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Background/Objectives: MRI is the gold standard for detecting meniscal tears; however, ultrasound may readily detect meniscal changes, obviating the need for MRI. We aim to (1) determine ultrasound sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy in detecting meniscal changes, and (2) describe characteristic meniscal changes in US and their prevalence. Methods: A retrospective analysis of knee ultrasound scans for the presence of medial and lateral meniscal tears was conducted. Meniscal changes were characterized into five US appearances (cleft, diminutive, cyst, displaced fragment, and extrusion) by the consensus of two musculoskeletal radiologists. Ultrasound findings were then compared to MRI results. Results: In total, 249 patients were included. Ultrasound sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy for medial meniscal tears were 79%, 97.3%, 95.3%, 86.6%, and 90%, respectively, and for lateral meniscal tears the ultrasound sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy were 63%, 99.5%, 96%, 93%, and 93.6%, respectively. The false negative and false positive rates for medial meniscal tears were 13.4% and 4.7%, respectively, and for the lateral meniscus, the false negative and false positive rates were 6.7% and 3.8%, respectively. Meniscal clefts were the most prevalent appearance in the medial meniscus followed by extrusions. Meniscal extrusions were the most prevalent appearance in the lateral meniscus followed by clefts. Conclusions: Community-based US is highly accurate in the detection of meniscal tears when compared with MRI, making it a valuable diagnostic imaging tool for detecting meniscal tears in a community setting where accessibility to MRI is limited or if there are MRI contraindications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on primary care-based screening retention efforts in cancer screenings among emergency department (ED) patients. Topics discussed include the significant role of EDs in addressing community health needs, the classification of the study participants, and the importance of retention of participants in the study.

We aim to summarize selected late-breaking science on hypertension management strategies and disease presented at the 2023 American Heart Association (AHA) conference. The trials discussed below encompass stricter goals of blood pressure management and were expanded into different population groups from different countries with varied socioeconomic backgrounds and settings, collectively advancing our understanding of hypertension treatment and its impact on public health. We summarized the china rural health care project (CRHCP), a four-year study involving over 34,000 participants in rural China, emphasizing the potential of stricter blood pressure goals in lowering the incidence of all-cause dementia and cognitive impairment. Next, we explore the US-based CARDIA-SSBP study, which highlights the impact of dietary sodium on systolic blood pressure in middle-aged individuals. Through a randomized-order cross-over design, the study provides compelling evidence supporting the effectiveness of sodium reduction as a non-pharmacological approach to blood pressure control. The UK-based POP-HT trial offers critical insights into postpartum women with a history of hypertensive pregnancy. The trial emphasizes the benefits of self-monitoring and physician-optimized antihypertensive titration, showcasing significant blood pressure reductions in the intervention group. Furthermore, the KARDIA-1 study introduces us to Zilebesiran, an innovative RNA interference drug. This phase 2 study highlights its potential for achieving sustained blood pressure reductions and its favorable safety profile, marking a significant step forward in hypertension treatment. Lastly, we expand the practical application of the previously conducted landmark SPRINT trial, which showed cardiovascular benefit with intensive SBP control to less than 120 mm Hg in high-risk non-diabetic patients with hypertension compared with routine BP control to <140 mm Hg. The ESPRIT trial and the IMPACTS trial build upon the SPRINT trial, demonstrating the effects of intensive blood pressure lowering in Asian hypertensive patients and in 36 health care clinics in medically underserved states in the US: Louisiana and Mississippi. The IMPACTS trial and the "Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria Program" demonstrate the effectiveness of implementing comprehensive blood pressure control strategies in real-world settings. These studies highlight the feasibility and scalability of such interventions, especially in low-resource environments, and their potential to significantly improve public health outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Annual heart transplant (HT) volumes have increased, as have post-HT outpatient care needs. Data on HT-related emergency department (ED) visits are limited., Methods and Results: A retrospective analysis of 177 450 HT patient ED visits from the 2009 to 2018 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample was conducted. HT recipients, primary diagnoses, and comorbidities associated with ED visits were identified via International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision ( ICD-9 ) and International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision ( ICD-10 ) codes. Multivariable logistic regression was used to predict outcomes of hospital admission and death. HT volumes and HT-related ED visits increased from 2009 to 2018. Infection was the most common primary diagnosis (24%), and cardiac primary diagnoses represented 10% of encounters. Hospital admissions occurred in 48% of visits, but overall mortality was low (1.6%). Length of stay was 3.1 days (interquartile range, 1.6-5.9 days), and comorbidity burden was high: 42% had hypertension, 38% had diabetes, and 31% had ≥2 comorbidities. Those aged ≥65 years had significantly higher odds of admission (odds ratio [OR], 2.14 [95% CI, 1.97-2.33]) and death (OR, 2.06 [95% CI, 1.61-2.62]). Comorbidities increased odds of admission (OR, 1.62 [95% CI, 1.51-1.75]) but not death. Renal primary diagnosis had the highest risk of admission (OR, 4.1 [95% CI, 3.6-4.6]), but cardiac primary diagnosis had the highest odds of death (OR, 11.6 [95% CI, 9.1-14.8])., Conclusions: HT-related ED visits increased from 2009 to 2018 with high admission rates but low in-hospital mortality, suggesting an opportunity to improve prehospital care. Older patients and those with cardiac primary diagnoses had the highest risk of death. The observed contrast between predictors of admission and mortality signals a need for further study to improve risk stratification and outpatient care strategies.

