Several covalent attachment chemistries were tested for the immobilization of DNA onto glass beads. The comparison was based on the ability of these chemistries to produce derivatized beads that give good hybridization signals. Cyanuric chloride, isothiocyanate, nitrophenyl chloroformate, and hydrazone chemistries gave us the best (yet comparable) hybridization signals. We further characterized the cyanuric chloride method for the number of attachment sites, number of hybridizable sites, hybridization kinetics, effect of linker length on hybridization intensity and stability of the derivatized beads.
SummaryBackground and objectives There is a projected shortage of kidney specialists, and retention of trainees in nephrology is important. Determining factors that result in choosing a nephrology career could inform future strategies to attract nephrology fellows. Results Of the 3399 members, 913 (23%) returned the survey. Mean age was 51.1610.5 years, and 46.1% were academic nephrologists. In addition, 38.4% of respondents graduated between 2000 and 2009. Interest in nephrology began early in training, with the intellectual aspects of nephrology, early mentoring, and participation in nephrology electives named as the most common reasons in choosing nephrology. Academic nephrologists were more likely to have participated in research in medical school, have a master's degree or PhD, and successfully obtained research funding during training. Academic debt was higher among nonacademic nephrologists. Research opportunities and intellectual stimulation were the main factors for academic nephrologists when choosing their first postfellowship positions, whereas geographic location and work-life balance were foremost for nonacademic nephrologists.Conclusions These findings highlight the importance of exposing medical students and residents to nephrology early in their careers through involvement in research, electives, and positive mentoring. Further work is needed to develop and implement effective strategies, including increasing early exposure to nephrology in preclinical and clinical years, as well as encouraging participation in research, in order to attract future nephrology trainees.
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