An Investigation of a Matching Lexical Cloze Procedure with Eighth Grade Students

In order to systematize the item writing procedure for developing reading comprehension measures for the regular classroom, the major purpose of this study was to compare the reliability, validity, and difficulty of a matching lexical cloze test, two traditional or passage-question group informal reading tests, and a standardized measure of reading comprehension, the Stanford Achievement Test. One of the traditional group informals was composed of two reading sections, each followed by 20- 25 literal comprehension questions which were developed by Finn in his dissertation of 1973. The other traditional group informal was composed of two reading selections taken from a Scott-Foresman reading series followed by 20 questions based on Bormuth\u27s Wh-rote question format developed in 1970. The matching lexical cloze tests deleted only nouns, verbs, and verbals and the correct choices were listed at the bottom of each 100-125 word selection along with six distractors for each passage . Thirty-five eighth grade students took all four types of silent reading tests . A language arts teacher also ranked the reading ability of these students and judged their ability to read the informal passages . Results indicated t hat the matching lexical cloze test provides a good group estimate of a student\u27s instructional reading level and a pears to be an objective, easily developed method for assessing student ability to comprehend instructional text materials

S02RS SGR No. 17 (Bowling and Billiards)

A RESOLUTION to express student opposition to any proposed closing of the Tiger Pause bowling and billiard area located in the LSU Union, and to request an upgrade of present facilities to include automatic bowling scoring

A Real-Space Full Multigrid study of the fragmentation of Li11+ clusters

We have studied the fragmentation of Li11+ clusters into the two experimentally observed products (Li9+,Li2) and (Li10+,Li) The ground state structures for the two fragmentation channels are found by Molecular Dynamics Simulated Annealing in the framework of Local Density Functional theory. Energetics considerations suggest that the fragmentation process is dominated by non-equilibrium processes. We use a real-space approach to solve the Kohn-Sham problem, where the Laplacian operator is discretized according to the Mehrstellen scheme, and take advantage of a Full MultiGrid (FMG) strategy to accelerate convergence. When applied to isolated clusters we find our FMG method to be more efficient than state-of-the-art plane wave calculations.Comment: 9 pages + 6 Figures (in gzipped tar file

Retrograde adenoviral vector targeting of nociresponsive pontospinal noradrenergic neurons in the rat in vivo

The spinal dorsal horn receives a dense innervation of noradrenaline-containing fibers that originate from pontine neurons in the A5, locus coeruleus (LC), and A7 cell groups. These pontospinal neurons are believed to constitute a component of the endogenous analgesic system. We used an adenoviral vector with a catecholaminergic-selective promoter (AVV-PRS) to retrogradely label the noradrenergic neurons projecting to the lumbar (L4–L5) dorsal horn with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) or monomeric red fluorescent protein (mRFP). Retrogradely labeled neurons (145 ± 12, n = 14) were found in A5-12%, LC-80% and A7-8% after injection of AVV-PRS-EGFP to the dorsal horn of L4–L5. These neurons were immunopositive for dopamine β-hydroxylase, indicating that they were catecholaminergic. Retrograde labeling was optimal 7 days after injection, persisted for over 4 weeks, and was dependent on viral vector titer. The spinal topography of the noradrenergic projection was examined using EGFP- and mRFP-expressing adenoviral vectors. Pontospinal neurons provide bilateral innervation of the cord and there was little overlap in the distribution of neurons projecting to the cervical and lumbar regions. The axonal arbor of the pontospinal neurons was visualized with GFP immunocytochemistry to show projections to the inferior olive, cerebellum, thalamus, and cortex but not to the hippocampus or caudate putamen. Formalin testing evoked c-fos expression in these pontospinal neurons, suggesting that they were nociresponsive (A5-21%, LC-16%, and A7-26%, n = 8). Thus, we have developed a viral vector-based strategy to selectively, retrogradely target the pontospinal noradrenergic neurons that are likely to be involved in the descending control of nociception

Increased intestinal permeability and tight junction disruption by altered expression and localization of occludin in a murine graft versus host disease model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is increasingly performed for hematologic diseases. As a major side effect, acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) with serious gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding and high mortality can be observed. Because surveillance and biopsies of human gastrointestinal GvHD are difficult to perform, rare information of the alterations of the gastrointestinal barrier exists resulting in a need for systematic animal models.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To investigate the effects of GvHD on the intestinal barrier of the small intestine we utilized an established acute semi allogenic GvHD in C57BL/6 and B6D2F1 mice.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>By assessing the differential uptake of lactulose and mannitol in the jejunum, we observed an increased paracellular permeability as a likely mechanism for disturbed intestinal barrier function. Electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and PCR analysis indicated profound changes of the tight-junction complex, characterized by downregulation of the tight junction protein occludin without any changes in ZO-1. Furthermore TNF-α expression was significantly upregulated.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This analysis in a murine model of GvHD of the small intestine demonstrates serious impairment of intestinal barrier function in the jejunum, with an increased permeability and morphological changes through downregulation and localization shift of the tight junction protein occludin.</p

