Search

Background: Fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine are increasingly common. Although it is known that such fractures may elevate the risk of near-term morbidity, the natural history of patients who sustain such injuries remains poorly described. We sought to characterize the natural history of patients treated for thoracolumbar fractures and to understand clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with survival. Methods: Patients treated for acute thoracic or lumbar spine fractures within a large academic health-care network between 2015 and 2021 were identified. Clinical, radiographic, and mortality data were obtained from medical records and administrative charts. Survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves. We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate factors associated with survival, while adjusting for confounders. Results were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The study included 717 patients (median age, 66 years; 59.8% male; 69% non-Hispanic White). The mortality rate was 7.0% (n = 50), 16.2% (n = 116), and 20.4% (n = 146) at 3, 12, and 24 months following injury, respectively. In adjusted analysis, patients who died within the first year following injury were more likely to be older (OR = 1.03; 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.05) and male (OR = 1.67; 95% CI = 1.05 to 2.69). A higher Injury Severity Score, lower Glasgow Coma Scale score, and higher Charlson Comorbidity Index at presentation were also influential factors. The final model explained 81% (95% CI = 81% to 83%) of the variation in survival. Conclusions: We identified a previously underappreciated fact: thoracolumbar fractures are associated with a mortality risk comparable with that of hip fractures. The risk of mortality is greatest in elderly patients and those with multiple comorbidities. The results of our model can be used in patient and family counseling, informed decision-making, and resource allocation to mitigate the potential risk of near-term mortality in high-risk individuals. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to compare the levels of intrinsic protein disorder within the human lens and zonule proteomes and investigate the role of aging as a potential influencing factor on disorder levels. A cross-sectional proteomic analysis was employed, utilizing a dataset of 1466 proteins derived from the lens and zonule proteomes previously published by Wang et al. and De Maria et al. Bioinformatics tools, including a composition profiler and a rapid intrinsic disorder analysis online tool, were used to conduct a comparative analysis of protein disorder. Statistical tests such as ANOVA, Tukey's HSD, and chi-squared tests were applied to evaluate differences between groups. The study revealed distinct amino acid compositions for each proteome, showing a direct correlation between aging and increased protein disorder in the zonular proteomes, whereas the lens proteomes exhibited the opposite trend. Findings suggest that age-related changes in intrinsic protein disorder within the lens and zonule proteomes may be linked to structural transformations in these tissues. Understanding how protein disorder evolves with age could enhance knowledge of the molecular basis for age-related conditions such as cataracts and pseudoexfoliation, potentially leading to better therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Models of rocky-coast erosion help us understand the physical phenomena that control coastal morphology and evolution, infer the processes shaping coasts in remote environments, and evaluate risk from natural hazards and future climate change. Existing models, however, are highly complex, are computationally expensive, and depend on many input parameters; this limits our ability to explore planform erosion of rocky coasts over long timescales (thousands to millions of years) and over a range of conditions. In this paper, we present a simplified cellular model of coastline evolution in closed basins through uniform erosion and wave-driven erosion. Uniform erosion is modeled as a constant rate of retreat. Wave erosion is modeled as a function of fetch, the distance over which the wind blows to generate waves, and the angle between the incident wave and the shoreline. This reduced-complexity model can be used to evaluate how a detachment-limited coastal landscape reflects climate, sea-level history, material properties, and the relative influence of different erosional processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Summer Institute of Butler-Williams (B-W) Scholars Program in 2024. Topics include background of Dr. Robert Butler, founding director of the NIA; attendees of the B-W Scholars Program, and the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Program in 2036.

Models of rocky coast erosion help us understand the physical phenomena that control coastal morphology and evolution, infer the processes shaping coasts in remote environments, and evaluate risk from natural hazards and future climate change. Existing models, however, are highly complex, computationally expensive, and depend on many input parameters; this limits our ability to explore planform erosion of rocky coasts over long timescales (100s to 100,000s years) and a range of conditions. In this paper, we present a simplified cellular model of coastline evolution through uniform erosion and wave-driven erosion. Uniform erosion is modeled as a constant rate of retreat. Wave erosion is modeled as a function of fetch, the distance over which the wind blows to generate waves, and the angle between the incident wave and the shoreline. This reduced complexity model can be used to evaluate how a detachment-limited coastal landscape reflects climate, sea level history, material properties, and the relative influence of different erosional processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides (TCN) are widely employed to infer denudation rates in mountainous landscapes. The calculation of an inferred denudation rate (Dinf) from TCN concentrations is typically performed under the assumptions that denudation rates were steady during TCN accumulation and that soil chemical weathering negligibly impacted soil mineral abundances. In many landscapes, however, denudation rates were not steady and soil composition was significantly impacted by chemical weathering, which complicates interpretation of TCN concentrations. We present a landscape evolution model that computes transient changes in topography, soil thickness, soil mineralogy, and soil TCN concentrations. We used this model to investigate TCN responses in transient landscapes by imposing idealized perturbations in tectonically (rock uplift rate) and climatically sensitive parameters (soil production efficiency, hillslope transport efficiency, and mineral dissolution rate) on initially steady‐state landscapes. These experiments revealed key insights about TCN responses in transient landscapes. (a) Accounting for soil chemical erosion is necessary to accurately