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Agricultural technology and management have been so successful for so long that inexpensive food and fabric are taken for granted in all but the poorest countries, and famine is virtually [...]

Introduction Exercise is an effective guideline-based treatment for chronic low back pain (CLBP), (1) achieving similar effects on pain and disability compared to other conservative interventions. (2-4) A common justification [...], Objective. This study aimed to estimate the proportion of exercise interventions tested in clinical trials of people with chronic low back pain (CLBP) that meet the World Health Organization's (WHO) physical activity guidelines. Methods. A secondary analysis of the 2021 Cochrane review of exercise therapy for CLBP was performed. Data from each study were extracted by 1 reviewer and were checked by a second reviewer. Data extracted related to the frequency, duration and intensity of each exercise intervention, and the proportion of exercise interventions that met the WHO's physical activity guidelines (aerobic, muscle strengthening, or both) were determined. Results. The 249 included trials comprised 426 exercise interventions. Few interventions reported an exercise type and dose consistent with the WHO guidelines (aerobic: 1.6%, muscle strengthening: 5.6%, both: 1.6%). Poor reporting of exercise intensity limited our ability to determine whether interventions met the guidelines. Conclusion. Few interventions tested in clinical trials for people with CLBP prescribe an exercise type and dose consistent with the WHO guidelines. Therefore, they do not appear sufficiently dosed to achieve broader health outcomes. Future trials should investigate the effect of WHO guideline-recommended exercise interventions on patient-reported outcomes (pain and disability) as well as health-related outcomes in people with CLBP Impact. This exploratory analysis showed the lack of exercise interventions in the CLBP literature that meet the WHO's physical activity guidelines. With people in chronic pain groups, such as people with CLBP, being at higher risk for noncommunicable disease, it appears this is a key consideration for exercise practitioners when designing interventions for people with CLBP. Keywords: Aerobic, Exercise, Chronic Low Back Pain, Exercise, Physical Activity, Strengthening Exercise

1 | INTRODUCTION The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, known as social determinants of health, account for an estimated 50% of healthcare outcomes and [...], Objective: To determine whether a 6- or 12-month look-back period affected rates of reported social risks in a social risk survey for use in the Veterans Health Administration and to assess associations of social risks with overall health and mental health. Study Design: Cross-sectional survey of respondents randomized to 6- or 12-month look-back period. Data Sources and Study Setting: Online survey with a convenience sample of Veterans in June and July 2021. Data Collection/Extraction Methods: Veteran volunteers were recruited by email to complete a survey assessing social risks, including financial strain, adult caregiving, childcare, food insecurity, housing, transportation, internet access, loneliness/isolation, stress, discrimination, and legal issues. Outcomes included self-reported overall health and mental health. Chi-squared tests compared the prevalence of reported social risks between 6- and 12-month look-back periods. Spearman correlations assessed associations among social risks. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models estimated associations between social risks and fair/poor overall and mental health. Principal Findings: Of 3418 Veterans contacted, 1063 (31.10%) responded (87.11% male; 85.61% non-Hispanic White; median age = 70, interquartile range [IQR] = 61-74). Prevalence of most reported social risks did not significantly differ by look-back period. Most social risks were weakly intercorrelated (median |r| = 0.24, IQR = 0.16-0.31). Except for legal issues, all social risks were associated with higher odds of fair/poor overall health and mental health in bivariate models. In models containing all significant social risks from bivariate models, adult caregiving and stress remained significant predictors of overall health; food insecurity, housing, loneliness/isolation, and stress remained significant for mental health. Conclusions: Six- and 12-month look-back periods yielded similar rates of reported social risks. Although most individual social risks are associated with fair/poor overall and mental health, when examined together, only adult caregiving, stress, loneliness/isolation, food, and housing remain significant. KEYWORDS health status disparities, questionnaire design, social determinants of health, social risk factors, Veterans

The accounting community--from practitioners to educators to advocacy groups--has known for some time that the profession is facing a significant challenge: a shortage of skilled labor. Although the demand for [...]

As a magnet for both population and employment growth, North Carolina has a propitious opportunity to create an inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial and small business ecosystem to support the states [...]

