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Propagule dispersal is a crucial aspect of the survival and reproduction of sessile organisms, such as plants and fungi. As such, the colours of fleshy fruits serve as a visual cue for animal dispersers. However, little is known about how, or whether, specific traits of fungal fruiting bodies, such as colour or shape, attract animal dispersers, and additionally the identities of fungal dispersers are poorly understood. Globally, most truffle-like fungi are dull-coloured, subterranean, and likely have scents that are attractive to mammalian dispersers. In Aotearoa-New Zealand, however, brightly coloured truffle-like fungi that emerge from the forest floor have seemingly proliferated. This proliferation has prompted the hypothesis that they are adapted to dispersal by a bird-dominated fauna. In our study, we used the literature and citizen science data (GBIF) to explore whether colourful species occur at a higher proportion of the total truffle-like fungi flora in Aotearoa-New Zealand than elsewhere in the world. In addition, we tested for a relationship between biotic factors (avian frugivory and forest cover) and abiotic factors (precipitation, radiation, and temperature) and the prevalence of brightly coloured truffle-like fungi across the world. The most colourful truffle-like fungi are in three defined regions: Australia, South and Central America and the Caribbean, and Aotearoa-NZ. Potential dispersers and the environment both relate to the distribution of truffle-like fungi: we found that increasing levels of frugivory were associated with higher proportions of colourful truffle-like fungi. This finding provides new insights into drivers of certain fungal traits, and their interactions between birds and fungi. Unique ecosystems, such as Aotearoa-NZ's bird-dominated biota, provide fascinating opportunities to explore how plants and fungi interact with the sensory systems of animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals and plants trick others in an extraordinary diversity of ways to gain fitness benefits. Mimicry and deception can, for example, lure prey, reduce the costs of parental care or aid in pollination–in ways that impose fitness costs on the exploited party. The evolutionary maintenance of such asymmetric relationships often relies on these costs being mitigated through counter-adaptations, low encounter rates, or indirect fitness benefits. However, these mechanisms do not always explain the evolutionary persistence of some classic deceptive interactions. Sexually deceptive pollination (in which plants trick male pollinators into mating with their flowers) has evolved multiple times independently, mainly in the southern hemisphere and especially in Australasia and Central and South America. This trickery imposes considerable costs on the males: they miss out on mating opportunities, and in some cases, waste their limited sperm on the flower. These relationships appear stable, yet in some cases there is little evidence suggesting that their persistence relies on counter-adaptations, low encounter rates, or indirect fitness benefits. So, how might these relationships persist? Here, we introduce and explore an additional hypothesis from systems biology: that some species are robust to exploitation. Robustness arises from a species' innate traits and means they are robust against costs of exploitation. This allows species to persist where a population without those traits would not, making them ideal candidates for exploitation. We propose that this mechanism may help inform new research approaches and provide insight into how exploited species might persist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the development of novel/state-of-art computational framework to accurately predict the degree of binder activity of a reclaimed asphalt pavement sample as a percentage of the indirect tensile strength (ITS) using a reduced number of input variables that are relatively easy to obtain, namely compaction temperature, air voids and ITS. Different machine learning (ML) techniques were applied to obtain the most accurate data representation model. Specifically, three ML techniques were applied: 6th-degree multivariate polynomial regression with regularization, artificial neural network and random forest regression. The three techniques produced models with very similar precision, reporting a mean absolute error ranging from 12.2 to 12.8% of maximum ITS on the test data set. The work presented in this paper is an evolution in terms of data analysis of the results obtained within the interlaboratory tests conducted by Task Group 5 of the RILEM Technical Committee 264 on Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement. Hence, despite it has strong bonds with this framework, this work was developed independently and can be considered as a natural follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transportation agencies are increasingly incorporating reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in asphalt mixtures due to the scarcity and increased costs of virgin resources. The usage of RAP brings both economic as well as environmental benefits. Nonetheless, because RAP is an aged, stiff, and brittle material, utilizing it in large quantities can make the pavement more prone to cracking and reduce its service life. Recycling agents (rejuvenators) are additives typically applied to partially restore the properties of aged asphalt binders and facilitate using higher RAP contents. While considerable effort has been made on evaluating the influences of recycling agents on asphalt binders' performance, the rejuvenation mechanisms of recycling agents have not yet been thoroughly examined. This study's objective was to evaluate the influence of various types of recycling agents on the properties of asphalt binder blends containing 50% RAP binder. The oxidative stability of the recycling agents and rejuvenated binder blends was evaluated utilizing thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The glass transition region and the compatibility of the binder blends were