP continues to grow, the team will continue to take an innovative approach to teaching. It is pivotal to give students a contextualised, authentic experience that enables them to take learning directly from the classroom to the bedside. Ongoing support and pastoral care will be vital in preparing them for the transition to NQN.

TiP will need to be carefully considered in relation to the NMCs (2018) standards for education; it will need to be aligned into the new curriculum and there will be opportunities for change.

Ajani K, Moez S (2011) Gap between knowledge and practice in nursing. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences; 15: 1, 3927-3931.

Bryan S (2018) Switching from practice to teaching opened my eyes. Nursing Standard;32: 24, 35.

Corlett J (2000) The perceptions of nurse teachers, student nurses and preceptors of the theory-practice gap in nurse education. Nurse Education Today; 20: 6, 499-505.

Frankel A (2009) Nurses learning styles: promoting better integration of theory into practice. Nursing Times; 105: 2, 24-27.

Health Education England (2018) RePAIR: Reducing Pre-Registration Attrition and Improving Retention Report. HEE.

Henderson S (2002) Factors impacting on nurses transference of the theoretical knowledge of holistic care into clinical practice. Nurse Education in Practice; 2: 4, 244-250.

Maben J et al (2006) The theory-practice gap: impact of professional-bureaucratic work conflict on newly qualified nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing; 55: 4, 465-477.

Monaghan T (2015) A critical analysis of the literature and theoretical perspectives on theory-practice gap amongst newly qualified nurses within the United Kingdom. Nurse Education Today; 35: 8, e1-e7.

Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) Realising Professionalism: Standards for Education and Training. Part 2: Standards for Student Supervision and Assessment. NMC.

Pressick I, Taylor L (2018) Theory into Practice [abstract]. In: Partners in Practice: Nurses Working Together Through Change Conference and exhibition hosted by the RCN Education Forum, Book of Abstracts. RCN.

Sharif F, Masoumi S (2005) A qualitative study of nursing student experiences of clinical practice. BMC Nursing; 4: 6.

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A programme to smooth the transition from student to newly qualified nurse - Nursing Times

Cell Biology

Research Assistant in Mechanistic Cell Biology job with UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS | 200334 – Times Higher Education (THE)

March 17, 2020 medical

Are you looking to develop your professional skills and be a key contributor to a cell biology project? Do you have experience in molecular and cellular biology? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research intensive Universities?

Based in state-of-the-art laboratory space, and under the supervision ofDr. Natalia Riobo-Del Galdoyou will contribute to ground-breaking research aiming to understand the mechanistic basis of Hedgehog signalling in autophagy and its role in cancer.

The proposed research will use mammalian and bacterial cell cultures, confocal imaging, overexpression and silencing of proteins, protein and nucleic acid extraction and analysis by western blotting and qRT-PCR and sequencing. You will work closely with a postdoctoral fellow and will be a key contributor to the overall success of our research. In addition, you will perform essential lab duties and develop training and supervision experience to other members of the lab.

The University of Leeds and the Faculty of Biological Sciences are committed to providing equal opportunities for all and offer a range of family friendly policies. The University is a charter member of Athena SWAN (the national body that promotes gender equality in higher education), and the Faculty of Biological Sciences was reawarded a Bronze award in 2017. We are proud to be an inclusive Faculty that values all staff, and are happy to consider job share applications and requests for flexible working arrangements from our employees. Our Athena SWANwebpageprovides more information.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:

Dr Natalia Riobo-Del Galdo, Associate Professor

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 9184, Email:n.a.riobo-delgaldo@leeds.ac.uk

Location: Leeds - Main Campus ||Faculty/Service: Faculty of Biological SciencesSchool/Institute: School of Molecular & Cellular BiologyCategory: ResearchGrade: Grade 6Salary: 27,511 to 32,817 p.a. pro rata Due to funding limitations it is unlikely an appointment will be made above 27,511Working Time: 60% of full timePost Type: Part TimeContractType: Fixed Term (From 1 April 2020 for 30 months) ClosingDate: Monday 23 March 2020Reference: FBSMB1172

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Research Assistant in Mechanistic Cell Biology job with UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS | 200334 - Times Higher Education (THE)

Cell Biology

Automotive Plastics Market Size Worth $83.9 Billion by 2027: Grand View Research, Inc. – Yahoo Finance

March 17, 2020 medical

SAN FRANCISCO, March 16, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global automotive plastics marketsize is expected to reach USD 83.9 billion by 2027, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is projected to expand at a revenue-based CAGR of 11.1% over the forecast period.

