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What are foundational competencies in educational measurement? We published a framework for these foundational competencies in this journal (Ackerman et al. 2024) and were grateful to receive eight commentaries raising a number of important questions about the framework and its implications. We identified five cross‐cutting recommendations among the eight commentaries relating to (1) our process and purpose, (2) Artificial Intelligence, (3) ethical competencies, (4) qualitative, critical, and culturally responsive commentaries, and (5) intersecting professions in, for example, classroom assessment and content development. In this rejoinder, we respond to these five recommendations and to each of the eight commentaries in turn. We hope that discussion and consensus about foundational competencies in educational measurement continue to advance in our journals and our field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the consensus of an National Council on Measurement in Education Presidential Task Force on Foundational Competencies in Educational Measurement. Foundational competencies are those that support future development of additional professional and disciplinary competencies. The authors develop a framework for foundational competencies in educational measurement, illustrate how educational measurement programs can help learners develop these competencies, and demonstrate how foundational competencies continue to develop in educational measurement professions. The framework introduces three foundational competency domains: Communication and Collaboration Competencies; Technical, Statistical, and Computational Competencies; and Educational Measurement Competencies. Within the Educational Measurement Competency domain, the authors identify five subdomains: Social, Cultural, Historical, and Political Context; Validity, Validation, and Fairness; Theory and Instrumentation; Precision and Generalization; and Psychometric Modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, interest in applying Intersectionality Theory to quantitative analyses has grown. This module examines key concepts that form the foundation of Intersectionality Theory and considers challenges and opportunities these concepts present for quantitative methods. Two examples are presented to demonstrate how an intersectional approach to quantitative analyses differs from a traditional single‐axis approach. The first example employs a linear regression technique to examine the efficacy of an educational intervention and to explore whether efficacy differs among subgroups of students. The second example compares findings when a differential item function analysis is conducted in a single‐axis manner versus an intersectional lens. The module ends by exploring key considerations analysts and psychometricians encounter when applying Intersectionality Theory to a quantitative analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcohol‐induced blackouts (AIBs) are common in college students. Individuals with AIBs also experience acute and chronic alcohol‐related consequences. Research suggests that how students drink is an important predictor of AIBs. We used transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) sensors to measure biomarkers of increasing alcohol intoxication (rise rate, peak, and rise duration) in a sample of college students. We hypothesized that the TAC biomarkers would be positively associated with AIBs. Methods: Students were eligible to participate if they were aged 18–22 years, in their second or third year of college, reported drinking 4+ drinks on a typical Friday or Saturday, experienced ≥1 AIB in the past semester, owned an iPhone, and were willing to wear a sensor for 3 days each weekend. Students (N = 79, 55.7% female, 86.1% White, Mage = 20.1) wore TAC sensors and completed daily diaries over four consecutive weekends (89.9% completion rate). AIBs were assessed using the Alcohol‐Induced Blackout Measure‐2. Logistic multilevel models were conducted to test for main effects. Results: Days with faster TAC rise rates (OR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.56, 5.90), higher peak TACs (OR = 2.93, 95% CI: 1.64, 7.11), and longer rise TAC durations (OR = 4.16, 95% CI: 2.08, 10.62) were associated with greater odds of experiencing an AIB. Conclusions: In a sample of "risky" drinking college students, three TAC drinking features identified as being related to rising intoxication independently predicted the risk for daily AIBs. Our findings suggest that considering how an individual drinks (assessed using TAC biomarkers), rather than quantity alone, is important for assessing risk and has implications for efforts to reduce risk. Not only is speed of intoxication important for predicting AIBs, but the height of the peak intoxication and the time spent reaching the peak are important predictors, each with different implications for prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcohol‐induced blackouts (AIBs) are experienced frequently by college student drinkers and are more likely to occur on days with high‐intensity drinking (HID; 8+ for females/10+ for males) than non‐HID days. Research suggests that AIBs are associated with experiencing other alcohol‐related consequences (ARCs), including more serious ARCs (SARCs; e.g., legal and sexual consequences), but we do not know whether individuals experience more ARCs and more SARCs on occasions when they black out than when they do not black out. This study examines the associations between AIBs and the total number of both ARCs and SARCs. Methods: Students (N = 462, 51.7% female, 87.7% White, Mage = 20.1) were assessed across 6 weekends via e‐surveys (80%–97% response rate). Multilevel models were used to test for main effects, controlling for drinking (HID or estimated blood alcohol concentration; eBAC) and sex. Results: Drinking days when an AIB was experienced were associated with more total ARCs (b = 3.54, 95% CI: 3.10, 3.99) and more SARCs (b = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.60, 0.95) per day than non‐AIB days. The more frequently a person experienced an AIB, the more total ARCs (b = 5.33, 95% CI: 4.40, 6.25) and SARCs (1.05, 95% CI: 0.80, 1.30) they reported on average. Conclusion: Alcohol‐induced blackout days were associated with higher levels of harm than non‐AIB days, even at the same levels of drinking. Interventions