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Abstract Models of the future of coral reefs are potentially sensitive to theoretical assumptions, variable selectivity, interactions, and scales. A number of these aspects were evaluated using boosted regression tree models of numbers of coral taxa trained on ~1000 field surveys and 35 spatially complete influential environmental proxies at moderate scales (~6.25 km2). Models explored influences of climate change, water quality, direct human‐resource extraction, and variable selection processes. We examined the predictions for numbers of coral taxa using all variables and compared them to models based on variables commonly used to predict climate change and human influences (eight and nine variables). Results indicated individual temperature variables alone had lower predictive ability (R2

Effective communication is vital for patient safety, yet failures are common, often due to outdated methods. This study aimed to assess whether in-ear communication devices improve communication in orthopedic surgery simulations compared to traditional loud voice methods. Fifteen participants underwent simulations using both in-ear wireless devices and standard communication. Results showed significant improvements with in-ear devices in correctly identifying phrases (78.6% vs 44%), effectiveness (7.9/10 vs 4.9/10), and clarity (8/10 vs 4/10), all P < .001. Participants also favored in-ear devices in usability assessments. Sound levels recorded were comparable between groups. In conclusion, in-ear communication is safe and effective in orthopedic settings, potentially enhancing efficiency and safety. These devices can mitigate loud noises, benefiting surgeon well-being and patient outcomes.

Background: Wound closure method in total hip and knee arthroplasty is a controversial topic with no differences in clinical outcomes between surgical staples (SS) and subcutaneous sutures with Dermabond (SCD). When clinically appropriate, providers should focus more on what the patient may prefer. This study aimed to collect data on patient preference between SS and SCD and analyze differences in preference based on gender and previous surgical histories. Methods: Patients were surveyed on their wound closure preferences prior to surgery. The handout given collected preference and patient demographics. Risk ratios and risk difference with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated along with Firth-corrected logistic regressions. Results: A total of 163 participants were analyzed (53% female) (average age = 63.8 years), in which 12 participants selected SS as their preferred method. Males demonstrated no difference in relative risk (risk ratio: 2.3 [95% CI: 0.7, 7.3], P = .150) or absolute risk (risk difference: 5.9 [−2.2, 14.1], P = .156) in choosing SS over SCD. Patients that previously sustained SS for other surgeries demonstrated no difference in adjusted odds (adjusted: 0.9 [95% CI: 0.2, 3.2], P = .839) in choosing SS over SCD. Conclusion: More patients favored SCD over SS. There was no difference in preferences based on gender or previous surgical history. Current literature shows that successful wound closure is achieved with minimized risks for infection and other complications using both methods. Providers should adopt a patient-centric approach and perform the closure method that most patients prefer when medically warranted.

Improvements in materials, components, and surgical techniques in cementless total hip arthroplasty are resulting in improved femoral stem fixation through bony ongrowth or ingrowth. While improved femoral stem fixation is one reason for the current excellent total hip survivorship, indications for stem removal such as infection, implant fracture, or osteolysis remain. A commonly used technique for fully ingrown femoral stems is an extended trochanteric osteotomy which can result in comminuted fractures of the proximal femur during stem removal requiring additional fixation. Therefore, a novel hip stem removal was developed to facilitate removal of these well-ingrown stems without the need for an extended trochanteric osteotomy. This study describes the removal system and surgical technique and presents a case series of successfully removed ingrown stems.

We conducted a search for narrowband radio signals over four observing sessions in 2020–2023 with the L -band receiver (1.15–1.73 GHz) of the 100 m diameter Green Bank Telescope. We pointed the telescope in the directions of 62 TESS Objects of Interest, capturing radio emissions from a total of ∼11,680 stars and planetary systems in the ∼9′ beam of the telescope. All detections were either automatically rejected or visually inspected and confirmed to be of anthropogenic nature. We also quantified the end-to-end efficiency of radio SETI pipelines with a signal injection and recovery analysis. The UCLA SETI pipeline recovers 94.0% of the injected signals over the usable frequency range of the receiver and 98.7% of the injections when regions of dense radio frequency interference are excluded. In another pipeline that uses incoherent sums of 51 consecutive spectra, the recovery rate is ∼15 times smaller at ∼6%. The pipeline efficiency affects calculations of transmitter prevalence and SETI search volume. Accordingly, we developed an improved Drake figure of merit and a formalism to place upper limits on transmitter prevalence that take the pipeline efficiency and transmitter duty cycle into account. Based on our observations, we can state at the 95% confidence level that fewer than 6.6% of stars within 100 pc host a transmitter that is continuously transmitting a narrowband signal with an equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) > 10 ^13 W. For stars within 20,000 ly, the fraction of stars with detectable transmitters (EIRP > 5 × 10 ^16 W) is at most 3 × 10 ^−4 . Finally, we showed that the UCLA SETI pipeline natively detects the signals detected with AI techniques by Ma et al.

