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About 90% of the Texas High Plains area depends on the water supply from the Ogallala aquifer. The decline of the Ogallala water table raises a concern for the sustainability of producing the traditional irrigated field crops due to their high water demand. Thus, diversifying cropping systems may be a solution. However, about 70% of the irrigated cropland uses center pivots that may negatively impact specialty crop quality. Thus, a 3-year experiment was conducted to assess the potential of using mobile drip irrigation (MDI) to produce fresh watermelon compared to center pivot sprinkler irrigation using low-elevation spray application (LESA), and surface drip irrigation with plastic mulch (DI). The study evaluated the effects of irrigation systems on crop yield, fruit quality, physiological responses, water use efficiency (WUE), and irrigation use efficiency (IUE). On average, plants under MDI had higher yields (106 Mg ha−1) than those under DI (70 Mg ha−1) and LESA (68 Mg ha−1). Plants under MDI and DI also had more fruits per plant (1.9) than those under LESA (1.4). The higher yield was associated with higher biomass and photosynthetic function. In general, fruit quality was not affected by irrigation system. In addition, plants under MDI system showed a higher WUE and IUE, and less water stress than those under LESA and DI systems. Results of this study suggest that irrigating under an MDI system is a good alternative for growers in the Texas High Plains that aim to diversify their cropping system with high-value vegetable crops such as watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

About 90% of the Texas High Plains area depends on the water supply from the Ogallala aquifer. The decline of the Ogallala water table raises a concern for the sustainability of producing the traditional irrigated field crops due to their high water demand. Thus, diversifying cropping systems may be a solution. However, about 70% of the irrigated cropland uses center pivots that may negatively impact specialty crop quality. Thus, a 3-year experiment was conducted to assess the potential of using mobile drip irrigation (MDI) to produce fresh watermelon compared to center pivot sprinkler irrigation using low-elevation spray application (LESA), and surface drip irrigation with plastic mulch (DI). The study evaluated the effects of irrigation systems on crop yield, fruit quality, physiological responses, water use efficiency (WUE), and irrigation use efficiency (IUE). On average, plants under MDI had higher yields (106 Mg ha−1) than those under DI (70 Mg ha−1) and LESA (68 Mg ha−1). Plants under MDI and DI also had more fruits per plant (1.9) than those under LESA (1.4). The higher yield was associated with higher biomass and photosynthetic function. In general, fruit quality was not affected by irrigation system. In addition, plants under MDI system showed a higher WUE and IUE, and less water stress than those under LESA and DI systems. Results of this study suggest that irrigating under an MDI system is a good alternative for growers in the Texas High Plains that aim to diversify their cropping system with high-value vegetable crops such as watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA interference (RNAi) has not been tested in the pandemic amphibian pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, but developing this technology could be useful to elucidate virulence mechanisms, identify therapeutic targets, and may present a novel antifungal treatment option for chytridiomycosis. To manipulate and decipher gene function, rationally designed small interfering RNA (siRNA) can initiate the destruction of homologous messenger RNA (mRNA), resulting in the "knockdown" of target gene expression. Here, we investigate whether siRNA can be used to manipulate gene expression in B. dendrobatidis via RNAi using differing siRNA strategies to target genes involved in glutathione and ornithine synthesis. To determine the extent and duration of mRNA knockdown, target mRNA levels were monitored for 24–48 h after delivery of siRNA targeting glutamate–cysteine ligase, with a maximum of ~56% reduction in target transcripts occurring at 36 h. A second siRNA design targeting glutamate‐cysteine ligase also resulted in ~53% knockdown at this time point. siRNA directed toward a different gene target, ornithine decarboxylase, achieved 17% reduction in target transcripts. Although no phenotypic effects were observed, these results suggest that RNAi is possible in B. dendrobatidis, and that gene expression can be manipulated in this pathogen. We outline ideas for further optimization steps to increase knockdown efficiency to better harness RNAi techniques for control of B. dendrobatidis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hypercoagulability has been documented in cats with cardiac disease. However, hemostatic parameters, including viscoelastic coagulation monitoring (VCM) have not been reported in cats with arterial thromboembolism (ATE). Hypothesis/Objectives: Compare VCM parameters in cats with acute cardiogenic ATE and in control cats. Animals: Sixteen cats with ATE and 30 control cats. Methods: Multicenter university‐based prospective study. Cardiogenic ATE was diagnosed based on physical examination and by ultrasonographically‐diagnosed left atrial enlargement. Viscoelastic coagulation monitor analysis, CBC, serum biochemistry profile and coagulation profile were performed at admission in cats with ATE. Analysis from healthy control cats was performed using blood collected by direct venipuncture. Our objective was comparison of VCM parameters clot time (CT), clot formation time (CFT), alpha angle (Angle), maximum clot formation (MCF), amplitude at 10 and 20 minutes (A10 and A20, respectively) and clot lysis index at 30 and 45 minutes (LI30 and LI45, respectively) between ATE and control cats. Results: Cats with ATE had a decreased angle compared to control cats, with a median (range) of 43° (30‐48°) compared to 47° (14‐59°; P =.01). The parameters A10, A20 and MCF were decreased in ATE cats compared to control cats with a median (range) of 19 units (8–32) compared to 22 units (6–38), 24.5 units (11‐40) compared to 29 units (10‐47) and 29.5 units (13‐44) compared to 33.5 units (14‐53), respectively (P =.01,.01 and.01, respectively). The parameters CT, CFT, LI30 and LI45 were similar between groups (P =.22,.09,.62 and.34, respectively). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Cats with cardiogenic ATE cats have VCM parameters consistent with hypocoagulability compared with healthy cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Identifying effective opioid treatment options during pregnancy is a high priority due to the growing prevalence of opioid use disorder across North America. We assessed the temporal impact of three population‐level interventions on the use of opioid agonist treatment (OAT) during pregnancy in Ontario, Canada. Design: This was a population‐based time‐series analysis to identify trends in the monthly prevalence of pregnant people dispensed methadone and buprenorphine. The impact of adding buprenorphine/naloxone to the public drug formulary, the release of pregnancy‐specific guidance and the start of the COVID‐19 pandemic were assessed. Setting and participants: The study was conducted in Ontario, Canada between 1 July 2013 and 31 March 2022, comprising people who delivered a live or stillbirth in any Ontario hospital during the study period. Measurements We identified any prescription for methadone or buprenorphine dispensed between the estimated conception date and delivery date and calculated the monthly prevalence of OAT‐exposed pregnancies among all pregnant people in Ontario. Findings Overall, rates of OAT during pregnancy have declined since mid‐2018. Methadone‐exposed pregnancies decreased from 0.46% of all pregnancies in Ontario in 2015 to a low of 0.16% in 2022. In the primary analysis, none of the interventions had a statistically significant impact on overall OAT rates; however, in the stratified analyses, there was a small increase in buprenorphine after the formulary change [0.006%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.0032−0.0081, P < 0.0001] and a decrease in buprenorphine after the release of the 2017 guidelines (−0.005%, 95% CI = −0.0080 to −0.0020, P = 0.001) and the start of the COVID‐19 pandemic (−0.003%, 95% CI = −0.0054 to −0.0006, P = 0.015). Conclusion: Despite changes in guidance and funding, opioid agonist treatment during pregnancy has been declining in Ontario, Canada since 