bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased Fertilization Rates after In Vitro Culture of Frozen-Thawed Testicular Immotile Sperm in Nonobstructive Azoospermic Patients
Authors: Nuñez-Calonge R. , Cortes S. , Gago M. , López P. , Caballero-Peregrin P.
Published: March 2012

Objective. To optimise the use of freeze/thaw testicular immotile spermatozoa from nonobstructive azoospermia patients and to analyse the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of such spermatozoa. Methods. Testicular specimens were retrieved and cryopreserved from forty patients with nonobstructive azoospermia and underwent one cycle with thawed spermatozoa (Group I) that led to pregnancy in sixteen cases. Twenty-four patients of group I underwent treatment with the same batch of thawed spermatozoa (Group II). For the first ICSI attempt, injection was performed when motile spermatozoa were found. In group II, injection was performed when maximum motility was reached. We compared mean of fertilization rate, embryo quality, clinical pregnancy rate and embryo implantation rate. Results. The mean percentage of motility was significantly higher in the group II than in the group I (18, 6 versus 8, 2). Group I showed a significant decrease in fertilization rates when compared with cryopreserved testicular spermatozoa in group II (54% versus 72%, ). No difference was noted between the cleavage rate, embryo quality, clinical pregnancy rates and implantation rates among group II and I. Conclusion. Fecundation rate can be significantly improved after in-vitro culture and sperm selection of frozen-thawed immotile testicular spermatozoa in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia.
Weight and Health Behaviour Changes among Ageing People with Medication for Hypertension and High Cholesterol Level
Authors: Sulander Tommi , Heinonen Heikki , Karisto Antti , Valve Raisa , Pohjolainen Pertti , Seppälä Ullamaija , Fogelholm Mikael
Published: March 2012

Purpose. It is hypothesized that people with medication for hypertension and/or high cholesterol level do not lose weight or change their health behaviour. Methods. This is a six-year follow-up study consisting of 1,428 individuals from two birth cohorts (1936–40, 1946–50) who took part in clinical check-ups and answered to the survey questionnaires in 2002 and 2008. Results. Those participants, born in 1946–50, who had medication at the baseline had higher increase of body mass index (P<0.01) and waist circumference (P<0.01) at the follow-up. No major disparities in health behaviour changes between medicated and nonmedicated were found. Conclusions. Findings of this study support partly the hypothesis that aging individuals with medication for hypertension and/or high cholesterol level do not lose weight or change their health behaviour.
How to Predict the Impact of Methylphenidate on Cardiovascular Risk in Children with Attention Deficit Disorder: Methylphenidate Improves Autonomic Dysfunction in Children with ADHD
Authors: Buchhorn Reiner , Müller Christian , Willaschek Christian , Norozi Kambiz
Published: March 2012

Background. Although stimulants have long been touted as treatments for attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (ADHD), in recent years, increasing concerns have been raised about the cardiovascular safety of these medications. We aimed to prove if measurements of autonomic function with time domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) in 24-hour Holter ECG are useful to predict the risk of sudden cardiac death in ADHD children and adolescents. Methods. We analysed HRV obtained from children with the diagnosis of ADHD prior to (N=12) or during medical therapy (N=19) with methylphenidate (MPH), aged 10.8±2.0 years (mean ± SD), who were referred to our outpatient Paediatric Cardiology Clinic to rule out heart defect. As a control group, we compared the HRV data of 19 age-matched healthy children without heart defect. Results. Average HRV parameters from 24-hour ECG in the ADHD children prior to MPH showed significant lower values compared to healthy children with respect to rMSSD (26±4 ms versus 44±10 ms, P≤0.0001) and pNN50 (6.5±2.7% versus 21.5±9.0%, P≤0.0001). These values improved in MPH-treated children with ADHD (RMSSD: 36±8 ms; pNN50: 14.2±6.9%). Conclusion. Children who suffer from ADHD show significant changes in HRV that predominantly reflects diminished vagal tone, a well-known risk factor of sudden cardiac death in adults. In our pilot study, MPH treatment improved HRV.
Goiter and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
Authors: Hamdan Abdul-Latif , Jabbour Jad , Al Zaghal Zaid , Azar Sami T.
Published: March 2012

The purpose of this study is to look at the prevalence of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease in patients with goiter in a group of 52 patients with goiter. All participants were asked to respond to the 9 questions on the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI). A diagnosis of LPRD based on symptoms was made for any RSI score above 10. The average score of every question was computed for all patients with goiter and compared to the corresponding average score of the controls. A value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The total prevalence of LPRD in patients with goiter as indicated by an RSI score greater than 10 was 15.4% versus 9.1% in controls. The difference was not statistically significant ( value 0.525). Looking at the average score of the individual symptoms as listed in the RSI questionnaire, the average score of all the symptoms was higher in patients with goiter versus controls. There was no correlation between LPRD and any of the demographic variables except for nodules ( value 0.035). The presence of laryngopharyngeal symptoms in patients with goiter should alert the treating physician to the presence of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.
Plasma Drug Level Validates Self-Reported Adherence but Predicts Limited Specificity for Nonadherence to Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Balikuddembe Robert , Kayiwa Joshua , Musoke David , Ntale Muhammad , Baveewo Steven , Waako Paul , Obua Celestino
Published: March 2012

