Search

Pavement maintenance is significant to maintain an efficient and safe operation of the road network and meet the need of the drivers and their vehicles. The soundness of the pavement layers affects the overall performance of the pavement, with surface course being the layer that requires high quality materials to withstand direct contact with repeated traffic loading in all weather conditions. Surface treatments are a common maintenance measure to maintain serviceability, safety, and pavement longevity. In this paper, a surface treatment named cold microsurfacing containing water-based epoxy-modified bitumen emulsion (WEB), a more eco-friendly and cost-effective material than conventional microsurfacing, is studied in the laboratory. Three laboratory tests were conducted to characterise microsurfacing: sand patch test, pendulum test and indirect tensile strength test (IDT). Volumetric properties and microscopic analysis of the compacted specimens using a digital microscope are also shown. The results showed that unmodified bitumen emulsion samples had higher air void content (%) than WEB samples and higher mass loss. Overall, WEB samples exhibited fluctuating curing rates although storing conditions were similar to all tested samples. Voids filled with asphalt (VFA) (%) and voids in mineral aggregate (VMA) (%) were higher for unmodified bitumen emulsion samples and VFA results from all samples indicated an equally effective coating of aggregates. WEB samples exhibited better skid resistance characteristics and greater braking resistance than unmodified bitumen emulsion samples. IDT strength tests were comparable for all samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review essay discusses recent Aristotelian interventions in the philosophy of science and biology, focusing on the recovery of formal and final causes. The essay examines four books that explore these topics, emphasizing the role of mathematics in each. One of the books argues that Aristotelian-Thomistic metaphysics is presupposed by scientific methods and various scientific disciplines. However, the reviewer questions the logical dependence between science and metaphysics proposed by the author and suggests that a different mode of mathematical modeling may offer a more comprehensive approach to understanding morphological change and form. Another book explores the reconciliation of Aristotelianism with emergentist approaches to science, particularly biology. The author argues for a dispositionalist metaphysics and critiques classical and dynamic emergence theories. While the book presents a comprehensive survey of relevant literature and offers a synthesis of ideas, it falls short in addressing conflicts between emergence and hylomorphism. Additionally, another book examines the tension between evolution and hylomorphism, proposing a neo-Aristotelian theory of biological natural kinds essentialism that incorporates dispositionalism. The author challenges the traditional understanding of eidos and explores the role of dispositional properties in ontogenesis and developmental pathways. The article discusses two books that explore the concept of final and formal causality in relation to evolution and biology from an Aristotelian perspective. The first book reconstructs teleology as an environment-sensitive energy that is not directed towards any specific instance or collection of gene expression. The second book aims to restore final [Extracted from the article]

Background and Objectives Methods Results Discussion and Conclusions Scientific Significance Risky substance use (RSU) is common among people with chronic pain and is associated with worse pain treatment outcomes. Nonopioid treatment is recommended, but it is unknown whether people with RSU use different or fewer pain treatment modalities. This study describes use of different pain treatments by veterans with and without RSU and those receiving versus not receiving opioid medication.Veterans (N = 924) who filed service‐connected disability claims related to musculoskeletal conditions and rated their pain four or higher on the Numeric Rating Scale, reported on 25 different pain services in the preceding 90 days. Recent RSU was identified via Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Test (ASSIST) cutoffs and/or nail sample toxicology.Overall, RSU was not associated with number of provider‐delivered or self‐delivered pain modalities. Over‐the‐counter medications (71%), self‐structured exercise (69%), and nonopioid prescription medications (38%) were the most used modalities. Veterans receiving prescribed opioids (8.4%) were more likely to see primary care, receive injections, and attend exercise and/or meditation classes, compared to those without opioid prescriptions.Opioid and nonopioid pain treatment utilization did not differ based on RSU, and those prescribed opioids were more likely to engage in other nonopioid pain treatments. Regardless of RSU, veterans appear willing to try provider‐delivered (58%) and self‐delivered (79%) pain treatment.In this first‐ever evaluation of 25 different pain treatment modalities among veterans with and without RSU, people with RSU did not use less treatment modalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Purpose Methods Results Conclusions Optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLDs) can be bleached and reused, but questions remain about the effects of repeated bleaching and fractionation schedules on OSLD performance.The aim of this study was to investigate how light sources with different wavelengths and different fractionation schemes affect the performance of reused OSLDs.OSLDs (N = 240) were irradiated on a cobalt‐60 beam in different step sizes until they reached an accumulated dose of 50 Gy. Between irradiations they were bleached using light sources of different wavelengths: the Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core (IROC) bleaching system (our control); monochromatic red, green, yellow, and blue lights; and a polychromatic white light. Sensitivity and linearity‐based correction factors were determined as a function of dose step‐size. The rate of signal removal from different light sources was characterized by sampling these OSLDs at various time points during their bleaching process. Relative doses were calculated according to the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group‐191. Signal repopulation was investigated by irradiating OSLDs (N = 300) to various delivered doses of 2, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 Gy in a single fraction, bleached with one of the colors, and read over time. Fractionation effects were evaluated by irradiating OSLDs up to 30 Gy in different size steps. After reading, the OSLDs were bleached following IROC protocol. OSLDs (N = 40) received irradiations in 5, 10, 15, 30 Gy fractions until they had an accumulated dose of 30 Gy; The sensitivity response of these OSLDs was compared with reference OSLDs that had no accumulated dose.Light sources with polychromatic spectrums (IROC and white) bleached OSLDs faster than did sources with monochromatic spectra. Polychromatic light sources (white light and IROC system) provided the greatest dose stability for OSLDs that had larger amounts of accumulated dose. Signal repopulation was related to the choice of bleaching light source, timing of bleaching, and amount of accumulated dose. Changes to relative dosimetry were more pronounced in OSLDs that received larger fractions. At 5‐Gy fractions and above, all OSLDs had heightened sensitivity, with OSLDs exposed to 30‐Gy fractions being 6.4% more sensitive than reference dosimeters.The choice of bleaching light plays a role in how fast an OSLD is bleached and how much accumulated dose an OSLD can be exposed to while maintaining stable signal sensitivity. We have expanded upon investigations into signal repopulation to show that bleaching light plays a role in the migration of deep traps to dosimetric traps after bleaching. Our research concludes that the bleaching light source and fractionation need to be considered when reusing OSLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide high-probability bounds on the condition number of random feature matrices. In particular, we show that if the complexity ratio |$N/m$|⁠ , where |$N$| is the number of neurons and |$m$| is the number of data samples, scales like |$\log ^{-1}(N)$| or |$\log (m)$|⁠ , then the random feature matrix is well-conditioned. This result holds without the need of regularization and relies on establishing various concentration bounds between dependent components of the random feature matrix. Additionally, we derive bounds on the restricted isometry constant of the random feature matrix. We also derive an upper bound for the risk associated with regression problems using a random feature matrix. This upper bound exhibits the double descent phenomenon and indicates that this is an effect of the double descent behaviour of the condition number. The risk bounds include the underparameterized setting using the least squares problem and the overparameterized setting where using either the minimum norm interpolation problem or a sparse regression problem. For the noiseless least squares or sparse regression cases, we show