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Apparently healthy dogs of various breeds eating nontraditional, high‐pulse diets can have larger left ventricular diameter, lower systolic function, and more ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) compared with dogs eating traditional, low‐pulse diets. It is unknown whether Irish Wolfhounds eating high‐pulse diets have similar cardiac abnormalities. Hypothesis/Objectives: To compare electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings between Irish Wolfhounds eating high‐ or low‐pulse diets. Animals: Ninety‐seven Irish Wolfhounds. Methods: Retrospective study of Irish Wolfhounds that had echocardiography performed at dog shows between October 2018 and May 2021. Demographic information, echocardiographic measurements, cardiac rhythm (1‐minute lead II rhythm strip), and main diet were recorded retrospectively. Diets were classified as high‐pulse or low‐pulse based on the presence and location of pulses (peas, lentils, chickpeas, or dry beans) on the ingredient list. Results: Thirty‐five of 97 Irish Wolfhounds (36%) were eating high‐pulse diets and 62 of 97 (64%) were eating low‐pulse diets. There were no significant differences between diet groups in echocardiographic measurements. A significantly higher percentage of dogs in the high‐pulse diet group (6/35 [17%]) had VPCs compared with those in the low‐pulse diet group (1/62 [2%]; effect size = 0.15 [95% confidence interval: 0.004‐0.31]; P =.005). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: In this retrospective study of apparently healthy Irish Wolfhounds, high‐pulse diets were associated with a higher prevalence of VPCs which could represent early cardiac abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of thrips in the High Plains of Texas (USA) was investigated using sticky traps during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Yellow sticky traps were placed in wheat fields and collected and replaced weekly and thrips were counted under a dissecting scope. Weekly wheat reflectance measurements were taken using a hyperspectral radiometer from which normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was calculated for each measurement. Temperature (degree day) and NDVI values were then related to weekly thrips incidence using regression. Thrips incidence curvilinearly increased over time during each of the two seasons and reached a maximum in the middle of June, after which it declined sharply. There was a strong positive relationship between degree days and thrips incidence until the incidence reached a maximum, whereas the incidence was negatively related to NDVI values. Analysis of the thrips changes over time progress with the two variables together showed that degree day has greater impact on thrips incidence than NDVI. However, the steep decline in thrips abundance after its peak in mid‐June suggests that senesced wheat fields with NDVI values near zero are not significant sources of thrips, signifying the importance of wheat growth stages in the seasonal population dynamics of thrips. Overall, the 2‐year results were generally consistent in trends of thrips incidence during the season, which may need to be considered when choosing vegetable planting dates in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immunosuppression reduction for BK polyoma virus (BKV) must be balanced against risk of adverse alloimmune outcomes. We sought to characterize risk of alloimmune events after BKV within context of HLA‐DR/DQ molecular mismatch (mMM) risk score. Methods: This single‐center study evaluated 460 kidney transplant patients on tacrolimus‐mycophenolate‐prednisone from 2010‐2021. BKV status was classified at 6‐months post‐transplant as "BKV" or "no BKV" in landmark analysis. Primary outcome was T‐cell mediated rejection (TCMR). Secondary outcomes included all‐cause graft failure (ACGF), death‐censored graft failure (DCGF), de novo donor specific antibody (dnDSA), and antibody‐mediated rejection (ABMR). Predictors of outcomes were assessed in Cox proportional hazards models including BKV status and alloimmune risk defined by recipient age and molecular mismatch (RAMM) groups. Results: At 6‐months post‐transplant, 72 patients had BKV and 388 had no BKV. TCMR occurred in 86 recipients, including 27.8% with BKV and 17% with no BKV (p =.05). TCMR risk was increased in recipients with BKV (HR 1.90, (95% CI 1.14, 3.17); p =.01) and high vs. low‐risk RAMM group risk (HR 2.26 (95% CI 1.02, 4.98); p =.02) in multivariable analyses; but not HLA serological MM in sensitivity analysis. Recipients with BKV experienced increased dnDSA in univariable analysis, and there was no association with ABMR, DCGF, or ACGF. Conclusions: Recipients with BKV had increased risk of TCMR independent of induction immunosuppression and conventional alloimmune risk measures. Recipients with high‐risk RAMM experienced increased TCMR risk. Future studies on optimizing immunosuppression for BKV should explore nuanced risk stratification and may consider novel measures of alloimmune risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raptor nests on human-built structures represent a significant source of conflict, as they can result in bird mortality, fires, or power outages due to falling nest materials or animals connecting with energized conductors. Power companies typically try to mitigate these conflicts to avoid service disruptions. Performing mitigation measures across all potentially problematic power infrastructure is generally not a practical solution given logistical, time, or budgetary constraints. Therefore, there is a need for quantitative, landscapescale tools to identify conflict risk and prioritize mitigation. We examined the influence of habitat and transmission infrastructure distribution on the potential risk of osprey (Pandion haliaetus) nesting-infrastructure conflict in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) power service area within Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia, USA, using osprey nesting and conflict records from 1990-2020. We modeled risk using a 3-stage approach, which intersected a nesting habitat suitability model and density of infrastructure to evaluate the potential risk of conflict. Habitat suitability was greater on or near open water and closer to developed areas. Transmission line density was low (0.14 ± 0.29 lines/km²) and heterogenous across the service area with more lines within urban centers and near power facilities. Integrating habitat suitability and transmission infrastructure information revealed that very low and low-risk areas comprised 99% of the service area. Less than 1% comprised 1,113.7 km² of moderate and 82.2 km² of high or very high risk, mostly concentrated along major rivers and lakes, and around urban centers. Risk was more prevalent in the northeastern portion of the service area. This work presents a top-down approach to mitigating osprey--power infrastructure conflict, which allows for the prioritization of mitigation actions and can facilitate long-term coexistence with this protected species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffusion Spectrum Imaging (DSI) using dense Cartesian sampling of q‐space has been shown to provide important advantages for modeling complex white matter architecture. However, its adoption has been limited by the lengthy acquisition time required. Sparser sampling of q‐space combined with compressed sensing (CS) reconstruction techniques has been proposed as a way to reduce the scan time of DSI acquisitions. However prior studies have mainly evaluated CS‐DSI in post‐mortem or non‐human data. At present, the capacity for CS‐DSI to provide accurate and reliable measures of white matter anatomy and microstructure in the living human brain remains unclear. We evaluated the accuracy and inter‐scan reliability of 6 different CS‐DSI schemes that provided up to 80% reductions in scan time compared to a full DSI scheme. We capitalized on a dataset of 26 participants who were scanned over eight independent sessions using a full DSI scheme. From this full DSI scheme, we subsampled images to create a range of CS‐DSI images. This allowed us to compare the accuracy and inter‐scan reliability of derived measures of white matter structure (bundle segmentation, voxel‐wise scalar maps) produced by the CS‐DSI and the full DSI schemes. We found that CS‐DSI estimates of both bundle segmentations and voxel‐wise scalars were nearly as accurate and reliable as those generated by the full DSI scheme. Moreover, we found that the accuracy and reliability of CS‐DSI was higher in white matter bundles that