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The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of attention–deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) –related psychostimulant use in the context of concussion risk and symptom recovery. Data were obtained from the National Collegiate Athletic Association Department of Defense Grand Alliance Concussion Assessment, Research, and Education (NCAA-DOD CARE) Consortium from 2014 to 2017. Relative to individuals without diagnosed ADHD (i.e., control), both ADHD diagnosis and the combination of ADHD diagnosis and psychostimulant use were associated with a greater risk of incurring a concussive injury. Following a concussive injury, ADHD diagnosis was associated with longer symptom recovery time relative to the control group. However, individuals with ADHD who use psychostimulants did not take longer to resolve symptoms than controls, suggesting that psychostimulants may have a positive influence on recovery. Regardless of time point, ADHD diagnosis was associated with an elevated number of concussion-related symptoms; however, this effect appears mitigated by having used ADHD-related psychostimulants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic ionic liquids (MILs) have proven effective as capture reagents for foodborne bacterial pathogens; however, there are currently no published studies regarding their use with foodborne, non-enveloped viruses. In this study, a protocol was evaluated for capture and recovery of bacteriophage MS2, a human norovirus surrogate, and purified viral genomic single stranded RNA (ssRNA) from an aqueous suspension using MILs. Transition metal-based MILs showed similar capture and recovery efficiency for both targets. A rare earth metal-based MIL showed much greater capture efficiency than the transition metal-based MILs, but displayed similar recovery. All tested MILs showed slightly higher capture and recovery efficiency for free RNA in comparison to intact virus, though overall trends were similar, and most MILs could recover both targets at as little as 102 PFU/mL intact MS2 or copies/mL purified RNA. A plaque assay confirmed that contact with MILs did not significantly reduce viral infectivity. Adjusting MIL volume gave no significant changes in capture or recovery, likely due to interplay between volume for the hydrophobic MIL and dispersion. Reducing the elution volume gave a slight increase in recovery, indicating MILs could be used for target enrichment after further optimization. MILs could also capture MS2 from romaine lettuce rinsate at comparable or even higher levels than from pure suspension, though loss in recovery was observed when the rinsate was prepared in an alkaline elution buffer. Overall, these results demonstrate the potential utility of MILs as concentration reagents for foodborne viruses, particularly for in-field applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differentiated thyroid cancer in older adults has been linked to alterations in the mutational landscape and tumor immune cell infiltration that create a tumor-permissive microenvironment. We sought to determine the impact of age on genomic alterations and immune cell composition in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Genomic alterations, immune cell composition, and clinical data were obtained using The Cancer Genome Atlas and computational immunogenomic analyses. Disease severity was recoded into three groups: Group A (T1-2N0M0), Group B (T1-3N1a-1bM0), and Group C (T4NxMx or TxNxM1). Histopathologic subtypes included conventional, follicular-variant, and tall cell variant PTC. Spearman's rank correlation, ANOVA, t-test, and multivariable linear regression were performed. A total of 470 PTC samples were retrieved from the TCGA portal with genomic alteration and immune cell composition data. TERT promoter alterations were more common in patients aged =65 years (26% vs 4%, P < 0.0001). Tumor mutational burden increased with increasing age (r = 0.463, P < 0.0001). Increasing age was associated with decreased CD8+ T cells (r = -0.15, P = 0.01) using CIBERSORT and decreased B cells (r = -0.13), CD8+ T cells (r = -0.19), and neutrophils (r = -0.14, P < 0.05) using TIMER. Multivariate regression found that increasing age was independently associated with increased resting NK cells and resting dendritic cells, and decreased naïve B cells and CD8+ T cells (P < 0.05). PTC tumors of older adults are characterized by increased TERT promoter alterations, increased tumor mutational burden, and a decreased cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and increased resting dendritic cell immune infiltrate. Further studies are needed to determine if these changes in immune cell infiltrate are associated with compromised outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Surgery is the property of CMA Impact Inc. 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.)

This narrative review examines infectious diseases as modifiable risk factors for dementia, particularly in the context of an aging global population. As the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias is expected to rise, prevention has become increasingly important due to the limited efficacy of current treatments. Emerging evidence links specific infectious diseases to increased dementia risk, possibly through mechanisms like neuroinflammation and disruption to normal cell function. Here, we review findings on how viral and bacterial infections contribute to dementia and explore potentially preventive measures, including vaccinations and antiviral treatments. Studies indicate that vaccinations against influenza, herpes zoster, and hepatitis, as well as antiviral treatments targeting human herpesvirus, could reduce the incidence of dementia. Additionally, non-pharmaceutical interventions during pandemics and in long-term care settings are highlighted as effective strategies for reducing the spread of infectious diseases, potentially lowering dementia risk. Putative mechanisms underlying the protective effects of these interventions suggest that reducing systemic inflammation may be important to their efficacy. While the currently available evidence suggests at best an association between some infectious diseases and dementia, this narrative review emphasizes the need to incorporate infectious disease