This work contributes to a knowledge base that points to the development of social programs and policies that maximize the engagement of older adults in volunteer roles. The findings suggest that targeting efforts may not be warranted, in that there are not differential benefits according to personal characteristics of the volunteer. Future studies have to address the nature of the social institutions that will maximize the number of elders in these roles and the benefits that they accrue.

The type V TGF-beta receptor (TbetaR-V)/IGFBP-3 receptor mediates the IGF-independent growth inhibition induced by IGFBP-3. It also mediates the growth inhibitory response to TGF-beta1 in concert with other TGF-beta receptor types, and its loss may contribute to the malignant phenotype of human carcinoma cells. Here we demonstrate that TbetaR-V is identical to LRP-1/alpha2M receptor as shown by MALDI-TOF analysis of tryptic peptides of TbetaR-V purified from bovine liver. In addition, 125I-IGFBP-3 affinity-labeled TbetaR-V in Mv1Lu cells is immunoprecipitated by antibodies to LRP-1 and TbetaR-V. RAP, an LRP-1 antagonist, inhibits binding of 125I-TGF-beta1 and 125I-IGFBP-3 to TbetaR-V and diminishes IGFBP-3-induced growth inhibition in Mv1Lu cells. Absent or low levels of LRP-1, as with TbetaR-V, have been linked to the malignant phenotype of carcinoma cells. Mutagenized Mv1Lu cells selected for reduced expression of LRP-1 have an attenuated growth inhibitory response to TGF-beta1 and IGFBP-3. LRP-1-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts lack a growth inhibitory response to TGF-beta1 and IGFBP-3. On the other hand, stable transfection of H1299 human lung carcinoma cells with LRP-1 cDNA restores the growth inhibitory response. These results suggest that the LRP-1/TbetaR-V/IGFBP-3 receptor is required for the growth inhibitory response to IGFBP-3 and TGF-beta1.

These findings suggest that characteristics of volunteer programs can be strengthened to maximize the benefits of volunteering to older adults. These characteristics are more mutable by public policies and organizational procedures than individual characteristics. Focusing on the recruitment of lower socioeconomic status older adults may result in an increase in benefits from the growth of volunteering.

Using secondary data analysis of three waves of data from the Americans' Changing Lives surveys, this study examines what resources in terms of human, social, and cultural capital are needed in volunteerism and whether there is any age cohort difference in the relationships of volunteerism with human, social, and cultural capital. Interaction terms between age cohort and resources were created and the effects were tested through the generalized estimating equations method. The findings show older cohorts relied more on human capital and social integration to expand volunteer hours and organizational involvement, whereas younger people needed more spiritual and social supports to increase volunteer commitment. These research findings point to the importance of developing resources for lifelong volunteerism. The findings suggest that volunteer organizations should take cohort-specific strategies to recruit and facilitate potential volunteers, especially in the older population, based on the resources needed for volunteering.

These findings suggest that volunteer programs can provide various organizational supports to older volunteers, especially to low-SES volunteers, in order to promote the socioemotional and health benefits of volunteering to older adults. Psychological well-being of older adults can be improved through engagement in meaningful volunteer activities and contribution to others.

Overseeing medication-taking is a critical aspect of dementia caregiving. This randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy of a tailored, problem-solving intervention designed to maximize medication management practices among caregivers of persons with memory loss. Eighty-three community-dwelling dyads (patient + informal caregiver) with a baseline average of 3 medication deficiencies participated. Home- and telephone-based sessions were delivered by nurse or social worker interventionists and addressed basic aspects of managing medications, plus tailored problem solving for specific challenges. The outcome of medication management practices was assessed using the Medication Management Instrument for Deficiencies in the Elderly (MedMaIDE) and an investigator-developed Medication Deficiency Checklist (MDC). Linear mixed modeling showed both the intervention and usual care groups had decreases in medication management problems as measured by the MedMaIDE (F=6.91, p<.01) and MDC (F=9.72, p<.01) at 2 months post-intervention. The phenomenon of reduced medication deficiencies in both groups suggests that when nurses or social workers merely raise awareness of the importance of medication adherence, there may be benefit.

Previous studies by several laboratories have identified a narrow sequence region of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) alpha subunit, flanking the cysteinyl residues at positions 192 and 193, as containing major elements of, if not all, the binding site for cholinergic ligands. In the present study, we used a panel of synthetic peptides as representative structural elements of the AChR to investigate whether additional segments of the AChR sequences are able to bind alpha-bungarotoxin (alpha-BTX) and several alpha-BTX-competitive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The mAbs used (WF6, WF5, and W2) were raised against native Torpedo AChR, specifically recognize the alpha subunit, and bind to AChR is inhibited by all cholinergic ligands. WF6 competes with agonists, but not with low mol. wt. antagonists, for AChR binding. The synthetic peptides used in this study were approximately 20 residue long, overlapped each other by 4-6 residues, and corresponded to the complete sequence of Torpedo AChR alpha subunit. Also, overlapping peptides, corresponding to the sequence segments of each Torpedo AChR subunit homologous to alpha 166-203, were synthesized. alpha-BTX bound to a peptide containing the sequence alpha 181-200 and also, albeit to a lesser extent, to a peptide containing the sequence alpha 55-74. WF6 bound to alpha 181-200 and to a lesser extent to alpha 55-74 and alpha 134-153. The two other mAbs predominantly bound to alpha 55-74, and to a lesser extent to alpha 181-200. Peptides alpha 181-200 and alpha 55-74 both inhibited binding of 125I-alpha-BTX to native Torpedo AChR. None of the peptides corresponding to sequence segments from other subunits bound alpha-BTX or WF6, or interfered with their binding. Therefore, the cholinergic binding site is not a single narrow sequence region, but rather two or more discontinuous sequence segments within the N-terminal extracellular region of the AChR alpha subunit, folded together in the native structure of the receptor, contribute to form a cholinergic binding region. Such a structural arrangement is similar to the "discontinuous epitopes" observed by X-ray diffraction studies of antibody-antigen complexes [reviewed in Davies et al. (1988)].

This paper reports a United States study of the factors that influence the turnover of older adult volunteers. Based on a parent study of programmes that use older adult volunteers, the follow-up study examined the experience for 207 older volunteers who served in ten programmes in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Telephone interviews and mail surveys were used to collect programme and personal information. The findings indicated that aspects of the volunteer experience, like duration of involvement, volunteering in other programme(s), type of activity, the adequacy of on-going support, and the availability of stipends influenced volunteering retention and turnover. Respondents who volunteered for a longer period were committed in other programmes, felt better supported, and received a stipend were less likely to quit volunteering in a designated programme. Also those volunteering in public safety programmes were least likely to quit. As reported by older adult volunteers themselves, the primary reasons for volunteer withdrawal included a higher priority of another productive activity or commitment, declining health, and problems with the programme administration. Volunteers with extensive experience were least likely to withdraw. The findings suggest that organisations with volunteer programmes can promote older adults' long-term engagement as volunteers by providing on-going support and stipends. Changes in programme characteristics would impact positively on volunteer retention, especially among low-income older Americans.KEY WORDS -older adult volunteer, volunteer turnover, organisational facilitation.