Childhood obesity is a public health concern in the United States. Consequences of childhood obesity include metabolic disease and heart, lung, kidney, and other health-related comorbidities. Therefore, the early determination of obesity risk is needed and predicting the trend of a child's body mass index (BMI) at an early age is crucial. Early identification of obesity can lead to early prevention. Multiple methods have been tested and evaluated to assess obesity trends in children. Available growth charts help determine a child's current obesity level but do not predict future obesity risk. The present methods of predicting obesity include regression analysis and machine learning-based classifications and risk factor (threshold)-based categorizations based on specific criteria. All the present techniques, especially current machine learning-based methods, require longitudinal data and information on a large number of variables related to a child's growth (e.g., socioeconomic, family-related factors) in order to predict future obesity-risk. In this paper, we propose three different techniques for three different scenarios to predict childhood obesity based on machine learning approaches and apply them to real data. Our proposed methods predict obesity for children at five years of age using the following three data sets: (1) a single well-child visit, (2) multiple well-child visits under the age of two, and (3) multiple random well-child visits under the age of five. Our models are especially important for situations where only the current patient information is available rather than having multiple data points from regular spaced well-child visits. Our models predict obesity using basic information such as birth BMI, gestational age, BMI measures from well-child visits, and gender. Our models can predict a child's obesity category (normal, overweight, or obese) at five years of age with an accuracy of 89%, 77%, and 89%, for the three application scenarios, respectively. Therefore, our proposed models can assist healthcare professionals by acting as a decision support tool to aid in predicting childhood obesity early in order to reduce obesity-related complications, and in turn, improve healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic across the world, people have suffered an unexpected setback to their mental health. As psychological support is being provided to patients and healthcare workers, the general population and university students go unnoticed. This review aims to present existing literature that reports the effects of COVID-19 on psychological outcomes of the general population and university students in different countries. Methods: A manual search was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar and Mendeley from inception to 31st January 2021. Articles were selected based on the predetermined eligibility criteria. Results: During COVID-19 pandemic, relatively high rates of depression (4.5% to 72.3%), anxiety (12.7% to 85.7%) and stress (5% to 90.1%) were reported in the general population as well as in university students, depression (3% to 70.5%), anxiety (9% to 63.3%) and stress (61.5% to 25%) in India, Nepal, Pakistan, China, Spain, US, UK, France, Egypt, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. Risk factors associated include female gender, younger age group (≤40 years), unemployment, student status, and frequent exposure to social media/news concerning COVID-19. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with highly significant levels of psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety and stress. Alleviating the hazardous effects of COVID-19 on mental health should be given due attention internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic COVID‐19 outbreak has been caused due to SARS‐CoV‐2 pathogen, resulting in millions of infections and deaths worldwide, the United States being on top at the present moment. The long, complex orf1ab polyproteins of SARS‐CoV‐2 play an important role in viral RNA synthesis. To assess the impact of mutations in this important domain, we analyzed 1134 complete protein sequences of the orf1ab polyprotein from the NCBI virus database from affected patients across various states of the United States from December 2019 to 25 April 2020. Multiple sequence alignment using Clustal Omega followed by statistical significance was calculated. Four significant mutations T265I (nsp 2), P4715L (nsp 12), and P5828L and Y5865C (both at nsp 13) were identified in important nonstructural proteins, which function either as replicase or helicase. A comparative analysis shows 265 T→I, 5828 P→L, and 5865Y→C are unique to the United States and not reported from Europe or Asia; while one, 4715 P→L is predominant in both Europe and the United States. Mutational changes in amino acids are predicted to alter the structure and function of the corresponding proteins, thereby, it is imperative to consider the mutational spectra while designing new antiviral therapeutics targeting viral orf1ab. Highlights: Four significant mutations T265I (nsp 2), P4715L (nsp 12), P5828L and Y5865C (both at nsp 13) were identified in USA.265 T→I, 5828 P→L, and 5865Y→C are unique mutations for the United States.Mutational changes in amino acids are predicted to alter the structure and function of the corresponding proteins.Mutational spectra should be considered while designing new antiviral therapeutics targeting viral orf1ab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While scientists in the USA have accomplished Bose-Einstein Condensation (BEC) of inert gas and alkaline atoms successfully, a challenging question comes into the other's mind why not BEC of Positronium (Ps), even though, its lowest lifetime (142 ns)? A few auspicious methods of having BEC were invented and successfully applied in the atoms of infinite lifetime. But in case of Ps-BEC laser cooling is considered to be the best method provided we can meet the requisite parameters. Using the medium range e+ beam intensity we explored some solid surfaces for the laser cooling of Ps but Ps-BEC could not be achieved. Because the intensity of pulsed beam was not enough to have the phase space density, outgoing Ps from the surface with thermal motion could not be controlled inside the scattering chamber and laser-Ps interaction was without synchronization. Hence, scientists of different laboratories have been searching materials of high density Ps production, intense pulsed e+ beam, advanced detector and image reconstruction techniques. Recently we have developed calumnious silicon nano-wires of various diameters and found the signature of a long-life component of Ps and estimated the Ps production density about 1015 Ps/cm3. It is an ideal case for the achievement of the Ps-BEC. The details of these systems are explained in the following sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has created major public health and socio-economic challenges across the United States. Among them are challenges to the educational system where college administrators are struggling with the questions of how to mitigate the risk and spread of diseases on their college campus. To help address this challenge, we developed a flexible computational framework to model the spread and control of COVID-19 on a residential college campus. The modeling framework accounts for heterogeneity in social interactions, activities, environmental and behavioral risk factors, disease progression, and control interventions. The contribution of mitigation strategies to disease transmission was explored without and with interventions such as vaccination, quarantine of symptomatic cases, and testing. We show that even with high vaccination coverage (90%) college campuses may still experience sizable outbreaks. The size of the outbreaks varies with the underlying environmental and socio-behavioral risk factors. Complementing vaccination with quarantine and mass testing was shown to be paramount for preventing or mitigating outbreaks. Though our quantitative results are likely provisional on our model assumptions, sensitivity analysis confirms the robustness of their qualitative nature.

Background: There is a paucity of data regarding sex differences in the profiles and outcomes of ambulatory patients on left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support who present to the emergency department (ED)., Methods and Results: We performed a retrospective analysis of 57,200 LVAD-related ED patient encounters from the 2010 to 2018 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. International Classification of Diseases Clinical Modification, Ninth Revision and Tenth Revision, codes identified patients aged 18 years or older with LVADs and associated primary and comorbidity diagnoses. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were stratified by sex and compared. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of hospital admission and death. Female patient encounters comprised 27.2% of ED visits and occurred at younger ages and more frequently with obesity and depression (all P < .01). There were no sex differences in presentation for device complication, stroke, infection, or heart failure (all P > .05); however, female patient encounters were more often respiratory- and genitourinary or gynecological related (both P < .01). After adjustment for age group, diabetes, depression, and hypertension, male patient encounters had a 38% increased odds of hospital admission (95% confidence interval 1.20-1.58), but there was no sex difference in the adjusted odds of death (odds ratio 1.11, 95% confidence interval 0.86-1.45)., Conclusions: Patient encounters of females on LVAD support have significantly different comorbidities and outcomes compared with males. Further inquiry into these sex differences is imperative to improve long-term outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest A.T.O. reports consulting for Cytokinetics and Myokardia/Bristol Myers Squibb and has received research support from Cytokinetics, Myokardia/Bristol Myers Squibb, and Pfizer. J.W.R. has received paid consulting fees from Abiomed, Amgen, Myokardia/Bristol Myers Squibb, Cytokinetics, Bayer, and Novartis. E.Y.B. reports research support paid to the University of Pennsylvania by Medtronic Inc. and Impulse Dynamics Ltd. The remaining authors report no disclosures., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Complex network (CN) is a graph theory‐based depiction of relation shared by various elements of a complex dynamical system such as the atmosphere. Here we apply the concept of CN to