that the risk decreases as |$m$| and |$N$| increase. The risk bound matches the optimal scaling in the literature and the constants in our results are explicit and independent of the dimension of the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes between patients undergoing scarf osteotomy and scarf-Akin osteotomy for the management of hallux valgus deformity. A systematic review of the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies reporting clinical data following scarf osteotomy and scarf-Akin osteotomy for the treatment of hallux valgus were included and assessed. The level and quality of evidence of the included studies were also evaluated. Four studies were included. In total, 388 patients (408 toes) underwent scarf osteotomy alone and 287 patients (295 toes) underwent scarf-Akin osteotomy for the treatment of hallux valgus deformity. There was no difference in postoperative American orthopedic foot and ankle society scores (p = 0.7828), visual analog scale scores (p = 0.4558), hallux valgus angle (p = 0.5116), intermetatarsal angle (p = 0.4830), proximal to distal phalangeal articular angle (p = 0.2411) between the scarf alone cohort and the scarf-Akin cohort. Similarly, there was no difference in complication rates (p = 0.6881) nor secondary surgical procedure rates (p = 0.3678) between the 2 cohorts. Finally, there was a higher recurrence rate in the scarf-alone cohort (11.4%) compared to the scarf-Akin cohort (5.7%), but this was not statistically significant (p = 0.4414). This systematic review demonstrates lower recurrence rates following scarf-Akin osteotomy compared to scarf osteotomy alone for the treatment of hallux valgus deformity. No difference in complication rates were noted between the 2 cohorts. Our review demonstrates that both the scarf osteotomy and the scarf-Akin osteotomy may be effective and safe procedures, however, the scarf-Akin osteotomy may provide more long-term benefit in the setting of moderate to severe hallux valgus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The normalization of deviance in the form of prison rape finds common themes in media, rape myths, and common discourse. However, these portrayals fail to include real world policies and the perspectives of incarcerated populations. As such, the normalization of deviance is assessed in the context of the implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). A thematic analysis was conducted using qualitative survey responses from 407 males incarcerated in three medium-level security state prisons in the Southern United States. Surprisingly, respondents rejected stereotypical notions of sexuality (institutional deviancy) and snitching (cultural deviancy) surrounding prison rape. Rather, respondents favored standardized safety procedures and institutional responses designed to reduced risk, while also endorsing views that traditional snitching codes were not applicable to prison rape. This study provides implications for researchers and practitioners, particularly in the context of the implementation of PREA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Names for nine species of Orchidaceae from New Zealand described by William Colenso in 1886 are here typified. This includes lectotypes for Earina alba Colenso, Gastrodia leucopetala Colenso, Pterostylis patens Colenso, P. rubella Colenso, P. tristis Colenso and Orthoceras rubrum Colenso and neotypes for Microtis papillosa Colenso, Prasophyllum pauciflorum Colenso and Thelymitra alba Colenso. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Talking Mats® is a visual communication tool which can support people to express their views. Talking Mats has been used in research as a more inclusive data collection tool, however, analysing the varied data produced by Talking Mats is challenging, and there is a lack of guidance on how to analyse and report these data. We sought to provide an overview of ways in which Talking Mats data have been analysed and reported. We conducted a narrative review of studies that reported using Talking Mats to collect empirical data, to examine how these studies analysed and reported these data. Studies used qualitative analysis techniques, such as: thematic, content, conversation, and framework analysis. Studies also reported clinical and research case studies and observations of non-verbal communication. Quantitative analyses were used less often, and involved transforming qualitative data into quantitative data (e.g., observing symbol placements). Many studies did not describe their methods in sufficient depth. We developed the Talking Mats Reporting Criteria to support researchers and practitioners to describe their Talking Mats protocols. These Reporting Criteria were developed iteratively and collaboratively between Talking Mats experts and members of the Talking Mats Research Network. Researchers and practitioners should describe their analytical approach in further detail and report the Talking Mats Effectiveness Framework of Functional Communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent moves from qualitative to post-qualitative inquiry can be traced back to various developments and methodological quandaries. Posthuman philosophy and methodology is one origin story of the move to post-qualitative inquiry. This broad approach contests the humanist impulse at the heart of qualitative inquiry and demands imaginative forms of post-qualitative inquiry, theory and research that engage with the more-than-human realities and nuances of everyday life. What might it mean to hold post-qualitative sympathies and tackle a foundational methodology of qualitative inquiry (ethnography) from a quintessentially posthuman position (disability)? With reference to an ongoing ESRC funded project – Humanising Healthcare – we provide two writings about the possibilities and challenges of failing ethnography. Through reference to critical posthumanities and critical disability studies theory, we attend to broken, patchwork, kintsugi and crip ethnographies that, we argue, allow us to sit in the liminal space between qualitative/post-qualitative research and human/posthuman theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrically‐directed, isothermal response of liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) to an applied electric field is a compelling approach to realize spatially tailorable, sequence‐controllable, and high‐frequency deformation. The electromechanical response is facilitated by coating aligned LCEs with compliant electrodes. Upon application of an electric field, the electrodes attract and generate Maxwell stress. The directional difference in moduli for aligned LCEs produces directional deformation of the material and does not require mechanical bias or framing. Here, LCEs prepared from a newly reported thiol‐ene reaction are explored as DEAs with improved mechanical and dielectric properties. This report details that incorporating a difunctional liquid crystalline monomer composed of allyl ether functional groups reduces Young's modulus, increases the dielectric constant, and improves cyclic recovery compared to an analogous LCE prepared by thiol‐ene polymerization. Electrically‐induced, isothermal deformation of as much as 30% strain is reported. The facile chemistry and enhanced electromechanical response reported here may enable the functional integration of LCEs in applications such as robotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron regulatory proteins (IRP1 and IRP2) are the master regulators of mammalian iron homeostasis. They bind to the iron-responsive elements (IREs) of the transcripts of iron-related genes to regulate their expression, thereby maintaining cellular iron availability. The primary method to measure the IRE-binding activity of IRPs is the electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA). This method is particularly useful for evaluating IRP1 activity, since IRP1 is a bifunctional enzyme and its protein levels remain similar during conversion between the IRE-binding protein and cytosolic aconitase forms. Here, we exploited a method of using a biotinylated-IRE probe to separate IRE-binding IRPs followed by immunoblotting to analyze the IRE-binding activity. This method allows for the successful measurement of IRP activity in cultured cells and mouse tissues under various iron conditions. By separating IRE-binding IRPs from the rest of the lysates, this method increases the specificity of IRP antibodies and verifies whether a band represents an IRP, thereby revealing some previously unrecognized information about IRPs. With this method, we showed that the S711-phosphorylated IRP1 was found only in the IRE-binding form in PMA-treated Hep3B cells. Second, we found a truncated IRE-binding IRP2 isoform that is generated by proteolytic cleavage on sites in the 73aa insert region of the IRP2 protein. Third, we found that higher levels of SDS, compared to 1–2% SDS in regular loading buffer, could dramatically increase the band intensity of IRPs in immunoblots, especially in HL-60 cells. Fourth, we found that the addition of SDS or LDS to cell lysates activated protein degradation at 37 °C or room temperature, especially in HL-60 cell lysates. As this method is more practical, sensitive, and cost-effective, we believe that its application will enhance future research on iron regulation and metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Orthopedic surgery continues to have one of the lowest rates of female trainees among all medical specialties in the United States. Barriers to pursuing a surgical residency include the challenges of family planning and work–life balance during training. Methods: A systematic literature search of articles published between June 2012 and December 2022 in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases was performed in January 2023 according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis). Studies were included if they evaluated pregnancy and peripartum experience and/or outcomes amongst orthopedic surgeons or trainees. Results: Eighteen studies were included. Up to 67.3% of female orthopedic surgeons and trainees and 38.7% of their male counterparts delayed childbearing during residency. The most reported reasons for this delay included career choice as an orthopedic surgeon, residency training, and reputational concerns among faculty or co‐residents. Infertility ranged from 17.0% to 30.4% in female orthopedic surgeons and up to 31.2% suffered obstetric complications. Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) resulted in 12.4%–56.3% of successful pregnancies. Maternity and paternity leaves ranged from 1 to 11 weeks for trainees with more negative attitudes associated with maternal leave. Conclusions: Female orthopedic trainees and attending delay childbearing, experience higher rates of obstetric complications, and more stigma associated with pregnancy compared to their male colleagues. Program and institutional policies regarding maternity and paternity leave are variable across programs, and therefore, attention should be directed toward standardizing policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Aggregatibacter spp. is a rare cause for cardiac device infections. Due to limited data, the management of Aggregatibacter spp. device infections is not clearly defined but should always involve device removal and prolonged intravenous antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to traditional randomized controlled trials, embedded pragmatic clinical trials (ePCTs) are conducted within healthcare settings with real-world patient populations. ePCTs are intentionally designed to align with health system priorities leveraging existing healthcare system infrastructure and resources to ease intervention implementation and increase the likelihood that effective interventions translate into routine practice following the trial. The NIH Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports the conduct of large-scale ePCT Demonstration Projects that address major public health issues within healthcare systems. The Collaboratory has a unique opportunity to draw on the Demonstration Project experiences to generate lessons learned related to ePCTs and the dissemination and implementation of interventions tested in ePCTs. In this article, we use case studies from six completed Demonstration Projects to summarize the Collaboratory's experience with post-trial interpretation of results, and implications for sustainment (or de-implementation) of tested interventions. We highlight three key lessons learned. First, ineffective interventions (i.e., ePCT is null for the primary outcome) may be sustained if they have other measured benefits (e.g., secondary outcome or subgroup) or even perceived benefits (e.g., staff like the intervention). Second, effective interventions—even those solicited by the health system and/or designed with significant health system partner buy-in—may not be sustained if they require significant resources. Third, alignment with policy incentives is essential for achieving sustainment and scale-up of effective interventions. Our experiences point to several recommendations to aid in considering post-trial sustainment or de-implementation of interventions tested in ePCTs: (1) include secondary outcome measures that are salient to health system partners; (2) collect all appropriate data to allow for post hoc analysis of subgroups; (3) collect experience data from clinicians and staff; (4) engage policy-makers before starting the trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empathy and self-regulation play key roles in prosocial accountability. Meta-analytic evidence for empathy—in relation to gender and a particular genetic variable (OXTR SNP rs53576) – guided design and power analysis to determine the size of this United States sample. We assessed 311 participants (51.4% female; 19% racial or ethnic minority). We conducted tests of hypothesized indirect effects of gender and genotype through empathy to trait and state accountability – reporting replication and extension tests of gratitude, forgivingness and relational repair in a supplement (). Gender tests controlled for SNP group and vice versa. Gender had indirect effects on accountability via empathy (higher in women than men). SNP group indirect effects on accountability via empathy (higher in GGs than A-carriers) showed roles of gender, race/ethnicity and self-regulation. SNP group also had indirect effects on accountability through self-regulation (higher in A-carriers than GGs). Findings underscore empathy and self-regulation in relational accountability and positive psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the optimal risk transfer from an insurance company to a reinsurer. The problem formulation considered in this paper is closely connected to the optimal portfolio problem in finance, with some crucial distinctions. In particular, the insurance company's surplus is here (as is routinely the case) approximated by a Brownian motion, as opposed to the geometric Brownian motion used to model assets in finance. Furthermore, risk exposure is dialled 'down' via reinsurance, rather than 'up' via risky investments. This leads to interesting qualitative differences in the optimal designs. In this paper, using the martingale method, we derive the optimal design as a function of proportional, non-cheap reinsurance design that maximises the quadratic utility of the terminal value of the insurance surplus. We also consider several realistic constraints on the terminal value: a strict lower boundary, the probability (Value at Risk) constraint, and the expected shortfall (conditional Value at Risk) constraints under the $ \mathbb {P} $ P and $ \mathbb {Q} $ Q measures, respectively. In all cases, the optimal reinsurance designs boil down to a combination of proportional protection and option-like protection (stop-loss) of the residual proportion with various deductibles. Proportions and deductibles are set such that the initial capital is fully allocated. Comparison of the optimal designs with the optimal portfolios in finance is particularly interesting. Results are illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteolysis is essential for the control of metabolic pathways and the cell cycle. Bacterial caseinolytic proteases (Clp) use peptidase components, such as ClpP, to degrade defective substrate proteins and to regulate cellular levels of stress-response proteins. To ensure selective degradation, access to the proteolytic chamber of the double–ring ClpP tetradecamer is controlled by a critical gating mechanism of the two axial pores. The binding of conserved loops of the Clp ATPase component of the protease or small molecules, such as acyldepsipeptide (ADEP), at peripheral ClpP ring sites, triggers axial pore opening through dramatic conformational transitions of flexible N-terminal loops between disordered conformations in the "closed" pore state and ordered hairpins in the "open" pore state. In this study, we probe the allosteric communication underlying these conformational changes by comparing residue–residue couplings in molecular dynamics simulations of each configuration. Both principal component and normal mode analyses highlight large-scale conformational changes in the N-terminal loop regions and smaller amplitude motions of the peptidase core. Community network analysis reveals a switch between intra- and inter-protomer coupling in the open–closed pore transition. Allosteric pathways that connect the ADEP binding sites to N-terminal loops are rewired in this transition, with shorter network paths in the open pore configuration supporting stronger intra- and inter-ring coupling. Structural perturbations, either through the removal of ADEP molecules or point mutations, alter the allosteric network to weaken the coupling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heating magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with alternating magnetic fields (AMFs) have applications in biomedical research and cancer therapy. Accurate measurement of the heating efficiency or specific loss power (SLP) generated by the MNPs is essential to assess response(s) in biological systems. Efforts to develop standardized equipment and to harmonize results obtained from various MNP samples and AMF systems have met with little success. Without a standardized magnetic nanoparticle or calorimeter device, objective comparisons of estimated thermal output among laboratories remain a