Introduction Chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) is a common and complex problem with considerable personal and societal consequences. (1-3) Prognosis is unfavorable, with recovery occurring in less than one-half [...], Chronic nonspecific low back pain (LBP) is a complex and multifaceted problem. The following Perspective piece tries to help make sense of this complexity by describing a model for the development and maintenance of persistent LBP that integrates modifiable factors across the biopsychosocial spectrum. The Fit-for-Purpose model posits the view that chronic nonspecific LBP represents a state in which the person in pain holds strong and relatively intransient internal models of an immutably damaged, fragile, and unhealthy back, and information that supports these models is more available and trustworthy than information that counters them. This Perspective proposes a corresponding treatment framework for persistent pain that aims to shift internal models of a fragile, damaged, unhealthy, and unchangeable self toward the formulation of the back as healthy, strong, adaptable, and fit for purpose and to provide the system with precise and trustworthy evidence that supports this supposition while minimizing information that works against it. Keywords: Back Pain, Biopsychosocial, Chronic Pain, Predictive Processing, Rehabilitation

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, overlooking Washington from a hill at Virginias Arlington National Cemetery, has come to symbolize the sacrifices of all U.S. service members who died in [...]

Machine learning and its specialized forms, such as Artificial Neural Networks and Convolutional Neural Networks, are increasingly being used for detecting and managing gastrointestinal conditions. Recent advancements involve using Artificial Neural Network models to enhance predictive accuracy for severe lower gastrointestinal (LGI) bleeding outcomes, including the need for surgery. To this end, artificial intelligence (AI)-guided predictive models have shown promise in improving management outcomes. While much literature focuses on AI in early neoplasia detection, this review highlights AI’s role in managing LGI and small bowel disorders, including risk stratification for LGI bleeding, quality control, evaluation of inflammatory bowel disease, and video capsule endoscopy reading. Overall, the integration of AI into routine clinical practice is still developing, with ongoing research aimed at addressing current limitations and gaps in patient care.

Time-resolved single molecule localization microscopy (TR-SMLM) with a 2 × 2 pixel fiber optic array camera was combined with time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) to obtain super-resolved fluorescence lifetime images of individual Cy3 dye molecules and individual colloidal CdSe/CdS/ZnS core/shell/shell semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). The characteristic blinking and bleaching behavior of the Cy3 and the blinking behavior of the QD emitters were used as distinguishing optical characteristics to isolate them and determine their centroid locations with spatial resolution below the optical diffraction limit. TCSPC was used to characterize the fluorescence lifetime and intensity corresponding to each emitter location. The mean centroid locations of the QDs could be determined with a precision of ∼1–4 nm, and the mean centroid locations of the Cy3 molecules could be determined with a precision of ∼2–9 nm, depending on the number of photons collected during the observation time. In a super-resolved fluorescence lifetime image with a single Cy3 dye molecule and a single QD separated by ∼34 nm, the two emitters were distinguished based on the average photon arrival times with respect to the excitation laser pulse observed during time intervals when only one emitter was in the on state, ∼6 ns for Cy3 and ∼17 ns for the QD. The mean distance between the two emitters was determined with a precision of ∼8 nm. The feasibility of using this super-resolved fluorescence lifetime imaging technique to investigate QD-dye complexes that use Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) and/or electron transfer to form optical biosensors is discussed.

Plasmonic nanoparticles are widely recognized as photothermal conversion agents, i.e., nanotransducers or nanoheaters. Translation of these materials into practical applications requires quantitative analyses of their photothermal conversion efficiencies (η). However, the value of η obtained for different materials is dramatically influenced by the experimental setup and method of calculation. Here, we evaluate the most common methods for estimating η (Roper’s and Wang’s) and compare these with numerical estimates using the simulation software ANSYS. Experiments were performed with colloidal gold nanorod solutions suspended in a hanging droplet irradiated by an 808 nm diode laser and monitored by a thermal camera. The ANSYS simulations accounted for both heating and evaporation, providing η values consistent with the Wang method but higher than the Roper approach. This study details methods for estimating the photothermal efficiency and finds ANSYS to be a robust tool where experimental constraints complicate traditional methods.

The article focuses on the implications of adversary use of nonstrategic nuclear weapons in modern warfare, emphasizing the need for nuanced tactical, operational, and strategic responses. Topics include the distinct characteristics and effects of nonstrategic nuclear weapons, the potential battlefield and logistical challenges posed by their use, and the broader strategic considerations of escalation management and deterrence.