calculate Dinf. (b) Responses of Dinf to tectonic perturbations differ from those to climatic perturbations, suggesting that spatial and temporal patterns in Dinf are signatures of perturbation type and magnitude. (c) If soil chemical erosion is accounted for, basin‐averaged Dinf inferred from TCN in stream sediment closely tracks actual basin‐averaged denudation rate, showing that Dinf is a reasonable proxy for actual denudation rate, even in many transient landscapes. (d) Response times of Dinf to perturbations increase with hillslope length, implying that response times should be sensitive to the climatic, biological, and lithologic processes that control hillslope length. Plain Language Summary: In geomorphology, the rate at which mountains wear down is commonly inferred from concentrations of cosmogenic nuclides in minerals in soil or river sand. Cosmogenic nuclides are isotopes that build up in minerals during exposure to high energy particles from space, accumulating at a rate that depends on the degree to which the soil is chemically altered and the mountain's erosion rate itself. To explore how cosmogenic nuclide concentrations change in soil over time, we developed a computer model that tracks cosmogenic nuclide concentrations in soil across a landscape. We used this model to perform two model experiments: one driven by a change in the rate at which the bedrock is rising (the so‐called tectonic experiment), and the other driven by a change in rainfall (the climatic experiment). Our experiments confirm that accounting for soil composition is necessary to accurately infer erosion rate. They also show that cosmogenic nuclide concentrations respond differently to tectonic changes than climatic changes, implying that patterns of cosmogenic nuclide concentrations may reflect perturbation type. The time it takes cosmogenic nuclide concentrations to respond to a perturbation increases with the length of the hills from the ridge to the valley, implying that response times should be influenced by climate, life, and rock type. These results show how this model can be used to explore how mountainous topography, soils, and cosmogenic nuclides change simultaneously. Our model will be a useful tool for improving field measurements of cosmogenic nuclide concentrations in soil and in stream sediment. Key Points: We developed a model to compute terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (TCN) concentrations in transiently evolving topography and chemically weathering soilsTCN‐based denudation rates track actual denudation rates more closely during responses to changes in uplift rate than to changes in climateSoil chemical weathering influences modeled TCN concentrations, confirming that this should be accounted for in TCN‐based denudation rates [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alluvial rivers are conveyor belts of fluid and sediment that provide a record of upstream climate and erosion on Earth, Titan, and Mars. However, many of Earth’s rivers remain unsurveyed, Titan’s rivers are not well resolved by current spacecraft data, and Mars’ rivers are no longer active, hindering reconstructions of planetary surface conditions. To overcome these problems, we use dimensionless hydraulic geometry relations—scaling laws that relate river channel dimensions to flow and sediment transport rates—to calculate in-channel conditions using only remote sensing measurements of channel width and slope. On Earth, this offers a way to predict flow and sediment flux in rivers that lack field measurements and shows that the distinct dynamics of bedload-dominated, suspended load-dominated, and bedrock rivers give rise to distinct channel characteristics. On Mars, this approach not only predicts grain sizes at Gale Crater and Jezero Crater that overlap with those measured by the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers, it enables reconstructions of past flow conditions that are consistent with proposed long-lived hydrologic activity at both craters. On Titan, our predicted sediment fluxes to the coast of Ontario Lacus could build the lake’s river delta in as little as ~1,000 y, and our scaling relationships suggest that Titan’s rivers may be wider, slope more gently, and transport sediment at lower flows than rivers on Earth or Mars. Our approach provides a template for predicting channel properties remotely for alluvial rivers across Earth, along with interpreting spacecraft observations of rivers on Titan and Mars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a skilled research workforce in aging is fundamental to understanding conditions associated with growing older and extending healthy, active years of life. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports the training of health scientists, and its National Institute on Aging (NIA) prioritizes the professional development of investigators with an interest in aging. Since 1987, NIA's Summer Institute on Aging Research, renamed the Butler-Williams (B-W) Scholars Program in 2013, has offered an intensive one-week experience on issues, opportunities, and challenges of research on aging, with emphasis on disparities and health equity. The first 30 years of the Program are described in this report, including its history, selected curriculum highlights, Scholar outcomes, and qualitative data from faculty, and the program's impact on the training, growth, and development of scientists in aging research. Questions raised over a decade ago by the Committee on the Future Health Care Workforce for Older Americans Board on Health Care Services are revisited, and recommendations for the future are provided. This important Program remains an exemplar for the training and development of health scientists for careers that advance biomedical research and emphasize an equitable understanding of factors related to extending healthy years of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near the threshold of grain motion, sediment transport is "on‐off" intermittent, characterized by large but rare bursts separated by long periods of low transport. Without models that can account for the effects of intermittency, measurements of average sediment flux can be in error by up to an order of magnitude. Despite its known presence and impact, it is not clear whether on‐off intermittency arises from the grain activity (the number of moving grains) or grain velocities, which together determine the sediment flux. We use laboratory flume experiments to show that the on‐off intermittency has its origins in the velocity distributions of grains that move by rolling along the bed, whereas grain activity is not on‐off intermittent. Incorporating the types of intermittency we identify into stochastic models of sediment transport could yield improved predictions of sediment flux, including physically based estimates of the uncertainty in time‐averaged sediment flux. Plain Language Summary: Sediment, such as sand and gravel, is transported across the surface of the Earth and other planets by wind and water. Predicting the amount of sediment that