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Understanding how ethics inform a water treatment plant operator's daily experience helps staff realize the significance of their efforts to protect public health and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding wastewater treatment processes is key to ensuring finished quality for discharge into the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural polymers, particularly plant‐derived nanocelluloses, self‐organize into hierarchical structures, enabling mechanical robustness, bright iridescence, emission, and polarized light reflection. These biophotonic properties are facilitated by the assembly of individual components during evaporation, such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), which exhibit a left‐handed helical pitch in a chiral nematic state. This work demonstrates how optically active films with pre‐programmed opposite handedness (left or right) can be constructed via shear‐induced twisted printing with clockwise and counter‐clockwise shearing vectors. The resulting large‐area thin films are transparent yet exhibit pre‐determined mirror‐symmetrical optical activity, enabling the distinction of absorbed and emitted circularly polarized light. This processing method allows for sequential printing of thin and ultrathin films with twisted layered organization and on‐demand helicity. The complex light polarization behavior is due to step‐like changes in linear birefringence within each deposited layer and circular birefringence, different from that of conventional CNC films as revealed with Muller matrix analysis. Furthermore, intercalating an achiral organic dye into printed structures induces circularly polarized luminescence while preserving high transmittance and controlled handedness. These results suggest that twisted sequential printing can facilitate the construction of chiroptical metamaterials with tunable circular polarization, absorption, and emission for optical filters, encryption, photonic coatings, and chiral sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the increased use and practicality of water reuse will help operators when reuse is implemented in their system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how the laboratory is integral with the success of plant operations is key for operators to improve treatment processes and expand their knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In partial onset epilepsy, seizures arise focally in the brain and often propagate. Patients frequently become refractory to medical management, leaving neurosurgery, which can cause neurologic deficits, as a primary treatment. In the cortex, focal seizures spread through horizontal connections in layers II/III, suggesting that severing these connections can block seizures while preserving function. Focal neocortical epilepsy is induced in mice, sub‐surface cuts are created surrounding the seizure focus using tightly‐focused femtosecond laser pulses, and electrophysiological recordings are acquired at multiple locations for 3–12 months. Cuts reduced seizure frequency in most animals by 87%, and only 5% of remaining seizures propagated to the distant electrodes, compared to 80% in control animals. These cuts produced a modest decrease in cortical blood flow that recovered and left a ≈20‐µm wide scar with minimal collateral damage. When placed over the motor cortex, cuts do not cause notable deficits in a skilled reaching task, suggesting they hold promise as a novel neurosurgical approach for intractable focal cortical epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the importance of quality assurance and quality control practices in the process control laboratory is key for operators to produce reliable data and make informed treatment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how industrial pretreatment programs protect public health and the environment gives operators a more complete picture of an often‐overlooked area of the water industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how basic safety practices can affect the daily work of operators can reduce the chance of harm to personnel and infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Takeaways: Flow imaging microscopy (FIM) combines a flow cytometer's fluidic architecture with a microscope's spatial resolution to allow morphometric analysis of objects in suspensions such as water. FIM's real‐time analysis and identification of potential cyanotoxin producers help utilities understand population dynamics to maintain healthier source waters and reduce response times when a bloom is indicated. Case studies show FIM's advantages and limitations in harmful algal bloom monitoring programs for reservoir management and water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how to control macroorganisms in source water and during treatment can help operators suppress their proliferation in the distribution system and prevent customer complaints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Characterization of Regolith And Trace Economic Resources (CRATER), an Orbitrap™‐based laser desorption mass spectrometry instrument designed to conduct high‐precision, spatially resolved analyses of planetary materials, is capable of answering outstanding science questions about the Moon's formation and the subsequent processes that have modified its (sub)surface. Methods: Here, we describe the baseline design of the CRATER flight model, which requires <20 000 cm3 volume, <10 kg mass, and <60 W peak power. The analytical capabilities and performance metrics of a prototype that meets the full functionality of the flight model are demonstrated. Results: The instrument comprises a high‐power, solid‐state, pulsed ultraviolet (213 nm) laser source to ablate the surface of the lunar sample, a custom ion optical interface