The MEK inhibitor selumetinib induces objective responses and provides clinical benefit in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and inoperable plexiform neurofibromas (PNs). To evaluate whether similar outcomes were possible in adult patients, in whom PN growth is generally slower than in pediatric patients, we conducted an open-label phase 2 study of selumetinib in adults with NF1 PNs. The study was designed to evaluate objective response rate (primary objective), tumor volumetric responses, patient-reported outcomes and pharmacodynamic effects in PN biopsies. The objective response rate was 63.6% (21/33 participants). Median maximal PN volume decrease was 23.6% (range: −48.1% to 5.5%). No disease progression relative to baseline PN volumes occurred before data cutoff, with a median of 28 cycles completed (range: 1–78, 28 d per cycle). Participants experienced decreased tumor pain intensity and pain interference. Adverse events (AEs) were similar to those of the pediatric trial; acneiform rash was the most prevalent AE. Phosphorylation ratios of ERK1/2 decreased significantly (ERK1 median change: −64.6% (range: −99.5% to 90.7%), ERK2 median change: −57.3% (range: −99.9% to 84.4%)) in paired PN biopsies (P≤ 0.001 for both isoforms) without compensatory phosphorylation of AKT1/2/3. The sustained PN volume decreases, associated improvement in pain and manageable AE profile indicate that selumetinib provides benefit to adults with NF1 and inoperable PNs. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02407405.

There is a growing demand for sustainable and safe materials in developing technological systems and devices, including those that enhance Raman scattering. Organic (bio) materials based on simple peptides are one class of such materials. This study investigates self-assembled semiconducting peptides as metal-free substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering. Our results reveal significant variations in Raman enhancement factors, spanning up to 2 orders of magnitude. We examined specific Raman enhancement selection rules related to the energy levels and structural configurations of the probe molecules. The effectiveness of these rules underscores the importance of strong molecule-peptide coupling and efficient charge transfer for achieving optimal Raman enhancement factors. These insights offer a foundational understanding of peptide–molecule interactions and the underlying chemical mechanisms driving Raman enhancement, highlighting the potential of organic semiconductor-based materials as highly effective platforms for enhancing Raman scattering in chemical sensing applications.

AbstractIn-silicotechniques offer a fast, accurate, reliable, and economical approach to studying the molecular interactions between compounds and proteins. In this study, our main aim is to use in-silicotechniques as a rational approach for the prediction of the molecular drug targets for luteolin against Plasmodium falciparum. Multi-target molecular docking, 100 nanoseconds (ns) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and Molecular Mechanics-Generalized Born Surface Area (MM-GBSA) binding free energy calculations were carried out for luteolin against dihydrofolate reductase thymidylate synthase (PfDHFR-TS), dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (PfDHODH), and falcipain-2. The native ligands of each protein were used as a reference to evaluate the performance of luteolin. Luteolin outperformed the native ligands of all proteins at molecular docking and MD simulations studies. However, in the MM-GBSA calculations, luteolin outperformed the native ligand of only PfDHFR-TS but not PfDHODH and falcipain-2. Among the studied proteins, the in-silicoapproach predicted PfDHFR-TS as the most favorable drug target for luteolin.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

On March 30, 1972, some 30,000-40,000 North Vietnamese At my regulars streamed southward across the Demilitarized Zone and1 eastward from Laos in a strike against the recently formed 3rd Infantry [...]

It is a noisy, risky world out there for organizations today. On top of all the digital disruption and change of the last few years, the world was blindsided by [...]

AbstractThe β-lactamase of Pseudomonas aeruginosais known to degrade β-lactam antibiotics such as penicillins, cephalosporins, monobactams, and carbapenems. With the discovery of an extended-spectrum β-lactamase in a clinical isolate of P. aeruginosa, the bacterium has become multi-drug resistant. In this study, we aim to identify new β-lactamase inhibitors by virtually screening a total of 43 phytocompounds from two Indian medicinal plants. In the molecular docking studies, pinocembrin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (P7G) (−9.6 kcal/mol) from Acacia pennataand ellagic acid (EA) (−9.2 kcal/mol) from Bridelia retusahad lower binding energy than moxalactam (-8.4 kcal/mol). P7G and EA formed 5 (Ser62, Asn125, Asn163, Thr209,and Ser230) and 4 (Lys65, Ser123, Asn125,and Glu159) conventional hydrogens bonds with the active site residues. 100 ns MD simulations revealed that moxalactam and P7G (but not EA) were able to form a stable complex. The binding free energy calculations further revealed that P7G (−59.6526 kcal/mol) formed the most stable complex with β-lactamase when compared to moxalactam (−46.5669 kcal/mol) and EA (−28.4505 kcal/mol). The HOMO-LUMO and other DFT parameters support the stability and chemical reactivity of P7G at the active site of β-lactamase. P7G passed all the toxicity tests and bioavailability tests indicating that it possesses drug-likeness. Among the studied compounds, we identified P7G of A. pennataas the most promising phytocompound to combat antibiotic resistance by potentially inhibiting the β-lactamase of P. aeruginosa.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Human circulatory systems store large concentrations of oxygen and provide it continuously and simultaneously to trillions of cells without the need for each cell to access the surrounding environment. Inspired by biological circulatory systems, we envision future robotic systems with multifunctional, fully integrated, air-rechargeable energy delivery and storage. We present an aqueous air catholyte emulsion (ACE) with high oxygen solubility that can derive energy entirely from dissolved oxygen. With only 20% silicone oil by volume, ACEs can store twice as much dissolved oxygen (15 mg/L) as pure KOH samples, remain stable for several months, and show superior oxygen reduction reaction kinetics compared to KOH. Zinc-air flow cells with fully submerged electrodes can achieve 4.6 mW/cm2at 5.6 mA/cm2. A multifunctional actuator flow cell configuration employs an ACE as both a hydraulic actuator and an energy storage fluid, demonstrating the feasibility of ACEs as multifunctional, flexible power sources for soft robotic systems.

