Search

Recent calls for reform in undergraduate biology education have emphasized integrating research experiences into the learning experiences of all undergraduates. Contemporary science research increasingly demands collaboration across disciplines and institutions to investigate complex research questions, providing new contexts and models for involving undergraduates in research. In this study, we examined the experiences of undergraduates participating in a multi-institution and interdisciplinary biology research network. Unlike the traditional apprenticeship model of research, in which a student participates in research under the guidance of a single faculty member, students participating in networked research have the opportunity to develop relationships with additional faculty and students working in other areas of the project, at their own and at other institutions. We examined how students in this network develop social ties and to what extent a networked research experience affords opportunities for students to develop social, cultural, and human capital. Most studies of undergraduate involvement in science research have focused on documenting student outcomes rather than elucidating how students gain access to research experiences or how elements of research participation lead to desired student outcomes. By taking a qualitative approach framed by capital theories, we have identified ways that undergraduates utilize and further develop various forms of capital important for success in science research. In our study of the first 16 months of a biology research network, we found that undergraduates drew upon a combination of human, cultural, and social capital to gain access to the network. Within their immediate research groups, students built multidimensional social ties with faculty, peers, and others, yielding social capital that can be drawn upon for information, resources, and support. They reported developing cultural capital in the form of learning to think and work like a scientist--a scientific "habitus." They reported developing human capital in the forms of technical, analytical, and communication skills in scientific research. Most of the students had little, direct interaction with network members in other research groups and thus developed little cross-institutional capital. The exception to this trend was at one institution that housed three research groups. Because proximity facilitated shared activities, students across research groups at this institution developed cross-lab ties with faculty and peers through which they developed social, cultural, and human capital. An important long-term concern is whether the capital students have developed will help them access opportunities in science beyond the network. At this point, many undergraduates have had limited opportunities to actually draw on capital beyond the network. Nevertheless, a number of students demonstrated awareness that they had developed resources that they could use in other scientific contexts.

Abstract Introduction Benzodiazepines and α2 adrenoceptor agonists exert opposing effects on innate immunity and mortality in animal models of infection. We hypothesized that sedation with dexmedetomidine (an α2 adrenoceptor agonist), as compared with lorazepam (a benzodiazepine), would provide greater improvements in clinical outcomes among septic patients than among non-septic patients. Methods In this a priori-determined subgroup analysis of septic vs non-septic patients from the MENDS double-blind randomized controlled trial, adult medical/surgical mechanically ventilated patients were randomized to receive dexmedetomidine-based or lorazepam-based sedation for up to 5 days. Delirium and other clinical outcomes were analyzed comparing sedation groups, adjusting for clinically relevant covariates as well as assessing interactions between sedation group and sepsis. Results Of the 103 patients randomized, 63 (31 dexmedetomidine; 32 lorazepam) were admitted with sepsis and 40 (21 dexmedetomidine; 19 lorazepam) without sepsis. Baseline characteristics were similar between treatment groups for both septic and non-septic patients. Compared with septic patients who received lorazepam, the dexmedetomidine septic patients had 3.2 more delirium/coma-free days (DCFD) on average (95% CI for difference, 1.1 to 4.9), 1.5 (-0.1, 2.8) more delirium-free days (DFD) and 6 (0.3, 11.1) more ventilator-free days (VFD). The beneficial effects of dexmedetomidine were more pronounced in septic patients than in non-septic patients for both DCFDs and VFDs (P-value for interaction = 0.09 and 0.02 respectively). Additionally, sedation with dexmedetomidine, compared with lorazepam, reduced the daily risk of delirium [OR, CI 0.3 (0.1, 0.7)] in both septic and non-septic patients (P-value for interaction = 0.94). Risk of dying at 28 days was reduced by 70% [hazard ratio 0.3 (0.1, 0.9)] in dexmedetomidine patients with sepsis as compared to the lorazepam patients; this reduction in death was not seen in non-septic patients (P-value for interaction = 0.11). Conclusions In this subgroup analysis, septic patients receiving dexmedetomidine had more days free of brain dysfunction and mechanical ventilation and were less likely to die than those that received a lorazepam-based sedation regimen. These results were more pronounced in septic patients than in non-septic patients. Prospective clinical studies and further preclinical mechanistic studies are needed to confirm these results. Trial Registration NCT00095251.

