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Comparative studies suggest remarkable similarities among food webs across habitats, including systematic changes in their structure with diversity and complexity (scale-dependence). However, historic aboveground terrestrial food webs (ATFWs) have coarsely grouped plants and insects such that these webs are generally small, and herbivory is disproportionately under-represented compared to vertebrate predator–prey interactions. Furthermore, terrestrial herbivory is thought to be structured by unique processes compared to size-structured feeding in other systems. Here, we present the richest ATFW to date, including approximately 580 000 feeding links among approximately 3800 taxonomic species, sourced from approximately 27 000 expert-vetted interaction records annotated as feeding upon one of six different resource types: leaves, flowers, seeds, wood, prey and carrion. By comparison to historical ATFWs and null ecological hypotheses, we show that our temperate forest web displays a potentially unique structure characterized by two properties: (i) a large fraction of carnivory interactions dominated by a small number of hyper-generalist, opportunistic bird and bat predators; and (ii) a smaller fraction of herbivory interactions dominated by a hyper-rich community of insects with variably sized but highly specific diets. We attribute our findings to the large-scale, even resolution of vertebrate, insect and plant guilds in our food web. This article is part of the theme issue 'Connected interactions: enriching food web research by spatial and social interactions'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comparative studies suggest remarkable similarities among food webs across habitats, including systematic changes in their structure with diversity and complexity (scale-dependence). However, historic aboveground terrestrial food webs (ATFWs) have coarsely grouped plants and insects such that these webs are generally small, and herbivory is disproportionately under-represented compared to vertebrate predator–prey interactions. Furthermore, terrestrial herbivory is thought to be structured by unique processes compared to size-structured feeding in other systems. Here, we present the richest ATFW to date, including approximately 580 000 feeding links among approximately 3800 taxonomic species, sourced from approximately 27 000 expert-vetted interaction records annotated as feeding upon one of six different resource types: leaves, flowers, seeds, wood, prey and carrion. By comparison to historical ATFWs and null ecological hypotheses, we show that our temperate forest web displays a potentially unique structure characterized by two properties: (i) a large fraction of carnivory interactions dominated by a small number of hyper-generalist, opportunistic bird and bat predators; and (ii) a smaller fraction of herbivory interactions dominated by a hyper-rich community of insects with variably sized but highly specific diets. We attribute our findings to the large-scale, even resolution of vertebrate, insect and plant guilds in our food web. This article is part of the theme issue 'Connected interactions: enriching food web research by spatial and social interactions'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because it can lead to retaliatory killing, livestock depredation by large carnivores is among the foremost threats to carnivore conservation, and it severely impacts human well‐being worldwide. Ongoing climate change can amplify these human–wildlife conflicts, but such issues are largely unexplored, though are becoming increasingly recognized. Here, we assessed how the availability of primary resources and wild prey interact to shape large carnivore selection for livestock rather than wild prey (i.e., via prey switching or apparent competition). Specifically, we combined remotely sensed estimates of primary resources (i.e., water availability and primary productivity), wild prey movement, and 7 years (2015–2021) of reports for livestock depredation by African lions (Panthera leo) in the Makgadikgadi Pans ecosystem, Botswana. Although livestock depredation did not vary between wet versus dry seasons, analyses at finer temporal scales revealed higher incidences of livestock depredation when primary production, water availability, and wild prey availability were lower, though the effects of wild prey availability were mediated by water availability. Increased precipitation also amplified livestock depredation events despite having no influence on wild prey availability. Our results suggest that livestock depredation is influenced by the diverse responses of livestock, wild prey, and lions to primary resource availability, a driver that is largely overlooked or oversimplified in studies of human–carnivore conflict. Our findings provide insight into tailoring potential conflict mitigation strategies to fine‐scale changes in resource conditions to efficiently reduce conflict and support human livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used critical interpretive phenomenological analysis to explore the lived experiences and phenomena of motherhood of five young Black women in Pennsylvania as they transition into motherhood. The core themes that emerged were systemic inequities, kinship, survival, and apprehension around the transition to motherhood. Additional analysis suggested that racism, structural oppression, childhood trauma, healthcare coercion, perinatal mental health distress, family chaos, poverty and economic insecurity, and birthing trauma were also relevant. These findings suggest that