In the last decade, due to prolonged and persisting drought conditions, California initially restricted water for outdoor landscape irrigation, and subsequently offered turf removal rebates to homeowners. Nevertheless, the effects of turf removal on land surface temperature (LST) in the region have not been investigated. Temperature differences between artificial and natural turf were assessed over time across four counties in Southern California using MODIS/ASTER airborne simulator (MASTER) with a spatial resolution of 5–50 m. Moreover, airborne thermal imagery (submeter spatial resolution) was acquired over selected areas of the city of Riverside, CA, during the summers of 2018 and 2019, including neighborhoods with different income levels, and temperatures for natural turf, artificial turf, and xeriscape were recorded. Environmental and socioeconomic data were compared to the LST in different neighborhoods. Results showed that the LST difference between artificial and natural turf increases in Southern California moving from coastal region to inland. Airborne thermal imagery in Riverside confirmed that University of California artificial turf fields are irrigated during the summer to allow athletes to use the pitch. No correlation between socioeconomic factors and LST of turf and artificial turf fields (and paired differences) was found. On a city scale, natural turf lawns were consistently cooler than xeriscape and artificial turf lawns, closely mirroring mean air temperature. Socioeconomic factors do not describe LST in residential lawns, as warmest and coolest lawns regardless of vegetation are found evenly distributed among different income neighborhoods. Turfgrass removal for water conservation may have unforeseen environmental side effects. Temperature difference between natural and artificial turfgrass increases in inland California.Natural turfgrass lawns are consistently cooler than artificial turfgrass and xeriscape lawns.Socioeconomic factors do not predict residential lawns land surface temperature in Southern California.

Study design: Randomised controlled trial. Objectives: The objective is to describe an electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback intervention that will be provided in a randomised controlled trial for people with neuropathic pain following spinal cord injury (SCI): the StoPain Trial. In this trial, participants in the treatment group will implement an EEG neurofeedback system as an analgesic intervention at home, while participants in the control group will continue with the treatments available to them in the community. Setting: University-based study in Sydney, Australia. Methods/results: This manuscript describes the rationale and components of the EEG neurofeedback intervention designed for individuals with SCI neuropathic pain and intended for home-based implementation. Our report is based on the criteria of the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist, and includes why the efficacy of EEG neurofeedback will be investigated, what will be provided, who will administer it, and how, where, when, and how much the EEG neurofeedback intervention will be administered. Conclusions: This manuscript provides a detailed description of a complex intervention used in a randomised controlled trial. This description will facilitate the subsequent interpretation of the trial results and allow for the replication of the intervention in clinical practice and future trials. Sponsorship: Australian Government Medical Research Future Fund (2020 Rare Cancers Rare Diseases and Unmet Needs Scheme: 2006020).

