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Mathematical learning has an important role and is often prioritized in education. In K-16 education, algebra is one of the most vital mathematical content domains: it represents one of the top barriers for students pursuing a postsecondary education. Game-based learning has been effective in fostering classroom math learning environments that are collaborative and focused on conceptual understanding. Sandbox games provide open-ended learning environments where players can set their own goals and level of effort. As part of the project “Math Snacks,” the team designed Agrinautica, a sandbox game to enable constructivist-informed early algebra learning. This article identifies design recommendations for creating meaningful sandbox games for learning, considering students' and teachers' needs. Researchers discuss the decisions to create a sandbox game and describe challenges inherent in math learning through sandbox-type gameplay. This study provides impact results from a large-scale study of users of the game, and shares recommendations for developing future sandbox learning games.

This article from Pottery Making Illustrated discusses the technique of creating frosted vessels using piping techniques and thick slip. The author shares their recipe and method for creating a thick slip that can hold fine details when piped. They also provide instructions for creating the slip, printing with lace, prepping piping bags, and piping decorations. The article emphasizes the importance of using fabric piping bags and metal tips that can withstand the thick clay slip. The author also mentions their experimentation with adding color to the slip and creating a marbled effect. They conclude by discussing the delicate nature of their work and the gradual drying process they employ to protect the delicate slip frosting. [Extracted from the article]

In this paper, we argue that Indigenous data sovereignty (IDS) is vital for addressing threats to ecosystems, as well as for Indigenous Peoples re-establishing and maintaining sovereignty over their territories. Indigenous knowledge-holders face pressure from non-Indigenous scientists to collaborate to address environmental problems, while the open data movement is pressuring them to make their data public. We examine the role of IDS in the context of cumulative effects and climate change that threaten salmon-bearing ecosystems in British Columbia, guided by content from an online workshop in June 2022 and attended exclusively by a Tier-1 audience (First Nations knowledge-holders and/or technical staff working for Nations). Attention to data is required for fruitful collaborations between Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous researchers to address the impacts of climate change and the cumulative effects affecting salmon-bearing watersheds in BC. In addition, we provide steps that Indigenous governments can take to assert sovereignty over data, recommendations that external researchers can use to ensure they respect IDS, and questions that external researchers and Indigenous partners can discuss to guide decision-making about data management. Finally, we reflect on what we learned during the process of co-creating materials.

The article discusses the evolution of first class and its future in the airline industry. It highlights how business class has surpassed first class in terms of luxury and amenities, with some airlines even offering closing doors for every seat in business class. The article also mentions that first class is becoming less popular, with some airlines phasing it out or rebranding it as "Upper Class." However, certain airlines, particularly those based in major business hubs or offering long-haul flights, still have a strong first class offering. The article concludes that in order for first class to stand out, airlines need to create a truly extraordinary and memorable experience for passengers. [Extracted from the article]

Airline alliances, such as Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam, offer numerous benefits to both passengers and airlines. These alliances provide a broad network of destinations, smoother travel experiences, and frequent flyer perks. They also generate revenue opportunities for airlines and drive efficiencies through operating benefits. While each alliance has its strengths and weaknesses, they all aim to provide consistency and global standards for passengers. Additionally, some alliances offer lifetime perks for frequent flyers who accumulate a certain number of tier points. [Extracted from the article]

IMPORTANCE: Decreased mobility is a hallmark of aging. Olfactory dysfunction is common in older adults and may be associated with declines in mobility. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether poor olfaction was associated with faster declines in mobility in older adults. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study included 2500 participants from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study. Participants completed the Brief Smell Identification Test during the year 3 clinical visit (1999-2000) and were followed for up to 7 years. A data analysis was conducted between January and July 2023. EXPOSURES: Olfaction was defined as good (test score, 11-12), moderate (9-10), hyposmia (7-8), or anosmia (0-6). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Mobility was measured using the 20-m usual and fast walking tests in clinical visit years 3 to 6, 8, and 10 and the 400-m fast walking test in years 4, 6, 8, and 10. RESULTS: The primary analyses included 2500 participants (1292 women [51.7%]; 1208 men [48.3%]; 960 Black [38.4%] and 1540 White [61.6%] individuals; mean [SD] age, 75.6 [2.8] years). Multivariate-adjusted analyses showed that poor olfaction was associated with slower walking speed at baseline and a faster decline over time. Taking the 20-m usual walking test as an example, compared with participants with good olfaction, the speed at baseline was 0.027 (95% CI, 0-0.053) m/s slower for those with hyposmia and 0.034 (95% CI, 0.005-0.062) m/s slower for those with anosmia. Longitudinally, the annual decline was 0.004 (95% CI, 0.002-0.007) m/s/year faster for those with hyposmia and 0.01 (95% CI, 0.007-0.013) m/s/year faster for those with anosmia. Similar results were obtained for the 20-m and 400-m fast walking tests. Further, compared with participants with good olfaction, the odds of being unable to do the 400-m test were 2.02 (95% CI, 1.17-3.48) times higher for those with anosmia at the year 8 visit and 2.73 (95% CI, 1.40-5.35) times higher at year 10. Multiple sensitivity and subgroup analyses supported the robustness and generalizability of the findings. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: The results of this cohort study suggest that poor olfaction is associated with a faster decline in mobility in older adults. Future studies should investigate underlying mechanisms and potential health implications.

This review explores the effect of common everyday factors, such as alcohol, tea and coffee consumption, on the risk for lung cancer. We performed an umbrella review of current systematic reviews. The risk for lung cancer was increased with alcohol or coffee intake and decreased with tea intake. While evidence for alcohol is of low quality, the effect of coffee may be confounded by the smoking effect. The protective effect of tea intake is present, but the evidence is also of low quality.