experiences from throughout the life course, including early trauma, may influence the journey to motherhood and may be intimately connected to mental health before, during, and after pregnancy. If clinicians and policy makers can better understand the lived experiences of Black women transitioning into motherhood, they can better engage in authentic, collaborative, patient-centered care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides have well-documented negative consequences to control crop pests, and natural predators are alternatives and can provide an ecosystem service as biological control agents. However, there remains considerable uncertainty regarding whether such biological control can be a widely applicable solution, especially given ongoing climatic variation and climate change. Here, we performed a meta-analysis focused on field studies with natural predators to explore broadly whether and how predators might control pests and in turn increase yield. We also contrasted across studies pest suppression by a single and multiple predators and how climate influence biological control. Predators reduced pest populations by 73% on average, and increased crop yield by 25% on average. Surprisingly, the impact of predators did not depend on whether there were many or a single predator species. Precipitation seasonality was a key climatic influence on biological control: as seasonality increased, the impact of predators on pest populations increased. Taken together, the positive contribution of predators in controlling pests and increasing yield, and the consistency of such responses in the face of precipitation variability, suggest that biocontrol has the potential to be an important part of pest management and increasing food supplies as the planet precipitation patterns become increasingly variable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wide-ranging carnivores experience tradeoffs between dynamic resource availabilities and heterogeneous risks from humans, with consequences for their ecological function and conservation outcomes. Yet, research investigating these tradeoffs across large carnivore distributions is rare. We assessed how resource availability and anthropogenic risks influence the strength of lion (Panthera leo) responses to disturbance using data from 31 sites across lions' contemporary range. Lions avoided human disturbance at over two-thirds of sites, though their responses varied depending on site-level characteristics. Lions were more likely to exploit human-dominated landscapes where resources were limited, indicating that resource limitation can outweigh anthropogenic risks and might exacerbate human-carnivore conflict. Lions also avoided human impacts by increasing their nocturnal activity more often at sites with higher production of cattle. The combined effects of expanding human impacts and environmental change threaten to simultaneously downgrade the ecological function of carnivores and intensify human-carnivore conflicts, escalating extinction risks for many species. A meta-analysis performed with data from 31 study sites indicate that lions reduce their space use and increase nocturnal activity where human disturbance is high, but less so when resources are scarce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predation is a fundamental ecological process that shapes communities and drives evolutionary dynamics. As the world rapidly urbanizes, it is critical to understand how human perturbations alter predation and meat consumption across taxa. We conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the effects of urban environments on three components of trophic ecology in predators: dietary species richness, dietary evenness and stable isotopic ratios (IRs) (δ13C and δ15N IR). We evaluated whether the intensity of anthropogenic pressure, using the human footprint index (HFI), explained variation in effect sizes of dietary attributes using a meta-regression. We calculated Hedges' g effect sizes from 44 studies including 11 986 samples across 40 predatory species in 39 cities globally. The direction and magnitude of effect sizes varied among predator taxa with reptilian diets exhibiting the most sensitivity to urbanization. Effect sizes revealed that predators in cities had comparable diet richness, evenness and nitrogen ratios, though carbon IRs were more enriched in cities. We found that neither the 1993 nor 2009 HFI editions explained effect size variation. Our study provides, to our knowledge, the first assessment of how urbanization has perturbed predator–prey interactions for multiple taxa at a global scale. We conclude that the functional role of predators is conserved in cities and urbanization does not inherently relax predation, despite diets broadening to include anthropogenic food sources such as sugar, wheat and corn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) is a chronic inflammatory disease in which sterile and relapsing pustules appear on the palms and soles. Objectives: To assess the effects of interventions for chronic PPP to induce and maintain complete remission. Methods: We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), including people with PPP or chronic palmoplantar pustular psoriasis, in the Cochrane Skin Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS and eight trials registers up to July 2020. Study selection, data extraction and risk‐of‐bias assessment were carried out independently by two review authors. Certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) method. Results: We included 37 RCTs (1663 participants, 76% women, mean age 50 years). Mean treatment