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David Michael Hercules, a renowned scientist, passed away in 2024 after a battle with cancer. He was born in 1932 and developed an early interest in science and music. He pursued a career in science, earning a Bachelor's degree from Juniata College and a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from MIT. Throughout his career, Hercules made significant contributions to various fields, including chemiluminescence, surface science, materials characterization, and mass spectrometry. He mentored over 130 graduate students and post-docs and emphasized the importance of confirming measurements with reference techniques. Hercules also engaged in industrial collaborations and encouraged his students to build expansive networks. He was known for his authenticity, warmth, and dedication to his students. [Extracted from the article]

Foregrounding the Korean Wave in storylines, there have been notable co-productions that have cinematically addressed the Southeast Asian fan of “K-Dramas” and her travels to South Korea. By analyzing Ultimate Oppa (2022), I align with a decolonial impulse to study a regional Asian co-production that excludes the usual analysis of the dominant European-U.S. film axis. I argue that intra-Asian co-productions produce ideological asymmetries in these arrangements. In Ultimate Oppa, the relationship between the Philippines and Korea is set against the macro-level influences of unequal “soft power” between Korean and Philippine media, producing visible dialectical tensions. As such, this essay argues that Ultimate Oppa ambivalently presents a cross-national romantic fantasy that reifies regional hierarchies, which are made more palatable through ideological dialectics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One way in which philosophers have often sought to distinguish moral judgments from non-moral judgments is by using the “moral-conventional” distinction. I seek to raise serious questions about the significance of the moral-conventional distinction, at least for philosophers interested in moral judgment. I survey recent developments in the fields of philosophy, psychology, and cognitive science that have led many to the conclusion that moral judgment is not a distinctive kind of judgment or the result of a specific, identifiable cognitive process. I argue that if this conclusion is largely correct, the moral-conventional distinction loses significance. If moral judgment does not correspond to a distinctive cognitive process, it is unclear how distinguishing between types of norms tracks anything of significance to human judgment formation. I then discuss the implications of abandoning the distinction for research in the field of moral psychology and tentatively propose a more modest way of conceiving of norm significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aim Design Methods Results Conclusion Patient or Public Contribution Impact Reporting Method To examine nurse workplace bullying relative to diverse sexual orientation and gender identity groups.Observational cross‐sectional study.Using an annual organisational satisfaction survey from 2022, we identified free‐text comments provided by nurses (N = 25,337). We identified and themed comments for specific bullying content among unique respondents (n = 1432). We also examined close‐ended questions that captured organisational constructs, such as job satisfaction and burnout. We looked at differences by comparing diverse sexual orientation and gender identity groups to the majority using both qualitative and quantitative data.For the free‐text comments, themed categories reflected the type of bullying, the perpetrator and perceived impact. Disrespect was the most frequent theme with supervisors being the primary perpetrator. The reported bullying themes and workplace perceptions differed between nurses in the diverse gender identity and sexual orientation group compared to other groups. Nurses who reported bullying also reported higher turnover intent, burnout, lower workplace civility, more dissatisfaction and lower self‐authenticity.Diverse sexual orientation and gender identity groups are understudied in the nurse bullying research, likely because of sensitivities around identification. Our design enabled anonymous assessment of these groups. We suggest practices to help alleviate and mitigate the prevalence of bullying in nursing.No Patient or Public Contribution. We examined differences in perceptions of nurse bullying between diverse sexual orientation and gender identity groups compared to majority groups. Group differences were found both for thematic qualitative content and workplace experience ratings with members of minority groups reporting less favourable workplace experiences. Nurse leaders and staff can benefit from learning about best practices to eliminate bullying among this population. STROBE guidelines for cross‐sectional observational studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary This mixed‐methods study aimed to explore factors contributing to therapeutic inertia among people living with obesity in Canada from the perspective of general/family practitioners (GP/FPs). One‐on‐one interviews and online surveys guided by the Theoretical Domains Framework were conducted. A total of 20 general/family practitioners were interviewed and 200 general/family practitioners were surveyed. Key findings from interviews were used to guide the development of the survey. Spearman's correlation analysis evaluated the association between general/family practitioners theme domain scores and their familiarity with the 2020 Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines. The 200 general/family practitioners surveyed provided representation across Canada, with diversity in age, background, and gender. The most prominent domains related to therapeutic inertia that were positively influenced by familiarity with Clinical Practice Guidelines were Beliefs about Capabilities (rs = .27; p < .01), Skills (rs = .23; p < .01), Behavioural Regulation (rs = .24; p < .01) and Emotions (rs = .23; p < .01). Irrespective of their familiarity with Clinical Practice Guidelines, most general/family practitioners reported that environmental and contextual barriers impact obesity management. Particularly, while financial barriers were reported by participants regardless of Clinical Practice Guidelines familiarity, general/family practitioners familiar with Clinical Practice Guidelines more often reported having time to discuss obesity management with patients. This study identified perceptions, resource and training considerations that contribute to healthcare decision‐making and therapeutic inertia in obesity management among general/family practitioners and highlighted key areas to target with interventions in primary care to facilitate obesity management, which should be multi‐faceted, with a focus on incorporating obesity education into healthcare providers training programs and improving systemic and financial support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal pathogens exhibit extensive strain heterogeneity, including variation in virulence. Whether closely related non-pathogenic species also exhibit strain heterogeneity remains unknown. Here, we comprehensively characterized the pathogenic potentials (i.e., the ability to cause morbidity and mortality) of 16 diverse strains of Aspergillus fischeri, a non-pathogenic close relative of the major pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. In vitro immune response assays and in vivo virulence assays using a mouse model of pulmonary aspergillosis showed that A. fischeri strains varied widely in their pathogenic potential. Furthermore, pangenome analyses suggest that A. fischeri genomic and phenotypic diversity is even greater. Genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolic profiling identified several pathways and secondary metabolites associated with variation in virulence. Notably, strain virulence was associated with the simultaneous presence of the secondary metabolites hexadehydroastechrome and gliotoxin. We submit that examining the pathogenic potentials of non-pathogenic close relatives is key for understanding the origins of fungal