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The NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) measures atmospheric hydrogen (H2) in grab samples collected weekly as flask pairs at over 50 sites in the Cooperative Global Air Sampling Network. Measurements representative of background air sampling show higher H2 in recent years at all latitudes. The marine boundary layer (MBL) global mean H2 was 552.8 ppb in 2021, 20.2 ± 0.2 ppb higher compared to 2010. A 10 ppb or more increase over the 2010–2021 average annual cycle was detected in 2016 for MBL zonal means in the tropics and in the Southern Hemisphere. Carbon monoxide measurements in the same-air samples suggest large biomass burning events in different regions likely contributed to the observed interannual variability at different latitudes. The NOAA H2 measurements from 2009 to 2021 are now based on the World Meteorological Organization Global Atmospheric Watch (WMO GAW) H2 mole fraction calibration scale, developed and maintained by the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry (MPI-BGC), Jena, Germany. GML maintains eight H2 primary calibration standards to propagate the WMO scale. These are gravimetric hydrogen-in-air mixtures in electropolished stainless steel cylinders (Essex Industries, St. Louis, MO), which are stable for H2. These mixtures were calibrated at the MPI-BGC, the WMO Central Calibration Laboratory (CCL) for H2, in late 2020 and span the range 250–700 ppb. We have used the CCL assignments to propagate the WMO H2 calibration scale to NOAA air measurements performed using gas chromatography and helium pulse discharge detector instruments since 2009. To propagate the scale, NOAA uses a hierarchy of secondary and tertiary standards, which consist of high-pressure whole-air mixtures in aluminum cylinders, calibrated against the primary and secondary standards, respectively. Hydrogen at the parts per billion level has a tendency to increase in aluminum cylinders over time. We fit the calibration histories of these standards with zero-, first-, or second-order polynomial functions of time and use the time-dependent mole fraction assignments on the WMO scale to reprocess all tank air and flask air H2 measurement records. The robustness of the scale propagation over multiple years is evaluated with the regular analysis of target air cylinders and with long-term same-air measurement comparison efforts with WMO GAW partner laboratories. Long-term calibrated, globally distributed, and freely accessible measurements of H2 and other gases and isotopes continue to be essential to track and interpret regional and global changes in the atmosphere composition. The adoption of the WMO H2 calibration scale and subsequent reprocessing of NOAA atmospheric data constitute a significant improvement in the NOAA H2 measurement records.

Objectives: This paper examines the role of antibiotics in treatment of Crohn’s Disease by investigating clinical trials done on the matter. We found antibiotic therapy to be effective in inducing remission or favorable clinical response in adults with active disease. The aim of the study is to perform a meta-analysis on the ability of antibiotics to induce remission or a favorable clinical response in Crohn’s Disease (CD) patients. Materials and Methods: A meta-analysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of antibiotics for treatment of CD in adults was conducted. Odds ratio and probability difference were performed to estimate risk difference. The Number Needed to Treat (NNT) was also calculated for each antibiotic reviewed (rifaximin, metronidazole, clarithromycin, and ciprofloxacin). Results: Thirty-six clinical trial studies were identified, including 3346 patients. Twelve studies reported remission (defined as a CDAI < 150, or authors’ definition) while 24 reported solely a clinical response (defined as a decrease in CDAI or authors’ definition) upon completing an antibiotic regimen. Antibiotics greatly improved patients’ Crohn’s disease activity, with a total response (defined as clinical response plus remission) odds ratio of 1.85 (95% CI: 1.41-2.43), a clinical response odds ratio of 1.87 (95% CI: 1.48-2.37), and a remission odds ratio of 1.90 (95% CI: 1.40-2.57). The Number Needed to Treat for each of the antibiotics used in the clinical trials were 4.17 (Ciprofloxacin), 7.14 (Clarithromycin), 7.14 (Metronidazole), and 9.09 (Rifaximin). Conclusions: The odds of a Crohn’s Disease patient getting better is higher among those who take antibiotics most notably used in treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease than in placebo. This is an important outcome because it not only opens up a new treatment option for those suffering from Crohn’s Disease, but it also leads credibility to the theory that Crohn’s is caused, at least in part, by bacteria, such as Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) and adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC).

Abstract Background Eating can be a significant challenge for cancer survivors; however, to date there is no systematic way of assessing and addressing food related quality of life in this group. The purpose of our study was to develop a framework for doing so. Methods Over the course of 6 years in participant-led food workshops, we worked alongside 25 head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors and their partners, employing video-reflexive ethnographic (VRE) methods. The current study reports on data from the two summative workshops of this series where we worked with participants to cohere the emergent themes. Video and transcripts were reviewed and coded with participants and stakeholders according to domains of life that were affected by food. Three of the authors, one of whom is both survivor and researcher, arrived at the consensus framework. Results Seven areas of life were identified as affecting, or being affected by, altered eating. Three were physiological: anatomical, functional and sensory. Two captured the cognitive and behavioural labour of eating. Social life and identity were altered. The foregoing had an enduring emotional impact. Conclusions Altered eating has physical, emotional and social consequences. The altered eating framework provides a systematic way of exploring those consequences with individual survivors. This framework has the potential to improve both the assessment and treatment of altered eating, to benefit food-related quality of life.

This study examined motivators of preservice teachers (PSTs) for pursuing a teaching career. We used latent profile analysis to identify four profiles of PSTs based on their scores on personal utility value, civic mindedness, and intentions for future professional engagement. Using logistic regression, we identified motivational differences among PST content areas and latent profiles. We found that early childhood education students had higher motivation scores than students from other certification areas across different profiles. We discussed recommendations related to these findings for teacher education programs, especially for identity development and nurturing the civic motivations of PSTs who aspire to use their teaching to improve their communities.

