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Cyrtandra obliquifolia K.R. Wood & W.L. Wagner (Gesneriaceae), a new shrub species known only from Kaua'i, Hawaiian Islands, is described and illustrated with notes on its distribution, ecology, and conservation status. The new species is morphologically most similar to Cyrtandra wawrae C.B. Clarke but differs by its unique combination of oblique, non-peltate, auriculate leaf bases, more deeply divided calyx lobes, inflorescence with fewer flowers and lacking profusely umbellate cymes. Cyrtandra obliquifolia is known from only two localities which have undergone severe habitat degradation from landslides and invasive plants and animals and is determined to be Critically Endangered (CR) when evaluated under IUCN criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory pathogens such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2 can cause severe lung infections leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The pathophysiology of ARDS includes an excessive host immune response, lung epithelial and endothelial cell death and loss of the epithelial and endothelial barrier integrity, culminating in pulmonary oedema and respiratory failure. Traditional approaches for the treatment of respiratory infections include drugs that exert direct anti-pathogen effects (e.g., antivirals). However, such agents are typically ineffective or insufficient after the development of ARDS. Modulation of the host response has emerged as a promising alternative therapeutic approach to mitigate damage to the host for the treatment of respiratory infections; in principle, this strategy should also be less susceptible to the development of pathogen resistance. In this review, we discuss different host-targeting strategies against pathogen-induced ARDS. Developing therapeutics that enhance the host response is a pathogen-agnostic approach that will help prepare for the next pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue honors Dr. Vicki Ann Funk (November 26, 1947–October 22, 2019), who passed away after a battle with an aggressive cancer. She was a botanist at the Smithsonian Institution during her career from 1981 to 2019 after a postdoctoral year at the New York Botanical Garden. Vicki was an inspirational evolutionary biologist and a champion for collections-based systematics and biogeography. She had broad influence on the way we perform our collections-based systematics today, especially with the development of phylogenetic systematics in botany in the early 1980s and throughout her career. Vicki was one of the most active, enthusiastic, and passionate professional botanists of our time. She combined these qualities with a quick mind and glowing wit, always with new ideas or opinions that she was eager to share with anyone who would listen and be willing to enter an engaging dialogue. During her distinguished career, Vicki achieved preeminence in the fields of phylogenetic methods, systematics, biogeography, and biodiversity conservation. She devoted a significant part of her career to mentoring the next generation of botanists and working with groups to tackle larger areas of research, especially Compositae systematics, phylogenetics, and biogeography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cardiovascular disease and stroke risk factor screening and management by primary care providers (PCPs) have a significant impact on their patients' health. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an electronic health record (EHR) cardiovascular disease and stroke risk alert in improving the ability of PCPs to manage risk factors among women and men aged 45 years and older.Methods: PCPs at a tertiary care hospital were randomized. The intervention group received an EHR alert, which calculated the individual patient risk and provided an order set incorporating the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association guidelines, whereas the control group used the EHR in the usual manner. Multilevel analysis compared the rate of prescriptions between the intervention and control groups.Results: A total of 23 PCPs were randomized: 12 in the intervention group and 11 in the control group, attending to 7190 patients between September 2016 and January 2017. None of the providers in the intervention group used the programmed order set. Intervention group providers were significantly more likely to prescribe smoking cessation medication to women than to the control group (adjusted odds ratio 2.37, 95% confidence interval 1.23-4.57). There were no statistically significant differences between the intervention and control groups in the rate of other medication prescriptions.Conclusions: As measured by prescriptions for medications, other than those for smoking cessation, the EHR alert was not shown to be successful in increasing the management of high-risk patients. Physicians receiving numerous messages in the EHR may experience alert desensitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2016 during a survey for potential fencing of the Ha'akoa unit on windward Mauna Kea, Hawai'i Island (Hawaiian Islands) a single plant of the genus Schiedea was discovered. No species of the genus had ever been known to occur in this area, and only three species of Schiedea were known previously from Hawai'i Island. Two are vining species and the third is a coastal subshrub. The single plant obviously represented an interesting find, and because the plant was vegetative another visit was scheduled to collect a flowering specimen, but by then the plant had died. Soil taken from the site with seeds in the soil produced two plants, one of which flowered in cultivation in 2021. A study of this individual indicated it was a member of Schiedea sect. Mononeura, characterized by erect to ascending habit, quadrangular stems, seeds not persistent on the placenta and readily dispersing from the dehisced capsule, and flowers facultatively autogamous. With the discovery of this new species there are 35 species in this Hawaiian endemic genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Children with obesity are at risk for numerous health problems, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This review focuses on progress made in the epidemiology of NAFLD in children for the years 2015–2020. The estimated prevalence of NAFLD in children with obesity is 26%. The incidence of NAFLD in children has risen rapidly over the past decade. An understanding of the reasons for this rise is incomplete, but over the past 5 years, many studies have provided additional insight into the complexity of risk factors, diagnostic approaches, and associated comorbidities. Risk factors for NAFLD are wide‐ranging, including perinatal factors involving both the mother and newborn, as well as environmental toxin exposure. Progress made in the noninvasive assessment will be critical to improving issues