A mechanistic understanding of the biological and technical factors that impact transcript measurements is essential to designing and analyzing single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing experiments. Nuclei contain the same pre-mRNA population as cells, but they contain a small subset of the mRNAs. Nonetheless, early studies argued that single-nucleus analysis yielded results comparable to cellular samples if pre-mRNA measurements were included. However, typical workflows do not distinguish between pre-mRNA and mRNA when estimating gene expression, and variation in their relative abundances across cell types has received limited attention. These gaps are especially important given that incorporating pre-mRNA has become commonplace for both assays, despite known gene length bias in pre-mRNA capture. Here, we reanalyze public data sets from mouse and human to describe the mechanisms and contrasting effects of mRNA and pre-mRNA sampling on gene expression and marker gene selection in single-cell and single-nucleus RNA-seq. We show that pre-mRNA levels vary considerably among cell types, which mediates the degree of gene length bias and limits the generalizability of a recently published normalization method intended to correct for this bias. As an alternative, we repurpose an existing post hoc gene length–based correction method from conventional RNA-seq gene set enrichment analysis. Finally, we show that inclusion of pre-mRNA in bioinformatic processing can impart a larger effect than assay choice itself, which is pivotal to the effective reuse of existing data. These analyses advance our understanding of the sources of variation in single-cell and single-nucleus RNA-seq experiments and provide useful guidance for future studies.

Liquefaction-induced lateral displacements represent a major geohazard in earthquake-prone regions, yet the uncertainty associated with their prediction remains notoriously high. Documented observations after recent earthquakes provide evidence that depositional environment-specific geologic conditions play a crucial role in liquefaction susceptibility, and in the severity and spatial extent of liquefaction-induced ground deformations. However, this evidence is largely qualitative in nature, which limits the potential to incorporate the effects of depositional processes and environments in the next generation of lateral spreading predictive models. This study provides a framework to quantitatively assess the relationship between depositional environment-specific geologic factors and lateral spreading by means of simple fluvial geomorphic facies models, geotechnical engineering data (e.g. Cone Penetration Test data), and geospatial analytics. Three hypotheses are introduced and tested using lateral spreading ground deformations observed following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake along the Avon and Heathcote rivers in New Zealand. The results from this study indicate that the presence of an active (i.e. with active sediment deposition) compared to inactive (e.g. abandoned) channels is the most important fluvial geomorphologic variable out of the three tested. The other two are associated with the location relative to the meander bend position, including location within the point bar (inside) or the cut bank (outside), and upstream versus downstream within a given point bar. Findings from this study show that more lateral spreading occurs within point bars, and upstream (within a given point bar) in simple meander bends. However, the presence of geomorphic complexities (e.g. cut banks connected to an incised channel or tributary and/or channel confinement) can challenge the unbiased quantification of the contribution of a single geomorphic variable to the observed lateral displacements. These findings can be applied to other fluvial environments outside of New Zealand, and the proposed framework can be implemented for other non-fluvial depositional settings.

This document is a collection of letters from readers of Dirt Wheels magazine. The letters discuss various topics related to off-road vehicles, including personal experiences, racing, modifications, and recommended riding locations. The letters come from individuals located in different parts of the United States and even from other countries. The letters provide a diverse range of perspectives and experiences within the off-road vehicle community. [Extracted from the article]

The cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia (SZ) present a significant clinical burden. They are treatment resistant and are the primary predictor of functional outcomes. Although the neural mechanisms underlying these deficits remain unclear, pathological GABAergic signaling likely plays an essential role. Perturbations with parvalbumin (PV)-expressing fast-spiking (FS) interneurons in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) are consistently found in post-mortem studies of patients with SZ, as well as in animal models. Our studies have shown decreased prefrontal synaptic inhibition and PV immunostaining, along with working memory and cognitive flexibility deficits in the MK801 model. To test the hypothesized association between PV cell perturbations and impaired cognition in SZ, we activated prefrontal PV cells by using an excitatory DREADD viral vector with a PV promoter to rescue the cognitive deficits induced by adolescent MK801 administration in female rats. We found that targeted pharmacogenetic upregulation of prefrontal PV interneuron activity can restore E/I balance and improve cognition in the MK801 model. Our findings support the hypothesis that the reduced PV cell activity levels disrupt GABA transmission, resulting in the disinhibition of excitatory pyramidal cells. This disinhibition leads to an elevated prefrontal excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance that could be causal for cognitive impairments. Our study provides novel insights into the causal role of PV cells in cognitive function and has clinical implications for understanding the pathophysiology and management of SZ.

Many communities in low- and middle-income countries globally lack sustainable, cost-effective and mutually beneficial solutions for infectious disease, food, water and poverty challenges, despite their inherent interdependence1–7. Here we provide support for the hypothesis that agricultural development and fertilizer use in West Africa increase the burden of the parasitic disease schistosomiasis by fuelling the growth of submerged aquatic vegetation that chokes out water access points and serves as habitat for freshwater snails that transmit Schistosomaparasites to more than 200 million people globally8–10. In a cluster randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03187366) in which we removed invasive submerged vegetation from water points at 8 of 16 villages (that is, clusters), control sites had 1.46 times higher intestinal Schistosomainfection rates in schoolchildren and lower open water access than removal sites. Vegetation removal did not have any detectable long-term adverse effects on local water quality or freshwater biodiversity. In feeding trials, the removed vegetation was as effective as traditional livestock feed but 41 to 179 times cheaper and converting the vegetation to compost provided private crop production and total (public health plus crop production benefits) benefit-to-cost ratios as high as 4.0 and 8.8, respectively. Thus, the approach yielded an economic incentive—with important public health co-benefits—to maintain cleared waterways and return nutrients captured in aquatic plants back to agriculture with promise of breaking poverty–disease traps. To facilitate targeting and scaling of the intervention, we lay the foundation for using remote sensing technology to detect snail habitats. By offering a rare, profitable, win–win approach to addressing food and water access, poverty alleviation, infectious disease control and environmental sustainability, we hope to inspire the interdisciplinary search for planetary health solutions11to the many and formidable, co-dependent global grand challenges of the twenty-first century.