The need to evaluate the human health safety of fishery resources remain urgent in the mist of the ever-increasing fear of heavy metal toxicity from the consumption of Ghana's fisheries resource, as a consequence of pollution from several anthropogenic activities including artisanal gold mining. Nevertheless, the bigeye grunt (Brachydeuterus auritus) and Bagrid catfish (Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus) remain commercially valuable fish species in West Africa and continue to attract high patronage.Forty-five specimens each of C. nigrodigitatus and B. auritus collected from the Weija Dam and the Tema Fishing Habour in Ghana, between June and September 2016, were analysed for seven heavy metals using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry.Lead and Cadmium were below detection in all samples while Cu was not detected in B. auritus. Levels of the remaining metals (mg kg-1) were below FAO/WHO maximum permissible limits in fish and occurred in the rank order Se (3.5) > Zn (2.34) > Cu (0.59) > As (0.37) > Hg (0.19) in C. nigrodigitatus and Se (2.97) > Zn (2.28) > Hg (0.31) > As (0.21) in B. auritus. Only As in C. nigrodigitatus recorded Estimated Weekly Intake (EWI) greater than FAO/WHO Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI). Also, As in C. nigrodigitatus and Hg in B. auritus had Targeted Hazard Quotient (THQ) greater than 1 for individuals consuming the fishes on daily basis and therefore, raising concerns. However, for both species of fish, cancer risk of As was 1 in 10,000,000,000 and modified Health Benefits values of Se (HBVSe) were positive indicating the health risks that might accompany Hg exposure would be negated. Since toxicity depends on the concentration and quantity of a pollutant consumed, safe maximum consumption rate of C. nigrodigitatus based on As concentrations was 0.21 mg per day and that of B. auritus was 0.058 mg per day for Hg. With an average of 0.227 kg fish per meal of an adult human, these translated into not more than 24 C. nigrodigitatus and nine (9) B. auritus meals in a month but because fish is consumed at 0.0685 kg per person per day in Ghana, these values respectively translates to 93 and 30 safe days of consumption per month.At the rate of 0.0685 kg fish per person per day that fish is consumed in Ghana, the consumption of the two species of fish in Ghana would essentially be of little or no consequence to consumers.