Introduction. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in low-income countries is mainly assessed by self-reported adherence (S-RA) without drug level determination. Nonadherence is an important factor in the emergence of resistance to ART, presenting a need for drug level determination. Objective. We set out to establish the relationship between plasma stavudine levels and S-RA and validate S-RA against the actual plasma drug concentrations. Methods. A cross-sectional investigation involving 234 patients in Uganda. Stavudine plasma levels were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. We compared categories of plasma levels of stavudine with S-RA using multivariable logistic regression models. Results. Overall, 194/234 patients had S-RA ≥ 95% (good adherence) and 166/234 had stavudine plasma concentrations ≥ 36 nmol/L (therapeuticconcentration). Patients with good S-RA were eight times more likely to have stavudine levels within therapeutic concentration (Adjusted Odds Ratio: 7.7, 95% Confidence Interval: 3.5–7.0). However, of the 194 patients with good S-RA, 21.7% had below therapeutic concentrations. S-RA had high sensitivity for adherence (91.6%), but limited specificity for intrinsic poor adherence (38.2%). Conclusions. S-RA is a good tool for assessing adherence, but has low specificity in detecting nonadherence, which has implications for emergence of resistance.
Size Control of Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized by Laser Ablation in Liquid Media
Authors: Riabinina Daria , Zhang Jianming , Chaker Mohamed , Margot Joëlle , Ma Dongling
Published: March 2012

We investigate the influence of salt, acidic, and basic solutions (citrate, NaOH, and HCl) on the size of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesized by laser ablation in aqueous media. We found that NP size increases from 3 nm to 13 nm when Zeta potential varies from −100 mV to −10 mV whatever the concentration and the nature of chemical solution are namely, citrate, NaOH, and HCl. These results demonstrated that the final size of gold NPs produced by laser ablation in liquid media is mainly governed by the charge-dependent growth mechanism.
A Modular System Oriented to the Design of Versatile Knowledge Bases for Chatbots
Authors: Pilato Giovanni , Augello Agnese , Gaglio Salvatore
Published: March 2012

The paper illustrates a system that implements a framework, which is oriented to the development of a modular knowledge base for a conversational agent. This solution improves the flexibility of intelligent conversational agents in managing conversations. The modularity of the system grants a concurrent and synergic use of different knowledge representation techniques. According to this choice, it is possible to use the most adequate methodology for managing a conversation for a specific domain, taking into account particular features of the dialogue or the user behavior. We illustrate the implementation of a proof-of-concept prototype: a set of modules exploiting different knowledge representation methodologies and capable of managing different conversation features has been developed. Each module is automatically triggered through a component, named corpus callosum, that selects in real time the most adequate chatbot knowledge module to activate.
Tissue Banking: Relationship with Blood Donor and Organ Donor Card Status
Authors: McKenzie Kenneth D. , Fitzpatrick Patricia E. , Sheehan John D.
Published: March 2012

Understanding the relationships among altruistic health acts may serve to aid therapeutic research advances. In this paper, we report on the links between two such behaviours—donating blood and carrying an organ donor card—and willingness to donate urological tissue to a tissue bank. Reasons for the differential willingness to do so are examined in this paper. A systematic sample of 259 new and returning attendees at a tertiary urology referral clinic in Ireland completed a self-report questionnaire in an outpatient setting. In addition to demographic details, details of known diagnosis of malignancy and family history of cancer; attitudes to tissue donation for research purposes were gauged using a 5-point Likert scale. Both blood donors and organ donor card carriers were more likely to be willing to donate tissue for research purposes. Blood donors were more likely want to know their overall results in comparison to nonblood donors and want their samples to be used for nonprofit research. Our hypothesis that being a blood donor would be a better predictor to donate urological tissue than being an organ donor card carrier borne out by the trends reported above.
Inadequate Nutrient Intakes in Youth of a Remote First Nation
Community: Challenges and the Need for Sustainable Changes in
Program and Policy
Authors: Gates Allison , Hanning Rhona M. , Gates Michelle , McCarthy Daniel , Tsuji Leonard J. S.
Published: March 2012