duration was 11 weeks. Topical vitamin D derivative may be more effective than placebo in achieving clearance [risk ratio (RR) 7·83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·85–33·12; low‐certainty evidence from two trials]. Concerning biological therapies, there was little or no difference between etanercept and placebo in achieving clearance (low‐certainty evidence from one trial), ustekinumab is less effective than placebo in reducing severity (low‐certainty evidence from one trial), and guselkumab (RR 2·88, 95% CI 1·24–6·69) and secukinumab (RR 1·55, 95% CI 1·02–2·35) are probably better in reducing disease severity (moderate‐certainty evidence from two and one trial(s), respectively) but may cause more serious adverse events than placebo. Conclusions: Evidence is lacking for or against major chronic PPP treatments. Risk of bias and imprecision limit our confidence in the results. What is already known about this topic?Palmoplantar pustulosis is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that affects the hands and feet, and has a major impact on patients' quality of life.A Cochrane review published in 2006 concluded that there is no effective treatment and suggested that the standards of study design and reporting need to be improved to allow patients and clinicians to assess the effectiveness of treatments available. What does this study add?Evidence is still lacking for commonly used treatments such as topical corticosteroids, phototherapy, acitretin, methotrexate and ciclosporin.A topical vitamin D derivative may be more effective than placebo in achieving clearance in the short term (low‐certainty evidence).Secukinumab and guselkumab may be superior to placebo in reducing severity (moderate‐certainty evidence) than placebo but not ustekinumab (moderate‐certainty evidence). Linked Comment: Feldman and Huang. Br J Dermatol 2021; 184:990. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues for the adoption of the theory of organizing and sensemaking framework as the theoretical underpinning of the personal selling process in a relational selling context. For relational selling, one should not think of the selling process as a normative series of steps that a salesperson passes through with the help of a sales manager. Instead, by expanding our notion of sales organization members beyond salespeople and sales managers to include the customers with whom salespeople interact, we argue that one should recognize the personal selling process as a more prescriptive customer-involved interpretation system concerned with uncertainty reduction during and between every customer-salesperson interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To our knowledge, this is the first study using a validated screening tool for UI and prospectively collected data, which is powered to determine the odds of UI in vulval LS. UI was screened for using the validated International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) Urinary Incontinence Short Form.4 Power calculation demonstrated that for 90% power and 5% error to detect a 20% difference, 110 patients would be needed per group. Cross-sectional analysis was performed to determine the odds of urinary incontinence (UI) in LS, compared with other genital conditions in adult female patients. [Extracted from the article]

Spatially varied resources and threats govern the persistence of African lions across dynamic protected areas. An important precursor to effective conservation for lions requires assessing trade‐offs in space use due to heterogeneity in habitat, resources and human presence between national parks (NPs) and hunting areas, the dominant land‐use classifications across their range.We conducted a large camera survey in West Africa, encompassing three NPs and 11 hunting concessions (HCs) in Burkina Faso and Niger. This equates to half of the 26,500‐km2 transboundary W‐Arly‐Pendjari protected area complex. We combined occupancy and structural equation modelling to disentangle the relative effects of environmental, ecological and anthropogenic variables influencing space use of Critically Endangered lions across 21,430 trap‐nights from 2016 to 2018.National parks are intended to serve as refuges from human pressures, and thus we expect higher lion occupancy in NPs compared to neighbouring HCs. But because prey availability drove lion occupancy and was comparable between NPs and HCs, lions exhibited no spatial response to management type. Prey availability was primarily influenced by edge effects and natural water availability. Furthermore, water availability and habitat diversity were higher in HCs, possibly outweighing disturbances from higher human occupancy and road density and contributing to comparable lion space use between management types.Synthesis and applications. We found that lions exhibited no avoidance hunting concessions, despite higher human occupancy than in neighbouring national parks. This may be due to the lions' heavy reliance on depleted prey populations and preferred habitat characteristics in hunting concessions. We offer potential management interventions to indirectly influence lion space use, such as enhancing water availability and reducing human disturbance at park edges. Our findings provide insight into lion habitat preferences in a system degraded by human pressures and prey depletion, aiding in the understanding of the management's role in the ecology and conservation of apex predators and hunted species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This chapter discusses the need for innovative health literacy solutions to combat extensive chronic disease