ABSTRACTData science, machine learning and artificial intelligence applications impact clinicians, informaticians, science journalists, and researchers. Most biomedical data science training focuses on learning a programming language in addition to higher mathematics and advanced statistics. This approach is appropriate for graduate students but greatly reduces the number of individuals in healthcare who can be involved in data science. To serve these four stakeholder audiences, we describe several curricular strategies focusing on solving real problems of interest to these audiences. Relevant competencies for these audiences include using intuitive programming tools that facilitate data exploration with minimal programming background, creating data models, evaluating results of data analyses, and assessing data science research reports, among others. Offering the curricula described here more broadly could broaden the stakeholder groups knowledgeable about and engaged in data science.

The cationic lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP) is one of the original synthetic cationic lipids used for the liposomal transfection of oligonucleotides in gene therapy. The key structural element of DOTAP is its quaternary ammonium headgroup that is responsible for interactions with both nucleic acids and target cell membranes. Because these interactions are fundamental to the design of a major class of transfection lipids, it is important to understand the structure of DOTAP and how it interacts with halide counterions. Here, we use x-ray and neutron diffraction techniques to examine the structure of DOTAP and how chloride (Cl−) and iodide (I−) counterions alter the hydration properties of the DOTAP headgroup. A problem of particular interest is the poor solubility of DOTAP/I− in water solutions. Our results show that the poor solubility results from very tight binding of the I− counterion to the headgroup and the consequent expulsion of water. The structural principles we report here are important for assessing the suitability of DOTAP and its quaternary ammonium derivatives for transfection.

Local empirical models of the F2 layer peak electron density (NmF2) are developed for 43 low‐ middle latitude ionosonde stations using auto‐scaled data from Lowell GIRO data center and manually scaled data from World Data Center for Ionosphere and Space Weather. Data coverage at these stations ranges from a few years to up to 6 decades. Flare Irradiance Spectral Model index version 2 (FISM2) and ap3 index are used to parametrize the solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) flux and geomagnetic activity dependence of NmF2. Learning curves suggest that approximately 8 years of data coverage is required to constrain the solar activity dependence of NmF2. Output of local models altogether captures well known anomalies of the F2 ionospheric layer. Performance metrics demonstrate that the model parametrized using FISM2 has better accuracy than a similarly parametrized model with F10.7, as well as than the IRI‐2020 model. Skill score metrics indicate that the FISM2 based model outperforms F10.7 model at all solar activity levels. The improved accuracy of model with FISM2 over F10.7 is due to better representation of solar rotation by FISM2, and due to its performance at solar extremum. Application of singular spectrum analysis to model output reveals that solar rotation contributes to about 2%–3% of the variance in NmF2 data and FISM2 based model, while F10.7 based models overestimate the strength of solar rotation to be at 4%–7%. At solar extremum, both F10.7‐based model and IRI‐2020 tend to overestimate the NmF2 while FISM2 provides the most accurate prediction out of three. We developed local empirical models of peak electron density (NmF2) that describe its variation with solar activity, geomagnetic activity, and season. The NmF2 data for this model comes from 43 ionosonde stations all over the world. Our local models capture well known global characteristics of the NmF2. Further, we show that the solar activity dependence of NmF2 is better explained using the FISM2 which is an empirical model of solar EUV variability. Data‐model comparison reveals that FISM2 based model of NmF2 is more accurate than a F10.7 based model and significantly more accurate than the IRI‐2020 model. Among the three models, FISM2 provides the most accurate representation of the solar rotation signal in NmF2 and a better prediction of NmF2 during periods of solar maximum and minimum. Local models of peak electron density for 43 low‐mid latitude ionosondes are developed. Models capture known global ionospheric featuresApproximately 8 years of minimum data coverage is required to describe the solar activity dependence of peak electron densityModels driven by the Flare Irradiance Spectral Model are more accurate than models driven by F10.7 and the IRI‐2020 model Local models of peak electron density for 43 low‐mid latitude ionosondes are developed. Models capture known global ionospheric features Approximately 8 years of minimum data coverage is required to describe the solar activity dependence of peak electron density Models driven by the Flare Irradiance Spectral Model are more accurate than models driven by F10.7 and the IRI‐2020 model

Quantum Dot downconverters can provide a scalable solution to tri‐color high‐resolution microLED and OLED displays by converting monochrome displays using photopatternable red and green QDs. Using internal measurements collected at NanoPattern Technologies, Inc. we model and discuss the practical wall plug efficiencies for downconverted InGaN blue microLED displays. In the range of 5 μm pixel sizes, using uncorrected 65 % film PLQY, the downconverted InGaN red emitter achieves a comparable external quantum efficiency compared to a direct red emitting AlInGaP when compared at practical current densities for microLED drivers.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation was a common experience as people were trying to keep themselves and others safe from infection. Veterans with problematic substance use are at particular risk of the consequences of social isolation. This study evaluated the nature of social interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of loneliness and psychological flexibility on self-reported substance use and physical and mental health functioning among U.S. veterans who reported problematic substance use. Data from 409 veterans with self-reported substance use concerns were obtained via a cross-sectional online survey. Results showed that many veterans who engaged in problematic substance use during the COVID-19 pandemic reported a number of social supports during this period and frequent communication with others, but still felt lonelier during the pandemic. In regression analyses, higher levels of loneliness were associated with more negative impacts of the pandemic, greater substance use, and poorer physical and mental health functioning. Psychological flexibility demonstrated significant unique variance in explaining mental health functioning during the pandemic after accounting for loneliness, but not for substance use or physical functioning. For veterans with high levels of loneliness, high levels of psychological flexibility were associated with a lower negative impact on quality of life due to the pandemic, but for veterans with low levels of loneliness, differing levels of psychological flexibility were not significantly associated with the negative impact of COVID-19. Overall, loneliness and psychological flexibility appear to be highly associated with the negative impact of COVID-19 on veterans with problematic substance use.