Background. The current study established baseline nutrient intakes of youth and examined the potential for sustainability of a pilot school snack program in the remote First Nation of Kashechewan, Ontario, Canada.
Methods. Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls established baseline intakes in grade 6–8 students (n=43). Subsequently, a pilot healthy school snack program was initiated. Dietary recalls were completed one week (n=43) and one year after the program (n=67). Paired Wilcoxon signed-ranks tests were used to detect changes in intakes. Impressions of the teachers (n=16), principal, and students were collected qualitatively.
Results. Most youth had dietary intakes below current standards. Although vitamin C (P=0.024) and fibre (P=0.015) intakes improved significantly after one week, these improvements were not sustained over the following year. Program impressions were positive.
Conclusion. The need for a nutrition program is clear. While benefits were realized in the short term, improvements could not be maintained. Policy changes are needed to address barriers to sustainability.
Cloning, Sequencing andIn SilicoAnalysis of Omp C ofSalmonellaTyphimurium
Authors: Jha Richa , Kumar Anil , Saxena Anjani , Tamuly Shantanu , Saxena M. K.
Published: March 2012

SalmonellaTyphimurium is an important pathogen having a broad host range. In human population it causes mostly gastroenteritis but there are reports in which it was found to be responsible to cause several lethal diseases like endocarditis and meningitis. Poultry products are the major sources of this organism in India as these are consumed at various stages of cooking. The available vaccines have their own limitations such as short-term immunity. Outer membrane proteins have shown some promising potential, so in the present study Omp C ofSalmonellaTyphimurium was cloned and sequenced to explore the possibility of development of r-DNA vaccine againstSalmonellaTyphimurium for poultry. The sequence of Omp C was studied for antigenic indexing, epitope mapping, and MHC mapping using various bioinformatic tools. The ORF analysis revealed a complete coding region of approximately 1000 bp. Five major and 13 minor B-cell epitopes were identified having an antigenic index of 1.7. The sequences also showed major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II binding region indicating a potential of eliciting cell-mediated immune response. The findings indicate that Omp C may be proven as promising candidate for development of r-DNA vaccine againstSalmonellaTyphimurium.
DIC Score: Statistical Relationship with PT, APTT, and Simplified Scoring Systems with Combinations of PT and APTT
Authors: Chandrashekar Vani
Published: March 2012

We looked into the statistical association of prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) score calculated using the International society for thrombosis and haemostasis (ISTH) scoring system. The PT, APTT, PT + APTT, and PT/APTT ratios were evaluated against the DIC score by linear regression analysis in fifty inpatients with suspected DIC. The PT, PT + APTT, and PT/APTT ratios were all found to be statistically significant in predicting DIC scores with values of 0.02, 0.03, and 0.02, respectively. The APTT alone was not found to be statistically significant in predicting DIC score and had a value of 0.09. This scoring system does not need d-dimer levels and the platelet count.
Bedtime Single-Dose Prednisolone in Clinically Stable Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Authors: Bagher Owlia Mohammad , Golbarg Mehrpoor , Mosadegh Moneyreh Modares
Published: March 2012

Introduction. Sign and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis have circadian rhythms and are more prominent in the morning. Timing of glucocorticoid administration may be important with respect to the natural secretion of endogenous glucocorticoids. Herein, we intended to test the hypothesis that bedtime administration of prednisolone could be more efficient in controlling signs and symptoms in patients with RA. Material and Methods. Sixty patients with stable disease were treated with single dose prednisolone at 8 a.m. for the first three months and thereafter with similar dose at 10 PM for the next three months (before-after method). We compared fatigue scores, morning stiffness and pain scores, Clinical Disease Activity Indices, erythrocyte sedimentation rates, C Reactive Protein, and profile of adverse effects. Results. The mean of morning stiffness, fatigue scores, CRP and CDAI decreased statistically when prednisolone was administrated at 10 p.m. The means of pain scores and ESR were also decreased when the patients took prednisolone at night, without significant statistical difference. Conclusion. Administration of low-dose oral prednisolone could reduce disease activity scores in morning in clinically stable patients with RA. So it could be supposed that administrating bedtime prednisolone may permit the smallest possible dose.
Phimosis in Children
Authors: Shahid Sukhbir Kaur
Published: March 2012

Phimosis is nonretraction of prepuce. It is normally seen in younger children due to adhesions between prepuce and glans penis. It is termed pathologic when nonretractability is associated with local or urinary complaints attributed to the phimotic prepuce. Physicians still have the trouble to distinguish between these two types of phimosis. This ignorance leads to undue parental anxiety and wrong referrals to urologists. Circumcision was the mainstay of treatment for pathologic phimosis. With advent of newer effective and safe medical and conservative surgical techniques, circumcision is gradually getting outmoded. Parents and doctors should a be made aware of the noninvasive options for pathologic phimosis for better outcomes with minimal or no side-effects. Also differentiating features between physiologic and pathologic phimosis should be part of medical curriculum to minimise erroneous referrals for surgery.
A Study on Conservative C-Bochner Curvature Tensor in K-Contact and Kenmotsu Manifolds Admitting Semisymmetric Metric Connection
Authors: Ingalahalli Gurupadavva , Bagewadi C. S.
Published: March 2012