were more reliably segmented by the full DSI scheme. As a final step, we replicated the accuracy of CS‐DSI in a prospectively acquired dataset (n = 20, scanned once). Together, these results illustrate the utility of CS‐DSI for reliably delineating in vivo white matter architecture in a fraction of the scan time, underscoring its promise for both clinical and research applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine in adult chickens which of 3 CPR techniques, sternal compressions (SC), SC with interposed caudal coelomic compressions (ICCC), or lateral compressions (LC), results in the highest mean systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) as measured directly from the carotid artery. Design: Prospective, nonblinded, experimental crossover study. Setting: University teaching hospital laboratory. Animals: Ten retired laying hens. Interventions: Birds were sedated, anesthetized, and placed in dorsal recumbency. A carotid artery catheter was placed to directly measure arterial pressure. Ventricular fibrillation was induced with direct cardiac stimulation using a 9‐Volt battery. Each bird then received 2 minutes of the 3 different cardiac compression techniques in a random order by 3 different compressors, with the compressor order also randomized. Birds were subsequently administered IV epinephrine, and transthoracic defibrillation was attempted. At the end of experimentation, each bird was euthanized, and simple gross necropsies were performed. Linear mixed models followed by pairwise paired t‐tests were performed to evaluate differences in pressures generated by each technique. Measurements and Main Results: The primary study outcomes were SAP, DAP, and MAP over 2 minutes of compressions for each compression technique. Pressures from ICCC (SAP: 27.6 ± 5.3 mm Hg, DAP: 18.7 ± 5.2 mm Hg, MAP: 21.7 ± 5.2 mm Hg) were significantly higher than those from LC (SAP: 18.9 ± 5.4 mm Hg, DAP: 11.6 ± 4.1 mm Hg, MAP: 14.1 ± 4.5 mm Hg). Pressures from SC (SAP: 24.5 ± 6.4 mm Hg, DAP: 15.2 ± 4.3 mm Hg, MAP: 18.3 ± 5.0 mm Hg) were not significantly different from ICCC or LC. Conclusions: External compressions can generate detectable increases in arterial pressure in chickens with ventricular fibrillation. SC with ICCC generated significantly higher arterial pressures than LC. SC alone generated blood pressures that were not significantly different from those generated by SC with ICCC or LC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from 98 women recruited in the Metformin in Gestational Diabetes trial and dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry studies of their children at nine years were analysed to investigate associations between maternal measures during pregnancy and their children's size and adiposity. Mothers of boys (n = 56) and girls (n = 42) had been randomised to metformin or insulin treatment at 30.1 ± 2.8 and 29.3 ± 4.1 weeks gestation, respectively. In boys, fat‐free mass indexed to height squared was associated with maternal weight, body mass index, maternal glycaemia and metformin treatment. In boys and girls, fat mass indexed to height squared was associated with maternal glycaemia measures before gestational diabetes treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tsunamis are a major hazard along many of the world's coastlines. To understand the impact of these events, a sufficiently long record of previous events is needed, which can be provided by their sedimentary deposits. A number of past events have left extensive sedimentary deposits that can be used to understand the hydrodynamics of the tsunami. The ca 8.15 ka Storegga submarine slide was a large, tsunamigenic mass movement off the coast of Norway. The resulting tsunami had estimated run‐up heights of around 10 to 20 m on the Norwegian coast, over 30 m in Shetland and 3 to 6 m on the Scottish mainland coast. New cores were taken from the Ythan Valley in North‐East Scotland, where Storegga tsunami deposits have previously been found. High‐resolution sedimentary analyses of the cores, combined with statistical (changepoint) analysis, shows signatures of multiple waves. Moreover, detailed CT scans of the erosional basal surface reveal sole marks called skim marks. Taken in conjunction with the grain size and sedimentary fabric characteristics of the tsunami deposits, this indicates that the flow exhibited a high‐concentration basal component, with an initial semi‐cohesive phase and that deposition was dominantly capacity driven. A multiple wave hypothesis is tested by creating a high‐resolution numerical model (metre‐scale) of the wave inundation, coupled to a previously published regional model. The inundation model confirms that multiple waves passed over the site in agreement with the sedimentological analysis. The sensitivity of the model to the reconstructed palaeocoastal geomorphology is quantitatively explored. It is concluded that local palaeogeomorphological reconstruction is key to understanding the hydrodynamics of a tsunami wave group in relation to its sedimentary deposit. Combining sedimentological data with high‐resolution inundation modelling is a powerful tool to help interpret the sedimentary record of tsunami events and hence to improve knowledge of their risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poplar is a short‐rotation woody crop frequently studied for its significance as a sustainable bioenergy source. The successful establishment of a poplar plantation partially depends on its rhizosphere—a dynamic zone governed by complex interactions between plant roots and a plethora of commensal, mutualistic, symbiotic, or pathogenic microbes that shape plant fitness. In an exploratory endeavor, we investigated the effects of a consortium consisting of ectomycorrhizal fungi and a beneficial Pseudomonas sp. strain GM41 on plant growth (including height, stem girth, leaf, and root growth) and as well as growth rate over time, across four Populus trichocarpa genotypes. Additionally, we compared the level of total organic carbon and plant exometabolite profiles across different poplar genotypes in the presence of the microbial consortium. These data revealed no significant difference in plant growth parameters between the treatments and the control across four different poplar genotypes at 7 weeks post‐inoculation. However, total organic carbon and exometabolite profiles were significantly different between the genotypes and the treatments. These findings suggest that this microbial consortium has the potential to trigger early signaling responses in poplar, influencing its metabolism in ways crucial for later developmental processes and stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proxy reconstructions and model simulations of precipitation during Earth's glacial periods suggest that the locations and mechanisms of atmospheric moisture transport have changed considerably during Earth's past. We investigate the hydroclimate of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) using simulations with the Community Earth System Model, with a focus on the extratropics and the influence of atmospheric rivers (ARs), a key driver of modern‐day moisture transport globally. Mean and extreme precipitation increase significantly over southwestern Patagonia, Iberia, and southwestern North America—mid‐latitude regions affected by ARs in the modern climate—despite overall decreases elsewhere. In each, the associated moisture transport changes are different, with increased transport and AR activity mainly occurring in the North Atlantic. The overall LGM response is dominated by the response to ice sheets, with other forcings causing additional cooling and drying over the extratropics and a strong decrease of moisture transport over the subpolar North Atlantic. Plain Language Summary: During the last ice age, when glaciers reached their maximum extent, atmospheric CO2 was lower and Earth's orbit was different. All of these influences caused dramatic changes in precipitation patterns around the planet. Using climate model simulations, we find that the majority of the changes to atmospheric moisture transport and precipitation patterns result from the presence of the ice sheets alone, with lower CO2 and insolation differences enhancing the ice sheet‐induced patterns. These changes mainly comprise decreases in moisture transport and lower precipitation, with three notable exceptions in Patagonia, Iberia, and southwestern North America. Of these, precipitation increases over Iberia result from increased transport by plumes of moisture, known as atmospheric rivers , across the North Atlantic. Elsewhere