Homesickness among rural Appalachian university students.

Objective: Homesickness among university students may impact their wellbeing and academic success. The study purpose was to examine homesickness and self-reported outcomes/university life events among students on a rural Appalachian campus. Methods: A descriptive study (N = 91) using electronic questionnaires was conducted. Results: Most participants (65%) reported homesickness, especially around move-in time, with several events making it better/worse; and were more likely to reside in-state, be at the sophomore level or above, and live in an apartment/dormitory. There were significant associations between homesickness and self-reported outcomes (anxiety, depression, wanting to drop out). Conclusions: Homesickness is prevalent among rural Appalachian students. Interprofessional collaboration to identify and mitigate effects on students' wellbeing and academic success is key. Tailoring campus life, including food options and on-campus activities, to meet student needs may promote a sense of comfort and decrease homesickness. Educational intervention to improve homesickness among university students is warranted.

Detection of the Bacillus anthracis gyrA gene by using a minor groove binder probe.

Identification of chromosomal markers for rapid detection of Bacillus anthracis is difficult because significant chromosomal homology exists among B. anthracis, Bacillus cereus, and Bacillus thuringiensis. We evaluated the bacterial gyrA gene as a potential chromosomal marker for B. anthracis. A real-time PCR assay was developed for the detection of B. anthracis. After analysis of the unique nucleotide sequence of the B. anthracis gyrA gene, a fluorescent 3' minor groove binding probe was tested with 171 organisms from 29 genera of bacteria, including 102 Bacillus strains. The assay was found to be specific for all 43 strains of B. anthracis tested. In addition, a test panel of 105 samples was analyzed to evaluate the potential diagnostic capability of the assay. The assay showed 100% specificity, demonstrating the usefulness of the gyrA gene as a specific chromosomal marker for B. anthracis.