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We report measurements of the Meissner screening profile in a Nb (300 nm)/ Al 2 O 3 thin film using 8 Li β -detected nuclear magnetic resonance (β -NMR). The NMR probe 8 Li was ion-implanted into the Nb film at energies ≤ 20 keV, corresponding to mean stopping depths comparable to Nb 's magnetic penetration depth λ. 8 Li 's strong dipole–dipole coupling with the host 93 Nb nuclei provided a "cross-relaxation" channel that dominated in low magnetic fields, which conferred indirect sensitivity to the local magnetic field via the spin-lattice relaxation (SLR) rate 1 / T 1. From a fit of the 1 / T 1 data to a model accounting for its dependence on temperature, magnetic field, and 8 Li + implantation energy, we obtained a magnetic penetration depth λ 0 = 51.5(22) nm, consistent with a relatively short carrier mean-free-path ℓ = 18.7(29) nm typical of similarly prepared Nb films. The results presented here constitute an important step toward using 8 Li β -NMR to characterize bulk Nb samples with engineered surfaces, which are often used in the fabrication of particle accelerators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To compare the effectiveness of adding a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1 RA) with adding basal insulin among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) already treated with a sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) and not reaching their glycaemic control targets. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the Canadian LMC Diabetes Registry was conducted. Adults who initiated a GLP‐1 RA were matched 1:1 to adults who initiated basal insulin in a T2D and CKD population. Changes in metabolic outcomes were evaluated at 26‐52 weeks following the therapy start date. Results: Propensity score matching was used to match participants who initiated a GLP‐1 RA to participants who initiated basal insulin (n = 153/cohort). A significantly greater reduction in HbA1c at 26‐52 weeks of follow‐up was observed in the GLP‐1 RA cohort compared with the basal insulin cohort (−1.3% ± 1.4% vs. −1.1% ± 1.4%, P =.03). Weight was significantly reduced (−3.4 ± 3.7 vs. 2.6 ± 4.5 kg, P <.001), and the estimated glomerular filtration rate decline slowed significantly (−0.3 ± 8.2 vs. −2.4 ± 10.4 mL/min/1.73m2, P =.02), but the change in albuminuria was not significantly different (−5.7 ± 38.1 vs. −0.5 ± 38.3 mg/mmol, P =.47) at follow‐up in the GLP‐1 RA group compared with the basal insulin group. No differences in self‐reported hypoglycaemic events per week and therapy discontinuations were reported between the cohorts. Conclusions: The study shows the real‐world effectiveness of GLP‐1 RA therapy for T2D and CKD. GLP‐1 RAs provided superior reductions in HbA1c and weight, and greater kidney protection, compared with basal insulin among adults with T2D and CKD already treated with an SGLT2i. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Interpretation Periventricular nodular heterotopia (PVNH) is the most common neuronal heterotopia, frequently resulting in pharmaco‐resistant epilepsy. Here, we characterize variables that predict good epilepsy outcomes following surgical intervention using stereo‐electroencephalography (SEEG) ‐informed magnetic resonance‐guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (MRgLITT).A retrospective review of consecutive cases from a single high‐volume epilepsy referral center identified patients who underwent SEEG evaluation for PVNH to characterize the intervention and outcomes.Thirty‐nine patients underwent SEEG‐guided MRgLITT of the seizure onset zone (SoZ) in PVNH and associated epileptic tissue. PVNH and polymicrogyria (PMG) were densely sampled with a mean of 16.5 (SD = 2)/209.4 (SD = 36.9) SEEG probes/recording contacts per patient. Ablation principally targeted just the PVNH and cortex that was abnormal on imaging was ablated (5 patients) only if implicated in the SoZ. Volumetric analyses revealed a high percentage of PVNH SoZ ablation (96.6%, SD = 5.3%) in unilateral and bilateral (92.9%, SD = 7.2%) cases. Mean follow‐up duration was 31.4 months (SD = 20.9). Seizure freedom (ILAE 1) was excellent: unilateral PVNH without other imaging abnormalities, 80%; PVNH with mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) or PMG, 63%; bilateral PVNH, 50%. SoZ ablation percentage significantly impacted surgical outcomes (p < 0.001).PVNH plays a central role in seizure genesis as revealed by dense recordings and selective targeting by LITT. MRgLITT represents a transformative technological advance in PVNH‐associated epilepsy with seizure control outcomes consistent with those seen in focal lesional epilepsies. In localized unilateral cases and otherwise normal imaging, PVNH ablation without invasive recordings may be considered, and this approach deserves to be explored further. ANN NEUROL 2024 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide a commentary response to Li’s (2024) scoping review of supervision measures published in 1983 to 2023. Informed by Li’s work, we offer methodological considerations and recommendations for future clinical supervision researchers. Specifically, we discuss observations of change over time in the foci of the measures; the need for additional evidence of reliability, validity, and psychometric investigation for supervision measures; and implications specifically for counselors based on this interdisciplinary review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ATRX limits the accumulation of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) Immediate Early (IE) proteins at the start of productive, lytic infections, and thus is a part of the cell-intrinsic defenses against infecting viruses. ATRX is a chromatin remodeler and a component of a histone chaperone complex. Therefore, we hypothesized ATRX would inhibit the transcription of HCMV IE genes by increasing viral genome heterochromatinization and decreasing its accessibility. To test this hypothesis, we quantitated viral transcription and genome structure in cells replete with or depleted of ATRX. We found ATRX did indeed limit viral IE transcription, increase viral genome chromatinization, and decrease viral genome accessibility. The inhibitory effects of ATRX extended to Early (E) and Late (L) viral protein accumulation, viral DNA replication, and progeny virion output. However, we found the negative effects of ATRX on HCMV viral DNA replication were independent of its effects on viral IE and E protein accumulation but correlated with viral genome heterochromatinization. Interestingly, the increased number of viral genomes synthesized in ATRX-depleted cells were not efficiently packaged, indicating the ATRX-mediated restriction to HCMV viral DNA replication may benefit productive infection by increasing viral fitness. Our work mechanistically describes the antiviral function of ATRX and introduces a novel, pro-viral role for this protein, perhaps explaining why, unlike during infections with other herpesviruses, it is not directly targeted by a viral countermeasure in HCMV infected cells. Author summary: Viruses infect host cells and often kill them, so cells encode proteins geared to protect them from viral predators. Viruses, as obligate intracellular parasites, rely on host cell proteins for functions they require to replicate. Thus, cellular proteins can be anti-viral or pro-viral. The cellular ATRX protein is clearly antiviral for Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and other viruses because it inhibits viral protein accumulation and activates cellular antiviral transcription. Surprisingly, we found that ATRX also plays a pro-viral role by limiting viral DNA accumulation to allow for efficient genome packaging into capsids and infectious virions. Our work highlights how the same cellular protein can be anti-viral for one aspect of infection but pro-viral for a different step. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the longitudinal psychometric properties of the Perceived Stress Scale – 4 items version (PSS‐4) using item response theory with a sample of 361 mental health counsellors. Participants completed the PSS‐4 at three timepoints at six‐month intervals in a one‐year period. There were 290 participants who (80.3%) identified as female, 51 (14.1%) identified as male, eight (2.2%) identified as gender variant/non‐conforming, seven (1.9%) wrote in their own gender identity (e.g., genderqueer, gender expansive), three (0.8%) identified as Transgender male, and two (0.6%) did not respond to the item. The racial and ethnic backgrounds were as follows: White (87.3%), Multiracial (5.5%), Latino or Hispanic or Spanish (2.8%), Black or African American (1.4%), Asian (0.8%), Middle Eastern (0.8%), and five did not respond to the item (1.4%). We found unidimensionality evidence of the PSS‐4 across all three timepoints and response categories were monotonically ordered. We also found that across all timepoints, the average person location was lower than the average item location, suggesting that the PSS‐4 may not be well‐targeted for this sample of mental health counsellors. We observed no significant interactions between timepoints, hours worked per week, and length of employment. Implications of the findings, including a discussion of the utility of the PSS‐4 as a global measure of stress and with mental health counsellors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The severity of