The paper deals with the study on conservative C-Bochner curvature tensor in K-contact and Kenmotsu manifolds admitting semisymmetric
metric connection, and it is shown that these manifolds are η-Einstein with respect to Levi-Civita connection, and the results are illustrated with examples.
Physical Investigation of on Nuclear Dynamics Equations in Nanoenergy Reactors Using a High D-O-F Variable Separation Protocol along with the Boubaker Polynomials Expansion Scheme BPES
Authors: Dada O. M. , Awojoyogbe O. B. , Boubaker K. , Agida M.
Published: March 2012

We present general analytical solutions to the nuclear dynamics-related Neutron Boltzmann Transport Equation inside nanoenergy reactors. Finding a particular solution to the neutron equation by making use of boundary conditions and initial conditions may be too much for the present study and reduce the generality of the solutions. Some simple assumptions have been introduced in the main system thanks to the Boubaker Polynomial Expansion Scheme, BPES, in order to make the general analytical procedure simple and adaptable for solving similar real-life problems.
Early-Stage Thinning for the Restoration of Young Redwood—Douglas-Fir Forests in Northern Coastal California, USA
Authors: Plummer Jesse F. , Keyes Christopher R. , Varner J. Morgan
Published: March 2012

Among forested parks and reserves of the Pacific Coast of the United States, the restoration of late-successional conditions to second-growth stands is a management priority. Some traditional silvicultural treatments may help achieve this objective. We evaluated early-stage thinning as a restoration treatment to facilitate the growth and development of young (33- to 45-year old), homogeneous, and second-growth stands of coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Targeting both stand-level responses and dominant (focal) tree responses for analysis, we compared structural attributes of adjacent thinned and unthinned stands, 12–17 years after thinning. Thinned stands displayed enhanced metrics of tree vigor, growth, and mechanical stability, thereby improving response to future restoration treatments and broadening the range of potential stand conditions. We conclude that early-stage thinning has been successful as a preliminary restoration treatment because it accomplished many initial goals of forest restoration, while retaining sufficient tree numbers to buffer against possible attrition from future disturbances.
Quantum Effects of Indium/Ytterbium Doping on ZnO-Like Nano-Condensed Matter in terms of Urbach-Martienssen and Wemple-DiDomenico Single-Oscillator Models Parameters
Authors: Boukhachem A. , Ouni B. , Bouzidi A. , Amlouk A. , Boubaker K. , Bouhafs M. , Amlouk M.
Published: March 2012

Conducting and transparent optical ZnO thin films were deposited on glass substrates by a simple mini spray technique. Alternatively, some of the obtained films were doped with indium and ytterbium at the molar rates of: 1, 2, and 3% (In) and 100, 200, and 300 ppm (Yb). In addition to the classical structural investigations including XRD, microhardness vickers (Hv), and optothermal techniques, thorough optical measurements have been carried out for comparison purposes. The refractive indices and the extinction coefficients of the differently doped layers have been deduced from their transmission-reflection spectra over an extended wavelength range. Analysis of the refractive index data through Wemple-DiDomenico single oscillator model yielded quantum characteristics along with the values of long-wavelength dielectric constant, average oscillator wavelength, average oscillator strength, average oscillator energy and dispersion energy. Real and imaginary parts of dielectric constant have also been used to calculate free carrier plasma resonance frequency, optical relaxation time, and free carriers concentration-to-effective mass ratio. Finally, analysis of Urbach-Martienssen model parameters allowed proposing nanoscale explanations to the divergence about doping-related evolution of Urbach tails, this intriguing item having been intensively discussed in the literature in the last decades.
Inhibition of LPS-Induced Activation of Coagulation by p38 MAPK Inhibitor
Authors: Koch Lutz , Hofer Stefan , Weigand Markus A. , Frommhold David , Poeschl Johannes , Ruef Peter
Published: March 2012

During Gram-negative sepsis, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activates toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and induces complex responses of immune system and coagulation. However, the underlying LPS signalling mechanism on coagulation activation remains complex. To determine the role of the intracellular signalling factors p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in the procoagulant response to LPS, coagulation process of human whole blood exposed to specific inhibitors was measured by thrombelastography. Samples were stimulated with LPS (100 μg/mL) after preincubation with BAY117082 (specific NF-κB inhibitor), SP600125 (specific JNK inhibitor), SB203580 (specific p38 MAPK inhibitor), or vehicle. SB203580 strongly inhibited LPS-induced coagulation activation, whereas BAY117082 and SP600125 showed no significant effect. Activation of p38 MAPK, NF-κB, and JNK and respective inhibitory effects were confirmed by Multi-Target Sandwich ELISA. In conclusion, activation of p38 MAPK is crucial for early LPS-induced activation of coagulation.
Morphological Changes of Mammalian Nucleoli during Spermatogenesis and Their Possible Role in the Chromatoid Body Assembling
Authors: Peruquetti Rita Luiza , Taboga Sebastião Roberto , Azeredo-Oliveira Maria Tercília Vilela de
Published: March 2012

