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An essay is presented on the relationship between intoxication and discretion in conversation and civic expression in Renaissance England. Particular focus is given to social and moral attitudes towards drinking. The author explores texts addressing the management of intoxication as an aid to conversation. Topics discussed include gender and health.

During the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, infants of H1N1-vaccinated mothers had 38% lower odds of being born preterm, and were 45.0 g heavier, on average, than infants of unvaccinated mothers.Background. Influenza infection during pregnancy is associated with adverse fetal outcomes such as preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA). Maternal influenza immunization may prevent these adverse infant outcomes during periods of influenza circulation.Methods. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of live births within Kaiser Permanente (KP) Georgia and Mid-Atlantic States (n = 3327) during the period of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus circulation. Primary outcomes were third-trimester preterm birth (27–36 weeks), birth weight, low birth weight (LBW, <2500 g), and SGA.Results. There were 327 (9.8%) preterm, 236 (7.4%) LBW, and 267 (8.4%) SGA births. Among H1N1-vaccinated mothers (n = 1125), there were 86 (7.6%) preterm, 68 (6.4%) LBW, and 99 (9.3%) SGA births, and the mean birth weight was 3308.5 g (95% confidence interval [CI], 3276.6–3340.4). Among unvaccinated mothers (n = 1581), there were 191 (12.1%) preterm, 132 (8.8%) LBW, and 123 (8.2%) SGA births, and the mean birth weight was 3245.3 g (95% CI, 3216.5–3274.2). Infants of H1N1-vaccinated mothers had 37% lower odds of being born preterm than infants of unvaccinated mothers (adjusted odds ratio, 0.63 [95% CI, .47–.84]). The mean birth weight difference between infants of H1N1-vaccinated mothers and infants of unvaccinated mothers was 45.1 g (95% CI, 1.8–88.3). There was no significant association between maternal H1N1 influenza immunization and LBW or SGA.Conclusions. Pregnant women who received H1N1 influenza vaccine were less likely to give birth preterm, and gave birth to heavier infants. The findings support US vaccine policy choices to prioritize pregnant women during the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Following a drug repurposing approach, we aimed to investigate and compare the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of different classes of phosphate prodrugs (HepDirect, cycloSal, SATE and mix SATE) of antiviral and anticancer FDA-approved nucleoside drugs [zidovudine (AZT), floxouridine (FUDR) and gemcitabine (GEM)] against a variety of pathogenic Gram-positive and -negative bacteria.Methods: Ten prodrugs were synthesized and screened for antibacterial activity against seven Gram-negative and two Gram-positive isolates fully susceptible to traditional antibiotics, alongside six Gram-negative and five Gram-positive isolates with resistance mechanisms. Their ability to prevent and eradicate biofilms of different bacterial pathogens in relation to planktonic growth inhibition was also evaluated, together with their effect on proliferation, viability and apoptosis of different eukaryotic cells.Results: The prodrugs showed decreased antibacterial activity compared with the parent nucleosides. cycloSal-GEM-monophosphate (MP) prodrugs 20a and 20b were the most active agents against Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus) and retained their activity against antibiotic-resistant isolates. cycloSal-FUDR-MP 21a partially retained good activity against the Gram-positive bacteria E. faecalis, Enterococcus faecium and S. aureus. Most of the prodrugs tested displayed very potent preventive antibiofilm specific activity, but not curative. In terms of cytotoxicity, AZT prodrugs did not affect apoptosis or cell viability at the highest concentration tested, and only weak effects on apoptosis and/or cell viability were observed for GEM and FUDR prodrugs.Conclusions: Among the different prodrug approaches, the cycloSal prodrugs appeared the most effective. In particular, cycloSal (17a) and mix SATE (26) AZT prodrugs combine the lowest cytotoxicity with high and broad antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against Gram-negative bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have investigated international variations in the gestational age (GA) distribution of births. While preterm births (22-36 weeks GA) and early term births (37-38 weeks) are at greater risk of adverse health outcomes compared to full term births (39-40weeks), it is not known if countries with high preterm birth rates also have high early term birth rates. We examined rate associations between preterm and early term births and mean term GA by mode of delivery onset. Methods: We used routine aggregate data on the GA distribution of singleton live births from up to 34 high-income countries/regions in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2010 to study preterm and early term births overall and by spontaneous or indicated onset. Pearson correlation coefficients were adjusted for clustering in time trend analyses. Results: Preterm and early term births ranged from 4.1% to 8.2% (median 5.5%) and 15.6% to 30.8% (median 22.2%) of live births in 2010, respectively. Countries with higher preterm birth rates in 2004-2010 had higher early term birth rates (r>0.50, P<0.01) and changes over time were strongly correlated overall (adjusted-r=0.55, P<0.01) and by mode of onset. Conclusion: Positive associations between preterm and early term birth rates suggest that common risk factors could underpin shifts in the GA distribution. Targeting modifiable population risk factors for delivery before 39weeks GA may provide a useful preterm birth prevention paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interdisciplinary research centers are typically viewed as a vehicle for creating opportunities in science where the intricacy of the research problem calls for persistent collaboration across multiple disciplines. This case study analyzed the effects of an interdisciplinary research center on the publication and collaboration behaviors of faculty affiliated with the center. The study also sought to determine through faculty interviews what factors contributed to these effects for participants whose publication and collaboration behaviors were most changed after affiliation. Results of the study indicate that affiliation with the center has a significant positive effect on participant collaboration activities, and a moderate positive effect on publication activities (i.e. publishing in new fields). Factors contributing to success cited by interviewees included organized leadership, a positive atmosphere, breaking into sub-groups, and the ability to collaborate with researchers with whom they would not have interacted outside of the center. This case study may be useful in providing a framework for early evaluation of the effects of interdisciplinary research centers on affiliated participants. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]