to accelerate and collimate the ions produced at the ablation site, and an Orbitrap mass analyzer capable of discriminating competing isobars via ultrahigh mass resolution and high mass accuracy. The CRATER instrument can measure elemental and isotopic abundances and characterize the organic content of lunar surface samples, as well as identify economically valuable resources for future exploration. Conclusion: An engineering test unit of the flight model is currently in development to serve as a pathfinder for near‐term mission opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This is the first known case report of encephalitic listeriosis in a donkey (Equus asinus). A 5‐day‐old female donkey foal presented for fever, progressive weakness and loss of suckle reflex. Upon arrival, its vital parameters were normal, but the foal was collapsed. It had horizontal nystagmus, front limb paddling, minimal response to stimuli, prolapse of the left third eyelid and curling the neck to the left when in sternal recumbency. Samples collected for diagnostic evaluation included blood and cerebral spinal fluid. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed a pleocytosis consisting mainly of nondegenerative neutrophils and a normal protein concentration. Bacteria were not seen on Gram stain. After 24 h of treatment with intravenous fluids, anti‐inflammatories, antibiotics, nasogastric feedings of the dam's milk and supplemental nasal oxygen, little improvement was observed and the owners elected to euthanise the foal. Post‐mortem examination revealed multifocal, irregularly distributed hepatic necrosis and multifocal lymphohistiocytic encephalitis. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from a section of brainstem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticle pollution has been shown to affect various organisms. However, the effects of nanoparticles on species interactions, and the role of species traits, such as body size, in modulating these effects, are not well‐understood. We addressed this issue using competing freshwater phytoplankton species exposed to copper oxide nanoparticles. Increasing nanoparticle concentration resulted in decreased phytoplankton species growth rates and community productivity (both abundance and biomass). Importantly, we consistently found that nanoparticles had greater negative effects on species with smaller cell sizes, such that nanoparticle pollution weakened the competitive dominance of smaller species and promoted species diversity. Moreover, nanoparticles reduced the growth rate differences and competitive ability differences of competing species, while having little effect on species niche differences. Consequently, nanoparticle pollution reduced the selection effect on phytoplankton community abundance, but increased the selection effect on community biomass. Our results suggest cell size as a key functional trait to consider when predicting phytoplankton community structure and ecosystem functioning in the face of increasing nanopollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water treatment plant operators need to understand federal and state laws as well as the standards that apply to water treatment systems. They should also understand how drinking water regulations are administered and why compliance is essential to providing safe drinking water to the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The overall purpose of this study was to elicit perspectives from a diverse group of postpartum individuals about their perinatal outpatient informational support and education. In addition, suggestions from participants are provided. Although informational support is crucial in the peripartum period, it is often inadequate or biased. Qualitative research, which offers a nuanced and patient‐centered perspective, is limited. The qualitive research that does exist is limited to the prenatal period only, neglecting perspectives throughout the entire peripartum period. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study was part of a larger observational cross‐sectional study of postpartum individuals in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2017. Two years after the initial study (2019), participants were recruited into 8 focus groups. Trained facilitators guided focus group conversations using semistructured interview questions. The questions centered on overall experiences with perinatal outpatient health care experiences and informational support. Thematic analyses were used in data analysis. Interrater reliability between coders ranged from 92% to 100%. Results: Fifty‐four individuals (22.1% response rate) participated in a total of 12 focus groups. The overarching theme was the need for recognition of individuality of patients. Three subthemes emerged, including time, multiple modalities of information support, and agency. Discussion: This study extended previous qualitative findings across the entire peripartum period and that individualized prenatal care is an important distinction in perceived quality of care. Health care organizations should consider allocating time differently for perinatal office visits, offer flexible visit times based on individualized needs, offer information in multiple modalities, and promote agency of patients. This study was strengthened by the community involvement, women of color only focus groups, and oversampling of Black women. This study was limited by the self‐selected, homogenous sample and potential for recall bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how current regulatory requirements came to be can help operators see how required water quality analyses play their part in protecting public health and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Takeaways: Regular monitoring of particle concentration in conjunction with turbidity analysis provides