assessed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Finally, atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments were conducted to study the mechanisms of the recycling agents at the nanoscale level. The results revealed a relationship between the phases detected in the microstructure and the physical characteristics of the binder blends. DSC analysis showed that after the inclusion of recycling agents, the breadth and temperature of the glass transition region were reduced, indicating the formation of a less brittle material. AFM observations showed that the dispersion of the polar molecular associations in the RAP binder correlated with the changes in the glass transition region as measured using the DSC. The study's findings were used to characterize the effectiveness of recycling agents based on the thermal, microstructural, and rheological properties of rejuvenated binder blends to help explain the mechanisms of recycling agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: School-based oral health programs (SBOHPs) provide opportunities to address oral health inequities by providing convenient access points for care. No published guidelines on SBOHP implementation existed. Our work describes how philanthropic, public, and academic organizations partnered to support dental safety net providers with designing comprehensive SBOHPs in North and South Carolina. Description: A multi-sector leadership team was established to manage a new SBOHP philanthropic-funded grant program organized into two phases, Readiness and Implementation, with the former a 6-month planning period in preparation of the latter. Readiness included technical assistance (TA) delivered through coaching and 15 online learning modules organized in four domains: operations, finance, enabling services, and impact. Organizations could apply for implementation grants after successful TA completion. Process evaluation was used including a Readiness Stoplight Report for tracking progression. Assessment: Ten Readiness grantees completed the TA. A variety of models resulted, including mobile, portable and fixed clinics. Descriptive analysis was conducted on the readiness stoplight reports. Components of the operation and finance domains required were the most time-intensive, specifically the development of policy manuals, production goals, and financial performance tracking. Conclusion: The program's structure resulted in (a) a two-state learning community, (b) SBOHP practice and policy alignment, and (c) coordinated program distribution. TA improvements are planned to account for COVID-19 threats, including school closures, space limitations, and transmission fears. Telehealth, non-aerosolizing procedures, and improved scheduling and communication can address concerns. Organizations considering SBOHPs should explore similar recommendations to navigate adverse circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV rapid testing algorithms (RTAs) using any two orthogonal rapid tests (RTs) allow for on-site confirmation of infection. RTs vary in performance characteristics therefore the selection of RTs in an algorithm may affect identification of infection, particularly if acute. National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) assessed RTAs among men who have sex with men recruited using anonymous venue-based sampling. Different algorithms were evaluated among participants who self-reported never having received a positive HIV test result prior to the interview. NHBS project areas performed sequential or parallel RTs using whole blood. Participants with at least one reactive RT were offered anonymous linkage to care and provided a dried blood spot (DBS) for testing at CDC. Discordant results (RT-1 reactive/RT-2 non-reactive) were tested at CDC with lab protocols modified for DBS. DBS were also tested for HIV-1 RNA (VL) and antiretroviral (ARV) drug levels. Of 6500 RTAs, 238 were RT-1 reactive; of those, 97.1% (231/238) had concordant results (RT-1/RT-2 reactive) and 2.9% (7/238) had discordant results. Five DBS associated with discordant results were available for confirmation at CDC. Four had non-reactive confirmatory test results that implied RT-1 false reactivity; one had ambiguous confirmatory test results which was non-reactive in further testing. Regardless of order and type of RT used, RTAs demonstrated high concordant results in the population surveyed. Additional laboratory testing on DBS following discordant results confirmed no infection. Implementing RTAs in the context of anonymous venue-based HIV testing could be an option when laboratory follow-up is not practicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated effects of differing gel volumes on pharmacokinetics (PK). IQB4012, a gel containing the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor IQP-0528 and tenofovir (TFV), was applied to the pigtailed macaque vagina and rectum. Vaginal gel volumes (1% loading of both drugs) were 0.5 or 1.5 ml; following wash-out, 1 or 4 ml of gel were then applied rectally. Blood, vaginal, and rectal fluids were collected at 0, 2, 4, and 24 h. Vaginal and rectal tissue biopsies were collected at 4 and 24 h. There were no statistically significant differences in concentrations for either drug between gel volumes within compartments at matched time points. After vaginal gel application, median IQP-0528 concentrations were ~ 104-105 ng/g, 105-106 ng/ml, and 103-105 ng/ml in vaginal tissues, vaginal fluids, and rectal fluids, respectively (over 24 h). Median vaginal TFV concentrations were 1-2 logs lower than IQP-0528 levels at matched time points. After rectal gel application, median IQP-0528 and TFV concentrations in rectal fluids were ~ 103-105 ng/ml and ~ 102-103 ng/ml, respectively. Concentrations of both drugs sampled in rectal tissues were low (~ 101-103 ng/g). For 1 ml gel, half of sampled rectal tissues had undetectable concentrations of either drug, and over half of sampled rectal fluids had undetectable TFV concentrations. These results indicate differences in drug delivery between the vaginal and rectal compartments, and that smaller vaginal gel volumes may not significantly compromise microbicide PK and prophylactic