‘Comrade’ (Reg. no. CV‐149, PI 698820) is a large‐seeded, high‐oleic, virginia‐type peanut (Arachis hypogaeaL. subsp. hypogaeavar. hypogaea) with enhanced pod size distribution and seed size compared with the virginia‐type cultivar ‘Contender’. Released jointly by the USDA‐ARS and North Carolina State University in 2021, Comrade (tested as N15022olEJ and NCEX17) is a high‐oleic virginia breeding line resulting from a selection made from the cross N06007E/3/X05248(BC1F1:F04), Bailey//X05027 (F01), Bailey/N02060ol. Comrade had an average pod yield of 5,260 kg ha–1, a total sound mature kernel (TSMK) of 69%, a sound mature kernel (SMK) weight of 97 g 100 seed–1, and 62% extra‐large kernels (ELKs), giving it the highest estimated value per hectare among the virginia‐type cultivars tested in Oklahoma for 2018–2020. When entered in the national Uniform Peanut Performance Test, Comrade performed well in all locations, averaging 5,235 kg ha–1, 84% fancy pods, 44% ELKs, an SMK weight of 103 g 100 seed–1, and a TSMK of 68%. Comrade's average super jumbo pod count per kilogram and average pod brightness score were reported at 317 kg–1(9 per ounce) and 50, respectively, indicating large, bright pods, which are necessary components of any market‐worthy virginia‐type cultivar. Comrade consistently averaged 47–50% super jumbo pods across locations in Oklahoma and nationwide trials. This significant increase in the percentage of super‐jumbo pods compared with currently grown cultivars will increase growers’ profits and enable producers in the southwestern United States to increase participation in the foreign export market. Comrade has enhanced pod size distribution, giving it a high export market value.Comrade was the potential cultivar with the highest value per hectare in Oklahoma during 2018–2020.Comrade performed well in all peanut‐producing states included in the Uniform Peanut Performance Tests.

Background:The purpose of this study was to develop and validate reliable computed tomography (CT) imaging criteria for the diagnosis of gastric band slippage. Material and Methods:We retrospectively evaluated 67 patients for gastric band slippage using CT. Of these, 14 had surgically proven gastric band slippage (study group), 22 had their gastric bands removed for reasons other than slippage (control group 1), and 31 did not require removal (control group 2). All of the studies were read independently by two radiologists in a blinded fashion. The “O” sign, phi angle, amount of inferior displacement from the esophageal hiatus, and gastric pouch size were used to create CT diagnostic criteria. Standard statistical methods were used. Results:There was good overall interobserver agreement for diagnosis of gastric band slippage using CT diagnostic criteria (kappa = 0.83). Agreement was excellent for the “O” sign (kappa = 0.93) and phi angle (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.976). The “O” sign, inferior displacement from the hiatus >3.5 cm, and gastric pouch volume >55 cm3 each had 100% positive predictive value. A phi angle <20° or >60° had the highest negative predictive value (NPV) (98%). Of all CT diagnostic criteria, enlarged gastric pouch size was most correlated with band slippage with an AUC of 0.991. Conclusion:All four imaging parameters were useful in evaluating for gastric band slippage on CT, with good interobserver agreement. Of these parameters, enlarged gastric pouch size was most correlated with slippage and abnormal phi angle had the highest NPV.

Ras genes are important oncogenes that are frequently mutated in cancer. Human oncogenic variants exhibit functional distinctions in terms of their representation in different cancer types, impact on cellular targets and sensitivity to pharmacological treatments. However, how these distinct variants influence and respond to the cellular networks in which they are embedded is poorly understood. To identify novel participants in the complex interplay between Ras genotype and cell interaction networks in vivo, we have developed and tested an experimental framework using a simple vulva-development assay in the nematode C. elegans. Using this system, we evaluated a set of Ras oncogenic substitution changes at G12, G13 and Q61. We found that these variants fall into distinct groups based on phenotypic differences, sensitivity to gene dosage and inhibition of the downstream kinase MEK and their response to genetic modulators that influence Ras activity in a non-autonomous manner. Together, our results demonstrated that oncogenic C. elegans Ras variants exhibit clear distinctions in how they interface with the vulva-development network and showed that extracellular modulators yield variant-restricted effects in vivo.

•The saturated fatty acid palmitate deceased engineered human ligament mechanics and collagen content.•A 14-week high fat diet decreased the collagen content of the Achilles tendon resulting in a decrease in relative stength.•A high fat diet similarly decreased bone collagen content and bone mineral density and increased trabecular spacing.•In vitro,palmitic acid decreased procollagen synthesis in the first twenty-four hours after feeding.•A high fat diet decreases collagen synthesis in musculoskeletal tissues which may contribute to increased fracture and tendon/ligament injury rates.

