Evaluation of a New Adolescent Social Communication Assessment: The Transition Pragmatics Interview.

Purpose: This study evaluated the psychometric functioning of a new criterion-referenced assessment of adolescent social communication, the Transition Pragmatics Interview (TPI), based on the synthesis model of pragmatics. Two ways of interpreting item difficulty were explored: (a) as a function of the synthesis model elements of social communication ability that items were designed to assess, and (b) as a function of the developmental level required for a successful response based on an adapted situational-discourse-semantics (SDS) model (Norris & Hoffman, 1993).

Method: Thirty-seven participants aged 14-22 years completed the TPI.

Delivery Characterization of SPL84 Inhaled Antisense Oligonucleotide Drug for 3849 + 10 kb C- > T Cystic Fibrosis Patients.

Recent advances in the therapeutic potential of RNA-related treatments, specifically for antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-based drugs, have led to increased numbers of ASO regulatory approvals. In this study, we focus on SPL84, an inhaled ASO-based drug, developed for the treatment of the pulmonary disease cystic fibrosis (CF). Pulmonary drug delivery is challenging, due to a variety of biological, physical, chemical, and structural barriers, especially when targeting the cell nucleus.

Altering the viscoelastic properties of mucus-grown biofilms affects antibiotic susceptibility.

The viscoelastic properties of biofilms are correlated with their susceptibility to mechanical and chemical stress, and the airway environment in muco-obstructive pulmonary diseases (MOPD) facilitates robust biofilm formation. Hyperconcentrated, viscoelastic mucus promotes chronic inflammation and infection, resulting in increased mucin and DNA concentrations. The viscoelastic properties of biofilms are regulated by biopolymers, including polysaccharides and DNA, and influence responses to antibiotics and phagocytosis.

Design of a 3000-Pixel Transition-Edge Sensor X-Ray Spectrometer for Microcircuit Tomography.

Feature sizes in integrated circuits have decreased substantially over time, and it has become increasingly difficult to three-dimensionally image these complex circuits after fabrication. This can be important for process development, defect analysis, and detection of unexpected structures in externally sourced chips, among other applications. Here, we report on a non-destructive, tabletop approach that addresses this imaging problem through x-ray tomography, which we uniquely realize with an instrument that combines a scanning electron microscope (SEM) with a transition-edge sensor (TES) x-ray spectrometer.

Validating the Persian Intuitive Eating Scale-2 Among Breast Cancer Survivors Who Are Overweight/Obese.

Women with breast cancer are at risk of being overweight/obese which may consequently increase mortality. Intuitive eating is an adaptive eating behavior which might be beneficial for weight outcomes. The present study validated the Persian Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) among overweight/obese Iranian females with breast cancer.

Rasch Analysis for Instrument Development: Why, When, and How?

This essay describes Rasch analysis psychometric techniques and how such techniques can be used by life sciences education researchers to guide the development and use of surveys and tests. Specifically, Rasch techniques can be used to document and evaluate the measurement functioning of such instruments. Rasch techniques also allow researchers to construct "Wright maps" to explain the meaning of a test score or survey score and develop alternative forms of tests and surveys.

Effects of Panax ginseng, zearalenol, and estradiol on sperm function.

Background: Estrogen signaling pathways are modulated by exogenous factors. Panax ginseng exerts multiple activities in biological systems and is classified as an adaptogen. Zearalenol is a potent mycoestrogen that may be present in herbs and crops arising from contamination or endophytic association.

Impact of kudzu and puerarin on sperm function.

The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of kudzu (Pueraria mirifica) and the isoflavone puerarin in functional toxicological tests on spermatozoa and to assess the affinity of extracts and pure isoflavones for estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha and -beta (ERα, ERβ) in receptor binding assays. Capacitation, acrosome reaction and chromatin decondensation in spermatozoa were analyzed using microscopic analysis. Kudzu, but not puerarin, reduced motility of sperm.

Predictors of bariatric surgery among an interested population.

Background: Severely obese patients considering bariatric surgery face a difficult decision given the tradeoff between the benefits and risks of surgery. The objectives of this study was to study the forces driving this decision and improve our understanding of the decision-making process.

Methods: A 64-item survey was developed to assess factors in the decision-making process for bariatric surgery.

Accu-Beads as a quality control measure for manual and automated methods of measuring sperm concentration-an observational study.

Purpose: To determine the precision and accuracy of Accu-Beads and their utility as a quality control product for manual and automated measurements of sperm concentration.

Methods: This observational study was performed at an Assisted Reproductive Technology laboratory in a tertiary-care, university hospital. To simulate sperm concentration, bead concentrations were measured with the use of a manual and an automated method.