potential. However, effects of rectal gel volume on PK for both drugs were less definitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The goal of this research was to understand how cancer survivors cope with the financial consequences of their disease.Methods: Twenty-six cancer survivors who self-identified as having experienced financial hardship related to their disease were interviewed. Transcripts of these interviews were analyzed using constructivist grounded theory approach. An analysis of codes related to coping strategies was conducted, and findings were stratified based on established coping theories (Lazarus and Folkman and Moos and Holahan) previously applied to coping with serious/chronic illnesses.Results: Participants used both person-oriented/emotion-focused and task/problem-focused coping skills to confront the financial consequences of their disease trajectory. Problem-focused skills included dealing with debt, accessing financial assistance, making lifestyle changes, seeking information and education, altering treatment protocols, being proactive, and negotiating insurance. Emotion-focused tasks included using personal strengths, expressing emotion, accessing social support, being determined, and taking care of oneself. Results were further analyzed using Moos and Holahan's framework of coping skills; examples of each of these coping skills were identified in the interview data.Conclusions: Facing serious financial ramifications due to a cancer diagnosis calls forth coping skills and tasks that can be categorized using coping theories traditionally applied to coping with the illness itself. Cancer patients are often confronted with dual threats: the physical and emotional impact of the illness and the loss of financial security and the lifestyle that they have worked to maintain. Interventions with cancer survivors should include facilitating effective coping with the financial implications of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Design of intravaginal rings (IVRs) for delivery of antiretrovirals is often guided by in vitro release under sink conditions, based on the assumption that in vivo release will follow a similar release profile. Methods: We conducted a dose-ranging study in the female reproductive tract of pigtail macaques using matrix IVRs containing IQP-0528, a poorly soluble but highly potent antiretroviral drug with an IC of 146 ng/mL. These IVRs consisted of drug-loaded segments, 15.6% IQP-0528 in Tecoflex 85A, comprising either all, half, or a quarter of the entire ring. Results: In vitro release under sink conditions demonstrates loading-proportional release, with a cumulative 30-day release of 48.5 ± 2.2 mg for our 100% loaded ring, 24.8 ± .36 mg from our 50% loaded ring, and 13.99 ± 1.58 mg from our 25% loaded ring. In vivo, while drug concentration in vaginal fluid is well in excess of IQP-0528's EC, we find no statistical difference between the different ring loadings in either swab drug levels or drug released from our rings. Conclusions: We show that in vitro release may not accurately reflect in vivo release, particularly for poorly soluble drugs. All tested loadings of our IVRs are capable of delivering IQP-0528 well in excess of the IC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For students of the health care professions to succeed in today's health care environment, they must be prepared to collaborate with other professionals and practice on interdisciplinary teams. As most will care for patients with cancer, they must also understand the principles of palliative care and its integration into oncology. This article reports the success of one university's effort to design and implement an interdisciplinary curriculum teaching team-based palliative care in oncology which was mandatory for medical, nursing, social work, and chaplaincy students. Quantitative evaluation indicated that students made significant improvements related to palliative care knowledge and skills and readiness for interprofessional education. Qualitative feedback revealed that students appreciated the experiential aspects of the curriculum most, especially the opportunity to observe palliative teams at work and practice team-based skills with other learners. While there exist many obstacles to interprofessional education and hands-on learning, the value of such experiences to the learners justifies efforts to initiate and continue similar programs in the health sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our exploratory study examined rural-urban differences in dental care utilization during early childhood among Medicaid-enrolled children aged younger than 4 years in South Carolina. We conducted a secondary data analysis using Medicaid data. Dependent variables included preventive dental visits, use of medical settings (emergency room [ER] and primary care [PC] offices) for dental reasons, receipt of fluoride varnish, and dental home status. The primary independent variable was child's area of residence, rural or urban. The control variables were child's age, gender, race, and special healthcare need status. In adjusted analyses, rural children were found to have significantly higher odds of lacking preventive dental visits, fluoride varnishes, and dental homes as well as using medical settings for dental reasons compared to urban children. This difference, however, was not a simple function of rural residence. Other variables such as race and special healthcare need status interacted with rurality in explaining the differences in the outcomes of interest except visiting medical settings for dental reasons. Children under age of 2 years had higher odds of undesirable outcomes compared to those aged older than 2 years. Significant disparities in dental care utilization were evident among rural, Medicaid-enrolled preschool-aged children in South Carolina. While the state has addressed Medicaid reimbursement and related policies for nearly 10 years, their impact may be disproportionately effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the prevalence of and factors associated with violent and heated disagreements in the Asian American families, with an emphasis