related to variability in approach to screening and diagnosis of NAFLD in children. The list of serious comorbidities observed in children with NAFLD continues to grow. Notably, for many of these conditions, such as diabetes and depression, the rates observed have exceeded the rates reported in children with obesity without NAFLD. Recent advancements reviewed show an increased awareness of this problem, while also calling attention to the need for additional research to guide successful efforts at prevention and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While undertaking a botanical survey of the Andersen Air Force Base on Guam (Mariana Islands) in 1994, botanists from the National Tropical Botanical Garden collected an unusual suffrutescent, nonaromatic member of the Lamiaceae family growing on limestone cliffs in the northeastern part of the island. Based on morphology and molecular data (trnLF, matK), it was determined to belong to the genus Pogostemon Desf., a genus previously unknown from the Micronesian, Melanesian, and Polynesian region. Moreover, the analysis also showed that it was not conspecific with P. cablin (patchouli), and of the species available to include in the phylogenetic analyses it is sister to P. hirsutus, a species from India and Sri Lanka. Differing from its congeners by its large, loose inflorescence 2.5-5 cm wide and up to 7 cm wide in fruit, it is here illustrated and described as a new species, Pogostemon guamensis Lorence & W.L. Wagner and its habitat and conservation status are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In 2007, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that children with obesity should be screened for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Population epidemiology reveals that NAFLD is common in children; however, little is known about rates of clinical diagnosis. In this study, we aim to determine screening practices, annual incidence, and clinical characteristics of NAFLD in children within an integrated community health system. METHODS: Using electronic health records, we identified patients newly diagnosed (aged 5-18) with NAFLD on the basis of diagnostic codes from the 9th and 10th revisions of the International Classification of Diseases. We calculated screening rates and annual incidence rates of NAFLD from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2018. RESULTS: In this study, we evaluated 7 884 844 patient-years. Screening was performed in 54.0% of children with obesity and 24.0% of children with overweight. The results revealed 36 658 children aged 9 to 18 with overweight or obesity and alanine aminotransferase >30 U/L. Of these children, 12.3% received further workup for NAFLD. The incidence of an NAFLD diagnosis significantly increased over time, with 36.0 per 100 000 in 2009 and 58.2 per 100 000 in 2018 (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study of a large integrated health care system in southern California revealed that the incidence of NAFLD in children is increasing, although many children may remain undiagnosed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue honors Dr. Vicki Ann Funk (26 November 1947-22 October 2019), who passed away after a battle with an aggressive cancer (Fig. GLO:B2N8/01nov20:jse12707-fig-0001.jpg PHOTO (COLOR): 1 Vicki Funk with husband and life partner Jim Nix, April 2018, Reserva Ecológica El Ángel, Ecuador (photographer unknown). gl Vicki pioneered the use of cladistics or phylogenetic theory in plant systematics in the late 1970s and the early 1980s (e.g., Funk & Stuessy, 1978; Funk, 1982, 1985a). Back row (from left to right): Vicki Funk, Greg Mueller, Rick Ree, Jun Wen, Sugong Wu, Jun-Feng Liang, and Jipei Yue; front row (from left to right): Zhen Yang, Zelong Nie, Ying Meng, Deborah Bell, Yunjuan Zuo, and Sang Ge (photo by driver "Turkey"). gl Vicki was an exceptionally strong advocate for collections-based research (Funk et al., 1999; Funk & Richardson, 2002; Funk, 2004, 2006, 2017, 2018; Wen et al., 2015). We emphasize four major areas that Vicki was passionate about and made significant contributions: Pacific biogeography, statistical phylogenetic biogeography, systematics and evolution of the Compositae (Asteraceae), and collections-based phylogenetic systematics. [Extracted from the article]

Despite the absence of metazoans, structures resembling animal traces are common in a soda lake from the western Brazil Pantanal wetland. Pantanal soda lakes are ecologically extreme environments that preclude complex life, allowing extremophiles to flourish. Direct observation indicates that these structures are pseudotraces, representing groove marks that result from the interaction of wave-transported floating rafts of epibenthic microbial mat fragments with the substrate. Variations in wind/wave direction and intensity result in marks of different size and morphology. The most common pseudotraces are simple and slightly curved, narrow grooves (type 1), whereas others are straight and present raised lateral ridges (type 2). Both are V-shaped in cross section. Type 3 comprises long, sinuous, shallow grooves, displaying internal crescentic laminated infill and U-shaped cross section. The similarity of these pseudotraces to Ediacaran structures usually interpreted as animal trace fossils suggests that care should be exercised in their analysis. A set of criteria is proposed to differentiate microbially induced pseudotraces from trace fossils. Analysis of Ediacaran structures needs to be performed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account morphology, orientation, and preservation style of the structure, sedimentary environment, and presence or absence of microbial mats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research on HIV stigma and the use of spirituality by people living with HIV/AIDS is scarce. Moreover, the research with older Black men who have sex with men is scant. This study aimed to investigate experiences of HIV stigma and the use of spirituality among older HIV positive Black men who sleep with men. In-depth interviews were conducted with a sample of ten men. Data were analyzed utilizing to the modified van Kaam data analysis method. Three major themes were identified that explores the participants lived experiences with HIV stigma and use of spirituality: experiences of stigma reinforcing the use of spirituality; defining spirituality as a functional concept; and self-empowerment through the use of spirituality. The findings could guide social workers and other helping professionals in developing informed assessments and interventions regarding HIV stigma and the use of spirituality. Future qualitative and quantitative research is needed to achieve generalizable knowledge about the relationship between stigma on the use of spirituality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) of an mRNA molecule embeds important