prevention into broader public health strategies to potentially mitigate the growing burden of dementia. Further research is required to explore these preventive measures across diverse populations and to deepen our understanding of the biological mechanisms involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exosomes are gaining prominence as vectors for drug delivery, vaccination, and regenerative medicine. Owing to their surface biochemistry, which reflects the parent cell membrane, these nanoscale biologics feature low immunogenicity, tunable tissue tropism, and the ability to carry a variety of payloads across biological barriers. The heterogeneity of exosomes' size and composition, however, makes their purification challenging. Traditional techniques, like ultracentrifugation and filtration, afford low product yield and purity, and jeopardizes particle integrity. Affinity chromatography represents an excellent avenue for exosome purification. Yet, current affinity media rely on antibody ligands whose selectivity grants high product purity, but mandates the customization of adsorbents for exosomes with different surface biochemistry while their binding strength imposes elution conditions that may harm product's activity. Addressing these issues, this study introduces the first peptide affinity ligands for the universal purification of exosomes from recombinant feedstocks. The peptides were designed to (1) possess promiscuous biorecognition of exosome markers, without binding process‐related contaminants and (2) elute the product under conditions that safeguard product stability. Selected ligands SNGFKKHI and TAHFKKKH demonstrated the ability to capture of exosomes secreted by 14 cell sources and purified exosomes derived from HEK293, PC3, MM1, U87, and COLO1 cells with yields of up to 80% and up‐to 50‐fold reduction of host cell proteins (HCPs) upon eluting with pH gradient from 7.4 to 10.5, recommended for exosome stability. SNGFKKHI‐Toyopearl resin was finally employed in a two‐step purification process to isolate exosomes from HEK293 cell fluids, affording a yield of 68% and reducing the titer of HCPs to 68 ng/mL. The biomolecular and morphological features of the isolated exosomes were confirmed by analytical chromatography, Western blot analysis, transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At‐a‐station hydraulic geometry (AASHG) relationships describe the dependence of a river's width, mean depth and mean velocity on discharge at a given location, and are typically modelled as power‐law functions. They are often used when modelling stream temperature under unsteady flow conditions. Deriving AASHG relationships is challenging for steep proglacial streams due to the combination of complex morphology and velocity distributions, and rapidly varying flow. The objective of this study was to combine tracer injections with drone‐based photogrammetry to derive AASHG relationships for a steep proglacial channel and to quantify whitewater coverage and its relationship with discharge to support process‐based stream temperature modelling. Velocity–discharge and width–discharge relationships were reasonably well characterised using power‐law functions, but varied amongst sub‐reaches. Whitewater coverage as a fraction of total stream surface area generally exceeded 50% for the range of flows sampled, and exhibited a statistically significant positive relationship with discharge, which varied amongst sub‐reaches. For the range of flows captured during drone flights, the relationship could be represented by a linear function. However, an asymptotic model would be required to extend the relationship to higher flows. The magnitude of whitewater coverage indicates that the albedo of the stream should be substantially higher than values typically used in stream temperature models, and the relationship with discharge means that ongoing glacier retreat, and the associated reduction in summer discharge, should result in lower albedo and higher downstream warming rates, reinforcing the effects of decreasing velocity and mean depth as flows decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four-point bending tests have been widely applied for investigating flexural behavior of different materials. However, there are no guidelines or standards relating to four-point bending tests for pipes. A steel pipe with a diameter of 154 mm and 3.4-mm wall thickness was instrumented with distributed fiber-optic strain sensors and tested in four-point bending. The measured strains at the crown, springlines, and invert deviated from results calculated using beam theory. This strain deviation is investigated using numerical analyses, and it is found that local deformations along the length of the pipe due to concentrated loads at load and support locations contributed to the deviation. Parametric studies are conducted using different geometries of wood support blocks, specimen lengths, and pipe thicknesses to investigate their impact on the strain distribution with the pipe. Recommendations for reducing the strain deviation at the midspan of the specimen are given for four-point bending tests carried out on the steel pipes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective and subjective refraction, while an ophthalmologist examined the ocular health of all children. Results: A total of 542 children (51% female) were included in the study, of which 47% were 6 years old and 53% were 15 years old. Teacher screening had sensitivities of 76.92% for DVA, 68% for NVA, and 37.50% for abnormality detection. The specificities of DVA, NVA, and ocular abnormalities were 98.22%, 98.48%, and 99.24%, respectively. The positive predictive value for DVA, NVA, and ocular abnormalities were 83.33%, 99.00%, and 60%, respectively. The negative predictive value for each procedure was 98.22% for DVA, 98.48% for NVA, and 98.12% for ocular abnormalities. Conclusion: Teachers were able to conduct vision screening with a high level of accuracy compared to the gold standard of testing by optometrists, which would be useful for the early detection and referral of refractive errors in school children. However, they were unable to detect ocular abnormalities compared with the gold standard for disease identification by ophthalmologists. Further training and monitoring, or different training approaches should be implemented