pathogenicity. Examination of Aspergillus fischeri, a non-pathogenic close relative of the major fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, revealed extensive strain heterogeneity in virulence and identified an association with specific metabolic differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solo masturbation is prevalent across adulthood. However, there are conflicting findings regarding how masturbation is associated with well-being. Understanding individuals' motives for masturbating might help disentangle these conflicting findings; yet, existing measures are suboptimal for assessing motives for solo masturbation. In this study, 2960 adults (18-84 years old, Mage = 32.62, SDage = 11.36, 60.2% men, 36.8% women) who had engaged in solo masturbation within the past year responded to items, written based on existing literature, reflecting a wide range of motives for masturbating. Exploratory factor analysis revealed eight factors that warranted retention (Fantasy, Pleasure/Arousal, Compulsion, Improvement, Sexual Dissatisfaction, Coping, Efficiency, and Avoidance of Risky Sex), and this structure was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis. Measurement invariance was established across men and women, and individuals in and not in a sexually active romantic relationship. The resultant measure comprises 24 items assessing eight distinct motives. Fit indices and scale reliabilities suggest this new measure of masturbation motives is psychometrically sound. Correlations with related constructs (e.g., sex drive, dissatisfaction with partnered sex, religiosity, depression, anxiety, and attitudes toward masturbation) provide preliminary evidence of validity. Suggestions for future investigations and further development of this new measure are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brazilian pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius) is an invasive species that requires significant disturbance to eradicate. Previous studies have identified associations between the Brazilian pepper tree and ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF). However, limited research has explored the connection between disturbance from removal and the effect on EMF. This study investigated the sensitivity of EMF and the broader fungal community to the full and selective removal of the Brazilian pepper tree. During the selective removal of Brazilian pepper tree, we examined the mycorrhizal community of the Arroyo willow (Salix lasiolepis) to assess the influence of the restoration disturbance on native species. We used ITS2 sequencing to identify the EMF present during the restoration. Our expectation was that both removal efforts would reduce the presence of EMF. Contrary to our predictions, full removal increased EMF richness and relative abundance in the soil. As anticipated, selective removal reduced the richness and relative abundance of EMF associated with soil. Selective removal led to a decrease in the richness of EMF in arroyo willow roots with no effect on relative abundance. Moreover, fungal community composition in soil and roots shifted significantly during selective and full removal. However, the community composition of EMF, specifically, remained constant across treatment types. During full removal efforts, the application of organic soil amendments may have contributed to the increase in the diversity and relative abundance of EMF. Selective removal will require additional measures, such as soil amendments, to curtail the loss of EMF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the evolution of the US Army War College's approach to military education and leadership. Topics include the historical shifts in the college's educational focus, the current emphasis on adapting to great-power competition and technological advancements, and the development of a tailored educational model to enhance strategic leadership and problem-solving skills.

High-risk coronary plaques (HRP) are characterized in clinical radiological imaging by the presence of low plaque attenuation, a napkin-ring sign (NRS), spotty calcifications (SC) and a positive remodeling index (RI). To evaluate if these signs are detectable in postmortem imaging by a multi-phase postmortem CT angiography (MPMCTA), a retrospective study of a series of autopsy well-documented coronary plaques related to sudden cardiac death (SCD) was performed. Then correlations between histological and radiological findings were described. Fourty SCD cases due to acute coronary syndrome based on clinical history and confirmed at autopsy were selected (28 men and 12 women, age 53.3 ± 10.9). The culprit lesion was mainly situated in the proximal segments of coronary arteries, in the right coronary artery in 23 cases (57.5%), the left anterior descending artery in 13 cases (32.5%), the circumflex artery in 3 cases (7.5%) and in one case in the left main stem. MPMCTA showed a positive RI (≥ 1.1) in 75% of cases with a mean RI 1.39 ± 0.71. RI values were lower in cases with fibrotic plaques. NRS was observed in 40% of cases, low attenuation plaque in 46.3%, and SC in 48.7% of cases. There were significant correlations of the radiological presence of NRS for fibrolipid composition of the plaque (p-value 0.007), severe intraplaque inflammation (p-value 0.017), severe adventitial inflammation (p-value 0.021) and an increased vasa vasorum (p-value 0.012). A significant correlation (p-value 0.002) was observed between the presence of SC at radiological examination and the presence of punctuate/fragmented calcification at histology. In addition, in 58.3% of cases, plaque enhancement was observed, which correlated with plaque inflammation and the fibrolipid composition of the plaque. The coronary artery calcium score was 314 (± 455). There was a poor agreement between stenosis of the lumen at histology versus radiology. Our study shows that the various radiological signs of HRP can be detected in all plaques by MPMCTA, but individually only to a variable extent; plaque enhancement appeared as a new sign of vulnerability. In the postmortem approach, these radiological markers of HRP, should always be applied in combination, which can be useful for developing a predictive model for diagnosing coronary SCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The derogatory label "Koreaboo," used to stigmatize Korean popular culture fans, suggests Korean media's movements are treated as a contaminant rather than a welcome presence. In this research project, I conducted focus group research and analyses of Reddit threads to understand the ways women fans of color in this study interpret and navigate taste hierarchies that mock women's interests in celebrities and texts from a racialized Asian nation. Korean popular culture fans of color reject "Koreaboo" for themselves, but they project the label onto "bad" White fans, who are perceived as having inappropriate fannish interests that deviate from popularly held standards of intercultural and interracial fan interest. The self-disciplining within fandom distances itself from the Western patriarchal gaze by re-directing its focus. Even when fans of color seek Korean media to escape White hegemony and heteronormative patriarchy, they internalize and react to its gaze in their fan practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juvenile Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) use estuary habitats to varying degrees with some species and populations thought to rely heavily on these areas for early growth. In the Fraser River, British Columbia, there are 18 distinct conservation units of Chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha), and all but one is of conservation concern. Our study compares the outmigration timing, size, and habitat use of juvenile Chinook salmon in the Fraser River estuary. Over 5 years (2016–2020), we captured 6493 juvenile Chinook salmon, with 3318 sampled for stock identification. Fraser River Chinook salmon extensively used estuary habitats, but patterns varied considerably by population. Juvenile Chinook salmon from the Lower Fraser River were most abundant and present the longest, arriving the smallest in late March and early April, and captured until July. South Thompson ocean-type Chinook salmon entered the