in the world, AR activity decreases. Key Points: Average and extreme precipitation declined globally during the Last Glacial Maximum with three notable mid‐latitude exceptions over landMoisture transport changes mainly caused by ice sheets, with lower CO2 and altered insolation causing enhanced drying regionallyAtmospheric river activity decreased globally except over the North Atlantic, where it enhanced precipitation over Iberia [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patterns of larval food plant use and immature stage morphology help clarify Neotropical butterfly species diversity, and, in many cases, lineages identified with molecular data are corroborated by morphology and ecology of immature stages. Here, we investigate cryptic species in Adelpha butterflies (Nymphalidae), a group known for challenging adult wing similarity coupled with mimicry, and for its remarkably wide larval food plant breadth. We focus on the Adelpha serpa‐group and in particular Adelpha serpa celerio, whose immatures have been documented feeding on 11 plant families. Our analyses of A. serpa, and among serpa‐group species across the Neotropics, revealed evidence of cryptic species, but the pattern within A. serpa celerio showed relatively weak mtDNA and morphological differences, and no differentiation in food plant use. We conclude that A. serpa should be revised and recognize A. serpa to include the nominate subspecies and recognize A. celerio (revised status) as a geographically widespread species and a larval food plant generalist that contains A. c. celerio (revised status), A. c. duiliae (revised status) and A. c. diadochus (revised status). Four additional species within the serpa‐group show strong evidence of harbouring allopatric cryptic species, and further research should be done to clarify their species limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the emerging evidence on the importance of learning content‐specific vocabulary in the early years, many early childhood teachers try to incorporate science vocabulary teaching as part of classroom activities. In this article, the authors argue for the importance of teaching science vocabulary in engaging ways using read‐aloud and the usefulness of narrative informational storybooks as an engaging tool to introduce and build science concept knowledge and vocabulary. The authors show how to evaluate and select texts that can be effectively used for explicit and embedded teaching of science vocabulary, based on an engagement‐focused framework. The framework targets four aspects of engagement: concept learning engagement, word learning engagement, emotional engagement, and social engagement. The engagement framework empowers teachers to determine which science storybooks are appropriate and how to use them to teach science concepts and vocabulary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a critical overview of research in geography that has explored the economic lives of Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals. I begin by considering how the consumption and production of mainstream commercial gaybourhoods is the primary approach through which geographies of sexuality, and queer geographies have engaged with economy. I then examine the ways in which digital spaces have blurred the boundaries of consumption and production, arguing that digital spaces are indicative of the much broader range of economic actions in which LGBTQ+ people take part. Finally, I turn to Gibson‐Graham's 'diverse economies', suggesting that this concept can attend to the existence of numerous multi‐scalar and overlapping queer economies. Developing a queer economies research agenda is crucial to turn attention beyond consumption and production in a narrow range of gaybourhoods, and to better portray the lives of those frequently excluded from mainstream commercial LGBTQ+ economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bachman's sparrows (Peucaea aestivalis) are an obligate southern open pine forest species linked to disturbance regimes (e.g., fire, windthrow) that reduce canopy cover and promote herbaceous groundcover needed for nesting, foraging, and concealment from predators. Early successional groundstory characteristics suitable for Bachman's sparrows are ephemeral in nature, raising questions about the perceived visual cues created by vegetation structural characteristics and how these characteristics influence multi‐scale habitat selection. We quantified habitat selection for 40 breeding and post‐breeding male Bachman's sparrows within 5 separately managed open pine management sub‐units at Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge in east‐central Mississippi, USA, from 2020–2021. We captured and color‐banded 20 individuals each year and used weekly resight locations and resource selection function models to assess factors influencing territory establishment (i.e., second‐order selection) within our study area, and microhabitat selection (i.e., third‐order selection) within territories. Bachman's sparrow territory establishment was positively influenced by evergreen cover and fire disturbance, and negatively influenced by tree canopy cover, and distance to unpaved roads. Within territories, sparrows selected areas with a greater basal area of pine (18 m2/ha), more available perching options (>9), and an abundance of native herbaceous groundcover (>36%). They also selected recently burned areas (1–3 yr) with low visual obstruction (<40 cm), and a low percent coverage of leaf litter (<33%). A better understanding of territory establishment and microhabitat selection of the Bachman's sparrow underscores the importance of frequent fire and is helpful in guiding conservation and management efforts for this declining species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental relationships can differ across the geographic range of species, especially for widespread generalists. Because habitat specialists are more vulnerable to environmental changes, incorrect assumptions about consistent habitat associations could hinder strategic conservation efforts. We used species distribution models (SDMs) to evaluate intraspecific variation in habitat associations for a habitat specialist of conservation concern, the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), which is endemic to the sagebrush biome of the western United States. Our goal was to model habitat associations for pygmy rabbits across a portion of their range to evaluate regional variation and contrast predictions with results from a model developed at the rangewide extent. We created inductive SDMs using maximum entropy methods within five ecological regions that encompassed about 20% of the species rangewide distribution and spanned diverse environmental gradients. We included a suite of environmental predictor variables representing topography, vegetation, climate, and soil characteristics. Results of the regional models identified substantial variation in habitat associations across the five regions, with each retaining a unique set of environmental predictors. Bioclimatic variables were the most influential environmental parameters in all five regions, but the specific variables differed. The models developed at regional extents predicted smaller areas of habitat (an average of 15% less for suitable habitat and 80% less for primary habitat) than predictions generated from a model developed at the rangewide extent. Because bioclimatic variables were effective in discriminating areas used by pygmy rabbits, they also provided an opportunity to assess potential changes in habitat distribution by incorporating future climate projections. Distributions modeled under two mid‐century emission scenarios projected substantial reductions in suitable habitat for pygmy rabbits across most regions and pronounced variation among regions in the magnitude and direction of the climate effects. Collectively, results of this work underscore the need to incorporate regional variation in habitat associations into planning for current and future conservation and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The Concise Health Risk Tracking Self‐Report (CHRT‐SR) assesses the risk of suicidal behavior. We report its psychometric properties in a representative sample of adolescent outpatients. Methods: A sample (n = 657) of adolescents (<18 years of age) in primary or psychiatric care completed the 14‐item version of CHRT‐SR at both baseline and within 3 months. To identify an optimal brief solution for the scale, we evaluated the factor structure of CHRT‐SR using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis, and testing measurement invariance across age and gender. The item response theory and classical test theory characteristics of the optimal solution were evaluated. Concurrent validity (both cross‐sectional and as a change measure over time) of the optimal solution was assessed by comparing it to another suicide measure. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis identified the 9‐item CHRT‐SR (CHRT‐SR9) as the optimal solution. Classical test theory and item response theory indicated excellent fit. Concurrent validity analyses revealed that it can measure both improvement/worsening of suicidality over time. Conclusion: The CHRT‐SR9 is a brief self‐report with excellent psychometric properties in a sample of adolescents that is sensitive to changes in suicidality over time. Its performance in other populations and ability to predict future suicidal events deserves study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, bread is a staple food and thus a promising vehicle for the delivery of nutrients from vegetables including carotenoids. The aim of this pilot/feasibility, pre–post experimental study was to measure skin (Veggie Meter™) and plasma carotenoid concentrations 1 week before (week −1), immediately prior to (week 0), and after (week 2) 14 days of daily consumption of 200 g pumpkin‐ and sweetcorn‐enriched bread (VB). At each measurement point, total vegetable and fruit intake and specific carotenoid‐rich foods were assessed by questionnaire. Participants (n = 10, 8 males, 2 females) were aged between 19 and 39 years and weighed 90 ± 20 kg. Vegetable and fruit intake was low and less than one serving/day of foods containing carotenoids. Prior to the intervention, measures of carotenoid‐containing foods and skin or plasma carotenoids were not different when measured a week apart. Consumption of the VB did not result in statistically significant changes in either the skin or plasma carotenoid measurements. Plasma carotenoid concentrations and the carotenoid reflection scores had a large and positive (r =.845, 95% CI 0.697, 0.924) association. The relationship between the number of servings of carotenoid‐rich foods with the plasma carotenoid and carotenoid reflection scores was positive and of moderate strength. In conclusion, carotenoid status was not measurably changed with the consumption of 200 g VB each day for 2 weeks. Subjective carotenoid‐rich food intake was positively associated with objective biomarkers of carotenoids. The Veggie meter™ has the potential to provide portable measurement of circulating carotenoids and be indicative of intake of carotenoid‐rich foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Although opioid‐related harms have reached new heights across North America, the size of the gap in opioid agonist therapy (OAT) delivery for opioid‐related health problems is unknown in most jurisdictions. This study sought to characterize the gap in OAT treatment using a cascade of care framework, and determine factors associated with engagement and retention in treatment. Design: A population‐based retrospective cohort study. Setting: Ontario, Canada. Participants: Individuals who sought medical care for opioid‐related health problems or died from an opioid‐related cause between 2005 and 2019. Measurements: Monthly treatment status for buprenorphine/naloxone or methadone OAT between 2013 and 2019 (i.e. 'off OAT', 'retained on OAT < 6 months', 'retained on OAT ≥ 6 months'). Findings Of 122 811 individuals in the cohort, 97 516 (79.4%) received OAT at least once during the study period. There was decreasing 6‐month treatment retention over time. Model results indicated that males had higher odds of being on OAT each month [odds ratio (OR) = 1.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.23–1.28] but lower odds of OAT retention (OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.88–0.92), while the reverse was observed for older individuals (monthly: OR = 0.76 per 10‐year increase, 95% CI = 0.76–0.77; retention: OR = 1.36 per 10‐year increase, 95% CI = 1.34–1.38) and individuals with higher neighbourhood income (e.g. highest income quintile, monthly: OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.77–0.82; highest income quintile, retention: OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.11–1.20). Individuals residing in rural areas and with a history of mental health diagnoses had poorer outcomes overall, including lower odds of being on OAT each month (rural: OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.73–0.78; mental health: OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.87–0.92) and OAT retention (rural: OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.77–0.82; mental health: OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.78–0.83), as well as higher risk of starting/stopping OAT [rural, starting OAT: hazard ratio (HR) = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.05–1.10; mental health, starting OAT: HR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.18–1.23; rural, stopping OAT: HR = 1.24, 95% CI: = 1.22–1.26; mental health, stopping OAT: HR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.09–1.13]. Individuals with a history of mental health diagnoses also had a higher risk of death, regardless of OAT status (off OAT death: HR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.33–1.66; on OAT death: HR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.09–1.31). Conclusions: Factors influencing engagement and declining retention in treatment with opioid agonist therapy in Ontario's health system include age, sex and neighbourhood income, as well as mental health diagnoses or residing in rural regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste heat recovery (WHR) system uses the thermal energy from the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine (ICE) to assist in the electricity generated by the ICE generator in buildings. This paper presents a model predictive control (MPC) framework to minimize the fuel consumption of an ICE by integrating it with a WHR system. To this end, a control oriented model of a WHR system is developed and then integrated to a control oriented model of a turbocharged dual fuel diesel‐natural gas ICE. The ICE model is derived based on experimental data collected from a 6.7 L Cummins ISB engine modified for dual fuel operation. The designed MPC framework optimizes the ICE combustion, turbocharger, and organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system in the WHR to minimize fuel consumption of the ICE. The designed control framework also allows to meet time‐varying exhaust gas temperature requirements of the ICE to meet exhaust emission constraints. The results show that the optimal operation of the WHR and the ICE reduces the fuel consumption of the ICE by 6.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is shifting toward cleaner and more sustainable power generation to face the challenges of climate change. Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydraulic are now the go‐to technologies for the new power generation system. However, these sources are highly intermittent and introduce uncertainty to the power grid which affects its frequency and voltage and could jeopardize its stable operations. The integration of micro‐scale concentrated solar power (MicroCSP) and thermal energy storage with the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system gives the building greater leeway to control its loads which can allow it to support the power grid by providing demand response (DR) services. Indeed, the optimal control of the power flowing between the MicroCSP, the HVAC system, and the thermal zones can bring additional degrees of freedom to the building which can be relegated to the power grid based on the objective function and the incentives provided by the latter. This article presents an in‐depth investigation of the MicroCSP potential to provide ancillary services to the power grid. It focuses on evaluating the effect of incentives provided by the power grid on the building participation to the load following programs. It also demonstrates how the MicroCSP can help the building deal with constraints related to load peak shaving and ramp‐rate reduction set by the power grid as part of long‐term DR contracts. A sensitivity analysis is carried out to confront the results to prediction uncertainties of the energy prices and the weather conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine if human automated external defibrillators (AEDs) could successfully record cardiac electrical activity