supplementary data that can provide important water quality information. Particle analysis using flow imaging microscopy (FIM) can help operators better understand various treatment processes and algae growth in source waters. Specific size ranges can be monitored using FIM for target pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how to effectively communicate and work with customers can help mitigate situations quickly and build confidence in the water system as well as utility staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short‐chain fatty acid butyrate is produced from the bacterial fermentation of indigestible fiber in the intestinal lumen, and it has been shown to attenuate lung inflammation in murine asthma models. Mast cells (MCs) are initiators of inflammatory response to allergens, and they play an important role in asthma. MC survival and proliferation is regulated by its growth factor stem cell factor (SCF), which acts through the receptor, KIT. It has previously been shown that butyrate attenuates the activation of MCs by allergen stimulation. However, how butyrate mechanistically influences SCF signalling to impact MC function remains unknown. Here, we report that butyrate treatment triggered the modification of MC histones via butyrylation and acetylation, and inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity. Further, butyrate treatment caused downregulation of SCF receptor KIT and associated phosphorylation, leading to significant attenuation of SCF‐mediated MC proliferation, and pro‐inflammatory cytokine secretion. Mechanistically, butyrate inhibited MC function by suppressing KIT and downstream p38 and Erk phosphorylation, and it mediated these effects via modification of histones, acting as an HDAC inhibitor and not via its traditional GPR41 (FFAR3) or GPR43 (FFAR2) butyrate receptors. In agreement, the pharmacological inhibition of Class I HDAC (HDAC1/3) mirrored butyrate's effects, suggesting that butyrate impacts MC function by HDAC1/3 inhibition. Taken together, butyrate epigenetically modifies histones and downregulates the SCF/KIT/p38/Erk signalling axis, leading to the attenuation of MC function, validating its ability to suppress MC‐mediated inflammation. Therefore, butyrate supplementations could offer a potential treatment strategy for allergy and asthma via epigenetic alterations in MCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how to use different types of process control tests to maintain optimal corrosion control conditions can guide operators in their response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alert levels can be established using baseline data to trigger action in source water management and/or water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the differences between types of organic contaminants and their regulatory requirements helps operators maintain a well‐operating treatment plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how to use customer complaints to improve water quality can help operators take corrective action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how different types of laboratory analyses can be used to make determinations on unknown samples can guide operators in their response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how to use different types of process control tests to detect nitrification can guide water plant operators in their response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An existing probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) for Class I hazardous waste (Class IH) injection well systems is extended for dynamic risk analysis and modified for Class II disposal well systems, which inject large volumes of "exempt" oil and gas (OG) exploration and production (E&P) waste. Disposal system failure is release of waste to the biosphere, including underground sources of drinking water. Comparative PRA analysis of generic Class IH and generic Texas Class II disposal systems suggests Class II systems are 50 times more likely to fail than Class IH systems due to different requirements for pressure monitoring, waste migration monitoring, and number of confining layers. The generic Texas Class II disposal well PRA was extended to portray a generic disposal system in Dimmit County, Texas, which is a legacy OG E&P region, and to account for the increased likelihood of waste migration pathways from unknown wells and plug failure of abandoned wells. Legacy oil‐related activities increase the probability of waste migration pathways because well construction, regulatory protections, and information tracking technologies have improved during the last 40 years. The system failure likelihood for Class II disposal well systems, collocated with legacy and active OG activities, is twice that for generic Texas Class II disposal systems, and failure likelihood increases with the assumed proportion of unknown wells to known wells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding different types of drinking water sources is key for operators to provide effective treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To (1) describe exposure history, clinical signs, treatment, and diagnostic findings in 4 dogs following ingestion of tamarinds, and in 2 dogs following ingestion of cream of tartar, and (2) discuss tartaric acid, the commondenominator, as the proposed toxic principle in tamarinds and grapes. Series Summary: Reports in which dogs developed acute kidney injury following ingestion of cream of tartar or tamarinds were identified from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center electronic database. In these cases, decontamination was not performed, and treatments were delayed. Despite IV fluids and symptomatic and supportive care, 2 of the dogs became anuric and 1 became oliguric. Four dogs were euthanized, and the