understand the directionality and topological structure of summer extreme precipitation events (SEPEs) over the conterminous United States (CONUS). The SEPEs are calculated based on the 95th percentile daily rainfall at 0.5° × 0.5° spatial resolution for CONUS to investigate the multidimensional characteristics of precipitation extremes. The derived CN coefficients (e.g., betweenness centrality, clustering coefficient, orientation, and network divergence) reveal important structural and dynamical information about the topology of the SEPEs and improve understanding of the dominant meteorological patterns. The initiation and propagation of SEPEs from the source zones to the sink zones are identified. The SEPEs are influenced by topography, dominant wind patterns, and moisture sources in terms of their topological structure and spatial dynamics. Plain Language Summary: Every year, the United States incurs a loss of $3–$4 billion from flooding caused by extreme rainfall events. Under climate change, extreme rainfall events are likely to intensify further in the future as the atmosphere can hold more moisture with warmer temperatures. However, very few studies have explored the inherent topological structure characterizing extreme precipitation. Understanding of this structure and its driving meteorological conditions holds a key to understanding the response of extreme precipitation systems to climate change. In this study, key influencing factors such as topography, dominant wind pattern, and soil moisture controlling the topology of the summer extreme precipitation events in the United States are identified using complex network analysis along with the regions predominantly acting as moisture source or sink. Key Points: Physical control of dominant weather regime, topography, and soil moisture on synchronization of extreme precipitation events is revealed in the United StatesRegions of moisture inflow, moisture source, and moisture convergence associated with summer extreme precipitation events are identifiedSix clusters interacting through moisture exchange emerged in the United States, demonstrating the dynamical synchronization of summer extreme precipitation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measured pregnancy rates and pregnancy outcomes among girls with histories of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), and then quantified the associations between the outcome of pregnancy with: a) girls' exposure to childhood adversity, and b) their behavioral health. This is the largest study of pregnancy outcomes and associated factors among girls impacted by CSE in the United States. We reviewed court files of participants in a juvenile specialty court for youth impacted by CSE, between 2012 and 2016. We collected data on pregnancy, health, and social factors. Data were updated through 2018 and descriptive statistics were calculated. Two-sample tests for equality of proportions explored associations between pregnancy with adverse childhood experiences and the girls' behavioral health profiles. Among the 360 biological females, 31% had ever been pregnant. Of the girls ever pregnant, 18% had multiple pregnancies. Outcomes for the 130 reported pregnancies were: 76% live births; 13% therapeutic abortions; 5% miscarriages or stillbirths; and 6% of pregnancies were ongoing at case closure. Parental incarceration and histories of maternal substance abuse were both associated with pregnancy. High pregnancy rates among girls with histories of CSE suggest the importance of applying a reproductive justice approach to deliver reproductive education, family planning services, prenatal care, and parenting support to girls impacted by CSE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has rapidly increased in the United States, and thousands of e-cigarette flavors are available. However, there remains a dearth of evidence on e-cigarette flavor use patterns among older e-cigarette users.Objectives: This longitudinal study examined changes in flavor use patterns in long-term e-cigarette users, assessed self-reported adverse reactions, and evaluated users' anticipated reactions to possible U.S. Food and Drug Administration e-cigarette flavor regulatory scenarios.Methods: The study population was 383 adult participants who completed two online e-cigarette surveys in 2012-2014 (baseline survey) and in 2017-2019 (follow-up survey). In both surveys, participants were asked, "Thinking about your preferred liquid, what is the name of this liquid flavor?" and to list all flavors used in the past 30 days. Flavor preference was classified using the Penn State Three-Step Flavor Classification method. Participants reported adverse events (open-ended description) with the associated flavor. Regulatory scenarios were presented, and participants selected perceived actions from among a list of 15 options.Results: Participants' age averaged 44 ± 12 years; 86% were exclusive e-cigarette users, and 13% reported "poly-use" (i.e., e-cigarette and other tobacco product use). E-cigarette flavor preference migration occurred in all demographic groups: only 36-44% maintained a preference for their original flavor. Preference for tobacco and menthol or mint decreased over time (40% baseline vs. 22% follow-up); preference for fruit remained stable (23% baseline and follow-up), but chocolate/candy or other sweets preference significantly increased (16% baseline vs. 29% follow-up), and other flavors increased slightly. Migration to sweet flavors was more noticeable in younger adults (18-45 yr); exclusive e-cigarette users preferred sweet flavors more commonly than poly-users did (31% vs. 19%). Flavor-associated adverse reactions, mainly respiratory irritations, were reported by 26 (6.9%) participants. Nearly 50% of the participants reported that they would "find a way" to buy their preferred flavor or add flavoring agents themselves if nontobacco flavors were banned.Conclusions: Flavor migration toward sweet flavors occurred in long-term e-cigarette users, a trend most pronounced in younger and exclusive e-cigarette users. The anticipated maintenance of access to flavors despite regulation suggests an element of e-cigarette-related dependence that requires further evaluation. This information could help clinicians understand the health impacts of e-cigarette flavors, develop appropriate strategies for smoking cessation, and inform the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to plan future regulation of e-cigarette flavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of asthma-related mortality (ARM) varies significantly among different countries, possibly influenced by various socioeconomic and environmental conditions (SEC). In-depth epidemiological research is necessary to understand the causal relationship between different SECs and ARM and to develop public health strategies to reduce the global burden of asthma. Our research aimed to identify the key SECs which may be attributed to ARM worldwide and to study the relationship between ARM and asthma prevalence. We included twenty-two countries with available data on SECs (2014-2015) and divided them into four groups: Asia, Africa, Europe, and Miscellaneous (Australia and North and South America). Tertiary school enrollment (TSE), gross domestic product (GDP), air pollution index, and male and female smoking prevalence rates were analyzed as predictors of ARM, using multiple linear regression. We found that ARM and asthma prevalence had an inverse relationship and developing countries compared to developed countries experienced higher ARM despite having lower asthma prevalence. Asian and African countries, compared to Europe and Miscellaneous countries, experienced poorer SECs, possibly associated with higher ARM. Among SECs, TSE and GDP had strongest association with ARM. In conclusion, lack of education and uneven distribution of resources may have an influence on the increased ARM in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and health care expenditures in the US and worldwide. For three decades, the pillars of treatment of HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) were medications that targeted the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Prior attempts to augment the natriuretic peptide system (NPS) for the management of HF failed either due to lack of significant clinical benefit or due to the unacceptable side effect profile. This review article will discuss the NPS, the failure of early drugs which targeted the NPS as therapies for HF, and the sequence of events which led to the development of sacubitril plus valsartan (Entresto; LCZ696; Novartis). LCZ696 has been shown to be superior to the standard of care available for treatment of HFrEF in several substantial hard endpoints including heart failure hospitalizations, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background With a growing population of patients supported by ventricular assist devices (VADs) and the improvement in survival of this patient population, understanding the healthcare system burden is critical to improving outcomes. Thus, we sought to examine national estimates of VAD-related emergency department (ED) visits and characterize their demographic, clinical, and outcomes profile. Additionally, we tested the hypotheses that resource use increased and mortality improved over time. Methods and Results This retrospective database analysis uses encounter-level data from the 2010 to 2017 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. The primary outcome was mortality. From 2010 to 2017, >880 million ED visits were evaluated, with 44 042 VAD-related ED visits identified. The annual mean visits were 5505 (SD 4258), but increased 16-fold from 2010 to 2017 (824 versus 13 155). VAD-related ED visits frequently resulted in admission (72%) and/or death (3.0%). Median inflation-adjusted charges were $25 679 (interquartile range, $7450, $63 119) per encounter. The most common primary diagnoses were cardiac (22%), and almost 30% of encounters were because of bleeding, stroke, or device complications. From 2010 to 2017, admission and mortality decreased from 82% to 71% and 3.4% to 2.4%, respectively ( P for trends <0.001, both). Conclusions We present the first study using national-level data to characterize the growing ED resource use and financial burden of patients supported by VAD. During the past decade, admission and mortality rates decreased but remain substantial; in 2017 ≈1 in every 40 VAD ED encounters resulted in death, making it critical that clinical decision-making be optimized for patients with VAD to maximize good outcomes.