estuary later, starting to arrive in late May or early June and remaining present until mid-August. Overall, juvenile Chinook salmon varied considerably in their estuary use across populations. Understanding this variation can inform differences in productivity and guide recovery actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated whether 10 weeks of pre‐season soccer training (including high‐intensity resistance exercise) with hydrolysed collagen (COL) supplementation would confer greater changes in patellar tendon (PT) mechanical and material properties compared with placebo (PLA) in professional female soccer athletes. Eleven athletes from the first team squad of a Football Association Women's Championship soccer club volunteered to participate in this study (age, 25.7 ± 4.2 years; height, 1.68 ± 0.04 m; mass, 64.0 ± 4.6 kg). Participants were pair‐matched for baseline knee extensor maximum isometric voluntary contraction torque, age, height and mass and were randomly assigned to the COL group (n = 6) or PLA group (n = 5). Participants were given 30 g COL or energy‐matched (36.5 g maltodextrin and 8.4 g fructose) PLA, plus 500 mg vitamin C before each training session, which consisted of high‐intensity lower‐limb resistance exercise, plyometric or pitch‐based exercise 3 days/week for 10 weeks during the pre‐season period. We assessed knee extensor maximum isometric voluntary contraction torque and PT properties using isokinetic dynamometry and ultrasonography before and after the intervention. The PT stiffness [COL, +15.4% ± 3.1% (d = 0.81) vs. PLA, +4.6% ± 3.0% (d = 0.32), P = 0.002] and Young's modulus [COL, +14.2% ± 4.0% (d = 0.65) vs. PLA, +3.4% ± 2.8% (d = 0.15), P = 0.004] increased more in COL than in PLA. There was a main effect of training on PT cross‐sectional area (P = 0.027), but no interaction effect (P = 0.934). To conclude, 10 weeks of pre‐season soccer training (incorporating high‐intensity resistance exercise) with 30 g COL increased PT stiffness and Young's modulus more than training alone in professional female soccer athletes. This has positive implications for improving athletic performance and mitigating injury risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diana Wall, a respected environmental and sustainability scientist, has passed away at the age of 80. She was a University Distinguished Professor at Colorado State University and made significant contributions to the fields of soil ecology and sustainability science. Diana was a strong advocate for soil biodiversity and emphasized the crucial role of soil organisms in ecosystem processes. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, and her legacy will continue to inspire and impact the scientific community. Additionally, the given text references several sources that provide valuable insights into the formation of soil and the significance of worms in this process, including Charles Darwin's book "The Formation of Vegetable Mould, Through the Action of Worms, with Observations on Their Habits" published in 1881, a review of this book by W. Gifford et al. in 1882, H. Jenny's book "Factors of Soil Formation – A System of Quantitative Pedology" published in 1941, and a global soil biodiversity atlas by A. Orgiazzi et al. published in 2016. [Extracted from the article]

Rationale: Silver doping of electrospray is known to increase the abundance of olefinic compounds detected by mass spectrometry. While demonstrated in targeted experiments, this has yet to be investigated in an untargeted study. Utilizing infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (IR-MALDESI-MSI), an untargeted lipidomics experiment on mouse liver was performed to evaluate the advantages of silver-doped electrospray. Methods: 10 ppm silver nitrate was doped into the IR-MALDESI solvent consisting of 60% acetonitrile and 0.2% formic acid. Using an Orbitrap mass spectrometer in positive ionization mode, MSI was performed, analyzing from m/z 150 to m/z 2000 to capture all lipids with potential silver adducts. The lipids detected in the control and silver-doped electrosprays were compared by annotating using the LIPID MAPS Structural Database and eliminating false positives using the metabolite annotation confidence score. Results: Silver-doped electrospray allowed for the detection of such ions of lipid molecules as [M + H]+ or [M + NH4]+ and as [M + Ag]+. Among the ions seen as [M + H]+ or [M + NH4]+, the signal was comparable between the control and silver-doped electrosprays. The silver-doped electrospray led to a 10% increase in the number of detected lipids, all of which contained a bay region increasing the interaction between silver and alkenes. Silver preferentially interacted with lipids that did not contain hard bases such as phosphates. Conclusions: Silver-doped electrospray enabled detection of 10% more olefinic lipids, all containing bay regions in their putative structures. This technique is valuable for detecting previously unobserved lipids that have the potential to form bay regions, namely fatty acyls, glycerolipids, prenol lipids, and polyketides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an attractive class of materials for sensing applications due to their inherent crystallinity, high surface area, and designable framework functionalities. While the majority of COFs have high electrical resistance, making it difficult to harness these materials for electronic sensors, real‐time impedance spectroscopy can enable gas and vapor sensing of a much wider range of COFs. Herein, a set of post‐synthetically modified (PSM) COFs are explored though a straightforward one‐step substitution reaction by reacting phenol moieties on the pore wall, with alkyl bromides, to embed alkyl, aryl, or alcohol groups into the framework. This modular approach provides access to improved sensor properties toward the detection of volatile organics, acids, and potentially harmful gases. Sensor results indicate that post‐synthetically modified COFs offer better sensitivity toward NO2 and acetic acid, with the aryl functionalized COF having an NO2 detection limit of 10 ppm. Furthermore, modified COFs also show higher selectivity toward isopropanol and toluene. This work highlights the importance of methods that facilitate post‐synthetic modification of COFs so that functional groups and COF properties can be tuned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impulsivity-characterized executive function impairments have been hypothesized to represent mechanisms underlying the symptomology associated with gambling disorder (GD). Despite this, a clear profile of executive function within GD has yet to be established. Furthermore, it remains unclear whether executive function deficits represent a vulnerability marker for the disorder. This study assessed executive function performance within a GD sample compared to a sample of familial relatives and community controls. Using a family study methodology, a broad assessment of executive function was administered to analyze performance differences and their potential characterization by impulsivity between a sample of individuals meeting criteria for GD, their first-degree familial relatives, and a community control sample. Performance differences emerged regarding the capacity to delay gratification and inhibit automatic task-irrelevant responses between the GD and control samples. Results support the presence of impulsive choice and impulsive cognitive bias as components of the GD executive functioning profile. Similar difficulties inhibiting automatic attentional shifting were observed within the first-degree relative sample. Executive functioning within GD appears to be characterized by an impulsive pattern of behaviours/decisions but impacts processes differently. Evidence suggests that individuals diagnosed with GD demonstrate a statistically different capacity to delay gratification (e.g. a propensity towards smaller, more immediate rewards as opposed to larger delayed rewards) and inhibit cognitive biases (e.g. difficulty shifting attention away from task-irrelevant stimuli). This latter difference may represent a vulnerability marker of GD as preliminary evidence was provided for similar difficulties in a first-degree relative sample. Further research must replicate these findings and assess the impact of task modality, symptom severity, and comorbidity on the observation of executive functioning impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a case study of a 25-year-old woman with a large renal angiomyolipoma (AML) associated with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). The patient presented with gastrointestinal symptoms and was initially misdiagnosed with leiomyosarcoma. After further evaluation, the mass was determined to be a benign AML. The patient underwent embolization followed by a partial nephrectomy, and her renal function was preserved. The article highlights the challenges in diagnosing and managing large AMLs and emphasizes the importance of regular surveillance for AMLs associated with LAM. [Extracted from the article]

