Ecological function maintained despite mesomammal declines.

Mid-sized mammals (i.e., mesomammals) fulfill important ecological roles, serving as essential scavengers, predators, pollinators, and seed dispersers in the ecosystems they inhabit.

New species and a fascinating diversity of Chironomidae (Diptera, Insecta) in and around an overlooked urban vernal pool.

In this study, the biodiversity of Chironomidae was investigated in Palmer Park Pond A, an urban vernal pond in Detroit, Michigan, USA. This study is developed as part of our ongoing Public Environmental Outreach Program at the Detroit Exploration and Nature Center in Palmer Park. Twenty-one Chironomidae species were discovered in and on the adjacent riparian vegetation of this pond using molecular and morphological methods.

Life Cycle Assessment and Net Energy Analysis of an Integrated Hydrothermal Liquefaction-Anaerobic Digestion of Single and Mixed Beverage Waste and Sewage Sludge.

The conversion of biomass to bioenergy is one of the approaches to creating a sustainable society. In this study, the life cycle assessment and the net energy analysis of converting mixed sewage sludge and beverage waste into bioenergy via a combined hydrothermal liquefaction-anaerobic digestion (HTL-AD) system was carried out. Primary sludge (PS), winery rose lees (RL), brewery Trub (BT), the mixture of brewery trub and primary sludge (BTPS) and the mixture of winery rose lees and primary sludge (RLPS) were the feedstocks considered.

After a period of forced abstinence, rats treated with the norepinephrine neurotoxin DSP-4 still exhibit preserved food-seeking behavior and prefrontal cortex fos-expressing neurons.

Aims: Relapse is a common characteristic of compulsive behaviors like addiction, where individuals tend to return to drug use or overeating after a period of abstinence. PFC (prefrontal cortex) neuronal ensembles are required for drug and food-seeking behaviors and are partially regulated by Norepinephrine (NE). However, the contributions of neuromodulators, such as the adrenergic system, in food-seeking behavior are not fully understood.

Targeting Life Cycle with Novel Parasite Ligands as Vaccine Antigens.

The WHO reported an estimated 249 million malaria cases and 608,000 malaria deaths in 85 countries in 2022. A total of 94% of malaria deaths occurred in Africa, 80% of which were children under 5. In other words, one child dies every minute from malaria.

Socio-ecologic Correlates of HIV/AIDS-Related Sexual Risk Behavior of African American Emerging Adults.

There is growing evidence showing that patterns of individual sexual risk behaviors are insufficient in explaining the disproportionate HIV/AIDS burden borne by African Americans. Instead, dynamic features of social, economic, political, and geographic contexts play a more determining role. However, not enough studies have examined the impact of multi-level factors including neighborhood-level influences on HIV/AIDS sexual risk among African American emerging adults using a socio-ecologic perspective.

Assessing the state of biologically inspired design from three perspectives: academic, public, and practitioners.

Biologically inspired design (BID) applies natural solutions to engineering challenges. Due to the widespread success of BID, we examine the following research question: how does the purpose of applying, the inspiration source, and the application of BID differ between academics, the public, and practitioners? Answering this question can help us design the tools used to support BID, provide an understanding of the current 'state of BID' and identify where BID solutions have not been widely utilized. Identifying gaps in utilization could prompt investigations into BID methods in new fields.

Urinary Concentrations of Endocrine-Disrupting Metals and Prevalent Breast Cancer in US Women.

The toxic metals cadmium, lead, and mercury are endocrine-disrupting agents that could produce estrogenic effects involving breast carcinogenesis. In this study, we further explored the relationship between exposure to these metals and prevalent breast cancer among female participants, aged 20 years or older, in the 2007-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Exposure was determined by measuring urinary concentrations of metals using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Understanding abdominal pelvic computerized tomography scan usage amongst adolescent blunt trauma patients treated at adult trauma centers.

Introduction: The algorithm for evaluating adolescent patients with blunt trauma includes abdominal pelvic CT (APCT). The aim of this study is to evaluate the utility of APCT in this context.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of adolescent (11 to 18 years of age) blunt trauma patients at an urban adult level 1 trauma center from January 2015 to December 2019.

Ultrasonic Sound Guide System with Eyeglass Device for the Visually Impaired.

The ultrasonic sound guide system presents the audio broadcasting system based on the inaudible ultrasonic sound to assist the indoor and outdoor navigation of the visually impaired. The transmitters are placed at the point of interest to propagate the frequency modulated voice signal in ultrasonic sound range. The dual channel receiver device is carried by the visually impaired person in the form of eyeglasses to receive the ultrasonic sound for the voice signal via demodulation.

Sexual Behavior Patterns of Black Young Adults in Georgia: Results from a Latent Class Analysis.

The state of Georgia ranks first in the rate of new diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, yet studies focused on understanding the drivers of this epidemic in the most at-risk groups outside the Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) remain sparse. Among the many consequences of this is the inability to effectively design tailored intervention programs that appropriately address the reduction of HIV/AIDS and other STDS in the state. Reducing disparities in HIV/AIDS remains an important goal in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.

The Primarily Undergraduate Nanomaterials Cooperative: A New Model for Supporting Collaborative Research at Small Institutions on a National Scale.