determinants that modify its stability and translation efficiency. In Streptococcus pyogenes, a strict human pathogen, a gene encoding a secreted protease (speB) has a large 5' UTR with unknown functions. Here we describe that a partial deletion of the speB 5' UTR caused a general accumulation of mRNA in the stationary phase, and that the mRNA accumulation was due to retarded mRNA degradation. The phenotype was observed in several M serotypes harboring the partial deletion of the speB 5' UTR. The phenotype was triggered by the production of the truncated speB 5' UTR, but not by the disruption of the intact speB 5' UTR. RNase Y, a major endoribonuclease, was previously shown to play a central role in bulk mRNA turnover in stationary phase. However, in contrast to our expectations, we observed a weaker interaction between the truncated speB 5' UTR and RNase Y compared with the wild-type, which suggests that other unidentified RNA degrading components are required for the pleiotropic effects observed from the speB UTR truncation. Our study demonstrates how S. pyogenes uses distinct mRNA degradation schemes in exponential and stationary growth phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perrottetia wichmaniorum Lorence & W. L. Wagner, sp. nov. is described as endemic to Kaua'i. It differs from its Hawaiian congener P. sandwicensis by its larger, thicker, more densely hirtellous-villosulous rugose leaves with a smaller length:width ratio [1.5-1.7:1], larger inflorescences with usually four degrees of branching with moderately to densely hirtellous axes, and flowers with glabrous petals. This new species falls into the Endangered (EN) category when evaluated using the IUCN Red List criteria for endangerment based on its small area of occupancy, a decline in the extent and quality of its habitat, and number of mature individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beneath southwestern Colombia, intermediate‐depth earthquakes in the Cauca cluster locate in the subducting Nazca plate and in two columns extending ~40‐km into the mantle wedge above the slab. To investigate the cluster, we determine focal mechanisms for 69 small‐to‐moderate‐sized (2.3 ≤ Ml ≤ 4.7) earthquakes in the cluster by fitting short‐period body wave waveforms using the cut‐and‐paste method. The focal mechanisms have various faulting types and variably oriented nodal planes. We invert the focal mechanisms of the intraslab earthquakes for the intraslab stress field but cannot fit the region with a homogeneous stress tensor. We find that the principal stress axes rotate with the slab geometry, which has a concave shape and increases in dip angle from north to south. The northern region has slab normal compression and similar‐magnitude maximum and intermediate principal stresses. The minimum stress axis is oriented ~41° counterclockwise from the downdip direction. In the steeper southern region, the intermediate stress axis orients in the downdip direction. Deviation from a typical downdip extensional stress field may result from a buoyant young slab, an eastward mantle flow push, and/or along‐strike compression from the concave shape of the slab. This stress field would allow slip along preexisting faults of various orientations, such as the trench‐perpendicular seafloor features presently observed offshore, and contribute to the apparent heterogeneity of the intraslab stress field. The mantle wedge earthquakes also have various focal mechanisms but tend to have a subvertical nodal plane that aligns with the earthquake locations. Key Points: Cauca cluster earthquakes have various focal mechanisms with variably oriented nodal planes inconsistent with a homogeneous stress tensorThe average intraslab stress field has slab normal compression with in‐slab extension oriented ~45° from the downdip directionDeviation from a typical downdip extensional stress field may result from a young slab, mantle flow push, or a concave shape of the slab [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botanists have long considered the origins of the Hawaiian flora in terms of long‐distance dispersal from particular source areas. We extensively reviewed phylogenetic studies of the Hawaiian angiosperm flora to determine the most likely region of origin for each lineage from a defined set of source areas. We also evaluated dispersal modes of each lineage to assess whether certain dispersal modes are associated with a given source area. The largest source category was Widespread (involving related taxa that extend across more than one region), although many of these comprised native non‐endemic species, and accounted for little of the total species diversity (after accounting for in situ speciation). The next largest source regions were Indo‐Malayan and Neotropical. Comparatively few lineages originated from the East Asian region, although these include the single largest lineage. Lineages originating in the Indo‐Malayan region predominantly arrived via Pacific Islands, whereas dispersal from all other regions appears to have been mostly direct. Compared with previous analyses, we found a higher proportion of lineages originating in the Neotropics and temperate North America. Widespread origins were positively associated with dispersal via flotation on water, whereas other origins were associated with dispersal by birds, either through internal transport or external adhesion. We identified thirty‐one potential cases of dispersal out of Hawaii to other islands. Our assessment is complicated by lineages with ancient origins, with further complications likely stemming from hybridization events. Overall, numerous lineages including some distinctive endemic genera have not had sufficient phylogenetic study to determine an origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sp3-hybridized group 14 graphane analogues are a unique family of 2D materials in which every atom requires a terminal ligand for stability. Consequently, the optical, electronic, and thermal properties of these materials can be manipulated via covalent chemistry. Herein, we review the methodologies for preparing these materials, and compare their functionalization densities to Si/Ge(111) surfaces and other covalently terminated 2D materials. We discuss how the electronic structure, optical properties, and thermal stability of the 2D framework can be broadly tuned with the ligand identity and framework element. We highlight their recent application in electronics, optoelectronics, photocatalysis, and batteries. Overall, these materials are an intriguing regime in materials design in which both surface functionalization and solid-state chemistry can be uniquely exploited to systematically design properties and phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcus mutans is recognized as one of the key contributors to the dysbiotic state that results in dental caries. Existing treatment strategies reduce