outcome is unknown for 2 of the dogs. Necropsies were performed on 3 of the dogs. Clinical signs, laboratory findings, and histopathologic lesions were similar to those reported in grape and raisin toxicosis. New or Unique Information Provided: Acute kidney injury may develop following ingestion of cream of tartar or tamarinds in dogs. Connecting these reports with findings in grape and raisin toxicosis and the sensitivity to tartaric acid in dogs, tartaric acid is identified as the likely toxic component in grapes and tamarinds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agrarian distress—the experience wherein sustaining an agricultural livelihood becomes increasingly challenging—is well documented in South Asia. Another regional trend is the feminization of agriculture or an increase in women's work and decision‐making in agriculture. Scholars have recently linked these two phenomena, demonstrating that agrarian distress results in the movement of men out of agriculture, driving women into the sector. Yet what remains underexplored is the relationship between climate change, a contributor to agrarian distress, and the feminization of agriculture. To examine this, we link socioeconomic and demographic data from India, Bangladesh, and Nepal to high‐resolution gridded climate data. We then estimate a set of multivariate regression models to explore linkages between recent temperature and precipitation variability from historical norms and the likelihood that a woman works in agriculture. Results suggest that hotter‐than‐normal conditions in the year prior to the survey are associated with an increased likelihood of working in agriculture among women. This relationship is particularly strong among married women and women with less than primary education. While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms between climate change and the feminization of agriculture, our findings suggest a need for gender‐sensitive climate change adaptation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Takeaways: As its current workforce ages and retires, the water industry needs to bring in ambitious, young employees to keep the water flowing. Classrooms provide students with technical knowledge, and internships provide them with hands‐on experience that will help them stand out in job applications. Internships allow employers to see how prospective applicants work under pressure to determine if they are a good fit for the team. Internship programs provide a potential pipeline for new employees who may have not otherwise known about water industry positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agrarian distress—the experience wherein sustaining an agricultural livelihood becomes increasingly challenging—is well documented in South Asia. Another regional trend is the feminization of agriculture or an increase in women's work and decision‐making in agriculture. Scholars have recently linked these two phenomena, demonstrating that agrarian distress results in the movement of men out of agriculture, driving women into the sector. Yet what remains underexplored is the relationship between climate change, a contributor to agrarian distress, and the feminization of agriculture. To examine this, we link socioeconomic and demographic data from India, Bangladesh, and Nepal to high‐resolution gridded climate data. We then estimate a set of multivariate regression models to explore linkages between recent temperature and precipitation variability from historical norms and the likelihood that a woman works in agriculture. Results suggest that hotter‐than‐normal conditions in the year prior to the survey are associated with an increased likelihood of working in agriculture among women. This relationship is particularly strong among married women and women with less than primary education. While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms between climate change and the feminization of agriculture, our findings suggest a need for gender‐sensitive climate change adaptation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding that sample collection quality assurance/quality control can make or break water quality data reliability is key for operators to make informed decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A better understanding of how vegetation influences alluvial channels could improve (a) assessments of channel stability and flood risks, (b) applications of vegetation as a river management tool, and (c) predictions of channel responses to climate change and other human impacts. We take advantage of a natural field experiment in the semi‐arid to arid Henry Mountains, Utah, USA: large spatial differences in bed and bank vegetation are found along some alluvial channels due to localized perennial springs caused by aquicludes in the underlying bedrock. Airborne LiDAR topography and flood modeling are used to constrain channel morphology, vegetation density, and flow velocity at different flood discharges for three spring‐fed reaches along intermittently flowing streams. The spatial distribution of vegetation quantitatively influences both the magnitude and direction of channel adjustment. Reaches with abundant bed vegetation are significantly wider (by an average of ≈50%), with shallower flows and lower velocities, than reaches with little bed vegetation. Reaches with dense channel bank vegetation are ≈25% narrower and ≈25% deeper than sparsely vegetated reaches. We interpret that sediment grain size influences the spatial distribution of vegetation within spring reaches, but that bank vegetation may be more important than grain size for "threshold" width adjustments. Widths, depths, and velocities are fairly insensitive to whether local hydraulic roughness is parameterized in terms of local vegetation density or is assumed spatially constant, suggesting that the underlying "bare