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Grassland degradation is challenging the health of grassland ecosystems globally and causing biodiversity decline. Previous studies have demonstrated the impact of grassland degradation on the abundance and behavior of small mammals. Little is known about how it affects the genetic structure of gregarious mammals in the wild. This study explores the effects of grassland degradation on the genetic structure of a small burrowing mammal, plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae). We used nine microsatellite loci to analyze the genetic diversity and genetic differentiation between colonies and genetic relatedness between individuals within the colony. We found that pikas in severely degraded grasslands had a significantly higher genetic diversity within colonies, a higher level of gene flow between colonies, and a lower genetic differentiation between colonies compared to pikas in less degraded grasslands. Individuals within colonies had a significantly lower genetic relatedness in severely degraded grasslands than in less degraded grasslands. This study has provided potential evidence of a significant impact of grassland degradation on the genetic structure of pikas, which has caused a breakdown of their kin‐selected colony structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children commonly refuse induction of anesthesia. Anesthesia providers must then decide whether to honor the child's dissent or to proceed over objection. In some circumstances, a forced induction involves restraining the child, incurring both practical and ethical harms to the patient‐provider encounter. This educational review explores the practical dilemma encountered when a child dissents to induction of anesthesia. In the course of exploring this dilemma, dissent and associated terms are defined and compared, and the prominent ethical underpinnings regarding pediatric decision‐making are described to clarify dissent as an ethical and practical concept. Important legal and professional standards are summarized, and practice trends are discussed to depict the current state of practice, including novel approaches to honoring pediatric dissent for elective surgeries. This information is then used to invite providers to consider where they ethically situate themselves within a legally and professionally defined space of acceptable practice. Finally, these considerations are synthesized to discuss important nuances regarding pediatric refusal, and some key questions are presented for clinicians to ponder as they consider their practice of choosing whether to honor pediatric dissent at induction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Shielding was introduced to protect clinically extremely vulnerable people during the COVID‐19 pandemic. For junior doctors who had to shield, this meant pausing in‐person clinical duties to protect their health. There is limited literature regarding this, and the available evidence is predominantly surveys or blogs that describe mainly negative experiences including guilt, isolation, inadequate support and Return To Work (RTW) concerns. Exploring the experiences of this group is valuable to understand the impact on them, and their support needs moving forward. Methods: This was a qualitative study using individual semi‐structured interviews. Three junior doctors were recruited using volunteer and snowball sampling. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings: Seven themes were finalised: (1) Professional value, (2) Threatened autonomy, (3) Self‐motivated, (4) Educational impact, (5) Mental health, (6) Inadequate support and (7) Return To Work concerns. Discussion: Participant experiences largely reflected the evidence base including increased skill and knowledge acquisition, alongside guilt, isolation and inadequate support whilst shielding and upon RTW. These findings add valuable qualitative data to a scarcity of literature. However, caution should be applied when transferring these findings to other junior doctors, noting the small sample and regional setting. A small research grant has been secured for further research with a larger sample size incorporating the supervisor perspective. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that shielding was a challenging experience for these junior doctors including impacts on mental health and insufficient support. This lack of support requires further attention to refine and strengthen available support structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"How Women Became Poets: A Gender History of Greek Literature" by Emily Hauser explores the tradition of women's poetry in ancient Greek literature and the challenges female writers faced in male-dominated societies. Hauser traces the presence of women's voices in oral and literary traditions, highlighting moments when women infiltrated the male world of poetry to construct their own poetic identities. The book examines the gendered vocabulary of poetry, the silencing of female voices, and the evolution of poet-terms for women. Hauser's work offers a fresh perspective on the gender history of ancient Greek literature and challenges the notion that poetry was solely the domain of men. [Extracted from the article]

In the nineteenth century, Irish newspaper culture became more experimental in nature. The form of Irish nationalist newspapers as an assemblage of various registers and genres embodied the politics of Irish nationalism and anti-colonialism in the period. These media innovations, as well as the forms of writing disseminated, transformed again during the Great Famine in Ireland (1846–51). During and after the Famine, the gothic was mobilized in newspaper columns, often in service of producing critiques of empire. Examining Irish newspaper writing on famine in India and on the Morant Bay Rebellion, this essay argues that engagement with the gothic in the anti-colonialist press in Victorian Ireland allowed for the emergence of powerful and distinctly internationalist critiques of colonial capitalism and its violent apparatuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a rare but serious complication of pregnancy. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine maternal and neonatal outcomes following a combined surgical and interventional radiology (IR) approach to managing PAS, and the risks associated with this technique. Methods and Materials: Retrospective cohort study of all cases of PAS in a tertiary maternity centre between January 2001 and July 2020. Women who underwent caesarean hysterectomy for histologically confirmed PAS with a staged surgical and IR approach were compared with those who underwent caesarean hysterectomy without IR. Maternal, neonatal outcomes, surgical and radiological complications were assessed. Results: Forty‐six women were included in the study, and 30/46 (65.2%) underwent the staged surgical and IR approach. Women in the staged group had less overall blood loss (1794 mL vs 3713 mL; P < 0.001), less requirement for blood transfusion (40% vs 75%; P < 0.001), and a lower mean volume of packed red cells transfused (2.5 vs 6.1 units). Anaesthetic and operative times were longer for the staged group (468 vs 189 min: 272 vs 141 min P < 0.001), respectively. There were no differences in rates of neonatal or maternal complications between the two groups. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that a staged procedure combining surgery and IR for PAS results in a considerable reduction in blood loss, need for transfusion, and units of packed red cells transfused compared with surgery alone. The staged procedure required significantly longer anaesthetic and operative times; however, there were no differences in maternal and neonatal morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yet, few resources have been allocated to the training of novice reviewers or recognition of their contributions to the peer review process. In this insights article, we reflect on our experiences and provide recommendations for future peer review skills training programmes. Yet, few resources have been allocated to the training of novice reviewers or recognition of their contributions to the peer review process. [Extracted from the article]