The rates of opioid use and opioid related deaths are escalating in the United States. Despite this, evidence-based treatments for Opioid Use Disorder are underutilized. There are three medications FDA approved for treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: Methadone, Buprenorphine, and Naltrexone. This article reviews the history, criteria, and mechanisms associated with Opioid Use Disorder. Pertinent pharmacology considerations, treatment strategies, efficacy, safety, and challenges of Methadone, Buprenorphine, and Naltrexone are outlined. Lastly, a practical decision making algorithm is discussed to address pertinent psychiatric and medical comorbidities when prescribing pharmacology for Opioid Use Disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess whether adults with diabetes on oral hypoglycaemic agents undergoing general endotracheal anaesthesia during nine common surgical procedures who are glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP1‐RA) users, compared with non‐users, are at increased risk of six peri‐ and post‐procedure complications. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational cohort analysis of over 130 million deidentified US adults with diabetes (defined as being on oral hypoglycaemic agents) from a nationally representative electronic health dataset between 1 January 2015 and 1 April 2023 was analysed. Cohorts were matched by high‐dimensionality propensity scoring. We compared the odds of six peri‐ and postoperative complications in GLP1‐RA users and non‐users. A sensitivity analysis compared these odds in GLP1‐RA users to non‐users with diabetes and obesity. We measured the odds of (a) a composite outcome of postoperative decelerated gastric emptying, including antiemetic use, ileus within 7 days post‐procedure, gastroparesis diagnosis, gastric emptying study; (b) postoperative aspiration or pneumonitis; (c) severe respiratory failure; (d) postoperative hypoglycaemia; (e) inpatient mortality; and (f) 30‐day mortality. Results: Among 13 361 adults with diabetes, 16.5% were treated with a GLP1‐RA. In the high‐dimensionality propensity score‐matched cohort, GLP1‐RA users had a lower risk of peri‐ and postoperative complications for decelerated gastric emptying and antiemetic use compared with non‐users. The risk of ileus within 7 days, aspiration/pneumonitis, hypoglycaemia and 30‐day mortality were not different. A sensitivity analysis showed similar findings in patients with diabetes and obesity. Conclusion: No increased risk of peri‐ and postoperative complications in GLP1‐RA users undergoing surgery with general endotracheal anaesthesia was identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mineral King pendant is an ~15-km-long, northwest-striking assemblage of Permian to mid-Cretaceous metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks that form a steeply dipping wall-rock screen between large mid-Cretaceous plutons of the Sierra Nevada batholith (California, USA). Pendant rocks are generally well layered and characterized by northwest-striking, steeply dipping, layer-parallel cleavage and flattening foliation and steeply northwest-plunging stretching lineation. Northwest-elongate lithologic units with well-developed parallel layering and an absence of prominent faults or shear zones suggests a degree of stratigraphic continuity. However, U-Pb zircon dating of felsic metavolcanic and volcanosedimentary rocks across the pendant indicates a complex pattern of structurally interleaved units with ages ranging from 277 Ma to 101 Ma. We utilize a compilation of 39 existing and new U-Pb zircon ages and four reported fossil localities to construct a revised geologic map of the Mineral King pendant that emphasizes age relationships rather than lithologic or stratigraphic correlations as in previous studies. We find that apparently coherent lithologic units are lensoidal and discontinuous and are cryptically interleaved at meter to kilometer scales. Along-strike facies changes and depositional unconformities combine with kilometer-scale tight folding and structural imbrication to create a complex map pattern with numerous discordant units. Discrete faults or major shear zones are not readily apparent in the pendant, although such structures are necessary to produce the structural complications revealed by our new mapping and U-Pb dating. We interpret the Mineral King pendant to be structurally imbricated by a combination of kilometer-scale tight to isoclinal folding and cryptic faulting, accentuated by, and eventually obscured by, pervasive flattening and vertical stretching that preceded and accompanied emplacement of the bounding mid-Cretaceous plutons. Deformation in the Mineral King pendant represents a significant episode of pure-shear-dominated transpression between ca. 115 Ma and 98 Ma that adds to growing evidence for a major mid-Cretaceous transpressional orogenic event affecting the western U.S. Cordillera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of a new genomic assembly pipeline named only the best (otb) has effectively addressed various challenges associated with data management during the development and storage of genome assemblies. otb, which incorporates a comprehensive pipeline involving a setup layer, quality checks, templating, and the integration of Nextflow and Singularity. The primary objective of otb is to streamline the process of creating a HiFi/HiC genome, aiming to minimize the manual intervention required in the genome assembly process. The 2-lined spittlebug, (Prosapia bicincta , Hemiptera: Cercopidae), a true bug insect herbivore, serves as a practical test case for evaluating otb. The 2-lined spittlebug is both a crucial agricultural pest and a genomically understudied insect belonging to the order Hemiptera. This insect is a significant threat to grasslands and pastures, leading to plant wilting and phytotoxemia when infested. Its presence in tropical and subtropical regions around the world poses a long-term threat to the composition of plant communities in grassland landscapes, impacting rangelands, and posing a substantial risk to cattle production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicaid-funded obstetric care coordination programs supplement prenatal care with tailored services to improve birth outcomes. It is uncertain whether these programs reach populations with elevated risks of adverse birth outcomes—namely non-white, highly rural, and highly urban populations. This study evaluates racial and geographic variation in the receipt of Wisconsin Medicaid's Prenatal Care Coordination (PNCC) program during 2010–2019. We sample 250,596 Medicaid-paid deliveries from a cohort of linked Wisconsin birth records and Medicaid claims. We measure PNCC receipt during pregnancy dichotomously (none; any) and categorically (none; assessment/care plan only; service receipt), and we stratify the sample on three maternal characteristics: race/ethnicity, urbanicity of residence county; and region of residence county. We examine annual trends in PNCC uptake and conduct logistic regressions to identify factors associated with assessment or service receipt. Statewide PNCC outreach decreased from 25% in 2010 to 14% in 2019, largely due to the decline in beneficiaries who only receive assessments/care plans. PNCC service receipt was greatest and persistent in Black and Hispanic populations and in urban areas. In contrast, PNCC service receipt was relatively low and shrinking in