that focus on reducing the occurrence of AIBs and factors that contribute to them, in addition to reducing alcohol consumption, may help reduce total harm associated with drinking among college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The second law of thermodynamics leaves no doubt that life on planet Earth and its inherent substantial decrease in entropy is fundamentally based on mechanisms converting environmental free energy into the spatial and temporal order of metabolic processes. This argument holds for present life as much as it does for its very beginnings some 4 billion years ago. In this contribution, we try to strip down free energy conversion in extant life (known as "bioenergetics" to the biologists) to its basic principles with the aim to potentially retrodict the nature of the pre‐biotic precursor which drove life into existence. We demonstrate that these basic principles are deeply rooted in aqueous electrochemistry and strongly rely on inorganic redox compounds. The question of life's emergence, generally considered to fall into the realm of organic chemistry, should therefore rather be recognized as an electrochemical problem and its ultimate elucidation will need to strongly implicate the community of electrochemical scientists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Retroperitoneal sarcomas are a rare and heterogenous group of tumours. There is increasing evidence that high volume sarcoma units achieve superior outcomes than low volume units. Due to the relatively small population, New Zealand is unlikely to generate a sufficient case volume to be considered high volume. To our knowledge, no well‐established key performance indicators (KPIs) exist for retroperitoneal sarcoma surgery. In order to ensure quality standards we aim to propose KPIs which will act as a benchmark and a target for future quality improvement. Methods: Potential KPIs were generated by internal discussion within the sarcoma team, taking into consideration available guidelines and evidence. Cases treated through the unit since 2015 were audited to determine historical performance against these KPIs. Results: Eighty‐six patients with primary retroperitoneal sarcomas were identified. 69% of patients were discussed at the sarcoma MDM prior to treatment, 62% underwent preoperative core biopsy. 82% of patients were seen and treated within target timeframes set by the Ministry of Health. 53% of patients underwent surgery with a sarcoma trained surgeon. R0/R1 rate was 88%. 90‐day mortality was 4.6%. Conclusions: Surgical treatment of retroperitoneal sarcomas is complex and can be associated with significant morbidity. The proposed KPIs provide a measure of service performance and provide targets for quality improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Soft tissue sarcomas are a rare and heterogenous group of tumours. Anecdotally there seems to be an over representation of patients of Māori ethnicity presented at the Auckland Regional Sarcoma Multidisciplinary Meeting (MDM). To date no study has reported on ethnicity demographics of abdominal and retroperitoneal sarcoma in New Zealand. The aim of this study is to characterize the ethnicity distribution of patients discussed at the regional MDM. Methods: A retrospective audit was performed of patients presented at the Auckland Regional Sarcoma MDM between January 2015 and December 2020 with abdominal sarcoma. Ethnicity documentation for these patients was reviewed. Results: One hundred and twenty‐four patients with intra‐abdominal and retroperitoneal tumours were discussed at MDM with 61 proceeding for resection, of those 43 (70.5%) were primary tumours, 10 (16.4%) were recurrent tumours and 8 (13.1%) had metastatic disease. Liposarcoma made up 56 (45.2%) cases, Leiomyosarcoma 33 (26.6%), Other 35 (28.2%). Ethnicities for this group specifically were European 64 (51.6%), Māori 31 (25.0%), Pacific Peoples 17 (13.7%), Asian 6 (4.8%) and Other/unknown 3(2.4%). This was found to be statistically significantly different to the expected ethnicity distribution based on 2018 census data from North Island DHBs (χ2 = 19.55, p = 0.00), with Māori and Pacific Peoples being over‐represented and Asian patients being under‐represented. Recommendation for surgery did not appear to be related to ethnicity. Conclusion: Our descriptive data shows a higher proportion of patients of Māori ethnicity discussed through the North Island regional sarcoma MDM than we would expect comparted to ethnicity distribution in the general population. It is unclear whether this represents a true difference in incidence based on ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wearable transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC) sensors allow passive monitoring of alcohol concentration in natural settings and measurement of multiple features from drinking episodes, including peak intoxication level, speed of intoxication (absorption rate) and elimination, and duration. These passively collected features extend commonly used self‐reported drink counts and may facilitate the prediction of alcohol‐related consequences in natural settings, aiding risk stratification and prevention efforts. Method: A total of 222 young adults aged 21–29 (M age = 22.3, 64% female, 79% non‐Hispanic white, 84% undergraduates) who regularly drink heavily participated in a 5‐day study that included the ecological momentary assessment (EMA) of alcohol consumption (daily morning reports and participant‐initiated episodic EMA sequences) and the wearing of TAC sensors (SCRAM‐CAM anklets). The analytic sample contained 218 participants and 1274 days (including 554 self‐reported drinking days). Five features—area under the curve (AUC), peak TAC, rise rate (rate of absorption), fall rate (rate of elimination), and duration—were extracted from TAC‐positive trajectories for each drinking day. Day‐ and person‐level associations of TAC features with drink counts (morning and episodic EMA) and alcohol‐related consequences were tested using multilevel modeling. Results: TAC features were strongly associated with morning drink reports (r = 0.6–0.7) but only moderately associated with episodic EMA drink counts (r = 0.3–0.5) at both day and person levels. Higher peaks, larger AUCs, faster rise rates, and faster fall rates were significantly predictive of day‐level alcohol‐related consequences after adjusting for both morning and episodic EMA drink counts in