degenerative changes of the hip is known to adversely impact the outcomes of the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Although the operative indications for FAI have expanded to include patients with moderate degrees of hip osteoarthritis, the exact stage of hip osteoarthritis at which surgery for FAI can offer clinical benefits is still uncertain. Questions/purposes (1) How does the survivorship free from conversion to THA and survivorship free from revision differ between patients with preexisting Tönnis Grades 2 or 3 changes and those without advanced degenerative changes (Tönnis Grade 0 or 1) after mini-open femoroacetabular osteoplasty? (2) What are the differences in hip-specific and general health outcome scores between the two groups after mini-open femoroacetabular osteoplasty? Methods From December 2003 to April 2019, we treated 901 patients for FAI, and their clinical data were systematically recorded in a longitudinally maintained database. Mini-open femoroacetabular osteoplasty was our preferred surgical approach because of the surgeon's extensive experience with the technique. Among the entire dataset, 6% of patients (51 individuals) had Tönnis Grade 2 or higher hip osteoarthritis, while the remaining 94% (850 patients) had no or mild degenerative changes (Tönnis Grade 0 or 1). In the Tönnis Grade 2 or 3 group, three patients were lost before the minimum 2-year follow-up duration, leaving 4% (48 patients) who qualified for inclusion in the study. For the matched group with Tönnis Grade 0 or 1, 5% (45 patients) were excluded because of incomplete data, and a further 7% (58 patients) were excluded because they did not have 2 years of follow-up, leaving 83% (747 patients) who were eligible for the matching process. Matching was based on patient age (within 1 year), gender, and BMI (within one unit). Matching resulted in the inclusion of 144 randomly selected control patients in this retrospective, comparative study. General indications for femoroacetabular osteoplasty included symptoms of pain and restricted hip motion in young, active patients with signs of FAI evident on physical examination and radiographs. Patient demographics, medical history, radiographic parameters, and intraoperative findings were compared between the two groups to establish baseline differences and identify potential confounding variables. There was no difference in the mean ± standard deviation age between the cohort of interest and control group (39 ± 10 years and 38 ± 11 years, respectively; p = 0.67). There was no difference in the mean follow-up duration (7 ± 3 years versus 8 ± 2 years; p = 0.25) or the preoperative symptomatic period between the study and control groups (2 ± 2 years versus 3 ± 6 years; p = 0.09). There was no difference in the prevalence of dysplasia, slipped capital femoral epiphysis, Perthes disease, or avascular necrosis of the hip between the two groups. Intraoperatively, the groups did not differ in terms of labral repair (65% [31 of 48] versus 78% [113 of 144]; p = 0.08) and labral transplantation (2%; p > 0.99 for both); however, labral resection was performed more frequently in the study group (63% [30 of 48] versus 42% [60 of 144]; p = 0.002). At a minimum of 2 years of follow-up, survivorship free from conversion to THA and survivorship free from revision surgeries, as well as the latest clinical and functional outcome scores (SF-36, Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, and modified Harris hip score), were compared between groups. Results Survivorship free from conversion to THA at 5 years was lower among patients with preexisting Tönnis Grades 2 or 3 changes than it was among patients matched for age, gender, and BMI who did not have advanced degenerative changes (Tönnis Grade 0 or 1) after mini-open femoroacetabular osteoplasty (75% [95% confidence interval 64% to 88%] versus 92% [95% CI 87% to 96%]; p < 0.001). No patients in either group underwent reoperation other than conversion to THA. Although the groups did not differ at baseline in terms of their outcomes scores, the group with more visible arthritis had lower postoperative Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores than the control group (60 ± 21 points versus 86 ± 11 points, mean difference 26 points [95% CI 10 to 41]; p =0.004). There were no other between-group differences in outcome scores after surgery. Conclusion In our study, approximately 25% of patients undergoing mini-open femoroacetabular osteoplasty with Tönnis Grade 2 or higher osteoarthritis underwent conversion to THA within 5 years. Some postoperative functional scores were lower in patients with advanced arthritis than in matched patients with no or mild arthritis. We emphasize the importance of exercising caution when considering femoroacetabular osteoplasty in patients in whom advanced arthritis is already evident at the time of presentation. Level of Evidence Level III, therapeutic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre‐implantation embryonic development occurs in the oviduct during the first few days of pregnancy. The presence of oviductal extracellular vesicles (oEVs, also called oviductosomes) is crucial for pre‐implantation embryonic development in vivo as oEVs often contain molecular transmitters such as proteins. Therefore, evaluating oEV cargo during early pregnancy could provide insights into factors required for proper early embryonic development that are missing in the current in vitro embryo culture setting. In this study, we isolated oEVs from the oviductal fluid at estrus and different stages of early embryonic development. The 2306–3066 proteins in oEVs identified at the different time points revealed 58–60 common EV markers identified in exosome databases. Oviductal extracellular vesicle proteins from pregnant samples significantly differed from those in non‐pregnant samples. In addition, superovulation changes the protein contents in oEVs compared to natural ovulation at estrus. Importantly, we have identified that embryo‐protectant proteins such as high‐mobility protein group B1 and serine (or cysteine) peptidase inhibitor were only enriched in the presence of embryos. We also visualized the physical interaction of EVs and the zona pellucida of 4‐ to 8‐cell stage embryos using transmission electron microscopy as well as in vivo live imaging of epithelial cell‐derived GFP‐tagged CD9 mouse model. All protein data in this study are readily available to the scientific community in a searchable format at https://genes.winuthayanon.com/winuthayanon/oviduct%5fev%5fproteins/. In conclusion, we identified oEVs proteins that could be tested to determine whether they can improve embryonic developmental outcomes in vivo and in vitro setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) has garnered significant attention for its pivotal role in the national security and health care sectors. However, its utilization in military medicine remains relatively unexplored despite its immense potential. AI operates through evolving algorithms that process extensive datasets, continuously improving accuracy and emulating human learning processes. Generative AI, a type of machine learning, uses algorithms to generate new content, such as images, text, videos, audio, and computer code. These models employ deep learning to encode simplified representations of training data and generate new work resembling the original without being identical. Although many AI applications in military medicine are theoretical, the U.S. Military has implemented several initiatives, often without widespread awareness among its personnel. This article aims to shed light on two resilience initiatives spearheaded by the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, which is now the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office. These initiatives aim to enhance commanders' dashboards for predicting troop behaviors and develop models to forecast troop suicidality. Additionally, it outlines 5 key AI applications within military medicine, including (1) clinical efficiency and routine decision-making support, (2) triage and clinical care algorithms for large-scale combat operations, (3) patient and resource movements in the medical common operating picture, (4) health monitoring and biosurveillance, and (5) medical product development. Even with its promising potential, AI brings forth inherent risks and limitations that require careful consideration and discussion. The article also advocates for a forward-thinking approach for the U.S. Military to effectively leverage AI in advancing military health and overall operational readiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In fewer than fifteen years, the study of Ni stable isotopes has advanced from early method development to application of a powerful tool for resolving a long-standing question: why does it appear that output fluxes of Ni from the global oceans far exceed input fluxes? The seawater concentration of Ni, a bioessential trace metal, is almost certainly at steady state on timescales comparable to its residence time of ∼20 kyr, so some of the current flux estimates must be inaccurate. Just as the input and output fluxes should balance, so should the flux-weighted isotopic compositions of the inputs and outputs. Thus, isotopic characterization of inputs and outputs provide an additional constraint on a balanced model of the marine Ni budget. Here, we report on experiments designed to elucidate fractionation