Recent observations have detected surface active organics in atmospheric aerosols. We have studied the reaction of N2O5 on aqueous natural seawater and NaCl aerosols as a function of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) concentration to test the effect of varying levels of surfactant on gas-aerosol reaction rates. SDS was chosen as a proxy for naturally occurring long chain monocarboxylic acid molecules, such as palmitic or stearic acid, because of its solubility in water and well-characterized surface properties. Experiments were performed using a newly constructed aerosol flow tube coupled to a chemical ionization mass spectrometer for monitoring the gas phase, and a differential mobility analyzer/condensation particle counter for determining aerosol surface area. We find that the presence of ~3.5wt% SDS in the aerosol, which corresponds to a monolayer surface coverage of ~2×1014 molecules cm-2, suppresses the N2O5 reaction probability, γN2O5, by approximately a factor of ten, independent of relative humidity. Consistent with this observation is a similar reduction in the rate of ClNO2 product generation measured simultaneously. However, the product yield remains nearly constant under all conditions. The degree of suppression is strongly dependent on SDS content in the aerosol, with no discernable effect at 0.1wt% SDS, but significant suppression at what we predict to be submonolayer coverages with 0.3–0.6wt% SDS on NaCl and natural seawater aerosols, respectively.

Objective: A pilot study was conducted to determine the current scope of practice of South African physiotherapists working in intensive care units in the government and the private sectors. These findings were compared to the findings from a European survey with regard to the role of the physiotherapist in European intensive care units. Methodology: Ninety questionnaires were distributed nationwide to secondary and tertiary government hospitals as well as to private practitioners involved in cardiopulmonary physiotherapy. The private practitioners included in this survey were listed in the Private Practitioners Association Official Members Directory. Junior and senior physiotherapists working in the intensive care units of their respective hospitals participated in completing the questionnaire. Comparisons between government and private sector data and between the South African survey and the European survey were carried out using the 2test for non-parametric data. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Fifty-four questionnaires were analyzed and represented 60% of questionnaires sent out. Respondents to the South African survey reported 28% percent of all ICUs had between 9 - 12 beds; 83% physiotherapists indicated the availability of an on-call service during the night and 96% physiotherapists had a weekend physiotherapy service. Ninety-two percent of physiotherapists working in the government sector supervised students compared to 44% of physiotherapists in the private sector. Between 9% and 27% of physiotherapists in government and private hospitals actively participated in research in ICU. There were no statistically significant differences in the use of respiratory physiotherapy, mobilization and positioning between respondents to the European survey and those of the South African survey respectively. Conclusion: The response rate to this questionnaire was good. It was evident from this pilot survey that the scope of practice of physiotherapy in ICU didn’t differ significantly between the government and private sector in South Africa. The role of the intensive care physiotherapist in South Africa was similar to that of the European physiotherapist working in ICU.

In this study standard patterns of cerebral perfusion based on classifications described in the literature have been chosen and the ability of experienced imaging specialists to categorise the 99mTc HMPAO SPECT scans of patients referred to the department for investigation of dementia has been compared before and after the calculation of Statistical Parametric Maps (SPM—Wellcome Dept of Cognitive Neurology). The primary aim was to investigate whether SPM is an effective decision aid and whether it impacts on the confidence of image reporting. The secondary aim was to examine the influence of SPM on the agreement between image reporting and clinical diagnosis. The results showed that there was a slight decrease in agreement between the imaging specialists after the introduction of additional information from SPM (K = 0.57 to K = 0.5) and that agreement between imaging reporting (including information from SPM) and clinical diagnosis was moderate (K = 0.28). This study was able to confirm that SPM is capable of producing meaningful significance maps of individual patients in a routine clinical environment. However, there was no overwhelming evidence that SPM was able to resolve many of the dilemmas associated with the use of SPECT for the differential diagnosis of dementia. In particular, interpretation of SPECT perfusion patterns in dementia is a bigger problem than the initial identification of abnormalities.

The spider conch, Lambis lambis is one of the important fishery resources in the Vellapatti Village, Tuticorin, Southeast Coast of India. These conches land as by catches from crab nets (a modified bottom set gill net). The meat of gastropods is considered as a delicacy, rich in protein and the fat content is very low. Only a small section of the fisher folk consume its flesh, as it is less popular among the coastal fisher folk. For the utilization of this meat, chutney powder (a side dish for Idli or Dhosai in South India) was prepared from the meat. Biochemical, microbiological and sensory analyses were made to assess the shelf life for a period of four months. The meat had a protein content of 5.2%, 0.5% of carbohydrate and lipid content of 1%. The shelf life assessment of the chutney powder for a period of four months was carried out and it was found out that the product was good until the end of the assessment period. Even the TMA and TVB levels were found to be within the limits (10.8 mg per 100g and 18.36 mg per 100g, respectively). The present work reveals that the chutney powder is microbiologically and organoleptically good until the end of the storage period and safe for human consumption.

A community-based crab-fattening project was adopted by the womenfolk of Vellapatti fishing village in Tuticorin coast, Gulf of Mannar for proper utilization of their available resources and their leisure time for income generation. The mud crab, Scylla serrata and blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus were chosen for crab fattening which is ‘First of its kind’ in India and the women are successful in fattening and creating alternate income through this project. Between these two crabs, fattening of P. pelagicus is more attractive due to the short fattening span and the low price quoted on molted crabs at the auction sheds. The participation of women and the effectiveness of this project are discussed in this paper.