The use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in road construction has become a common practice in the asphalt industry due to environmental and economic benefits. However, since RAP is an aged material, recycling agents are typically used to reduce the stiffness of the recycled asphalt mixture and make it less prone to cracking at high RAP contents. This study evaluates the effect of ageing and the use of recycling agents on the rheological, microstructural, and micromechanical properties of binder blends with high RAP contents. A total of 27 binder blends were prepared with different recycled binder ratios (0.22, 0.31 and 0.5), recycling agent doses (0%, 1.2%, 5.5% and 9%), virgin binder performance grades (PG 58-28 and PG 52-34) and ageing conditions. The microscopic properties of the binder blends were characterised using atomic force microscopy (AFM). AFM results provided an evaluation of the microstructural homogeneity of the blends, with a good correlation with the binder blends macroscopic rheological properties. The addition of recycling agents improved the homogeneity of the binder blends by reducing the variation in modulus among the different phases in the microstructure. AFM proved to be a useful tool to evaluate rejuvenated binder blends at the microscale level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In species with obligate sexual reproduction, scarcity of males can occasionally limit female reproductive success. It is unclear, however, whether this impacts population‐level persistence. Sexually deceptive orchids attract mate‐searching male insects who lose time, mating opportunities and may even become sperm depleted by mating with flowers. These insects are almost exclusively haplodiploid, and able to reproduce regardless of sperm availability – which might mitigate costs of deception. We model the population dynamics of deceived diploid or haplodiploid pollinators. The model reveals that haplodiploidy can enhance prospects for coexistence. If 'sperm theft' by orchids is severe enough to generate unmated females in the local pollinator pool, this enhances the production of sons, which are subsequently available to act as pollinators. The mechanism relies on female haplodiploids being able to reproduce with or without sperm; this is absent in many diploid insects – where unmated females do not reproduce. We show that this gives haplodiploids an ability to maintain higher population densities, and to persist up to higher orchid densities, than diploids. Our model identifies the enhanced resilience of haplodiploid pollinators against deceptive exploitation as a possible reason why these systems have persisted. [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]

The term "Shielding" was introduced in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic to protect approximately 4 million people at highest risk from infection. Shielding was characterised by extreme isolation and applied to those with certain illnesses, disabilities, and during pregnancy. For the estimated 1300 high-risk doctors, shielding meant abrupt departure from the clinical environment. We aimed to understand the impact of shielding on junior doctors (JDs) by interviewing them and their consultants. This qualitative study used individual semi-structured interviews and reflexive thematic analysis. Virtual interviews were conducted between Sept 2, and Nov 30, 2022, using an interview guide, including open questions around impacts on training, career, and health. 11 JDs and 2 consultants were recruited via Scotland-wide purposive and snowball sampling. Written informed consent was obtained. 12 of 13 participants were women. Eight JDs were shielding because of health issues, and three because of pregnancy. Participant specialties included primary care, secondary care, and foundation and specialty training. Interview transcripts were coded by the lead author and the second author acted as a critical friend. Despite making important contributions working from home, most JDs (73%, eight of 11) felt that their work was undervalued during shielding. They felt forgotten, feeling they had to "pester" supervisors to be allocated work. All participants reported inadequate support at Occupational Health and workplace levels, including limited supervision or information about training impacts. Negative attitudes towards JDs were experienced by 82% (nine of 11) of JDs, including being denied reasonable adjustments and threatened with dismissal if not following shielding advice. Consultants described supervisory challenges including not receiving guidance or resources and ongoing issues supporting disabled and pregnant JDs beyond the pandemic. These findings offer novel qualitative insight into the impacts of shielding on JDs in Scotland. Findings indicated that support infrastructure was not fit for purpose. Given the significant number of JDs that take prolonged leave from the clinical environment, and the JDs working with disabilities and during pregnancy, these findings are of ongoing concern. Although the sample size was small and the study was set in a specific region, these findings suggest there is potential to improve support infrastructure and move towards a more inclusive clinical environment that recognises, celebrates, and benefits from the value of a diverse workforce. Scottish Medical Education Research Consortium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kea (Nestor notabilis) are highly inquisitive parrots endemic to Aotearoa/New Zealand that often interact with novel items in their environment. To help reduce the risk of by-kill of kea during aerial 1080 pest-control operations, we investigated how kea perceive the different types of cereal baits typically used in such pest control. We measured the spectral reflectance of a range of baits including baits that incorporated different levels of a bird-repellent (anthraquinone) or a UV-reflecting biomarker (pyranine, used in conservation to determine whether a bird has interacted with bait), non-toxic prefeed baits, and green-dyed, toxic bait. In the absence of information about kea vision, we constructed a model of parrot vision by averaging spectral sensitivities of three parrot species. We found that kea are unlikely to visually distinguish between two baits that contain different concentrations of bird-repellent when they are dyed similarly (both green-dyed or both undyed). Additionally, kea are likely to visually distinguish between green-dyed and undyed baits, and baits with or without the biomarker pyranine. Our findings support the addition of bird repellent to pre-feed baits intended to establish learned avoidance behaviour. However, the addition of pyranine might inadvertently influence kea perception and interactions with bait. This research highlights the importance of considering the visual perception of a vulnerable non-target species to reduce risk during pest control efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, grassland