Chromatoid body (CB) is a typical cytoplasmic organelle of germ cells, and it seems to be involved in RNA/protein accumulation for later germ-cell differentiation. Despite most of the events in mammals spermatogenesis had been widely described in the past decades and the increase in the studies related to the CB molecular composition and physiology, the origins and functions of this important structure of male germ cells are still unclear. The aims of this study were to describe the nucleolar cycle and also to find some relationship between the nucleolar organization and the CB assembling during the spermatogenesis in mammals. Cytochemical and cytogenetics analysis showed nucleolar fragmentation in post-pachytene spermatocytes and nucleolar reorganization in post-meiotic spermatids. Significant difference in the number and in the size of nucleoli between spermatogonia and round spermatids, as well as differences in the nucleolar position within the nucleus were also observed. Ultrastructural analysis showed the CB assembling in the cytoplasm of primary spermatocytes and the nucleolar fragmentation occurring at the same time. In conclusion our results suggest that the CB may play important roles during the spermatogenesis process in mammals and that its origin may be related to the nucleolar cycle during the meiotic cell cycle.
Preparation and Ethanol Sensing Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles via a Novel Sol-Gel Method
Authors: Ahmadi Daryakenari A. , Ahmadi Daryakenari M. , Bahari Y. , Omivar H.
Published: March 2012

ZnO nanoparticles were prepared using a novel sol-gel method. Chemical reactions were carried out between zinc acetate and methanol under ambient conditions using monoethanol amine (MEA) as surfactant and subsequent heating at . The powders were calcined, pressed into pellets, and presintered. The properties of the product were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra. For gas sensing experiment, ethanol was used as testing gas. The gas sensing results showed that the maximum value for detecting of 1000 ppm ethanol vapor was 25 at an operating temperature of .
Evaluation of Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Status in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease in Rural Populations of the Nilgiris, South India
Authors: Kumar E. P. , Mukherjee Radhika , Senthil R. , Parasuraman S. , Suresh B.
Published: March 2012

Objective. The objective of this work was to study the risk factors of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in rural populations of the Nilgiris, south India, with stress on the various social habits and oxidant stress.Methods. A total of 72 patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 12 healthy volunteers were screened. Forty-seven patients with CVD (intervention group) and 10 healthy volunteers (control group) were randomly selected for the study. Written informed consent was obtained from all the participants, and their demographic details were collected. A 6 mL blood sample was collected from each of the participants, and the serum was separated in the samples. The levels of enzymic (superoxide dismutase, catalase) and nonenzymic antioxidants (ascorbic acid) in the plasma were determined biochemically. The level of thiobarbituric acid species (TBARS), which is a predictor of lipid peroxidation, was measured.Results. The participants of the study were stratified as according to demographic and social variables. The values of all the antioxidants and TBARS were statistically compared. Significantly reduced antioxidant levels and increased TBARS levels were found in the intervention group compared with the control group. The results suggest that the lowered antioxidant level may be a result of the oxidant stress of the disease. Statistically significant differences were not found in the antioxidant and TBARS levels when comparing smokers versus nonsmokers, alcoholics versus nonalcoholics, and vegetarians versus nonvegetarians.Conclusion. The major causes of CVD amongst the rural populations of the Nilgiris, south India, are preventable causes such as smoking and high fat intake, all of which cause oxidative stress, as seen in our study through various serum markers.
Escherichia coliATCC 8739 Adapts to the Presence of Sodium Chloride, Monosodium Glutamate, and Benzoic Acid after Extended Culture
Authors: Lee Chin How , Oon Jack S. H. , Lee Kun Cheng , Ling Maurice H. T.
Published: March 2012

Escherichia coliis commonly found in intestine of human, and any changes in their adaptation or evolution may affect the human body. The relationship betweenE. coliand food additives is less studied as compared to antibiotics.E. coliwithin our human gut are consistently interacting with the food additives; thus, it is important to investigate this relationship. In this paper, we observed the evolution ofE. colicultured in different concentration of food additives (sodium chloride, benzoic acid, and monosodium glutamate), singly or in combination, over 70 passages. Adaptability over time was estimated by generation time and cell density at stationary phase. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/restriction fragments length polymorphism (RFLP) using 3 primers and restriction endonucleases, each was used to characterize adaptation/evolution at genomic level. The amplification and digestion profiles were tabulated and analyzed by Nei-Li dissimilarity index. Our results demonstrate thatE. coliin every treatment had adapted over 465 generations. The types of stress were discovered to be different even though different concentrations of same additives were used. However, RFLP shows a convergence of genetic distances, suggesting the presence of global stress response. In addition, monosodium glutamate may be a nutrient source and support acid resistance inE. coli.
Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street®? With math!
Authors: Elkin Andrea Christie
Published: March 2012

This department publishes brief news articles, announcements, and guest editorials on current mathematics education issues that stimulate the interest of TCM readers and cause them to think about an issue or consider a specific viewpoint about some aspect of mathematics education.
Math winter wonderland
Authors: Ijames Natalie , Bales Kathleen , Catalano Janel
Published: March 2012