Background: Amyloid-related degenerative diseases are associated with the accumulation of misfolded proteins as amyloid fibrils in tissue. In Alzheimer disease (AD), amyloid accumulates in several distinct types of insoluble plaque deposits, intracellular A beta and as soluble oligomers and the relationships between these deposits and their pathological significance remains unclear. Conformation dependent antibodies have been reported that specifically recognize distinct assembly states of amyloids, including prefibrillar oligomers and fibrils. Results: We immunized rabbits with a morphologically homogeneous population of A beta 42 fibrils. The resulting immune serum (OC) specifically recognizes fibrils, but not random coil monomer or prefibrillar oligomers, indicating fibrils display a distinct conformation dependent epitope that is absent in prefibrillar oligomers. The fibril epitope is also displayed by fibrils of other types of amyloids, indicating that the epitope is a generic feature of the polypeptide backbone. The fibril specific antibody also recognizes 100,000 x G soluble fibrillar oligomers ranging in size from dimer to greater than 250 kDa on western blots. The fibrillar oligomers recognized by OC are immunologically distinct from prefibrillar oligomers recognized by A11, even though their sizes overlap broadly, indicating that size is not a reliable indicator of oligomer conformation. The immune response to prefibrillar oligomers and fibrils is not sequence specific and antisera of the same specificity are produced in response to immunization with islet amyloid polypeptide prefibrillar oligomer mimics and fibrils. The fibril specific antibodies stain all types of amyloid deposits in human AD brain. Diffuse amyloid deposits stain intensely with anti-fibril antibody although they are thioflavin S negative, suggesting that they are indeed fibrillar in conformation. OC also stains islet amyloid deposits in transgenic mouse models of type II diabetes, demonstrating its generic specificity for amyloid fibrils. Conclusion: Since the fibril specific antibodies are conformation dependent, sequence-independent, and recognize epitopes that are distinct from those present in prefibrillar oligomers, they may have broad utility for detecting and characterizing the accumulation of amyloid fibrils and fibrillar type oligomers in degenerative diseases.

Marketing a Mediterranean Diet: Some Issues and Opportunities.Farmland Values as an Indicator of Regional Economic Performance?Brand Loyalty and Gasoline Pricing in Sacramento.