prevalence and costs. The authors explore the intersection of chronic disease management and health literacy. They provide specific examples of successful health literacy interventions for managing several highly prevalent chronic diseases. This is followed by suggestions on pairing research and practice to support effective disease management programs. In addition, the authors discuss strategies for collection and dissemination of knowledge gained from collaborations between researchers and practitioners. They identify current challenges specific to disseminating information from the health literacy field and offer potential solutions. The chapter concludes with a brief look at future directions and organizational opportunities to integrate health literacy practices to address the need for effective chronic disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors use the theory of organizing framework for sales research to demonstrate that customer organizational citizenship behavior (COCB) is a meaningful and useful customer segmentation criterion. First, they discern from open-ended responses what salespeople mean by “best,” “typical,” and “worst” customers. They then empirically demonstrate the differential influence of COCB by customer type on salespeople’s evaluations of their customers and on three aspects of sales performance—customer-involved sales performance, salesperson behavioral effectiveness, and salesperson outcome productivity. The three customer-type comparison reveals that the COCB of best and typical customers has a positive influence on all three aspects of sales performance while the COCB of worst customers has a negative influence on them. These findings have implications for customer evaluation, customer segmentation, salesperson evaluation, and sales training. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Rationale: Chronic bronchitis (CB) is characterized by persistent cough and sputum production. Studies were performed to test whether mucus hyperconcentration and increased partial osmotic pressure, in part caused by abnormal purine nucleotide regulation of ion transport, contribute to the pathogenesis of CB.Objectives: We tested the hypothesis that CB is characterized by mucus hyperconcentration, increased mucus partial osmotic pressures, and reduced mucus clearance.Methods: We measured in subjects with CB as compared with normal and asymptomatic smoking control subjects indices of mucus concentration (hydration; i.e., percentage solids) and sputum adenine nucleotide/nucleoside concentrations. In addition, sputum partial osmotic pressures and mucus transport rates were measured in subjects with CB.Measurements and Results: CB secretions were hyperconcentrated as indexed by an increase in percentage solids and total mucins, in part reflecting decreased extracellular nucleotide/nucleoside concentrations. CB mucus generated concentration-dependent increases in partial osmotic pressures into ranges predicted to reduce mucus transport. Mucociliary clearance (MCC) in subjects with CB was negatively correlated with mucus concentration (percentage solids). As a test of relationships between mucus concentration and disease, mucus concentrations and MCC were compared with FEV1, and both were significantly correlated.Conclusions: Abnormal regulation of airway surface hydration may slow MCC in CB and contribute to disease pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

5-Lipoxygenase (5LO) is upregulated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and in vivo modulates the amyloidotic phenotype of amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice. However, no data are available on the effects that 5LO has on synaptic function, integrity and cognition. To address this issue, we used a genetic and a pharmacological approach by generating 3 × Tg mice deficient for 5LO and administering 3 × Tg mice with a 5LO inhibitor. Compared with controls, we found that even before the development of overt neuropathology, both animals manifested significant memory improvement, rescue of their synaptic dysfunction and amelioration of synaptic integrity. In addition, later in life, these mice had a significant reduction of Aβ and tau pathology. Our findings support a novel functional role for 5LO in regulating synaptic plasticity and memory. They establish this protein as a pleiotropic contributor to the development of the full spectrum of the AD phenotype, making it a valid therapeutic target for the treatment of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to introduce the concept of salesperson coachability and to propose potential relationships between it and sales coaching and sales performance. Design/methodology/approach - This conceptual paper reviews the sales coaching and sales performance literature to highlight how the knowledge of each may be enhanced by the coachability construct. The concept of athletic coachability is then introduced to explain why it should be adapted and applied to salespeople in a personal selling context. Findings - Adapting and applying the concept of athlete coachability to salespeople in a personal selling context may provide sales management practitioners and academics a better understanding of how certain salesperson personality traits combine and interact with certain situational influences to impact sales performance. Research limitations/implications - Future studies need to test the propositions advanced. Practical implications - Salesperson coachability may be used by sales managers as a screening criterion for sales force recruiting and retention. Social implications - Salesperson coachability