mechanisms and magnitudes for sorption of Ni to Mn oxyhydroxide (birnessite), because Mn-rich sediments accumulating on abyssal plains represent the largest sink flux of Ni from seawater to marine sediments. Our results show remarkably large fractionations at low ionic strength (average Δ60/58Ni dissolved-sorbed = +1.38 ‰). Neither closed-system equilibrium trends nor Rayleigh curves fit the data well. Fractionations are even larger at high ionic strength (Δ60/58Ni dissolved-sorbed ranging from +2.0 to +4.0 ‰), and they decrease with experimental duration from 2 d (49 h) to 27 d. The high ionic strength data fit Rayleigh trends well. Here, we use X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) and results from previous studies to support interpretation of our data as combinations of kinetic and equilibrium isotope effects that vary in their proportional contributions to the total fractionation with time and with surface loading. One important consequence of this study is that none of the experimental results reported thus far, including ours, are directly applicable to building steady-state models of the Ni cycle. Even our longest duration experiments did not achieve equilibrium, which is likely to be manifest in the very slowly accumulating sediments on abyssal plains. Our work constrains further the mechanisms of Ni sorption to birnessite and clearly indicates that determination of equilibrium fractionation in this system, although challenging, will be a crucial step toward resolving the apparent marine Ni imbalance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis paper presents research that integrates condition monitoring and prognostics with decision making for nuclear power plant operations and maintenance aimed at reducing lifetime maintenance and repair costs. Additionally, a focal point of this research is to make the decisions explainable to operators, improving the trustworthiness of the decisions from what can be considered a black box model. In this work, we develop and evaluate an explainable, online asset management methodology to help reduce lifetime maintenance and repair costs. Using the latest advancements in condition monitoring, inventory management, deep reinforcement learning, and explainable artificial intelligence methods, we create a predictive maintenance methodology that can optimize the maintenance and spare part management of a repairable nuclear power plant system.To demonstrate these methods, preliminary studies were conducted on a representative maintenance system undergoing a stochastic degradation process that requires repairs or replacement to continue operation. Using deep reinforcement learning, we were able to reduce maintenance spending by approximately 50% compared to optimized, time-based maintenance strategies for the chosen system. A key component of our methodology is the integration of Shapley values to quantify the contribution of various factors to the decision-making process. This addition enhances the explainability and trustworthiness of our decisions, providing operators with transparent and understandable insights into the rationale behind maintenance strategies. The robustness and resiliency of our decision policy against observation noise were also thoroughly evaluated, demonstrating its effectiveness in uncertain operational environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Artificial intelligence tools such as the large language models (LLMs) Bard and ChatGPT have generated significant research interest. Utilization of these LLMs to study the epidemiology of a target population could benefit urologists. We investigated whether Bard and ChatGPT can perform a large-scale calculation of the incidence and prevalence of kidney stone disease. Materials and Methods: We obtained reference values from two published studies, which used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database to calculate the prevalence and incidence of kidney stone disease. We then tested the capability of Bard and ChatGPT to perform similar calculations using two different methods. First, we instructed the LLMs to access the data sets and independently perform the calculation. Second, we instructed the interfaces to generate a customized computer code, which could perform the calculation on downloaded data sets. Results: While ChatGPT denied the ability to access and perform calculations on the NHANES database, Bard intermittently claimed the ability to do so. Bard provided either accurate results or inaccurate and inconsistent results. For example, Bard's "calculations" for the incidence of kidney stones from 2015 to 2018 were 2.1% (95% CI 1.5–2.7), 1.75% (95% CI 1.6–1.9), and 0.8% (95% CI 0.7–0.9), while the published number was 2.1% (95% CI 1.5–2.7). Bard provided discrete mathematical details of its calculations, however, when prompted further, admitted to having obtained the numbers from online sources, including our chosen reference articles, rather than from a de novo calculation. Both LLMs were able to produce a code (Python) to use on the downloaded NHANES data sets, however, these would not readily execute. Conclusions: ChatGPT and Bard are currently incapable of performing epidemiologic calculations and lack transparency and accountability. Caution should be used, particularly with Bard, as claims of its capabilities were convincingly misleading, and results were inconsistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review examines complexity science in the context of Heliophysics, describing it not as a discipline, but as a paradigm. In the context of Heliophysics, complexity science is the study of a star, interplanetary environment, magnetosphere, upper and terrestrial atmospheres, and planetary surface as interacting subsystems. Complexity science studies entities in a system (e.g., electrons in an atom, planets in a solar system, individuals in a society) and their interactions, and is the nature of what emerges from these interactions. It is a paradigm that employs systems approaches and is inherently multi- and cross-scale. Heliophysics processes span at least 15 orders of magnitude in space and another 15 in time, and its reaches go well beyond our own solar system and Earth's space environment to touch planetary, exoplanetary, and astrophysical domains. It is an uncommon domain within which to explore complexity science. After first outlining the dimensions of complexity science, the review proceeds in three epochal parts: 1) A pivotal year in the Complexity Heliophysics paradigm: 1996; 2) The transitional years that established foundations of the paradigm (1996-2010); and 3) The emergent literature largely beyond 2010. This review article excavates the lived and living history of complexity science in Heliophysics. It identifies five dimensions of complexity science, some enjoying much scholarship in Heliophysics, others that represent relative gaps in the existing research. The history reveals a grand challenge that confronts Heliophysics, as with most physical sciences, to understand the research intersection between fundamental science (e.g., complexity science) and applied science (e.g., artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML)). A risk science framework is suggested as a way of formulating the grand scientific and societal challenges in a way that AI/ML and complexity science converge. The intention is to provide inspiration, help researchers think more coherently about ideas of complexity science in Heliophysics, and guide future research. It will be instructive to Heliophysics researchers, but also to any reader interested in or hoping to advance the frontier of systems and complexity science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research suggests that young sexual minority Black men (YSMBM) must navigate racialized notions of desirability in the context of sex and intimacy. For YSMBM, identifying as a 'top' (i.e., the insertive sexual partner) may grant relative desirability, due to stereotypes that categorize Black men as tops. Thus, sexual positioning might be thought of as one facet of YSMBM's erotic capital and may have consequences for partner-selection dynamics, such as self-reported subjective racial attraction. Using data from a cross-sectional web-survey of YSMBM (N = 1,778), a chi-square test of independence and multinomial logistic regression were performed to examine whether men's sexual positioning role (identifying as mostly bottom, versatile, or mostly top) were associated with racial attraction (being mostly attracted to one's same race, a different race, or having no racial preferences). Compared with men who identified as mostly bottom or versatile, men who identified as mostly top had significantly greater odds of reporting primary attraction to men of a different race/ethnicity than they were to report primary attraction to men of their same race/ethnicity, or to report having no racial preferences. The dynamics of erotic capital at the intersection of race and sexual position may lead to perceptions of (un)desirability among YSMBM, which may, in turn, influence subjective racial attraction differentially across sexual positioning roles. Future research should examine these relationships using more sophisticated study designs and explore implications for mental health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many computational chemistry packages, being able to efficiently and effectively scale across an exascale cluster