the incidence of tooth decay, but they also eliminate both the cariogenic and beneficial microbes. Here we introduce a novel treatment alternative using Sephadex, cross-linked dextranomer microspheres (DMs), typically used for gel filtration chromatography. In addition DM beads can be used for affinity purification of glucosyltransferases (GTFs) from S. mutans. In this study we take advantage of the native pathogenic mechanisms used by S. mutans to adhere, form a biofilm and induce dental caries through the expression of surface-associated GTFs. We demonstrate that planktonic and biofilm-grown (adhered to hydroxyapatite-coated pegs to mimic the tooth surface) S. mutans, specifically and competitively attach to DMs. Further investigation demonstrated that DMs are a specific affinity resin for S. mutans and other cariogenic/pathogenic oral streptococci, whereas other commensal and probiotic strains failed to readily adhere to DMs. Using antimicrobial cargo loaded into the DM lumen, we demonstrate that when in co-culture with non-binding to even modestly binding commensal species, S. mutans was selectively killed. This proof of concept study introduces a novel means to safely and effectively reduce the pool of S. mutans and other pathogenic streptococci in the oral cavity with limited disturbance of the necessary commensal (healthy) microbiota when compared with current oral healthcare products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effect sizes are an important component of experimental design, data analysis, and interpretation of statistical results. In some situations, an effect size of clinical or practical importance may be unknown to the researcher. In other situations, the researcher may be interested in comparing observed effect sizes to known standards to quantify clinical importance. In these cases, the notion of relative effect sizes (small, medium, large) can be useful as benchmarks. Although there is generally an extensive literature on relative effect sizes for continuous data, little of this research has focused on relative effect sizes for measures of risk that are common in epidemiological or biomedical studies. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to extend existing relative effect sizes to the relative risk, odds ratio, hazard ratio, rate ratio, and Mantel–Haenszel odds ratio for related samples. In most scenarios with equal group allocation, effect sizes of 1.22, 1.86, and 3.00 can be taken as small, medium, and large, respectively. The odds ratio for a non rare event is a notable exception and modified relative effect sizes are 1.32, 2.38, and 4.70 in that situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Impacts of climate change on aquatic macroinvertebrates are complex. • Causal modelling is used to integrate data and models from various sources. • Macroinvertebrates' response to climate change-induced disturbances is predicted. • Optimal use of existing data and merits of models in the field can be made. • Policymaking may benefit from causal models' ability to answer 'what if' questions. Climate change is projected to threaten ecological communities through changes in temperature, rainfall, runoff patterns, and mediated changes in other environmental variables. Their combined effects are difficult to comprehend without the mathematical machinery of causal modelling. Using piecewise structural equation modelling, we aim to predict the responses of aquatic macroinvertebrate total abundance and richness to disturbances generated by climate change. Our approach involves integrating an existing hydroclimate-salinity model for the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia, into our recently developed statistical models for macroinvertebrates using long-term monitoring data on macroinvertebrates, water quality, climate, and hydrology, spanning 2,300 km of the Murray River. Our exercise demonstrates the potential of causal modelling for integrating data and models from different sources. As such, optimal use of valuable existing data and merits of previously developed models in the field can be made for exploring the effects of future climate change and management interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exercise is associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as metabolism is upregulated to fuel muscle activity. If antioxidant systems become overwhelmed, ROS can negatively affect health and performance. Adaptation to exercise through regular training has been shown to improve defense against oxidative insult. Given selenium's role as an antioxidant, we hypothesized that increased Se intake would further enhance skeletal muscle adaptations to training. Quarter Horse yearlings (18 ± 0.2 mo; 402 ± 10 kg) were randomly assigned to receive either 0.1 or 0.3 mg Se/kg DM and placed in either an untrained or a trained (30 min walk-trot-canter, 4 d/wk) group for 14 wk. Phase 1 (wk 1 to 8) consisted of 4 treatments: trained and fed 0.1 mg Se/ kg DM through wk 14 (CON-TR; n = 10), trained and fed 0.3 mg Se/kg DM through wk 14 (HIGH-TR; n = 10), untrained and fed 0.1 mg Se/kg DM through wk 14 (CON-UN; n = 5), or untrained and fed 0.3 mg Se/kg DM through wk 14 (HIGH-UN; n = 5). During Phase 2 (wk 9 to 14), dietary Se level in half of the trained horses was reversed, resulting in 6 treatments: CONTR (n = 5), trained and fed 0.1 mg/kg Se in Phase 1 and then switched to 0.3 mg/kg Se for Phase 2 (ADD-TR; n = 5), trained and fed 0.3 mg/kg Se in Phase 1 and then switched to 0.1 mg/kg Se for Phase 2 (DROP-TR; n = 5), HIGH-TR (n = 5), CON-UN (n = 5), or HIGH-UN (n = 5). All horses underwent a 120-min submaximal exercise test (SET) at the end of Phase 1 (SET 1) and 2 (SET 2). Blood samples and biopsies from the middle gluteal muscle were collected before and after each phase of the study and in response to each SET and analyzed for markers of oxidative damage and antioxidant enzyme activity. In both phases, serum Se was higher (P < 0.0001) when horses received a diet with 0.3 than 0.1 mg Se/kg DM. Throughout the 14-wk study, resting activities of muscle glutathione peroxidase (GPx; P = 0.004) and superoxide dismutase (SOD; P = 0.06) were greater in trained horses than in untrained horses. In response to SET 1, serum creatine kinase (CK) activity was lower in trained horses than in untrained horses (P < 0.0001), indicating less muscle damage, but plasma lipid hydroperoxides (LPO) and muscle GPx and SOD activities were unaffected by training or Se. In response to SET 2, trained horses had greater muscle SOD activity (P = 0.0002) and lower serum CK activity (P = 0.003) and showed a trend for lower plasma LPO (P = 0.09) and muscle malondialdehyde (P = 0.09) than untrained horses. Muscle GPx activity did not change in response to SET 2 and was unaffected by training or Se. Results indicate that exercise training lessens muscle damage and improves antioxidant defense