separate models. Person means of TAC features added little above daily scores to the prediction of alcohol‐related consequences. Conclusions: These results support the utility of TAC sensors in studies of alcohol misuse among young adults in natural settings and outline the specific TAC features that contribute to the day‐level prediction of alcohol‐related consequences. TAC sensors provide a passive option for obtaining valid and unique information predictive of drinking risk in natural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A population‐representative sample of young adolescents (N = 2,104, mean age 12.4) reported on digital technology use and relationships in 2015. A subsample (N = 388) completed a 14‐day ecological momentary assessment in 2016–2017 via mobile phone. Across the 2,104 adolescents, those who reported more social networking site engagement were more likely to live in families characterized by more family chaos and to report that their online experiences resulted in problems with their parents. However, when the subsample of adolescents was followed daily, there was little consistent evidence that adolescents' quantity of daily digital technology use detracted from the amount of time they spend interacting with close others (including parents) nor that adolescent daily technology use was associated with more negative or less positive parent–adolescent interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Enhancements in mobile phone technology allow the study of children and adolescents' everyday lives like never before. Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) uses these advancements to allow in‐depth measurements of links between context, behavior, and physiology in youths' everyday lives. Findings: A large and diverse literature now exists on using EMA to study mental and behavioral health among youth. Modern EMA methods are built on a rich tradition of idiographic inquiry focused on the intensive study of individuals. Studies of child and adolescent mental and behavioral health have used EMA to characterize lived experience, document naturalistic within‐person processes and individual differences in these processes, measure familiar constructs in novel ways, and examine temporal order and dynamics in youths' everyday lives. Conclusions: Ecological momentary assessment is feasible and reliable for studying the daily lives of youth. EMA can inform the development and augmentation of traditional and momentary intervention. Continued research and technological development in mobile intervention design and implementation, EMA‐sensor integration, and complex real‐time data analysis are needed to realize the potential of just‐in‐time adaptive intervention, which may allow researchers to reach high‐risk youth with intervention content when and where it is needed most. Read the Commentary on this article at doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13216 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents' subjective social status (SSS) is associated with mental and behavioral health outcomes, independent of socioeconomic status (SES). Many previous findings, however, come from cross‐sectional studies. We report results from a longitudinal study with 151 adolescents identified as at risk for early substance use and behavioral problems sampled from low‐SES neighborhoods. We examined whether adolescent's SSS predicted mental health (depression, anxiety, and inattention/impulsivity) measured over 30 days via ecological momentary assessment and risk for substance use at an 18‐month follow‐up. Results showed that with each perceived step "up" the SSS ladder, adolescents experienced fewer mental health symptoms in daily life and lower future substance use risk after adjusting for objective SES and previous psychopathology. Implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ambulatory assessment (AA) offers one of the most exciting approaches for opening the dynamic "black box" of adolescents' daily lives. In this introduction, we spotlight AA's surprisingly restricted market share within adolescent scholarship. We describe thorny challenges these intense methods can pose when conducting adolescent research "in situ" and underscore that capturing quality AA data means placing adolescents' developmental stage at the forefront. The novel research reported in this special section speaks to these challenges and underscores the promise of AA for conducting developmentally salient science. The nine articles included in the section span multiple disciplines (Sociology, Psychology, Public Health) and reflect diverse viewpoints, approaches, and theories. All provide multiple novel best‐practice strategies for conducting AA scholarship with adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercially available wearable devices are marketed as a means of objectively capturing daily sleep easily and inexpensively outside of the laboratory. Two ecological momentary assessment studies—with 120 older adolescents (aged 18–19) and 395 younger adolescents (aged 10–16)—captured nightly self‐reported and wearable (Jawbone) recorded sleep duration. Self‐reported and wearable recorded daily sleep duration were moderately correlated (r ~ .50), associations which were stronger on weekdays and among young adolescent boys. Older adolescents self‐reported sleep duration closely corresponded with estimates from the wearable device, but younger adolescents reported having an hour more of sleep, on average, compared to device estimates. Self‐reported, but not wearable‐recorded, sleep duration and quality were consistently associated with daily well‐being measures. Suggestions for the integration of commercially available wearable devices into future daily research with adolescents are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies have shown that parents have a significant influence on emerging adult college students' drinking during the first year of college. Limited research has been conducted to address the question of whether parenting later in college continues to matter in a similar manner. The current study utilized a prospective design to identify associations between parental permissiveness toward alcohol use and monitoring behaviors and student drinking outcomes during the first and fourth years of college. Methods: Participants (N = 1,429) at 3 large public universities completed surveys during the fall semesters of their