This regular department features collections of four short activities each for grade bands K—2, 3–4, and 5–6, all focused on a monthly theme. In this issue, children's literature inspires a winter wonderland mathematical theme.
Adoption of E-Book Readers Among College Students: A Survey
Authors: Foasberg Nancy M.
Published: March 2012

To learn whether e-book readers have become widely popular among college students, this study surveys students at one large, urban, four-year public college. The survey asked whether the students owned e-book readers and if so, how often they used them and for what purposes. Thus far, uptake is slow; a very small proportion of students use e-readers. These students use them primarily for leisure reading and continue to rely on print for much of their reading. Students reported that price is the greatest barrier to e-reader adoption and had little interest in borrowing e-reader compatible e-books from the library.
Library Use of Web-based Research Guides
Authors: Ghaphery Jimmy , White Erin
Published: March 2012

This paper describes the ways in which libraries are currently implementing and managing web-based research guides (a.k.a. Pathfinders, LibGuides, Subject Guides, etc.) by examining two sets of data from the spring of 2011. One set of data was compiled by visiting the websites of ninety-nine American university ARL libraries and recording the characteristics of each site’s research guides. The other set of data is based on an online survey of librarians about the ways in which their libraries implement and maintain research guides. In conclusion, a discussion follows that includes implications for the library technology community.
Copyright: Regulation Out of Line with our Digital Reality?
Authors: McDermott Abigail J.
Published: March 2012

This paper provides a brief overview of the current state of copyright law in the United States, focusing on the negative impacts of these policies on libraries and patrons. The article discusses four challenges current copyright law presents to libraries and the public in general, highlighting three concrete ways intellectual property law interferes with digital library services and systems. Finally, the author suggests that a greater emphasis on copyright literacy and a commitment among the library community to advocate for fairer policies is vital to correcting the imbalance between the interests of the public and those of copyright holders.
Batch Ingesting into EPrints Digital Repository Software
Authors: Neugebauer Tomasz , Han Bin
Published: March 2012

This paper describes the batch importing strategy and workflow used for the import of theses metadata and PDF documents into the EPrints digital repository software. A two-step strategy of importing metadata in MARC format followed by attachment of PDF documents is described in detail, including Perl source code for scripts used.  The processes described were used in the ingestion of 6,000 theses metadata and PDFs into an EPrints institutional repository.
National Institutes of Health Designates Disabled People a Health Disparity Population
Authors: Reynolds Joel Michael
Published: June 2024

This Viewpoint examines watershed moments in improving health care for people with disabilities in the US.
Sarcopenic Obesity and Outcomes for Patients With Cancer
Authors: Liu Chenan , Liu Tong , Deng Li , Zhang Qi , Song Mengmeng , Shi Jinyu , Liu Chenning , Xie Hailun , Chen Yue , Lin Shiqi , Zheng Xin , Zhang Heyang , Barazzoni Rocco , Shi Hanping
Published: June 2024

Importance

The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) and the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO) have recently proposed a consensus definition and diagnostic criteria for sarcopenic obesity (SO).

Objective

To implement the ESPEN-EASO diagnostic algorithm to investigate the prevalence of SO and its association with outcomes in patients with solid tumor cancers, with particular regard to associations among SO, overall survival (OS), and patient quality of life (QoL).

Design, Setting, and Participants

This prospective cohort study included patients diagnosed with solid tumor starting in May 7, 2013, with the last follow-up on June 30, 2022. Patients with solid tumors were categorized into SO and non-SO groups according to ESPEN-EASO criteria. The primary outcome was OS and the secondary outcomes included patient QoL and risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Data were analyzed from June to December 2023.

Results

A total of 6790 patients were included in the study (mean [SD] age, 59.64 [10.77] years; 3489 were female [51.4%]). The prevalence of SO was 4.36% (296 of 6790) in the whole cohort and 14.98% (296 of 1976) in the subgroup with obesity. SO prevalence increased with age. During a median (IQR) follow-up period of 6.83 (5.67-7.04) years, 2103 patients died. Cox regression analysis indicated that SO was independently associated with lower OS (hazard ratio [HR], 1.54; 95% CI, 1.23-1.92), which was observed in both men (HR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.09-2.10) and women (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.12-2.07). SO was also associated with poorer QoL and higher risk of ICU admission (odds ratio, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.06-5.29). Among the diagnostic components of SO, low hand grip strength (HGS) was the only SO component associated with poor OS (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.04-1.28).