is a heroic feat. Collective experience from the Department of Energy's Exascale Computing Project suggests that achieving exascale performance requires far more planning, design, and optimization than scaling to petascale. In many cases, entire rewrites of software are necessary to address fundamental algorithmic bottlenecks. This in turn requires a tremendous amount of resources and development time, resources that cannot reasonably be afforded by every computational science project. It thus becomes imperative that computational science transition to a more sustainable paradigm. Key to such a paradigm is modular software. While the importance of modular software is widely recognized, what is perhaps not so widely appreciated is the effort still required to leverage modular software in a sustainable manner. The present manuscript introduces PluginPlay, https://github.com/NWChemEx-Project/PluginPlay, an inversion-of-control framework designed to facilitate developing, maintaining, and sustaining modular scientific software packages. This manuscript focuses on the design aspects of PluginPlay and how they specifically influence the performance of the resulting package. Although, PluginPlay serves as the framework for the NWChemEx package, PluginPlay is not tied to NWChemEx or even computational chemistry. We thus anticipate PluginPlay to prove to be a generally useful tool for a number of computational science packages looking to transition to the exascale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let IG : = IG (2 , 2 n + 1) denote the odd symplectic Grassmannian of lines which is a horospherical variety of Picard rank 1. The quantum cohomology ring QH * (IG) has negative structure constants. For n ≥ 3 , we give a positivity condition that implies the quantum cohomology ring QH * (IG) is the only quantum deformation of the cohomology ring H * (IG) up to the scaling of the quantum parameter. This is a modification of a conjecture by Fulton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The σ-arsolido complex [Mo(AsC4Me4)(CO)3(η5-C5H5)] is alkylated at arsenic by MeOTf to afford the pentamethylarsole complex [Mo(MeAsC4Me4)(CO)3(η5-C5H5)](OTf) while iodomethane affords a mixture of [Me2AsC4Me4]I, [MoMe(CO)3(η5-C5H5)], [MoI(CO)3(η5-C5H5)] and the arsole complexes cisoid- and transoid-[MoI(MeAsC4Me4)(CO)2(η5-C5H5)] and transoid-[Mo{C(＝O)Me}(MeAsC4Me4)(CO)2(η5-C5H5)], The arsole ligand in [Mo(MeAsC4Me4)(CO)3(η5-C5H5)](OTf) is readily liberated by NaI in acetone to afford free MeAsC4Me4 and [MoI(CO)3(η5-C5H5)]. In a similar manner, the reaction of [Mo(AsC4Ph4)(CO)3(η5-C5H5)] with MeI affords MeAsC4Ph4 and [MoI(CO)3(η5-C5H5)], while [Mo{AsC4(SiMe3)-2-Me2-3,4}(CO)3(η5-C5H5)] with MeOTf affords [Mo{MeAsC4(SiMe3)-2-Me2-3,4}(CO)3(η5-C5H5)](OTf). The reaction of [Mo(AsC4Me4)(CO)3(η5-C5H5)] with activated alkynes (RC≡CR: R = CF3, CO2Me) does not proceed via [4 + 2] cyclo-addition but rather electrophilic attack at arsenic followed by metallacyclisation with incorporation of a carbonyl ligand in the spirocyclic complexes [Mo{As(C4Me4)CR＝CRCO}(CO)2(η5-C5H5)]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The σ-stannyl complexes [M(SnnBu3)(CO)n(η5-C5H5)] (n = 3, M = Mo, W; n = 2, M = Fe) serve as mild reagents for the installation of σ-arsolyl ligands in transmetallation reactions with As-chloro-arsoles ClAsC4R4 (R = Me, Ph) to afford [M(σ-AsC4R4)(CO)n(η5-C5H5)]. The reaction of [Cr(SnnBu3)(CO)3(η5-C5H5)] with ClAsC4Ph4 most likely proceeds in a similar manner but is immediately followed by rapid formation of (AsC4Ph4)2 and [Cr2(CO)6(η5-C5H5)2]. The reaction of [Mo(SnnBu3)(CO)3(η5-C5H5)] with ClAsC4(SiMe3)-2,5-Me2-3,4 is accompanied by monodesilylation to afford [Mo{σ-AsC4(SiMe3)-2-Me2-3,4}(CO)3(η5-C5H5)]. The slow reaction of [Fe(SnnBu3)(CO)2(η5-C5H5)] with ClAsC4Me4 produced only traces of [Fe(σ-AsC4Me4)(CO)2(η5-C5H5)] due to competition with the Diels–Alder type dimerisation of the haloarsole. Although attempts to decarbonylate the σ-arsolyl complexes were unsuccessful, computational analysis suggests that the trigonal 'XL' arsolenium coordination mode is viable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Siliceous sandstone (including quartzites), petrified wood, and agates located in Alabama and Mississippi were utilized as a toolstone resource during every recognized cultural period in the Lower Mississippi Valley region of the Southeastern United States. Regrettably, these materials have not been the focus of many provenance‐related investigations. Recent analyses of quartzite and sandstone from other regions in North America and from the Pyrenees were successful in discriminating sources using petrographic techniques. The current study examines the application of visible/near‐infrared reflectance and Fourier transform infrared reflectance (FTIR) spectroscopy on sourcing siliceous materials besides chert, particularly sandstones, orthoquartzites (quartz sandstone), petrified woods, and agates. This source characterization investigation focuses on a case study involving materials gathered from eight distinct collection sites, encompassing nine different siliceous resources collected in Alabama and Mississippi. These materials were sourced from two distinct geological formations: the Hattiesburg and Tallahatta. Results demonstrate the ability of non‐destructive reflectance spectroscopy and introduces a new outlier modeling method that detects, clusters, and separately models outliers with their own set of basis vectors. Principal component analyses, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, linear discriminant function analysis (LDA), and random forest classification are used in this paper to better identify outlier elements as well as discriminate for stone materials accurately (between 67% and 100%). Although this is the first reflectance spectroscopy investigation used to characterize these materials for provenance applications, the preliminary results compare favorably with other provenance techniques whose aim is to quantify between‐formation (inter) and within‐formation (intra) outcrop variation. The quantified and differentiated sources, based on the hyperspectral signatures of the material, will provide a better understanding of prehistoric reliance on these lithic resources and produces a proxy to determine mobility, social interaction, and other past behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the escape of Mercury's sodium‐group ions (Na+‐group, including ions with m/q from 21 to 30 amu/e) and their dependence on true anomaly angle (TAA), that is, Mercury's orbital phase around the Sun, using measurements from MESSENGER. The measurements are categorized into solar wind, magnetosheath, and magnetosphere, and further divided into four TAA intervals. Na+‐group ions form escape plumes in the solar wind and magnetosheath, with higher fluxes along the solar wind's motional electric field. The total escape rates vary from 0.2 to 1 × 1025 atoms/s with the magnetosheath being the main escaping region. These rates exhibit a TAA dependence, peaking near the perihelion and similar during Mercury's remaining orbit. Despite Mercury's tenuous exosphere, Na+‐group ions escape rate is comparable to other inner planets. This can be attributed to several processes, including that Na+‐group ions may include several ion species, efficient photoionization frequency for elements within Na‐group, etc. Plain Language Summary: Atmospheric escape is defined as the loss of atmospheric particles in the form of neutrals and ions into outer space. Understanding atmospheric escape is a fundamental science question for studying the evolution of planetary atmosphere and habitability, as it can provide insight into how life can form on a planet. While atmospheric escape has been extensively studied in Venus, Earth, and Mars through in situ measurements and simulations, it remains poorly understood at Mercury. In this study, we investigate the escape of the most abundant heavy ions at Mercury, specifically the Na+‐group ions, using MESSENGER's measurements. Our findings show that the escape rates of the Na+‐group ions are dependent on Mercury's orbital phase around the Sun, exhibiting a seasonal effect with rates from 0.2 to 1 × 1025 atoms/s. This rate is comparable to the ion's escape rates at other inner planets, which is surprising given that Mercury only has a tenuous exosphere. We propose that this can be attributed to several processes such as efficient photoionization, solar wind sputtering, and solar wind momentum exchange at Mercury, and the Na+‐group ions include several ion species such as Na+, aluminum ion (Al+), silicon ion (Si+) and magnesium ion (Mg+) etc. Key Points: Na+‐group ions form escape plumes in solar wind and magnetosheath, with higher fluxes in the positive solar wind electric field hemisphereThe escape rate ranges from 0.2 to 1 × 1025 atoms/s, with the magnetosheath being the main escaping regionEscape rates peak near perihelion, and are similar during other true anomaly angle (TAA) intervals [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Procedure Results Conclusions 6‐mercaptopurine is a cornerstone of maintenance therapy for pediatric ALL. Response to 6MP is typically determined by the ANC. Therapeutic ANC range while receiving 6MP is between 500 and 1500/μL. In addition to desired myelosuppression, 6MP is associated with multiple adverse drug effects. Increased doses of 6MP can lead to therapeutic ANC values; however, patients