To better understand the molecular epidemiology of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) in the United States following the introduction of commercial IBV vaccines, we sequenced the S1 and N structural protein genes of thirteen IBV field isolates collected in the 1960s. Analysis of the S1 sequence showed that seven isolates were of the Massachusetts (Mass) genotype, five were SE17, and one was of the Connecticut (Conn) genotype, suggesting that these three IBVs were circulating in commercial poultry raised in different regions in the United States during the 1960s. The S1 genes of Mass-type isolates had high levels of sequence variation, representing 81.3-81.9 % nucleotide (nt) and 77.3-78.7 % amino acid (aa) identity when compared to those of the SE17-type isolates. In contrast, the N genes from the same isolates were less variable (>92 % nt and >93 % aa identity) when compared to those of the SE17-type isolates. Phylogenetic analysis based on the S1 gene indicated that one isolate (L748) was more closely related to the Mass type. In contrast, phylogenetic analysis based on the N gene showed that L748 was more closely related to the SE17 type, indicating that there had been exchange of S1 genetic materials between Mass- and SE17-like viruses. In addition, the Mass-type isolates had high levels of sequence identity in the S1 gene compared with widely used modified live vaccines (Mass41, Ma5 and H120) and modern field strains from the USA and other countries, suggesting a common ancestor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the apocalyptic visions of U.S. poet Robinson Jeffers in his poetry. Topics covered include the factors that shape Jeffers' prophetic and mystical insights, the reason Jeffers employs violent imagery of misanthropy and cataclysm in his poems and the meaning of apocalypse in a secural sense.

Although covalent inhibitors have been used as therapeutics for more than a century, there has been general resistance in the pharmaceutical industry against their further development due to safety concerns. This inclination has recently been reverted after the development of a wide variety of covalent inhibitors to address human health conditions along with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of several covalent therapeutics for use in humans. Along with this exciting resurrection of an old drug discovery concept, this review surveys enzymes that can be targeted by covalent inhibitors for the treatment of human diseases. We focus on protein kinases, RAS proteins, and a few other enzymes that have been studied extensively as targets for covalent inhibition, with the aim to address challenges in designing effective covalent drugs and to provide suggestions in the area that have yet to be explored., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Background: Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in the world with more than 142,670 deaths estimated in the United States alone in the year 2019. Consequently, there is an overreaching need to identify the key biomarkers for lung cancer. The aim of this study is to computationally identify biomarker genes for lung cancer that can aid in its diagnosis and treatment. The gene expression profiles of two different types of studies, namely non-treatment and treatment, are considered for discovering biomarker genes. In non-treatment studies healthy samples are control and cancer samples are cases. Whereas, in treatment studies, controls are cancer cell lines without treatment and cases are cancer cell lines with treatment. Results: The Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) for lung cancer were isolated from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database using R software tool GEO2R. A total of 407 DEGs (254 upregulated and 153 downregulated) from non-treatment studies and 547 DEGs (133 upregulated and 414 downregulated) from treatment studies were isolated. Two Cytoscape apps, namely, CytoHubba and MCODE, were used for identifying biomarker genes from functional networks developed using DEG genes. This study discovered two distinct sets of biomarker genes – one from non-treatment studies and the other from treatment studies, each set containing 16 genes. Survival analysis results show that most non-treatment biomarker genes have prognostic capability by indicating low-expression groups have higher chance of survival compare to high-expression groups. Whereas, most treatment biomarkers have prognostic capability by indicating high-expression groups have higher chance of survival compare to low-expression groups. Conclusion: A computational framework is developed to identify biomarker genes for lung cancer using gene expression profiles. Two different types of studies – non-treatment and treatment – are considered for experiment. Most of the biomarker genes from non-treatment studies are part of mitosis and play vital role in DNA repair and cell-cycle regulation. Whereas, most of the biomarker genes from treatment studies are associated to ubiquitination and cellular response to stress. This study discovered a list of biomarkers, which would help experimental scientists to design a lab experiment for further exploration of detail dynamics of lung cancer development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This letter presents a compact ultra-wideband bandpass filter with improved out-of-band rejection performances. Complementary split ring resonators with microstrip feed lines are used to design the filter. Measurements show that maximum insertion loss within the ultra-wide passband is below 2 dB. The 50-dB stopband on the lower end is from DC to 2.48 GHz and the 25-dB upper stopband is from 11.27 to 20 GHz. Out-of-band rejection performance of the filter satisfies and exceeds the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's indoor limit. Implementation area of the filter is 0.54 λg × 0.22 λg, λg is the guided wavelength of 50-Ω microstrip line at 6.85 GHz. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 758–761, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23203 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Comparison of Budyko-based methods to separate catchment and climate effects on flow. • Probabilistic nature of catchment parameter and its uncertainty considered. • New, improved Two-Stage Decomposition method proposed for separation. • Proposed method considers uncertainty in evaporative index using bootstrap method. • Proposed method more robust than using any single earlier-practiced method. Streamflow variability is affected by both climate change and direct human impacts within the catchment. Quantification of the role of these two factors have significant implications for water resources. In recent years, Budyko-based analytical methods have been widely used for such quantification due to their simplicity and efficacy. This paper presents a comparison of such methods to attribute changes in streamflow in four Model Parameter Estimation Experiment (MOPEX) catchments in the contiguous United States. Further, a new, improved Two-stage Decomposition method to separate the role of climate and catchment changes on streamflow is proposed, considering the uncertainty in the catchment parameter that further leads to a range of evaporative index values within a catchment. We find that climate and catchment effects are sensitive to the choice of Budyko equation, disaggregation algorithm and approximation technique. Further, the catchment parameter can be expressed probabilistically, to account for the uncertainty because of limited hydro-meteorological records. The proposed approach employs a bootstrap analysis to obtain the stochastic range of the catchment parameter, considering different choices of Budyko equations. We argue that rather than relying on a single Budyko-based approach for separation of climate and catchment effects on streamflow, the proposed method offers a more robust way by considering the entire range of uncertainty of the catchment parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Private forests are a vital component of the natural ecosystem infrastructure of the United States, and provide critical ecosystem services including clean air and water, energy, wildlife habitat, recreational services, and wood fiber. These forests have been subject to conversion to developed uses due to increasing population pressures. This study examines the changing patterns in the private forests across the urban–rural gradient in 36 states in the eastern United States. We combine observed forest management activities, housing pressure, and 50-year projections of development pressures under alternate IPCC emission scenarios (A1, A2, B1, and B2) to produce a forest pressures index for a total of 45,707 plots located on privately owned land. We find evidence of continued forest loss in suburban/urban regions, and imminent pressure on private forests in exurban regions, while forests in rural regions are found to be relatively stable in next 50 years. Patterns of forest pressures differ depending on the sub-regions, which can be attributed to differing socio-ecological context of these sub-regions. Forest pressures also differ depending on the alternate scenarios considered, as projected increases in impervious surfaces is higher for the A1 and A2 scenarios as compared to the B1 and B2 scenarios. Land owners, often influenced by changing economic, demographic, and environmental trends, will play an important role in managing goods and services provided by these private forests. While it remains challenging to model forest owner attributes, socio-economic factors appear to be critical in shaping the future forested landscape in the United States. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The study focuses on the construction of social necessity by both adults and children in an affluent section of urban Bangladesh. The study has improvised on a British poverty study by Gordon et al. (2000). The data for this study come from a sample survey of 360 respondents (for adult poverty) and 265 respondents (for child poverty) from Uttara, Dhaka in 2008. The normative deprivation index for Uttara shows that 40 items out of 48 appear significant as more than 50 percent respondents consider them as necessary. More than 90 percent respondents agree on the importance of 9 items for adult poverty: three meals a day, fan, celebrating special occasions, television, mobile, good job, medicine prescribed by doctor, refrigerator and household furniture. It is found that more than 90 percent respondents agree on the importance of 10 items for child poverty: three meals a day, major requirements prescribed by school, sufficient baby milk, warm/properly fitted shoes, toys, meat, fish or vegetarian equivalent at least once a day, celebrating birth day, bi-cycle and home computer. It is also found that the extent of adult and child normative deprivation is 30 percent and 26 percent respectively. The chi-square test shows that the deprivation index is significantly related to selected demographic and socio-economic variables like gender, age, marital status, occupation, education and household size. It is argued that the item-wise difference between Bangladesh and British normative deprivation is due to the cultural differences of two societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Limited treatment options exist for damaged nerves and despite impressive advances in tissue engineering, scientists and clinicians have yet to fully replicate nerve development and recruitment. Innervation is a critical feature for normal organ function. While most organs are innervated prior to birth, a rare example of postnatal nerve recruitment occurs in the natural development of secondary teeth during adolescence. Many animals undergo postnatal shedding of deciduous teeth with development and eruption of secondary teeth, a process requiring recruitment of nerve and vasculature to each tooth pulp for viability. Here, the investigators created a novel model for the study of postnatal innervation by exploiting the natural phenomenon of tooth-driven nerve recruitment. Methods: The investigators theorized that developing teeth possess a special capacity to induce innervation which could be harnessed in a clinical setting for nerve regeneration, and hyptothesized that a transplant model could be created to capture this phenomenon. In this descriptive study, a rat model of autologous tooth transplantation and de novo nerve recruitment was developed by surgically transferring whole developing molars to the autologous tibia. Results: Downstream histological analysis performed 6 to 14 weeks after surgery demonstrated integration of molar into tibia in 81% of postoperative rats, with progressive pulpal expression of nerve marker ß-tubulin III suggestive of neuronal recruitment. Conclusions: These findings provide a novel model for the study of organ transplantation and support the theory that developing dental tissues may retain nerve-inductive properties postnatally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present approach, we have successfully synthesized wormlike Ni 3 S 2 and Ni 3 S 2 -RGO hybrids on nickel (Ni) foam by a facile and highly reproducible one-step chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. We have demonstrated that Ni 3 S 2 and Ni 3 S 2 -RGO hybrids can be grown directly on the current collector of energy storage devices without using any binder, which may lead to serve industry for large-scale production of the material. We have studied the pseudocapacitive energy storage performance of the CVD grown Ni 3 S 2 and its hybrids with variable concentration of RGO. The Ni 3 S 2 -RGO hybrid with 0.5 mg GO showed a maximum areal specific capacitance of 1.4 F·cm−2 at a current density of 1 mA·cm−2 (approximately 1124 Fg−1 at a current density of 1 Ag−1). The enhanced supercapacitive performance of Ni 3 S 2 -RGO predominantly due to its high surface area and high conductivity as compared to bare Ni 3 S 2. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopic analysis revealed Ni 3 S 2 -RGO possess enhanced charge-transfer characteristics as compared to bare Ni 3 S 2. Furthermore, Density Functional Theory (DFT) simulations infer the strong hybridization between C p orbital and Ni d orbital lead to enhanced electrochemical property and Density of States (DOS) is crucially responsible for the improved charge storage performance of Ni 3 S 2 -RGO hybrids. Unlabelled Image • A naive, convinient, cost effective and less time-consuming CVD based synthesis technique is developed for the synthesis of binder free Ni 3 S 2 /RGO electrode. • Resultant Ni 3 S 2 /RGO hybrid exhibit maximum capacitance of 1124 Fg−1 at a current density of 1 Ag−1. • Cycling stability was good even after 5000 charge/discharge cycles with capacitance retention of 78% of the initial specific capacitance. • Theoretical DFT simulation studies support the experimental data and explain the mechanisms responsible for the enhanced supercapacitor property of Ni 3 S 2 /RGO hybrid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an era where air pollution poses a significant threat to both the environment and public health, we present a network-based approach to unravel the dynamics of extreme pollution events. Leveraging data from 741 monitoring stations in the contiguous United States, we have created dynamic networks using time-lagged correlations of hourly particulate matter (PM2.5) data. The established spatial correlation networks reveal significant PM2.5 anomalies during the 2020 and 2021 wildfire seasons, demonstrating the approach's sensitivity to detecting regional pollution phenomena. The methodology also provides insights into smoke transport and network response, highlighting the persistence of air quality issues beyond visible smoke periods. Additionally, we explored meteorological variables' impacts on network connectivity. This study enhances understanding of spatiotemporal pollution patterns, positioning spatial correlation networks as valuable tools for environmental monitoring and public health surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dependence of seismic wave speeds on propagation or polarization direction, called seismic anisotropy, is a relatively direct indicator of mantle deformation and flow. Mantle seismic anisotropy is often inferred from measurements of shear-wave splitting. A number of standard techniques to measure shear-wave splitting have been applied globally; for example, *KS splitting is often used to measure upper mantle anisotropy. In order to obtain robust constraints on anisotropic geometry, it is necessary to sample seismic anisotropy from different directions, ideally using different seismic phases with different incidence angles. However, many standard analysis techniques can only be applied for certain epicentral distances and source–receiver geometries. To search for new ways to detect mantle anisotropy, instead of focusing on the sensitivity of individual phases, we investigate the wavefield as a whole: we apply a 'wavefield differencing' approach to (systematically) understand what parts of the seismic wavefield are most affected by splitting due to seismic anisotropy in the mantle. We analyze differences between synthetic global wavefields calculated for isotropic and anisotropic input models, incorporating seismic anisotropy at different depths. Our results confirm that the seismic phases that are commonly used in splitting techniques are indeed strongly influenced by mantle anisotropy. However, we also identify less commonly used phases whose waveforms reflect the effects of anisotropy. For example, PS is strongly affected by splitting due to seismic anisotropy in the upper mantle. We show that PS can be used to fill in gaps in global coverage in shear-wave splitting data sets (for example, beneath ocean basins). We find that PcS is also a promising phase, and present a proof-of-concept example of PcS splitting analysis across the contiguous United States using an array processing approach. Because PcS is recorded at much shorter distances than *KS phases, PcS splitting can therefore fill in gaps in backazimuthal coverage. Our wavefield differencing results further hint at additional potential novel methods to detect and characterize splitting due to mantle seismic anisotropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ewingella americana is a Gram-negative rod that belongs to the order Enterobacterales and the family Yersiniaceae and was first identified in 1983 from 10 clinical strains in the United States of America. The present study aimed to identify all the published cases of E. americana in the literature, describe the epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological characteristics, and provide data regarding its antimicrobial resistance, treatment, and outcomes. A narrative review was performed based on a PubMed and Scopus databases search. In total, 16 studies provided data on 19 patients with infections by E. americana. The median age of the patients was 55 years, and 47.4% were male. The most common infections were those of the bloodstream, the respiratory