assessments for recruiting and training may result in lowering job turnover. Originality/value - This paper introduces the concept of athletic coachability to the sales literature, argues why the concept should be adapted and applied to salespeople in a personal selling context, and advances testable propositions with respect to its expected relationship with sales coaching and sales performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective The objective of this study was to understand the biological pathways involved in twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) by performing global gene expression analysis of amniotic fluid (AF) cell-free RNA. Methods A prospective whole transcriptome microarray study analyzing cell-free RNA in AF from TTTS recipient twins and singleton controls was carried out. Significantly differentially regulated genes in TTTS cases ( N = 8) versus matched controls ( N = 8) were identified and pathways analyses performed. Significant gene expression differences between stage II TTTS recipients ( N = 5) and stage III TTTS recipients with abnormal Doppler measurements ( N = 5) were also analyzed. Results Analysis of paired data from TTTS cases and controls revealed differential expression of 801 genes, which were significantly enriched for neurological disease and cardiovascular system pathways. We also identified cardiovascular genes and pathways associated with the presence of critically abnormal Doppler measurements in stage III TTTS recipients. Conclusions This study provides the first transcriptome-wide data on the impact of TTTS on fetal development. Our results show that gene expression involving neurological and cardiovascular pathways are altered in recipient fetuses prior to surgical treatment. This has relevance for the origins of long-term complications seen in survivors and for the development of future fetal biomarkers. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To perform discovery-driven research on the neonatal salivary and cord blood transcriptomes. Methods: Two separate cohorts of infants were enrolled in this study. In one, cord blood ( n = 10) and in the other, saliva samples ( n = 10) were collected at term gestation. Total RNA was extracted, amplified and hybridized onto Affymetrix HG U133a gene expression microarrays. Following normalization, genes expressed in the highest quintile (≥ 80%) across all subjects in each biofluid were analyzed with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Over-represented pathways relating to organ specific development and physiological functions in the newborn were explored. Results: There were 303 genes in neonatal saliva and 282 genes in umbilical cord blood that met statistical criteria. Of these, 114 were common to both biofluids. Pathway analyses revealed the important roles of redox balance, cellular proliferation, and smooth muscle relaxation. In blood, hematopoiesis and immune response pathways predominated. In saliva, pathways associated with the gastrointestinal system were highlighted. Conclusions: Neonatal cord blood and saliva provide a wealth of transcriptomic information. These normally discarded biofluids should be considered an important source of real-time gene expression data that may elucidate key pathways in neonatal physiology and pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remodeling of adipose tissue is required to support the expansion of adipose mass. In obesity, an increased death of adipocytes contributes to the accelerated cellular turnover. We have shown that obesity in pregnancy is associated with metabolic and immune alterations in the adipose tissue. In this study, we characterized the mechanisms responsible for increased death of adipose cells of pregnant obese women and its functional consequences. We postulated that a higher turnover of dead cells in white adipose tissue of obese women would translate into release of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) into their systemic circulation. Increase in adipose mass of obese compared to lean women results from a lesser number of hypertrophic adipocytes and an accumulation of macrophages in the stromal vascular fraction (SVF). The adipocytes of obese displayed enhanced necrosis with a loss of perilipin staining at the plasma membrane. Apoptosis was prominent in SVF cells with an increased expression of caspase 9 and caspase 3 and a higher rate of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling (TUNEL) positive CD68 macrophages in obese vs. lean. Whereas circulating fetal cfDNA concentrations were not changed, there was a twofold increase in circulating glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) cfDNA and adipose tissue GAPDH mRNA in obese women. The maternal systemic GAPDH cfDNA was positively correlated with BMI and gestational weight gain. These data suggest that the active remodeling of adipose tissue of obese pregnant women results in an increased release of cfDNA of maternal origin into the circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During pregnancy, fetal cells cross into the maternal organs where they reside postpartum. Evidence from multiple laboratories suggests that these microchimeric fetal cells contribute to maternal tissue repair after injury. In mouse models, most injury experiments are performed during pregnancy; however, in a clinical setting most injuries or diseases occur postpartum. Therefore, experiments using animal models should be designed to address questions in the time period following delivery. In order to provide a baseline for such experiments, we analyzed the natural history of fetal cells