American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian/Pacific Islander, and white populations and in more rural areas. Additionally, being foreign-born was associated with an increased likelihood of getting a PNCC assessment in Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic populations, but we observed the opposite association in Black and white populations. Estimates signal a gap in PNCC receipt among some at-risk populations in Wisconsin, and findings may inform policy to enhance PNCC outreach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prolonged periods of stress may lead to negative health consequences. AlphaWave®l-Theanine was safe and efficacious during an acute stress challenge. However, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials investigating the longer term effects of l-theanine supplementation on stress are warranted. Methods: Thirty healthy adults (18–65 years) with moderate stress were randomized to AlphaWave®l-Theanine (400 mg l-theanine/day) or placebo (n = 15/group) for 28 days. Stress was assessed by salivary cortisol, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21; sleep was assessed by the Healthy People Sleep Quality Index and actigraphy device; cognition was assessed by Computerized Mental Performance Assessment System; mood was assessed by Profile of Mood States. All outcomes were measured at baseline, Days 14 and 28. Safety included vital signs, clinical chemistry, haematology and adverse events (AEs). Results: All AEs were resolved by the end of the study period or upon subsequent follow up, and out of range laboratory values and changes in vital signs were deemed not clinically relevant following AlphaWave®l-Theanine supplementation. Participants supplemented with AlphaWave®l-Theanine had decreases of 12.92% (p = 0.051) and 17.98% (p = 0.04) in PSS scores after 14 and 28 days, respectively, while those on placebo had respective decreases of 9.74% (p = 0.061) and 17.88% (p = 0.009). There were no significant differences between groups for change in salivary cortisol. The AlphaWave®l-Theanine group demonstrated decreased time asleep after 28 days and significantly reduced light sleep after 14 and 28 days compared to placebo (p ≤ 0.040). The AlphaWave®l-Theanine group significantly improved by 21.79% and 21.33% in Stroop test correct reaction time after 14 and 28 days, respectively, while those on placebo improved after 28 days only (p = 0.005). Conclusions: AlphaWave®l-Theanine supplementation for 28 days was safe and significantly decreased perceived stress significantly decreased perceived stress and light sleep, improved sleep quality and enhanced cognitive attention in the studied population. Larger, randomized controlled trials with longer duration of AlphaWave®l-Theanine supplementation are warranted to reduce inter-individual variability and the potential placebo effect. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT05808595. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States' current rivalry with China should be seen as a technology race in which the ability to imagine, discover and apply innovations will decide who wins. While the United States spends more than China on research and development (R&D), China's state-centred system enables it to transform funding and talent into deployed capabilities faster than the United States' private-enterprise-centred system can. Accordingly, the US must avoid complacency about the inherent advantage of the democratic-capitalist system in scientific discovery and devise more effective mechanisms for stimulating free enterprise to develop new military technology. This requires the US Department of Defense to devote more resources to R&D by asking allies to contribute more for military operations, and to better incentivise military innovation by investing funds in private enterprise to defray start-up costs before production can yield steady revenue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Compost organic matter was characterized with a color sensor. • Compost organic matter content was differentiated by principal components analysis. • Accurate compost organic matter quantification is possible in seconds. Composted materials serve as an effective soil nutrient amendment. Organic matter in compost plays an important role in quantifying composted materials overall quality and nutrient content. Measuring organic matter content traditionally takes considerable time, resources, and various laboratory equipment (e.g., oven, muffle furnace, crucibles, precision balance). Much like the quantitative color indices (e.g., sRGB R, sRGB G, sRGB B, CIEL*a* b*) derived from the low-cost NixPro2 color sensor have proven adept at predicting soil organic matter in-situ , the NixPro2 color sensor has the potential to be effective for predicting organic matter in composted materials without the need for traditional laboratory methods. In this study, a total of 200 compost samples (13 different compost types) were measured for organic matter content via traditional loss-on-ignition (LOI) and via the NixPro2 color sensor. The NixPro2 color sensor showed promising results with an LOI-prediction model utilizing the CIEL*a* b* color model through the application of the Generalized Additive Model (GAM) algorithm yielding an excellent prediction accuracy (validation R2 = 0.87, validation RMSE = 4.66 %). Moreover, the PCA scoreplot differentiated the three lowest organic matter compost types from the remaining 10 compost types. These results have valuable practical significance for the compost industry by predicting compost organic matter in real time without the need for laborious, time-consuming methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to develop a complete theory of star formation, one essentially needs to know two things: what collapses and how long it takes. This is the second paper in a series, where we query how long a parcel of gas takes to collapse and the process it undergoes. We embed pseudo-Lagrangian tracer particles in simulations of collapsing molecular clouds, identify the particles that end in dense knots, and then examine the collapse history of the gas. We find a nearly universal behaviour of cruise-then-collapse, wherein a core stays at intermediate densities for a significant fraction of its life before finally collapsing. We identify time immediately before each core collapses, |$t_{\rm {sing}}$|⁠ , and examine how it transitions to high density. We find that the time to collapse is uniformly distributed between |$0.25 t_{\rm {ff}}$| and the end of the simulation at |$\sim\!\! 1 t_{\rm {ff}}$|⁠ , and that the duration of collapse is universally short, |$\Delta t \sim 0.1 t_{\rm {ff}}$|⁠ , where |$t_{\rm {ff}}$| is the free-fall time at the mean density. We describe the collapse in three stages: collection, hardening, and singularity. Collection sweeps low-density gas into moderate density. Hardening brings kinetic and gravitational energies into quasi-equipartition. Singularity is the free-fall collapse, forming an envelope in rough energy balance and central overdensity in |$\sim\!\! 0.1 t_{\rm {ff}}$|⁠. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symbiotic interactions may change depending on third parties like predators or prey. Third-party interactions with prey bacteria are central to the symbiosis between Dictyostelium discoideum social amoeba hosts and Paraburkholderia bacterial symbionts. Symbiosis with inedible Paraburkholderia allows host D. discoideum to carry prey bacteria through the dispersal stage where hosts aggregate and develop into fruiting bodies that disperse spores. Carrying prey bacteria benefits hosts when prey are scarce but harms hosts when prey bacteria are plentiful, possibly because hosts leave some prey bacteria behind while carrying. Thus, understanding benefits and costs in this symbiosis requires measuring how many prey bacteria are eaten, carried and left behind by infected hosts. We found that Paraburkholderia infection makes hosts leave behind both symbionts and prey bacteria. However, the number of prey bacteria left uneaten was too small to explain why infected hosts produced fewer spores than uninfected hosts. Turning to carried bacteria, we found that hosts carry prey bacteria more often after developing in prey-poor environments than in prey-rich ones. This suggests that carriage is actively modified to ensure hosts have prey in the harshest conditions. Our results show that multi-faceted interactions with third parties shape the evolution of symbioses in complex ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implant surface nanofiber (NF) coatings represent an alternative way to prevent/treat periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) via local drug release. We developed and characterized a coaxial erythromycin (EM)-doped PLGA/PCL-PVA NF coating. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of EM-NF coatings (EM0, no EM, EM100 (100 mg/mL), and EM1000 (1000 mg/mL) wt/wt) in a rat PJI model. A strong bond of the EM-NF coating to the surface of titanium (Ti) pins was confirmed by in vitro mechanical testing. Micro-computed tomography (mCT) analysis showed that both EM100 and EM1000 NF effectively reduced periprosthetic osteolysis compared to EM0 at 8 and 16 weeks after implantation. Histology showed that EM100 and EM1000 coatings effectively controlled infection and enhanced periprosthetic new bone formation. The bone implant contact (BIC) of EM100 (35.08%) was higher than negative controls and EM0 (3.43% and 0%, respectively). The bone area fraction occupancy (BAFO) of EM100 (0.63 mm2) was greater than controls and EM0 (0.390 mm2 and 0.0 mm2, respectively). The BAFO of EM100 was higher than that of EM1000 (0.3 mm2). These findings may provide a basis for a new implant surface fabrication strategy aimed at reducing the risks of defective osseointegration and PJI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study examines how the public views gangs, surveying 1,000 US adults using a vignette of a teenage collective. Through a factorial design, elements crucial to gang definition debates were randomly manipulated: the name of the group, its racial composition, behavior severity, and organizational structure. Findings reveal that a name associated with known gangs significantly impacts perception, making it more likely for a group to be identified as a gang. The collective’s activity and organizational structure also swayed perceptions, with violent and structured groups more readily classified as gangs. Surprisingly, the group’s racial makeup did not markedly alter perceptions, although joint effects show it did affect the interpretation of other factors. These insights suggest a need to reassess how research shapes our understanding of gangs and, in turn, how public concerns inform policymakers; highlighting the nuances in public opinion that could factor into legal responsibility and guide future legislative decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Little is known about replacement costs of care provided by informal carers during the last year of life for people dying of cancer and non-cancer diseases. Aim: To estimate informal caregiving costs and explore the relationship with carer and decedent characteristics. Design: National observational study of bereaved carers. Questions included informal end-of-life caregiving into the 2017 Health Survey for England including estimated recalled frequency, duration and intensity of care provision. We estimated replacement costs for a decedent's last year of life valuing time at the price of a substitutable activity. Spearman rank correlations and multivariable linear regression were used to explore relationships with last year of life costs. Setting/participants: Adult national survey respondents – England. Results: A total of 7997 adults were interviewed from 5767/9612 (60%) of invited households. Estimated replacement costs of personal care and other help were £27,072 and £13,697 per carer and a national cost of £13.2 billion and £15.5 billion respectively. Longer care duration and intensity, older age, death at home (lived together), non-cancer cause of death and greater deprivation were associated with increased costs. Female sex, and not accessing 'other care services' were related to higher costs for other help only. Conclusion: We provide a first adult general population estimate for replacement informal care costs in the last year of life of £41,000 per carer per decedent and highlight characteristics associated with greater costs. This presents a major challenge for future universal care coverage as the pool of people providing informal care diminish with an ageing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides a comprehensive examination of the use of nitrogen anoxia as a method of execution in Alabama. The authors argue that this method is inherently inhumane and flawed from a physiological perspective. They discuss the respiratory physiology of nitrogen anoxia and its impact on the body until death, highlighting the vulnerability of the brain to oxygen deprivation. The article also addresses misinformation surrounding nitrogen-induced hypoxia as a form of capital punishment, emphasizing the importance of understanding the physiological effects of nitrogen inhalation. The authors express their opposition to the death penalty and advocate for challenging authority in matters of human health and life. [Extracted from the article]

We extend Conway's self-memory system by adding theory and data from shame, an emotion that disrupts the internalised ideals of society needed for a positive self-concept. The event that caused 273 undergraduates their greatest amount of shame was analyzed; 66% were not very negative except for producing shame. Ratings of post-event effects, including two measure of self (self-perceived weakness, and centrality to identity) and four clinical symptoms (intrusions, avoidance, anxiety, and depression), were attributed separately to the remembered event, behaviour during the event, and shame from the event. The effects of shame were generally as large as the those of the event and larger than those of the behaviour, demonstrating the importance of shame's effects. The Tonic Immobility Scale (TIS), which measures tonic immobility (i.e., freezing), was obtained for the event that produced the most tonic immobility but that was not the event that caused the most shame. The post-event symptoms measured on the event that caused the most shame and the TIS correlated highly, suggesting that shame and tonic immobility may belong to a cluster of phylogenetically conserved submissive defensive mechanisms that could account for effects currently attributed to goals in self-memory systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professionals with lived experience (LE) of mental distress might better understand service users, educate colleagues, and serve as role models. This exploratory quantitative study asked U.S. social work education leaders if they perceive positives and negatives of professionals having LE; what advice they would offer students with LE; and analyzed whether certain experiences influenced responses. Having LE and/or close relationships with people with LE was associated with perceiving positives, which was associated with advising students about using LE to help others. Perceiving negatives was associated with advising about difficulties. Implications are offered for preparing professionals to use LE in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical education (PE) has the potential to educate students to spend a lifetime in physical activity. An up-and-coming activity that has this potential of lifetime activity is spike ball. Generally, spike ball is played with four players with teams of two. The ball is put into play and the players can move anywhere they want. The objective is to hit the ball into the net so that the opposing team cannot return it. Spike ball presents itself to be an activity for students in high school and college/university. One aspect of increasing activity during spike ball is music being played. Research dealing with music in physical activity settings has found it to enhance endurance and color how people interpret fatigue. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of music on PA rates (measured via pedometer) of college students as they play spike ball. Generally, it was learned that music had a positive effect on increased amounts of steps taken and time in activity during spike ball play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proponents of the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) emphasize the critical role that organisms and their development play in the process of evolution. This framework explicitly rejects the genocentric focus that once dominated interpretations of the Modern Synthesis in evolutionary theory. In place of genocentrism, EES highlights processes like niche construction, developmental constraint, and extragenetic inheritance as central to any understanding of the evolutionary process. However, much more is at stake in adopting the EES than simply moving beyond the gene-dominant viewpoint of the Modern Synthesis. The EES, in fact, represents a fundamental challenge to the core of classic Darwinism itself by actively repudiating Darwin's key idea that natural selection acts as a creative force in the construction of phenotypes and phenotypic change. In this paper, we more fully explore the assumptive base of Darwinism's population-oriented, selectional focus. We demonstrate how taking development seriously in evolutionary theory mandates a systematic overhaul of Darwinism's assumptive base in favor of grounding all understanding of phenotypic construction in the developmental processes of self-organization endemic to organisms' active engagement with their worlds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the role of bowel diversion and reconstructive surgeries in managing Fournier's gangrene (FG) to facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration between urologists, colorectal and plastic surgery teams. Methods: A review of the literature was conducted using the databases Medline, Embase, PubMed in June 2023. The review included studies that evaluated the outcomes of FG following reconstructive surgeries or diverting colostomies. Results: The existing evidence suggests that bowel diversion and colostomy formation could reduce the need for further debridement, shorten the time to wound healing, and facilitate skin graft or flap uptake in patients with FG. Additionally, the psychological impact of a stoma was shown not to be a major concern for patients. However, stoma carries a risk of perioperative complications and therefore may prolong the length of hospital stay. In reviewing the evidence for reconstruction in FG, large and deep defects seem to benefit from skin grafts or flaps. Noticeably, burial of testicles in thigh pockets has grown out of favour due to concerns regarding the thermoregulation of the testicles and the psychological impact on patients. Conclusion: The use of bowel diversion and reconstructive surgeries in managing FG is case dependent. Therefore, it is important to have close discussions with colorectal and plastic surgery teams when managing FG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Intergenerational studies have identified relations between adolescents' and their future offspring's cannabis and alcohol use, but rarely have examined the association for other illicit drug use. Given the low prevalence of such use in community populations, we pooled data from three prospective intergenerational studies to test this link. Method: Participants were 1,060 children of 937 parents who had been repeatedly assessed since early adolescence. Children and parents reported on their use of cocaine, stimulants, hallucinogens, sedatives/tranquilizers, and opiates/narcotics from ages 10 to 18 years. Intergenerational similarities in any versus no use of these drugs were formally modeled using logistic regression. Patterns also were descriptively analyzed. Results: Parent illicit substance use was associated with significantly higher odds of child use (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 2.682 [1.328–5.416], p = 0.006). However, intergenerational continuity was modest; 87% of children whose parent used illicit drugs in adolescence did not use such drugs, and 77% of parents of children who used illicit drugs had not themselves used these drugs during adolescence. Conclusions: The use of illicit substances by parents during their teenage years poses a risk for their offspring's similar behaviors. However, the discontinuity of these behaviors across generations implies children are largely resilient to or protected from this risk, and conversely that other aspects of parents' and children's experiences or characteristics may be more powerful risks for children's illicit drug use than this transgenerational influence. Public Health Significance: (a) Parents' use of illicit drugs during adolescence significantly increased risk that their adolescent children would use such drugs. (b) However, most parents who used illicit drugs did not have children who used illicit drugs, and conversely, the majority of adolescents who used illicit drugs did not have parents who had used such drugs in their adolescence. (c) Distinct prevention strategies may be needed to disrupt intergenerational continuities in illicit drug use via selective prevention, and also to avert drug use by offspring of parents who abstained in adolescence through universal approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people take advantage of new technologies to make their voices heard on important social issues. However, it is unclear whether they see expression as an end-point or starting-point for civic engagement, and how those perceptions relate to feelings of civic efficacy. This online study explored this question by asking young people aged between 18 and 25 (N = 873) to describe how they could address a civic issue they care about. The greatest efficacy was observed among participants who identified ways of using political expression to achieve civic goals extending beyond raising awareness to exerting influence through electoral or civic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used triannual reading curriculum-based measurement of oral reading fluency data from 11,834 U.S. students in Grades 2 and 3 enrolled in an evidence-based Tier 2 reading intervention program (Reading Corps) to investigate the extent to which family involvement in the intervention might buffer against a negative effect of lower intervention dosage. The relation between family involvement in Reading Corps and growth in oral reading fluency was stronger when students spent fewer hours in tutoring, suggesting that family involvement in tiered reading intervention can compensate for receiving less intervention dosage. There was noticeable variation in this effect across tutors, suggestive of tutor-level heterogeneity of this relation. The relation between sending family engagement materials to families and the materials that are returned to tutors also substantially varied across tutors. We discuss findings in terms practical significance for school-based academic intervention systems. We highlight limitations and opportunities for future directions as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schizotypy involves schizophrenia-like traits and symptoms, with the Wisconsin Schizotypy Scales (WSS) being frequently used in previous research. There is some evidence that schizophrenia-spectrum symptom levels, including when using the WSS, might vary both by gender and by race and ethnicity. However, previous research has rarely examined to what extent the WSS show gender and racial bias. Further, this has not been previously examined for the Cognitive Slippage Scale, a measure of disorganized schizotypy. In this study, we examined biases for a subset of items from the WSS in a large sample of undergraduate students (n = 21,829). Using item response theory to test for levels of differential item functioning (DIF), we found some evidence of problematic DIF for all scales, including for negative, positive, and disorganized schizotypy scales. There was evidence of problematic DIF especially by gender and for Black and Multiracial participants. Overall, the current results suggest that gender and/or racial bias on these scales should be an important consideration in using these scales and our results could have implications for assessment of schizophrenia-spectrum symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategic spatial planning imagination is fundamentally distributed across private, public and third