Many organisms that withstand desiccation express the disaccharide trehalose. We have now expressed the otsA and otsB genes of Escherichia coli, which encode trehalose biosynthetic enzymes, in human primary fibroblasts using a recombinant adenovirus vector. Infected cells produced increased amounts of trehalose with increasing multiplicity of infection (MOI). Human primary fibroblasts expressing trehalose could be maintained in the dry state for up to five days. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated that dry, but viable, human cells contained no detectable water. This study shows that mammalian cells can be engineered to retain viability in the absence of water.

Among girls, higher amounts of physical education may be associated with an academic benefit. Physical education did not appear to negatively affect academic achievement in elementary school students. Concerns about adverse effects on achievement may not be legitimate reasons to limit physical education programs.

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As the AAMC initiates a pilot for the Core Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) for Entering Residency, we are seeking baseline data from residency program directors about the readiness of graduates of LCME-accredited US medical schools to perform the 13 Core EPAs without direct supervision upon entry to residency. These EPAs are based on the work of a thirteen-member expert panel informed by the literature and by feedback from the academic medicine community. Your response will be helpful in establishing a baseline against which we can assess impact as some schools implement the Core EPAs for Entering Residency.Your participation in this project is voluntary. All responses are confidential. The data will be reported in aggregate by specialty type for research purposes. No individual respondent or individual program will be identified in any report of these data. This data collection activity has been reviewed according to AAMC policies and procedures and its Institutional Review Board and is considered to be minimal risk. The AAMC has taken extensive measures to ensure the security of the data and the confidentiality of the responses. Nevertheless, if individually identified data were made public, it could prove embarrassing. If you have any questions about your rights as a participant, contact the AAMC Office of Human Subjects Research Protection by email

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