tract, and the peritoneal cavity. Antimicrobial resistance to cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and the combination of trimethoprim with sulfamethoxazole was minimal, and these were the most commonly used antimicrobials for treating these infections. No included study provided information on the genetic or molecular mechanism of this pathogen's antimicrobial resistance. The overall mortality was minimal, with only one patient with bacteremia succumbing to the infection. Further studies are needed to better understand this microorganism, its pathogenic potential in humans, and the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying its antimicrobial resistance, for which very little evidence exists to date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work zones are crucial for maintaining and enhancing road infrastructure, but they also pose a significant risk to traffic safety. Between 2016 and 2020, work zone-related crashes in the United States increased by 13%, highlighting the pressing need for effective safety measures. This study examines the factors that influence work zone crashes, including traffic control devices, geometric configurations, traffic operations, and human factors. The study also investigates how these factors vary by work zone type, day of the week, and time of day. To explore these temporal and spatial impacts, the study utilized five years of fatal crash data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and applied association rules mining. The findings demonstrate that rear-end crashes and collisions with other vehicles are the primary contributing factors. Although some common patterns emerged in the association rules, the study revealed temporal instability, highlighting the importance of developing work zone-specific safety countermeasures. These findings will inform the development of targeted safety interventions and ultimately reduce the risk of work zone crashes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: To assess the efficacy of curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin [BDC]) and their analogs (tetrahydrocurcumin [THC], tetrahydrodemethoxycurcumin [THDC], tetrahydrobisdemethoxycurcumin) in reducing inflammatory cytokines and their toxicity to primary human corneal limbal epithelial cells, these cells were cultured and exposed to these compounds. Methods: The PrestoBlue assay assessed cell viability after treatment. Anti-inflammatory effects on hyperosmotic cells were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction and significance was gauged using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's tests, considering p-values < 0.05 as significant. Results: Curcuminoids and their analogs, at 1, 10, and 100 µM, exhibited no effect on cell viability compared to controls. However, cyclosporin A 1:500 significantly reduced cell viability more than most curcuminoid treatments, except 100 µM curcumin and BDC. All tested curcuminoids and analogs at these concentrations significantly decreased mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17 A, matrix metallopeptidase-9, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 after 90 mM NaCl stimulation compared to untreated cells. Furthermore, proinflammatory cytokine levels from hyperosmotic cells treated with 1, 10, and 100 µM curcumin, 100 µM BDC, 100 µM THC, 1 and 100 µM THDC mirrored those treated with cyclosporin A 1:500. Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory efficiency of 1 and 10 µM curcumin, 100 µM THC, 1 and 100 µM THDC was comparable to that of cyclosporin A 1:500 while maintaining cell viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new definition for the evidence of hepatic steatosis and metabolic dysfunctions, the relationship between phthalates (PAEs) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) remains virtually unexplored. This study included 3,137 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey spanning 2007–2018. The diagnosis of MAFLD depended on the US Fatty Liver Index (US FLI) and evidence of metabolic dysregulation. Eleven metabolites of PAEs were included in the study. Poisson regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were used to assess the associations between phthalate metabolites and MAFLD. After adjusting for potential confounders, Poisson regression analysis showed that mono-2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl phthalate (MECPP), mono-n-butyl phthalate, mono-(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate, mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) and mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate were generally significant positively associated with MAFLD (P<0.05). Furthermore, the WQS index constructed for the eleven phthalates was significantly related to MAFLD (OR:1.43; 95%CI: 1.20, 1.70), MEHHP (33.30%), MEP (20.84%), MECPP (15.43%), and mono-isobutyl phthalate (11.78%) contributing the most. This study suggests that exposure to phthalates, individually or in combination, may be associated with an increased risk of MAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. A−β+ ketosis-prone diabetes (KPD) in adults is characterized by presentation with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), negative islet autoantibodies, and preserved β-cell function in persons with a phenotype of obesity-associated type 2 diabetes (T2D). The prevalence of KPD has not been evaluated in children. We investigated children with DKA at "T2D" onset and determined the prevalence and characteristics of pediatric A−β+ KPD within this cohort. Methods. We reviewed the records of 716 children with T2D at a large academic hospital and compared clinical characteristics of those with and without DKA at onset. In the latter group, we identified patients with A−β+ KPD using criteria of the Rare and Atypical Diabetes Network (RADIANT) and defined its prevalence and characteristics. Results. Mean age at diagnosis was 13.7 ± 2.4 years: 63% female; 59% Hispanic, 29% African American, 9% non-Hispanic White, and 3% other. Fifty-six (7.8%) presented with DKA at diagnosis and lacked islet autoantibodies. Children presenting with DKA were older and had lower C-peptide and higher glucose concentrations than those without DKA. Twenty-five children with DKA (45%) met RADIANT A−β+ KPD criteria. They were predominantly male (64%), African American or Hispanic (96%), with substantial C-peptide (1.3 ± 0.7 ng/mL) at presentation with DKA and excellent long-term glycemic control (HbA1c 6.6% ± 1.9% at follow-up (median 1.3 years postdiagnosis)). Conclusions. In children with a clinical phenotype of T2D and DKA at diagnosis, approximately half meet criteria for A−β+ KPD. They manifest the key characteristics of obesity, preserved β-cell function, male predominance, and potential to discontinue insulin therapy, similar to adults with A−β+ KPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the meta‐analysis was to evaluate and compare the photodynamic therapy's effectiveness in treating infected skin wounds. The results of this meta‐analysis were analysed, and the odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using dichotomous or contentious random‐ or fixed‐effect models. For the current meta‐analysis, 6 examinations spanning from 2013 to 2021 were included, encompassing 154 patients with infected skin wounds were the used studies' starting point. Photodynamic therapy had a significantly lower wound ulcer size (MD, −4.42; 95% CI, −7.56–−1.28, p = 0.006), better tissue repair (MD, −8.62; 95% CI, −16.76–−0.48, p = 0.04) and lower microbial cell viability (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04–0.42, p < 0.001) compared with red light exposure in subjects with infected skin wounds. The examined data revealed that photodynamic therapy had a significantly lower wound ulcer size, better tissue repair and lower microbial cell viability compared with red light exposure in subjects with infected skin wounds. However, given that all examinations had a small sample size, consideration should be given to their values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States is a principal producer of tree nuts (almonds, pistachios, and walnuts), resulting in the generation of excess of tree-nutshell by-products each year, with few market outlets. A nutshell is an essential, lignocellulosic layer that protects a kernel (seed) from the environment during cultivation. The objective of this study was to develop nutshell by-products as herbicide delivery systems, which would not only enable sustainable weed control in fields but also increases nutshell value and reduce the cost of waste disposal. We recently identified a natural salicylaldehyde (SA) that emits volatiles with both herbicidal and antifungal properties. In this study, walnut shell particles saturated with 0.8 to 1.6 M SA were developed as delivery vehicles for SA to soil, which allowed for the controlled release of an SA fumigant for weed control. The pre- and post-emergent herbicidal efficacy of SA was investigated using model monocot (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh; turfgrass) and dicot (Brassica rapa var. pekinensis; Chinese cabbage) plants. We compared (1) the effects of different types of solvents for dissolving SA (dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and ethanol (60%, v/v)), and (2) the effect of covering soil with plastic layers (i.e., soil pasteurization) or not covering soil during SA fumigation using nutshells. Results: In the pre-emergent herbicidal testing with the soil covered, the dicot plants exhibited