Qualitative Analysis of the Lived Experience of Individuals After Undergoing Osseointegration for Transfemoral Amputation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to qualitatively assess the first-hand lived experiences of patients with amputation who had transitioned from a traditional socket (TS) to Osseointegration (OI) to impact their overall quality of life (QOL) and function.

Methods: This was a qualitative phenomenological study. Participants who had a unilateral transfemoral amputation and fit the study's inclusion criteria were interviewed in a semi-structured format regarding their quality of life and function before and after transitioning from a traditional socket (TS) to Osseointegration (OI).

Adaptive constraints at the range edge of a widespread and expanding invasive plant.

Identifying the factors that facilitate and limit invasive species' range expansion has both practical and theoretical importance, especially at the range edges. Here, we used reciprocal common garden experiments spanning the North/South and East/West range that include the North American core, intermediate and range edges of the globally invasive plant, Johnsongrass () to investigate the interplay of climate, biotic interactions (i.e.

Green armoured tardigrades (Echiniscidae: Viridiscus), including a new species from the Southern Nearctic, exemplify problems with tardigrade variability research.

Ranges of tardigrade intraspecific and interspecific variability are not precisely defined, both in terms of morphology and genetics, rendering descriptions of new taxa a cumbersome task. This contribution enhances the morphological and molecular dataset available for the heterotardigrade genus Viridiscus by supplying new information on Southern Nearctic populations of V. perviridis, V.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and health literacy in US Southern states.

Objectives: COVID-19 vaccination in the United States has stalled, with some of the lowest rates in the South. Vaccine hesitancy is a primary contributor and may be influenced by health literacy (HL). This study assessed the association between HL and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in a population residing in 14 Southern states.

Escape from natural enemies depends on the enemies, the invader, and competition.

The enemy release hypothesis (ERH) attributes the success of some exotic plant species to reduced top-down effects of natural enemies in the non-native range relative to the native range. Many studies have tested this idea, but very few have considered the simultaneous effects of multiple kinds of enemies on more than one invasive species in both the native and non-native ranges. Here, we examined the effects of two important groups of natural enemies-insect herbivores and soil biota-on the performance of (native to Europe but invasive in the USA) and (native to the USA but invasive in Europe) in their native and non-native ranges, and in the presence and absence of competition.

Intraspecific, ecotypic and home climate variation in photosynthetic traits of the widespread invasive grass Johnsongrass.

Despite their near ubiquity across global ecosystems, the underlying mechanisms contributing to the success of invasive plants remain largely unknown. In particular, ecophysiological traits, which are fundamental to plants' performance and response to their environment, are poorly understood with respect to geographic and climate space. We evaluated photosynthetic trait variation among populations, ecotypes and home climates (i.

Invasive plants negatively impact native, but not exotic, animals.

Despite our growing understanding of the impacts of invasive plants on ecosystem structure and function, important gaps remain, including whether native and exotic species respond differently to plant invasion. This would elucidate basic ecological interactions and inform management. We performed a meta-analytic review of the effects of invasive plants on native and exotic resident animals.

Long-term ungulate exclusion reduces fungal symbiont prevalence in native grasslands.

When symbionts are inherited by offspring, they can have substantial ecological and evolutionary consequences because they occur in all host life stages. Although natural frequencies of inherited symbionts are commonly <100 %, few studies investigate the ecological drivers of variation in symbiont prevalence. In plants, inherited fungal endophytes can improve resistance to herbivory, growth under drought, and competitive ability.

An exotic invasive plant selects for increased competitive tolerance, but not competitive suppression, in a native grass.

Exotic invasive plants can exert strong selective pressure for increased competitive ability in native plants. There are two fundamental components of competitive ability: suppression and tolerance, and the current paradigm that these components have equal influences on a species' overall competitive ability has been recently questioned. If these components do not have equal influences on overall ability, then selection on competitive tolerance and suppression may be disproportionate.

Keeping up with the Cadillacs: What Health Insurance Disparities, Moral Hazard, and the Cadillac Tax Mean to The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

A major goal of The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is to broaden health care access through the extension of insurance coverage. However, little attention has been given to growing disparities in access to health care among the insured, as trends to reduce benefits and increase cost sharing (deductibles, co-pays) reduce affordability and access. Through a political economic perspective that critiques moral hazard, this article draws from ethnographic research with the United Steelworkers (USW) at a steel mill and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) at a food-processing plant in urban Central Appalachia.