Rising preference for high-performance plastics to substitute conventional metals and rubber is expected to impel market growth. Superior properties, such as versatility and flexibility, of plastic materials have fostered innovations, in terms of technologies and designs. However, the quality of plastics is highly dependent on their properties, functions, and applications. Streamlined mass production has enabled provision of technologically sound and cost-efficient products with high sustainability.

Key suggestions from the report:

Read 182 page research report with ToC on "Automotive Plastics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (PP, ABS, PU, PE, PC, PA, PVC, PMMA), By Application (Powertrain, Interior/Exterior Furnishings, Electrical Components), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/automotive-plastics-market

This technology has addressed several research challenges with respect to biological intricacies in stem cell biology, tumor biology, immunology, and other therapeutic areas. This leads to improved therapeutic decision-making with regards to precision medicine, thereby driving the adoption of these assays in personalized therapeutic development.

The growth in research publications depicts the increasing R&D investments. Since R&D activities are considered as the foundation of innovation, investments in R&D activities signify a healthy growth prospect for the single cell analysis market. Moreover, the establishment of new single cell genomics centers in the past years is anticipated to boost the uptake of instruments and consumables for single cell analysis, thus driving the growth.

Grand View Research has segmented the global automotive plastics market on the basis of product, application, and region:

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Automotive Plastics Market Size Worth $83.9 Billion by 2027: Grand View Research, Inc. - Yahoo Finance

Cell Biology

Statins kill cancer cells by starving them to death – Futurity: Research News

March 17, 2020 medical

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A new study adds to growing evidence that statin drugs may kill cancer cells.

The researchers have also uncovered clues to how they do it.

More than 35 million Americans take statin drugs daily to lower their blood cholesterol levels. The new findings enhance previous evidence that the ubiquitous drugs could be valuable in combating some forms of cancer, the researchers say.

In unrelated studies, other researchers have studied how statins may cut the risk for aggressive prostate cancer.

There have been epidemiological indications that people who take statins long term have fewer and less aggressive cancers, and that statins can kill cancer cells in the laboratory, but our research was not initially designed to investigate possible biological causes of these observations, says Peter Devreotes, professor of cell biology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

The researchers began the new study with an unbiased screen of about 2,500 drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to see which ones had the best kill rate of cells genetically engineered to have a mutation in a cancer gene called PTEN. The gene codes for an enzyme that suppresses tumor growth.

Among the thousands of drugs, statins, and in particular pitavastatin, emerged as a top contender in cancer-killing ability. Most of the other drugs had no effect or killed normal and engineered cells at the same rate. Equal concentrations of pitavastatin caused cell death in nearly all of the engineered cells, but very in few normal cells.

The researchers then looked at the molecular pathways that statins were likely to affect. Its well known, for example, that statins block a liver enzyme that makes cholesterol, but the drug also blocks the creation of a small molecule called geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, or GGPP, which is responsible for connecting cellular proteins to cellular membranes.

When the researchers added pitavastatin and GGPP to human cancer cells with PTEN mutations, the researchers found that GGPP prevented the statins killing effects and the cancer cells survived, suggesting that GGPP may be a key ingredient to cancer cell survival.

Next, looking under a microscope at cells engineered to lack the enzyme that makes GGPP, the researchers saw that as the cells began to die, they stopped moving. Under normal circumstances, cancer cells are a bundle of moving energy, consuming massive amounts of nutrients to maintain their unchecked growth. They maintain this breakneck pace by creating straw-like protrusions from their surface to drink up nutrients from the surrounding environment.

Suspecting that the nonmoving cancer cells were literally starving to death, Devreotes says, the scientists then measured the statin-treated cells intake by adding a fluorescent tag to proteins in the cells environment.

Normal human cells glowed brightly with the fluorescent tag, suggesting that these cells ingested protein from their surroundings regardless of whether the scientists added statins to the mix of nutrients and cells. However, human cancer cells with PTEN mutations took in almost no glowing proteins after the scientists added statins. The inability of the statin-treated cancer cells to make the protrusions needed take up proteins leads to their starvation.

Devreotes says his team plans further research on the effects of statins in people with cancer and compounds that block GGPP.

The research appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Additional researchers contributed from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Support for this work came from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Office of the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and the National Cancer Institute. The authors declare no competing interest.

Source: Johns Hopkins University

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Statins kill cancer cells by starving them to death - Futurity: Research News