challenge. In addition, the most widely used adiabatic initial slope model fails to account for thermal losses, which are unavoidable. We propose a non-adiabatic method to analyze MNP heating efficiency derived from the Box–Lucas equation, wherein the sample is subjected to several short duration heating pulses. SLP is then estimated from an arithmetic average of the Box–Lucas fitted coefficients obtained from each pulse. Heating experiments were conducted with two identical samples that were placed within vessels having different thermal insulation using the same AMF parameters. Though the samples generated different temperature curves, the pulsed Box–Lucas method produced nearly equivalent SLP estimates. Further, the pulsed test enabled analysis of the heat transfer coefficient providing quantitative measures of sample heat loss throughout the test, with robust statistical confidence. We anticipate this new methodology will aid efforts to standardize measurements of MNP heating efficiency, enabling direct comparison among varied systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives Methods Results Conclusions and scientific significance The provider–patient relationship is integral to medical practice and health outcomes, particularly among vulnerable patient populations. This study compared the provider–patient relationship among pregnant patients with opioid‐use disorder (OUD), who did or did not have a history of moderate to severe trauma.This was an exploratory data analysis of 119 patients enrolled in the Support Models for Addiction Related Treatment trial. Probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was determined by a score ≥ 31 on the PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. The provider–patient relationship was assessed at 26 ± 4 weeks of pregnancy using the Kim Alliance Scale (KAS). Multivariable regression was used to examine the association of KAS with probable PTSD among pregnant people with OUD.The mean KAS score for pregnant participants without probable PTSD (N = 88) was 61.4 (SD ± 2.8) and for pregnant participants with probable PTSD (N = 31) was 59.6 (SD ± 3.7). Results demonstrated significant differences in KAS scores between those with and without probable PTSD after adjusting for demographic variables. Adjusted mean total KAS scores and scores on Empowerment and Communication subscales were significantly lower among those with probable PTSD compared to those without (p = .04 and 0.02, respectively) but did not differ significantly on Collaboration and Integration subscales.Analyses show an association between probable PTSD and provider–patient relationship among pregnant patients with OUD, with those with probable PTSD having a worse alliance with obstetric providers. This novel finding helps characterize the provider–patient relationship among a uniquely vulnerable population and can inform efforts to integrate trauma‐informed practices into prenatal care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role that inhaled particulate matter plays in the development of post-deployment lung disease among US service members deployed to Southwest Asia during the Global War on Terrorism has been difficult to define. There is a persistent gap in data addressing the relationship between relatively short-term (months to a few years) exposures to high levels of particulate matter during deployment and the subsequent development of adverse pulmonary outcomes. Surgical lung biopsies from deployed service members and veterans (DSMs) and non-deployed service members and veterans (NDSMs) who develop lung diseases can be analyzed to potentially identify residual deployment-specific particles and develop associations with pulmonary pathological diagnoses. We examined 52 surgical lung biopsies from 25 DSMs and 27 NDSMs using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to identify any between-group differences in the number and composition of retained inorganic particles, then compared the particle analysis results with the original histopathologic diagnoses. We recorded a higher number of total particles in biopsies from DSMs than from NDSMs, and this difference was mainly accounted for by geologic clays (illite, kaolinite), feldspars, quartz/silica, and titanium-rich silicate mixtures. Biopsies from DSMs deployed to other Southwest Asia regions (SWA-Other) had higher particle counts than those from DSMs primarily deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, due mainly to illite. Distinct deployment-specific particles were not identified. Particles did not qualitatively associate with country of deployment. The individual diagnoses of the DSMs and NDSMs were not associated with elevated levels of total particles, metals, cerium oxide, or titanium dioxide particles. These results support the examination of particle-related lung disease in DSMs in the context of comparison groups, such as NDSMs, to assist in determining the strength of associations between specific pulmonary pathology diagnoses and deployment-specific inorganic particulate matter exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many researchers have noted that media coverage of drugs can be sensationalized and/or have questionable accuracy. Additionally, it has been alleged that the media often treats all drugs as harmful and can fail to differentiate between different types of drugs. Within this context, the researchers sought to deconstruct how media coverage was similar and/or different according to drug type within a national media outlet in Malaysia. Our sample comprised 487 news articles published over a two-year period. Articles were coded to reflect thematic differences in drug framing. We focus on five drugs widely used in Malaysia (amphetamines, opiates, cannabis, cocaine, and kratom) and assess the most frequent themes, crimes, and locations mentioned in reference to each drug. All drugs were primarily covered in a criminal justice context, and articles highlighted concern about the spread of these drugs and their abuse. Drug coverage varied, particularly in association with violent crimes, specific regions, and discussion of legality. We find evidence of both similarities and differences in how drugs were covered. Variation in coverage demonstrated that certain drugs were deemed a heightened threat, as well as reflected broader social/political processes shaping ongoing debates over treatment approaches and legality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Recent treatment advancements in multiple myeloma have led to significant improvements in patient outcomes. Maintenance therapy following autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHCT) is now standard of care and has been demonstrated to prolong and deepen treatment responses. Currently, lenalidomide remains the single agent that has been approved for maintenance post‐AHCT in Europe and the USA which, if tolerated, is continued until disease progression. The treatment landscape is rapidly expanding however, and the optimal personalised maintenance approach for a patient is becoming more complex. Treatment outcomes for patients with high‐risk disease remain poor and choice of maintenance in this population also remains unclear. This review article evaluates up‐to‐date literature regarding established maintenance approaches. It further analyses ongoing studies exploring maintenance regimens using combination and novel agents, approaches to maintenance in patients with cytogenetic high‐risk disease and minimal residual disease response‐adapted strategies that reflect the current evolving treatment paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the StreamVane technology has developed into a mature and streamlined process that can reproduce swirl distortion for ground-test evaluation of fan and compressor performance and durability. A StreamVane device consists of complex turning vanes that accurately output a distorted secondary velocity field at a defined distance downstream. To further advance the applications and conditions in which these devices operate, a research effort was developed and completed to investigate methods to increase critical Mach numbers. The effort was split into three separate stages: (1) Perform high fidelity computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to identify peak Mach number locations within twin and quad swirl vane pack designs; (2) conduct thorough literature reviews on relevant high throughflow techniques; and (3) design and implement selected techniques to evaluate improvements using the same high-fidelity CFD methods. It was predicted that employing blade lean within high-speed vane junctions increased critical Mach numbers by 6.6%, while blade sweep resulted in a 3.5% increase. The results and conclusions from this effort are presented throughout this paper with a primary focus on comparing Mach numbers and swirl profiles between vane packs with and without high throughflow designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To retrospectively evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients treated for syndesmotic injuries with an all-suture construct technique and compare their patient reported outcome scores with historically published outcomes of syndesmotic injuries