Conclusions and Relevance

This cohort study of SO found that SO was significantly associated with lower OS, poorer QoL, and higher risk of ICU admission. Weak HGS, 1 of the diagnostic conditions, was the only component of SO associated with OS. The ESPEN-EASO algorithm appears to be an applicable tool to identify cancer-associated SO, which represents a major clinical complication and factor associated with risk for poor outcomes in these patients.
Heritage Language Learners and Language Teaching
Authors: Song David , Kober Hannah Z. , Valdés Guadalupe
Published: June 2024

In this entry, we define and contextualize the term “heritage language,” which emerged in the 1980s in applied linguistics and has since been applied in both scholarly contexts and educational settings. We mainly discuss the educational paradigm's definition of the term, which, in order to conceptualize and concretize possibilities of language learning and transmission, emphasizes socially contextual use in multilingual environments, language minoritization, and the problematics surrounding the “native speaker” and language ideologies that privilege monolingualism. We then discuss the state of research on heritage language education, drawing attention to educational possibilities and problems in mainstream schooling as well as in local community‐based schools. Finally, we raise future directions for research and practice.
Politeness
Authors: Locher Miriam A.
Published: June 2024

Since the 1970s, the topic of politeness has boomed within pragmatics. Recognizing that people use language strategically to shape relationships, it is of interest how politeness and impoliteness effects come about and what patterns emerge in their linguistic rendition. Scholarship has moved from early universalist theories to more discursive discussions of linguistic and multimodal relational work situated in practices. The field is nowadays multidisciplinary and vibrant in its endeavor to combine theories and methodologies to better understand how (im)politeness is negotiated in language use and how this usage is tied to societal and group norms and ideologies. Factors that influence the choice of linguistic strategies are many, among them power, age, seniority, affect, distance or closeness, the roles of the interactants, and the norms of appropriate conduct in the particular historical, cultural, local, and social context.
Pragmatic Transfer
Authors: Bou‐Franch Patricia , Clavel‐Arroitia Begoña
Published: June 2024

This entry deals with pragmatic transfer, that is, the influence among the language(s)/culture(s) known to an individual at the level of pragmatic knowledge in the context of language learning and communication. This entry begins with an introduction to the topic, which is then illustrated by an authentic example. The next section explains that this area of study lies at the intersection of second language (L2) acquisition and (discursive) pragmatics. Then, a pioneering definition of pragmatic transfer is revisited, and two main types of transfer are identified alongside pragmalinguistic and sociopragmatic knowledge. The most extensive section of the entry discusses several recent studies that examine how learner and contextual factors combine to influence target language (TL) communication and development. Investigating the factors that promote or inhibit the occurrence of pragmatic transfer is a continuing topic of research in this field. Learner factors discussed in this section include proficiency level, perceived linguistic and cultural distance, and the willingness and motivation of the learner to adopt L2 sociocultural values. This section also discusses research on the contexts of study abroad learning experiences, heritage speaker communication, and lingua franca interactions. The entry ends underlining the need for future research on pragmatic transfer that focuses on diversity at the level of identity and context within current L2 pragmatics research and suggests investigating the role of pragmatic transfer in developing a flexible use of learners' pragmatic competence across different situations.
Speech Acts
Authors: Ren Wei
Published: June 2024

Performing speech acts is one of the fundamental functions of language. Speech act has become one of the most influential concepts in pragmatics and beyond. Speech act theory was put forward by Austin and further developed by Searle in the 1960s. It has become established as one of the central theories in pragmatics. This entry will offer an overview of speech act theory by introducing and analyzing utterances of constatives and performatives, layers of speech acts (i.e., locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary), felicity conditions, typology of speech acts, and indirect speech acts. This entry then discusses various fields of language sciences that have adopted and adapted the concepts and the framework of speech acts.
Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson
Authors: Allott Nicholas
Published: June 2024

Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson are the co‐founders of relevance theory, one of the most influential programs of research in work on communication and utterance interpretation. This entry first provides brief biographical information and then explains the essentials of relevance theory.

Relevance theory aims to provide an explicit account of how utterances are interpreted, grounded in a more general account of human cognition. According to relevance theory, interpretation of utterances is governed by principles that apply to cognition and to communication and is carried out by an inferential heuristic, guided by the hearer's expectations, which yields representations of both explicatures and implicatures.

This framework provides explanations of many apparently diverse phenomena in communication. Two are discussed here: verbal irony and lexical pragmatics. Sperber and Wilson distinguish between use of an utterance to represent the speaker's own thoughts and those of another and analyze verbal irony as language use in which the speaker says something that she tacitly attributes to someone else and to which she tacitly expresses a negative (“dissociative”) attitude. Working with Robyn Carston and others, Sperber and Wilson have set out a theory of lexical pragmatics according to which many uses of words express occasion‐specific “
ad hoc
concepts.” On this basis, they argue that literal use, loose use, hyperbole, and metaphor form a continuum.