degradation is an acute ecological problem. In alpine grassland on the Tibetan Plateau, increased densities of various small mammals in degraded grassland are assumed to intensify the degradation process and these mammals are subject to lethal control. However, whether the negative impact of small mammals is solely a result of population size or also a result of activity and behavior has not been tested. In this study, we use plateau pika as a model to compare population size, core area of colony, and the number of burrow entrances and latrines between lightly and severely degraded grassland. We test whether the alleged contribution of pika to grassland degradation is a result of increased population size or increased burrowing activities of individuals in response to lower food abundance. We found that grassland degradation resulted in lower plant species richness, plant height, and biomass. Furthermore, the overall population size of pika was not significantly affected by location in lightly and severely degraded grassland. However, pika core areas in severely grassland degradation were significantly larger and had significantly higher densities of burrows and latrines. Our study provides convincing evidence that habitat‐induced changes in the behavior of small, burrowing mammals, such as pika, can exacerbate grassland degradation. This finding has significant implications for managing small mammals and restoring degraded grassland ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many animals, sperm can be a limiting resource and impact lifetime reproductive success. Sperm limitation can arise from reduced male availability in a population, but may also be a consequence of external influences, such as sperm wastage. If sperm is finite and not always cost‐free to produce, do males vary sperm use strategies in response to sperm limitation? One way to answer this is to examine male sperm allocation in response to sexual deception that elicits sperm wastage.Cryptostylis orchids trick their parasitoid wasp pollinator, male Lissopimpla excelsa, into mating with the flower and ejaculating. For many parasitoids sperm is limited; so this exploitative interaction could impose a high cost to males. Here, we ask whether this duped wasp can become sperm limited, and whether this impacts his ejaculate size following deception. Sperm limitation has implications for his future and lifetime reproductive success, and consequently, the ultimate fitness of the orchid, and the evolutionary maintenance of orchid deception systems in general.We compared sperm use and availability for male L. excelsa wasps from wild populations that either did or did not co‐occur with sexually deceptive Cryptostylis orchids.On average, males had ~50,000 sperm cells in their seminal vesicles and ejaculated ~10% of their existing sperm stock in a single encounter. Pollinators that were permitted to mate with an orchid had significantly less sperm than males that were not, suggesting they may become temporarily sperm limited. Pollinators from sites with orchids ejaculate significantly less sperm on orchids than naïve males.The difference in ejaculate size for pollinators that do and do not co‐occur with orchids may be a consequence of males learning to avoid orchids, or an adaptation to avoid sperm depletion. Alternatively, males may reduce sperm allocation when they perceive more available 'females' (either orchids or real females) in the environment. These costs and responses to exploitation show how plants can influence the population dynamics of their pollinators, and, more broadly, provides an explanation for the maintenance antagonistic co‐evolutionary relationships. We suggest that by interfering with the population dynamics of a duped species, exploiters might improve their own persistence. A free plain language summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urine provides a minimally invasive specimen that may allow for development of rapid tests to detect antiretroviral drugs and provide opportunities to improve individual adherence. This study sought to determine whether urine could provide a biomarker of adherence for currently approved pre-exposure prophylaxis and HIV treatment regimens. Methods: Urine and blood were collected from 34 HIV-negative men who have sex with men aged 18-49 years, enrolled in a clinical trial comparing 2 antiretroviral regimens. Specimens were collected 4 and 24 hours after a single oral dose of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine (FTC) (n = 10) or tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)/FTC/cobicistat (COBI)/elvitegravir (EVG) (n = 8), or after 4 and 10 days of daily oral TDF/FTC (n = 9) or TAF/FTC/COBI/EVG (n = 7). Tenofovir (TFV), FTC, and EVG were measured by high-performance liquid chromatographymass spectrometry. Results: Median urine FTC concentrations at 4 and 24 hours were similar between men receiving TDF/FTC (4 hours 147 µg/mL; 24 hours 10 µg/mL) and men receiving TAF/FTC/COBI/EVG (4 hours 333 µg/mL, P = 0.173; 24 hours 13 µg/mL, P = 0.681). Median urine TFV concentrations were lower among men receiving TAF/FTC/COBI/EVG (4 hours 1.2 µg/mL; 24 hours 0.8 µg/mL) compared with men receiving TDF/FTC (4 hours 17 µg/mL, P, 0.001; 24 hours 7 µg/mL, P = 0.001). Urine TFV concentrations remained reduced among men receiving TAF/FTC/COBI/EVG compared with men receiving TDF/FTC after daily dosing. EVG was not consistently measurable in urine. Conclusions: High urine FTC and TFV concentrations could provide an indication of adherence to daily oral dosing with TDF or TAF-based regimens used for treatment and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 70‐year‐old male underwent transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiography for a stroke. A bicuspid aortic valve was suspected by TTE, but TEE revealed a normally functioning quadricuspid aortic valve. A quadricuspid aortic valve may be more common than generally thought, as it may not be readily diagnosed by TTE, and may remain functionally normal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Summary of current knowledge on recycling agents (rejuvenators) and their application. • Identification of current and future challenges that prevent utilization of recycling agents. • Evaluation of recycling agents effectiveness in binder blends and asphalt mixtures. • Characterization of rejuvenated binder blends and rejuvenated asphalt mixtures. • Cost-effectiveness associated with the use of recycling agents. Abstract Recycling agents, or rejuvenators, are products with chemical and physical characteristics designed to restore the rheological properties of aged asphalt binders to improve the performance of recycled asphalt mixtures with large quantities of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) that promote economic and environmental benefits. This paper summarizes current knowledge related to the use of recycling agents in the asphalt pavement industry, including properties of recycled and rejuvenated asphalt mixtures. This information is further used to identify current and future challenges that could prevent utilization of recycling agents and production of rejuvenated asphalt mixtures with adequate performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continental margins of East Africa and West Madagascar are a frontier for hydrocarbon exploration. However, the links between the regional tectonic history of sedimentary basins and margin evolution are relatively poorly understood. We use a plate kinematic model built by joint inversion of seafloor spreading data as a