following an acute bout of prolonged exercise and was not further enhanced by feeding Se above the NRC requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athyrium haleakalae K.R. Wood & W.L. Wagner (Athyriaceae), a small lithophytic fern from East Maui, Hawaiian Islands, is described and illustrated. Notes on its distribution, ecology, and conservation status are also presented. The new species appears to be an obligate rheophyte, preferring sites of fast moving water along concave walls of streams and waterfalls. Athyrium haleakalae differs from the only other known Hawaiian Athyrium, A. microphyllum (Sm.) Alston, in having rhizomes 1-3 cm long and lanceolate blades 1-to 2-pinnate-pinnatifid, 3-8(-11) × 1-3(-4) cm, as compared to A. microphyllum having rhizomes (10-)15- 30 cm long and ovate to ovate-triangular blades 3-pinnate-pinnatifid to 4-pinnate, 30-82 × 20-50 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trust in one’s health care provider, trust in the health care system in general, and even trust in one’s community affects engagement in HIV-related health care. This article examines the issue of trust among a random sample of HIV-infected individuals residing in Mississippi, an area hard-hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Five constructs based on survey responses from these individuals were developed: (1) trust in one’s provider to offer the best possible medical care, (2) trust in one’s provider to protect patient privacy, (3) willingness to disclose HIV status to one’s provider, (4) trust in the health care system, and (5) trust in one’s community. Findings suggest that interventions to improve trust in providers to deliver the highest quality of care should be targeted to young people, African Americans, and the more highly educated. Interventions to increase trust in providers to protect privacy should focus on creating and strengthening social support groups or networks that build relationships and foster trust. Interventions aimed to increase community trust also should be targeted to young people. This information is useful to researchers, policy makers, health care providers, and organizations interested in prioritizing interventions and strategies that have the greatest potential to reduce health disparities in HIV diagnosis and treatment in the Deep South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most research on insulin resistance has focused on impaired signaling at the level of target tissues like skeletal muscle. Insulin delivery is also important and includes recruitment and perfusion of capillaries bearing insulin, but also the transit of insulin across the capillary endothelium. The mechanisms of this second stage (insulin transcytosis) and whether it contributes to insulin resistance remain uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A class of nonuniformly excited, equally spaced linear arrays (ESLAs) that can meet design requirements for half-power beamwidth and sidelobe level (SLL) without any limitation is introduced. These arrays are constructed using the patterns of uniformly excited arrays as building blocks, thus lending themselves to simple analytical descriptions and analysis. A design procedure is presented, which can be used to determine the required number of elements and the excitation currents to achieve the specified radiation properties. For these arrays, the element currents always decrease monotonically from a maximum at the array center to a minimum value at edge elements. This property can be exploited to limit the current taper ratio (CTR) when the number of elements is very large. Simulation results indicate that these arrays can provide half-power beamwidths, directivities, and SLLs comparable to those of other desirable array choices, such as Chebyshev arrays, with the same number of elements and interelement spacings. It is shown that, in fact, when the number of elements is sufficiently large, the array introduced here outperforms the Chebyshev array by providing larger directivity and allowing a smaller CTR to be achieved. Numerical results for broadside and endfire arrays are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although diagnosis and treatment of horses with colic have improved in the last 30 years, horses with recurrent colic can be a diagnostic and management challenge for both owners and veterinarians, and colic remains a high priority health concern of owners (Mellor et al. ). Nutritional management of these cases is often based on previous experience combined with recommendations from the evidence-based literature. This review will briefly summarise the aetiologies of recurrent colic and primarily focus on evidence-based nutritional management of colonic impactions, sand enteropathy, inflammatory bowel disease, and idiopathic recurrent colic, which is limited. Additional topics to be covered elsewhere in this series that are relevant to this topic include nutritional management of gastric ulceration, liver disease, colitis, geriatric horses, and feeding the horse pre- and post surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are clinically important in regenerative medicine as they are relatively easy to obtain, are characterized by low morbidity, and can differentiate into myogenic progenitor cells. Although studies have elucidated the principal markers, PAX7, Desmin, MyoD, and MHC, the underlying mechanisms are not completely understood. This motivates the application of computational methods to facilitate greater understanding of such processes. In the following, we present a multi-stage kinetic model comprising a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). We sought to model ASC differentiation using data from a static culture, where no strain is applied, and a dynamic culture, where 10% strain is applied. The coefficients of the equations have been modulated by those experimental data points. To correctly represent the trajectories, various switches and a feedback factor based on total cell number have been introduced to better represent the biology of ASC differentiation. Furthermore, the model has then been applied to predict ASC fate for strains different from those used in the experimental conditions and for times longer than the duration of the experiment. Analysis of the results reveals unique characteristics of ASC myogenesis under dynamic conditions of the applied strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the minimization of a nonsmooth convex function over a compact convex set subject to a nonsmooth convex constraint. We work in the setting of derivative-free optimization (DFO), assuming that the objective and constraint functions are available through a black-box that provides function values forlower-representation of the functions. Our approach is based on a DFO adaptation of the ε-comirror algorithm [Becket al. The CoMirror algorithm for solving nonsmooth constrained