Four Weeks in Normandy: A Reference Librarian in France

In the fall of 2016, I sent off a short email to the University of Caen-Normandy requesting an informal internship in their library over the summer. It was inconceivable that I would find something so promptly, but in June of 2017 I was there. In past years I had looked to see what opportunities were available to librarians, and short of a Fulbright program I could find very little. It was at that point that I decided to try a more DIY approach. Before becoming a reference librarian at Jacksonville State University in Alabama, I studied French. As a librarian, part of my responsibility is to oversee and collect books and resources for foreign languages. I also teach beginning level French classes as an adjunct professor, and I was looking for a way to enhance my summer vacation in a meaningful way. Savoir recevoir is an expression meaning to give a warm welcome, and it is certainly true that les Normands savent recevoir. I was overwhelmed by their generosity in letting me take part in their daily library world. However, there was one unwelcome surprise upon my arrival. Caen, which is located about 20 minutes from the coast of the English Channel, is normally cooler than the rest of France. On the day we arrived the city was in the throes of a heat wave, and without air conditioning in our apartment, I could feel every bit of 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The canicule (heatwave) persisted for the first two weeks, and I was absolutely unprepared to the extent that I had to go out and buy clothes at the fashionable big box store, E. LeClerc. Unlike anything I’d ever seen, this store sold close to twenty different brands of mineral water and flavors of yogurt, as well having an in-house fishmonger and a rather extensive selection of books

Faculty COVID-19 Reflection 11

As part of its documentation for Spring 2020 Faculty Development Workshop attendance, Faculty Commons requested that attendees share their reflections on the workshop content. Faculty were also asked to document the impact that COVID-19 and the switch to online instruction has had on their teaching and professional duties during the Spring 2020 semester

Taxonomy, Diversity, and Distribution Patterns of Portunid Crab Megalopae in the Northern Gulf of Mexico During Fall of 2003

The field of zooplankton biology contributes to more accurate stock assessments as well as to a greater understanding of the marine food web. However, adequate information for the invertebrate component of zooplankton is lacking compared to the ichthyoplankton component. In this thesis, identification of Portunidae (Crustacea: Decapoda) megalopae collected during the fall of 2003 from a NOAA SEAMAP cruise revealed 7 species and 11 morphs with 90% of the total density comprised of Callinectes sapidus, Achelous gibbesii, Callinectes similis, Achelous spinicarpus, and Achelous sp.I. Keys and detailed descriptions are provided along with photographs and morphological drawings for each morph to use for future identification. Spatially explicit maps and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (NMDS) depicted geographic distributions and community structure during the study period. Mapping of NMDS coordinates illustrated distribution patterns for four community types of portunid megalopae as mainly distinguished by the differences in relative abundances of the most dominate morphs. This showed Callinectes species were predominantly located in the western GOM while Achelous species dominated the eastern GOM. Spatial representation of station locations and assemblages at station locations was illustrated through the maps generated by Geographic Information System (GIS) software. Examination of environmental data associated with the plankton samples was accomplished via visual inspection of spatial maps to identify any clear spatial coherence and/or linkages relative to the density or presence of portunid crab larvae. Time of day of sampling and currents, including the Loop Current, had the most visible effect on larval densities and distributions

From Both Sides Now: A Recently-Hired Librarian and a Library Veteran Respond to the Loss of a Favorite Database

The recent economic downturn has disrupted libraries no less than it has other sectors, causing cutbacks in funding which have resulted in hiring freezes and layoffs, reduced operating hours and services, and smaller acquisitions budgets for both print and electronic materials. These cutbacks have been most acutely felt by library acquisitions departments and collection development librarians, but the public services areas -- especially instruction librarians -- feel the blow too and must adapt their practices to the reductions in resources. This paper details the response of two instruction librarians -- one a veteran of some two decades’ service and the other a fairly recent hire -- to the loss of a favorite database

Impacts of Upstream Drought and Water Withdrawals on the Health and Survival of Downstream Estuarine Oyster Populations