first (T1) and fourth years (T2) (84.3% retention). The study employed a saturated autoregressive cross‐lag model to examine associations between parental permissiveness of college student alcohol use, parental monitoring, student drinking, and consequences at T1 and T2, controlling for peer norms, sex, and campus. Results: Examination of the association between parenting and student drinking outcomes revealed: (i) parental permissiveness was positively associated with drinking at T1 and again at T2; (ii) parental permissiveness had indirect effects on consequences via the effects on drinking at both times. Specifically, a 1‐unit increase in parental permissiveness at T1 resulted in students experiencing 4 to 5 more consequences as a result of their drinking; (iii) parental permissiveness was not directly associated with monitoring at T1 or T2; and (iv) parental monitoring was significantly associated with drinking at T1 but not T2. Conclusions: The findings provide evidence for the continued importance of parenting in the fourth year of college and parents expressing low permissiveness toward student drinking may be beneficial to reducing risky drinking even as students turn 21. The study examined associations between parental permissiveness toward alcohol use and monitoring behaviors and student drinking outcomes during the first and fourth years of college. Consistent with previous work, both parental behaviors were associated with student drinking early in college. However, findings demonstrated the continued importance of parental permissiveness in the fourth year of college. Specifically, students with less permissive parents reported less drinking and fewer consequences even after turning 21. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We argued in Part 1 of this series that because all living systems are extremely far‐from‐equilibrium dynamic confections of matter, they must necessarily be driven to that state by the conversion of chemically specific external disequilibria into specific internal disequilibria. Such conversions require task‐specific macromolecular engines. We here argue that the same is not only true of life at its emergence; it is the enabling cause of that emergence; although here the external driving disequilibria, and the conversion engines needed must have been abiotic. We argue further that the initial step in life's emergence can only create an extremely simple non‐equilibrium “seed” from which all the complexity of life must then develop. We assert that this complexity develops incrementally and progressively, each step tested for value added “in flight.” And we make the case that only the submarine alkaline hydrothermal vent (AHV) model has the potential to satisfy these requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents are spending an unprecedented amount of time using digital technologies (especially mobile technologies), and there are concerns that adolescents' constant connectivity is associated with poor mental health, particularly among at-risk adolescents. Participants included 151 adolescents at risk for mental health problems (Mage  = 13.1) who completed a baseline assessment, 30-day ecological momentary assessment, and 18 month follow-up assessment. Results from multilevel regression models showed that daily reports of both time spent using digital technologies and the number of text messages sent were associated with increased same-day attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder (CD) symptoms. Adolescents' reported digital technology usage and text messaging across the ecological momentary assessment (EMA) period was also associated with poorer self-regulation and increases in conduct problem symptoms between the baseline and follow-up assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Young people exposed to violence are at increased risk for mental health and behavioral problems. However, very little is known about the immediate, or same-day, associations between violence exposure and adolescents' mental health symptoms or whether daily symptom or behavioral reactivity marks future problems. Methods Young adolescents were assessed three times a day for 30 consecutive days using mobile-phone-based Ecological Momentary Assessment ( EMA) ( N = 151 adolescents). Over 12,500 assessments and 4,329 person days were obtained via the EMA. Adolescents were recruited from low-income neighborhoods based on parent-reported risk for externalizing symptoms. Mental health symptoms were assessed via parent and child report at baseline, multiple times per day via EMA assessments of the adolescents, and again 18 months later when 93% of the adolescents were reinterviewed. Results Results from multilevel models illustrated that young adolescents were more likely to experience symptoms of anger ( OR = 1.74, CI: 1.31-2.30), depression ( OR = 1.66, CI: 1.26-2.19), and conduct problems ( OR = 2.63, CI: 1.71-4.04) on days that they were exposed versus not exposed to violence. Increases in depressive symptoms were also observed on days following violence exposure ( OR = 1.46, CI: 1.09-1.97). Adolescents with the highest levels of violence exposure across the 30-day EMA were less behaviorally reactive to violence exposures in daily life, and heightened behavioral reactivity predicted increased risk for substance use across early adolescence. Conclusions Findings support the need to focus on both the immediate and long-term associations between violence exposure and adolescents' mental health and behavior. Results also suggest that heightened behavioral reactivity during early adolescence may signal emerging substance use problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the submarine alkaline vent model to explain the emergence of life derives from taking the thermodynamic nature of living systems properly. Topics discussed include Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung (AHV) theory conciliant with them both ontogenetically and mechanistically; hydrolysis of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in thermodynamics; and factors affecting equilibrium of life.

The article presents a case study of a 77-year-old man with a history of progressive dysphagia with weight loss, then was diagnosed with oesophageal adenocarcinoma associated with right-sided aortic arch (RAA). Topics mention including the computer tomography imaging, performing echocardiogram and underwent oesophagectomy.