in the postpartum maternal organs. Female C57BL/6J mice were mated to males homozygous for the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene. Fetal cells in the maternal lungs and bone marrow were identified by their green fluorescence using in a high-speed flow cytometer and their counts were compared between the lung and bone marrow. Spearman correlation analysis was used to identify relationships between the duration of time postpartum and the cell counts and ratio of live and dead cells. Our results show that fetal cells persist in these organs until at least three months postpartum in healthy female mice. We show a two-stage decline, with an initial two and a half-week rapid clearance followed by a trend of gradual decrease. Additionally, an increase in the ratio of live to dead cells within the lung over time suggests that these cells may replicate in vivo. The results presented here will inform the design of future experiments and may have implications for women's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current practice in newborn medicine is to subjectively assess when a premature infant is ready to feed by mouth. When the assessment is inaccurate, the resulting feeding morbidities may be significant, resulting in long-term health consequences and millions of health care dollars annually. We hypothesized that the developmental maturation of hypothalamic regulation of feeding behavior is a predictor of successful oral feeding in the premature infant. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the gene expression of neuropeptide Y2 receptor (NPY2R), a known hypothalamic regulator of feeding behavior, in neonatal saliva to determine its role as a biomarker in predicting oral feeding success in the neonate. Methodology/Principal Findings: Salivary samples (n = 116), were prospectively collected from 63 preterm and 13 term neonates (post-conceptual age (PCA) 26 4/7 to 41 4/7 weeks) from five predefined feeding stages. Expression of NPY2R in neonatal saliva was determined by multiplex RT-qPCR amplification. Expression results were retrospectively correlated with feeding status at time of sample collection. Statistical analysis revealed that expression of NPY2R had a 95% positive predictive value for feeding immaturity. NPY2R expression statistically significantly decreased with advancing PCA (Wilcoxon test p value,0.01), and was associated with feeding status (chi square p value = 0.013). Conclusions/Significance: Developmental maturation of hypothalamic regulation of feeding behavior is an essential component of oral feeding success in the newborn. NPY2R expression in neonatal saliva is predictive of an immature feeding pattern. It is a clinically relevant biomarker that may be monitored in saliva to improve clinical care and reduce significant feeding-associated morbidities that affect the premature neonate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cigarette smoke (CS) exposure induces mucus obstruction and the development of chronic bronchitis (CB). While many of these responses are determined genetically, little is known about the effects CS can exert on pulmonary epithelia at the protein level. We, therefore, tested the hypothesis that CS exerts direct effects on the CFTR protein, which could impair airway hydration, leading to the mucus stasis characteristic of both cystic fibrosis and CB. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated that CS rapidly decreased CFTR activity, leading to airway surface liquid (ASL) volume depletion (i.e., dehydration). Further studies revealed that CS induced internalization of CFTR. Surprisingly, CS-internalized CFTR did not colocalize with lysosomal proteins. Instead, the bulk of CFTR shifted to a detergent-resistant fraction within the cell and colocalized with the intermediate filament vimentin, suggesting that CS induced CFTR movement into an aggresome-like, perinuclear compartment. To test whether airway dehydration could be reversed, we used hypertonic saline (HS) as an osmolyte to rehydrate ASL. HS restored ASL height in CS-exposed, dehydrated airway cultures. Similarly, inhaled HS restored mucus transport and increased clearance in patients with CB. Thus, we propose that CS exposure rapidly impairs CFTR function by internalizing CFTR, leading to ASL dehydration, which promotes mucus stasis and a failure of mucus clearance, leaving smokers at risk for developing CB. Furthermore, our data suggest that strategies to rehydrate airway surfaces may provide a novel form of therapy for patients with CB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gene expression profiling of the salivary supernatant is emerging as a new and important source of real-time, systemic, biological information. However, existing technologies prevent RNA extraction of small quantities found in neonatal salivary supernatant. Objective: The aim of this study was to develop techniques to enhance extraction of cell-free RNA from neonatal salivary supernatant. Methods: Two saliva samples (10-100 μl) were serially collected from newborns (36-41 weeks' gestation) (n = 13) and stabilized. Total RNA was extracted from salivary supernatant with the use of two modified extraction techniques: Qiagen RNAprotect® Saliva Mini Kit (method 1) and the QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit (method 2). Quantitative RT-PCR amplification for GAPDH was performed on extracted salivary samples. Statistical analyses were performed on mean threshold cycle (Ct) levels to compare RNA yield from each protocol. Paired microarray analyses were made between neonatal whole saliva and supernatant (n = 3) to discern gene expression differences between these biolayers. Results: mRNA was successfully extracted and amplified from all salivary supernatant samples. Extraction with method 2 yielded more RNA than with method 1 (p = 0.008). There was a 7.5% discordance between paired gene expression analyses for whole saliva and supernatant. Genes that were statistically significantly upregulated in supernatant highlighted 16 distinct biological functions not seen in whole saliva. Conversely, only two biological functions were unique to whole saliva. Conclusion: Neonatal cell-free salivary supernatant mRNA may be readily extracted and utilized on downstream applications. These technical enhancements allow for further exploration of the diagnostic potential of the neonatal salivary transcriptome. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of student response systems, or clickers, has helped enhance interaction in the large lecture-style classroom, which has been theorized and demonstrated to lead to better and more effective student learning. Considerably less is understood about the impact of the technology's use in a small classroom setting. The impact of clickers on student class attendance and course performance was tested in three small class sections of an introductory accounting course taught by the same professor in the same semester. This paper reports the results of this quasi-experimental study and identifies areas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trisomy 18 is a common human aneuploidy that is associated with significant perinatal mortality. Unlike the well-characterized 'critical region' in trisomy 21 (21q22), there is no corresponding region on chromosome 18 associated with its pathogenesis. The high morbidity and mortality of affected individuals has limited extensive investigations. In order to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the congenital anomalies observed in this condition, we investigated the in utero gene expression profile of second trimester fetuses affected with trisomy 18. Total RNA was extracted from cell-free amniotic fluid supernatant from aneuploid fetuses and euploid controls matched for gestational age and hybridized to Affymetrix U133 Plus 2.0 arrays. Individual differentially expressed transcripts were obtained by two-tailed t tests. Over-represented functional pathways among these genes were identified with DAVID and Ingenuity Pathways Analysis. Results show that three hundred and fifty-two probe sets representing 251 annotated genes were statistically significantly differentially expressed between trisomy 18 and controls. Only 7 genes (2.8% of the annotated total) were located on chromosome 18, including ROCK1, an up-regulated gene involved in valvuloseptal and endocardial cushion formation. Pathway analysis indicated disrupted function in ion transport, MHCII/T cell mediated immunity, DNA repair, G-protein mediated signaling, kinases, and glycosylation. Significant down-regulation of genes involved in adrenal development was identified, which may explain both the abnormal maternal serum estriols and the pre and postnatal growth restriction in trisomy 18. Comparison of this gene set to one previously generated for trisomy 21 fetuses revealed only six overlapping differentially regulated genes. This study contributes novel information regarding functional developmental gene expression differences in fetuses with trisomy 18. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The use of portable DC-powered compressor/nebulizer systems has become more prevalent because of their convenient size and weight. However, no evidence exists to evaluate their efficacy. We compared four common portable DC-powered nebulizer/compressor systems to compare efficacy in aerosol delivery using albuterol and budesonide. Method We compared the MiniElite and MicroElite (Philips/Respironics, Murrysville, PA), Traveler (DeVilbiss, Somerset, PA) and Trek S (Pari Respiratory Equipment, Midlothian, VA) using 200 uL of radiolabelled 99mTc as sodium pertechnetate in normal saline, added to either a 3 mL ampule of 2.5 mg albuterol and .25 mg in 2.0 mL of budesonide in separate tests. Particle size was measured by cascade impaction. Output characteristics were determined by measuring the 99mTc on an inspiratory filter and on a filter capturing flow from the nebulizer exhalation valve. A Harvard pump simulated breathing patterns using 500 ml, 15 breaths min, and 0.5 duty cycle. Nebulizers were timed until dry. Prior testing by cascade impaction confirmed homogeneity for co-location of 99mTc and albuterol. In addition to measuring particle size, inhaled mass, time to sputter and time to dry, respiratory dose (RD) and respiratory drug delivery rate (RDDR) were calculated. Tests were performed in triplicate and analyzed with ANOVA using Fisher's post hoc analysis with significance level set at 0.05. All tests were performed in the Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology laboratories at the University of North Carolina. Results Differences up to 7.9 times respiratory dose (RD) and 7 times respiratory drug delivery rate (RDDR) were found between nebulizer/compressor systems. The Pari Trek nebulizer/compressor system performed with highest RD and RDDR, and the DeVilbiss Traveler performed lowest. Only the MicroElite exhibited differences in drug delivery between medications. Conclusions The large variability and dosing abilities of portable DCpowered nebulizer/compressor systems are large enough to be of clinical importance and may negatively influence the perceived efficacy of medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]