Increases in the frequency, duration, and severity of regional drought pose major threats to the health and integrity of downstream ecosystems. During 2007-2008, the U.S. southeast experienced one of the most severe droughts on record. Drought and water withdrawals in the upstream watershed led to decreased freshwater input to Apalachicola Bay, Florida, an estuary that is home to a diversity of commercially and ecologically important organisms. This study applied a combination of laboratory experiments and field observations to investigate the effects of reduced freshwater input on Apalachicola oysters. Oysters suffered significant disease-related mortality under high-salinity, drought conditions, particularly during the warm summer months. Mortality was size-specific, with large oysters of commercially harvestable size being more susceptible than small oysters. A potential salinity threshold was revealed between 17 and 25 ppt, where small oysters began to suffer mortality, and large oysters exhibited an increase in mortality. These findings have important implications for watershed management, because upstream freshwater releases could be carefully timed and allocated during stressful periods of the summer to reduce disease-related oyster mortality. Integrated, forward-looking water management is needed, particularly under future scenarios of climate change and human population growth, to sustain the valuable ecosystem services on which humans depend

Patient-reported outcomes of serum eye drops manufactured from Australian blood donations and packaged using Meise vials

IntroductionSerum eye drops (SED) are an effective treatment for dry eye syndrome. However, autologous serum collection can have challenges. Patient-tailored (allogeneic) SED (PT-SED) can be made from healthy blood donors. Australian Red Cross Lifeblood has manufactured both autologous SED (Auto-SED) and PT-SED and, in May 2021, introduced Meise vial packaging. This study aimed to explore SED patient-reported outcomes and vial packaging satisfaction.MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted with recruitment between 1 November 2021 and 30 June 2022. Participants completed the dry eye questionnaire (DEQ5), health-related quality-of-life (SF-8™), functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-treatment satisfaction-general (FACIT-TS-G), and general wellbeing surveys. Existing patients completed these once, and new patients were surveyed at baseline, 3 months post-treatment, and 6 months post-treatment.ResultsParticipants who completed all study requirements were 24 existing and 40 new Auto-SED and 10 existing and 8 new PT-SED patients. Auto-SED patients were younger [56.2 (±14.7) years] than PT-SED patients [71.4 (±10.0) years]. Participants used a mean of 1.8 (±1.1) SED, 5.3 (±2.9) times per day. In new patients, DEQ5 scores improved within 6 months from 14.0 (±2.9) to 10.6 (±3.4) for Auto-SED and from 12.9 (±3.7) to 11.4 (±2.8) for PT-SED. General wellbeing measures improved in the new Auto-SED from 7.0 (±1.9) to 7.8 (±1.7) but were reduced for new PT-SED from 6.7 (±2.9) to 6.1 (±2.9).DiscussionSED improved dry eye symptoms in most patients, regardless of the serum source. Patients using PT-SED showed decreases in some quality-of-life measures; however, recruitment was reduced due to operational constraints, and concurrent comorbidities were not assessed. General feedback for SED and vial packaging was positive, with some improvements identified

The local structure of molecular reaction intermediates at surfaces

A critical review is presented of the results of (experimental) quantitative structural studies of molecular reaction intermediates at surfaces; i.e. molecular species that do not exist naturally in the gas phase and, in most cases, are implicated in surface catalytic processes. A brief review of the main experimental methods that have contributed to this area is followed by a summary of the main results. Investigated species include: carboxylates, RCOO– (particularly formate, but also deprotonated amino acids); methoxy, CH3O–; carbonate, CO3; ethylidyne, CH3C–; NHx and SOx species; cyanide, CN. As far as possible in the limited range of systems studied, a few general trends are identified

A high fat diet increases mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and uncoupling to decrease efficiency in rat heart