We examine the electrochemical gradients that form across chemical garden membranes and investigate how self-assembling, out-of-equilibrium inorganic precipitates-mimicking in some ways those generated in far-from-equilibrium natural systems-can generate electrochemical energy. Measurements of electrical potential and current were made across membranes precipitated both by injection and solution interface methods in iron-sulfide and iron-hydroxide reaction systems. The battery-like nature of chemical gardens was demonstrated by linking multiple experiments in series which produced sufficient electrical energy to light an external light-emitting diode (LED). This work paves the way for determining relevant properties of geological precipitates that may have played a role in hydrothermal redox chemistry at the origin of life, and materials applications that utilize the electrochemical properties of self-organizing chemical systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses presented here are secondary data analyses of the Use, Support and Effect of Instructional Technology study aimed at identifying predictors of teacher-directed student use of technology (TDS) in elementary classrooms. Using data from a convenience sample of 1040 teachers nested within 81 schools in 21 Massachusetts' school districts, researchers developed a teacher-level structural equation modeling for TDS depicting relationships between and among factors associated with TDS. Researchers relied on diffusion and adoption theories as well as prior empirical evidence to specify the hypothetical model. Evidence presented here suggests that the strongest predictors of TDS are as follows: (1) teachers' experience with technology, (2) belief that technology is beneficial to meet instructional goals, (3) perceived importance of technology for teaching and that (4) experiencing obstacles with the integration of technology appears to be one deterrent to teachers using technology in the classroom. The most important finding reported here is that two of the most important factors in increasing TDS are teachers' beliefs about the benefits of technology and perceived importance of technology for teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the process of energy conservation through electron bifurcation. An explanation of the start of redox reactions, Peter Mitchell's Q-cycle and the bifurcation principle are given. Required conditions to conserve energy include the presence of the redox compound in its two-electron regime and reaction initiated by a high potential acceptor. The role and functions of quinones and flavins, as well as molybdenum and tungsten, are discussed.

The dynamics and consequences of the varied reproductive modes of marine invertebrates is a rich and vibrant field of inquiry for ecological and evolutionary studies. One mode of reproduction that is not as well-studied as others is 'spermcasting' or 'spermcast mating,' when males broadcast sperm and females retain eggs and brood developing embryonic stages. This type of reproduction occurs in two small (maximum adult shell length ~5-6 mm) venerid bivalves, N utricola confusa and N . tantilla, that live in protected bays of the temperate eastern Pacific. Females of these species brood developing embryos in chambers formed by the inner demibranchs, and release fully formed juveniles. We discovered that upon exposing clams to fluvoxamine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, males release spermatozeugmata, clusters of sperm cells attached by their heads to a central core. Spermatozoa of N utricola have unusually long, needle-shaped heads that are approximately one quarter of the total length of the cell. These heads are curled and 'packaged' into the hemispherical-shaped cores of spermatozeugmata. The cores are about one-third as long as the heads, and the tails protrude out of the opposite side of the cap of the core. The spermatozeugmata display two different swimming patterns, one where the tails beat in synchrony, and the other where they do not. The size of the cores is not significantly different in the two species, but spermatozeugmata of N . tantilla have significantly longer and wider tails than those of N . confusa. Advantages to spermcasting spermatozeugmata instead of individual spermatozoa may include enhanced dispersal and increased probabilities of fertilization. One consequence of spermatozeugmata (rather than individual spermatozoa) entering female brood chambers might be lowering of the effective population size. For species like these, which lack pelagic larvae, spermatozeugmata could increase dispersal and gene flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Methyl eugenol is a naturally occurring flavour and fragrance found in a variety of different food sources, including spices, herbs and fruit and also as a component of natural essential oils. Commonly used oils with more than 0.1% of methyl eugenol include calamus, rosewood, elemi, ylang ylang, cymbopogon, star anise, lovage, verbena, nutmeg, basil, pimento, bay leaf, rose and clove. In addition there are other potential sources of exposure to methyl eugenol, including agriculture, wine consumption and ambient background in air and water. Because high doses of some allyl alkoxybenzenes have induced tumours in rats and mice, use is recommended as either restricted or, in the case of safrole, prohibited. Many reviewers and researchers present clear evidence that these restrictions are excessive, especially those who accept that carcinogenesis is a threshold phenomenon. This paper describes suitable gas chromatographic methods for the determination of trace amounts of methyl eugenol in the essential oil of tea tree, Melaleuca alternifolia, terpinen-4-ol type. Published 'trace' amounts were interpreted as being as high as 0.3-0.9% by one regulator. Peak assignment by GC-MS and co-elution with a standard facilitated the GC-FID determination of 128 commercial samples. Inter-laboratory confirmation was achieved using GC-MS with selected ion monitoring. These determinations indicated that the methyl eugenol content of tea tree oil ranged from less than 0.01% to 0.06% (mean 0.02%), i.e. 20-fold lower than the regulator's interpretation and one million times lower than the logarithmic scale levels known to cause carcinomas in rats. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) is a widely used screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but its performance in the general population setting is unknown. The prevalence of OSA in middle-aged adults is not known in Norway. Accordingly, the aims of the current study were to evaluate the utility of the BQ for OSA screening in the general population and to estimate the prevalence of OSA in Norway. The study population consisted of 29 258 subjects (aged 30-65 years, 50% female) who received the BQ by mail. Of these, 16 302 (55.7%) responded. Five-hundred and eighteen subjects were included in the clinical sample and underwent in-hospital polysomnography. Screening properties and prevalence were estimated by a statistical model that adjusted for bias in the sampling procedure. Among the 16 302 respondents, 24.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 23.6-25.0%) were classified by the BQ to be at high-risk of having OSA. Defining OSA as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5, the positive predictive value of the BQ was estimated to be 61.3%, the negative predictive value 66.2%, the sensitivity 37.2% and the specificity 84.0%. Estimated prevalences of OSA were 16% for AHI ≥ 5 and 8% for AHI ≥ 15. In conclusion, the BQ classified one out of four middle-aged Norwegians to be at high-risk of having OSA, but the screening properties of the BQ were suboptimal. The estimated prevalence of OSA was comparable to previous estimates from general populations in the USA, Australia and Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The objective was to investigate the 3-year course of secondary chronic headaches (⩾15days per month for at least 3months) in the general population. An age and gender stratified random sample of 30,000 persons aged 30–44years from the general population received a mailed questionnaire. All with self-reported chronic headache, 517 in total, were interviewed by neurological residents. The questionnaire response rate was 71%. The rate of participation in the initial and follow-up interview was 74% (633/852) and 87% (83/95) respectively. The International Classification of Headache Disorders was used, and then in the next step the Cervicogenic Headache International Study Group and American Academy of Otolaryngology criteria were used in relation to cervicogenic headache (CEH) and headache attributed to chronic rhinosinusitis (HACRS). Of those followed-up, 40 had headache attributed to head and/or neck trauma (chronic posttraumatic headache), 0 had CEH and 0 had HACRS according to the ICHD-II criteria, while 18 had CEH according to the Cervicogenic Headache International Study Group’s criteria, and 37 had HACRS according to the criteria of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. The headache index (frequency×intensity×duration) was significantly reduced from baseline to follow-up in chronic posttraumatic headache and HACRS, but not in CEH. We conclude that secondary chronic headaches seem to have various course dependent of subtype. Recognizing the different types of secondary chronic headaches is of importance because it might have management implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

( Headache 2010;50:374-382) Objective.— Smoking has been claimed to be more common in cluster headache (CH) sufferers than in nonaffected subjects. Other demographic information such as handedness, body mass index, eye color, education, occupation, and alcohol use has been described as being different in CH patients compared with a control population. The aim of this study was to get more detailed information in CH patients with a positive family history and their nonaffected relatives, assuming that there would be demographic differences between the groups. Materials and methods.— Affected CH patients and nonaffected first- and second-degree relatives (n = 114) received a posted questionnaire. Information from 83 subjects (42 affected and 41 first- and/or second-degree relatives) from 23 families was received. P < .05 was chosen to be significant. Results.— Parental cigarette smoking during childhood and adolescence of patients and controls and current or former smoking was significantly more common in CH patients. Frequent alcohol intake (2-3 times/week or more) was significantly more common in the affected group of CH patients. There were significant differences as regards the life history of head trauma, but some of the affected had had the trauma after the age of onset of CH. Interestingly, CH patients worked more full-time than nonaffected. Conclusion.— Formerly described demographic relationships in CH regarding cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and head trauma were also seen in our CH patients and their nonaffected relatives. These findings might represent a gene environment interaction in affected CH patients or it could be personality-lifestyle-related phenomena or a combination of these mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Influenza A viruses are of major concern for public health, causing worldwide epidemics associated with high morbidity and mortality. Vaccines are critical for protection against influenza, but given the recent emergence of new strains with pandemic potential, and some limitations of the current production systems, there is a need for new approaches for vaccine development. Objective To demonstrate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of plant-produced influenza antigens. Method We engineered, using influenza A/Wyoming/3/03 (H3N2) as a model virus, the stem and globular domains of hemagglutinin (HA) produced in plants as fusions to a carrier protein and used purified antigens with and without adjuvant for ferret immunization. Results These plant-produced antigens were highly immunogenic and conferred complete protection against infection in the ferret challenge model. The addition of plant-produced neuraminidase was shown to enhance the immune response in ferrets. Conclusions Plants can be used as a production vehicle for vaccine development against influenza. Domains of HA can generate protective immune responses in ferrets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous reports have suggested that peroral delivery of antigens chemically coupled to non-toxic recombinant enterotoxin B subunits, such as the cholera toxin B subunit (CTB), induces tolerance to the antigen that may be abrogated by the toxic enzyme activity of intact enterotoxins, such as cholera toxin (CT). The aim of this study was to examine the immunogenicity of a genetically coupled protein composed of the saliva-binding