can be transported given a certain flow rate is crucial for predicting how a landscape will change over time. For low flow rates, little to no grain motion occurs. Just beyond the flow rate required for motion, sediment transport occurs mostly in rare bursts. This so‐called "on‐off" intermittency creates difficulties when trying to measure the average transport rate, which must be done over longer time periods as the bursts become larger but less frequent. While on‐off intermittency has been identified in previous studies of sediment transport, there is currently no understanding of its physical origin. We use a series of experiments in a small laboratory river to show that the on‐off intermittency is due to large fluctuations in the speed of the grains rolling on the bed, and that the sediment transport becomes less bursty as more grains are lifted off the river bed and into the fluid. Our results will pave the way for better measurements and predictions of sediment transport in rivers. Key Points: We use grain tracking data from laboratory experiments to separately study the statistics of grain velocities and grain activityWe show that on‐off intermittency has its origins in the velocity distributions of grains, not in the grain activityOn‐off intermittency comes from grains rolling on the bed, and disappears as more and more grains are lifted into the bulk of the flow [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While prior work has revealed conditions that foster policymakers' use of research evidence, few studies have rigorously investigated the effectiveness of theory-based practices. Specifically, policymakers are most apt to use research evidence when it is timely, relevant, brief, and messaged appropriately, as well as when it facilitates interactive engagement. This study sought to experimentally evaluate an enhanced research dissemination intervention, known as the SciComm Optimizer for Policy Engagement (SCOPE), implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic among US state legislators. Methods: State legislators assigned to health committees and their staff were randomized to receive the SCOPE intervention. This involved providing academic researchers with a pathway for translating and disseminating research relevant to current legislative priorities via fact sheets emailed directly to officials. The intervention occurred April 2020–March 2021. Research language was measured in state legislators' social media posts. Results: Legislators randomized to receive the intervention, relative to the control group, produced 24% more social media posts containing research language related to COVID-19. Secondary analyses revealed that these findings were driven by two different types of research language. Intervention officials produced 67% more COVID-related social media posts referencing technical language (e.g., statistical methods), as well as 28% more posts that referenced research-based concepts. However, they produced 31% fewer posts that referenced creating or disseminating new knowledge. Conclusions: This study suggests that strategic, targeted science communication efforts may have the potential to change state legislators' public discourse and use of evidence. Strategic science communication efforts are particularly needed in light of the role government officials have played in communicating about the pandemic to the general public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bed load sediment transport, in which wind or water flowing over a bed of sediment causes grains to roll or hop along the bed, is a critically important mechanism in contexts ranging from river restoration1 to planetary exploration2. Despite its widespread occurrence, predictions of bed load sediment flux are notoriously imprecise3,4. Many studies have focused on grain size variability5 as a source of uncertainty, but few have investigated the role of grain shape, even though shape has long been suspected to influence transport rates6. Here we show that grain shape can modify bed load transport rates by an amount comparable to the scatter in many sediment transport datasets4,7,8. We develop a theory that accounts for grain shape effects on fluid drag and granular friction and predicts that the onset and efficiency of transport depend on the coefficients of drag and bulk friction of the transported grains. Laboratory experiments confirm these predictions and reveal that the effect of grain shape on sediment transport can be difficult to intuit from the appearance of grains. We propose a shape-corrected sediment transport law that collapses our experimental measurements. Our results enable greater accuracy in predictions of sediment transport and help reconcile theories developed for spherical particles with the behaviour of natural sediment grains.Theoretical and experimental analysis of the effect of grain shape in bed load sediment transport is performed and a shape-corrected sediment transport law that provides greater accuracy in predictions is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The planform rearrangement of river basins is recognized as an important process for landscape evolution. The boundaries of river basins can shift either through gradual drainage divide migration or discrete river captures, but the methods for identifying these processes often rely on topographic evidence that remains otherwise untested. Moreover, efforts to understand the relative importance of either process are hampered by a lack of age constraints on river captures. We use 10Be‐derived erosion rates to test whether, and how, divide motion is occurring at three locations along the Blue Ridge Escarpment in the Appalachian Mountains. In the Pee Dee River basin, we find that the escarpment is migrating inland up to 45 m/Myr, consistent with topographic evidence for gradual divide migration. In the Dan River basin, erosion rates support the topographic evidence for river capture, and we use a forward model of river incision to estimate that the capture likely occurred in the past 12.5 Myr. In the South Fork Roanoke River basin, where the presence of a knickzone has been interpreted as evidence that a river capture initiated a pulse of faster erosion, we instead measure nearly uniform tributary erosion rates above and within the mainstem knickzone. Simulations show that river incision into a more erodible layer of rock, with or without a river capture, could produce the observed topography and erosion rates in the South Fork Roanoke River. Our results show how multiple lines of evidence can illuminate the rates and mechanisms of river basin reorganization. Plain Language Summary: River basins are dynamic features; they can grow and shrink over time through the gradual movement of drainage divides across a landscape, a process called divide migration. Alternatively, a river channel can abruptly change its flow direction, and connect with a channel in another river basin, in an event called a river capture. Divide migration and river capture are often identified using clues extracted from