fixed with suspensory suture buttons. Methods: This was a retrospective case series of patients treated at a Level 1 Trauma Center from May 1, 2018, to June 30, 2022. Ten patients aged 18 and older with unstable syndesmotic injuries treated with all-suture repair. Patients were excluded if they were treated with trans-osseous screws, had previous failed syndesmotic fixation, or suspensory suture button fixation. Patient-reported outcomes including Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot scores, and complications were recorded. Results: In the patients with 6 weeks or more of radiographic follow-up (N = 9), there was no evidence of nonunion, loss of fixation, hardware complication, or whitling of the fibula by the suture. At final follow-up average VAS pain scores were 1.5 out of 10 (range 0–4; SD 1.2), AOFAS ankle and hindfoot scores averaged 89.6 out of 100 (range 86–100; SD 6.1). The pain subscale of the AOFAS score averaged 37.5 out of 40 (range 35–40; SD 2.5). The functional subscale of the AOFAS score averaged 46 out of 50 (range 44–50; SD 3.0). Stiffness was reported in one patient at their follow-up visits, which resolved with continued physical therapy. There were no superficial or deep infections. Conclusions: In conclusion, this case series presents the first clinical outcomes of an all-suture fixation technique for treatment of unstable syndesmotic ankle injuries. Our results suggest that the all-suture fixation technique results in similar patient reported outcomes when compared with historically reported patient reported outcomes of suspensory suture button fixation, and low rates of complication or hardware failure. Level of Evidence 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We show that the cobordism maps on Khovanov homology can distinguish smooth surfaces in the 4-ball that are exotically knotted (i.e., isotopic through ambient homeomorphisms but not ambient diffeomorphisms). We develop new techniques for distinguishing cobordism maps on Khovanov homology, drawing on knot symmetries and braid factorizations. We also show that Plamenevskaya's transverse invariant in Khovanov homology is preserved by maps induced by positive ascending cobordisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coral recruitment is a vital process for the maintenance and recovery of coral reefs, particularly due to their decline from global change. While it is well established that larval settlement cues significantly influence coral recruitment, the investigation of recruitment success associated with the surrounding community mainly focuses on algae. To investigate other factors controlling this process, we examined the impact of benthic invertebrate assemblages on coral recruitment using artificial reefs. Three types of artificial reefs (mono‐, bi‐, and tri‐species) with different assemblages of three common species, Pocillopora acuta, Acropora cytherea, and Tridacna maxima, were studied over 8 months. This study revealed that benthic assemblages play a significant role in coral recruitment and survival. High biodiversity was found to enhance coral recruitment and inhibit potential negative cues from A. cytherea. Our findings underscore the importance of preserving high biodiversity using not only hard coral but a wide range of phyla, including bivalves, in coral restoration efforts. Maintaining sustainable populations is an important goal to reach in the face of the multiple threats that impact coral reefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2023 United States infectious diseases (ID) fellowship match resulted in a large percentage of programs with unfilled positions. A survey was sent to ID program directors nationwide to better understand their perceptions on the match. Program directors perceived geography, a small applicant pool, and low specialty pay as contributing factors to the match results. Developing specialized fellowship tracks, increasing funding for the ID trainee pipeline, and national advocacy for higher compensation were identified as areas to focus on to increase the applicant pool. Areas of controversy, such as decreasing the number or size of fellowship programs, require further discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Galectins play a role in cancer angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis. Our pilot study aims to explore the role of galectins in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by assessing their correlation with treatment, metastasis, and survival. Galectin-1, -3, and -9 levels were measured in the sera of NSCLC patients using ELISA and analyzed by histology, previous treatment, metastasis, and overall survival (OS). Galectin-3 level was elevated in patients with adenocarcinoma compared to squamous cell carcinoma patients and lower in patients exposed to chemotherapy. Galectin-1 levels were significantly lower in patients with previous metastasis but did not correlate with future metastasis. Abnormal galectin-1 levels were significantly correlated with decreased OS; however, a loss of significance occurred when abnormal galectin-1 levels were examined in multivariable analysis. These preliminary findings may hold clinical importance, given the current development of galectin-3 inhibitors for NSCLC, and they underscore the potential of galectin-1 as a prognostic biomarker. Galectins play a pivotal role in lung cancer oncogenic pathways, influencing apoptosis, angiogenesis, and tumor metastasis. Biomarkers that diagnose, prognose, and guide cancer treatment are crucial, with galectins having the biomarker potential for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we assessed serum galectin-1, -3, and -9 levels in NSCLC patients. A retrospective chart review was performed to examine patient demographics, cancer stage, tumor biology, cancer treatment, and patient outcomes. Galectin levels were then compared across these factors. In this exploratory analysis, galectin-3 levels were significantly lower in patients with squamous cell lung cancer (p = 0.0019) and in patients exposed to chemotherapy (p = 0.0375). Galectin-1 levels were significantly lower in patients with previous metastasis but had no correlation with future metastasis. Abnormal galectin-1 levels were significantly correlated with decreased overall survival (OS) in NSCLC (p = 0.0357) and specifically in patients with surgically resectable NSCLC (p = 0.0112). However, abnormal galectin-1 levels were not found to correlate with decreased OS in multivariable analysis (p = 0.0513). These findings may have clinical implications as galectin-3 inhibitors are in trials for NSCLC. Additionally, they suggest that galectin-1 has potential as a prognostic marker for surgically resectable NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a paucity of data analyzing dynamic stress ultrasound (SUS) findings in elite pitchers who have undergone ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction (UCLR) and returned to sport. Purpose: To identify longitudinal, perioperative changes in the elbows of professional baseball pitchers who have undergone UCLR and to compare these findings with a matched cohort of healthy pitchers. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This study used prospectively collected data from dynamic elbow SUS analyses of professional baseball pitchers within a single Major League Baseball organization. Pitchers were divided into 2 cohorts: a UCLR cohort and healthy cohort. The UCLR cohort eligibility included availability of (1) SUS from preseason of injury/UCLR and (2) SUS from ≥2 years after surgery. These players were 1:1 matched to players with no history of upper extremity injury to form the healthy cohort. Ligament thickness and ulnohumeral joint space at rest and under stress were directly measured. Joint laxity was calculated by subtracting joint space at rest from joint space under stress. The term "relative" was used to describe calculated differences where nondominant measurements were subtracted from dominant-side measurements. Results: Eight pitchers were included in the UCLR group and matched to 8 healthy pitchers (mean age at initial SUS examination, 19.6 years). At a minimum follow-up of 2 years, there were no significant differences between groups in terms of relative or dominant arm rest space, stress space, or laxity. Longitudinally (final measurements – baseline measurements), the mean relative ulnohumeral rest space decreased in the UCLR group and increased in the healthy group (–0.36 mm vs +0.50 mm; P =.032). The finding of increased UCL thickness in the UCLR group was expected, as UCL grafts are typically thicker than native ligaments. Conclusion: Ulnhohumeral joint stability was achieved after UCLR as indicated by similar rest space, stress space, and joint laxity in dominant arms compared with a matched healthy cohort. A significant decrease in relative rest space after UCLR may represent the achievement of stability in surgery patients. Alternatively, the increase in ulnohumeral rest space seen in the healthy cohort may represent adaptive changes from pitching at a professional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a classification of conformally-invariant three-point tensor structures in d dimensions that parallels the