starting point to analyse the evolution of conjugate margin segments and corresponding sedimentary basins. By correlating megasequences in the basins to the plate model we produce a margin‐scale tectono‐stratigraphic framework comprising four phases of tectonic development. During Phase 1 (183–133 Ma) Madagascar/India/Antarctica separated from Africa, first by rifting and later, after breakup (at ca. 170–165 Ma), by seafloor spreading in the West Somali and Mozambique basins and dextral strike‐slip movement on the Davie Fracture Zone. Mixed continental/marine syn‐rift megasequences were deposited in rift basins followed by shallow‐marine early postrift sequences. In Phase 2 (133–89 Ma) spreading ceased in the West Somali basin and Madagascar became fixed to the African plate. However, spreading continued between the African and Antarctic plates and deposition of the early postrift megasequence continued. The onset of spreading on the Mascarene Ridge separated India from Madagascar in Phase 3 (89–60 Ma). Phase 3 was characterized by the onset of deposition of the late postrift megasequence with continued deep marine sedimentation. At the onset of Phase 4 (60 Ma onward) spreading on the Mascarene ridge ceased and the Carlsberg Ridge propagated south to form the Central Indian Ridge, separating India from the Seychelles and the Mascarene Plateau. Late postrift deposition continued until a major unconformity linked to the development of the East African Rift System marked the change to deposition of the modern margin megasequence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of tissue glue in pediatric circumcision.Materials and Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the English literature (1997-2017) was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement on children who underwent circumcision with tissue glue. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.3, Comprehensive Meta-Analysis 2, and MedCalc 18. P values <.05 were considered significant.Results: The search returned 15 studies for a total of 4567 circumcisions, of which 3045 (66%) were performed with tissue glue. The systematic review indicated that overall complication rates were 4.3% (tissue glue) and 5.9% (sutures). The use of tissue glue was associated with reduced postoperative pain, better cosmetic results, and reduced cost. Meta-analysis showed that there was no difference between the incidence of total postoperative complications (relative risk [RR] 0.86 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 0.62-1.19], P = .36) and wound infection and dehiscence between the 2 groups (RR 0.95 [95% CI: 0.59-1.56], P = .85). Postoperative bleeding and hematoma formation were reduced with the use of tissue glue (RR 0.55 [95% CI: 0.32-0.95], P = .03). Tissue glue also significantly shorten the operative time (mean difference -0.22 [95% CI: -0.39 to -0.05], P = .01).Conclusion: The incidence of postoperative bleeding and hematoma formation in pediatric circumcision is reduced with the use of tissue glue. Tissue glue has reduced operative time; furthermore, it might be associated with reduced postoperative pain, less overall cost, and superior cosmetic results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although extensive work has been performed to quantify field aging of asphalt pavements and to evaluate its effect on asphalt mixture properties, little effort has been devoted towards characterizing the non-uniform field aging of asphalt pavements through laboratory testing. Due to the non-uniform air void and temperature distribution in the pavement structure, the surface of the pavement ages faster than the bottom; thus a field aging gradient exists. In this study, field cores obtained from four field projects at various in-service times were tested in the non-destructive Viscoelastic Characterization Direct Tension test to determine their mixture stiffness gradient with pavement depth. In addition, asphalt binders were extracted and recovered from the field cores at different pavement depths and then tested with the Dynamic Shear Rheometer and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy to differentiate their rheological and chemical properties. Test results obtained in this study provided a better understanding of the non-uniform field aging in asphalt pavements and its effect on asphalt binder and mixture properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the tenuousness of the U.S. presidential race and subsequent election, it appears that more individuals are becoming politically active. What remains unclear is how the current political climate has influenced citizens regarding their perceptions of feeling psychologically safe, the related mood affect, and their impetus towards activism. Additionally, the role of social media in today's world is seemingly a key stimulus for individuals who were typically less involved in the past become more so now. Given there may be a number of reasons that individuals feel moved to engage in discourse and action that others might view as unconventional or rebellious, the intent of this study was to investigate activism and mood affect as mediated by social media use to better understand people's motivation for becoming more socially engaged. While historically, there have been numerous movements to address perceived societal and governmental injustices, how safe individuals feel when becoming involved is still up for debate. Findings from this study showed that individuals experienced positive and negative mood affect in both the likelihood they will engage in a variety of activist behaviors in the future, as well as seeing themselves as being politically active. Furthermore, the role of social media also showed a relationship between participant's positive and negative mood affect, as well as sense of activism, demonstrating the impact of social media on how people express their opinions today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) persistence and adherence are critical to ending the HIV epidemic in the United States. Setting: In 2017 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance, HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) in 4 US cities completed a survey, HIV testing, and dried blood spots at recruitment. Methods: We assessed 3 PrEP outcomes: persistence (self-reported PrEP use at any time in the past 12 months and had tenofovir, emtricitabine, or tenofovir diphosphate detected in dried blood spots), adherence at ≥4 doses/week (self-reported past-month PrEP use and tenofovir diphosphate concentration ≥700 fmol/punch), and adherence at 7 doses/week (self-reported past-month PrEP use and tenofovir diphosphate concentration ≥1250 fmol/punch). Associations with key characteristics were examined using log-linked Poisson regression models with generalized estimating equations. Results: Among 391 MSM who took PrEP in the past year, persistence was 80% and was lower among MSM who were younger, had lower education, and had fewer sex partners. Of 302 MSM who took PrEP in the past month, adherence at ≥4 doses/week was 80% and adherence at 7 doses/week was 66%. Adherence was lower among MSM who were younger, were Black, and had fewer sex partners. Conclusions: Although persistence and adherence among MSM were high, 1 in 5 past-year PrEP users were not persistent and 1 in 5 past-month PrEP users were not adherent at levels that would effectively protect them from acquiring HIV (ie, ≥4 doses/week). Efforts to support PrEP persistence and adherence should include MSM who are young, are Black, and have less education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RATIONALE: Stable isotope analysis (SIA) is a powerful tool for examining diet and food-web dynamics. SIA assumes "you are what you eat" relative to carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). However, fractionation of carbon during lipid synthesis violates this assumption; high-lipid tissues do not reflect δ13C values of diet and therefore have the potential to skew mixing model results and diet interpretations, making corrections necessary. METHODS: Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) white muscle and liver samples from several fish species representing the temperate North American cold- and warm-water fish community were corrected for lipids via chemical lipid extraction and mathematical lipid normalization. To assess the accuracy of model-predicted lipid-free δ13C values calculated from four normalization models, we compared model-predicted values with those measured after lipid extraction. RESULTS: We found that chemical lipid extraction is unnecessary for Brook Trout white muscle tissue with low initial lipid content. However, in tissues with C:N ratios greater than 3.5, lipid extraction increased δ13C values in fish liver by more than 1.0 ?, indicating that liver lipid content is sufficient to bias δ13C values. We also found that lipids were accurately accounted for with mathematical normalization and recommend that tissues with C:N ratios greater than 3.5 be corrected mathematically. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that mathematical normalization is sufficient to account for bias in δ13C values associated with lipid content in fish tissues when C:N ratios are above 3.5. C:N ratios below 3.5 indicate that tissues have insufficient levels of lipid to bias the δ13C values. Generally, these findings support the use of more timely and cost-effective processing and analysis methods in future aquatic food-web studies utilizing SIA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Pharmacokinetic studies in animal models are important for assessing the prophylactic potential of antiretroviral drugs for HIV prevention. This study sought to identify clinically relevant doses of the marketed integrase inhibitors raltegravir, elvitegravir and dolutegravir in macaques and investigate drug penetration and antiviral activity in mucosal secretions. Methods: Macaques received one oral dose of raltegravir, elvitegravir or dolutegravir alone or in combination with emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate followed by drug level measurements in blood and rectal and vaginal secretions. Antiviral activity was investigated in TZM-bl cells exposed to SHIV162p3 in the presence of rectal secretions collected from treated animals. Results: Plasma drug concentrations with 50 mg/kg raltegravir or elvitegravir were within the range seen in humans receiving 400-800 mg of raltegravir or 800 mg of unboosted elvitegravir but lower than with 150 mg of elvitegravir boosted with cobicistat. AUC0-24 values for dolutegravir increased proportionally with the dose, with a calculated human-equivalent dose of 20 mg/kg. Elvitegravir showed the highest penetration in rectal and vaginal fluids despite the absence of pharmacological boosting, followed by raltegravir and dolutegravir. Rectal secretions collected at 24 h from treated macaques blocked infection of TZM-bl cells by 50% at dilutions of 1/1000 (raltegravir), 1/800 (dolutegravir) and >1/30000 (elvitegravir). Conclusions: We defined macaque doses of HIV integrase inhibitors that recapitulate human clinical doses, which will facilitate efficacy and dose escalation studies in macaques. High and sustained drug concentrations and activity in mucosal secretions suggest that integrase inhibitors are promising candidates for HIV prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Event-driven HIV prevention strategies are a priority for users who do not require daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Regimens containing integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are under evaluation as alternatives to daily PrEP. To better understand INSTI distribution and inform dosing selection we compared the pharmacology of two-dose boosted elvitegravir and unboosted bictegravir regimens in MSM. Materials and methods Blood, rectal and penile secretions and rectal biopsies were collected from 63 HIV-negative MSM aged 18–49 years. Specimens were collected up to 96 h after two oral doses of tenofovir alafenamide and emtricitabine with elvitegravir boosted by cobicistat or unboosted bictegravir given 24 h apart. Antiretroviral drugs were measured by LC-MS. Results Mean bictegravir plasma concentrations remained above the 95% protein-adjusted effective concentration 96 h after dosing [273 (95% CI: 164–456) ng/mL] whereas elvitegravir plasma concentrations became undetectable 48 h after the second dose. Bictegravir and elvitegravir reached rectal tissues within 2 h after the first dose, and elvitegravir tissue concentrations [1.07 (0.38–13.51) ng/mg] were greater than bictegravir concentrations [0.27 (0.15–0.70) ng/mg]. Both INSTIs became undetectable in tissues within 96 h. Elvitegravir and bictegravir were not consistently detected in penile secretions. Conclusions Whereas bictegravir plasma concentrations persist at least 4 days after a two-oral-dose HIV prophylaxis regimen, elvitegravir accumulates in mucosal tissues. Differing elvitegravir and bictegravir distribution may result in variable mucosal and systemic antiviral activity and can inform dosing strategies for event-driven HIV prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Survey conducted on the state of practice to account for recycled binder activity. • Two recycled binder activity quantification methods were compared. • Recycled binder activity depended on RAP source, conditioning, and mixing temperatures. • Using 100% RAP sources to estimate recycled binder activity is a promising approach. Many environmental and economic benefits can be achieved by employing reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and recycled asphalt shingles (RAS) in asphalt mixtures. However, due to the high stiffness and brittleness of recycled materials, cracking issues may arise when utilizing them at high contents. Recycled binder activity is one of the primary factors that influences the performance of recycled asphalt pavements. Recycled binder activity represents the amount of RAP or RAS binder that becomes active at production temperatures for mixing with the virgin binder. Previous studies have indicated that recycled binders are only partially active; however, the majority of state department of transportation's assume full activity. Designing recycled asphalt mixtures under the assumption of full recycled binder activity may result in mixtures with insufficient binder content and thus increasing the susceptibility for cracking and moisture damage. This paper compares two recycled binder activity quantification methods; the first method quantifies activity using recycled asphalt mixtures of virgin and RAP materials, while the second method uses 100 percent recycled materials. The two methods showed to produce relatively similar recycled binder activity values; however, the use of 100 percent RAP materials showed to be a more promising approach due to its practicality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disasters create a secondary surge in casualties because of the sudden increased need for long-term health care. Surging demands for medical care after a disaster place excess strain on an overtaxed health care system operating at maximum or reduced capacity. We have applied a health services use model to identify areas of vulnerability that perpetuate health disparities for at-risk populations seeking care after a disaster. We have proposed a framework to understand the role of the medical system in modifying the health impact of the secondary surge on vulnerable populations. Baseline assessment of existing needs and the anticipation of ballooning chronic health care needs following the acute response for at-risk populations are overlooked vulnerability gaps in national surge capacity plans. [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]