The association of cognitive functioning as measured by the DemTect with functional and clinical characteristics of COPD: results from the COSYCONET cohort

Alterations of cognitive functions have been described in COPD. Our study aimed to disentangle the relationship between the degree of cognitive function and COPD characteristics including quality of life (QoL). Data from 1969 COPD patients of the COSYCONET cohort (GOLD grades 1-4;1216 male/ 753 female;mean (SD) age 64.9 +/- 8.4 years) were analysed using regression and path analysis. The DemTect screening tool was used to measure cognitive function, and the St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) to assess disease-specific QoL. DemTect scores were =60 years of age. For statistical reasons, we used the average of both algorithms independent of age in all subsequent analyses. The DemTect scores were associated with oxygen content, 6-min-walking distance (6-MWD), C-reactive protein (CRP), modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale (mMRC) and the SGRQ impact score. Conversely, the SGRQ impact score was independently associated with 6-MWD, FVC, mMRC and DemTect. These results were combined into a path analysis model to account for direct and indirect effects. The DemTect score had a small, but independent impact on QoL, irrespective of the inclusion of COPD-specific influencing factors or a diagnosis of cognitive impairment. We conclude that in patients with stable COPD lower oxygen content of blood as a measure of peripheral oxygen supply, lower exercise capacity in terms of 6-MWD, and higher CRP levels were associated with reduced cognitive capacity. Furthermore, a reduction in cognitive capacity was associated with reduced disease-specific quality of life. As a potential clinical implication of this work, we suggest to screen especially patients with low oxygen content and low 6-MWD for cognitive impairment

Midregional Proatrial Natriuretic Peptide (MRproANP) is associated with vertebral fractures and low bone density in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

&lt;jats:title&gt;Abstract&lt;/jats:title&gt;&lt;jats:sec&gt; &lt;jats:title&gt;Background&lt;/jats:title&gt; &lt;jats:p&gt;Patients with COPD are often affected by loss of bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporotic fractures. Natriuretic peptides (NP) are known as cardiac markers, but have also been linked to fragility-associated fractures in the elderly. As their functions include regulation of fluid and mineral balance, they also might affect bone metabolism, particularly in systemic disorders such as COPD.&lt;/jats:p&gt; &lt;/jats:sec&gt;&lt;jats:sec&gt; &lt;jats:title&gt;Research question&lt;/jats:title&gt; &lt;jats:p&gt;We investigated the association between NP serum levels, vertebral fractures and BMD assessed by chest computed tomography (CT) in patients with COPD.&lt;/jats:p&gt; &lt;/jats:sec&gt;&lt;jats:sec&gt; &lt;jats:title&gt;Methods&lt;/jats:title&gt; &lt;jats:p&gt;Participants of the COSYCONET cohort with CT scans were included. Mean vertebral bone density on CT (BMD-CT) as a risk factor for osteoporosis was assessed at the level of TH12 (AI-Rad Companion), and vertebral compression fractures were visually quantified by two readers. Their relationship with N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), Mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MRproANP) and Midregional pro-adrenomedullin (MRproADM) was determined using group comparisons and multivariable analyses.&lt;/jats:p&gt; &lt;/jats:sec&gt;&lt;jats:sec&gt; &lt;jats:title&gt;Results&lt;/jats:title&gt; &lt;jats:p&gt;Among 418 participants (58% male, median age 64 years, FEV&lt;jats:sub&gt;1&lt;/jats:sub&gt; 59.6% predicted), vertebral fractures in TH12 were found in 76 patients (18.1%). Compared to patients without fractures, these had elevated serum levels (&lt;jats:italic&gt;p&lt;/jats:italic&gt; ≤ 0.005) of MRproANP and MRproADM. Using optimal cut-off values in multiple logistic regression analyses, MRproANP levels ≥ 65 nmol/l (OR 2.34; &lt;jats:italic&gt;p&lt;/jats:italic&gt; = 0.011) and age (&lt;jats:italic&gt;p&lt;/jats:italic&gt; = 0.009) were the only significant predictors of fractures after adjustment for sex, BMI, smoking status, FEV&lt;jats:sub&gt;1&lt;/jats:sub&gt;% predicted, SGRQ Activity score, daily physical activity, oral corticosteroids, the diagnosis of cardiac disease, and renal impairment. Correspondingly, MRproANP (&lt;jats:italic&gt;p&lt;/jats:italic&gt; &amp;lt; 0.001), age (&lt;jats:italic&gt;p&lt;/jats:italic&gt; = 0.055), SGRQ Activity score (&lt;jats:italic&gt;p&lt;/jats:italic&gt; = 0.061) and active smoking (&lt;jats:italic&gt;p&lt;/jats:italic&gt; = 0.025) were associated with TH12 vertebral density.&lt;/jats:p&gt; &lt;/jats:sec&gt;&lt;jats:sec&gt; &lt;jats:title&gt;Interpretation&lt;/jats:title&gt; &lt;jats:p&gt;MRproANP was a marker for osteoporotic vertebral fractures in our COPD patients from the COSYCONET cohort. Its association with reduced vertebral BMD on CT and its known modulating effects on fluid and ion balance are suggestive of direct effects on bone mineralization.&lt;/jats:p&gt; &lt;/jats:sec&gt;&lt;jats:sec&gt; &lt;jats:title&gt;Trial registration&lt;/jats:title&gt; &lt;jats:p&gt;ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01245933, Date of registration: 18 November 2010.&lt;/jats:p&gt; &lt;/jats:sec&gt

