The Black Death and the Future of the Plague

This essay summarizes what we know about the spread of Yersinia pestis today, assesses the potential risks of tomorrow, and suggests avenues for future collaboration among scientists and humanists. Plague is both a re-emerging infectious disease and a developed biological weapon, and it can be found in enzootic foci on every inhabited continent except Australia. Studies of the Black Death and successive epidemics can help us to prepare for and mitigate future outbreaks (and other pandemics) because analysis of medieval plagues provides a crucial context for modern scientific discoveries and theories. These studies prevent us from stopping at easy answers, and they force us to acknowledge that there is still much that we do not understand

“I Don’t Know the Secret Handshake”: Making Social Class Visible in a Learning Context

This phenomenological study focused on the lived experience of being a mature adult pursuing a doctoral degree and having a working class background. Findings illuminate the persistent influence of social class on educational experience and the implications for adult education

Examination of the Hepatic and Renal Toxicity from Concurrent Oral Exposure to Chloroform and Trichloroethylene

Increased hepatic and renal toxicity occurs following concurrent exposure to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and trichloroethylene (TCE) relative to that seen from each chemical alone. Consequently, the interaction of TCE and chloroform (CHCl3), a close structural analogue of CCl4, was examined. Adult male F-344 rats were gavaged with 0, 0.5 or 1.0 ml CHCl3/kg, 0 or 1.0 ml TCE/kg or their factorial combinations in corn oil. Urine was collected at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hrs, and hepatotoxicity was assessed at 24 and 48 hrs. To examine the influence of gavage vehicle, additional rats were gavaged with 0, 0.5 or 1.0 ml CHCl3/kg, 0 or 1.0 ml TCE/kg or their factorial combinations in an aqueous vehicle (10% Emulphor 620). Urine was collected at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hrs, and hepatotoxicity was assessed at 24 and 48 hrs. CHCl3 alone caused hepatic and renal toxicity. At 48 hours post dosing, serum AST and LDH were observed to increase 88-146 fold and 45-48 fold, respectively, when CHCl3 was administered in corn oil. Increases in AST and LDH were significant when CHCl3 was administered in the aqueous solution; however, elevations were no more than 3-fold for either enzyme. Vehicle differences were also observed in increases of ALT and bile acids. Both were significantly elevated when administered in oil compared to the aqueous vehicle. Peak hepatotoxicity was observed to be 48 hours when CHCl3 was administered in oil whereas in the aqueous vehicle, 24 is greater or equal to 48 hours, based on elevations in ALT and bile acids. CHCl3 appeared to be more nephrotoxic when administered in the oil vehicle compared to the aqueous. Histopathological lesions (both renal tubule degeneration and renal tubule necrosis) were more severe in the groups receiving CHCl3 in oil compared to the aqueous vehicle. In contrast to CHCl3, TCE alone was not overtly toxic to either organ. Concurrent exposure to both CHCl3 and TCE produced significantly less toxicity relative to CHCl3 alone. This was observed in serum enzymes at 24 and 48 hours and in urinary enzymes at 36 and 48 hours. Additionally, histological lesions were consistently less severe when CHCl3 was administered in the presence of TCE compared to CHCl3 alone. In conclusion, hepatic and renal toxicity were observed following CHCl3 exposure and no effects were observed from TCE alone. CHCl3 was significantly more acutely hepatotoxic when administered in an oil than in an aqueous vehicle. Relative to CHCl3 alone, serum and urinary indicators were significantly decreased following concurrent administration of CHCl3 and TCE which appeared to be independent of the dosing vehicle.Master of Science in Public Healt

Características clínicas e desfechos de casos incidentes de COVID-19 em adultos não vacinados com fibrose cística no sul do Brasil : estudo prospectivo de coorte realizado durante o primeiro ano da pandemia de COVID-19