to enable teachers to identify ocular abnormalities at acceptable levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aboveground ecosystem structure moderates and even confers essential ecosystem functions. This includes an ecosystem’s carbon dynamics, which are strongly influenced by its structure: for example, tropical savannas like those in central Kenya store substantial amounts of carbon in soil. Savannas’ belowground allocation of carbon makes them important for global carbon sequestration, but difficult to monitor. However, the labile soil carbon pool is responsive to changes in ecosystem structure and is thus a good indicator of overall soil organic carbon dynamics. Kenya’s savanna structure is controlled by belowground ecosystem engineers (termites), ambient weather conditions, and the aboveground engineering influences of large-bodied, mammalian consumers. As a result, climate change and biodiversity loss are likely to change savannas’ aboveground structure. To predict likely outcomes of these threats on savanna soil carbon, it is critical to explore the relationships between labile soil carbon and ecosystem structure, local climate, and mammalian consumer community composition. In a large-scale, long-term herbivore exclosure experiment in central Kenya, we sampled labile carbon from surface soils at three distinct savanna structural elements: termite mounds, beneath tree canopies, and the grassland matrix. In one sampling year, we measured total extractable organic carbon (TEOC), total extractable nitrogen (TEN), and extractable microbial biomass for each sample. Across three sampling years with varying weather conditions, we measured rate of labile soil carbon mineralization. We quantified areal coverage of each structural element across herbivore community treatments to estimate pool sizes and mineralization dynamics at the plot scale. Concentrations and stocks of soil TEOC, TEN, and microbial biomass were driven by the structural element from which they were sampled (soils collected under tree canopies generally had the highest of each). Large-bodied herbivore community composition interacted variably with concentrations, stocks, and carbon mineralization, resulting in apparently compensatory effects of herbivore treatment and structural element with no net effects of large herbivore community composition on plot-scale labile carbon dynamics. We confirmed engineering of structural heterogeneity by consumers and identified distinct labile carbon dynamics in each structural element. However, carbon and nitrogen were also influenced by consumer community composition, indicating potentially compensatory interacting effects of herbivore treatment and structural element. These results suggest that one pathway by which consumers influence savanna carbon is by altering its structural heterogeneity and thus the heterogeneity of its plot-scale labile carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution collinear laser spectroscopy has been performed on singly charged ions of 234 , 235 , 238 U at the IGISOL facility of the Accelerator Laboratory, University of Jyväskylä, in Finland. Ten ionic transitions from the 4 I 9 / 2 and 6 L 11 / 2 ground and first excited states were measured in the 300 nm wavelength range, improving the precision of the hyperfine parameters of the lower states in addition to providing newly measured values for the upper levels. Isotope shifts of the analyzed transitions are also reported for 234 , 235 U with respect to 238 U. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a plethora of research on fatal suicide behavior. Previous examinations on suicide have examined social factors, such as the divorce rate, and economic factors, such as unemployment. However, many of the studies fail to acknowledge that different groups have differing access to the economy. Moreover, social factors will be experienced differently by different groups. The current analysis examines social and economic factors that are associated with suicide by gender and race for the 50 states in the United States from 2014 to 2019. The analysis demonstrates that females and males have different factors that are predictive of suicide. Furthermore, whites and nonwhites have different associations with suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stream temperature is widely considered the master variable in stream ecosystems. One of the key drivers of diel and seasonal stream temperature variability is the solar radiation received at the stream surface, which can be influenced by shading associated with both larger scale topographic features and riparian vegetation. In this study, a stream shade model was developed that uses LiDAR point cloud data to model shading by riparian vegetation, including canopy overhang, and conventional elevation data to model stream shading by topography. The model was applied to a dominantly north–south oriented river flowing in a floodplain within a mountain valley. When compared with shade interpreted from PlanetScope visual imagery, the model predicted stream shade at the point scale with 92% agreement. Sources of error were attributed to pixel and azimuth band size, which can be refined within the model arguments, although at the cost of increased processing time. The shade model was re‐run after virtually rotating the reach by 90° and 270° clockwise to evaluate the effect of valley orientation. Peak reach‐wide sunlight exposure occurred approximately 2 h later in the day when the stream reach was rotated 90°, and produced greater shading from mid‐morning to mid‐afternoon. Further work should test the model on smaller streams using ground‐based oblique or drone‐based photography to provide ground‐truthing, particularly to assess the accuracy of predicted shade below over‐hanging vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitoid wasps are exceptionally diverse and use specialized adaptations capable of manipulating the physiology and behaviour of host organisms1. In more than two centuries since the first records of Drosophila-parasitizing wasps, nearly 200 described and provisional parasitoid species of drosophilids have been identified2. These include endoparasitoids and ectoparasitoids, as well as species attacking larval and pupal hosts3. Despite a deep history of research attention and remarkable biodiversity, a wasp species