Statins did not reduce the frequency of exacerbations in individuals with COPD and cardiovascular comorbidities in the COSYCONET cohort

&lt;jats:title&gt;Abstract&lt;/jats:title&gt;&lt;jats:sec&gt; &lt;jats:title&gt;Background&lt;/jats:title&gt; &lt;jats:p&gt;The evidence regarding effects of statins on exacerbation risk in COPD remains controversial. Previous studies often excluded patients with cardiovascular comorbidities despite their high prevalence in COPD and role for exacerbations. Based on the cardioprotective properties of statins, we hypothesised that statins may reduce the risk of exacerbations especially in patients with cardiovascular comorbidities.&lt;/jats:p&gt; &lt;/jats:sec&gt;&lt;jats:sec&gt; &lt;jats:title&gt;Methods&lt;/jats:title&gt; &lt;jats:p&gt;One thousand eight hundred eighty seven patients of the German COPD cohort COSYCONET (COPD and Systemic Consequences Comorbidities Network) of GOLD grades 1–4 (37.8% female, mean age 64.78 ± 8.3) were examined at baseline and over a period of 4.5 years for the occurrence of at least one exacerbation or severe exacerbation per year in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses adjusted for age, gender, BMI, GOLD grade and pack-years. Due to their collinearity, various cardiovascular diseases were tested in separate analyses, whereby the potential effect of statins in the presence of a specific comorbidity was tested as interaction between statins and comorbidity. We also identified patients who never took statins, always took statins, or initiated statin intake during the follow-up.&lt;/jats:p&gt; &lt;/jats:sec&gt;&lt;jats:sec&gt; &lt;jats:title&gt;Results&lt;/jats:title&gt; &lt;jats:p&gt;One thousand three hundred six patients never took statins, 31.6% were statin user, and 12.9% initiated statins during the follow-up. Most cardiovascular diseases were significantly (&lt;jats:italic&gt;p&lt;/jats:italic&gt; &amp;lt; 0.05)may associated with an increased risk of COPD exacerbations, but in none of them the intake of statins was a significant attenuating factor, neither overall nor in modulating the increased risk linked to the specific comorbidities. The results of the cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were consistent with each other, also those regarding at least 1 exacerbation or at least 1 severe exacerbation per year.&lt;/jats:p&gt; &lt;/jats:sec&gt;&lt;jats:sec&gt; &lt;jats:title&gt;Conclusion&lt;/jats:title&gt; &lt;jats:p&gt;These findings complement the existing literature and may suggest that even in patients with COPD, cardiovascular comorbidities and a statin therapy that targets these comorbidities, the effects of statins on exacerbation risk are either negligible or more subtle than a reduction in exacerbation frequency.&lt;/jats:p&gt; &lt;/jats:sec&gt;&lt;jats:sec&gt; &lt;jats:title&gt;Trial registration&lt;/jats:title&gt; &lt;jats:p&gt;Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT01245933.&lt;/jats:p&gt; &lt;jats:p&gt;Other Study ID (BMBF grant): 01GI0881, registered 18 November 2010, study start 2010–11, primary completion 2013–12, study completion 2023–09.&lt;/jats:p&gt; &lt;jats:p&gt;&lt;jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink' ext-link-type='uri' xlink:href='https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01245933?cond=COPD&amp;amp;term=COSYCONET&amp;amp;rank=3'&gt;https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01245933?cond=COPD&amp;amp;term=COSYCONET&amp;amp;rank=3&lt;/jats:ext-link&gt;&lt;/jats:p&gt; &lt;/jats:sec&gt