may experience adverse effects before obtaining therapeutic myelosuppression, often deemed “skewed metabolism.” Allopurinol may potentially correct skewed 6MP metabolism.Pediatric patients with ALL with 6MMP and 6TGN metabolites drawn during maintenance therapy were analyzed for allopurinol use. The primary outcome evaluated the percentage of time spent in therapeutic ANC range before and after allopurinol initiation. In addition, the difference in 6MMP:6TGN ratios before and after allopurinol initiation, incidence of hepatotoxicity, and rates of relapse, were analyzed.Ninety‐five patients were included for analysis. Thirty‐two (34%) patients received allopurinol. There were no significant differences in baseline demographics between the patients who received allopurinol and those who did not. When comparing ANC values pre‐ and post‐allopurinol initiation, a statistically significant increase in the percentage of time spent in therapeutic range was observed (27% vs. 43%; p = .03). In addition, when comparing metabolite ratios pre‐ and post‐allopurinol initiation, a statistically significant decrease in 6MMP:6TGN metabolite ratio values was observed (86.7 vs. 3.6; p < .0001).Allopurinol significantly increased the percent time in therapeutic ANC range and can be safely utilized to significantly lower the ratio of 6MMP:6TGN metabolites, alleviating the undesirable side effects of 6MMP, and optimizing the anti‐leukemic effects associated with 6TGN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2-Butanone peroxide (also known as methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, MEKP) has applications as a cross-linker in the chemical industry and is also encountered as a homemade primary high explosive; therefore, it is of interest to both process chemists and forensic examiners. Specifically for forensic applications, we demonstrate that when traditional synthetic procedures, available to any hobbyist, are utilized to generate MEKP, oligomeric peroxide units (n ≤ 12), along with several other oligomeric byproduct distributions, are readily observed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). These oligomeric byproducts correspond to the formation of methyl/ethyl ketone end group(s) at the oligomer end group (i.e., loss of ethanol(s) and/or methanol(s) from the oligomer termini). Based on the interpretation of the MS and MS/MS behavior along with the characterization of newly generated terminal alkyl ketone products, we propose that these byproducts are consistent with a Hock-like rearrangement of the primary MEKP distribution in the acidified reaction medium. Following a procedure for homemade preparation, triplicate lots were synthesized. Unique oligomeric and byproduct distributions provided discriminatory power between the synthetic lots. Furthermore, the distributions of MEKP oligomers and the various byproducts in the initiated MEKP match the intensity distributions observed in the intact material with remarkable accuracy. This observation suggests that the postinitiation residue of MEKP could be associated or dissociated from a separately collected intact material obtained during an investigation by examining these oligomeric and byproduct profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limb immobilization causes rapid declines in muscle strength and mass. Given the role of the nervous system in immobilization‐induced weakness, targeted interventions may be able to preserve muscle strength, but not mass, and vice versa. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of two distinct interventions during 1 week of knee joint immobilization on muscle strength (isometric and concentric isokinetic peak torque), mass (bioimpedance spectroscopy and ultrasonography), and neuromuscular function (transcranial magnetic stimulation and interpolated twitch technique). Thirty‐nine healthy, college‐aged adults (21 males, 18 females) were randomized into one of four groups: immobilization only (n = 9), immobilization + action observation/mental imagery (AOMI) (n = 10), immobilization + neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) (n = 12), or control group (n = 8). The AOMI group performed daily video observation and mental imagery of knee extensions. The NMES group performed twice daily stimulation of the quadriceps femoris. Based on observed effect sizes, it appears that AOMI shows promise as a means of preserving voluntary strength, which may be modulated by neural adaptations. Strength increased from PRE to POST in the AOMI group, with +7.2% (Cohen's d = 1.018) increase in concentric isokinetic peak torque at 30°/s. However, NMES did not preserve muscle mass. Though preliminary, our findings highlight the specific nature of clinical interventions and suggest that muscle strength can be independently targeted during rehabilitation. This study was prospectively registered: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05072652. What is the central question of this study?Action observation and mental imagery (AOMI) may be a possible and potentially promising rehabilitation strategy via facilitation of neural adaptations, whereas neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) may augment muscle strength and mass via peripheral mechanisms. We compared the ability of these interventions to distinctly preserve strength versus mass during one week of knee joint immobilization.What is the main finding and its importance?Effect sizes suggested that AOMI preserved voluntary strength, and may be used therapeutically to target neural adaptations during immobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the sensitivity and specificity of identifying heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) from measurements of the intensity and timing of arterial pulse waves. Previously validated methods combining ultrafast B-mode ultrasound, plane-wave transmission, singular value decomposition (SVD), and speckle tracking were used to characterize the compression and decompression ("S" and "D") waves occurring in early and late systole, respectively, in the carotid arteries of outpatients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40%, determined by echocardiography, and signs and symptoms of heart failure, or with LVEF ≥ 50% and no signs or symptoms of heart failure. On average, the HFrEF group had significantly reduced S-wave intensity and energy, a greater interval between the R wave of the ECG and the S wave, a reduced interval between the S and D waves, and an increase in the S-wave shift (SWS), a novel metric that characterizes the shift in timing of the S wave away from the R wave of the ECG and toward the D wave (all P < 0.01). Receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) were used to quantify for the first time how well wave metrics classified individual participants. S-wave intensity and energy gave areas under the ROC of 0.76–0.83, the ECG-S-wave interval gave 0.85–0.88, and the S-wave shift gave 0.88–0.92. Hence the methods, which are simple to use and do not require complex interpretation, provide sensitive and specific identification of HFrEF. If similar results were obtained in primary care, they could form the basis of techniques for heart failure screening. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: We show that heart failure with reduced ejection fraction can be detected with excellent sensitivity and specificity in individual patients by using B-mode ultrasound to detect altered pulse wave intensity and timing in the carotid artery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gentleness is a universally recognized, positive trait, yet has received minimal scientific investigation to date. To catalyze the study of gentleness, we reviewed existing literature and conducted four large-scale studies across 80,592 people. We evaluated how individuals conceptualize gentleness, developed a measurement tool, identified central correlates of gentleness, observed differences across cultures, and explored gentleness' relationships with other constructs. The resulting measure, the Gentleness Questionnaire, demonstrated good reliability, reasonable convergent and discriminant validity, and incremental validity over a large set of other dimensions reflecting positive interpersonal functioning including the 24 character strengths of the VIA Classification and Big 5 personality traits. Connections with prosociality, desire to please, anger, confrontation, and agreeableness were strong. This cumulative work suggests a definition of gentleness as a humanity-oriented, positive trait that involves being soft, tender, and supportive to facilitate a positive experience. Future directions to advance the science and practice of gentleness are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript represents the second phase of a clinical trial designed to examine the effects of knee joint immobilization and retraining on muscle strength and mass. In Phase 2, we examined sex differences in the recovery of multiple indices of muscle quality after a resistance training-based rehabilitation program. Following 1 week of immobilization, 27 participants (16 males, 11 females) exhibiting weakness underwent twice weekly resistance training sessions designed to re-strengthen their left knee. Unilateral retraining sessions utilizing leg press, extension, and curl exercises were conducted until participants could reproduce their pre-immobilization knee extension isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) peak torque. Post-immobilization, both sexes demonstrated impaired MVC peak torque (males = −10.8%, females = −15.2%), specific torque (−9.8% vs. −13.1%), echo intensity of the vastus lateralis (+6.9% vs. +5.9%) and rectus femoris (+5.9% vs. +2.1), and extracellular water/intracellular water ratio (+7.8% vs. +9.0%). The number of retraining sessions for peak torque to return to baseline for males (median = 1, mean = 2.13) versus females (median = 2, mean = 2.91) was not significantly different, though the disparity in recovery times may be clinically relevant. Following retraining, specific torque was the only muscle-quality indicator that improved along with MVC peak torque (males = 20.1%, females = 22.4%). Our findings indicate that measures of muscle quality demonstrate divergent recovery rates following immobilization, with muscle mass lagging behind improvements in strength. Greater immobilization-induced strength loss among females suggests that sex-specific rehabilitation efforts may be justified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I briefly explore how theoretical linguistics and philosophy are interconnected. I focus on three possibilities, and argue that the fields are most harmonious when utilised in critical reflection of a particular target, a format officially adopted in Theoretical Linguistics since 2002. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the US national security strategy focuses on Sino-American campaigning in the Indo-Pacific, enhancing the US DoD combatant command trauma system by incorporating Ally and partner nations represents a critical opportunity for improving geostrategic alliances and building partner-nation capacity. With the potential for a theater-wide war, the current security environment highlights the importance of developing a robust trauma system capable of (1) optimizing global health engagement, (2) increasing trauma care readiness, (3) enabling interoperability between the United States and partner nations, (4) enhancing interagency partnerships, and (5) supporting integrated deterrence. This article offers a framework to transform the existing command trauma system into a global trauma system that allows the Department of Defense, working with Allies and partners, to support casualty care in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River catchments are dynamic networks that contain multiple levels of spatial and temporal complexity. Benthic macroinvertebrates are key indicator taxa throughout catchments, and beta diversity has been used as a metric to explore determinants of community composition at the catchment scale. Although factors influencing spatial beta diversity have been explored, the determinants of temporal beta diversity have been understudied. In this study, we aimed to understand how shifts in benthic macroinvertebrate community composition over multiple years are related to local and regional variables. We used beta regression with a large, publicly available biomonitoring dataset from river networks in California, USA, to model the effects of local environmental variables, flow variability, and spatial network context on benthic macroinvertebrate temporal beta diversity. The spatial variables channel slope, drainage density, and upstream catchment area had the strongest relationships with macroinvertebrate beta diversity. Channel slope was negatively related to temporal beta diversity, whereas drainage density and upstream catchment area were positively related to temporal beta diversity. Temporal beta diversity was also higher when the rate and magnitude of rises and falls in flow were higher in the hydrograph, as well as when the number of zero-flow days and the duration of flow rises and falls were higher. Overall, our results indicate that temporal beta diversity of freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates is shaped by both long-term hydrological context and spatial context and that these factors may serve as better predictors of long-term community variability than variability in point estimates of environmental measurements. Our study supports the need for biomonitoring efforts at long spatial and temporal timescales and highlights the need to consider metacommunity change in the management of freshwater systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is growing evidence that genetic data are of benefit in the rheumatology outpatient setting by aiding early diagnosis. A genetic probability tool (G‐PROB) has been developed to aid diagnosis has not yet been tested in a real‐world setting. Our aim was to assess whether G‐PROB could aid diagnosis in the rheumatology outpatient setting using data from the Norfolk Arthritis Register (NOAR), a prospective observational cohort of patients presenting with early inflammatory arthritis. Methods: Genotypes and clinician diagnoses were obtained from patients from NOAR. Six G‐probabilities (0%–100%) were created for each patient based on known disease‐associated odds ratios of published genetic risk variants, each corresponding to one disease of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, gout, or "other diseases." Performance of the G‐probabilities compared with clinician diagnosis was assessed. Results: We tested G‐PROB on 1,047 patients. Calibration of G‐probabilities with clinician diagnosis was high, with regression coefficients of 1.047, where 1.00 is ideal. G‐probabilities discriminated clinician diagnosis with pooled areas under the curve (95% confidence interval) of 0.85 (0.84–0.86). G‐probabilities <5% corresponded to a negative predictive value of 96.0%, for which it was possible to suggest >2 unlikely diseases for 94% of patients and >3 for 53.7% of patients. G‐probabilities >50% corresponded to a positive predictive value of 70.4%. In 55.7% of patients, the disease with the highest G‐probability corresponded to clinician diagnosis. Conclusion: G‐PROB converts complex genetic information into meaningful and interpretable conditional probabilities, which may be especially helpful at eliminating unlikely diagnoses in the rheumatology outpatient setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is a potentially fatal disease, especially in the setting of locally advanced or node-positive disease. Adverse outcomes have also primarily been associated with low-income status, as has been reported in other cancers. While the adoption of neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy (NAC) followed by radical cystectomy (RC) and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) has improved outcomes, these standard-of-care treatments may be underutilized in lower-income patients. We sought to investigate the economic disparities in NAC and PLND receipt and survival outcomes in MIBC. Methods: Utilizing the National Cancer Database, a retrospective cohort analysis of cT2-4N0-3M0 BCa patients with urothelial histology who underwent RC was conducted. The impact of income level on overall survival (OS) and the likelihood of receiving NAC and PLND was evaluated. Results: A total of 25,823 patients were included. This study found that lower-income patients were less likely to receive NAC and adequate PLND (≥15 LNs). Moreover, lower-income patients exhibited worse OS (Median OS 55.9 months vs. 68.2 months, p < 0.001). Our findings also demonstrated that higher income, treatment at academic facilities, and recent years of diagnosis were associated with an increased likelihood of receiving standard-of-care modalities and improved survival. Conclusions: Even after controlling for clinicodemographic variables, income independently influenced the receipt of standard MIBC treatments and survival. Our findings identify an opportunity to improve the quality of care for lower-income MIBC patients through concerted efforts to regionalize multi-modal urologic oncology care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does police militarization influence government use of repression? While comparative work examines police militarization, violence, human rights abuses, and torture, it does not integrate militarized police within existing theories of repression. Connecting police militarization and repression, this article argues that police militarization increases the police's perception of threat as well as their coercive capacity, thereby increasing their willingness to repress. As such, we hypothesize police militarization increases repression. To evaluate the theory, we conduct an international analysis using existing datasets covering 102 countries from 1994 to 2010. Employing several statistical models, the data supports the conclusion that police militarization increases the likelihood of government repression, specifically through extrajudicial killing and torture. Aside from highlighting a consequence of police militarization policy, the findings point to police militarization as an important omitted variable in cross-national models of repression and human rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreign body (FB) aspiration/ingestion in children represents a major cause of hospital admission and mortality. Evaluating risk factors and identifying trends in specific FB products could improve targeted health literacy and policy changes. A cross-sectional study querying emergency department patients less than 18 years old with a diagnosis of aspirated/ingested FB was conducted using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database between 2010 and 2020. Incidence rates per 100 000 people-year were calculated and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for hospital admission and mortality. There has been a significantly decreasing rate of aspirated (−23.6%; P =.013) but not ingested FB (−9.4%; P =.066) within the study period. Within pediatric aspirated FB, black compared with white patients had decreased odds of same hospital admission (odds ratio [OR]: 0.8), but increased odds of transfer admission (OR: 1.6) and mortality (OR: 9.2) (all, P <.