topography. Such topographic evidence indicates that the Blue Ridge Escarpment in the Appalachian Mountains is migrating toward the continental interior. In this study, we measure erosion rates on either side of the escarpment to test whether Atlantic‐draining rivers are eroding faster than those perched at higher elevations on the Mississippi side. In two out of three study sites the erosion rates are consistent with the topographic evidence. In the third site, the erosion rates are inconsistent with the physical evidence for river capture. We pair our measurements with computational simulations to show that a river eroding into different rock types can produce topography that alters the signature of river capture. Our results show that the Blue Ridge Escarpment is in motion, but that topographic interpretations can be complicated by the presence of multiple rock types. Key Points: Paired erosion rates across the Blue Ridge Escarpment show that the escarpment is migrating up to 45 m/Myr toward the continental interiorIn the Dan River, nonuniform erosion rates and simulations suggest a river capture occurred in the last 12.5 MyrUniform erosion rates in the Roanoke River show how incision into different rocks could obscure the topographic evidence of river capture [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevention science sheds light on complex social policy problems, yet its social impact cannot reach full potential without the uptake of research evidence by policymakers. This mixed-methods study examined the US federal legislation pertaining to justice-involved youth to reveal opportunities for strengthening the use of prevention science in legislation. The results indicated that research language, particularly references to the type of study (e.g., longitudinal) or methodology (e.g., data mining), within bills predicted bill progression out of committee and enactment. Rigorous scientific methods may either lend credence to a bill during its progression in the legislative process or may be infused in language during mark-up and negotiation of bills that successfully progress in Congress. In-depth bill coding illustrated the ways that research has been used in legislation to define problems, reinforce effective practice, generate knowledge through research and evaluation, and disseminate findings. A prominent implication of these findings is that policies could be used to improve data monitoring and evaluation capacity in ways that enhance the implementation of evidence-based interventions. The comprehensive use of research in legislation increases the likelihood that policies reach their intended outcomes and benefit those they are designed to serve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bedload sediment transport is ubiquitous in shaping natural and engineered landscapes, but the variability in the relation between sediment flux and driving factors is not well understood. At a given Shields number, the observed dimensionless transport rate can vary over a range in controlled systems and up to several orders of magnitude in natural streams. Here, we (a) experimentally validate a resolved fluid‐grain numerical scheme (Lattice Boltzmann Method‐Discrete Element Method or DEM‐LBM), and use it to (b) explore the parameter space controlling sediment transport in simple systems. Wide wall‐free simulations show the dimensionless transport rate is not influenced by the slope, fluid depth, mean particle size, particle surface friction, or grain‐grain damping for gentle slopes (0.01–0.03) at a medium to high fixed Shields number. (c) Examination of small‐scale fluid‐grain interactions shows fluid torque is non‐negligible for the entrainment and sediment transport near the threshold. And (d) the simulations guide the formulation of continuum models for the transport process. We present an upscaled two‐phase continuum model for grains in a turbulent fluid and validate it against bedload transport DEM‐LBM simulations. To model the creeping granular flow under the bed surface, we use an extension of the Nonlocal Granular Fluidity model, which was previously shown to account for flow cooperativity from grain‐size‐effects in dry media. The model accurately predicts the exponentially decaying velocity profile deeper into the bed. Plain Language Summary: Sediment transport caused by particles rolling, sliding, and hopping on a river bed is called bedload transport. Semi‐empirical formulas to predict bedload sediment flux from the driving factors, known as the transport relation, can be highly inaccurate. Simulations where the sediment particles are fully resolved are carried out to find if the predictions can be improved by considering more particle parameters. After being validated against flume experiments, the numerical scheme is used to simulate bedload transport under many conditions, and its results show that at a fixed relative hydrodynamic driving force, varying river slope (on gentle slopes), fluid depth, mean particle size, particle surface sliding friction coefficient, and grain‐grain damping coefficient cause almost no variation of the transport rate. The simulations also shed light on the microscopic mechanisms such as how the fluid torque on particles helps initiate rolling and subsequent grain transport. We further use the numerical scheme to guide development of an alternative framework that can predict the flow profiles for the fast transport as well as the gradual transport beneath the bed surface without resolving the individual particles, which is a more tractable way to model large‐scale bedload sediment transport problems. Key Points: Particle‐scale bedload transport simulations agree with flume experimentsSimulations probe the small‐scale mechanisms and parameter dependences in the transport relationParticle simulations guide continuum model development for turbulent sediment transport and bed creep [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sediment transport by wind or water near the threshold of grain motion is dominated by rare transport events. This intermittency makes it difficult to calibrate sediment transport laws, or to define an unambiguous threshold for grain entrainment, both of which are crucial for predicting sediment transport rates. We present a model that captures this intermittency and shows that the noisy statistics of sediment transport contain useful information about the sediment entrainment threshold and the variations in driving fluid stress. Using a combination of laboratory experiments and analytical results, we measure the threshold for grain entrainment in a novel way and introduce a new property, the "shear stress variability", which predicts conditions under which transport will be intermittent. Our work suggests strategies for improving measurements and predictions of sediment flux and hints that the sediment transport law may change close to the threshold of motion. Plain Language Summary: Sediment transport by wind or water is intermittent―Displaying long periods of low transport followed by sudden large transport events. Intermittency