The Primarily Undergraduate Nanomaterials Cooperative (PUNC) is an organization for research-active faculty studying nanomaterials at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs), where undergraduate teaching and research go hand-in-hand. In this perspective, we outline the differences in maintaining an active research group at a PUI compared to an R1 institution. We also discuss the work of PUNC, which focuses on community building, instrument sharing, and facilitating new collaborations.

TRP channels in airway sensory nerves.

Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels expressed in specific subsets of airway sensory nerves function as transducers and integrators of a diverse range of sensory inputs including chemical, mechanical and thermal signals. These TRP sensors can detect inhaled irritants as well as endogenously released chemical substances. They play an important role in generating the afferent activity carried by these sensory nerves and regulating the centrally mediated pulmonary defense reflexes.

Single-Channel Multiple-Receiver Sound Source Localization System with Homomorphic Deconvolution and Linear Regression.

The conventional sound source localization systems require the significant complexity because of multiple synchronized analog-to-digital conversion channels as well as the scalable algorithms. This paper proposes a single-channel sound localization system for transport with multiple receivers. The individual receivers are connected by the single analog microphone network which provides the superimposed signal over simple connectivity based on asynchronized analog circuit.

Methyltransferase Contingencies in the Pathway of Everninomicin D Antibiotics and Analogues.

Everninomicins are orthoester oligosaccharide antibiotics with potent activity against multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens. Everninomicins act by disrupting ribosomal assembly in a distinct region in comparison to clinically prescribed drugs. We employed microporous intergeneric conjugation with Escherichia coli to manipulate Micromonospora for targeted gene-replacement studies of multiple putative methyltransferases across the octasaccharide scaffold of everninomicin effecting the A , C, F, and H rings.

Parametric Estimations Based on Homomorphic Deconvolution for Time of Flight in Sound Source Localization System.

Vehicle-mounted sound source localization systems provide comprehensive information to improve driving conditions by monitoring the surroundings. The three-dimensional structure of vehicles hinders the omnidirectional sound localization system because of the long and uneven propagation. In the received signal, the flight times between microphones delivers the essential information to locate the sound source.

Colon Cancer and Diverticular Disease Association: a Case-Control Study.

Purpose: To determine if there is an association between diverticular disease and colon cancer diagnoses with a secondary outcome of assessing other known risk factors for colon cancer. Colon cancer and diverticular disease have many shared symptoms and risk factors; the association between the two has been debated for many years.

Methods: 36 cases of colon cancer and 144 age- and sex-matched controls were identified from records at an outpatient endoscopy center in Georgia.

Predictors of USMLE Step 1 Outcomes: Charting Successful Study Habits.

Background: The United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 is a test that affects many aspects of medical students' careers. The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of various studying habits and academic traits.

Activity: A survey concerning Step 1 study habits and scores was collected and analyzed.

Religion and Health in Rural Malawi.

While research has found important links between religion and health, there is a gap in knowledge in sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between religion and health in rural Malawi. After controlling for baseline health, results show that: (1) the relationship differs between younger (15-44 years) and older (45 + years) adults; (2) among younger adults, Muslims are relatively less healthy, whereas Muslims are healthier in older age; (3) religious activities have a stronger relationship with health than do other measures, especially for women; and (4) religious activities have a relationship with health only for two or more activities.

Black spot gill syndrome in the northern shrimp, Pandalus borealis, caused by the parasitic ciliate Synophrya sp.

Black spot gill syndrome in the northern shrimp, Pandalus borealis, is caused by an apostome ciliate, Synophrya sp., found within the gill lamellae. Whole mount staining, thin section histology, electron microscopy, and molecular studies were carried out on infected gills.

Demand and Supply Motivations for Antiretroviral Drugs in Illicit Street Markets: The Case of Atlanta, Georgia.

We studied the motivations behind supply and demand of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) in the illicit street markets of the metropolitan statistical area of Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Roswell, Georgia. We found that these two market actions were largely interdependent: 39.53% of participants said that they sold their ARVs to pay for personal needs, and 20.

Recovery from stress: an experimental examination of focused attention meditation in novices.

Identifying strategies that aid in recovery from stress may benefit cardiovascular health. Ninety-nine undergraduate meditation novices were randomly assigned to meditate, listen to an audio book, or sit quietly after a standardized stressor. During recovery, meditators' heart rate variability and skin conductance levels returned to baseline, whereas only heart rate variability returned to baseline for the audio book and control groups.

Monaural Sound Localization Based on Reflective Structure and Homomorphic Deconvolution.

The asymmetric structure around the receiver provides a particular time delay for the specific incoming propagation. This paper designs a monaural sound localization system based on the reflective structure around the microphone. The reflective plates are placed to present the direction-wise time delay, which is naturally processed by convolutional operation with a sound source.

Atypical Chordae Tendineae of the Canine (Canis familiaris) Right Atrioventricular Valve.

The canine right atrioventricular valve cusps are anchored to papillary muscles by chordae tendineae. During ventricular systole, these tendineae keep the cusps from being pushed into the atrium. While this is the general description for chordae tendineae, several researchers have briefly documented chordae tendineae in animal and human hearts that do not attach to papillary muscles.