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence in perinatal care promises advancement but requires cautious, equity-driven application to avoid deepening health care disparities and silos. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers potential benefits in the interconnected fields of obstetrics, maternal–fetal medicine, and neonatology to bridge disciplinary silos for a unified approach. Artificial intelligence has the capacity to improve diagnostic accuracy and clinical decision making for the birthing parent–neonate dyad. There is an inherent risk of ingrained biases in AI that perpetuate existing inequalities; thus, care must be taken to include diverse data sets with interdisciplinary collaboration that centers equitable AI implementation. As AI plays an increasingly important role in perinatal care, we advocate for its cautious, equity-focused application to benefit the perinatal dyad while avoiding the intensification of health care disparities and disciplinary silos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reflects on the potential value and many pitfalls of underpowered studies to help authors and readers consider whether and how they contribute meaningfully to the published literature. A basic introduction to power and sample size calculations is provided. Several problems that can arise in analysis and publication of underpowered studies are described. In addition, features of underpowered studies that may provide value are proposed, including when the hypothesis test of interest is a limited part of the story, the data is rich enough to showcase interesting features of the population of interest, when the rarity or ubiquity of events is an important finding, and when the study is preregistered to reduce the impact of publication bias. Several reporting guidelines for underpowered studies are also suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GaAs is often used as a multijunction subcell due to its high material quality on GaAs substrates, despite having a non-optimal bandgap. The bandgap can be beneficially reduced using many layers of thin, strain-balanced GaInAs in a superlattice or quantum well device, but achieving excellent carrier collection without increased recombination has proven challenging. Here, we develop and demonstrate high performance, optically thick GaInAs/GaAsP strain-balanced solar cells. Excellent material quality is achieved in thick superlattices by using growth conditions that limit progressive thickness and composition fluctuations. Bandgap-voltage offsets as low as 0.31 V are shown in superlattice cells using thin, highly strained GaP barriers. Optically thick superlattice cells with over 2500 nm of total GaInAs in the depletion region are developed, enabling 3.8 mA/cm2 of extra photocurrent beyond the GaAs band edge under the AM0 space spectrum. Optimized superlattice solar cells are incorporated into two-junction devices that achieve 29.2% efficiency under the AM0 space spectrum due to their improved bandgap combination and high subcell voltages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study offers a new perspective on the work of Italian theorist Giorgio Agamben, arguing that his recent engagements with the Christian tradition can be productively interpreted as a kind of political theology. As a way of making this claim, I place Agamben in dialogue with German Catholic theologian Johann Baptist Metz, as perhaps the clearest analogue in recent political theology, examining their shared genealogical roots in Marxist philosophy and the Frankfurt School, as well their mutual interests in early‐Christian and medieval apocalyptic. Furthermore, I argue that their respective projects can mutually inform one another, and together be regarded as a corrective to certain aspects of contemporary Augustinian theory. Focusing on the question of the victim, I contend that Agamben's and Metz’s approach to “universality” can serve to illuminate and to challenge some of the more “particularistic” and exclusionary elements of the Augustinian form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent observations suggest that El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) impacts basal melting of West Antarctic ice shelves, yet sparse ocean observations limit our understanding of the associated processes. Here we investigate how ENSO events modulate subsurface West Antarctic shelf temperatures using high‐resolution global ocean‐sea ice model simulations. During El Niño, the subsurface shelf warming between 150 m and the shelf bottom can be up to 0.5°C in front of ice shelves. This warming arises from a weaker Amundsen Sea Low (ASL) and weaker coastal easterlies that reduce on‐shelf Ekman transport of cold surface waters, enabling enhanced transport of warm Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) onto the shelf. A largely opposite response occurs during La Niña, with a stronger ASL and stronger Ekman transport that results in less cross‐shelf CDW transport and cooling in the subsurface. These findings have implications for interpreting basal melting on interannual to decadal time‐scales in West Antarctica. Plain Language Summary: El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the Earth's dominant year‐to‐year climate variation. The impacts of its two phases, El Niño and La Niña, extend from the tropics to Antarctica through atmospheric waves. Past studies have suggested that West Antarctic ice shelves melt more during El Niño because of warmer ocean waters at the ice shelf bases. However, oceanic changes during El Niño lead to warming on the shelf near the ice which is difficult to isolate. That is because ENSO is only one of many drivers that impact shelf water temperatures. In this work, we simulate isolated ENSO events using an ocean circulation model. We show that during El Niño, the on‐shelf flow of cold surface waters in West Antarctica, driven by coastal easterly winds, is reduced because the winds weaken. To balance out this mass deficit at the surface, more warm CDW flows onto the continental shelf below. During La Niña, we see a largely opposite response. Stronger coastal easterlies increase the on‐shelf flow of cold surface waters and less CDW is flowing onto the shelf. Our results show the link between ENSO and mass loss of the West Antarctic ice shelves and ice sheet. Key Points: Ocean‐sea ice model simulations of El Niño and La Niña events illustrate how they modulate West Antarctic shelf temperaturesEl Niño weakens coastal easterlies, reduces on‐shelf Ekman flow of cold waters, increasing cross‐shelf flow of warm Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW)The La Niña shelf circulation response is largely opposite and reduces cross‐shelf transport of warm CDW [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on Murray Rothbard's "For a New Liberty," highlighting its early and influential contribution to libertarian philosophy. Rothbard systematically applies anarcho-capitalist principles to contemporary societal issues, notably addressing concerns regarding conservation, ecology, and population growth in contrast to mainstream political ideologies.

Gatekeeper interventions are universal programs designed for use by the general public that provide brief training sessions in responding to suicidal risk. To date, the evidence base for the efficacy of gatekeeper intervention training programs has been mixed. However, little attention has been paid to potential psychological moderators of the efficacy of suicide gatekeeper interventions. We explore the potential moderating effects of suicide-related stigma and social responsibility on the efficacy of a suicide prevention gatekeeper training program. Participants were 179 college students with a mean age of 19.05 years (SD = 1.82, range 18–31). Participants were 71.5% women, 48.6% Hispanic, and 19.6% non-Hispanic White. Results indicated that higher scores on suicide-related stigma were associated with smaller intervention effects on gatekeeper self-efficacy. In contrast, higher scores on social responsibility were associated with greater intervention effects with regard to gatekeeper preparedness and gatekeeper likelihood. An improved understanding of the factors associated with efficacy of gatekeeper intervention programs may lead to the development of improved gatekeeper interventions. These findings may also contribute to the development of targeted gatekeeper interventions for specific cultural or occupational groups. Gatekeeper self-efficacy was moderated by levels of suicide-related stigma. Gatekeeper preparedness and likelihood were moderated by personal responsibility. Understanding moderators of gatekeeper efficacy may improve gatekeeper interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disease-modifying drugs have transformed the treatment options for many systemic autoimmune diseases. However, an evolving understanding of disease mechanisms, which