Cancer‐associated cachexia is a multifactorial wasting disorder characterized by anorexia, unintentional weight loss (skeletal muscle mass with or without loss of fat mass), progressive functional impairment, and poor prognosis. This systematic literature review (SLR) examined the relationship between cachexia and survival in patients with colorectal or pancreatic cancer in recent literature. The SLR was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Embase®and PubMed were searched to identify articles published in English between 1 January 2016 and 10 October 2021 reporting survival in adults with cancer and cachexia or at risk of cachexia, defined by international consensus (IC) diagnostic criteria or a broader definition of any weight loss. Included publications were studies in ≥100 patients with colorectal or pancreatic cancer. Thirteen publications in patients with colorectal cancer and 13 with pancreatic cancer met eligibility criteria. Included studies were observational and primarily from Europe and the United States. Eleven studies (42%) reported cachexia using IC criteria and 15 (58%) reported any weight loss. An association between survival and cachexia or weight loss was assessed across studies using multivariate (n= 23) or univariate (n= 3) analyses and within each study across multiple weight loss categories. Cachexia/weight loss was associated with a statistically significantly poorer survival in at least one weight loss category in 16 of 23 studies that used multivariate analyses and in 1 of 3 studies (33%) that used univariate analyses. Of the 17 studies demonstrating a significant association, 9 were in patients with colorectal cancer and 8 were in patients with pancreatic cancer. Cachexia or weight loss was associated with significantly poorer survival in patients with colorectal or pancreatic cancer in nearly two‐thirds of the studies. The classification of weight loss varied across and within studies (multiple categories were evaluated) and may have contributed to variability. Nonetheless, awareness of cachexia and routine assessment of weight change in clinical practice in patients with colorectal or pancreatic cancer could help inform prognosis and influence early disease management strategies.

Semantic segmentation is an important sub-task for many applications. However, pixel-level ground-truth labeling is costly, and there is a tendency to overfit to training data, thereby limiting the generalization ability. Unsupervised domain adaptation can potentially address these problems by allowing systems trained on labelled datasets from the source domain (including less expensive synthetic domain) to be adapted to a novel target domain. The conventional approach involves automatic extraction and alignment of the representations of source and target domains globally. One limitation of this approach is that it tends to neglect the differences between classes: representations of certain classes can be more easily extracted and aligned between the source and target domains than others, limiting the adaptation over all classes. Here, we address this problem by introducing a Class-Conditional Domain Adaptation (CCDA) method. This incorporates a class-conditional multi-scale discriminator and class-conditional losses for both segmentation and adaptation. Together, they measure the segmentation, shift the domain in a class-conditional manner, and equalize the loss over classes. Experimental results demonstrate that the performance of our CCDA method matches, and in some cases, surpasses that of state-of-the-art methods.

Topological photonics offers the opportunity to control light propagation in a way that is robust from fabrication disorders and imperfections. However, experimental demonstrations have remained on the order of the vacuum wavelength. Theoretical proposals have shown topological edge states that can propagate robustly while embracing deep subwavelength confinement that defies diffraction limits. Here we show the experimental proof of these deep subwavelength topological edge states by implementing periodic modulation of hyperbolic phonon polaritons within a van der Waals heterostructure composed of isotopically pure hexagonal boron nitride flakes on patterned gold films. The topological edge state is confined in a subdiffraction volume of 0.021 µm3, which is four orders of magnitude smaller than the free-space excitation wavelength volume used to probe the system, while maintaining the resonance quality factor above 100. This finding can be directly extended to and hybridized with other van der Waals materials to broadened operational frequency ranges, streamline integration of diverse polaritonic materials, and compatibility with electronic and excitonic systems.

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Coupled cluster theory has had a momentous impact on the ab initio prediction of molecular properties, and remains a staple ingratiate in high-accuracy thermochemical model chemistries. However, these methods require inclusion of at least some connected quadruple excitations, which generally scale at best as O(N9)with the number of basis functions. It is very difficult to predict, a priori, the effect correlation of past CCSD(T) on a given reaction energy. The purpose of this work is to examine cost-effective quadruple corrections based on the factorization theorem of the many-body perturbation theory that may address these challenges. We show that the O(N7)factorized CCSD(TQf) method introduces minimal error to predicted correlation and reaction energies as compared to the O(N9)CCSD(TQ). Further, we examine the performance of Goodson’s continued fraction method in the estimation of CCSDT(Q)Λcontributions to reaction energies as well as a “new” method related to %TAE[(T)] that we refer to as a scaled perturbation estimator. We find that the scaled perturbation estimator based upon CCSD(TQf)/cc-pVDZ is capable of predicting CCSDT(Q)Λ/cc-pVDZ contributions to reaction energies with an average error of 0.07 kcal mol–1and an L2D of 0.52 kcal mol–1when applied to a test-suite of nearly 3000 reactions. This offers a means by which to reliably “ballpark” how important post-CCSD(T) contributions are to reaction energies while incurring no more than CCSD(T) formal cost and a little mental math.