is commonly seen as unwanted noise that makes it difficult to predict sediment flux. We introduce a mathematical model for sediment transport near the threshold of motion which provides a possible explanation for why and when intermittency occurs, and show that the noisy statistics of intermittent sediment transport encode information about the threshold of sediment motion and the variations in driving fluid forces. This knowledge can help improve the accuracy of sediment transport predictions, which are central to many engineering and geological applications. The ingredients necessary for intermittency―Noise near a transition―apply to many systems beyond sediment transport. Key Points: Sediment transport near the threshold of motion is intermittent, making it hard to measure average flux, which is crucial for predictionsWe use bifurcation theory in the presence of multiplicative noise to understand and describe the intermittencyApplying this to flume experiments, we find a new way of measuring the threshold of motion and predicting when intermittency will be present [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Policy & Internet is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The professionalization of addressing conflict creates a field filled with specialists highly trained to apply modularized and manualized, often evidence-based solutions. But how effective are these professionalized conflict management strategies in Indigenous and localized cultural contexts compared to homegrown Indigenous approaches? While instances of these Indigenous peacebuilding and conflict management strategies are routine throughout the world, to date, no one has attempted to test which conflict management approaches are most effective empirically, nor has the literature sufficiently addressed the contexts in which strategies are most helpful. Using multi-dimensional scaling and chi-square tests of independence applied to a similarity matrix of co-occurrences from select Outline of Cultural Materials subjects from the Human Relations Area Files cultural database, this study tests the hypothesis: Indigenous conflict management strategies are more effective (i.e., less associated conflict) than non-Indigenous conflict management strategies in Indigenous contexts. We show that Indigenous conflict management approaches co-occur with conflict less often than non-Indigenous strategies. From an applied perspective, when we break conflict into four discreet types—sociocultural/interpersonal, political, legal/judicial, and economic—Indigenous conflict management strategies co-occur most often with socio-cultural types of conflicts. The results suggest that Indigenous approaches are more effective in Indigenous contexts overall, while they are most often applied to socio-cultural and interpersonal conflicts. Based on our findings, homegrown solutions effectively manage, resolve, and transform localized conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large alluvial rivers transport water and sediment across continents and shape lowland landscapes. Repeated glacial cycles have dominated Earth's recent climate, but it is unclear whether these rivers are sensitive to such rapid changes. The Amazon River system, the largest and highest-discharge in the world, features extensive young terraces that demonstrate geologically rapid change temporally correlated with changes in runoff from Quaternary climate cycles. To test the plausibility of a causal relationship, we use a simple model to estimate from empirical measurements how quickly a river profile responds to changes in discharge or sediment supply. Applying this model to data from 30 gauging stations along alluvial rivers throughout the Brazilian Amazon, we find that many rivers of the Amazon basin can respond faster than glacially induced changes in runoff or sediment flux. The Amazon basin is unusually responsive compared to other large river systems due to its high discharge and sediment flux, narrow floodplains, and low slopes. As a result, we predict that the Amazon basin has been highly dynamic during Quaternary glacial cycles, with cyclical aggradation and incision of lowland rivers driving repeated habitat and environmental change throughout the region. This dynamic landscape may have contributed to the exceptional biodiversity of the region and patterns of ancient human settlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Racial disparities and racism are pervasive public health threats that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, it is critical and timely for researchers to communicate with policymakers about strategies for reducing disparities. From April through July 2020, across four rapid-cycle trials disseminating scientific products with evidence-based policy recommendations for addressing disparities, we tested strategies for optimizing the reach of scientific messages to policymakers. By getting such research into the hands of policymakers who can act on it, this work can help combat racial health disparities.(Am J Public Health. 2021;111(10):1768–1771. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306404) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This analysis tested the hypothesis that current e-cigarette use was associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients seeking medical care. E-cigarette and conventional cigarette use were ascertained using a novel electronic health record tool, and COVID-19 diagnosis was ascertained by a validated institutional registry. Logistic regression models were fit to assess whether current e-cigarette use was associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 diagnosis. A total of 69,264 patients who were over the age of 12 years, smoked cigarettes or vaped, and were sought medical care at Mayo Clinic between September 15, 2019 and November 30, 2020 were included. The average age was 51.5 years, 62.1% were females and 86.3% were white; 11.1% were currently smoking cigarettes or using e-cigarettes and 5.1% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Patients who used only e-cigarettes were not more likely to have a COVID-19 diagnosis (OR 0.93 [0.69-1.25], P =.628), whereas those who used only cigarettes had a decreased risk (OR 0.43 [0.35-0.53], P <.001). The OR for dual users fell between these 2 values (OR 0.67 [0.49-0.92], P =.013). Although e-cigarettes have the well-documented potential for harm, they do not appear to increase susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection. This result suggests the hypothesis that any beneficial effects of conventional cigarette smoking on susceptibility are not mediated by nicotine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Core to the goal of scientific exploration is the opportunity to guide future decision-making. Yet, elected officials often miss opportunities to use science in their policymaking. This work reports on an experiment with the US Congress--evaluating the effects of a randomized, dual-population (i.e., researchers and congressional offices) outreach