convex problems, Oper. Res. Lett. 38(6) (2010), pp. 493–498]. Algorithmic convergence hinges on the ability to accurately approximate subgradients of lower-functions, which we prove is possible through linear interpolation. We show that, if the sampling radii for linear interpolation are properly selected, then the new algorithm has the same convergence rate as the original gradient-based algorithm. This provides a novel global rate-of-convergence result for nonsmooth convex DFO with nonsmooth convex constraints. We conclude with numerical testing that demonstrates the practical feasibility of the algorithm and some directions for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil C is a key factor influencing soil health and, by inference, ecosystem condition. In arid and semi-arid regions, soil moisture limits accumulation and decomposition of soil C. On floodplains, soil moisture can come from rainfall events or periodic flooding. The effect of flooding on soil C decomposition has received some attention in the literature but mostly through the study of agricultural systems or mesocosms. Field studies of actual floods are not common. We measured soil C response to a managed flood on a semi-arid lowland river floodplain in southeastern Australia before and after inundation at control (unflooded), floodplain (low hydraulic energy), and flood runner (high hydraulic energy) sites. At control sites, soil C changed little from before to 16 d after the onset of the flood. At flooded sites, most measures of soil C (total soil organic matter [floodplain sites only], permanganate-oxidizable C, persulfate-extractable C, water-extractable C flood runner sites only], microbial C, and root material) were lower 16 d after than before the flood. However, the activity of key hydrolytic exo-enzymes associated with soil C decomposition did not change. Following the initial decline in soil C at the flooded sites, soil properties remained essentially constant for the remainder of the flood. Upon flood recession, slight increases in C pools occurred at the flood runner site (possibly associated with the formation of debris dams) but not at the flood-plain or control sites. The changes in soil C pools after flood recession were at least an order of magnitude lower than those observed at the same location during more extended flooding. We argue that the loss of soil C associated with short-duration floods may adversely affect ecosystem condition of lowland river floodplains. Managed floods should be of long enough duration (months) to promote the growth of submerged and emergent aquatic macrophytes on the floodplain because aquatic macrophyte production is an important source of soil C after flood recession in low-land river floodplains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the preparation of the Vascular Flora of the Marquesas Islands a new endemic species of Heliotropium L. (Boraginaceae) has come to light and is described herein: Heliotropium perlmanii Lorence & W. L. Wagner. It is known only from the island of Eiao and appears most closely related to H. marchionicum Decne., also endemic to the Marquesas and known from Nuku Hiva. An amended description of H. marchionicum and key to separate the Marquesan species are given and their diferences discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(Stem-cell-mediated bone repair has been used in clinical trials for the regeneration of large craniomaxillofacial defects, to slow the process of bone degeneration in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head and for prophylactic treatment of distal tibial fractures. Successful regenerative outcomes in these investigations have provided a solid foundation for wider use of stromal cells in skeletal repair therapy. However, employing stromal cells to facilitate or enhance bone repair is far from being adopted into clinical practice. Scientific, technical, practical and regulatory obstacles prevent the widespread therapeutic use of stromal cells. Ironically, one of the major challenges lies in the limited understanding of the mechanisms via which transplanted cells mediate regeneration. Animal models have been used to provide insight, but these models largely fail to reproduce the nuances of human diseases and bone defects. Consequently, the development of targeted approaches to optimize cell-mediated outcomes is difficult. In this Review, we highlight the successes and challenges reported in several clinical trials that involved the use of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal or adipose-tissue-derived stromal cells. We identify several obstacles blocking the mainstream use of stromal cells to enhance skeletal repair and highlight technological innovations or areas in which novel techniques might be particularly fruitful in continuing to advance the field of skeletal regenerative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beneficial effect of L-arginine (L-Arg) supplementation, on the physiology of several species, has generated an interest in the use of L-Arg as a nutraceutical in horses, but dosage and absorption of orally supplemented L-Arg must be inferred from other species. The study objective was to determine the effect of 2 oral L-Arg doses on plasma arginine concentrations and the effect on absorption of other amino acids in mares. In Experiment 1, mares were blocked by age and breed and were fed L-Arg supplemented (supplemented with 0.025% BW L-Arg; n = 6) or control (no supplement; n = 6) concentrate on a single day with blood samples taken at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3,4, and 5 h relative to feeding. In Experiment 2, mares (« = 6) were used in a 3 x 3 Latin square design with L-Arg (0.0125% of BW), urea (0.0087% of BW), and control (no supplement) fed mixed into a grain concentrate as single meal with blood samples taken at 0, 1,2, 4, 6, 8,10, and 12 h relative to feeding. In Experiment 1, L-Arg supplementation increased (P < 0.05) plasma L-Arg and ornthine concentrations and decreased (P < 0.05) lysine and methionine concentrations compared with the control group. At 1 h post feeding, L-Arg mares had lower (P < 0.05) plasma concentrations of histidine, glutamic acid, proline, isoleucine, threonine, phenylalanine, leucine, valine, alanine, and taurine. In Experiment 2, L-Arg supplementation increased (P < 0.05) arginine and ornithine concentrations compared with urea and control; there was no difference among other amino acids. These experiments indicate that L-Argis absorbed and, dependent on the dose, alters the absorption of other amino acids in mares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach to delivering personalized holistic multicomponent interventions for COVID-19 patients discharged from a high-dependency unity (HDU) and intensive care unit (ITU) at Gloucestershire Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust in England. Topics discussed include the aim of the approach to address multi-organ complications and psychological trauma and the identified biopsychosocial complications in the patients.