might vary between individuals, is paving the way for the development of novel agents that operate in a patient-tailored manner through immunophenotypic regulation of disease-relevant cells and the microenvironment of affected tissue domains. Immunoengineering is a field that is focused on the application of engineering principles to the modulation of the immune system, and it could enable future personalized and immunoregulatory therapies for rheumatic diseases. An important aspect of immunoengineering is the harnessing of material chemistries to design technologies that span immunologically relevant length scales, to enhance or suppress immune responses by re-balancing effector and regulatory mechanisms in innate or adaptive immunity and rescue abnormalities underlying pathogenic inflammation. These materials are endowed with physicochemical properties that enable features such as localization in immune cells and organs, sustained delivery of immunoregulatory agents, and mimicry of key functions of lymphoid tissue. Immunoengineering applications already exist for disease management, and there is potential for this new discipline to improve disease modification in rheumatology. Immunoengineering involves the design of materials with specific properties relating to the immune system. In this Review the authors consider the application of immunoengineering to systemic autoimmune diseases via site-specific and antigen-specific immunoregulation, the facilitation of immune cell therapy, novel approaches to immunodiagnostics and the generation of models to study autoimmunity. Key points: An unmet need exists for immunoregulatory disease-modifying agents for patients with rheumatological conditions who cannot tolerate immunosuppression and for partial responders and non-responders to current standards of care. Immunoengineering is an emerging research area with a major focus on a systems-based approach to rescue disorders of the immune system by leveraging material chemistries to generate immunoregulators. Immunoengineering advances now offer the possibility of a new class of therapeutics aimed at immunomodulation rather than at immunosuppression, which could synergize with standard-of-care therapies and personalize treatment in systemic autoimmunity. Immunomodulation, tolerization and measurement of disease activity are facilitated by nanoparticles; microparticles enable sustained, localized release of immunomodulatory compounds; and macroscale materials have uses in cell therapy and as immunological niches. To improve the safety, efficacy and specificity of T cell-based therapies, immunoengineering can be leveraged to enrich specific cell subsets, generate transient T cells in vivo and improve target identification. Immunoengineering could aid in the diagnosis of disease, immunophenotyping for patient-stratification purposes and in developing in vitro models to study autoimmunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing global consumption of caffeine-rich products, such as coffee, tea, and energy drinks, there is also an increase in urban and processing waste full of residual caffeine with limited disposal options. This waste caffeine has been found to leach into the surrounding environment where it poses a threat to microorganisms, insects, small animals, and entire ecosystems. Growing interest in harnessing this environmental contaminant has led to the discovery of 79 bacterial strains, eight yeast strains, and 32 fungal strains capable of metabolizing caffeine by N -demethylation and/or C-8 oxidation. Recently observed promiscuity of caffeine-degrading enzymes in vivo has opened up the possibility of engineering bacterial strains capable of producing a wide variety of caffeine derivatives from a renewable resource. These engineered strains can be used to reduce the negative environmental impact of leached caffeine-rich waste through bioremediation efforts supplemented by our increasing understanding of new techniques such as cell immobilization. Here, we compile all of the known caffeine-degrading microbial strains, discuss their metabolism and related enzymology, and investigate their potential application in bioremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to discuss reliability and precision through the lens of a modern measurement approach, item response theory (IRT). Reliability evidence in the field of counseling is primarily generated using Classical Test Theory (CTT) approaches, although recent studies in the field of counseling have shown the benefits of using IRT approaches to explore measurement precision. We discuss the theoretical foundations and assumptions of CTT and IRT, and examine how modern measurement theory (i.e. IRT) poses advantages for capturing measurement precision. We use an example analysis to demonstrate the indices of measurement precision in IRT approaches (e.g. standard errors, person-fit, item-fit, targeting, residual-based fit statistics). Finally, we discuss practical and clinical implications for counseling researchers for using IRT approaches to measure precision, including insights into precision for persons, items, and measurement invariance as well as the utility of brief and adaptive scales. Using modern measurement theory approaches (i.e. item response theory), evidence of precision is generated for persons, items, and other relevant facets, and these indices can inform needed scale revisions, identify for whom the theorized model is a good fit, and the items that are well-targeted for the population of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Widespread transmission of COVID-19 continues to threaten public health, particularly of rural, American Indian communities. Although COVID-19 risk factors for severe disease and clinical characteristics are well described in the general population, there has been little shared on hospitalized American Indian populations. Methods: In this observational study, we performed chart extractions on all persons hospitalized with COVID-19 from April 1 through July 31, 2020 among an exclusively American Indian population living on or near Tribal lands in eastern Arizona. We provide descriptive statistics for the cohort stratified by presentation, comparing those who self-presented or were referred by an outreach program. Exploratory analyses were performed to identify risk factors for morbidity and mortality. Results: During the observation period, 2262 persons were diagnosed with COVID-19 and 490 (22%) were hospitalized. Hospitalized persons had a median age of 54 years; 92% had at least one comorbidity, 72% had greater than one comorbidity, and 60% had a BMI of > 30. Most persons required supplemental oxygen (83%), but the majority (62%) only required nasal cannula and only 11% were intubated. The case fatality rates were 1.7% for the population, 7.1% among hospitalizations, and 9.3% among hospitalized patients 50 years and older. All rates that are significantly lower than those reported nationally during the same period. Conclusions: We observed a cohort of American Indian patients hospitalized secondary to COVID-19 with greater number of comorbidities compared to the general population but with lower mortality rates. We posit that the primary driver of mortality reduction for this population and the hospitalized cohort was a community-based referral program that led to disproportionately lower fatality rates among the oldest persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the field of low‐dimensional materials (1D or 2D) grows and more complex and intriguing structures are continuing to be found, there is an emerging need for techniques to characterize the nanoscale mechanical properties of all kinds of 1D/2D materials, in particular in their most practical state: sitting on an underlying substrate. While traditional nanoindentation techniques cannot accurately determine the transverse Young's modulus at the necessary scale without large indentations depths and effects to and from the substrate, herein an atomic‐force‐microscopy‐based modulated nanomechanical measurement technique with Angstrom‐level resolution (MoNI/ÅI) is presented. This technique enables non‐destructive measurements of the out‐of‐plane elasticity of ultra‐thin materials with resolution sufficient to eliminate any contributions from the substrate. This method is used to elucidate the multi‐layer stiffness dependence of graphene deposited via chemical vapor deposition and discover a peak transverse modulus in two‐layer graphene. While MoNI/ÅI has been used toward great findings in the recent past, here all aspects of the implementation of the technique as well as the unique challenges in performing measurements at such small resolutions are encompassed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a discussion among several professors in the history department at the University at Albany, the State University of New York who were involved in a curriculum overhaul project that failed to obtain the objectives of attracting new students and stemming the decline in those choosing to major in the humanities. The University's department embraced the premise put forth by the American Historical Association's Tuning the History Discipline project that sought to attract majors, resources and prestige through a more creative, research-based curriculum. The scholars discuss the reasons why the project failed, and how they have reevaluated their assumptions, expectations and options going forward.