that attacks and develops inside the adult stage of a fly host has not been described previously. Here we report the discovery of a wasp species that infects the adult stage of fruit flies in the genus Drosophila, including one of the most deeply studied model organisms in biology, Drosophila melanogaster. Notably, this wasp can be easily collected from backyard fly baits and has a broad geographic distribution throughout the eastern USA. We document its life history and unique host interactions, including egg-laying into and larval emergence from adult flies, and provide protocols to raise wasps from wild-caught host flies. Our results emphasize the need for ongoing research investment in insect biodiversity and systematics. As parasitoid research continues to uncover unusual biology and supports fundamental mechanistic insights into immunity4, metabolism5, ecology6, evolution7–9 and behaviour10–12, we anticipate that this wasp’s association with the laboratory model organism, D. melanogaster, will provide new research opportunities across the life sciences.A study reports the discovery of a parasitoid wasp species that uses the adult stage of Drosophila fruit flies as its host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tobacco-related deaths remain the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—about 11% of those receiving care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—have triple the risk of developing tobacco use disorder (TUD). The most efficacious strategies being used at the VA for smoking cessation only result in a 23% abstinence rate, and veterans with PTSD only achieve a 4.5% abstinence rate. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop more effective treatments for smoking cessation. Recent studies suggest the insula is integrally involved in the neurocircuitry of TUD. Thus, we propose a feasibility phase II randomized controlled trial (RCT) to study a form of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) called intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS). iTBS has the advantage of allowing for a patterned form of stimulation delivery that we will administer at 90% of the subject's resting motor threshold (rMT) applied over a region in the right post-central gyrus most functionally connected to the right posterior insula. We hypothesize that by increasing functional connectivity between the right post-central gyrus and the right posterior insula, withdrawal symptoms and short-term smoking cessation outcomes will improve. Fifty eligible veterans with comorbid TUD and PTSD will be randomly assigned to active-iTBS + cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) + nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) (n = 25) or sham-iTBS + CBT + NRT (n = 25). The primary outcome, feasibility, will be determined by achieving a recruitment of 50 participants and retention rate of 80%. The success of iTBS will be evaluated through self-reported nicotine use, cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and abstinence following quit date (confirmed by bioverification) along with evaluation for target engagement through neuroimaging changes, specifically connectivity differences between the insula and other regions of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zeitschrift für die Alttestamentliche Wissenschaft is the property of De Gruyter 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 next-to-leading order weak-coupling shear viscosity of QCD was computed 6 years ago. However, these results have never been applied at finite baryon chemical potential μ, even though intermediate-energy heavy ion collisions and merging neutron stars may explore the Quark-Gluon Plasma in a regime where baryon chemical potentials are large. Here, we extend the next-to-leading order shear viscosity calculations to finite μ, and we show that, while the convergence of the weak-coupling expansion is questionable for achievable plasmas, it is somewhat better at μ > T than at μ = 0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has altered the frequency and severity of extreme weather, which can affect vegetation condition and habitat quality for wildlife. Declines in vegetation productivity during droughts and heatwaves can negatively impact animals that depend on vegetation for water and nutrition. We used the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) to look at relationships between vegetation productivity and the presence of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in potential habitat throughout much of their range. Using a large, long-term koala presence dataset, we tested the hypothesis that locations where koalas had been observed would exhibit higher NDVI values than a random, representative sample from the same vegetation group. We also identified the minimum NDVI threshold at which koalas occurred across time for each vegetation group and compared these to the minimum NDVI values across potential koala habitat before and during the Millennium Drought, one of the worst recorded in Australia. Additionally, we investigated whether vegetation above the minimum NDVI thresholds was significantly closer to perennial water than unsuitable vegetation. We found that koalas tend to occur at locations with higher NDVI than average for all vegetation groups. Prior to the drought, 49% of potential koala habitat maintained a minimum NDVI above the koalas' threshold, equating to 190,227 km2, which declined to 166,746 km2 during drought (i.e., a 12% reduction). We also found that unsuitable vegetation tended to occur farther from perennial water than suitable vegetation for some vegetation groups. Areas that remained above the NDVI thresholds during the drought should be considered potential refugia for populations during an event of similar magnitude and could indicate future habitat extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Johns Hopkins HIV Clinical Cohort, established in 1989, links comprehensive, longitudinal clinical data for adults with HIV receiving care in the Johns Hopkins John G. Bartlett Specialty Practice in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, to aid in understanding HIV care and treatment outcomes. Data include demographics, laboratory results, inpatient and outpatient visit information and clinical diagnoses, and prescribed and dispensed medications