model for supporting legislative use of research evidence regarding child and family policy issues. In this experiment, we found that congressional offices randomized to the intervention reported greater value of research for understanding issues than the control group following implementation. More research use was also observed in legislation introduced by the intervention group. Further, we found that researchers randomized to the intervention advanced their own policy knowledge and engagement as well as reported benefits for their research following implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fracturing of bedrock promotes water‐rock interactions and influences the formation of the life‐sustaining layer of soil at Earth's surface. Models predict that present‐day stress fields should influence bedrock fracture openness, but testing this prediction has proven difficult because comprehensive fracture data sets are rarely available. We model the three‐dimensional present‐day stress field beneath the deglaciated, low‐relief landscape of Forsmark, Sweden. We account for ambient regional stresses, pore pressure, topography, sediment weight, and seawater loading. We then compare the modeled stresses to a data set of ~50,000 fractures reaching depths of 600 m at Forsmark. We show that modeled failure proxies correlate strongly with the fraction of observed open fractures to depths of ~500 m. This result implies that the present‐day regional stress field, affected by surface conditions and pore pressure, influences fracture openness in bedrock hundreds of meters beneath the surface, thereby preparing the rock for further weathering. Plain Language Summary: The "critical zone"—the life‐sustaining part of the Earth that extends from the top of the tree canopy to the bottom of permeable bedrock—is essential for ecosystems and agriculture. The opening of bedrock fractures and onset of water‐rock interaction are crucial to the formation of the critical zone. Within the bedrock, the intensities of horizontal regional forces and vertical gravitational forces typically increase with depth. These force intensities, or stresses, are modified by surface effects associated with topography, the weight of overlying seawater and sediment, and by groundwater pressure. However, the influence of these surface effects on fractures has been difficult to observe because comprehensive fracture data sets are rare. In this study, we examine whether, and to what depths, bedrock may fracture under the influence of stress associated with surficial conditions. We compare bedrock stress calculations with ~50,000 fractures from 18 cores reaching depths of 600 m at Forsmark, Sweden. We find that the present‐day stress field influences the opening of fractures to depths of 500 m, contributing to the formation of the critical zone and the preparation of rock for weathering hundreds of meters beneath the surface, much deeper than previously thought. Key Points: We calculate three‐dimensional present‐day subsurface stress fields in a low‐relief landscape at Forsmark, SwedenPresent‐day stress fields correlate strongly with the fraction of observed open fractures in cores down to ~500 m depthSubsurface bedrock stress influenced by surface conditions and pore pressure contributes to the formation of the deep critical zone [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rivers are conduits for aquatic organisms and host an exceptional number of species. Over geologic time, rivers and the aquatic organisms that live in them are subject to changes in topography that can alter where rivers flow. Differences in erosion rates across drainage divides cause some river basins to grow and others to shrink. Occasionally, rivers are abruptly rerouted by river captures that create both new dispersal corridors and barriers for aquatic organisms. These changes in habitat connectivity can lead to the evolution of new species, which has prompted suggestions that river captures may be a mechanism to produce high freshwater biodiversity. We test this hypothesis by building a model, Bio‐SLANT (Biodiversity on Simulated LAndscapes using Neutral Theory). Bio‐SLANT couples a computational landscape model that simulates river basin reorganization to a macroevolutionary model that simulates the dispersal, speciation, and extinction of organisms. We first show that modeled basin area exerts a primary control on within‐basin species richness due to the species‐area relationship. We then describe the effects of drainage area exchange between river basins. River capture increases species richness, but only temporarily, whereas elevated rates of speciation and extinction provide a persistent biological record of river network reorganization. When river captures are frequent, speciation rates increase more than extinction rates, resulting in a positive diversification rate under most of the biological parameters tested. We explore the implications of our results for species richness in landscapes with basins of different relative sizes and for diversification in tectonically active and inactive settings. Key Points: A coupled model of macroevolution and river network reorganization is used to investigate the effects of river capture on aquatic organismsRiver captures lead to transient increases in species richnessAn increased diversification rate is a persistent biological record of river capture [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern agriculture has dramatically changed the distribution of animal species on Earth. Changes to host ecology have a major impact on the microbiota, potentially increasing the risk of zoonotic pathogens being transmitted to humans, but the impact of intensive livestock production on host-associated bacteria has rarely been studied. Here, we use large isolate collections and comparative genomics techniques, linked to phenotype studies, to understand the timescale and genomic adaptations associated with the proliferation of the most common food-born bacterial pathogen (Campylobacter jejuni) in the most prolific agricultural mammal (cattle). Our findings reveal the emergence of cattle specialist C. jejuni lineages from a background of host generalist strains that coincided with the dramatic rise in cattle numbers in the 20th century. Cattle adaptation was associated with horizontal gene transfer and significant gene gain and loss. This may be related to differences in host diet, anatomy, and physiology, leading to the proliferation of globally disseminated cattle specialists of major public health importance. This work highlights how genomic plasticity can allow important zoonotic pathogens to exploit altered niches in the face of anthropogenic change and provides information for mitigating some of the risks posed by modern agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This section presents abstracts of the marketing research articles "Thurstone's Law of Comparative Judgment: Case V," by Taylor Sims and Terry Hammack and "PATHAN: Path Analysis Program For Recursive Models," by William R. Darden.