Temperature variations within and between incubators-a prospective, observational study.

Purpose: To determine if there is a temperature variation within and between incubators.

Methods: This prospective, experimental trial with external controls was performed at an Assisted Reproductive Technology laboratory in a tertiary-care, university hospital. Temperature values were taken at various locations within and between incubators.

The heat is on: room temperature affects laboratory equipment--an observational study.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of ambient room temperature on equipment typically used in in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Design: We set the control temperature of the room to 20 °C (+/-0.3) and used CIMScan probes to record temperatures of the following equipment: six microscope heating stages, four incubators, five slide warmers and three heating blocks.

Changes in long luteal protocol affects the number of days of stimulation: evolution of an assisted reproductive technology practice.

Objective: To determine if the types of drugs used in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation influence the number of days of stimulation.

Study Design: This retrospective study of couples presenting at an assisted reproductive technology (ART) facility January 1997 through December 2007 included patients who were < 40 years of age, had a body mass index (BMI) of 20-35, used fresh sperm or oocytes, had > or = 3 embryos available on day 3, never had previous ART, and did not use a gestational carrier. Data analysis was limited to patients treated with long luteal stimulation.

The Implementation of Virtual Instruction in Relation to X-ray Anatomy and Positioning in a Chiropractic Degree Program: A Descriptive Paper.

This article provides information regarding the introduction of virtual education into classroom instruction, wherein a method of classroom instruction was developed with the use of a computer, digital camera, and various software programs. This approach simplified testing procedures, thus reducing institutional costs substantially by easing the demand for manpower, and seemed to improve average grade performance. Organized files with hundreds of digital pictures have created a range of instructor resources.

Blastocyst rate and live births from vitrification and slow-cooled two-cell mouse embryos.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop a closed vitrification system, compare vitrification to a slow-cooled cryopreservation method, and compare the pup rate between both methods using two-cell mouse embryos.

Design: Randomized, prospective animal study.

Setting: Hospital-based IVF practice.

Effect of human granulosa cell co-culture using standard culture media on the maturation and fertilization potential of immature human oocytes.

Objective: To determine whether culture of immature human oocytes with and without autologous cumulus cells (CC) in standard culture medium would provide additional oocytes for use in IVF procedures.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Hospital-based IVF practice.

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in the upstate: effectiveness of surgical sperm removal techniques in conjunction with ICSI to promote the success of pregnancy.

With aspiration of sperm directly from the epididymis (MESA) or extracted from the testis (TESA) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, it is possible to provide men who are incapable of producing viable sperm in an ejaculate the ability to overcome this severe sperm defect and produce a successful pregnancy. In our practice, 10 of 26 ART cycles have had successful pregnancies with a total of 17 children being delivered. Thus, MESA/TESE techniques coupled with ICSI provide this population of patients with a viable option for producing offspring.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of microorganisms in an assisted reproductive technology facility.

Objective: To perform a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the environmental microorganisms associated with two assisted reproductive technology (ART) laboratories.

Design: Prospective descriptive study.

Setting: Two ART laboratories at Greenville Hospital System (GHS) University Medical Center in Greenville, South Carolina.

Incubator management in an assisted reproductive technology laboratory.

Objective: To study the effect of incubator management on assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes.

Design: Series of retrospective and controlled, randomized studies.

Setting: Tertiary care infertility practice.

Economics of flexible vs. rigid catheters for intrauterine insemination.

A decision tree model was created to investigate pregnancy rates, as well as cost factors associated with rigid vs. flexible catheters. Although the flexible catheter costs more than the rigid catheter, it is associated with a higher pregnancy rate, which decreases costs of IUI treatment because fewer cycles are needed.

Comparison of pregnancy rates for two embryo-transfer catheters.

Objective: To compare two flexible catheters and determine whether pregnancy rates (PRs) differed.

Design: Prospective, randomized pilot study.

Setting: Tertiary-care infertility practice.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) in the upstate: reducing the risks of multiple births.

Multiple pregnancies from ART procedures are all too common. Efforts to reduce high-order multiple pregnancies will require both social and medical reforms. In lieu of a legislative agenda to reduce multiple pregnancies in the United States, efforts must come from the personnel within the individual ART clinics.

Factors affecting assisted reproductive technology (ART) pregnancy rates: a multivariate analysis.

Purpose: To determine factors instrumental in achieving a clinical pregnancy in assisted reproductive technology (ART) patients.

Methods: This study included 205 women undergoing their first ART cycle. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for patient demographics, in vitro production data, and factors associated with embryo transfer.