levels of higher susceptibility to SA in DMSO emitted from nutshells when compared to the monocot plants. The seed germination frequencies in the dicots were 15% and 1% with 0.8 and 1.6 M SA, respectively, while those in the monocots were 32% and 18%, respectively, under the same test conditions. In the post-emergent herbicidal testing with the soil covered, the growth of both the monocot and dicot plants was completely prevented after 5 to 7 days of SA fumigation, resulting in the deaths of entire plants. It was noteworthy that in the post-emergent herbicidal testing, SA dissolved in ethanol (60%, v/v) completely disrupted the growth of the monocot and dicot plants as early as 3 days after SA emission from the nutshells, even without the soil being covered. Tree-nutshell particles could serve as effective SA delivery vehicles with controlled release capabilities for SA. The SA exhibited pre- and post-emergent herbicidal activities against the monocot and dicot plants at most growth stages. SA (0.8 and 1.6 M) dissolved in ethanol (60%, v/v) might exert a synergism for higher herbicidal activity after emission from nutshells. Since tree nuts capture/store a substantial amount of carbon over their life-cycles, the new and sustainable utility of using nutshells not only reduces carbon emissions but also valorizes tree-nut by-products, thus benefitting the tree-nut industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood recipients, particularly frequent receivers, are at high-risk of receiving human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and no current serologic tests eliminate this transmission risk. The current paper aimed to provide an updated comprehensive report on the prevalence of HIV infection among blood donors in different parts of the world. HIV infection prevalence in blood donors was determined based on electronically published data through a systematic review of literature in international databases until February 2020. Studies published in Farsi and English reporting the prevalence of HIV were included. Meta-analysis was performed, and final results were classified according to World Health Organization (WHO) divisions of the world. Out of 1,859 articles, 241 met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of HIV was higher in first-time donors, males, and replacement therapy receivers. The pooled prevalence was 502.74 in 100,000. AFRO with 2,384.99 and Europe with 19.04 in 100,000 had the highest and the lowest rates, respectively. Gabon represented the highest rate of 20,623, while the USA showed the lowest rate, i.e., 4.33, among the countries. Updated reports on the prevalence of HIV among blood donors help policy-makers and care providers realize the possible need for improving the screening, diagnostics, and treatment protocols. Although the prevalence has decreased in many parts of the world, improving the current protocols is still necessary to minimize the risks in transfusion systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne infections pose a substantial global threat, causing an estimated 600 million illnesses and resulting in approximately 420,000 deaths annually. Among the diverse array of pathogens implicated in these infections, Escherichia coli (E. coli), specifically the O157 strain (E. coli O157), emerges as a prominent pathogen associated with severe outbreaks. This study employs a comprehensive bibliometric analysis and scholarly review focused on E. coli O157 research. The bibliometric analysis highlights the significant role played by the United States in the E. coli O157 research domain. Further exploration underscores the noteworthy contributions of the researcher Doyle MP, whose body of work, consisting of 84 documents and an impressive H-Index of 49, reflects their substantial impact in the field. Recent research trends indicate a discernible shift towards innovative detection methods, exemplified by the adoption of CRISPR-CAS and Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification. Moreover, high-throughput whole-genome sequencing techniques are gaining prominence for the expeditious analysis of pathogenic E. coli strains. Scientists are increasingly exploring antimicrobial agents, including phage therapy, to address the challenges posed by antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains, thereby addressing critical concerns related to multi-drug resistance. This comprehensive analysis provides vital insights into the dynamic landscape of E. coli O157 research. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals dedicated to mitigating E. coli O157 outbreaks and advancing global public health strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The khapra beetle is considered by many to be one of the most destructive stored product pests in the world and it is a quarantine species of significant concern in the United States. This beetle is known to feed on >100 commodities, leaving behind frass, broken and damaged grain kernels, and cast skins, which can make products unsuitable for consumption. Because its immature stage is so problematic, it is critical to identify effective management strategies, which could include fumigation, trapping, and insecticides. In this study, we investigated whether two different grain protectants applied to bulk corn, wheat, and brown rice could be efficacious for inhibiting the development from larvae to adult. Both grain protectants reduced adult emergence on brown rice for 6 months of storage and wheat and corn for up to 12 months of storage. Additional studies are needed to directly measure the amount of frass, feeding damage, and/or insect-damaged kernels (IDK), and larval weight, which would provide further insight on the relationship between commodity type and the efficacy of the insecticide application. Reducing adult emergence inhibits reproduction and population growth during storage. Thus, grain protectants can be a useful preventative tactic for stored commodity managers against the khapra beetle. Trogoderma granarium Everts, the khapra beetle, is a serious pest of stored products throughout the world. Larvae pose a significant threat to stored products because they feed on >100 different commodities, possess the ability to enter facultative diapause, and are difficult to detect. Control methods for T. granarium include fumigation, contact insecticides, trapping, and insecticide-incorporated packaging. The objective of this study was to determine the residual efficacy of two insecticide formulations (methoprene + deltamethrin + piperonyl butoxide synergist Gravista® and methoprene + deltamethrin, DiaconIGR®Plus). These insecticides were evaluated on three stored product commodities, corn, wheat, and brown rice, by exposing T. granarium larvae during a 12-month testing period. Both formulations significantly reduced adult emergence on corn and wheat for 12 months and on brown rice for up to 6 months. Adult emergence was highest at month 12 for corn (8.41%), and brown rice (85.88%), and month 9 for wheat (39.52%), treated with DiaconIGR®Plus or Gravista®, respectively. A biological index used to measure the development of exposed larvae on the treated grain from the larval stage (low values) to adult emergence (high values) was lower (fewer adults) on corn and wheat compared to controls. Despite differences in formulations, each of these grain protectants could be utilized by stored commodity managers to protect commodities during storage and transportation for T. granarium when and if this pest is detected at USA ports of entry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Interventions based on the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) Whole Health (WH) initiative may be beneficial for veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI) through specific, measurable, action-oriented, realistic, and timed (SMART) goal setting and monitoring of perceived goal attainment with the Personal Health Inventory (PHI)., Objectives: This secondary analysis of 2 randomized controlled trials focused on (1) categorizing SMART goals set during a wellness intervention based on the VHA's WH approach to identify goals most relevant for veterans with GWI and chronic pain and (2) descriptively examining the PHI over a course of treatment to assess its preliminary sensitivity to change. Also, changes in PHI for those who engaged in the intervention in-person versus remotely were compared., Subjects: Participants were 49 veterans with GWI and chronic pain who received a 12-week, 24-session group wellness intervention delivered in-person or remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic., Results: SMART goal themes mapped onto the 8 areas of self-care presented in the WH program's circle of health with high categorical adherence. Most participants set goals in categories for working the body, food and drink, and personal development. The wellness intervention was related to improvements in perceived goal attainment as measured by the PHI in both in-person and remote participants, which indicates that the PHI may be sensitive to change over time., Conclusions: These preliminary findings set the stage for future research on wellness interventions for veterans with GWI and chronic pain and the measurement of whole-person outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Natural climate solutions provide opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the United States is among a growing number of countries promoting storage of carbon in agricultural soils as part of the climate solution. Historical patterns of soil organic carbon (SOC) stock changes provide context about mitigation potential. Therefore, our objective was to quantify the influence of climate-smart soil practices on SOC stock changes in the top 30 cm of mineral soils for croplands in the United States using the DayCent Ecosystem Model. We estimated that SOC stocks increased annually in US croplands from 1995 to 2015, with the largest increase in 1996 of 16.6 Mt C (95% confidence interval ranging from 6.1 to 28.2 Mt CO2 eq.) and the lowest increase in 2015 of 10.6 Mt C (95% confidence interval ranging from − 1.8 to 22.2 Mt C). Most climate-smart soil practices contributed to increases in SOC stocks except for winter cover crops, which had a negligible impact due to a relatively small area with cover crop adoption. Our study suggests that there is potential for enhancing C sinks in cropland soils of the United States although some of the potential has been realized due to past adoption of climate-smart soil practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslide hazard assessment is crucial for landslide monitoring and early warning. A novel method based on deep learning model for national-scale landslide hazard assessment was proposed in this study, which contains three stages: (1) landslide susceptibility analysis using three hybrid neural networks of convolutional neural network-simple recurrent unit (CNN-SRU), convolutional neural network-long short-term memory (CNN-LSTM), and convolutional neural network-gated recurrent unit (CNN-GRU); (2) landslide temporal probability prediction using the proposed spatiotemporal transformer (ST-transformer) to address the time uncertainty of rainfall threshold calculation in landslide temporal probability prediction and the matter without considering the geographical regional differences of landslide spatiotemporal probability weights; and (3) quantitative landslide hazard calculation with the preceding results using the improved landslide hazard formula. The validation of this method was conducted in conterminous United States, where the results of steps (1) and (2) demonstrated excellent performance compared with existing works. Consequently, the calculation derived from the previous two steps was effectively used for landslide hazard assessment using the improved landslide hazard formula, and its reliability was confirmed through the validation of actual landslide events. The proposed method is of practical significance for national-scale landslide hazard assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the significant effects of carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions on the environment, analysis of historical emission levels and prediction of future levels are of huge importance in managing climate change. This study focuses on predicting CO2 emissions in the United States (US), European Union (EU), and China based on the data collected from the World Bank's database. The time series were modelled using the ARIMA methodology, while the analysis was conducted in R. The findings indicate that by 2030, the EU is projected to experience a decline of 23.70% in emissions compared to 2019 levels, while the United States is expected to witness a decrease of 21.95%. However, China's projections are discouraging, with an anticipated increase of 26.83% in emissions. These projections serve as valuable tools to assess the achievement of imposed CO2 emission targets in specific economies, informing the necessary adjustments to existing policies or the implementation of new ones. This study underscores the significance of analysing historical data and forecasting future CO2 emissions to manage climate change and develop energy-related policies effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cucurbits are economically important crops that are widely cultivated in many parts of the world, including the southern US. In recent years, higher temperatures have favored the rapid build-up of whiteflies in the fall-grown cucurbits in this region. As a result, whitefly-transmitted viruses (WTVs) have severely impacted the marketable yield of cucurbits. In this review, we discuss three major groups of WTVs negatively impacting cucurbit cultivation in the southern US, including begomoviruses, criniviruses, and ipomoviruses. Here, we discuss the available information on the biology, epidemiology and advances made toward detecting and managing these viruses, including sources of resistance and cultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diet-related metabolic syndrome is the largest contributor to adverse health in the United States. However, the study of gene-environment interactions and their epigenomic and transcriptomic integration is complicated by the lack of environmental and genetic control in humans that is possible in mouse models. Here we exposed three mouse strains, C57BL/6J (BL6), A/J, and NOD/ShiLtJ (NOD), to a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet, leading to varying degrees of metabolic syndrome. We then performed transcriptomic and genome-wide DNA methylation analyses for each strain and found overlapping but also highly divergent changes in gene expression and methylation upstream of the discordant metabolic phenotypes. Strain-specific pathway analysis of dietary effects revealed a dysregulation of cholesterol biosynthesis common to all three strains but distinct regulatory networks driving this dysregulation. This suggests a strategy for strain-specific targeted pharmacologic intervention of these upstream regulators informed by epigenetic and transcriptional regulation. As a pilot study, we administered the drug GW4064 to target one of these genotype-dependent networks, the Farnesoid X receptor pathway, and found that GW4064 exerts strain-specific protection against dietary effects in BL6, as predicted by our transcriptomic analysis. Furthermore, GW4064 treatment induced inflammatory-related gene expression changes in NOD, indicating a strain-specific effect in its associated toxicities as well as its therapeutic efficacy. This pilot study demonstrates the potential efficacy of precision therapeutics for genotype-informed dietary metabolic intervention and a mouse platform for guiding this approach. Author summary: Metabolic syndrome is a major contributor to worldwide morbidity and mortality. This disorder is influenced by both genetics and environmental exposures, particularly diet. Such an effect, known as a "gene-by-diet" interaction, suggests that optimal dietary recommendations and therapeutic interventions for treating metabolic syndrome may differ dramatically between genetic sub-populations. Here, we have analyzed genetically distinct mouse strains which exhibit varying degrees of metabolic syndrome in response to a high-fat, high-carbohydrate American diet. While similar biological processes were affected by the change in diet in all three strains, we observed a strain-unique disruption of epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of certain molecular pathways, allowing for a strain-specific therapeutic platform aimed to re-establish normal functionality of one of these disrupted molecular pathways. Indeed, application of the chosen drug significantly decreased the observed metabolic effects of the American diet in only the predicted strain while the other tested strain exhibited increased activity of inflammatory response genes, demonstrating the strain-specificity of this drug's efficacy as well as its associated toxicities. This pilot study highlights the value of precision therapeutics in the treatment of metabolic syndrome and underscores the advantage of using multiple genetically distinct strains of mice in preclinical drug trials to help identify genetic dependencies in efficacy and toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI), once a phenomenon primarily in the world of science fiction, has evolved rapidly in recent years, steadily infiltrating into our daily lives. ChatGPT, a freely accessible AI-powered large language model designed to generate human-like text responses to users, has been utilized in several areas, such as the healthcare industry, to facilitate interactive dissemination of information and decision-making. Academic advising has been essential in promoting success among university students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Unfortunately, however, student advising has been marred with problems, with the availability and accessibility of adequate advising being among the hurdles. The current study explores how AI-powered tools like ChatGPT might serve to make academic advising more accessible, efficient, or effective. The authors compiled a list of questions frequently asked by current and prospective students in a teacher education bachelor's degree program in the United States. Then, the questions were typed into the free version of ChatGPT, and the answers generated were explored and evaluated for their content and delivery. ChatGPT generated surprisingly high-quality answers, written in an authoritative yet supportive tone, and it was particularly adept at addressing general and open-ended career-related questions, such as career outlook, in a clear, comprehensive, and supportive manner using plain language. We argue that AI-powered tools, such as ChatGPT, may complement but not necessarily replace human academic advisers and that these tools may very well serve to promote educational equity by empowering individuals from a wide range of backgrounds with the means to initiate effective methods of seeking academic advice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]