The article presents an abstract to the research "LDFCP1: A Linear Discriminant Function Program," by Abdul W. Hammood.

Features of the natural environment such as tree canopy and green space have been found to promote health and well‐being; however, minimal research has investigated potential benefits of nature near schools for early childhood development. This study examined differences in teacher ratings of preschoolers' socio‐emotional and behavioral functioning in relation to the presence of natural elements (e.g., trees, parks) near children's homes and schools. Students' development of emotional and behavioral regulatory skills was the greatest when there were high levels of tree canopy either at home or school. Additionally, students developed greater independence and social skills when their schools were in neighborhoods with limited impervious surface (e.g., concrete); this trend was the most pronounced for students from neighborhoods low in impervious surface. Further, results suggested that associations with tree canopy may fluctuate seasonally (i.e., stronger relationships in the spring) and that the potential impact of school nature may depend on levels of home nature exposure. Although not yielding causal evidence regarding the impact of nature exposure or the effectiveness of greening interventions, findings suggest that school administrators and city planners could collaborate to maximize potential benefits of greening efforts near schools or within their catchment zones. Highlights: Natural features near schools are associated with early childhood development.Preschoolers near more trees and fewer built features improved most in socio‐emotional competencies.Associations may fluctuate by season and depend on the level of exposure near children's homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We examine the connection between true polar wander (TPW) and the evidence for an ancient ocean on Mars. Previous studies have investigated the plausibility of a Mars ocean by examining the topography of possible ancient sea level markers on the planet's surface. One such study argued that features interpreted as ancient shorelines display long‐wavelength topographic variations consistent with postformational TPW (Perron et al., 2007, https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05873). In contrast, a second study argued that the elevations of possible ancient deltaic deposits associated with an ocean on early Mars are not consistent with the TPW scenario (di Achille & Hynek, 2010, https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo891). Herein we revisit this issue by examining another marker of ancient shorelines—fluvial valley networks observed on the surface of Mars. Our results support the existence of an ancient Martian ocean and that long‐wavelength deformation of related surface features (ancient shorelines and valley networks) was driven by some combination of TPW and surface loading associated with the formation of the Tharsis volcanic province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: River capture is thought to trigger abrupt changes in evolving continental drainage systems, but it is almost always inferred rather than observed, and the mechanisms that lead to capture are unclear. We shed light on these mechanisms by documenting an ongoing capture involving major South American rivers. The Rio Casiquiare is a distributary of the Rio Orinoco and a tributary of the Rio Negro; it forms a perennial water connection between the drainage basins of the Amazon and Orinoco, the largest and fourth‐largest rivers on Earth by discharge. This unusual configuration is the result of an incomplete and ongoing river capture, in which the Rio Negro is capturing the upper Rio Orinoco. We describe a positive feedback between diversion of water into the capturing channel and sedimentation within the channel being captured, a mechanism that could drive river capture in the Amazon and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of global tobacco-related deaths is projected to increase from about 6 million to 8 million annually by 2030, with more than 80% of these occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) came into force in 2005 and Article 14 relates specifically to the treatment of tobacco dependence. However, LMICs, in particular, face several barriers to implementing tobacco dependence treatment. This paper is a descriptive evaluation of a novel grant funding mechanism that was initiated in 2014 to address these barriers. Global Bridges. Healthcare Alliance for Tobacco Dependence Treatment aims to create and mobilize a global network of healthcare professionals and organizations dedicated to advancing evidence-based tobacco dependence treatment and advocating for effective tobacco control policy. A 2014 request for proposals (RFP) focused on these goals, particularly in LMICs, where funding for this work had been previously unavailable. 19 grants were awarded by Global Bridges to organizations in low- and middle-income countries across all six WHO regions. Virtually all focused on developing a tobacco dependence treatment curriculum for healthcare providers, while also influencing the political environment for Article 14 implementation. As a direct result of these projects, close to 9,000 healthcare providers have been trained in tobacco dependence treatment and an estimated 150,000 patients have been offered treatment. Because most of these projects are designed with a "train-the-trainer" component, two years of grant funding has been a tremendous catalyst for accelerating change in tobacco dependence treatment practices throughout the world. In order to foster such exponential growth and continue to maintain the impact of these projects, ongoing financial, educational, and professional commitments are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of basing public policy on sound scientific evidence is increasingly being recognized, yet many barriers continue to slow the translation of prevention research into legislative action. This work reports on the feasibility of a model for overcoming these barriers-known as the Research-to-Policy Collaboration (RPC). The RPC employs strategic legislative needs assessments and a rapid response researcher network to accelerate the translation of research findings into usable knowledge for policymakers. Evaluation findings revealed that this model can successfully mobilize prevention scientists, engage legislative offices, connect policymakers and experts in prevention, and elicit congressional requests for evidence