Elevated levels of cardiac mitochondrial uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) and decreased cardiac efficiency (hydraulic power/oxygen consumption) with abnormal cardiac function occur in obese, diabetic mice. To determine whether cardiac mitochondrial uncoupling occurs in non-genetic obesity, we fed rats a high fat diet (55% kcal from fat) or standard laboratory chow (7% kcal from fat) for 3 weeks, after which we measured cardiac function in vivo using cine MRI, efficiency in isolated working hearts and respiration rates and ADP/O ratios in isolated interfibrillar mitochondria; also, measured were medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) and citrate synthase activities plus uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3), mitochondrial thioesterase 1 (MTE-1), adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT) and ATP synthase protein levels. We found that in vivo cardiac function was the same for all rats, yet oxygen consumption was 19% higher in high fat-fed rat hearts, therefore, efficiency was 21% lower than in controls. We found that mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation rates were 25% higher, and MCAD activity was 23% higher, in hearts from rats fed the high fat diet when compared with controls. Mitochondria from high fat-fed rat hearts had lower ADP/O ratios than controls, indicating increased respiratory uncoupling, which was ameliorated by GDP, a UCP3 inhibitor. Mitochondrial UCP3 and MTE-1 levels were both increased by 20% in high fat-fed rat hearts when compared with controls, with no significant change in ATP synthase or ANT levels, or citrate synthase activity. We conclude that increased cardiac oxygen utilisation, and thereby decreased cardiac efficiency, occurs in non-genetic obesity, which is associated with increased mitochondrial uncoupling due to elevated UCP3 and MTE-1 levels

The efficacy of antihypertensiye drugs in chronic intermittent hypoxia conditions

The authors would like to thank the Portuguese Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) and CEDOC (Chronic Diseases Research Centre, Lisbon, Portugal). Lucilia N. Diogo is supported by an FCT fellowship (SFRH/BD/48335/2008; PTDC/SAU-TOX/112264/2009).Sleep apnea/hypopnea disorders include centrally originated diseases and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This last condition is renowned as a frequent secondary cause of hypertension (HT). The mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of HT can be summarized in relation to two main pathways: sympathetic nervous system stimulation mediated mainly by activation of carotid body (CB) chemoreflexes and/or asphyxia, and, by no means the least important, the systemic effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). The use of animal models has revealed that CIH is the critical stimulus underlying sympathetic activity and hypertension, and that this effect requires the presence of functional arterial chemoreceptors, which are hyperactive in CIH. These models of CIH mimic the HT observed in humans and allow the study of CIH independently without the mechanical obstruction component. The effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CRAP), the gold standard treatment for OSA patients, to reduce blood pressure seems to be modest and concomitant antihypertensive therapy is still required. We focus this review on the efficacy of pharmacological interventions to revert HT associated with CIH conditions in both animal models and humans. First, we explore the experimental animal models, developed to mimic HT related to CIH, which have been used to investigate the effect of antihypertensive drugs (AHDs). Second, we review what is known about drug efficacy to reverse HT induced by CIH in animals. Moreover, findings in humans with OSA are cited to demonstrate the lack of strong evidence for the establishment of a first-line antihypertensive regimen for these patients. Indeed, specific therapeutic guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of HT in these patients are still lacking. Finally, we discuss the future perspectives concerning the non-pharmacological and pharmacological management of this particular type of HT.publishersversionpublishe

Dimethyl fumarate in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) inhibits inflammasome-mediated inflammation and has been proposed as a treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID-19. This randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing multiple treatments in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 (NCT04381936, ISRCTN50189673). In this assessment of DMF performed at 27 UK hospitals, adults were randomly allocated (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus DMF. The primary outcome was clinical status on day 5 measured on a seven-point ordinal scale. Secondary outcomes were time to sustained improvement in clinical status, time to discharge, day 5 peripheral blood oxygenation, day 5 C-reactive protein, and improvement in day 10 clinical status. Between 2 March 2021 and 18 November 2021, 713 patients were enroled in the DMF evaluation, of whom 356 were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus DMF, and 357 to usual care alone. 95% of patients received corticosteroids as part of routine care. There was no evidence of a beneficial effect of DMF on clinical status at day 5 (common odds ratio of unfavourable outcome 1.12; 95% CI 0.86-1.47; p = 0.40). There was no significant effect of DMF on any secondary outcome