classification of three-particle scattering amplitudes in d + 1 dimensions. Using a set of canonically-normalized weight-shifting operators, we construct a basis of three-point structures involving conserved currents or stress tensors and non-conserved spinning operators, directly from their amplitude counterparts. As an application, we also examine the conformal block expansion of the four-point functions of external currents and stress tensors in this amplitude basis. Our results can be useful for conformal bootstrap applications involving spinning correlators as well as Witten diagram computations in anti-de Sitter space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EnFlo stratified-flow wind tunnel is described, and the parameterization of stable atmospheric boundary layers in the context of wind turbines and stability classification is given, as are the scaling constraints for stratified-flow wind tunnel experiments. Wake measurements of mean velocity, Reynolds stresses, and turbulent heat flux were made for three mild stable states, including overlying inversion, and the neutral state. The depth of the atmospheric boundary layer was kept constant, and so the results show the effect of change in stability alone, without the change in scale that would also arise in full scale measurements, an advantage provided by wind tunnel experiments. The simulated boundary-layer wind-speed profile is the same in each case, its height slightly exceeding the blade-tip top height, and the velocity deficit at the turbine is also the same in each, implying a constant thrust coefficient. In the near wake the momentum deficit rises more rapidly in the stable cases, and stays higher further downstream where it is subsequently reduced by turbulent mixing. The wake grows less rapidly in the vertical direction in the stable cases, both above and below the hub height, the height above growing still less rapidly with an imposed inversion, while the height below is unaffected by the inversion. The wake width is largely unaffected by stability. Stability reduces the Reynolds stresses in the wake over and above the reduction in the undisturbed flow; there is not a simple superposition. In the lower part of the wake the stresses are not affected by the inversion, while they are in the upper part. Turbulent heat flux is increased in the bulk of the wake, more so with an inversion, but is reduced to the surface and unaffected by an inversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose and study a data-driven method that can interpolate between a classical and a modern approach to classification for a class of linear models. The class is the convex combinations of an average of the source task classifiers and a classifier trained on the limited data available for the target task. We derive the expected loss of an element in the class with respect to the target distribution for a specific generative model, propose a computable approximation of the loss, and demonstrate that the element of the proposed class that minimizes the approximated risk is able to exploit a natural bias–variance trade-off in task space in both simulated and real-data settings. We conclude by discussing further applications, limitations, and potential future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoration projects are increasingly widespread and many promote habitat succession and the diversity and abundance of faunal communities. These positive effects on biodiversity and abundance may extend to enhancing the ecological functioning and resilience of previously degraded ecosystems, but this is rarely quantified. This study surveyed a 200‐ha restoring coastal wetland and three control wetlands in the Maroochy River, eastern Australia to compare the effects of wetland restoration on the consumption of carrion and the biodiversity, abundance, and functional diversity of functionally important fish and crustaceans. Carrion consumption by fish and crustaceans was measured every 6 months from spring 2017 until spring 2021 for nine events using a combination of baited cameras and scavenging assays. We found restoration improved rates of carrion consumption and the biodiversity, functional diversity, and abundance of scavenger species. Despite positive effects on the diversity of scavengers and carrion consumption, the abundance of two species, longfin eels (Anguilla reinhardtii) and mud crabs (Scylla serrata), was the most important predictors of carrion consumption rates. The spatial distribution of carrion consumption was concentrated in areas with high saltmarsh extent, moderate to high mangrove extent, and high salinity, which also resembled the distribution of both longfin eels and mud crabs. We show that restoration can promote the rates of key ecological functions but that increases to functions are likely to be characterized by low functional redundancy and greater complementarity. Therefore, maintaining or increasing the abundance of functionally important species should become a key objective in future restoration projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: One of the reasons that pancreatic cancer is such a deadly disease is that it is able to evade the body's usual defence system (the immune system). It has been shown that the population of microorganisms in the human gut (the gut microbiome) plays a role in regulating the human immune system. This article outlines the ways in which the gut microbiome influences the immune system in pancreatic cancer both within the bloodstream (systemic) and around the pancreatic tumour itself (local). These are important mechanisms because greater understanding of these will direct the development of future treatments for pancreatic cancer. It is possible that some of these treatment options will target the gut microbiome in order to boost the immune system's response to pancreatic cancer. The systemic and local immunosuppression exhibited by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) contributes significantly to its aggressive nature. There is a need for a greater understanding of the mechanisms behind this profound immune evasion, which makes it one of the most challenging malignancies to treat and thus one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. The gut microbiome is now thought to be the largest immune organ in the body and has been shown to play an important role in multiple immune-mediated diseases. By summarizing the current literature, this review examines the mechanisms by which the gut microbiome may modulate the immune response to PDAC. Evidence suggests that the gut microbiome can alter immune cell populations both in the peripheral blood and within the tumour itself in PDAC patients. In addition, evidence suggests that the gut microbiome influences the composition of the PDAC tumour microbiome, which exerts a local effect on PDAC tumour immune infiltration. Put together, this promotes the gut microbiome as a promising route for future therapies to improve immune responses in PDAC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Differentiating between benign and malignant renal neoplasms is critical to clinical management and can significantly impact treatment. Most contemporary methods involve invasive tissue biopsy of the renal mass. One potential less invasive method for discriminating between various histologic types involves the use of cell-free biomarkers such as microRNA (miRNA). Several studies using conventional real-time PCR (RT-PCR) analysis have identified various blood-based miRNA biomarkers of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, few of these studies report biomarkers distinguishing benign masses. We utilized droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), a robust nucleic acid quantification method, to examine the potential use of plasma miRNA as biomarkers of renal tumors. We demonstrate that the combination of miR-210-3p and miR-222-3p is higher in the blood of patients with RCC than in benign patients. In addition, this study demonstrated that ddPCR outperformed conventional RT-PCR in detecting miRNAs that were characteristic of malignant versus benign renal masses. Several microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as cell-free biomarkers for detecting renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) is a unique technology for nucleic acid quantification. It has the potential for superior precision, reproducibility, and diagnostic performance in identifying circulating miRNA biomarkers compared to conventional quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). This study aims to evaluate the performance of ddPCR compared to qRT- PCR in identifying miRNA biomarkers that differentiate malignant from benign renal masses. Potential biomarkers of RCC were identified from a literature review. RNA was extracted from the plasma of 56 patients. All the samples underwent analysis via ddPCR as well as qRT-PCR, and expression levels were recorded for the following miRNAs: miR-93, -144, -210, -221, and -222. Tumors were grouped into low-grade ccRCC, high-grade ccRCC, papillary RCC, and benign masses (primarily angiomyolipoma). The miRNA miR-210 (p = 0.034) and the combination of miRs-210 and miR-222 (p = 0.003) were expressed at significantly