Habitability at the surface of a planet depends on having an atmosphere long enough for life to develop. The loss of atmosphere to space is an important component in assessing planetary surface habitability. Current models of atmospheric escape from exoplanets are not well constrained by observations. Atmospheric escape observations from the terrestrial planets are available in public data archives. We recast oxygen escape rates from Earth derived from an instrument on Dynamics Explorer‐1 as function of solar wind and compare them to similar data from Mars. Analysis demonstrates that oxygen escape rates from Mars are not as sensitive to variations in solar power components as those from Earth. Available data from Venus can confirm or refute the assertion that oxygen escape from magnetized planets is more sensitive than that from unmagnetized planets. Habitability of a planet depends on having an atmosphere long enough for life to develop. NASA and ESA data archives contain information about atmospheric escape from the terrestrial planets. For these planets oxygen ions dominate atmospheric escape. The data archives are just beginning to be analyzed and presented in a form that allows comparison with, and validation of, models of the interaction of stellar winds with exoplanets. We derive oxygen escape rates from Earth as a function of solar power components from a recasting of Dynamics Explorer‐1 data and compare them to similar data from Mars. Our analysis demonstrates that oxygen escape rates from Mars are not as sensitive to variations in the solar power components as those from Earth. These data and similar data from Venus will prove to be important constrains on models of stelar wind/atmosphere interactions and atmospheric escape from exoplanets. We recast oxygen escape rates from Earth derived from an instrument on Dynamics Explorer‐1 as a function of solar energy inputsWe compare escape rates for a magnetized planet (Earth) and an unmagnetized planet (Mars) as a function of solar energy inputsOxygen escape rates from Mars are not as sensitive to variations in the solar power components as those from Earth We recast oxygen escape rates from Earth derived from an instrument on Dynamics Explorer‐1 as a function of solar energy inputs We compare escape rates for a magnetized planet (Earth) and an unmagnetized planet (Mars) as a function of solar energy inputs Oxygen escape rates from Mars are not as sensitive to variations in the solar power components as those from Earth

Gene duplication is an important substrate for the evolution of new gene functions, but the impacts of gene duplicates on their own activities and on the developmental networks in which they act are poorly understood. Here, we use a natural experiment of lin-12/Notchgene duplication within the nematode genus Caenorhabditis, combined with characterization of loss- and gain-of-function mutations, to uncover functional distinctions between the duplicate genes in 1 species (Caenorhabditis briggsae) and their single-copy ortholog in Caenorhabditis elegans. First, using improved genomic sequence and gene model characterization, we confirm that the C. briggsaegenome includes 2 complete lin-12genes, whereas most other genes encoding proteins that participate in the LIN-12signaling pathway retain a one-to-one orthology with C. elegans. We use CRISPR-mediated genome editing to introduce alleles predicted to cause gain-of-function (gf) or loss-of-function (lf) into each C. briggsaegene and find that the gfmutations uncover functional distinctions not apparent from the lfalleles. Specifically, Cbr-lin-12.1(gf), but not Cbr-lin-12.2(gf), causes developmental defects similar to those observed in Cel-lin-12(gf). In contrast to Cel-lin-12(gf), however, the Cbr-lin-12.1(gf)alleles do not cause dominant phenotypes as compared to the wild type, and the mutant phenotype is observed only when 2 gfalleles are present. Our results demonstrate that gene duplicates can exhibit differential capacities to compensate for each other and to interfere with normal development, and uncover coincident gene duplication and evolution of developmental sensitivity to LIN-12/Notch activity.

ABSTRACT:We use a unique data set on matched tenant-landlord pairs in Malawi to compare decisions on smallholder plots that were rented versus those that were owner-operated. Controlling for household and rental-pair fixed effects, we found that some input use (e.g., hybrid maize seed) and soil fertility investments (e.g., manure, compost, minimum tillage) were higher on tenants’ owner-operated plots than on their rented-in plots. Tenants were also less likely to use compost than their landlords. Landlords were less likely to rent out plots with fruit trees. Our results suggest that the expansion of farmland rental markets may exacerbate soil fertility maintenance concerns.,

The indium phosphide (InP) 130 nm double-heterojunction bipolar transistor (DHBT) offers milliwatts of output power and high signal amplification in the lower end of the terahertz frequency band when the transistor is used in a common-base configuration. Instrumentation can directly benefit from this technology by enabling the development of novel broadband sources or synthesizers that rely on our ability to amplify the signal over enormous bandwidths. However, the design of high gain and stable amplifiers presents many obstacles and limitations as we increase the bandwidth and the carrier frequency. Here, we show that adding a series resistor at the collector terminal of the common-base transistor prevents instabilities in the terahertz monolithic integrated circuit amplifier and increases its fractional bandwidth. Adopting this technique, we report a state-of-the-art broadband common-base amplifier that exhibits a minimum small-signal gain of 18.9 dB from 325 to 477 GHz. This amplifier presents the highest fractional bandwidth and gain above 300 GHz. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of high-performance amplifiers that address the need of future terahertz electronic systems.

Automation and robotics have become a staple in the biological manufacturing sector due to their ability to efficiently work without operator input. Industrial robotic arms present themselves as a valuable tool for biological manufacturing because of their ease of programming and flexibility. This paper represents the use of a benchtop robot and automation system capable of manufacturing in-syringe liquid drugs. An International Organization for Standardization (ISO) compliant robotic arm (Stäubli TX2-60), customized end-effector, syringe venting system, and Cartesian gantry platform were prototyped and integrated to create an automated solution for manufacturing cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) polymer syringes. A Siemens programmable logic controller (PLC) system is developed to interface with the robot and the Cartesian gantry platform. Automated filling of a tray of 50ml syringes is proven to be feasible. The process of stoppering a COC syringe using a customized venting tube is demonstrated. An automated gantry system is also demonstrated as a proof of concept for a complete manufacturing system.

The neurobiology of schizophrenia involves multiple facets of pathophysiology, ranging from its genetic basis over changes in neurochemistry and neurophysiology, to the systemic level of neural circuits. Although the precise mechanisms associated with the neuropathophysiology remain elusive, one essential aspect is the aberrant maturation and connectivity of the prefrontal cortex that leads to complex symptoms in various stages of the disease. Here, we focus on how early developmental dysfunction, especially N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) development and hypofunction, may lead to the dysfunction of both local circuitry within the prefrontal cortex and its long-range connectivity. More specifically, we will focus on an “all roads lead to Rome” hypothesis, i.e., how NMDAR hypofunction during development acts as a convergence point and leads to local gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) deficits and input-output dysconnectivity in the prefrontal cortex, which eventually induce cognitive and social deficits. Many outstanding questions and hypothetical mechanisms are listed for future investigations of this intriguing hypothesis that may lead to a better understanding of the aberrant maturation and connectivity associated with the prefrontal cortex.

