The Influence of Biological Sex, Previous Experience, and Preparation Time on Classroom Public Speaking Grades

How does biological sex affect public speaking grades? Students completed journal entries over the course of the semester. Hierarchical multiple regression incrementally examined competency measures (previous experience and overall preparation time) then biological sex on public speaking grade averages. Competency measures predicted higher speech grade averages, but women still earned higher speech grades even after the effects of competency had been removed. Among the explanations offered are that women may be more competent than men, a combination of competence and compliance explains women’s higher grades, or public speaking classrooms perpetuate a female competency bias

Brain Plasticity and Genetic Factors

Brain plasticity refers to changes in brain function and structure that arise in a number of contexts. One area in which brain plasticity is of considerable interest is recovery from stroke, both spontaneous and treatment-induced. A number of factors influence these poststroke brain events. The current review considers the impact of genetic factors. Polymorphisms in the human genes coding for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) have been studied in the context of plasticity and/or stroke recovery and are discussed here in detail. Several other genetic polymorphisms are indirectly involved in stroke recovery through their modulating influences on processes such as depression and pharmacotherapy effects. Finally, new genetic polymorphisms that have not been studied in the context of stroke are proposed as new directions for study. A better understanding of genetic influences on recovery and response to therapy might allow improved treatment after stroke

Competent Public Speaking: Assessing Skill Development in the Basic Course

Effective public speaking skills are essential for a successful life. The authors provide an overall assessment of the basic public speaking course by examining fifteen student attributes divided into three categories (course engagement characteristics, dispositions, and demographics) hypothesized to affect learning and public speaking skill development in the basic course. A four-step hierarchical multiple regression tested two research questions (N = 709). Course engagement characteristics improved students’ public-speaking grade averages, but dispositions did not. The effects of demographic characteristics, particularly biological sex, were not eliminated after controlling for course engagement and dispositional factors (twelve variables). Implications and limitations of the study are addressed

Impact of direct disk-diffusion testing on time to optimal antibiotic therapy

We evaluated the impact of preliminary blood-culture antibiotic susceptibility testing on time to optimal antibiotic therapy in a cohort of 503 patients with monomicrobial bloodstream infections. The median time from blood-culture collection to optimal antibiotics was 17 hours earlier in the preliminary antibiotic susceptibility testing group

ETL-0254, Terrain analysis procedural guide for soil, February 1981

This report is one in a series of terrain analysis procedural guides being developed in support of the Topographic Support System (TSS). It was written specifically for a U.S. Army terrain analyst and presents the step-by- step methods needed for extraction, reducing, and recording soil information on a factor overlay and supporting data table. It is a contribution to the Department of Defense terrain intelligence effort. The report contains a detailed bibliography and a lengthy glossary

ETL-0254, Terrain analysis procedural guide for soil, February 1981

This report is one in a series of terrain analysis procedural guides being developed in support of the Topographic Support System (TSS). It was written specifically for a U.S. Army terrain analyst and presents the step-by- step methods needed for extraction, reducing, and recording soil information on a factor overlay and supporting data table. It is a contribution to the Department of Defense terrain intelligence effort. The report contains a detailed bibliography and a lengthy glossary

Pathogenesis of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in sheep

The pathogenesis of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in sheep was studied by immunohistochemical detection of scrapie-associated prion protein (PrPSc) in the gastrointestinal, lymphoid and neural tissues following oral inoculation with BSE brain homogenate. First accumulation of PrPSc was detected after 6 months in the tonsil and the ileal Peyer’s patches. At 9 months postinfection, PrPSc accumulation involved all gut-associated lymphoid tissues and lymph nodes as well as the spleen. At this time point, PrPSc accumulation in the peripheral neural tissues was first seen in the enteric nervous system of the caudal jejunum and ileum and in the coeliac-mesenteric ganglion. In the central nervous system, PrPSc was first detected in the dorsal motor nucleus of the nervus Vagus in the medulla oblongata and in the intermediolateral column in the spinal cord segments T7–L1. At subsequent time points, PrPSc was seen to spread within the lymphoid system to also involve all non-gut-associated lymphoid tissues. In the enteric nervous system, further spread of PrPSc involved the neural plexi along the entire gastrointestinal tract and in the CNS the complete neuraxis. These findings indicate a spread of the BSE agent in sheep from the enteric nervous system through parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves to the medulla oblongata and the spinal cord

Enhanced Protective Efficacy of a Chimeric Form of the Schistosomiasis Vaccine Antigen Sm-TSP-2

The large extracellular loop of the Schistosoma mansoni tetraspanin, Sm-TSP-2, when fused to a thioredoxin partner and formulated with Freund's adjuvants, has been shown to be an efficacious vaccine against murine schistosomiasis. Moreover, Sm-TSP-2 is uniquely recognised by IgG1 and IgG3 from putatively resistant individuals resident in S. mansoni endemic areas in Brazil. In the present study, we expressed Sm-TSP-2 at high yield and in soluble form in E. coli without the need for a solubility enhancing fusion partner. We also expressed in E. coli a chimera called Sm-TSP-2/5B, which consisted of Sm-TSP-2 fused to the immunogenic 5B region of the hookworm aspartic protease and vaccine antigen, Na-APR-1. Sm-TSP-2 formulated with alum/CpG showed significant reductions in adult worm and liver egg burdens in two separate murine schistosomiasis challenge studies. Sm-TSP-2/5B afforded significantly greater protection than Sm-TSP-2 alone when both antigens were formulated with alum/CpG. The enhanced protection obtained with the chimeric fusion protein was associated with increased production of anti-Sm-TSP-2 antibodies and IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-γ from spleen cells of vaccinated animals. Sera from 666 individuals from Brazil who were infected with S. mansoni were screened for potentially deleterious IgE responses to Sm-TSP-2. Anti-Sm-TSP-2 IgE to this protein was not detected (also shown previously for Na-APR-1), suggesting that the chimeric antigen Sm-TSP-2/5B could be used to safely and effectively vaccinate people in areas where schistosomes and hookworms are endemic

Methodology of AA CRASH: a prospective observational study evaluating the incidence and pathogenesis of adverse post-traumatic sequelae in African-Americans experiencing motor vehicle collision: Table 1

A motor vehicle collision (MVC) is one of the most common life-threatening events experienced by individuals living in the USA. While most individuals recover following MVC, a significant proportion of individuals develop adverse post-traumatic sequelae such as post-traumatic stress disorder or persistent musculoskeletal pain. Adverse post-traumatic sequelae are common, morbid and costly public health problems in the USA and other industrialised countries. The pathogenesis of these disorders following MVC remains poorly understood. In the USA, available data suggest that African-Americans experience an increased burden of adverse post-traumatic sequelae after MVC compared to European Americans, but to date no studies examining the pathogenesis of these disorders among African-Americans experiencing MVC have been performed