The objective of this study was to determine the appropriate dose of artesunate for use in a fixed dose combination therapy with chlorproguanil-dapsone (CPG-DDS) for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria.Open-label clinical trial comparing CPG-DDS alone or with artesunate 4, 2, or 1 mg/kg at medical centers in Blantyre, Malawi and Farafenni, The Gambia. The trial was conducted between June 2002 and February 2005, including 116 adults (median age 27 years) and 107 children (median age 38 months) with acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Subjects were randomized into 4 groups to receive CPG-DDS alone or plus 4, 2 or 1 mg/kg of artesunate once daily for 3 days. Assessments took place on Days 0-3 in hospital and follow-up on Days 7 and 14 as out-patients. Efficacy was evaluated in the Day 3 per-protocol (PP) population using mean time to reduce baseline parasitemia by 90% (PC90). A number of secondary outcomes were also included. Appropriate artesunate dose was determined using a pre-defined decision matrix based on primary and secondary outcomes. Treatment emergent adverse events were recorded from clinical assessments and blood parameters. Safety was evaluated in the intent to treat (ITT) population.In the Day 3 PP population for the adult group (N = 85), mean time to PC90 was 19.1 h in the CPG-DDS group, significantly longer than for the +artesunate 1 mg/kg (12.5 h; treatment difference -6.6 h [95%CI -11.8, -1.5]), 2 mg/kg (10.7 h; -8.4 h [95%CI -13.6, -3.2]) and 4 mg/kg (10.3 h; -8.7 h [95%CI -14.1, -3.2]) groups. For children in the Day 3 PP population (N = 92), mean time to PC90 was 21.1 h in the CPG-DDS group, similar to the +artesunate 1 mg/kg group (17.7 h; -3.3 h [95%CI -8.6, 2.0]), though the +artesunate 2 mg/kg and 4 mg/kg groups had significantly shorter mean times to PC90 versus CPG-DDS; 14.4 h (treatment difference -6.4 h [95%CI -11.7, -1.0]) and 12.8 h (-7.4 h [95%CI -12.9, -1.8]), respectively. An analysis of mean time to PC90 for the Day 14 PP and ITT populations was consistent with the primary analysis. Treatment emergent, drug-related adverse events were experienced in 35.3% (41/116) of adults and 70.1% (75/107) of children; mostly hematological and gastroenterological. The nature and incidence of adverse events was similar between the groups. No dose-related changes in laboratory parameters were observed. Nine serious adverse events due to any cause occurred in five subjects including two cases of hemolysis believed to be associated with drug treatment (one adult, one child). One adult died of anaphylactic shock, not associated with investigational therapy.CPG-DDS plus artesunate demonstrated advantages over CPG-DDS alone for the primary efficacy endpoint (mean time to PC90) except in children for the 1 mg/kg artesunate dose. Based on a pre-defined decision matrix, the primary endpoint in the child group supported an artesunate dose of 4 mg/kg. Secondary endpoints also supported a 4 mg/kg artesunate dose to take forward into the remainder of the development program.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00519467.

Thaumatotibia leucotreta Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a major threat to the production and marketing of pepper (Capsicum spp.) in Ghana. To reduce the damage of the pest on pepper farming, it is important to find appropriate control methods, which may include the use of resistant host plants. This study investigated the relative susceptibility of 6 pepper varieties commonly cultivated in Ghana: Legon 18, Bird's eye, Scotch bonnet, Cayenne, KA2, and sweet pepper (Yolo wonder+ variety). Choice and no-choice ovipositional preference tests were conducted and the population growth rate of T. leucotreta was determined by establishing life table parameters including the net reproductive rates (R 0 ), the mean generation time (G), intrinsic rate of natural increase (r m ), the population doubling time (T), and the finite rate of increase (λ). In the no-choice test, females exhibited oviposition preference for sweet pepper (12.08 eggs/fruit), while Bird's eye was the least preferred (5.00 eggs/fruit). The same results were observed in the choice test. However, the population growth rate of T. leucotreta was highest on the Scotch bonnet and Cayenne, with r m of 0.124 and 0.127, respectively, while the Bird's eye and sweet pepper recorded the least r m of 0.116. Thus, the tested varieties had varying levels of susceptibility to T. leucotreta infestation. Bird's eye was the least susceptible variety, while Cayenne and Scotch bonnet were the most susceptible varieties. These findings could direct farmers on the choices of pepper varieties for cultivation and proffer potential opportunities to breed new varieties resistant to T. leucotreta infestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Models of the future of coral reefs are potentially sensitive to theoretical assumptions, variable selectivity, interactions, and scales. A number of these aspects were evaluated using boosted regression tree models of numbers of coral taxa trained on ~1000 field surveys and 35 spatially complete influential environmental proxies at moderate scales (~6.25 km2). Models explored influences of climate change, water quality, direct human‐resource extraction, and variable selection processes. We examined the predictions for numbers of coral taxa using all variables and compared them to models based on variables commonly used to predict climate change and human influences (eight and nine variables). Results indicated individual temperature variables alone had lower predictive ability (R2 < 2%–7%) compared to human influence variables (6%–18%) but overall climate had a higher training–testing fit (70%) than the human influence (63%) model. The full variable model had the highest fit to the full data (27 variables; R2 = 85%) and indicated the strongly interactive and complex role of environmental and human influence variables when making moderate‐scale biodiversity predictions. Projecting changes using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) 2050 Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP2.6 and 8.5) water temperature predictions indicated high local variability and fewer negative effects than predictions made by coarse scale threshold and niche models. The persistence of coral reefs over periods of rapid climate change is likely to be caused by smaller scale variability that is poorly simulated with coarse scale modeled predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retailing's digital transformation continues to exert pressure on marketers to effectively design and manage consumers' shopping experiences. A multi-method research approach was adopted to thoroughly examine the current state of consumer experiences in an omnichannel retailing context. Specifically, a bibliometric analysis of 561 omnichannel retailing articles in the Web of Science database was conducted, revealing a lack of research focused on the service-dominant logic perspective. Therefore, the proposed conceptual framework utilized a service-dominant logic perspective, emphasizing the interconnected roles of various actors in shaping consumers' experiences and their assessments of value-in-use within complex omnichannel retailing. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this research is the first comprehensive framework for understanding consumer value-in-use in omnichannel retailing, linking antecedents, consumers' value-in-use experiences, and consequences for consumers and retailers. In summary, this paper conceptualizes how consumers perceive value co-creation within an omnichannel retail ecosystem, contributing to the development of omnichannel strategies that optimize consumers' value-in-use across the retail landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study is to examine the college students' perception of library services, and to what extent the quality of library services influences students' satisfaction. The findings depict the relationship between academic libraries and their users in today's digital world and identify critical factors that may sustain a viable library-user relationship on campus.