Abstract: Permeable friction course (PFC) mixtures constitute one of the best options for surface paving, since they offer advantages (as compared to dense-graded hot mix asphalt) in terms of safety, economy, and environment. However, mix design and evaluation of PFC mixtures still require improvement and standardization to further promote the reliable use of these mixtures. This paper summarizes an extensive literature review focused on the basic aspects integrated in the mix design and evaluation of PFC mixtures. Although substantial advances related to these topics were reported since implementation of PFC mixtures in the 1990’s, there is still a need for integration of several of these advances in an improved mix design procedure. The paper also identifies areas that require additional research, including the optimization of the balance between mixture functionality and durability and replacement of the indirect assessment of these important aspects. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in intron 2 of the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Type 2 (FGFR2) gene, including rs2981582, contribute to multifactorial breast cancer susceptibility. The high risk polymorphism haplotype in the FGFR2 gene has been associated with increased mRNA transcription and altered transcription factor binding but the effect on FGFR2 protein expression is unknown. 40 breast tumours were identified from individuals with known rs2981582 genotype. Tumour sections were stained for FGFR2 protein expression, and scored for nuclear and cytoplasmic staining in tumour and surrounding normal tissue. Findings: FGFR2 immunohistochemistry demonstrated variable nuclear staining in normal tissue and tumour tissue, as well as consistent cytoplasmic staining. We did not find an association between nuclear staining for FGFR2 and genotype, and there was no association between FGFR2 staining and estrogen or progestogen receptor status. There was an association between presence of nuclear staining for FGFR2 in normal tissue and presence of nuclear staining in the adjacent tumour (Fishers exact test, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Variable nuclear staining for FGFR2 in breast cancer, but an absence of correlation with rs2981582 genotype suggests that the mechanism of action of polymorphisms at the FGFR2 locus may be more complex than a direct effect on mRNA expression levels in the final cancer. The effect may relate to FGFR2 function or localisation during breast development or tumourigenesis. Nuclear localisation of FGFR2 suggests an important additional role for this protein in breast development and breast cancer, in addition to its function as a classical cell surface receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drainability is one of the main characteristics of permeable friction course (PFC) mixtures and is the primary reason for using these mixtures as the surface course in asphalt pavements in the United States. Current approaches suggested for PFC mix design to evaluate drainability (using gyratory-compacted specimens) include: (1) achieving a target total air void (AV) content as an indirect indication of permeability and (2) direct measurement of permeability in the laboratory. The assessment conducted in this study suggested that these approaches are not effective in ensuring adequate drainability in field-compacted mixtures. Thus, different alternatives were evaluated to improve this assessment. Corresponding analysis suggested that: (1) the water-accessible AV content can be used as a surrogate of the total AV content to indirectly assess permeability and (2) the water flow value (outflow time) can be applied to evaluate the field drainability of PFC mixtures. The expected value of permeability, determined using a modified version of the Kozeny-Carman equation, was recommended to analytically predict permeability for mix design and evaluation purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Durability and functionality (i.e., noise reduction effectiveness and drainability) of permeable friction course (PFC) mixtures depend on the characteristics of the air voids (AV) contained in the mixture. This study analyzes the internal structure of PFC mixtures, assessed in terms of AV characteristics; determined using X-ray Computed Tomography and image analysis techniques. Corresponding results showed: (i) heterogeneous distributions of AV in the horizontal direction of both field-compacted mixtures (road cores) and specimens compacted using the Superpave Gyratory Compactor (SGC) and (ii) limitations to compare their vertical AV distributions. Recommendations to reduce the horizontal heterogeneity included using road cores with a minimum 152.4mm diameter and coring SGC specimens to 101.6mm in diameter. Implementation of field-compaction control and future analysis of mixtures prepared accordingly was recommended to determine the pattern of vertical AV distribution that should be reproduced in SGC specimens and corresponding modifications required for fabrication of these specimens. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Durability of porous or permeable friction courses (PFC) is an important aspect to address when designing this type of hot mix asphalt. At present, several agencies perform the mix design of PFC primarily by determining volumetric mixture properties. This approach ensures adequate mixture functionality, but it does not guarantee mixture durability. This paper evaluates the Cantabro loss test, the Hamburg Wheel-Tracking test (HWTT) and the Overlay test (OT) to determine the one most appropriate for mix design and laboratory performance evaluations. The Cantabro loss test, performed in both dry and wet conditions, is recommended for PFC mix design to corroborate the suitability of the optimum asphalt content defined based on volumetric determinations. The HWTT and the OT are not recommended, since the variability of the test results indicated that these tests may not be suitable for PFC mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We developed an automated on-line weak anion exchange (WAX) solid-phase extraction (SPE) method coupled with ion-pair (IP) chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) detection for quantitatively measuring triphosphorylated metabolites of three reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTI). The administered pro-drugs were Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), Emtricitabine (FTC) and Lamivudine (3TC). Their intracellular metabolites Tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP), Emtricitabine-triphosphate (FTC-TP), and Lamivudine-triphosphate (3TC-TP) were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). We coupled the WAX and IP chromatography systems using a combination of 6-port and 10-port switching valves, and we mixed the WAX elute with 1,5-dimethyl-hexyl-amine before IP chromatography separation. Multiple waste outlets allowed for eliminating potential matrix components interfering