The expansion of agro-dealers into remote areas can be seen as conducive to more smallholders adopting new technologies and inputs, to include improved seed and fertilizer. However, lower travel costs may be offset by agro-dealer decisions on stocking and pricing, reflecting both travel time from wholesale markets as well as the level of competition in localized areas. This paper investigates the geographical distribution of agro-dealers and related patterns of local market competition on the availability and prices of maize seed and fertilizer. We use a unique census of agro-dealers in eight districts of Tanzania (n= 299) which maps distribution points for agricultural inputs in these areas. Results suggested that despite a high number of agro-dealers, almost 30% of farmers lived more than an hour travel time from at least one agro-dealer. Instead of wide geographical coverage, agro-dealers tended to be found in clusters, with strong variation in cluster sizes between different districts. Overall, more remote agro-dealers faced less competition, resulting in fewer stocked product choices and charging higher prices to customers, even after controlling for travel time from district headquarters. Remote farmers are disadvantaged in their uptake of new technologies and critical production inputs due to lack of competition among agro-dealers. Our results suggest that highly aggregated and/or simplified measures of market access fail to reflect important heterogeneity in the market access conditions faced by farmers; a better understanding of distribution networks and competition is needed.

Despite evidence supporting naltrexone as an effective treatment for alcohol use disorder, its use in emergency department (ED) patients has not been described. We implemented a protocol that combined substance use navigation with either oral naltrexone or extended-release intramuscular naltrexone for patients with alcohol use disorder as a strategy to improve follow-up in addiction treatment after ED discharge.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained the following errors.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, rapid, real-world evidence is essential for the development of knowledge and subsequent public health response. In dermatology, provider-facing and patient-facing registries focused on COVID-19 have been important sources of research and new information aimed at guiding optimal patient care. The 7 dermatology registries included in this update now include more than 8000 case reports sourced from physicians and patients from countries all over the world.

Solute concentration time series reflect hydrological and biological drivers through various frequencies, phases, and amplitudes of change. Untangling these signals facilitates the understanding of dynamic ecosystem conditions and transient water quality issues. A case in point is the inference of biogeochemical processes from diel solute concentration variations. This analysis requires approaches capable of isolating subtle diel signals from background variability at other scales. Conventional time series analyses typically assume stationary or deterministic background variability; however, most rivers do not respect such niceties. We developed a time-series filtering method that uses empirical mode decomposition to decompose a measured solute concentration time series into intrinsic mode frequencies. Based on externally supplied mechanistic knowledge, we then filter these modes by periodicity, phase, and coherence with neighboring days. This method is tested on three synthetic series that incorporate environmental variability and sensor noise and on a year of 15 min sampled concentration time series from three hydrologically and ecologically distinct rivers in the eastern United States. The proposed method successfully isolated signals in the measured data sets that corresponded with variability in gross primary productivity. The strength the diel signal isolated through this method was smaller compared to the true signal in the synthetic series; however, uncertainty analysis showed that the process-model-based estimates derived from these signals were similar to other inference methods. This signal decomposition method retains information that can be used for further process modeling while making different assumptions about the data than Fourier and wavelet analyses.

In the current investigation, research studies (n= 30) conducted from 1965 to 2018 were synthesized to examine the mathematics achievement–creativity relationship and the range of factors that could have moderated this relationship. The meta‐analysis included sample size of 11,418 and revealed that there was an overall moderate and statistically significant (r= 0.47, p< .05) positive correlation between mathematics achievement and creativity. The investigation further revealed that the relationship was constant across sample location but stronger when the relationship was examined with mathematical creativity (r= 0.53, p< .05) than with general creativity. Findings from studies conducted after 2000 indicated a stronger relationship between general creativity and mathematics achievement than did findings from studies conducted before 2000. The relationship was the strongest when creativity was measured through the Mathematical Creativity Test (MCT) compared to other measures of general or mathematical creativity. Lastly, the relationship was stronger for elementary and middle school students than for high school students. Possible explanations for these findings in relation to existing theories and the implications for future research are provided.

We present the first observations of the dayside coronal oxygen emission in far ultraviolet (FUV) measured by the Emirates Mars Ultraviolet Spectrometer (EMUS) onboard the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM). The high sensitivity of EMUS is providing an opportunity to observe the tenuous oxygen corona in FUV, which is otherwise difficult to observe. Oxygen resonance fluorescence emission at 130.4 nm provides a measurement of the upper atmospheric and exospheric oxygen. More than 500 oxygen corona profiles are constructed using the long–exposure time cross–exospheric mode (OS4) of EMUS observations. These profiles range from ∼200 km altitude up to several Mars radii (>6 RM) across all seasons and for two Mars years. Our analysis shows that OI 130.4 nm is highly correlated with solar irradiance (solar photoionizing and 130.4 nm illuminating irradiances) as well as changes in the Sun–Mars distance. The prominent short term periodicity in oxygen corona brightness is consistent with the solar rotation period (quasi–27–day). A comparison between the perihelion seasons of Mars Year (MY) 36 and MY 37 shows interannual variability with enhanced emission intensities during MY 37, due to the rise of Solar Cycle 25. These observations show a highly variable oxygen corona, which has significant implications on constraining the photochemical escape of atomic oxygen from Mars. The highly sensitive Emirates Mars Ultraviolet Spectrometer (EMUS) onboard Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) is capable of observing ultraviolet emissions emanating from Mars. Oxygen in the Martian exosphere is hard to see because it's tenuous. In this study, the analysis of long exposure time EMUS optical observations show that the hot oxygen corona on Mars has a short term variability due to solar rotation. Hot oxygen corona also shows a long–term variability that depends on the Sun–Mars distance and the solar cycle progression. When comparing data from two Martian years, it is noticed that the oxygen corona became brighter when the Sun is more active. Brighter O corona is observed during perihelion and dimmer during aphelion, indicating a strong relationship with the Sun‐Mars distanceThe variation in OI 130.4 nm brightness shows a linear correlation with solar EUV irradiance, with a short‐term solar rotation periodicityInterannual variability is observed from MY 36 to MY 37, showing an enhancement in O corona brightness with the rise of Solar Cycle 25 Brighter O corona is observed during perihelion and dimmer during aphelion, indicating a strong relationship with the Sun‐Mars distance The variation in OI 130.4 nm brightness shows a linear correlation with solar EUV irradiance, with a short‐term solar rotation periodicity Interannual variability is observed from MY 36 to MY 37, showing an enhancement in O corona brightness with the rise of Solar Cycle 25