This entry concludes with brief remarks on other areas of active research, including experimental pragmatics and work on epistemic vigilance.
Research Questions in Mixed Methods Research
Authors: Collins Kathleen Mary Theresa
Published: June 2024

The goal of this entry is to present procedural guidelines applicable for writing research questions in integrative mixed methods research (IMMR). This entry introduces the topic by a discussion of selective features of IMMR questions that signify their contribution toward expanding researchers' options in design. Next, types of research questions applicable for designing confirmatory, exploratory, and IMMR are outlined. This entry concludes with a presentation of an empirical example of phrasing of IMMR questions in practice.
Discourse and Hegemony
Authors: Flax Rocío
Published: June 2024

The concept of “hegemony” has been fundamental to several research areas and political praxis: cultural studies, political studies, sociology, philosophy, and linguistics. Conceived within the Marxist theory at the beginning of the twentieth century, it is essential to consider not only class struggle but other kinds of social struggle as well. Many authors have been working with this concept to understand and promote social change. This entry offers an overview of hegemony in relation to discourse studies starting from Gramsci's first conceptualizations, moving toward the uses and reformulations that philosophy of language and critical discourse analysis have been developing for the last decades. Finally, we present a theoretical proposal based on Gramsci's studies from a Latin American perspective.
L2 Motivation and Language Learning
Authors: Csizér Kata
Published: June 2024

This entry focuses on second language (L2) language learning motivation, that is, how applied linguists have theorized about and empirically studied the amount of effort and persistence students invest in L2 learning and its impact on L2 learning. First, I provide a generally accepted definition of the core concept of L2 learning motivation. Then, I briefly overview the history of L2 motivation research and its major trends: socio‐psychological, cognitive classroom oriented, and dynamic, process‐oriented studies. In the next section, I summarize some currently important issues pertaining to L2 motivation research, such as the importance of theoretical underpinnings of empirical studies, various research approaches, the “time” perspective, linear versus nonlinear changes, the context as a variable in L2 studies, the role of teachers in student motivation, and other relevant individual difference variables. Finally, I outline future directions of researching L2 learning motivation.
Corpus Analysis of Vocabulary
Authors: Ballance Oliver J. , Coxhead Averil
Published: June 2024

Corpora and corpus tools are essential resources for modern vocabulary research. On one hand, corpora can provide researchers with a powerful evidence base for their analyses. On the other hand, corpus tools can facilitate efficient management and analysis of huge data sets and thereby greatly expand the scope and rigor of research. This means that corpora and corpus tools enable a previously unattainable level of scientific rigor in the study of the vocabulary. They have changed the way that researchers approach the study of individual vocabulary items, the vocabulary of a whole language, language variety or domain of language use, and the vocabulary of individual texts. However, corpus analysis of vocabulary needs to be aware of the core methodological issues in any type of corpus analysis: the absence of negative evidence, automated corpus analysis being limited to form‐based information processing rather than meaning‐based processing, and the standards that need to be met to support generalizations from corpus observations. This entry begins with a brief explanation of a corpus and moves on to some key findings from corpus‐based research on vocabulary. The next sections focus on word, language level, and then text‐level vocabulary research, along with examples and suggestions for further reading.
Hunter Biden gun trial highlights hypocrisy among advocates
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: June 2024

In 2012, when an obviously disturbed young man walked into an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, and killed 20 children and 6 adults, there was widespread outrage among advocates when policymakers talked about banning guns for people with mental illness. And rightfully so. Not only are people with mental illness more likely to be victims than perpetrators of gun violence, but there are so many of them that vast numbers of people would be denied privacy and 2nd Amendment rights.. And most importantly, there is no proof that just because someone has a mental illness, that means they would be violent, or shouldn't own a gun.
Target Reprogramming the 3′UTR of Tumor‐Suppressor Genes by a siRNA Composite Nanoparticle for Glioblastoma Therapy
Authors: Gu Bin , Zeng Xianyan , Gong Ming , Li Xiangyu , Yu Qian , Tan Zhengzong , Lou Zheqi , Jiang Tinghui , Che Yu , Ao Yiran , Zhu Yong
Published: June 2024

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and common adult brain tumor. Current therapies primarily involve surgical resection, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, the low survival rate due to high toxicity, side effects, and poor targeting necessitates novel treatments. Post‐transcriptional regulation pathways, particularly the regulation of alternative polyadenylation based on the mRNA 3′UTR, play a critical role in cell growth and development and the progression of tumors. Targeting tumor cells and reprogramming the 3′UTR of tumor suppressor genes to achieve post‐transcriptional regulation is expected to be a new channel for GBM therapy. Herein, a novel siRNA delivery system is developed based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles: siRNA composite nanoparticles (siRNA CNP). Encapsulation in MSNs overcomes siRNA degradation and cellular entry issues, while lipid bilayer coating improves biocompatibility and stability. Surface‐modified nucleic acid aptamer SL1 (Apt‐SL1) significantly enhances GBM targeting, offering therapeutic potential. The findings show that siRNA CNP effectively silences the promoter CFIm25 of distal poly(A) in tumor cells, inducing gene reprogramming, inhibiting tumor growth, and promoting apoptosis in nude mice. The siRNA CNP demonstrates a significant effect in reprogramming tumor suppressor genes and treating GBM. It offers a novel and promising therapeutic avenue for GBM.