abstracted from medical records. A subset of patients separately consents to self-report patient-centric outcomes on standardized instruments approximately every 6 months, and another subset separately consents to contribute plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells to a linked specimen repository approximately annually. The cohort has cumulatively enrolled over 8000 people, with just under 2000 on average attending ≥ 1 HIV primary care visit in any given year. The cohort reflects the HIV epidemic in Baltimore: in 2021, median age was 57, 64% of participants were male, 77% were non-Hispanic Black, and 37% acquired HIV through injection drug use. This update to the cohort profile of the Johns Hopkins HIV Clinical Cohort illustrates both how the population of people with HIV in Baltimore, Maryland, USA has changed over three decades, and we have adapted data collection procedures over three decades to ensure this long-running cohort remains responsive to patient characteristics and research gaps in the provision of care to people with HIV and substance use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition throughout the neuroaxis is a classical hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, most notably Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ peptides of varied length and diverse structural conformations are deposited within the parenchyma and vasculature in the brains of individuals with AD. Neuropathologically, Aβ pathology can be assessed using antibodies to label and characterize their features, which in turn leads to a more extensive understanding of the pathological process. In the present study, we generated a novel monoclonal antibody, which we found to be specific for the N-terminal region of Aβ. This antibody reacted to amyloid precursor protein expressed in cultured cells and labels Aβ plaques and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in brain tissue from a mouse model of amyloidosis as well as post-mortem brain tissue from patients diagnosed with AD. This highly specific novel antibody will serve as a unique tool for future studies investigating Aβ deposition in novel mouse models and cross-sectional studies using post-mortem human tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Rising overdose deaths globally and increased social isolation during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have disproportionately impacted people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) with substance use disorders (SUD). We examined trends in SUD risk among PWH before and after the COVID-19 shelter-in-place (SIP) mandate. Methods Data were collected between 2018 and 2022 among PWH enrolled across 8 US sites in the Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems cohort. We evaluated changes in moderate/high SUD risk after SIP using interrupted time series analyses. Results There were 7126 participants, including 21 741 SUD assessments. The median age was 51 (interquartile range, 39–58) years; 12% identified as Hispanic or Latino/Latina, 46% Black/African American, and 46% White. Moderate/high SUD risk increased continuously after the pandemic's onset, with 43% (95% confidence interval [CI], 40%–46%) endorsing moderate/high SUD risk post-SIP, compared to 24% (95% CI, 22%–26%) pre-SIP (P <.001). There were increases in the use of heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, and decreases in prescription opioids and sedatives post-SIP. Further, there was a decrease in reported substance use treatment post-SIP compared to pre-SIP (P =.025). Conclusions The rising prevalence of SUD through late 2022 could be related to an increase in isolation and reduced access to substance use and HIV treatment caused by disruptions due to COVID-19. A renewed investment in integrated substance use treatment is vital to address the combined epidemics of substance use and HIV following the COVID-19 pandemic and to support resilience in the face of future disruptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anemia is common and associated with increased morbidity among people with HIV (PWH). Classification of anemia using the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) can help investigate the underlying causative factors of anemia. We characterize anemia using MCV among PWH receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and identify the risk factors for normocytic, macrocytic, and microcytic anemias. Methods: Including PWH with anemia (hemoglobin measure < 12.9 g/dL among men and < 11.9 g/dL among women) in the NA-ACCORD from 01/01/2007 to 12/31/2017, we estimated the annual distribution of normocytic (80–100 femtolitre (fL)), macrocytic (> 100 fL) or microcytic (< 80 fL) anemia based on the lowest hemoglobin within each year. Poisson regression models with robust variance and general estimating equations were used to estimate crude and adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals for risk factors for macrocytic (vs. normocytic) and microcytic (vs. normocytic) anemia stratified by sex. Results: Among 37,984 hemoglobin measurements that identified anemia in 14,590 PWH, 27,909 (74%) were normocytic, 4257 (11%) were microcytic, and 5818 (15%) were macrocytic. Of the anemic PWH included over the study period, 1910 (13%) experienced at least one measure of microcytic anemia and 3208 (22%) at least one measure of macrocytic anemia. Normocytic anemia was most common among both males and females, followed by microcytic among females and macrocytic among males. Over time, the proportion of anemic PWH who have macrocytosis decreased while microcytosis increased. Macrocytic (vs. normocytic) anemia is associated with increasing age and comorbidities. With increasing age, microcytic anemia decreased among females but not males. A greater proportion of PWH with normocytic anemia had CD4 counts ≤ 200 cells/mm3 and had recently initiated ART. Conclusion: In anemic PWH, normocytic anemia was most common. Over time macrocytic anemia decreased, and microcytic anemia increased irrespective of sex. Normocytic anemia is often due to chronic disease and may explain the greater risk for normocytic anemia among those with lower CD4 counts or recent ART initiation. Identified risk factors for type-specific anemias including sex, age, comorbidities, and HIV factors, can help inform targeted investigation