During the preparation of the Vascular Flora of the Marquesas Islands four new species of Bidens (Core-opsideae, Asteraceae) have come to light and are described herein: B. woodii W.L. Wagner, J.R. Clark & Lorence, sp. nov. from Ua Pou, and Bidens microcephala W.L. Wagner, J.R. Clark & Lorence sp. nov., B. evapelliana W.L. Wagner, J.R. Clark & Lorence, sp. nov., and B. wichmanii W.L. Wagner, J.R. Clark & Lorence, sp. nov. from the undercollected island of Fatu Hiva. In addition to these new species, we recognize the following six species of Bidens previously described from the Marquesas Islands: Bidens beckiana (F. Br.) Sherff (Eiao and Hatutaa), B. bipontina Sherff and B. cordifolia Sch. Bip. (both in Nuku Hiva), B. henryi Sherff (Hiva Oa, Tahuata), B. uapensis (F. Br.) Sherff (Ua Pou), and B. polycephala Sch. Bip. (Nuku Hiva, Ua Huku, Hiva Oa, Tahuata, and Mohotani). Two names are reduced to synonymy under B. polycephala: B. collina Degener & Sherff, syn. nov. and B. jardinii Sch. Bip., syn. nov. Bidens polycephala has the widest distribution of the Marquesan species on five of the islands and exhibits considerable variation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Ediacaran the Clymene Ocean separated the Laurentia, Amazonia, and Río Apa cratons from several landmasses to the west forming the proto-Gondwana supercontinent. However, no clear evidence about the existence of Ediacaran epeiric seas over those landmasses has been found. Here we report and discuss the discovery of the Ediacaran guide fossil Cloudina sp. associated with other metazoan body and trace fossils in the Bambuí Group (central eastern Brazil). The Ediacaran age of the Bambuí Group and the paleogeographic position of Cloudina-bearing successions in Brazil, Antarctica, Namibia, and Argentina suggest a scenario of ocean connectivity among coeval intracratonic basins of South America, Africa, and Antarctica at the end of Neoproterozoic time. The new finding epitomizes one of the most important paleontological discoveries ever made in South America, helping to solve an old paleogeographic puzzle of the Gondwana supercontinent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using funds provided by the Ryan White Care Act, we conducted a statewide needs assessment of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Mississippi as required by provisions of the Act. Most published research addressing access to care for PLWHA is based on convenience samples of persons already accessing care in specified clinic locations. For this study of a single state with a well-established mandatory reporting system, we conducted a cross-sectional study interviewing a random sample of PLWHA across the state of Mississippi. The Mississippi State Department of Health has maintained the Mississippi HIV/AIDS Reporting System since its inception in 1980. The database tracks all reported cases of HIV+ cases and includes name, age, last-known address, and other contact information. The sample was selected from a frame of all recorded PLWHA in Mississippi at that time, regardless of their association with care facilities. The purpose of this article is to describe the design and methodology of this study, difficulties encountered in locating this hard-to-reach population, multimethod recruiting strategies and outcomes, and lessons learned. Locating participants using a truly random sample from a mandatory reporting database was resource intensive. However, data collected as a result of these efforts have provided invaluable information on a number of topics important to PLWHA. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A common theme in mathematics is to define generalized solutions to deal with problems that potentially do not have solutions. A classical example is the introduction of least squares solutions via the normal equations associated with a possibly infeasible system of linear equations. In this paper, we introduce a "normal problem" associated with finding a zero of the sum of two maximally monotone operators. If the original problem admits solutions, then the normal problem returns this same set of solutions. The normal problem may yield solutions when the original problem does not admit any; furthermore, it has attractive variational and duality properties. Several examples illustrate our theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the preparation of the Vascular Flora of the Marquesas Islands three new species of Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) have come to light and are described herein: C. uapouensis W. L. Wagner & Lorence, C. uahukaensis W. L. Wagner & Lorence, and C. kenwoodii W. L. Wagner & A. J. Wagner. Amended descriptions of the eight previously described Marquesan species are also provided as well as a key to the species. With the description of these the new species Cyrtandra in the Marquesas Islands consists of 11 species, six of which have been included in recent molecular phylogenetic studies of Pacific Cyrtandra, and appear to have arisen from one original introduction. If the other five species are members of this Marquesas clade then Cyrtandra would represent the largest lineage of Marquesas vascular plants. Psychotria is largest genus in the Marquesas Islands with 13 species, but is thought to consist of three separate lineages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-recognized genus Gaura was shown recently to be deeply nested within one of two major clades of Oenothera. New molecular data indicate further taxonomic changes are necessary in Oenothera sect. Gaura. We make these changes here, including three new combinations, in advance of the Onagraceae treatment for the Flora of North America. The new phylogenetic studies show that several pairs of taxa treated as subspecies in the most recent revision by Raven and Gregory (1972) had independent origins within sect. Gaura, and are here elevated to species level (Oenothera nealleyi for Gaura suffulta subsp. nealleyi; Oenothera dodgeniana for Gaura neomexicana subsp. neomexicana; and Oenothera podocarpa for Gaura hexandra subsp. gracilis). Also, a nomenclatural problem in Oenothera sect. Calylophus is corrected by adopting the name Oenothera capillifolia Scheele for the species known previously, and nomenclaturally correct, as Calylophus berlandieri Spach. This problem necessitates a new combination Oenothera capillifolia subsp. berlandieri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the preparation for a comprehensive online flora of Pacific oceanic islands, numerous taxonomic changes have been necessary, primarily due to a new wealth of global molecular phylogenetic studies on genera that include Pacific islands species. In order to compile an accurate checklist