OBJECTIVE: To assess and compile the current level of evidence regarding successful surgical treatment of vesicovaginal fistulae and how these perioperative interventions affect anatomic, patient-centered, and adverse outcomes. DATA SOURCES: PubMed and EMBASE were searched from inception through September 9, 2022. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: This review included comparative studies (of any sample size) and single-group studies (1,000 or more participants) of primary or recurrent vesicovaginal fistula (ie, vesicovaginal fistula, urethrovaginal fistula, and bladder neck-vaginal fistula). We evaluated preintervention assessment or management, various techniques for intraoperative management, and postoperative management. Outcomes of interest included anatomic and objective outcomes (such as successful repair, fistula closure, urinary incontinence, recurrent fistula, perioperative complications) and subjective outcomes (such as voiding symptoms and quality of life). Abstracts and full-text articles were screened in duplicate, and study descriptions and findings were extracted into standardized extraction forms. Risk of bias was assessed independently by two investigators and adjudicated by a third. Study quality was summarized with standardized tools. We conducted random-effects model and restricted maximum-likelihood meta-analy-ses of relative risks when at least three studies compared similar interventions and reported similar outcome measures. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Forty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies were categorized into 11 domains: 1) preoperative assessment, 2) preoperative and postoperative physical therapy, 3) route of surgery, 4) incorporation of a flap, 5) trimming, 6) layered closure, 7) intraoperative antibiotics, 8) fibrin glue, 9) fascial sling, 10) postoperative Foley catheter duration, and 11) quality of life. Although the strength of the data is insufficient, preoperative phenazopyridine, physical therapy, layered closure, and intraoperative antibiotics seemed to improve the rate of successful fistula repair. Route of surgery (vaginal vs abdominal laparotomy) was determined primarily by surgeon preference and showed no difference in successful fistula repair. In addition, use of interpositional flaps, trimming fistula edges, fibrin glue, and fascial sling did not show significant improvement in rates of fistula cure. Overall, quality-of-life scores improved postoperatively regardless of route of repair and use of interpositional flaps. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the limited information available to guide evidence-based treatment of vesicovaginal fistula repair. Overall, high-quality evidence is lacking to provide guidelines; therefore, expert opinion remains the primary influence for fistula repair recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction/Aims: Femoral neuropathies can cause severe, prolonged debility, yet there have been few clinical and electrodiagnostic (EDx) studies addressing this condition. The aim of this study was to better understand the etiologies, EDx features, and clinical course of femoral neuropathy. Methods: We identified patients evaluated at Mayo Clinic Rochester between January 1, 1999 and July 31, 2019, with possible new femoral neuropathy ascertained via International Classification of Diseases‐versions 9 and 10 diagnosis codes presenting within 6 months of symptom onset. Results: A retrospective review of 1084 records was performed and we ultimately identified 159 patients with isolated femoral neuropathy for inclusion. The most common femoral neuropathy etiologies were compressive (40%), perioperative stretch (35%), and inflammatory (6%). Presenting symptoms included weakness (96%), sensory loss (73%), and pain (53%). Presenting motor physical exam findings demonstrated moderate weakness (34%) or no activation (25%) of knee extension and mild (32%) or moderate (35%) weakness of hip flexion. Seventy‐two percent of patients underwent EDx testing, including 22 with femoral motor nerve conduction studies. Treatment often involved physical therapy (89%) and was otherwise etiology‐specific. In patients with follow‐up data available (n = 154), 83% had subjective clinical improvement at follow‐up with a mean time to initial improvement of 3.3 months and mean time to recovery at final follow‐up of 14.8 months. Only 48% of patients had nearly complete or complete recovery. Discussion: In our cohort, the most common etiologies of femoral neuropathy were compression or perioperative stretch with high initial morbidity. Although motor recovery is common, improvement is often prolonged and incomplete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digitisation of agriculture is underway—with advocates highlighting its potential to improve resource efficiency and reduce environmental impacts of agriculture, and critics suggesting that emerging technology will exacerbate inequalities in the food system. Drawing on five years of collaboration within an interdisciplinary sustainable agriculture project, I critically consider the limitations of on-farm research as a strategy for rendering 'real-world' farm practice into data for digital tools to guide farmer decision-making. In engagements with data science, anthropologists must use our seat at the table to practice what Helen Verran (2001) called 'generative critique' in support of responsible research and innovation. Our training in engaged yet critical participant observation, and our experience building long-term relationships within communities, makes anthropologists particularly well-suited for this role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deficits in episodic verbal memory are commonly observed in persons with HIV (PWH) disease, in whom they are characterized by dysregulation of the executive aspects of encoding and retrieval and adversely impact everyday functioning. Deficits in episodic visual memory are also apparent in PWH, but we know less about their cognitive architecture. This study used the Boston Qualitative Scoring System (BQSS) for the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) to examine visual learning and recall in 43 individuals without HIV and 141 PWH who completed a full research neuropsychological, psychiatric, and medical assessment. A mixed model covarying for education and estimated verbal IQ showed that participants with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) performed worse than PWH without neurocognitive disorders and HIV- participants at comparable medium-to-large effect sizes across the Copy, Immediate, and Delayed trials of the BQSS-ROCF, suggesting a primary encoding deficit. A component process analysis of the BQSS-ROCF Copy Trial revealed that participants with HAND had specific difficulties with configural accuracy, cluster accuracy, and cluster placement. Within the PWH sample, measures of motor coordination and executive functions emerged as independent predictors of BQSS-ROCF Copy Trial performance. Findings extend prior research by showing that HAND may be associated with a primary encoding deficit for complex visuomotor learning and memory tasks that is driven by a combination of visuospatial, motor, and executive difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]