in dogs, make appropriate recommendations regarding shock delivery, and characterize skin preparation required for a readable ECG based on dog haircoat characteristics. Design: Prospective study of AED use in dogs conducted between January and March 2021. Setting: University teaching hospital. Animals: Three groups of client‐owned dogs were evaluated. Group 1 consisted of 23 healthy dogs with sinus rhythms, group 2 consisted of 9 dogs with documented cardiac arrhythmias, and group 3 consisted of 9 dogs receiving CPR following naturally occurring cardiopulmonary arrest. Materials and Methods: Haircoat characteristics and clipping or ECG paste required to obtain a readable ECG were recorded. The time interval from a readable ECG by the investigator until AED shock advisement was measured. Correctness of shock advice was recorded. Analyses were performed using commercial statistical software. P‐values <0.05 were considered significant. Results: The attending veterinarian judged the ECG on the AED to be readable in all dogs. Time to shock advisement in all dogs was median 18 (range: 7–180) seconds. Dogs with heavy, long, or double haircoats required clipping in 24 of 27 (89%) cases to obtain a readable ECG. ECG paste on the AED pad was required in 36 of 40 dogs (90%) in order to obtain a readable ECG. The AED advice for delivery of shock was appropriate in 51 of 52 (98%) queries of the machine across all groups. Conclusions: Human AEDs can successfully record cardiac electrical activity in dogs. AEDs appropriately recommend delivery of a shock most times, contingent on skin preparation. Dogs with double, long, or heavy haircoats should be clipped prior to pad application. ECG paste will aid AED reading in all haircoat types. Further investigation is warranted into AED use in dogs, particularly in general practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying the multi‐dimensional nature of resource partitioning in‐situ represents a fundamental challenge for understanding how environmental conditions contribute to the co‐existence of sympatric species. For aquatic poikilotherms, the availability of temperatures at or near optima generally define the ranges and limitations of species biology and ecology. Specifically, how poikilotherms partition this abiotic resource remains a broader unknown in aquatic ecology.Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), deepwater sculpin (Myoxocephalus thompsonii), rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), and round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) co‐occur throughout Lake Ontario and are known to share common prey resources. Here, we used a combination of trophic tracers (stable isotopes), pollutants (polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs), and bioenergetic modelling to illustrate resource partitioning of diet items and thermal habitat among Lake Ontario prey fish species. We predicted that the combined use of δ13C, δ15N, and PCBs will capture the multi‐dimensional nature of resource partitioning among coexisting species inhabiting similar compartments within this ecosystem.The δ13C and δ15N values confirmed our understanding of trophic relationships among these species. A bioenergetic model predicted temperature occupancies for each species and for individuals during the open water growing season when prey consumption rates are likely to be maximised and the PCB congener profiles were highly correlated with these predictions. Three‐dimensional niche modelling demonstrated that ecological tracer assimilation is probably a direct result of species behavioural thermoregulation during the open water growing season when temperatures are at or near physiological optima.These results demonstrate that the ability of aquatic poikilotherms to track optimal temperatures and exploit habitat and food resources is captured by their PCB congener profiles. Consumer PCB congener profiles integrate not only the specific prey resources consumed, but also the predominant thermal conditions under which those resources were acquired and assimilated and that subsequently regulate individual and species growth. Given their global ubiquity and capacity for interpretation under the assumptions applied to ecological tracers, consumer PCB profiles could greatly advance our understanding of the mechanisms regulating resource partitioning, especially among aquatic poikilotherms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future warming scenarios are predicted to result in an increased frequency of high, and potentially stressful, temperatures in aquatic ecosystems. Here we examined whether the performance of wild underyearling Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in Scottish streams stocked with identical egg densities was influenced by thermal stress. Biomass and density declined with degree hours exceeding 23°C, indicating apparent mortality or emigration as a possible result of exposure to high temperatures. These results strengthen the need for further action such as riparian tree planting to reduce stream summer temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Dental professionals have been strong advocates for interprofessional education (IPE). During PFF, students in diverse, interprofessional teams of four are assigned a local volunteer family during their first academic year. Teams conduct four home visits and implement a health improvement project focused on the family's health and well‐being. The purpose of our analysis was to examine dental student perspectives on the use of teamwork skills during this unique interprofessional educational experience. Methods and Materials: Dental student responses from 2017 to 2018 and 2018 to2019 were qualitatively analysed. Open coding by hand was used to identify keywords and themes. The themes and open codes were compared and contrasted by the researchers until a consensus was reached on themes. Results: Researchers discerned three meta‐themes: value, skills and time. Researchers also found eight sub‐themes prevalent in responses: teamwork, adaptability, mutual support, trust, interprofessional communication, time, feedback, coordination and accountability. Discussion: Our findings indicate dental students understood the importance of interprofessional teamwork and experiential learning within the context of PFF. Students communicated an understanding of how teamwork skills can impact team‐oriented outcomes. Dental students seemed to value many teamwork skills that contributed to their interprofessional team's success and experiential learning experience. Conclusion: Engagement in a longitudinal experience that is patient‐centred, requiring time outside of the classroom, is valued by dental students for its interprofessional collaborative competency development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bystander interventions (BIs) primarily focus on increasing a sense of community and responsibility among students. This study examined moral norms as a determinant of intentions towards BI, within the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). College students at two universities (n = 291) completed an online survey measuring TPB constructs (e.g., intentions, perceived norms) and moral norms. Results indicated that moral norms were significantly associated with intentions toward BI, and appeared to be a valuable addition to the overall perceived norms construct. In addition, the law, parents, peers, and religion were identified as significant determinants of moral norms. Promoting collective responsibility to engage in BI and including a moral imperative to act in message development could increase the impact of BI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