with MS/MS detection. Limits of detection were 9, 200 and 75pg per sample for TFV-DP (448/176 m/z), FTC-TP (488/130 m/z) and 3TC-TP (468/119 m/z), respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Milligram quantities of Zaire ebolavirus nonstructural, secreted glycoprotein (sGP) were purified to homogeneity, and this preparation was characterized by an array of biophysical and biochemical experiments. Mass-spectrometry analysis revealed sGP posttranslational modifications and regions susceptible to limited proteolysis. In solution, sGP has an absolute molar mass of 103 kDa, is monodisperse, and folds into a predominantly β-sheet conformation with a distinct tertiary structure. sGP appears to have a unique free-energy landscape that facilitates reversible folding and a strong propensity for disulfide-linked dimeric quaternary structure under a wide range of conditions; the low apparent free energy of conformation transition of sGP (ΔG = 1.7±0.1 kcal/mol) suggests that the molecule is well suited as a thermodynamically facile switch, which would allow it to report on relatively subtle changes in milieu. In addition, a conformational transition at 37°C was detected in thermal denaturing experiments. On the basis of biophysical and biochemical considerations alone, we propose that the property of being a thermodynamically facile switch is an important clue to reveal sGP functionality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissipated pseudo strain energy (DPSE) and Paris' law fracture coefficients constitute input parameters for fracture characterization of hot-mix asphalt concrete (HMAC) mixtures in continuum fracture-damage mechanics and energy based fatigue analysis approaches. In this paper, numerical analysis models for computing DPSE and Paris' law fracture coefficients from surface energy (SE) and uniaxial strain-controlled tension test data are presented. The applicability of the DPSE, Paris' law fracture coefficients, and the associated laboratory tests for comparatively quantifying HMAC mixture fracture properties including investigating the effects of aging is also presented. Analysis of the results indicated that the models utilized together with the computed parameters and the related laboratory tests provide a fundamental methodology of comparatively characterizing the fracture properties of HMAC mixtures. The numerical values obtained were within theoretical expectations. The results further showed that aging has a detrimental effect on the HMAC mixture fracture properties. However, more HMAC mixture characterization is recommended to further validate the general applicability of the models and the associated laboratory tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1960s, a uniform circular vertical contact stress has been used to model the tire/pavement interface in asphalt pavements. Recent experimental measurements show that this assumption cannot be used to model the actual interaction. This study investigated the influence of nonuniform contact stress distribution on the stress distribution and permanent deformation profile in asphalt pavements. A previous study measured the tire contact stresses between the pavement surface and moving pneumatic tires. Material properties of a hot mix asphalt mixture used at WesTrack were obtained from compressive strength tests within the framework of an elastic-viscoplastic constitutive model. A three-dimensional finite element (FE) analysis was performed based on boundary conditions and measured vertical stresses at WesTrack. The tire pressure distribution was dependent on the tire load and significantly influenced the pavement response. The FE analysis based on the elastic-viscoplastic model was able to simulate the measured permanent deformation profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of U.S. departments of transportation (DOT) maintain quality assurance (QA) programs that require asphalt binder testing to verify grade compliance according to Superpave performance grade (PG) specifications. In Texas the binder is tested immediately after binder production, although the goal of QA is to ensure that the binder specified is used during construction. Between production and construction, the material is stored and transferred multiple times before it reaches the construction site or hot mix asphalt (HMA) plant. During this journey, binder properties may change due to many factors and these changes may have a negative impact on performance. To evaluate which factors are detrimental, a laboratory testing program was conducted to simulate the effects of storage time, storage temperature, contamination, and modification on the dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) performance parameter G*/sin δ after rolling thin film oven (RTFO) aging. A statistical analysis was performed, and the results indicated that all factors included in the simulation were significant. Results, conclusions, and general recommendations are provided to improve the current TxDOT QA program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical or psychological stress can modulate immune responses in normal subjects. The effects of stress on immunity in immunocompromised hosts, however, have not been extensively investigated. Here we assess relationships among footshock stress (FS), infection with herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), and immunosuppression by cyclophosphamide (CY) during the active immune response to virus in BALB/c mice. Without FS, CY significantly decreased survival and body weight gain, splenic leukocyte numbers, in vivo serum cytokine level and in vitro splenocyte cytokine production during HSV-1 infection. FS alone also significantly inhibited cell mediated anti-viral responses to HSV-1. However, FS in combination with certain CY doses led to a further significant decrease in host responses compared to either CY or FS treatment alone, including decreased survival rate, increased weight loss, lowered leukocyte numbers, reduced cytokine production in vivo and in vitro, and decreased numbers of cytokine-producing cells (IL-12 and IFNγ). In contrast, CY, but not FS, significantly reduced in vivo anti-HSV-1 antibody secretion. These data support the hypothesis that stress can further reduce host immune responses in immunocompromised individuals. Thus, stress levels of patients should be taken into consideration prior to clinical treatment with immunosuppressants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The non-structural glycoprotein (SGP) of Ebola virus (EboV) is secreted in large amounts from infected cells as a disulfide-linked homodimer. In this communication, highly purified SGP, derived from Vero E6 cultures infected with the Zaire species of EboV, was used to determine the correct localization of inter- and intrachain disulfide bonds. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of proteolytic cleavage fragments indicates that all cysteines (six per monomeric unit) form unique disulfide bonds. Monomers of the SGP homodimer are joined in a parallel manner by two intersubunit disulfide bonds formed between paired N-terminal and C-terminal cysteines (C53–C53′ and C306–C306′). The remaining cysteines are involved in intrachain disulfide bonding (paired as C108–C135 and C121–C147), which resembles the disulfide bond topology of fibronectin type II domains. The findings presented here provide the foundation for future studies aimed at defining the structural and functional properties of SGP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The transcription of genes located in subtelomeric regions of yeast chromosomes is repressed relative to the rest of the genome. This repression requires wild-type nucleosome levels but not the telomere silencing factors Sir2, Sir3, Sir4, and Rap1. Subtelomeric heterochromatin is characterized by the absence of acetylation or methylation of histone H3 lysine residues, but it is not known whether histone H3 hypoacetylation or hypomethylation is a prerequisite for the establishment of subtelomeric heterochromatin. We have systematically mutated the N-terminal tails of histone H3 and H4 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and characterized the effects each mutant has on genome-wide expression. Our results show that subtelomeric transcriptional repression is dependent on the histone H3 N-terminal domain, but not the histone H4 N-terminal domain. Mutating lysine4, lysine-9, lysine-14, lysine-18, lysine-23, and lysine-27 to glycine in histone H3 is also sufficient to significantly reduce subtelomeric gene repression. Individual histone H3 lysine mutations, however, have little effect on subtelomeric gene repression or genome-wide expression, indicating that these six lysine residues have redundant functions. We propose that acetylation and methylation of histone H3 N-terminal lysine residues act as redundant mechanisms to demarcate regions of euchromatin from heterochromatin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

State highway agencies strongly desire to develop and use performance-related specifications (PRS) for highway construction. A PRS for hot mix asphalt (HMA) construction, titled HMA Spec, was recently developed as part of the WesTrack project. The beta version of HMA Spec was applied to compare pay factors and actual rutting performance to predicted performance for four Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) test sections on Interstate 80 (I-80) east of Reno, Nevada. Some of these sections were similar in terms of materials and construction techniques to coarse-graded sections constructed at WesTrack, so a comparison to performance at WesTrack was also made. NDOT placed the test sections on I-80 in an effort to assess the applicability of the Superpave mix design process and HMA Spec for Nevada’s conditions. Sections were designed using both Hveem and Superpave mix design methods. Several interesting observations were made while evaluating the HMA Spec output. These observations and field performance data are described in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new accelerated pavement testing (APT) tool has recently been developed between relatively inexpensive laboratory testing and expensive but more realistic full-scale accelerated load testing. The one-third scale model mobile load simulator (MMLS3) applies a scaled load on a single tire smaller than a standard truck tire used in full-scale devices and can be used for both laboratory and field applications. For two hypothetical and eight actual pavement structures at a location where both full-scale APT devices and the MMLS3 were used, stress analyses were conducted to: (1) explore the hypothesis of comparable stress distribution; and (2) compare theoretical and measured rutting performance toward validating a performance prediction methodology. For the hypothetical pavement structures, the comparable stress hypothesis was upheld. Theoretically calculated rutting ratios based on stress analyses after correcting for differences in loading and environmental conditions were compared with actual measured field rutting ratios. The results were credible and demonstrated that when all influencing factors are taken into account, rutting performance under full-scale loading can be predicted based on MMLS3 results and stress analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

College students may not use the nutrition facts label suggesting changes to the label, such as the Traffic Light Label, are needed to increase user friendliness. To examine the effect of traffic light labels on the amount of food served in a university dining hall in comparison to the control nutrition facts panels. This study utilized a repeated measures observational design with a control and an intervention period each lasting 28 days at a Midwestern midsize, private university. Following the control period (nutrition facts panels), each food was labeled with a single color (red, yellow, or green) based upon its nutritional quality. Number of servings per day by color (dependent variable) was combined for both lunch and dinner during the control and intervention period. To compare the amount served per day of each color during control and intervention, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used. Bonferroni post hoc tests were utilized for multiple comparisons. The one-way ANOVA for color and time point was significant (F (5, 150) = 4.75, P < 0.001). Yellow-labeled foods during the intervention (M = 341.89, SD = 275.86) was significantly lower than red-labeled foods during control (M = 654.56, SD = 286.40, P < 0.0001) and intervention (M = 604.91, SD = 295.84, P = 0.008). However, there were no other significant differences between colors and time points. These results suggest that traffic light labels may not be more effective than nutrition facts panels in college dining halls to improve food choices. Specifically, there was no significant difference in number of servings per day in red- and/or green-labeled foods between control and intervention. Furthermore, servings per day of red-labeled foods continued to be significantly greater than yellow-labeled foods during the intervention. Because students may not use nutrition labels to make food choices, college dining halls should consider reformulating recipes to improve healthfulness of options. Bradley University C.C. Wheeler Institute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suggests that the measurements of DNA binding affinities for EcoRV endonuclease should be performed in the presence of divalent metal ions. Enhancement of expression of sequence selectivity in the presence of Ca2+; Equilibrium dissociation constants of wild-type and base-analogue sites.

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]

The economic and environmental benefits of using recycled asphalt materials continue to motivate agencies to increase their proportion in new pavement construction and maintenance and rehabilitation activities, but the resulting reduced cracking resistance remains an engineering performance challenge. The addition of recycling agents is one of the strategies to mitigate this issue caused by the increased stiffness and brittleness of the recycled mixture. This study explored the mechanism by which different types of recycling agents partially restore flexibility and ductility of asphalt binder and mixtures. A binder blend with 50% reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) binder was rejuvenated with seven types of recycling agents. Rheological and chemical tools were used to evaluate the binder blends and compare their performance to a control blend without a rejuvenator to study the rejuvenation mechanism. Corresponding asphalt mixtures were also tested to ensure adequate performance. Based on the results, the recycling agents were divided into three categories: (a) Softeners, (b) Replenishers, and (c) Emulsifiers. The results showed that while some agents act only on a physical level, others interact with the blend at a chemical level that affects the physical properties. A novel parameter was developed to compare the effectiveness of various recycling agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]