This article explores the growing trend of keeping chickens in New Zealand, driven by the increasing price of eggs. It follows a chicken rescue operation at a free-range egg farm, where volunteers rehome 400 chickens nearing the end of their egg-laying careers. The article discusses the conditions of commercial egg-laying chickens, including the use of colony cages, and the confusion surrounding egg labeling. The rise in chicken ownership is attributed to the high cost of eggs and a cultural shift towards backyard chicken keeping. The COVID-19 pandemic has also contributed to this trend, as people seek self-sufficiency and find comfort in raising chickens. However, there are challenges associated with owning chickens, and some first-time owners lack the necessary knowledge and resources. The article also addresses the issue of male chicks being culled in the egg industry and the efforts of individuals to rescue and care for roosters. Overall, backyard chickens are seen as a symbol of domesticity and a way to reconnect with nature and community. [Extracted from the article]

Quantum Dot downconverters will enable high‐resolution, bright, and wide color gamut displays for all display formats. We have developed a method to directly photopattern densely packed InP/ZnS Quantum Dots that achieve an optical density of 2 at sub 10 µm thicknesses while preserving high photoluminescence quantum yield.

Feed is the greatest expense in pig production and improving efficiency while utilizing lower priced ingredients can help ameliorate this cost. The objective of this experiment was to determine the impact of utilizing a xylanase enzyme (Danisco Xylanase, IFF) on growth performance of pigs fed high fiber diets. We hypothesized that feeding xylanase would improve G:F and ADG when added to a greater fiber diet. To test this hypothesis, 672 PIC 359 x Yorkshire pigs were randomly allotted to pens based on body weight at an average age of 20.8 ± 1.0 d. Pens were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: Control corn/soy diet (CON), Greater fiber diet (up to 40% dried distillers grains and 10% wheat middlings FIB), and Greater fiber diet plus xylanase (XYL). The CON and the FIB diets were formulated to contain the same net energy. In the XYL treatment, xylanase was added on top of the GF diet with no reformulation or energy release assigned to the xylanase. All pigs were weighed and feed disappearance was measured weekly to calculate ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Growth performance data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure in SAS with pen as the experimental unit. There were 17 pens per treatment for CON and FIB and 16 pens per treatment for the XYL treatment. To increase the number of replicates, the trial was conducted over 3 consecutive turns of pigs. Dietary treatment, repetition, week, and two-way interactions were fixed effects. Results were considered significantly different at P≤ 0.05. In the 7-week nursery period, the pigs fed CON had increased ADG (CON: 0.52 kg/d, FIB: 0.48 kg/d, XYL: 0.48 kg/d) and ADFI (CON: 0.85 kg/d, 0.81 kg/d, 0.80 kg/d) when compared with FIB and XYL treatments (P≤ 0.05). There were no differences in growth performance between the pigs fed FIB and the pigs fed XYL in the nursery phase. At the end of the nursery phase, pigs were randomly allotted within treatment to different cohorts in the growing finishing period. In the 12-wk growing finishing period, pigs fed FIB and XYL had decreased ADG compared with pigs fed Control diets (CON: 1.05 kg/d, FIB: 0.97 kg/d, XYL: 0.96 kg/d; P≤ 0.05). In addition, pigs fed XYL diets had improved G:F when compared with both FIB and CON (CON: 0.402, FIB: 0.400, XYL: 0.414; P≤ 0.05). This improvement in feed efficiency in the XYL treatment seemed to be driven by a significant reduction in ADFI (P≤ 0.05), which suggests, adding xylanase to a diet without accounting for energy release, reduces overall feed intake and growing more efficiently, as expected with more available energy.

Purpose:To report the 12-month safety and efficacy outcomes of the investigational device exemption trial evaluating an implantable below-the-knee (BTK) dissection repair device. Materials and Methods:The prospective, multicenter, single-arm Tack-Optimized Balloon Angioplasty (TOBA) II BTK study (ClinicalTrials.govidentifier NCT02942966) evaluated the Tack Endovascular System in the BTK arteries vs objective performance goals derived from a systematic review of BTK angioplasty literature. Patients presenting with Rutherford category 3–5 ischemia were eligible and were enrolled during the procedure if angioplasty resulted in dissection(s) of the BTK arteries. Between February 2017 and December 2018, the study enrolled 233 patients (mean age 74.4±10.0 years; 157 men). Most lesions (93.8%) were de novo; almost half (118/248, 47.6%) were total occlusions. Mean target lesion length was 80±49 mm. Moderate to severe calcium was present in 89 (35.8%) lesions. The 30-day primary safety endpoint was a composite of major adverse limb events (MALE) and all-cause perioperative death (POD). The primary efficacy endpoint was a composite of MALE at 6 months and 30-day POD. These safety and efficacy endpoints were assessed at 12 months as observational endpoints along with amputation-free survival (AFS), freedom from clinically-driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR), vessel patency, and changes from baseline in clinical and quality of life measures. Results:All patients had post-PTA dissection and received at least 1 Tack implant (range 1 to 16). The angiographic core laboratory noted successful resolution of 100% of the 341 treated dissections. At 12 months, 93.4% (170/182) of patients remained free of the composite endpoint of MALE + POD. Tacked segment patency was 81.3% and limb salvage was 96.8% at 12 months; freedom from CD-TLR and AFS were 83.1% and 89.3%, respectively. Sustained Rutherford category improvement was reported in 82.4% of evaluated patients, with 62.4% improving ≥3 categories (p<0.001). Ninety of 124 index wounds (72.5%) healed or improved. Conclusion:The Tack Endovascular System is safe and effective in the treatment of post-angioplasty BTK dissections. Twelve-month outcome data from the TOBA II BTK study demonstrate high rates of patency, limb salvage, and wound healing.