De novo variants in FOXP4 were recently associated with a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by speech and language delay, growth abnormalities, hypotonia, and variable congenital abnormalities, including congenital diaphragmatic hernia, cervical spine abnormalities, strabismus, cryptorchidism, and ptosis. The variant spectrum in this small cohort was limited to de novo missense except for one frameshift, the inheritance of which was unknown. Variants tested in vitro exhibited reduced repressor transcriptional activity, indicating loss of function is the likely mechanism of disease, but only one frameshift variant was reported. Here, we report four affected individuals from two unrelated families heterozygous for a nonsense variant, c.1893C > G, p.Tyr631*, in FOXP4. The phenotype of the affected children includes developmental delay, feeding difficulties in infancy, and similar facial features. In both cases, the variant was inherited from a parent with mild or even subclinical features. Interestingly, one patient presented with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, as reported in two other FOXP4 patients. This report implicates FOXP4 truncating variants in human disease and highlights the wide phenotypic spectrum and variable expressivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Minimum unit pricing (MUP) may reduce harmful drinking in the general population, but there is little evidence regarding its impact on marginalised groups. Our study is the first to explore the perceptions of MUP among stakeholders working with people experiencing homelessness following its introduction in Scotland in May 2018. Methods: Qualitative semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 41 professional stakeholders from statutory and third sector organisations across Scotland. We explored their views on MUP and its impact on people experiencing homelessness, service provision and implications for policy. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Participants suggested that the introduction of MUP in Scotland had negligible if any discernible impact on people experiencing homelessness and services that support them. Most service providers felt insufficiently informed about MUP prior to its implementation. Participants reported that where consequences for these populations were evident, they were primarily anticipated although some groups were negatively affected. People experiencing homelessness have complex needs in addition to alcohol addiction, and changes in the way services work need to be considered in future MUP‐related discussions. Discussion and Conclusions: This study suggests that despite initial concerns about potential unintended consequences of MUP, many of these did not materialise to the levels anticipated. As a population‐level health policy, MUP is likely to have little beneficial impact on people experiencing homelessness without the provision of support to address their alcohol use and complex needs. The additional needs of certain groups (e.g., people with no recourse to public funds) need to be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Non‐White populations are at higher risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and have more severe outcomes, including mortality. The present study was undertaken to examine how specific causes of death vary by race and ethnicity, including Asian and Hispanic individuals. Methods: The California Lupus Surveillance Project included SLE cases identified among residents of San Francisco County, CA during January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009. Cases were matched to the National Death Index over a 10‐year period. Logistic regression examined age‐adjusted differences in causes of death by race, ethnicity, and sex. Age‐standardized mortality ratios between individuals with SLE and the corresponding general population were calculated for the leading cause of death, and observed versus expected deaths were estimated. Results: The study included 812 individuals of White (38%), Asian (36%), Black (20%), and mixed/other/unknown (5%) race; 15% identified as Hispanic. One hundred thirty‐five deaths were recorded, with a mean ± SD age at death of 62.2 ± 15.6 years. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) was the leading cause of death overall (33%), and across all racial and ethnic groups, followed by rheumatic disease (18%) and hematologic/oncologic conditions (18%). CVD as the underlying cause of death was 3.63 times higher among SLE cases than in the general population. CVD deaths for those with SLE were nearly 4 and 6 times higher for Asian and Hispanic individuals with SLE, respectively, compared to the general population. Conclusion: Individuals with SLE experience a disproportionate burden of CVD mortality compared to the general population, which is magnified for Asian and Hispanic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the causes of inborn errors of immunity is immune dysregulation. The inability of the immune system to regulate the extent of its activity has several deleterious effects, including autoimmunity, recurrent infections, and malignancy. In recent years, many proteins in the CD28 family – CD28, ICOS, CTLA‐4, PD‐1, and BTLA – have come into the focus of several research areas for their consequential role in the upregulation or downregulation of the immune response. In this review, we will discuss the structure and function of these proteins, as well as provide an overview of the clinical picture of patients with genetic defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Technology holds great potential for promoting health equity for rural populations, who have more chronic illnesses than their urban counterparts but less access to services. Yet, more participatory research approaches are needed to gather community‐driven health technology solutions. The purpose was to collaboratively identify and prioritize action strategies for using technology to promote rural health equity through community stakeholder engagement. Methods: Concept mapping, a quantitative statistical technique, embedded within a qualitative approach, was used to identify and integrate technological solutions towards rural health equity from community stakeholders in three steps: (1) idea generation; (2) sorting and rating feasibility/importance and (3) group interpretation. Purposeful recruitment strategies were used to recruit key stakeholders and organizational representatives from targeted rural communities. Results: Overall, 34 rural community stakeholders from western Canada (76% female, mean age = 55.4 years) participated in the concept mapping process. In Step 1, 84 ideas were generated that were reduced to a pool of 30. Multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis resulted in a six‐cluster map representing how technological solutions can contribute toward rural health equity. The clusters of ideas included technological solutions and applications, but also ideas to make health care more accessible regardless of location, training and support in the use of technology, ensuring digital tools are simplified for ease of use, technologies to support collaboration among healthcare professionals and ideas for overcoming challenges to data sharing across health systems/networks. Each cluster included ideas that were rated as equally important and feasible. Key themes included organizational and individual‐level solutions and connecting patients to newly developed technologies. Conclusions: Overall, the grouping of solutions revealed that technological applications require not only access but also support and collaboration. Concept mapping is a tool that can engage rural community stakeholders in the identification of technological solutions for promoting rural health equity. Patient or Public Contribution: Rural community stakeholders were involved in the generation and interpretation of technological solutions towards rural health equity in a three‐step process: (1) individual brainstorming of ideas, (2) sorting and rating all ideas generated and (3) collective interpretation and group consensus on final results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whether one is interested in mode selective chemistry or non‐statistical reaction dynamics, understanding which vibrational modes contribute to a reaction is important. We investigated the ring‐opening of 2‐methylideneoxirane (a.k.a., allene oxide) to the oxyallyl diradical and subsequent ring‐closure to cyclopropanone using hybrid density functional theory (DFT) and atom centered density matrix propagation (ADMP) molecular dynamics in Gaussian. DFT calculations for this ring‐opening and subsequent ring‐closure show that the energetics allow for the possibility of non‐statistical events, as suggested by the similarities between the imaginary vibrational modes and a twisting motion. ADMP simulations starting near the ring‐opening transition state lead to faster ring‐closure than for simulations starting from the intermediate diradical with the same energy. Analysis of the simulation data identified the presence of a vibrational state near 200 cm−1, corresponding to a disrotatory twisting motion. Selectively exciting this mode leads to a fast reaction time of 50 fs. This work predicts non‐statistical dynamics in the conversion of allene oxide to cyclopropanone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are few studies evaluating the workforce and the time allocated to tasks performed