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SUMMARY: Filth flies, especially house flies, can harbor and disseminate human pathogens to food and food contact surfaces. To determine the potential of flying insects to carry Salmonella and Campylobacter from poultry grow out houses, a total of 2,164 flying insects were caught and segregated based on flying insect family type and farm location in the Upstate, Middle, and Coastal parts of South Carolina in the United States for two 14-d sampling periods at 3 separate farms. Captured flying insects included house flies in the family Muscidae inside the poultry house (N = 289), house flies just outside the poultry house (N = 1023), and house flies 100 meters from the poultry houses (N = 547). Other flying insects included wasps in the family Vespidae species (spp.) captured just outside the poultry house (N = 71), Vespidae 100 meters from the poultry house (N = 126), flesh flies in the family Sarcophagidae just outside the poultry house (N = 13), and flesh flies 100 meters from the poultry house (N = 9), blow flies in the family Calliphoridae 100 meters from the poultry house, darkling beetles in the family Tenebrionidae just outside the poultry house (N = 30), and darkling beetles 100 meters from the poultry house (N = 56). Populations of Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., and total aerobic organisms (APC) were recovered from flying insects as well as the number of Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. positive flying insects at a 100 m distance from the broiler farms. Along with insect groups, chicken feces in the grow-out houses from 3 farms, cow manure around farm 1 and farm 2, and dog feces around farm 1 were also sampled. While no Campylobacter jejuni was recovered from any of the samples, including flying insect groups, chicken feces, cow manures, and dog feces, Campylobacter coli positive samples were detected in the cow manure samples in both collection periods, 100m-Calliphoridae, out-house flies and 100m-darkling beetles in 1 out of 2 collection periods on farm 2. Moreover, positive Serogroup B Salmonella spp. were detected in the groups in-chicken feces, in- house flies, and out- house flies on farm 2 and positive Serogroup C Salmonella spp. were detected in the groups of in- chicken feces, out- house flies, and 100m- house flies on farm 3. These data suggest that house flies may be a vector in the transmission of Salmonella spp. to and from broiler farms.

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a statistically significant difference in parents' perceptions of frequency and effectiveness regarding parental involvement among various demographic groups (ethnicity, education level, socio-economic status, number of children in the home) based on Epstein's (2007) six typologies of parental involvement. Parents were asked to reflect on the degree to which their child's school carried out the activities informed by the six parental involvement typologies of Epstein's Model of Parental Involvement (i.e., parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, decision-making, and collaborating with the community). Findings indicated that parents in this study had significantly different views regarding the implementation of effective parental involvement behaviors by schools. Results from the study will provide districts with knowledge on how to better serve parents as well as close the gap in communication between home and school.

National rates of juvenile incarceration show that about 33% of the population in correctional confinement has disabilities such as behavioral disorders or specific learning disabilities. All students identified under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) as having a disability are entitled to special education and transition services when they are incarcerated if they need specialized services. Despite the requirements for education and transition, research shows that rates of recidivism increase from about 55% for the general population of incarcerated youth to approximately 85% for youth with disabilities. This article addresses three related questions: (a) What educational and transitional services does IDEIA require schools to offer students in juvenile correctional facilities in the United States? (b) How are parents involved with the education and rehabilitation of their children with disabilities in correctional confinement? (c) What are the challenges associated with parental involvement and transition to and from incarceration for students with disabilities?

Prior research has explored factors associated with probation outcomes, but few studies have examined pathways of noncompliance leading to probation failure. We conducted social sequence analysis to identify trajectories of compliance and noncompliance in a sample of 4,389 probationers in Monroe County, Indiana. Our findings showed full compliance was the most common probation trajectory and a single failure to appear (FTA) the most common pattern of noncompliance. In addition to a new offense during probation, repeated patterns of FTA and substance use noncompliance were associated with higher revocation rates. Recurrent patterns of technical violations, particularly for substance use, may function as an important pathway to revocation. Supervision strategies that intervene to address recurrent noncompliance may help agencies reduce revocation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The indoor environment is the primary location for the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), largely driven by respiratory particle accumulation in the air and increased connectivity between the individuals occupying indoor spaces. In this study, we aimed to track a cohort of subjects as they occupied a COVID-19 isolation dormitory to better understand the impact of subject and environmental viral load over time, symptoms, and room ventilation on the detectable viral load within a single room. We find that subject samples demonstrate a decrease in overall viral load over time, symptoms significantly impact environmental viral load, and we provide the first real-world evidence for decreased aerosol SARS-CoV-2 load with increasing ventilation, both from mechanical and window sources. These results may guide environmental viral surveillance strategies and be used to better control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within built environments and better protect those caring for individuals with COVID-19.