into the underlying causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The HIV Index is a validated self-report scale of engagement in HIV care previously correlated with future retention and virologic suppression. However, its performance in a monoethnic Latinx population has not been studied. We evaluated the HIV Index among Latinx persons living with HIV in the Centers for AIDS Research Network of Integrated Clinical Systems cohort and performed multivariable logistic regression to estimate its association with primary outcomes of suboptimal retention (not keeping 100% of HIV clinic appointments) and virologic suppression (HIV viral load <200 copies/mL). The mean Index score was 4.5 (standard deviation 0.6) in both analytic samples, indicative of feeling well-engaged. Higher Index scores were associated with lower odds of suboptimal retention (OR = 0.12, 95% CI [0.03, 0.54], p =.005), however, there was no association between Index score and virologic suppression. The HIV Index is useful for assessing engagement and retention among Latinx PLWH in routine care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young-onset colorectal cancer is an increasing concern worldwide due to the growing prevalence of Westernized lifestyles in childhood and adolescence. Environmental factors during early life, particularly early-life nutrition, significantly contribute to the increasing incidence. Recently, there have been reports of beneficial effects, including anti-inflammation and anti-cancer, of a unique fungus (Antrodia camphorate, AC) native to Taiwan. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of AC supplementation in early life on the development of young-onset intestinal tumorigenesis. APC1638N mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HF) at 4–12 weeks of age, which is equivalent to human childhood/adolescence, before switching to a normal maintenance diet for an additional 12 weeks up to 24 weeks of age, which is equivalent to young to middle adulthood in humans. Our results showed that the body weight in the HF groups significantly increased after 8 weeks of feeding (p < 0.05). Following a switch to a normal maintenance diet, the change in body weight persisted. AC supplementation significantly suppressed tumor incidence and multiplicity in females (p < 0.05) and reduced IGF-1 and Wnt/β-catenin signaling (p < 0.05). Moreover, it altered the gut microbiota, suppressed inflammatory responses, and created a microenvironment towards suppressing tumorigenesis later in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discordance between the genetic sex and phenotype seen on ultrasound can identify disorders of sexual development (DSD) that previously escaped detection until puberty. We describe a 46, XY disorder of sexual differentiation caused by a rare mutation in the SF1 gene (OMIM]184757, (NR5A1). The mutation (NR5A1)‐c.205C > G (p. Arg69Gly) was discovered after a phenotype‐genotype discrepancy was encountered during prenatal care. The baby with 46, XY DSD has female external genitalia but evidence of Y chromosome‐related regression of Müllerian structures and the absence of palpable gonads. We discussed the literature on phenotype‐genotype discrepancy and the importance of care coordination between the antenatal and postnatal teams to ensure a timely diagnosis of DSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affect theory, non-representational theory, and assemblage theory have been among the most impactful developments in the theoretical humanities in the wake of, and in reaction to, poststructuralism. These interlocking bodies of theory and critical practice call into question two concepts foundational for biblical hermeneutics, namely, interpretation and representation. In literary studies, the poststructuralist "death of the author" has been succeeded by a post-poststructuralist "death of the interpreter". How might biblical exegesis be reimagined on the far side of this double demise? Non-representational theory, meanwhile, in tandem with affect theory, has dismantled traditional understandings of representation; this article argues that traditional biblical scholarship, epitomized by biblical commentary, is driven by a representation compulsion. Assemblage theory, for its part, more than any other body of thought, reveals the immense complexity of the act of reading, not least biblical reading—after which even explicit evocations of contemporary contexts in contextual biblical hermeneutics amount to skeletally thin descriptions. These and other related lines of inquiry impel the rethinking of academic biblical reading attempted in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are few techniques available for chemists to obtain time-to-explosion data with known temperature inputs at the early stages of the design and synthesis of new explosives. In the 1960s, a technique was developed to rapidly heat milligram-quantities of confined explosives to ∼1000 K on microsecond timescales. Wenograd [Trans. Faraday Soc. 57, 1612 (1961)] loaded explosives inside stainless steel hypodermic needles, connected them to a fireset and rapidly discharged a capacitor through the steel. He obtained the temperature by measuring the needle resistance in a Wheatstone bridge arrangement and the time to explosion from a needle rupture. However, owing to the narrow-gauge needles used in the original research, the experiment was only possible with melt-castable explosives; it was never replicated, and modern diagnostics are now available with advances beyond the 1960s. Here, we report the development of the High Explosives Initiation Time (HEIT) test, which utilizes a 250 J pulsed power system to heat the needles. This work extends the Wenograd approach by using optical diagnostics, computational modeling, and advanced techniques to measure needle resistance and needle rupture. Preliminary rate information for pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how university policies are written to regulate the conduct of academics on social media, particularly the extent to which academics are discouraged from acting as public intellectuals on social media. Drawing on Michel Foucault, we analyze the social media guidelines developed by Canada’s 15 research-intensive universities, known as the U15. Our analysis illuminates that the guidelines articulate particular