Breast imaging capacity in Tanzania is currently very limited. In a country of almost 60 million people, mammographic units are exceedingly rare. The few existing units are compromised by lack of maintenance and quality control and extremely limited technologist training. Breast cancer incidence continues to increase in East Africa, while the ability to accurately diagnose and differentiate benign and malignant breast disease remains a challenge. However, as ultrasound technology improves and becomes more affordable, there is increased access to devices including hand-held point of care ultrasound. Additionally, there has been a recent expansion in the training of academic radiologists in Tanzania, creating an opportunity for possible sustainable improvement of breast imaging and intervention. Our initial efforts at the Muhimbili Academic Medical Center (MAMC) included social media advertising for symptomatic and asymptomatic women, followed by screening (clinical breast exam) and subsequent ultrasound imaging of symptomatic women. We then initiated a workflow for ultrasound-guided breast intervention, performed biopsies, reviewed results by local pathologists, and brought the postbiopsy patients back for radiologic–pathologic correlation, wound assessment, and coordination of follow-up and treatment.Graphical Abstract

In the 2000s, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) began implementing technological enhancements to reduce the fatality rate of pedestrians involved in crashes. Although these enhancements appeared to be successful at improving safety, there was a need to evaluate their effectiveness. This research evaluates the safety impacts of several pedestrian crossing enhancements using Utah-specific compliance rates of drivers as a surrogate safety measure. This study analyzes enhanced pedestrian crossings to determine the factors that affect the compliance of driver yielding in Utah and provides a statistical analysis to prove the significance of each factor on compliance. The results show that the “High-intensity Activated crossWalK” (HAWK) is more effective at reducing the probability of a non-compliant event compared with an overhead flashing beacon (OFB), and that an OFB is more effective at reducing the probability of a non-compliant event compared with a rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) or an overhead rectangular rapid flashing beacon (ORRFB). The results show that adding a pedestrian enhancement to a marked crosswalk at a location with five lanes and speed limit between 35 mph and 45 mph can increase compliance rate by 97% for the HAWK, 77% for the OFB, and 57% for the RRFB and ORRFB.

Although the potential value of RNA as a target for new small molecule therapeutics is becoming increasingly credible, the physicochemical properties required for small molecules to selectively bind to RNA remain relatively unexplored. To investigate the druggability of RNAs with small molecules, we have employed affinity mass spectrometry, using the Automated Ligand Identification System (ALIS), to screen 42 RNAs from a variety of RNA classes, each against an array of chemically diverse drug-like small molecules (~50,000 compounds) and functionally annotated tool compounds (~5100 compounds). The set of RNA–small molecule interactions that was generated was compared with that for protein–small molecule interactions, and naïve Bayesian models were constructed to determine the types of specific chemical properties that bias small molecules toward binding to RNA. This set of RNA-selective chemical features was then used to build an RNA-focused set of ~3800 small molecules that demonstrated increased propensity toward binding the RNA target set. In addition, the data provide an overview of the specific physicochemical properties that help to enable binding to potential RNA targets. This work has increased the understanding of the chemical properties that are involved in small molecule binding to RNA, and the methodology used here is generally applicable to RNA-focused drug discovery efforts.

Ethiopia has achieved the second highest maize yield in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, farmers’ maize yields are still much lower than on-farm and on-station trial yields, and only ca. 20% of the estimated water-limited potential yield. This article provides a comprehensive national level analysis of the drivers of maize yields in Ethiopia, by decomposing yield gaps into efficiency, resource and technology components, and accounting for a broad set of detailed input and crop management choices. Stochastic frontier analysis was combined with concepts of production ecology to estimate and explain technically efficient yields, the efficiency yield gap and the resource yield gap. The technology yield gap was estimated based on water-limited potential yields from the Global Yield Gap Atlas. The relative magnitudes of the efficiency, resource and technology yield gaps differed across farming systems; they ranged from 15% (1.6 t/ha) to 21% (1.9 t/ha), 12% (1.3 t/ha) to 25% (2.3 t/ha) and 54% (4.8 t/ha) to 73% (7.8 t/ha), respectively. Factors that reduce the efficiency yield gap include: income from non-farm sources, value of productive assets, education and plot distance from home. The resource yield gap can be explained by sub-optimal input use, from a yield perspective. The technology yield gap comprised the largest share of the total yield gap, partly due to limited use of fertilizer and improved seeds. We conclude that targeted but integrated policy design and implementation is required to narrow the overall maize yield gap and improve food security.

This paper addresses a solution for an unmet need in the off-the-shelf antenna market. That unmet need is for a low-cost, wideband, Very-High and Ultra-High Frequency (VHF and UHF) and horizontally-polarised antenna that is suitable for mounting on vehicles. The solution that is described here is a magnetic field antenna that performs in the bands of interest, where its performance has been enhanced by the use of high-frequency magnetic materials. Although this antenna is not yet available commercially, it can be fabricated using readily available materials. Comparison data are presented that show that the magnetic-field antenna has reception characteristics very similar to currently-available antennas, although it is far better suited for mobile applications.