by clinical specialty pharmacists in Australia. The aim of this study was to quantify the time that clinical specialty pharmacists spend on various activities. A Work Observation Method by Activity Timing (WOMBAT) time and motion study was conducted at a tertiary‐referral metropolitan health service with comprehensive unit‐based clinical pharmacy services. Direct observations of clinical pharmacists were conducted by researchers during weekdays. Tasks and times observed were categorised into domains of 'What, Who, How, and Where', accounting for interruptions and multitasking. Eighteen clinical cardiology, respiratory, and geriatric pharmacists were observed over 171.2 h. The majority of time involved direct patient care activities (76.1% [95% confidence interval 72.6–79.6%]), including admission‐related (7.6%), discharge‐related (16.2%), and inpatient clinical tasks (52.5%). Activities were undertaken independently (55.9%) with doctors (26.2%), with nurses (10.5%), or with patients (9.6)%; 19.1% of the pharmacist's day involved multitasking. The tasks most frequently performed together were inpatient clinical activities, including rounding and daily medicine review. This study quantified the typical task allocation of clinical pharmacists in cardiology, respiratory, and geriatric units. It demonstrated that in a hospital setting supported by comprehensive operational pharmacy services, clinical pharmacists working in acute and subacute clinical specialities, predominately undertake direct patient care tasks that have been shown to improve patient safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Some patients with rheumatic diseases might be at higher risk for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We aimed to develop a prediction model for COVID‐19 ARDS in this population and to create a simple risk score calculator for use in clinical settings. Methods: Data were derived from the COVID‐19 Global Rheumatology Alliance Registry from March 24, 2020, to May 12, 2021. Seven machine learning classifiers were trained on ARDS outcomes using 83 variables obtained at COVID‐19 diagnosis. Predictive performance was assessed in a US test set and was validated in patients from four countries with independent registries using area under the curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. A simple risk score calculator was developed using a regression model incorporating the most influential predictors from the best performing classifier. Results: The study included 8633 patients from 74 countries, of whom 523 (6%) had ARDS. Gradient boosting had the highest mean AUC (0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.67‐0.88) and was considered the top performing classifier. Ten predictors were identified as key risk factors and were included in a regression model. The regression model that predicted ARDS with 71% (95% CI: 61%‐83%) sensitivity in the test set, and with sensitivities ranging from 61% to 80% in countries with independent registries, was used to develop the risk score calculator. Conclusion: We were able to predict ARDS with good sensitivity using information readily available at COVID‐19 diagnosis. The proposed risk score calculator has the potential to guide risk stratification for treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies, that have potential to reduce COVID‐19 disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frozen ground influences subsurface hydrology by reducing soil permeability, impeding infiltration, and inducing surface runoff. As the seasonal snowpack strongly controls the evolution of the ground thermal regime, it is necessary to represent the snowpack in models simulating frozen ground and its hydrologic consequences. Conventional understanding of the relationship between snowcover and frozen ground considers the snowpack as an insulator, shielding the ground from cold winter temperatures and thus inhibiting frozen ground. However, observations and modeling at Niwot Ridge, a seasonally snow‐covered alpine catchment in the headwaters of the Boulder Creek watershed, illustrate that snowpack cold content can promote and preserve frozen ground beneath the snowpack during the snowmelt season, unlike bare ground patches that thaw relatively rapidly due to exposure to solar radiation and warm spring temperatures. We present results from a coupled snowpack and subsurface thermo‐hydrologic model including freeze‐thaw processes that captures these contrasts reasonably well. Our results suggest that the cold snowpack at this site acts as a heat sink and promotes frozen ground, in contrast to the conventional understanding of the snowpack as an insulator. In the subalpine zone, infiltration simulations show that shallow freezing beneath snow‐covered ground has a much stronger effect on infiltration than shallow freezing beneath bare ground because the soil beneath the snow remained frozen during snowmelt, whereas bare patches thawed by the time they received excess snowmelt run‐on. Key Points: Cold alpine and subalpine snowpacks promote frozen ground due to snowpack cold contentDue to snowpack cold content, frost beneath snowcover persists during snowmelt and limits infiltrationRepresentation of the snowpack significantly improves soil temperature estimates [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persons who identify as community health workers (CHWs) may hold other titles and/or certifications, including the title of patient navigator (PN). PN roles first emerged from Dr. Harold Freeman's initiative at Harlem Hospital as a strategy to reduce disparities in access to health care, whereas CHW roles extend beyond health systems and are predominantly found in community-based organizations and nonprofits. Although CHWs' origins in the United States predate those of PNs, the growth of CHWs' professional identity and national representation trails that of PNs despite evidence of CHWs' effectiveness since the 1960s. Barriers to progress have included a pattern of short-term and inequitable funding for CHW positions, a lack of employer support for participation in association business, and broad diversity in CHW roles and work settings. The National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW) was launched in 2019 and built on earlier organizing efforts by multisector, multicultural CHWs and allies in the CHW section of the American Public Health Association and on efforts to create the American Association of Community Health Workers (2006-2009). Trends in health care financing, increasing calls for racial equity, and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have amplified the unique abilities and trust that CHWs apply to underresourced, marginalized, and multiethnic populations to address both the social determinants of health and health system access, cost, and quality. As a result, the NACHW has been at the forefront of efforts to improve federal funding for COVID responses, to sustain funding for CHWs and their organizations beyond the pandemic, and to drive equity in the rebuilding of public health infrastructure and the transformation of payment models and health systems. Lessons learned from this process that have implications for the oncology patient navigation field include the persistent need to reinforce the value of self-determination for the profession in matters of policy; the importance of actively cultivating unity among diverse cultural and practice groups within the profession; the essential roles of active volunteer leadership, early staffing, and substantial financial support over an extended startup period; the ongoing need for leadership development within a workforce with limited exposure to a professional association culture; the vital importance of ongoing efforts to collaborate with and build capacity among state-level CHW networks; and the value of opportunistic national collaborations in a rapidly evolving policy environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite efforts of professional organizations and government agencies to solidify the professional identities of community health workers and patient navigators in the oncology workforce, the scientific literature perpetuates wide variation in the nomenclature used to define these natural change agents, who have proven efficacy in improving access to quality cancer care for historically marginalized populations. To disseminate, sustain, and scale-up these life-saving roles in cancer care, the oncology field must come together now to adopt clear and consistent job titles and occupational identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]