on effective prevention strategies. On average, the RPC model costs $3510 to implement per legislative office. The RPC can elicit requests for evidence at an average cost of $444 per request. The implications of this work, opportunities for optimizing project elements, and plans for future work are discussed. Ultimately, this project signals that the use of scientific knowledge of prevention in policymaking can be greatly augmented through strategic investment in translational efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of smoking among mental health and addiction (MHA) patients is 3 times higher than it is in the general population, yet this patient population has received little help to combat smoking. Considering this, psychosocial care centers (CAPS – Centros de Atenção Psicossocial) are strategic locations for integrating tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) into existing treatment activities. Methods: Our team provided an 8-hour training package to the staff of CAPS that have not been providing specialized TDT for smokers. Our curriculum included the following topics focused on the implementation of treatment for MHA smokers: management, epidemiology, medications, psychotherapy, and smoking/mental health assessment instruments. Results: Our team trained the staff of 17 CAPS units within 10 cities – which included more than 186 health professionals. There were many barriers encountered as we provided this training. A summary of problems we faced were as follows: resistance to incorporating TDT in addiction/mental health-care units, resistance to the implementation of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) (psychodynamic therapy and harm reduction were preferred) and treatment for smoking is already implemented in primary care network; resistance to the use of medication in addiction treatment (a preference for psychotherapy and psychosocial approach). Conclusion: We learned a number of important lessons as we worked to improve the delivery of TDT to MHA patients in Brazil: provide clinicians an opportunity to explore how they feel/think about providing TDT to their clients at the very outset of the training, rather than focusing on a specific type of behavioral therapy for TDT (such as CBT), which some may find objectionable; use more generic descriptions of behavioral therapy such as ‘supportive counseling’; include training professionals who are open to other forms of behavioral therapy in addition to psychoanalysis and discuss the important impact that MHA units can have in improving the quality of life for their patients who smoke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to identify common barriers and facilitators to healthy nutrition and exercise behaviors in the workplace and examine their relationships to those actual daily health behaviors. We utilized a concurrent embedded mixed methods approach to collect data from 93 participants over the span of four days. Participants reported 2.80 nutrition and 3.28 exercise barriers on average over the 4 days, while reporting 2.93 nutrition and 1.98 exercise facilitators in the same timeframe. Results indicated that workload and temptations around the office prevented nutritious eating; exercise behaviors were frequently hindered by workload. The most commonly mentioned eating facilitator was proper planning, while having time to exercise facilitated physical activity. Furthermore, the number of barriers reported negatively related to their respective health behaviors (i.e., more nutrition barriers translated to poorer nutrition habits) and facilitators were positively related to them, both overall and more so on the specific day they were reported. The implications of these finding show the importance of barriers/facilitators in the workplace and aid in the creation of more targeted health promotion that could increase positive employee health behaviors by eliminating common barriers and enhancing facilitators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Delivering effective tobacco dependence treatment that is feasible within lung cancer screening (LCS) programs is crucial for realizing the health benefits and cost savings of screening. Large-scale trials and systematic reviews have demonstrated that digital cessation interventions (i.e. web-based and text message) are effective, sustainable over the long-term, scalable, and cost-efficient. Use of digital technologies is commonplace among older adults, making this a feasible approach within LCS programs. Use of cessation treatment has been improved with models that proactively connect smokers to treatment rather than passive referrals. Proactive referral to cessation treatment has been advanced through healthcare systems changes such as modifying the electronic health record to automatically link smokers to treatment.Methods: This study evaluates the impact of a proactive enrollment strategy that links LCS-eligible smokers with an evidence-based intervention comprised of a web-based (WEB) program and integrated text messaging (TXT) in a three-arm randomized trial with repeated measures at one, three, six, and 12 months post randomization. The primary outcome is biochemically confirmed abstinence at 12 months post randomization. We will randomize 1650 smokers who present for a clinical LCS to: (1) a usual care control condition (UC) which consists of Ask-Advise-Refer; (2) a digital (WEB + TXT) cessation intervention; or (3) a digital cessation intervention combined with tobacco treatment specialist (TTS) counseling (WEB + TXT + TTS).Discussion: The scalability and sustainability of a digital intervention may represent the most cost-effective and feasible approach for LCS programs to proactively engage large numbers of smokers in effective cessation treatment. We will also evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of adding proven clinical intervention provided by a TTS. We expect that a combined digital/clinical intervention will yield higher quit rates than digital alone, but that it may not be as cost-effective or feasible for LCS programs to implement. This study is innovative in its use of interoperable, digital technologies to deliver a sustainable, scalable, high-impact cessation intervention and to facilitate its integration within clinical practice. It will add to the growing knowledge base about the overall effectiveness of digital interventions and their role in the healthcare delivery system.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03084835 . Registered on 9 March 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]