power relations between academics and their universities – relations that are increasingly influenced by the corporatization of higher education in the era of neoliberalism. We argue that social media guidelines represent emblematic discourses that discipline academics working in highly corporatized universities. Faculty may thus be less inclined to act as public intellectuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pig butchering is an escalating cybersecurity threat that exploits social engineering to build trust and execute financial fraud. The relevance of this research problem lies in the growing incidence and sophistication of these scams, which have severe financial and psychological impacts on victims. The main purpose of this research is to uncover the methods used in pig butchering scams and their impact on individuals and businesses. The research focuses on digital platforms such as social media, dating apps, and professional networking sites, chosen for their wide user bases and the ease of establishing personal connections. The study period encompasses recent developments from the past five years to capture the evolving nature of these scams. The research utilizes a qualitative literature review as its primary method, drawing on academic articles, industry reports, and case studies. The study's statistical basis includes data from law enforcement agencies, cybersecurity firms, and victim reports. Key findings confirm the effectiveness of proactive cybersecurity measures, such as continuous education and specialized services, in mitigating pig butchering scams. The research hypothesis, stating that these measures can significantly reduce scam success rates, is supported by the data. Results indicate that enhancing cybersecurity protocols and training programs is crucial for protecting against such threats. Future research should focus on developing predictive models and integrating AI and machine learning for better detection and prevention. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers, cybersecurity professionals, and educators, highlighting the need for international cooperation and advanced technological defenses to combat this pervasive threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGORUND: The development of vibration-induced finger disorders is likely associated with combined static and dynamic responses of the fingers to vibration exposure. To study the mechanism of the disorders, a new rat-tail model has been established to mimic the finger vibration and pressure exposures. However, the mechanical behavior of the tail during compression needs to be better understood to improve the model and its applications. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the static and time-dependent force responses of the rat tail during compression. METHODS: Compression tests were conducted on Sprague-Dawley cadaver rat tails using a micromechanical system at three deformation velocities and three deformation magnitudes. Contact-width and the time-histories of force and deformation were measured. Additionally, force-relaxation tests were conducted and a Prony series was used to model the force-relaxation behavior of the tail. RESULTS: The rat tails' force-deformation and stiffness-deformation relationships were strongly nonlinear and time-dependent. Force/stiffness increased with an increase in deformation and deformation velocity. The time-dependent force-relaxation characteristics of the tails can be well described using a Prony series. CONCULSIONS: We successfully quantified the static and time-dependent force responses of rat tails under compression. The identified mechanical behavior of the tail can help improve the rat-tail model and its applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stream temperature governs many aquatic ecosystem processes and plays a key role in determining the distribution of cold‐water amphibians and cool‐ and cold‐water fish, including salmonids. Decades of research have focused on the effects of forestry and forest disturbance on stream temperature, and new projects are underway or being planned in jurisdictions including the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, and Washington State, USA. The objective of this paper is to provide a critical review of methodologies employed in previous studies. The review initially focuses on the range of metrics used to quantify stream thermal regimes and the factors that control stream temperature variability in time and space, then focuses on sampling and analytical methodologies used to quantify stream temperature response to forestry activity and forest disturbance. Empirical methods include sampling in time, space, or both, and may or may not include pre‐ and post‐harvest data. Process‐based mechanistic and hybrid empirical‐mechanistic models have also been applied. The advantages and disadvantages of these approaches are discussed, and recommendations provided to support the design and execution of future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idaho's Magic Valley is a highly productive agricultural region in the United States due to irrigation. The soils in this region are prone to crusting, have low organic matter, and are high in calcium carbonates, making them susceptible to erosion and water runoff. Soils need to be better managed to enhance aggregate stability to enable increased infiltration of irrigation water and decreased soil erosion in nearby waterways. However, to make management recommendations, the identification of appropriate measurements of aggregate stability needs to be identified, and few relevant studies exist. Thus, the overall goal of this project was to identify appropriate methods for the assessment of soil aggregate stability in the study region. The study sites were located in Southern Idaho and set up using common cropping rotations and agricultural management practices for the region using a variety of nutrient sources, tillage types, and cover cropping. Three methods were used to measure soil aggregate stability: wet sieving, simulated rainfall using a Cornell Sprinkle Infiltrometer (sprinkler height: 30, 90, and 150 cm), and the SLAKES mobile application. No differences in soil aggregate stability were found when the wet sieving or SLAKES methods were used at the three study sites, either due to the method or