Objective: There is still limited information on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with COVID-19 in Brazil. The objective of this study was to describe the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 in CF patients, as well as their clinical characteristics and outcomes. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study involving unvaccinated adult CF patients and conducted during the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the city of Porto Alegre, in southern Brazil. The clinical course of the disease was rated on the WHO Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement. The primary outcome was the number of incident cases of COVID-19. Results: Between April 30, 2020 and April 29, 2021, 98 CF patients were included in the study. Seventeen patients were diagnosed with COVID-19. For the CF patients, the annual cumulative incidence of COVID-19 was 17.3%, similar to that for the general population, adjusted for age (18.5%). The most common symptoms at diagnosis of COVID-19 were cough (in 59%), dyspnea (in 53%), fatigue (in 53%), and fever (in 47%). Only 6 (35%) of the patients required hospitalization, and 3 (17.6%) required oxygen support. Only 1 patient required mechanical ventilation, having subsequently died. Conclusions: During the first year of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in southern Brazil, the cumulative incidence rate of COVID-19 was similar between CF patients and the general population. More than 50% of the CF patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection had a mild clinical presentation, without the need for hospital admission, and almost the entire sample recovered completely from the infection, the exception being 1 patient who had advanced lung disease and who died.Objetivo: Ainda não há informações suficientes sobre as características clínicas e desfechos de pacientes com fibrose cística (FC) e COVID-19 no Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a incidência cumulativa de COVID-19 em pacientes com FC, bem como suas características clínicas e desfechos. Métodos: Estudo prospectivo de coorte com adultos com FC não vacinados, realizado na cidade de Porto Alegre, no sul do Brasil, durante o primeiro ano da pandemia de SARS-CoV-2. A evolução clínica da COVID-19 foi avaliada por meio da WHO Ordinal Scale for Clinical Improvement (escala ordinal de evolução clínica, elaborada pela OMS). O desfecho primário foi o número de casos incidentes de COVID-19. Resultados: Entre 30 de abril de 2020 e 29 de abril de 2021, 98 pacientes com FC foram incluídos no estudo. Dezessete pacientes receberam diagnóstico de COVID-19. Nos pacientes com FC, a incidência cumulativa anual de COVID-19 foi de 17,3%, semelhante à observada na população geral, ajustada pela idade (18,5%). Os sintomas mais comuns no momento do diagnóstico de COVID-19 foram tosse (em 59%), dispneia (em 53%), fadiga (em 53%) e febre (em 47%). Apenas 6 (35%) dos pacientes necessitaram de hospitalização, e 3 (17,6%) necessitaram de suporte de oxigênio. Apenas 1 paciente necessitou de ventilação mecânica e, posteriormente, morreu. Conclusões: Durante o primeiro ano da pandemia de SARS-CoV-2 no sul do Brasil, a taxa de incidência cumulativa de COVID-19 foi semelhante nos pacientes com FC e na população geral. Mais de 50% dos pacientes com FC e infecção por SARS-CoV-2 apresentaram manifestações clínicas leves, sem necessidade de internação hospitalar, e quase toda a amostra se recuperou completamente da infecção, à exceção de 1 paciente, que apresentava doença pulmonar avançada e morreu

Spitzer Imaging of i'-drop Galaxies: Old Stars at z~6

We present new evidence for mature stellar populations with ages >100Myr in massive galaxies (M_stellar>10^10M_sun) seen at a time when the Universe was less than 1Gyr old. We analyse the prominent detections of two z~6 star-forming galaxies (SBM03#1 & #3) made at wavelengths corresponding to the rest-frame optical using the IRAC camera onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope. We had previously identified these galaxies in HST/ACS GOODS images of Chandra Deep Field South through the "i-drop" Lyman break technique, and subsequently confirmed spectroscopically with the Keck telescope. The new Spitzer photometry reveals significant Balmer/4000Ang discontinuities, indicative of dominant stellar populations with ages >100Myr. Fitting a range of population synthesis models (for normal initial mass functions) to the HST/Spitzer photometry yields ages of 250-650Myr and implied formation redshifts z~7.5-13.5 in presently-accepted world models. Remarkably, our sources have best-fit stellar masses of 1.3-3.8x10^10M_sun (95% confidence) assuming a Salpeter initial mass function. This indicates that at least some galaxies with stellar masses >20% of those of a present-day L* galaxy had already assembled within the first Gyr after the Big Bang. We also deduce that the past average star formation rate must be comparable to the current observed rate (SFR_UV~5-30M_sun/yr), suggesting that there may have been more vigorous episodes of star formation in such systems at higher redshifts. Although a small sample, limited primarily by Spitzer's detection efficiency, our result lends support to the hypothesis advocated in our earlier analyses of the Ultra Deep Field and GOODS HST/ACS data. The presence of established systems at z~6 suggests long-lived sources at earlier epochs (z>7) played a key role in reionizing the Universe.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS (minor corrections made

Diagnostic utility of small fiber analysis in skin biopsies from children with chronic pain

Introduction Small fiber neuropathies (SFN) are associated with a reduction in quality of life. In adults, epidermal nerve fiber density (END) analysis is recommended for the diagnosis of SFN. In children, END assessment is not often performed. We analyzed small nerve fiber innervation to elucidate the potential diagnostic role of skin biopsies in young patients with pain. Methods Epidermal nerve fiber density and sudomotor neurite density (SND) were assessed in skin biopsies from 26 patients aged 7 to 20 years (15 female patients) with unexplained chronic pain. The results were compared with clinical data. Results Epidermal nerve fiber density was abnormal in 50% and borderline in 35% of patients. An underlying medical condition was found in 42% of patients, including metabolic, autoimmune, and genetic disorders. Discussion Reduction of epidermal nerve fibers can be associated with treatable conditions. Therefore, the analysis of END in children with pain may help to uncover a possible cause and guide potential treatment options

Machine Learning in Nuclear Physics

Advances in machine learning methods provide tools that have broad applicability in scientific research. These techniques are being applied across the diversity of nuclear physics research topics, leading to advances that will facilitate scientific discoveries and societal applications. This Review gives a snapshot of nuclear physics research which has been transformed by machine learning techniques.Comment: Comments are welcom

The Oak 1989

Glassboro State College yearbook for the Class of 1989. 248 pages. Contents: GSC Student Life p. 1, Seniors p. 18, Clubs and Organizations p. 76, Sports p. 113, Campus Life p. 140, Faculty p. 154, Oak Staff p. 238.https://rdw.rowan.edu/yearbooks/1049/thumbnail.jp