sectors within national planning systems. Drawing on stakeholder interviews, we review the practice of imagination in English strategic spatial planning post-2010, arguing that it is critically exposed in terms of both breadth and depth. We therefore make suggestions for further mobilizing dispersed imagination in England and underline the need for associated development in the education and training of planners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With implications in several medical conditions, N‐linked glycosylation is one of the most important posttranslation modifications present in all living organisms. Due to their nontemplate synthesis, glycan structures are extraordinarily complex and require multiple analytical techniques for complete structural elucidation. Mass spectrometry is the most common way to investigate N‐linked glycans; however, with techniques such as liquid‐chromatography mass spectrometry, there is complete loss of spatial information. Mass spectrometry imaging is a transformative analytical technique that can visualize the spatial distribution of ions within a biological sample and has been shown to be a powerful tool to investigate N‐linked glycosylation. This review covers the fundamentals of mass spectrometry imaging and N‐linked glycosylation and highlights important findings of recent key studies aimed at expanding and improving the glycomics imaging field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic effect of climate hazard events varies by time and by location. This paper investigates how climate shocks to local property markets transmit to capital markets and provides evidence of the extent to which forward‐looking climate risk is capitalized into the public valuations of those property markets. We first quantify the exposure of real estate portfolios to locations that recently experienced climate events (Event Exposure). Using an event study framework, we find that, in the post‐event period, a one‐standard‐deviation increase in ex‐ante Event Exposure is associated with a 0.2–1.4 percentage points decrease in quarterly stock returns. Cross‐sectional analyses reveal that differences in return effects can be explained by variation in the extent to which the area focuses on climate change. Similarly, we find that forward‐looking climate risk assessment negatively affects firm valuations only in markets with a focus on climate change. Consistent with these findings, we provide evidence that climate events (shocks) induce retail investors (noise traders) to decrease their stock holdings and that blockholders tend to take the opposite side in these transactions. We also show that conditioning on consumer sentiment helps to explain cross‐sectional variation in the response of stock returns to climate events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model has been used for regulatory purposes at the US EPA and in the research community for decades. In 2012, we released the WRF-CMAQ coupled model that enables aerosol information from CMAQ to affect meteorological processes through direct effects on shortwave radiation. Both CMAQ and WRF-CMAQ are considered limited area models. Recently, we have extended domain coverage to global scale linking the meteorological Model for Prediction Across Scales – Atmosphere (MPAS-A, hereafter referred simply to as MPAS) with CMAQ to form the MPASCMAQ global coupled model. To configure these three different models, i.e. CMAQ (offline), WRF-CMAQ, and MPASCMAQ, we have developed the Advanced Air Quality Modelling System (AAQMS) for constructing each of them effortlessly. We evaluate this newly-built MPAS-CMAQ coupled model using two global configurations: a 120 km uniform mesh and a 92–25 km variable mesh with the finer area over North America. Preliminary computational tests show good scalability and model evaluation, a three years simulation (2014–2016) for the uniform mesh case and a monthly simulation of January and July 2016 for the variable mesh case, on ozone and PM2.5, show reasonable performance with respect to observations. The 92–25 km configuration has a high bias in wintertime surface ozone across the United States and this bias is consistent with the 120 km result. Summertime surface ozone in the 92–25 km configuration is less biased than the 120 km case. The MPAS-CMAQ system reasonably reproduces the daily variability of daily average PM from the Air Quality System (AQS) network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteonecrosis is a complication of talar neck fractures associated with chronic pain and poor functional outcomes. The Hawkins sign, the radiographic presence of subchondral lucency seen in the talar dome 6 to 8 weeks after trauma, is a strong predictor of preserved talar vascularity. This study sought to assess the accuracy of the Hawkins sign in a contemporary cohort and assess factors associated with inaccuracy. Methods: A retrospective review of talar neck fractures at a level-I trauma center from 2008 to 2016 was conducted. Both the Hawkins sign and osteonecrosis were evaluated on radiographs. The Hawkins sign was determined on the basis of radiographs taken approximately 6 to 8 weeks after injury, whereas osteonecrosis was determined based on radiographs taken throughout follow-up. The Hawkins sign accuracy was assessed using proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and associations were examined with Fisher exact testing. Results: In total, 105 talar neck fractures were identified. The Hawkins sign was observed in 21 tali, 3 (14% [95% CI, 3% to 36%]) of which later developed osteonecrosis. In the remaining 84 tali without a Hawkins sign, 32 (38% [95% CI, 28% to 49%]) developed osteonecrosis. Of the 3 tali that developed osteonecrosis following observation of the Hawkins sign, all were in patients who smoked. Conclusions: A positive Hawkins sign may not be a reliable predictor of preserved talar vascularity in all patients. We identified 3 patients with a positive Hawkins sign who developed osteonecrosis, all of whom were smokers. Factors impairing the restoration of microvascular blood supply to the talus may lead to osteonecrosis despite the presence of preserved macrovascular blood flow and an observed Hawkins sign. Further research is needed to understand the factors limiting Hawkins sign accuracy. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a case of Fournier's gangrene (FG), a life-threatening infection of the external genitalia and perineum. The patient, a 52-year-old man, developed FG following routine surgery. The article outlines the management steps taken, including early debridement, intensive care monitoring, and reconstructive surgery. The case highlights the importance of multidisciplinary input and the need for further research to optimize the management of FG. [Extracted from the article]

Increasing reports of tobacco rattle virus (TRV) and cycas necrotic stunt virus (CNSV) in herbaceous Paeonia worldwide highlight the importance of conserving the genetic resources of this economically important ornamental and medicinal crop. The unknown origin(s) of infection, differential susceptibility of peony cultivars to these viruses, and elusive disease phenotypes for CNSV in peonies make early detection and management challenging. Here, we report the presence of TRV and CNSV in plants of the University of Michigan living peony collection in the United States and a molecular characterization of their strains. Using sequences of the TRV 194 K RNA polymerase gene, we confirmed TRV infections in seven symptomatic plants (1.07% of all plants in the collection). Using newly developed primers, we recovered sequences of the CNSV RdRp gene and the polyprotein 1 gene region from nine out of twelve samples analyzed, including three from symptomless plants. Four of the nine plants had TRV and CNSV co-infections and showed more severe disease symptoms than plants only infected with TRV. Phylogenetic analyses of isolates from the University of Michigan living peony collection and publicly available isolates point to multiple origins of TRV and CNSV infections in this collection. This is the first report of TRV/CNSV co-infection and of a symptomatic detection of CNSV on cultivated P. lactiflora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]