earth" topography of the channel bed and banks exerts more control on local flow than does local vegetation density in this landscape. Plain Language Summary: Vegetation is found almost everywhere on Earth's surface and varies with regional climate rather than over short distances. It is therefore difficult to isolate vegetation influences on river channel dimensions from other controls such as flood discharge or sediment grain size, or to predict how climate change may drive river change. We isolate vegetation controls by studying river channels with large natural variations in vegetation due to localized groundwater springs. We use high‐resolution topographic data (collected using lasers shot from airplanes) to measure how much vegetation is found along and in channels, and we use computer models to calculate the width, depth, and velocity of flow at different flood discharges. We find that vegetation can cause channels to either be narrower or wider, depending on whether more vegetation is located on channel beds or banks, and we quantify the magnitude of these effects. Key Points: Groundwater‐fed springs in dryland landscapes provide an opportunity to isolate effects of vegetation on channel morphodynamicsVegetation can drive channel widening or narrowing, depending on whether the vegetation is focused on the channel bed or banksAt‐a‐station hydraulic geometry exponents are relatively insensitive to vegetation density in our data [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Understanding advanced treatment processes is key to keeping up‐to‐date with industry advancements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Preparedness training and continuity‐of‐operations plans helped a Texas water utility's staff keep mission‐essential functions going and water flowing during 2021's record‐breaking winter storm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the meaning behind different types of limits listed on lab reports allows operators to make informed decisions based on water quality data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Takeaways: The City of Wichita Falls, Texas, has experienced 13 taste and odor (T&O) events in the past five years, with one especially significant cyanobacterial bloom occurring in 2020. Thanks to Cypress Environmental Laboratory's thorough and effective T&O monitoring program developed in 2016, in each of the 13 cases, drinking water with elevated T&O concentrations was detected and treated before being released to the public. Laboratory staff further improved the monitoring program in January 2021, learning from steps they took to address an odor in the water at one of Wichita Falls' treatment plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interpreting chemistry testing data is key to ensuring drinking water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data produced in water treatment plants contain a wealth of information on how well processes perform, but the key is how well the information is understood and applied. With a fundamental knowledge of microbiology and chemistry, plant operators are better equipped to get the most out of test results to help ensure high‐quality water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Takeaways: After receiving hundreds of complaints, the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, developed a plan for monitoring harmful algal blooms to detect and mitigate taste and odor (T&O) compounds and cyanotoxins. The plan uses sensory analysis, genus‐level or functional‐group identification, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry/electron capture detector, data sondes, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to monitor blooms for T&O issues and cyanotoxins before they become problems. When blooms are detected, mitigation efforts include source‐switching, pretreatment, oxidation, and adsorption, which have eliminated customer complaints following more than 60 years of unmitigated T&O cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The City of Wichita Falls, Texas, made international news in 2014 when its water system became a water reuse pioneer. In response to a historic drought, the city simultaneously planned and implemented direct potable reuse (DPR) and indirect potable reuse (IPR) systems to see it through the drought and respond to future water shortages. Now, the city is a role model for water utilities around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of the present studies was to examine the connections that narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry had with various aspects of status.Method: Study 1 examined the associations that narcissism had with the motivation to seek status in a sample of 1,219 community members. Study 2 examined whether narcissism interacted with the status-seeking motive to predict how individuals pursued status in a sample of 760 community members and college students. Study 3 used a daily diary approach to examine whether narcissism moderated the associations that daily perceptions of status and affiliation had with state self-esteem in 356 college students.Results: Our results revealed that narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry were somewhat similar in their desire for status but had divergent associations with other aspects of status (e.g., strategies employed to attain status, perceptions of status, reactions to perceived status).Conclusions: The results of the present studies suggest that narcissistic admiration is associated with an agentic orientation to the pursuit of status, whereas narcissistic rivalry is associated with an antagonistic orientation to the pursuit of status. Discussion focuses on the implications of these results for our understanding of the connections between narcissism and status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]