Bone metastasis is highly prevalent in breast cancer patients with metastatic disease. These metastatic cells may eventually form osteolytic lesions and affect the integrity of the bone, causing pathological fractures and impairing patient quality of life. Although some mechanisms have been determined in the metastatic cascade to the bone, little is known about how the mechanical cues of the bone marrow microenvironment influence tumor cell growth and invasion once they have homed to the secondary site. The mechanical properties within the bone marrow range from 0.5 kPa in the sinusoidal region to 40 kPa in the endosteal region. Here, we report an alginate-Matrigel hydrogel that can be modulated to the stiffness range of the bone marrow and used to evaluate tumor cell behavior. We fabricated alginate-Matrigel hydrogels with varying calcium sulfate (CaSO4) concentrations to tune stiffness, and we demonstrated that these hydrogels recapitulated the mechanical properties observed in the bone marrow microenvironment (0.7–16 kPa). We encapsulated multiple breast cancer cell lines into these hydrogels to assess growth and invasion. Tumor cells in stiffer hydrogels exhibited increased proliferation and enhanced elongation compared to lower stiffness hydrogels, which suggests that stiffer environments in the bone marrow promote cellular invasive capacity. This work establishes a system that replicates bone marrow mechanical properties to elucidate the physical factors that contribute to metastatic growth.

Steven M Falowski,1 Sebastian F Koga,2 Trent Northcutt,3 Laszlo Garamszegi,3 Jeremi Leasure,3 Jon E Block4 1Argires-Marotti Neurosurgical Associates of Lancaster, Lancaster, PA, USA; 2Koga Neurosurgery, Covington, LA, USA; 3Aurora Spine, Carlsbad, CA, USA; 4Independent Clinical Consultant, San Francisco, CA, USACorrespondence: Jon E BlockIndependent Clinical Consultant, 2210 Jackson Street, Ste. 401, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USATel +1 415-775-7947Email jb@drjonblock.comAbstract: With an increasingly aging population globally, a confluence has emerged between the rising prevalence of degenerative spinal disease and osteoporosis. Fusion of the anterior spinal column remains the mainstay surgical intervention for many spinal degenerative disorders. However, decreased vertebral bone mineral density (BMD), quantitatively measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), complicates treatment with surgical interbody fusion as weak underlying bone stock increases the risk of post-operative implant-related adverse events, including cage subsidence. There is a necessity for developing cages with advanced structural designs that incorporate bioengineering and architectural principles to tailor the interbody fusion device directly to the patient’s BMD status. Specifically, lattice-designed cages that mimic the web-like structure of native cancellous bone have demonstrated excellent resistance to post-operative subsidence. This article provides an introductory profile of a spinal interbody implant designed intentionally to simulate the lattice structure of human cancellous bone, with a similar modulus of elasticity, and specialized to match a patient’s bone status across the BMD continuum. The implant incorporates an open pore design where the degree of pore compactness directly corresponds to the patient’s DXA-defined BMD status, including patients with osteoporosis.Keywords: osteoporosis, interbody fusion, bone mineral, cage, degenerative disc disease

IntroductionDeletion of myostatin in mice (MSTN-/- ) alters structural properties of peripheral axons. However, properties like axon diameter and myelin thickness were analyzed in mixed nerves, so it is unclear whether loss of myostatin affects motor, sensory, or both types of axons.MethodsUsing the MSTN-/- mouse model, we analyzed the effects of increasing the number of muscle fibers on axon diameter, myelin thickness, and internode length in motor and sensory axons.ResultsAxon diameter and myelin thickness were increased in motor axons of MSTN-/- mice without affecting internode length or axon number. The number of sensory axons was increased without affecting their structural properties.DiscussionThese results suggest that motor and sensory axons establish structural properties by independent mechanisms. Moreover, in motor axons, instructive cues from the neuromuscular junction may play a role in co-regulating axon diameter and myelin thickness, whereas internode length is established independently. Muscle Nerve 56: E100-E107, 2017.

Criminal justice stakeholders have increasingly relied on probation supervision as an alternative to incarceration and yet, probation revocations often result in incarceration. As such, increased understanding of the mechanisms behind revocations and strategies to reduce them is critical. We conduct a rapid review of the literature on factors associated with probation revocations. Specifically, we review 50 articles on how probation officer behavior, officer-client relationships, caseload size, supervision intensity, monetary sanctions, probation client characteristics, or programming and services are associated with probation revocations. Though the literature is limited, and findings are mixed, the most consistent findings indicate that officer-client relationships involving trust, support, respect, and empathy as well as reduced caseload sizes and cognitive behavioral therapy programs are associated with probation success while intensive supervision programs; greater monetary sanctions and nonpayment of those sanctions; and being Black and less educated are associated with poorer supervision outcomes. Implications for future research, policy, and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based polygenic risk scoring is predictive of colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. However, few studies have investigated the association of genetic risk score (GRS) with detection of adenomatous polyps at screening colonoscopy. Methods We randomly selected 1769 Caucasian subjects who underwent screening colonoscopy from the Genomic Health Initiative (GHI), a biobank of NorthShore University HealthSystem. Outcomes from initial screening colonoscopy were recorded. Twenty-two CRC risk-associated SNPs were obtained from the Affymetrix™ SNP array and used to calculate an odds ratio (OR)-weighted and population-standardized GRS. Subjects with GRS of 1.5 were categorized as low, average and elevated risk. Results Among 1,769 subjects, 520 (29%) had 1 or more adenomatous polyps. GRS was significantly higher in subjects with adenomatous polyps than those without; mean (95% confidence interval) was 1.02 (1.00–1.05) and 0.97 (0.95–0.99), respectively, p