on place of birth differences between parent and child. Data were obtained from the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health, limited to five states with the highest concentration of Asian-Americans ( n = 793). Multivariable analysis used generalized logistic regression models with a three-level outcome, violent and heated disagreement versus calm discussion. Violent disagreements were reported in 13.7% of Asian-American homes and 9.9% of white homes. Differential parent-child place of birth was associated with increased odds for heated disagreement in Asian-American families. Parenting stress increased the likelihood of violent disagreements in both Asian-American and white families. Asian-American families are not immune to potential family violence. Reducing parenting stress and intervening in culturally appropriate ways to reduce generation differences should be violence prevention priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was undertaken to characterize the effects of constitutive expression of the hedgehog transcriptional activator, Gli2, in porcine skin. The keratinocyte-specific human transgene, K5-hGli2ΔN, was used to produce transgenic porcine lines via somatic cell nuclear transfer techniques. In mice, K5-hGli2ΔN induces epithelial downgrowths resembling basal cell carcinomas. Our porcine model also developed these basal cell carcinoma-like lesions, however gross tumor development was not appreciated. In contrast to the murine model, diffuse epidermal changes as well as susceptibility to cutaneous infections were seen in the swine model. Histologic analysis of transgenic piglets revealed generalized epidermal changes including: epidermal hyperplasia (acanthosis), elongated rete ridges, parakeratotic hyperkeratosis, epidermal neutrophilic infiltration, capillary loop dilation and hypogranulosis. By 2 weeks of age, the transgenic piglets developed erythematic and edematous lesions at high contact epidermal areas and extensor surfaces of distal limb joints. Despite antibiotic treatment, these lesions progressed to a deep bacterial pyoderma and pigs died or were euthanized within weeks of birth. Non-transgenic littermates were phenotypically normal by gross and histological analysis. In summary, constitutive expression of the human hGli2ΔN in keratinocytes, results in cutaneous changes that have not been reported in the K5-hGli2ΔN murine model. These findings indicate a need for a multiple species animal model approach in order to better understand the role of Gli2 in mammalian skin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives We examined the prevalence and correlates of potentially violent disagreements among AI/AN families with children. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional examination of data from the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health, limited to seven states for which AI/AN race/ethnicity was available in public use files (Alaska, Arizona, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota). Disagreements were classified based on how the family deals with conflict. If disagreements involved actual (hitting) or symbolic (throwing) violence, even rarely, the household was categorized as having “potentially violent disagreements,” with heated argument and shouting being classified as “heated disagreement.” Parenting stress and demographic characteristics were included as potential correlates. Results Potentially violent disagreements were reported by 8.4% of AI/AN and 8.4% of white families. The odds for potentially violent disagreements were markedly higher among parents reporting high parenting stress, in both AI/AN (OR 7.20; CI 3.45–15.00) and white (3.59, CI 2.71–4.75) families. High parenting stress had similar effects on the odds for heated discussion. Having a child with special health care needs was associated with parenting stress. Conclusions Questions about disagreement style may be useful as potential screens for domestic violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viscoplastic constitutive equations offer improved prediction of the accumulated permanent deformation in comparison with linear elastic or viscoelastic models. An elastic-viscoplastic continuum model is proposed to simulate the permanent deformation of an asphalt mixture at WesTrack. After analysis of vertical compressive stress under the same loading condition and layer thickness at a WesTrack replacement section, strain rates were determined to characterize asphalt mixtures subjected to loading at a represent ative vehicle speed. Uniaxial compressive strength tests were conducted at seven different strain rates to obtain the material parameters of elastic-viscoplastic constitutive model. In addition, triaxial compressive strength tests were performed at a low strain rate and four different confinement pressures to obtain material parameters for the Drucker-Prager yield function. The test temperature was 60°C based on the critical temperature for permanent deformation at the field section. The developed model and its calculated parameters were used in finite element simulation of the Simple Shear Tests at Constant Height (SST-CH) and results were compared to experimental measurements at 60°C. Reasonable agreement was found between predicted results and the experimental SST-CH measurements indicating the validity of the model and its parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specific recognition by EcoRV endonuclease of its cognate, sharply bent GATATC site at the center TA step occurs solely via hydrophobic interaction with thymine methyl groups. Mechanistic kinetic analyses of base analog-substituted DNAs at this position reveal that direct readout provides 5 kcal mol?1 toward specificity, with an additional 6?10 kcal mol?1 arising from indirect readout. Crystal structures of several base analog complexes show that the major-groove hydrophobic contacts are crucial to forming required divalent metal-binding sites, and that indirect readout operates in part through the sequence-dependent free-energy cost of unstacking the center base-pair step of the DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]