a general lack of differences between treatments. When using the Cornell Sprinkle Infiltrometer, no treatment differences were found at LT-Manure or GRACEnet; however, differences were observed between treatments at the Cover Crop study site at sprinkler heights of 30 and 90 cm. At a sprinkler height of 30 cm, the average mean weight diameter was the highest when winter forage crops (WFC) and solid dairy manure (SDM) were applied (3.73 mm) and the lowest in the control (3.12 mm). At a sprinkler height of 90 cm, the average mean weight diameter was the highest when WFC and SDM were applied (3.54 mm) and the lowest in the WFC Only treatment (2.46 mm). These results not only have implications for which methods are best for assessing progress but also for what management practices can be utilized to decrease soil erosion from irrigated cropland. This study highlighted that under these soils and management practices, simply increasing soil carbon does not increase aggregate stability, especially when root crops are included in the crop rotation with intensive tillage. In arid and semi-arid regions, the Cornell Sprinkle Infiltrometer may be a more sensitive method of measuring soil aggregate stability compared to traditional wet sieving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viruses impose a significant public health burden globally, and one of the key elements in controlling their transmission is the ability to inactivate them using disinfectants. However, numerous challenges to inactivating foodborne viruses exist due to inherent viral characteristics (such as recalcitrance to commonly used inactivation agents) and external factors (such as improper cleaning before application of inactivation agent, improper contact time, etc.). Given the potential for improper application of disinfectants (such as shorter than recommended contact time, improper disinfectant concentration, etc.), understanding the performance of a disinfectant in the presence of an organic load is important. To accomplish this, the introduction of simulated organic loads is often used when studying the efficacy of a disinfectant against different viruses. However, the different types of simulated organic loads used in foodborne virus inactivation studies or their relative effects on inactivation have not been reviewed. The purpose of this review is to survey different simulated organic load formulations used in studying foodborne virus inactivation, as well as present and compare the influence of these different formulations on viral inactivation. The findings included in this review suggest that many simulated organic load formulations can reduce disinfectants' efficacy against viruses. Based on the findings in this review, blood, particularly serum or feces, are among the most commonly used and efficacious forms of simulated organic load in many tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between select determinants and HCV screening guideline adherence among physicians who provide prenatal care. Research question: What factors may act as determinants of guideline adherence to HCV screening among physicians who provide prenatal care? Methods: We surveyed a national sample of physicians who provided prenatal care in 2021. The survey included questions from the Clinician Guideline Determinant (CGD) questionnaire, demographic characteristics, and medical practice characteristics. We estimated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using semi-Bayesian logistic regression for the association between determinants and guideline adherence. Results: Participants included 224 physicians in the United States who reported providing prenatal care. Most physicians practiced in private practice (65%) and the majority were members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG; 91%). Less than half (43%; 95% CI: 36%–49%) of physicians reported regular use of the HCV screening guideline. Physicians who reported general knowledge about HCV (OR = 9.0, 95% CI 3.1–30) or endorsed agreement with ease of implementation (OR = 8.0, 95% CI 2.7–25) had higher odds of adherence to the HCV screening guideline. Conclusion: Our study suggests that less than half of practicing prenatal care physicians adhere to HCV screening guidelines for pregnant patients. Our results may be useful as a preliminary screening of select determinants of guideline use for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I present the simplest 3+1 dimensional quantum field theory for which the speed of sound can be arbitrarily close to the speed of light. Examining the hydrodynamics, I find cases where the shear viscosity is finite, but the “shear relaxation coefficient” appears always to be divergently large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Limited U.S. research has been conducted examining factors affecting healthcare provider recruitment in rural settings, necessitating community-level investigations due to community differences. The aim of this study was to explore the factors involved in healthcare provider recruitment in a rural community in Northern Idaho. A retooled version of the Nursing Community Apgar Questionnaire (NCAQ) was used to collect data from 50 healthcare providers to assess items influencing provider recruitment. Items were categorized into five factors: geographic, economic, scope of practice, medical support, and facility and community support classes. Healthcare providers ranked items based on perceived importance and how advantageous or challenging it was to recruitment. A "Community Apgar" score is a composite score calculated using the advantage/challenge and importance scores. In our sample, medical support was rated as the most important class. Additionally, facility and community support was rated as the highest advantage class and had the most impactful Apgar scores, meaning it contained the most important advantage and challenge. Our findings suggest that these classes contain dominant factors related to the recruitment of providers in rural areas. Rural healthcare organizations seeking to improve the recruitment of healthcare providers should consider the potential impact of these factors on their population. Further investigations should be conducted on diverse rural samples across the U.S. to enable comparisons of research findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]