higher rates among those with RCC than those with benign masses, as measured by ddPCR. Using the combination of miR-210 and miR-222, ddPCR identified significant differences between the subgroups: papillary RCC versus benign (p = 0.03), low-grade ccRCC versus benign (p = 0.026), and high-grade ccRCC versus benign (p = 0.002). The only significant difference between these subgroups using qRT-PCR was between high-grade ccRCC and benign (p = 0.045). All the AUCs were significant when comparing each RCC subgroup with benign for both PCR technologies. Using a combination of miR-210 and miR-222, ddPCR identified significant differences between benign and malignant renal masses that were not identified as significant by conventional qRT-PCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Initial antibiotics for true Staphylococcus epidermidis bacteremia include vancomycin or linezolid, but if bacteremia persists, consideration should be made for salvage combination therapy regimes such as daptomycin with ceftaroline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to determine the effects of dipotassium phosphate (DKP) addition, heat treatments (no heat, high temperature, short time [HTST]: 72°C for 15 s, and direct steam injection UHT: 142°C for 2.3 s), and storage time on the soluble protein composition and mineral (P, Ca, K) concentration of the aqueous phase around casein micelles in 7.5% milk protein-based beverages made with liquid skim milk protein concentrate (MPC) and micellar casein concentrate (MCC). Milk protein concentrate was produced using a spiral wound polymeric membrane, and MCC was produced using a 0.1-µm ceramic membrane by filtration at 50°C. Two DKP concentrations were used (0% and 0.15% wt/wt) within each of the 3 heat treatments. All beverages had no other additives and ran through heat treatment without coagulation. Ultracentrifugation (2-h run at 4°C) supernatants of the beverages were collected at 1, 5, 8, 12, and 15-d storage at 4°C. Phosphorus, Ca, and K concentrations in the beverages and supernatants were measured using inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. Protein composition of supernatants was measured using Kjeldahl and sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE. Micellar casein concentrate and MPC beverages with 0.15% DKP had higher concentrations of supernatant protein, Ca, and P than beverages without DKP. Protein, Ca, and P concentrations were higher in MCC supernatant than in MPC supernatant when DKP was added, and these concentrations increased over storage time, especially when lower heat treatments (HTST or no heat treatment) had been applied. Dipotassium phosphate addition caused the dissociation of α S -, β-, and κ-casein, and casein proteolysis products out of the casein micelles, and DKP addition explained over 70% of the increase in supernatant protein, P, and Ca concentrations. Dipotassium phosphate could be removed from 7.5% of protein beverages made with fresh liquid MCC and MPC (containing a residual lactose concentration of 0.6% to 0.7% and the proportional amount of soluble milk minerals), as these beverages maintain heat-processing stability without DKP addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive information processing theory was born in response to a realisation the traditional method of individual, one hour counselling appointments prevented many college students from receiving needed support for their career decision making. Frustrated by this lack of access to career services, researchers, theorists and practitioners came together to create and provide the differentiated service delivery model. Thirty years and over 250 empirically-based articles later, CIP theory continues to synergistically inform research and practice across various venues, locations and populations. In this article, the authors, consisting of a team of CIP theorists, researchers and practitioners share practical examples, challenges, strategies to address those challenges, and recommendation on building a community of practice to address the praxis among these important elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the injury rate in NBA players following return to play during the post-COVID-19 shutdown 2019-2020 NBA season. Methods: This study was a retrospective review of all NBA players who were placed on the injury report during the preseason and first 4 weeks of the regular season as well as playoffs from the 2017-2018 through 2020-2021 NBA seasons. The data were compiled using publicly available injury reports. All injuries were recorded, and injury rates were calculated per 1000 athletic exposures. Risk ratio with 95% confidence intervals compared injury rates between the 2 cohorts. Results: Over the course of the study period, 399 injuries were reported. The highest injury rate per athletic exposure was observed to have occurred during the first month of the regular season in the 2 seasons prior to the COV1D-19 pandemic. There was no significant difference in the average number of games missed before and after the pandemic for the preseason (P = .95), first month of regular season (P = .62), and playoffs (P = .69). There was no significant difference in the rate of injury when comparing injury rates before and after the pandemic for the preseason (P = .25), first month of the regular season (P=.11), and playoffs (P=3). Conclusion: The rate of injury in NBA players following the COVID-19 pandemic was not significantly higher than 2 recent past NBA seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Respiratory viral illness (RVI)—e.g., influenza, COVID-19—is a serious threat in long-term care (LTC) facilities. Standard infection control measures are suboptimal in LTC facilities because of residents' cognitive impairments, care needs, and susceptibility to loneliness and mental illness. Further, LTC residents living with high degrees of frailty who contract RVIs often develop the so-called atypical symptoms (e.g., delirium, worse mobility) instead of typical cough and fever, delaying infection diagnosis and treatment. Although far-UVC (222 nm) light devices have shown potent antiviral activity in vitro, clinical efficacy remains unproven. Methods: Following a study to assay acceptability at each site, this multicenter, double-blinded, cluster-randomized, placebo-controlled trial aims to assess whether far-UVC light devices impact the incidence of RVIs in LTC facilities. Neighborhoods within LTC facilities are randomized to receive far-UVC light devices (222 nm) or identical placebo light devices that emit only visible spectrum light (400–700 nm) in common areas. All residents are monitored for RVIs using both a standard screening protocol and a novel screening protocol that target atypical symptoms. The 3-year incidence of RVIs will be compared using intention-to-treat analysis. A cost-consequence analysis will follow. Discussion: This trial aims to inform decisions about whether to implement far-UVC light in LTC facilities for RVI prevention. The trial design features align with this pragmatic intent. Appropriate additional ethical protections have been implemented to mitigate participant vulnerabilities that arise from conducting this study. Knowledge dissemination will be supported through media engagement, peer-reviewed presentations, and publications. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05084898. October 20, 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rugby sevens is a small-sided variant of rugby union characterised by fast-moving, high-intensity gameplay and is an example of a team invasion sport, where players work together to achieve a shared goal of attacking and defending as a cohesive unit. The dynamics of such sports can be viewed as self-organizing systems, where individual players form collective patterns without a centralized mechanism of control. Inspired by the analysis of collective movement in animals, this novel study investigates the emergent patterns of order and disorder in sub-elite female rugby sevens using order parameters (typically used to analyse particle systems) to characterize the team’s collective state during different phases of play. The findings demonstrate that defensive gameplay is more ordered, with more compact formations, compared to attacking play, and there is a correlation between alignment/order in player motion and group speed. The work further suggests that the collective states formed differ between sequences of play with different levels of ground gained by the attacking team. These observations provide a sound justification for player training with a focus on cohesive defensive movements to resist disruptions from opposing attackers, while employing attacking tactics that disrupt the cohesion and order of opposing teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let D be an alternative division ring with characteristic different from two. The purpose of this paper is to characterize additive mappings f , g : D → D satisfying certain identities studied by Vukman, Brešar, and Catalano previously on an associative division ring. We also present some new identities concerning Lie and Jordan products, and provide a complete description of commuting maps on octonion