of the Pacific island flora with up-to-date taxonomies, we are moving several species to their currently accepted genera. Two Marquesan Pennisetum Rich. are transferred to Cenchrus L. with the new combinations Cenchrus articularis (Trin.) M. Tornabene & W.L. Wagner, and Cenchrus henryanus (F. Br.) M. Tornabene & W.L. Wagner. A key to Marquesas Cenchrus is also provided to differentiate the two species. Additionally, one species of Eugenia L. that should be included within Syzygium, if that genus is separated from Eugenia, with the new combination Syzygium stelechanthoides (Kaneh.) M. Tornabene & W.L. Wagner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recent advances in causal modeling have made it possible to build and test structural equation models without any restriction on the functional forms or error distributions of the structural equations. We propose here a method for building and testing causal models that uses ordination axes arising from multivariate species data. This is demonstrated through the analysis of macrobenthic species abundance data observed at multiple times before and after the 1978 Amoco Cadiz oil spill (Dauvin, 1982). The available data consist of 21 quarterly observations on 257 species during the period 1977–1982. A causal model of the impact and subsequent recovery was built and tested using distance-based redundancy analysis (dbRDA). In addition, to predict the time required for recovery of the community, nonlinear models were fitted to the first two PCO axes, and the fitted nonlinear models were used to generate predictions for 20years beyond the last observation in the data set. These predictions were found to compare favorably with the results from longer term studies carried out by Dauvin (1998). The methods described here are sufficiently well established to be used in ecological research, and will allow ecologists to move towards plausible causal models and generate stronger inferences from observational multivariate community data than has been achieved to date. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Studies using simulated calcifications can be performed to measure the effect of different imaging factors on calcification detection in digital mammography. The simulated calcifications must be inserted into clinical images with realistic contrast and sharpness. MoCa is a program which modifies the contrast and sharpness of simulated calcification clusters extracted from images of mastectomy specimens acquired on a digital specimen cabinet at high magnification for insertion into clinical mammography images. This work determines whether the use of MoCa results in simulated calcifications with the correct contrast and sharpness. Aluminium foils (thickness 0.1-0.4 mm) and 1.60 μm thick gold discs (diameter 0.13-0.8 mm) on 0.5 mm aluminium were imaged with a range of thicknesses of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) using an amorphous selenium direct digital (DR) system and a powder phosphor computed radiography (CR) system (real images). Simulated images of the tests objects were also generated using MoCa. The contrast of the aluminium squares and the degradation of the contrast of the gold discs as a function of disc diameter were compared in the real and simulated images. The average ratios of the simulated-to-real aluminium contrasts over all aluminium and PMMA thicknesses were 1.03±0.04 (two standard errors in the mean) and 0.99±0.03 for the DR and CR systems, respectively. The ratio of the simulated-to-real degradations of contrast averaged over all disc diameters and PMMA thicknesses were 1.007±0.008 and 1.002±0.013 for DR and CR, respectively. The use of MoCa was accurate within the experimental errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A statewide needs assessment of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) was conducted to determine what is known about access to care, utilization of services, and perceived barriers to receiving care and services. Our objective was to determine which needs were being met or unmet among PLWHA in Mississippi to provide a better understanding of how effectively to allocate funding to provide for the needs of that group. In this cross-sectional study, a true random sample of PLWHA in Mississippi was interviewed in 2005–2006. Questions were asked to identify opinions about respondents' experiences with 23 health care services and 30 public or private assistance services. The kappa statistic was used to measure agreement between level of services needed and level of services provided. Services with the lowest kappa scores revealed which services were being either mostly unmet, or even overly met. Greatest service needs were HIV viral load test, Pap smear, CD4/T-cell count test, and medication for HIV/AIDS, which were reasonably well met. The most significantly unmet needs were dental care and dental exams, eye care and eye exams, help paying for housing, subsidized housing assistance, mental health therapy or counseling, access to emotional support groups, and job placement or employment. Overly met services included medical care at a physician's office or clinic and free condoms. This study identified needs perceived to be significantly unmet by PLWHA, as well as areas that were perceived to be adequately or overly met. This information may be used to target areas with the greatest impact for improvement and provide insight into how to effectively allocate health care resources and public/private assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascularization is a crucial step during musculoskeletal tissue regeneration via bioengineered constructs or grafts. Functional vasculature provides oxygen and nutrients to the graft microenvironment, facilitates wound healing, enhances graft integration with host tissue, and ensures the long-term survival of regenerating tissue. Therefore, imaging de novo vascularization (i.e., angiogenesis), changes in microvascular morphology, and the establishment and maintenance of perfusion within the graft site (i.e., vascular microenvironment or VME) can provide essential insights into engraftment, wound healing, as well as inform the design of tissue engineering (TE) constructs. In this review, we focus on state-of-the-art imaging approaches for monitoring the VME in craniofacial TE applications, as well as future advances in this field. We describe how cutting-edge in vivo and ex vivo imaging methods can yield invaluable information regarding VME parameters that can help characterize the effectiveness of different TE constructs and iteratively inform their design for enhanced craniofacial bone regeneration. Finally, we explicate how the integration of novel TE constructs, preclinical model systems, imaging techniques, and systems biology approaches could usher in an era of "image-based tissue engineering.". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]