region (SBR) of the Streptococcus mutans surface antigen AgI/II and the non-toxic A2 and B subunits of CT (SBR-CTA2/B) compared with that of recombinant SBR admixed with CT (SBR + CT) and SBR chemically coupled to recombinant CTB (SBR-CTB) following peroral delivery by intragastric (i.g.) immunization. The results showed that i.g. immunization with SBR-CTA2/B, like SBR + CT, induced antigen-specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and salivary IgA antibodies, and sensitized splenic T cells. Comparison studies with SBR-CTB produced serum IgG but not salivary IgA titres and failed to sensitize splenic cells. Immunization with SBR-CTA2/B via the intranasal route also primed for the recall of antigen-specific memory antibody responses 6 months later. These findings show that SBR-CTA2/B is an immunogenic, not tolerogenic, chimeric protein that can induce and recall antigen-specific memory responses upon mucosal immunization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mestecky J, Moldoveanu Z, Russell MW. Immunologic uniqueness of the genital tract: challenge for vaccine development. AJRI 2005; 53:208–214© Blackwell Munksgaard, 2005Although the genital tract is considered to be a component of the mucosal immune system, it displays several distinct features not shared by other typical mucosal tissues and external secretions. Both male and female genital tract tissues lack inductive mucosal sites analogous to intestinal Peyer's patches. Consequently, local humoral and cellular immune responses stimulated by infections [with e.g.Neisseria gonorrhoeae,Chlamydia trachomatis, papilloma virus, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1)] are weak or absent, and repeated local intravaginal immunizations result in minimal humoral responses. In contrast to typical external secretions such as intestinal fluid that contain secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) as the dominant isotype, semen and cervico-vaginal fluid contain more IgG than IgA. Furthermore, irrespective of the route of infection, humoral immune responses to HIV-1 are dominated by specific IgG and low or absent IgA antibodies in all external secretions. Because a significant proportion of IgG in genital tract secretions is derived from the circulation, systemic immunization may provide protective IgG antibody-mediated immunity in the genital tract. Furthermore, combined systemic and mucosal (oral, rectal, and especially intranasal) immunization may induce protective humoral responses in both the systemic and mucosal compartments of the immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grid-enabled portals are becoming increasingly popular as a platform for providing access to Grid services and resources. Unfortunately, much of the work done in portal development has led to vertically layered solutions that work for a particular project but are difficult to extend or reuse for other projects. The GridSphere portal framework seeks to address these limitations by providing a framework that will offer external developers a model for easily adding new functionality and hence increasing community collaboration. The GridLab portal will serve as an initial prototype to showcase the GridSphere framework and provide access to services being developed within the GridLab project. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a Grid-based collaboratory that supports the collaborative development and use of advanced simulation codes. Our implementation of this collaboratory uses a mix of Web technologies (for thin-client access) and Grid services (for secure remote access to, and management of, distributed resources). Our collaboratory enables researchers in geographically disperse locations to share and access compute, storage, and code resources, without regard to institutional boundaries. Specialized services support community code development, via specialized Grid services, such as online code repositories. We use this framework to construct the Astrophysics Simulation Collaboratory, a domain-specific collaboratory for the astrophysics simulation community. This Grid-based collaboratory enables researchers in the field of numerical relativity to study astrophysical phenomena by using the Cactus computational toolkit. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective.—To investigate the co-occurrence of migraine without aura (MWOA) and migraine with aura (MWA) in a population-based twin survey. Background.—Migraine without aura and MWA are multifactorial disorders. If MWOA and MWA share common genes, co-occurrence should be observed more frequently than expected, ie, the product of the prevalence in the general population. Material and Methods.—The study population included all living Danish monozygotic (MZ) and same-gender dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs born between 1953 and 1960: 5360 twins (2026 MZ, 3334 DZ). The sample included 2840 men and 2520 women. All received a posted questionnaire, and those with possible migraine were interviewed via telephone by trained physicians (V.U. or M.G.). Twins who did not respond to the questionnaire and who had a co-twin with possible migraine were contacted by telephone. The questionnaire response rate was 87% (4660 of 5360), and the telephone interview was participated in by 90% (2035 of 2272). The physician interviewers were unaware of questionnaire answers, zygosity, and the clinical diagnosis of the co-twin. The criteria of the International Headache Society were used to establish a diagnosis of migraine. Results.—Lifetime prevalence in the twin sample: 7% of men and 19% of women had MWOA, while 7% of men and 8% of women had MWA. Lifetime prevalence of MWA in twin pairs with MWOA: MZ men, 2% (1 of 47); MZ women, 6% (5 of 90); DZ men, 9% (7 of 75); and DZ women, 10% (19 of 182). Lifetime prevalence of MWOA in twin pairs with MWA: MZ men, 3% (1 of 33); MZ women, 5% (3 of 58); DZ men, 9% (4 of 44); and DZ women, 13% (10 of 76). The observed and the expected numbers of twins with co-occurrence of MWOA and MWA based on the prevalence in the general population were not significantly different in either men or women (men, P =.1 and women, P =.5). Conclusion.—The results strongly suggest that MWOA and MWA are distinct disorders, and identification... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the genetic influence on cause of migraine with aura (MA) by analyzing a twin population. The twin sample consisted of 2,026 monozygotic (MZ) twins and 3,334 same-sex dizygotic (DZ) twins, born from 1953 to 1960, from the population-based New Danish Twin Register. A validated questionnaire was used to screen for migraine, the response rate being 87%, and similar among MZ and DZ twins. All twin pairs with at least I twin with possible MA were interviewed by a physician experienced in headache diagnoses. The answers from the questionnaire as well as the zygosity of the twins were blinded for the interviewer. A total of 211 twin pairs were identified, of whom 77 pairs were MZ and 134 pairs were DZ. The lifetime prevalence of MA was 7% and with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.1. The pairwise concordance rates were significantly higher in MZ (34%) than in DZ twin pairs (12%), emphasizing the importance of genetic factors in MA. However, environmental factors are also important, as the pairwise concordance rate was less than 100% in MZ twin pairs. The recurrence risk of MA was 50% in MZ and 21% in DZ twin pairs. In nontwin siblings, the recurrence risk of MA is 27%, which is similar to the recurrence risk in DZ twins. This indicates that MA is not developed due to specific environmental factors shared by the twins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three oxidized analogs of cholesterol have been characterized for their ability to cause apoptotic cell death in CEM-C7-14 human leukemic cells. In addition to testing 15-ketocholestenol (K15), 15-ketocholestenol hydroxyethyl ether (CK15), and 7-ketocholesterol hydroxyethyl ether (CK7), an oxysterol of known apoptotic response, 25-hydroxycholesterol (25OHC), served as a standard for comparison. Growth studies based on dye exclusion by viable cells while using a sublethal concentration of oxysterols ranked their potency for cell kill as 25OHC>K15>CK15>CK7. Both the TUNEL assay (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-X nick end labeling), which quantifies the amount of DNA nicks caused by a toxic agent, and the MTT assay, which measures cell metabolism and thus reflects cell viability, substantiated the same rank order. An ELISA assay for evaluating release of DNA fragments into the cytosol after treatment gave a similar potency order. The oncogene c- myc mRNA was suppressed by all three oxysterols. with 25OHC and K15 being the most potent suppressors. Hoechst and Annexin V staining documented that these oxysterols kill cells by an apoptotic pathway as evidenced by condensation of nuclear chromatin and plasma membrane inversion, respectively. From these in vitro studies, we believe that 25OHC, K15, and possibly CK15 have the potential to be chemotherapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following in the wake of progress forged by nicotine chewing gum, a new generation of nicotine replacement products will soon be available as aids to giving up smoking. These range from nicotine skin patches, which take 6-8 hrs to give very flat steady-state peak blood levels, to nicotine vapour inhalers which mimic the transient high-nicotine boli that follow within a few seconds of each inhaled puff of cigarette smoke. Other products undergoing clinical trials include a nasal nicotine spray and nicotine lozenges. It is argued here that it is not so much the efficacy of new nicotine delivery systems as temporary aids to cessation, but their potential as long-term alternatives to tobacco that makes the virtual elimination of tobacco a realistic future target. Their relative safety compared with tobacco is discussed. A case is advanced for selected nicotine replacement products to be made as palatable and acceptable as possible and actively promoted on the open market to enable them to compete with tobacco products. They will also need health authority endorsement, tax advantages and support from the anti-smoking movement if tobacco use is to be gradually phased out altogether. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To demonstrate the nicotine absorption and dependence potential from unlicensed nicotine containing lozenges . Design. A single case report of dependence on nicotine lozenges, plus measurements of nicotine levels before and after consumption of eight nicotine lozenges over 2 hours in volunteers. Setting. Hospital Smokers' Clinic. Participants. One male patient suffering from schizophrenia who had consumed 150 "Stoppers" lozenges per day for the previous 5 years, plus seven non-smoker volunteers . Measurements. Blood nicotine concentration . Findings. The patient's low expired carbon monoxide level (5 p.p.m.) and high plasma nicotine (32 ng/ml) and cotinine levels (947 ng/ml) were consistent with very heavy lozenge consumption. The non-smoker volunteers obtained nicotine concentrations of around 11 ng/ml by consuming eight Stoppers lozenges over 2 hours. Other brands of nicotine lozenges produced lower initial levels, but also produced delayed intestinal absorption and vomiting after food consumption . Conclusion. Nicotine lozenges are a potential aid to smoking cessation but their safety, efficacy and abuse potential remain to be properly evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the use of transdermal nicotine patches in smoking cessation programs. Advantages and disadvantages; Health impacts; Placebo-controlled trials; Reduction of withdrawal symptoms noted by the use of patches; Prevention of smoking relapses; Patches as helpful to smokers with pre-treatment subclinical dysthymic symptoms.

The potential involvement of surface antigens (Ags) I/II and III of Streptococcus mutans in its adherence to salivary pellicle-coated tooth surfaces was investigated. The binding of radiolabelled Ag I/Il to hydroxyapatite was increased by pretreating the mineral with human parotid saliva, and binding was maintained in the continuous presence of saliva Binding of Ag III to hydroxyapatite was inhibited by pretreatment with, or in the presence of, saliva. Various aminohexoses, and also tris, inhibited the binding of Ag I/II. When Ags I/II and III were tested for their ability to bind to salivary components separated by SDS gel electrophoresis, several proteins capable of binding Ag I/Il were identified, notably 2 proteins of apparent relative molecular mass 28,000 and 38,000. Analysis of these proteins, isolated by micro-preparative electrophoresis, indicated high proportions of proline, glycine, and glutamic acid, and overall compositions similar to basic proline-rich salivary proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]