Despite the precipitous economic development in China since it adopted the open-door policy in 1978, the issue of regional economic disparity remains to be a notable macroeconomic and social challenge in the 21st century. The Chinese government has allocated large amounts of resources to promote economic development and to reduce economic disparity over the past few decades. This study attempts to better understand the effectiveness and efficiency of the Chinese government's poverty reduction policy in the Sichuan Tibetan region, a remote area with a severe economic disparity issue in China. Using the exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) method, the present study first categorized the 32 counties in the studied Sichuan Tibetan region into four clustering groups. Further, the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method was applied to examine relative efficiency performance at the county level over the 2000-2007 period. A unique feature of the present study is that it incorporates both the ESDA and DEA techniques to assess not only economic outcomes (i.e., GDP per capita) but also the degree of relative efficiency for each subset of the spatial area. Our findings suggest that the clustering outcomes from the ESDA method are consistent with the relative efficiency evaluations from the DEA approach overall. However, at an individual county level, we found that some counties in the low-level economic performance groups outperform the counties in high-level economic performance groups in terms of efficiency performance. These findings reveal that the economic performance variable, such as GDP per capita, does not comprehensively reflect an individual county's level of relative efficiency performance and each clustering group has a non-balanced efficiency performance pattern. Empirical findings and the methods employed in this study could be of help to government agencies and regional economics scholars when they evaluate the efficiency of a policy or a program across various geographic areas through effective benchmarking comparisons. We also recommend both traditional economic measures and scale efficiency outcomes should be considered when a local government's overall economic performance is evaluated. Besides, government officials should pay more attention to the decision-making units and attempt to find factors underlying the non-balanced efficiency performance pattern. JEL Classifications: O10, P48, R11 Keywords: Regional economic disparities, scale efficiency, DEA, ESDA. Corresponding Author's Email Address: hsum@uww.edu, INTRODUCTION Although developing countries have experienced precipitous economic development in recent decades, many of them are experiencing widening regional economic inequalities (Fosu, 2017). Notably, the issue of regional economic disparities [...]

Abstract Liquid-water management in polymer-electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) remains an area of ongoing research. To enhance water removal, certain flow-fields induce cross-flow, or flow through the gas-diffusion layer (GDL) via channel-to-channel pressure differences. While beneficial to water removal, cross-flow comes at the cost of higher pumping pressures and may lead to membrane dehydration and other deleterious issues. This paper examines the impact of cross-flow on component saturation levels as determined through in-plane high-resolution neutron radiography. Various humidities and operating conditions are examined, and the results demonstrate that cell saturation levels correlate strongly with the level of cross-flow rate, and lower GDL saturation levels are found to correlate with an increase in permeability at higher flow rates. Effective water removal is found to occur at channel-to-channel pressure gradients greater than the measured breakthrough pressure of the GDL, evidence that similar liquid-water transport mechanisms exist for under-land area transport as in transverse GDL flow.