algebras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumps are indispensable for analytical applications and ensure controlled fluid movement. Syringe pumps are among today's most prevalent liquid delivery systems, especially for high-pressure, stable, low-flow-rate microfluidic applications. Due to moving mechanical parts of the assembly, regular maintenance is essential to ensure reliable operation and flow rates. However, lubrication of the mechanics is easily overlooked because the research focuses on novel analytical applications rather than on the maintenance of pumps. Here, we investigate the lubrication of the syringe pump guide rods with its effect on the flow rate stability after regular pump cleaning from contaminations. The guide rods of syringe pumps were thoroughly cleaned from any lubricant, and the flow rate for specified flowrates between 5 and 100 μL min−1 was measured, revealing tremendous flow rate fluctuations with a coefficient of variation (CV) value up to 0.34. In contrast, flow rate measurements of syringe pumps with lubricated guide rods show a five-fold smoother flow rate fluctuation depending on the specified flow rate with CV values below 0.07. These differences in flow rate's CV were most significant for pressure drops below 500 mbar, relevant for many lab-on-a-chip applications. In summary, we emphasize the awareness of lubricating moving parts of syringe pumps to achieve constant flow rates, minimize wear, and ensure the reliable operation of, for instance, accurate lab-on-a-chip workflows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective This study aimed to estimate the proportion of exercise interventions tested in clinical trials of people with chronic low back pain (CLBP) that meet the World Health Organization's (WHO) physical activity guidelines. Methods A secondary analysis of the 2021 Cochrane review of exercise therapy for CLBP was performed. Data from each study were extracted by 1 reviewer and were checked by a second reviewer. Data extracted related to the frequency, duration and intensity of each exercise intervention, and the proportion of exercise interventions that met the WHO's physical activity guidelines (aerobic, muscle strengthening, or both) were determined. Results The 249 included trials comprised 426 exercise interventions. Few interventions reported an exercise type and dose consistent with the WHO guidelines (aerobic: 1.6%, muscle strengthening: 5.6%, both: 1.6%). Poor reporting of exercise intensity limited our ability to determine whether interventions met the guidelines. Conclusion Few interventions tested in clinical trials for people with CLBP prescribe an exercise type and dose consistent with the WHO guidelines. Therefore, they do not appear sufficiently dosed to achieve broader health outcomes. Future trials should investigate the effect of WHO guideline-recommended exercise interventions on patient-reported outcomes (pain and disability) as well as health-related outcomes in people with CLBP. Impact This exploratory analysis showed the lack of exercise interventions in the CLBP literature that meet the WHO's physical activity guidelines. With people in chronic pain groups, such as people with CLBP, being at higher risk for noncommunicable disease, it appears this is a key consideration for exercise practitioners when designing interventions for people with CLBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an apparatus and associated methods for making direct in situ measurements of the ice–water boundary of small pieces of floating glacier ice. The method involves approaching ice pieces in a small boat and attaching a frame with instruments on it to them using ice screws. These types of measurements provide an opportunity to study small-scale processes at the ice–water interface which control heat flux across the boundary. Recent studies have suggested that current parameterizations of these processes may be performing poorly. Improving understanding of these processes may allow for more accurate theoretical and model descriptions of submarine melting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent decades, the Bering Sea has experienced oceanic and atmospheric climate extremes, including record warm ocean temperature anomalies and marine heatwaves (MHWs), and increasingly variable air–sea heat fluxes. In this work, we assess the relative roles of surface forcing and ocean dynamical processes on mixed layer temperature (MLT) tendency by computing a closed mixed layer heat budget using the NASA/JPL Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean (ECCO) Ocean State and Sea Ice Estimate. We show that surface forcing drives the majority of the MLT tendency in the spring and fall and remains dominant to a lesser degree in winter and summer. Surface forcing anomalies are the dominant driver of monthly mixed layer temperature tendency anomalies (MLTa), driving an average of 72% of the MLTa over the ECCO record length (1992–2017). The surface turbulent heat flux (latent plus sensible) accounts for most of the surface heat flux anomalies in January–April and September–December, and the net radiative flux (net longwave plus net shortwave) dominates the surface heat flux anomalies in May–August. Our results suggest that atmospheric variability plays a significant role in Bering Sea ocean temperature anomalies through most of the year. Furthermore, they indicate a recent increase in ocean warming surface forcing anomalies, beginning in 2010. Significance Statement: In recent years, the Bering Sea has experienced extremes in ocean temperature, which have had adverse impacts on ocean ecology and marine fisheries and have contributed to increasingly variable sea ice extent. Our results identify anomalous heating by air–sea heat flux anomalies as the process responsible for most of the observed ocean temperature anomalies over the period 1992–2017. We additionally show that there has been an increase in atmosphere-driven ocean warming since 2010. Our work highlights the importance of investigating how ocean–atmosphere interactions might change under future climate change and how this will impact the Bering Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the processes that shape genetic diversity by either promoting or preventing population divergence can help identify geographic areas that either facilitate or limit gene flow. Furthermore, broadly distributed species allow us to understand how biogeographic and ecogeographic transitions affect gene flow. We investigated these processes using genomic data in the Northern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria coerulea), which is widely distributed in Western North America across diverse ecoregions (California Floristic Province and Pacific Northwest) and mountain ranges (Sierra Nevada, Coastal Ranges, and Cascades). We collected single-nucleotide polymorphism data from 120 samples of E. coerulea. Biogeographic analyses of squamate reptiles with similar distributions have identified several shared diversification patterns that provide testable predictions for E. coerulea , including deep genetic divisions in the Sierra Nevada, demographic stability of southern populations, and recent post-Pleistocene expansion into the Pacific Northwest. We use genomic data to test these predictions by estimating the structure, connectivity, and phylogenetic history of populations. At least 10 distinct populations are supported, with mixed-ancestry individuals situated at most population boundaries. A species tree analysis provides strong support for the early divergence of populations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and recent diversification into the Pacific Northwest. Admixture and migration analyses detect gene flow among populations in the Lower Cascades and Northern California, and a spatial analysis of gene flow identified significant barriers to gene flow across both the Sierra Nevada and Coast Ranges. The distribution of genetic diversity in E. coerulea is uneven, patchy, and interconnected at population boundaries. The biogeographic patterns seen in E. coerulea are consistent with predictions from co-distributed species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sentinel event review systems were created to prevent catastrophes from occurring in complex human organizations, though they have yet to be fully realized in corrections. Sentinel event reviews may be particularly salient for incarcerated people who engage in dual harming behaviors (i.e., self-harm and violence) given their overrepresentation in disciplinary incidents. To explore this potential, incident reports spanning a three-year period for an entire state prison system were examined. Our specific objectives were to assess the prevalence of institutional incidents committed by people who dual harm, and to identify their unique characteristics. Quantitative estimations indicated how dual harmers, in comparison to other incarcerated population members, were responsible for a higher proportion of disciplinary incidents. Further analyses indicated how people who dual harm were disproportionately more at-risk for mental health issues, and more likely to be housed in maximum-security facilities. Policy implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]