Our laboratory reported the chemical synthesis and stereochemical assignment of the recently discovered peptide antibiotic clovibactin. The current paper reports an improved, gram-scale synthesis of the amino acid building block Fmoc-(2R,3R)-3-hydroxyasparagine-OH that enables structure–activity relationship studies of clovibactin. An alanine scan reveals that residues Phe1, d-Leu2, Ser4, Leu7, and Leu8are important for antibiotic activity. The side-chain amide group of the rare d-Hyn5residue is not essential to activity and can be replaced with a methyl group with a moderate loss of activity. An acyclic clovibactin analogue reveals that the macrolactone ring is essential to antibiotic activity. The enantiomer of clovibactin is active, albeit somewhat less so than clovibactin. A conformationally constrained clovibactin analogue retains moderate antibiotic activity, while a backbone N-methylated analogue is almost completely inactive. X-ray crystallography of these two analogues reveals that the macrolactone ring adopts a crown-like conformation that binds anions.

ABSTRACTIntroductionMany of the first line medications for the treatment of active and latent M. tuberculosis are hepatoxic and cause a spectrum of anti-tuberculosis drug induced liver injury (ATLI), including acute liver failure (ALF). Despite advances in recognition of and prevention of ATLI, isoniazid remains one of the leading causes of DILI as well as drug-induced ALF.Areas coveredA literature search of the incidence, risk factors, current societal guidelines, monitoring, and prophylactic medication usage in ATLI was performed using PubMed and institutional websites. Relevant articles from 1972 to 2024 were included in this review.Expert opinionCurrent societal guidelines regarding ATLI monitoring are mixed, but many recommend liver enzyme testing of high-risk populations. We recommend liver test monitoring for all patients on multi-drug therapy as well as those on isoniazid therapy. Precision medicine practices, such as N-acetyltransferase-2 polymorphism genotyping, are thought to be beneficial in reducing the incidence of ATLI in high-risk populations. However, broader implementation is currently cost prohibitive. Hepatoprotective drugs are not currently recommended, although we do recognize their potential. In patients who develop ATLI but require ongoing anti-TB treatment, strategies to restart the same or less hepatotoxic regimens are currently being followed.

We present a validation for a novel sensor and data processing pipeline designed to measure blood glucose (BG) noninvasively using the rapid collection of a broad range of radio frequency (RF) waves via a decoupled antenna array. Five healthy human subjects ingested 37.5 g of glucose solution to generate BG readings across two glycemic ranges: normoglycemic and hyperglycemic. Concurrent measurements from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and the RF sensor were collected for comparative analysis. A light gradient-boosting machine (LightGBM) model was trained to predict BG values using 1555 observations, where an observation is defined as data collected from 13 RF sensor sweeps paired with a single Dexcom G6 CGM value. Using this model, we predicted BG in the held-out test dataset with a mean absolute relative difference (MARD) of 12.7% in the normoglycemic range and 14.0% in the hyperglycemic range. While in early-stage validation, these results demonstrate the promise of this hardware and software technique for the noninvasive measurement of BG for practical application.

COVID-19 can cause ongoing and persistent symptoms (such as breathlessness and fatigue) that lead to reduced functional capacity. There are parallels in symptoms and functional limitations in adults with post-COVID symptoms and adults with chronic respiratory diseases. Pulmonary rehabilitation is a key treatment for adults with chronic respiratory diseases, with the aims to improve symptom management and increase functional capacity. Given the similarities in presentation and aims, a pulmonary rehabilitation program may be optimal to meet the needs of those with ongoing symptoms after COVID-19.

The past five years of U.S. economic policy have been noisy, as the Trump administration and its allies in Congress pursued a controversial agenda: a trade war with China, a [...]

WHEN Amy Gutmann stepped down as president of the University of Pennsylvania, in 2022, after 18 years on the job, she left, as many presidents do, with a large payout--in [...]

This digest presents 11 basic principles to guide the assessment training and professional development of teachers and administrators. These are: (1) assessment is inherently a process of professional judgment; (2) assessment is based on separate but related principles of measurement evidence and evaluation; (3) assessment decision-making is influenced by a series of tensions; (4) assessment influences student motivation and learning; (5) assessment contains error; (6) good assessment enhances instruction; (7) good assessment is valid; (8) good assessment is fair and ethical; (9) good assessments use multiple methods; (10) good assessment is efficient and feasible; and (11) good assessment appropriately incorporates technology. What is most essential about assessment is understanding how general, fundamental assessment principles and ideas can be used to enhance student learning and teacher effectiveness. (Contains 13 references.) (SLD)