Previous studies have suggested that a hospital patient's risk of developing healthcare facility-onset (HCFO) Clostridioides difficile infections (CDIs) increases with the number of concurrent spatially proximate patients with CDI, termed CDI pressure. However, these studies were performed either in a single institution or in a single state with a very coarse measure of concurrence. We conducted a retrospective case-control study involving over 17.5 million inpatient visits across 700 hospitals in eight US states. We built a weighted, directed network connecting overlapping inpatient visits to measure facility-level CDI pressure. We then matched HCFO-CDIs with non-CDI controls on facility, comorbidities and demographics and performed a conditional logistic regression to determine the odds of developing HCFO-CDI given the number of coincident patient visits with CDI. On average, cases' visits coincided with 9.2 CDI cases, which for an individual with an average length of stay corresponded to an estimated 17.7% (95% CI 12.9–22.7%) increase in the odds of acquiring HCFO-CDI compared to an inpatient visit without concurrent CDI cases or fully isolated from both direct and indirect risks from concurrent CDI cases. These results suggest that, either directly or indirectly, hospital patients with CDI lead to CDIs in non-infected patients with temporally overlapping visits.

Little is known about Se intakes and status in very young New Zealand children. However, Se intakes below recommendations and lower Se status compared with international studies have been reported in New Zealand (particularly South Island) adults. The Baby-Led Introduction to SolidS (BLISS) randomised controlled trial compared a modified version of baby-led weaning (infants feed themselves rather than being spoon-fed), with traditional spoon-feeding (Control). Weighed 3-d diet records were collected and plasma Se concentration measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In total, 101 (BLISS n 50, Control n 51) 12-month-old toddlers provided complete data. The OR of Se intakes below the estimated average requirement (EAR) was no different between BLISS and Control (OR: 0·89; 95 % CI 0·39, 2·03), and there was no difference in mean plasma Se concentration between groups (0·04 μmol/l; 95 % CI −0·03, 0·11). In an adjusted model, consuming breast milk was associated with lower plasma Se concentrations (–0·12 μmol/l; 95 % CI −0·19, −0·04). Of the food groups other than infant milk (breast milk or infant formula), ‘breads and cereals’ contributed the most to Se intakes (12 % of intake). In conclusion, Se intakes and plasma Se concentrations of 12-month-old New Zealand toddlers were no different between those who had followed a baby-led approach to complementary feeding and those who followed traditional spoon-feeding. However, more than half of toddlers had Se intakes below the EAR.

Capacity development is critical to long-term conservation success, yet we lack a robust and rigorous understanding of how well its effects are being evaluated. A comprehensive summary of who is monitoring and evaluating capacity development interventions, what is being evaluated and how, would help in the development of evidence-based guidance to inform design and implementation decisions for future capacity development interventions and evaluations of their effectiveness. We built an evidence map by reviewing peer-reviewed and grey literature published since 2000, to identify case studies evaluating capacity development interventions in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management. We used inductive and deductive approaches to develop a coding strategy for studies that met our criteria, extracting data on the type of capacity development intervention, evaluation methods, data and analysis types, categories of outputs and outcomes assessed, and whether the study had a clear causal model and/or used a systems approach. We found that almost all studies assessed multiple outcome types: most frequent was change in knowledge, followed by behaviour, then attitude. Few studies evaluated conservation outcomes. Less than half included an explicit causal model linking interventions to expected outcomes. Half of the studies considered external factors that could influence the efficacy of the capacity development intervention, and few used an explicit systems approach. We used framework synthesis to situate our evidence map within the broader literature on capacity development evaluation. Our evidence map (including a visual heat map) highlights areas of low and high representation in investment in research on the evaluation of capacity development.

In 2017, transgender woman Danica Roem stunned political observers in Virginia by unseating a long-time anti-LGBTQ legislator from a conservative district in the Virginia House of Delegates.1 She was the first openly transgender person elected and seated to a state legislature. Delegate Roem’s election was historic in LGBTQ political representation, but it also occurred in a period when backlash against the LGBTQ community seemed to be growing (Taylor, Lewis, and Haider-Markel 2018). These two threads led us to ask: How are LGBTQ candidates achieving historic successes even as forces seem mobilized against them?

Commercialization of 2,4-D–tolerant crops is a major concern for sweetpotato producers because of potential 2,4-D drift that can cause severe crop injury and yield reduction. A field study was initiated in 2014 and repeated in 2015 to assess impacts of reduced rates of 2,4-D, glyphosate, or a combination of 2,4-D with glyphosate on sweetpotato. In one study, 2,4-D and glyphosate were applied alone and in combination at 1/10, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/750, and 1/1,000 of anticipated field use rates (1.05 kg ha−1 for 2,4-D and 1.12 kg ha−1 for glyphosate) to ‘Beauregard’ sweetpotato at storage root formation (10 days after transplanting [DAP]). In a separate study, all these treatments were applied to ‘Beauregard’ sweetpotato at storage root development (30 DAP). Injury with 2,4-D alone or in combination with glyphosate was generally equal or greater than with glyphosate applied alone at equivalent herbicide rates, indicating that injury is attributable mostly to 2,4-D in the combination. There was a quadratic increase in crop injury and quadratic decrease in crop yield (with respect to most yield grades) with increased rate of 2,4-D applied alone or in combination with glyphosate applied at storage root development. However, neither the results of this relationship nor of the significance of herbicide rate were observed on crop injury or sweetpotato yield when herbicide application occurred at storage root formation, with a few exceptions. In general, crop injury and yield reduction were greatest at the highest rate (1/10×) of 2,4-D applied alone or in combination with glyphosate, although injury observed at lower rates was also a concern after initial observation by sweetpotato producers. However, in some cases, yield reduction of U.S. no.1 and marketable grades was also observed after application of 1/250×, 1/100×, or 1/10× rates of 2,4-D alone or with glyphosate when applied at storage root development.

A major concern of sweetpotato producers is the potential negative effects from herbicide drift or sprayer contamination events when dicamba is applied to nearby dicamba-resistant crops. A field study was initiated in 2014 and repeated in 2015 to assess the effects of reduced rates of N,N-Bis-(3-aminopropyl)methylamine (BAPMA) or diglycloamine (DGA) salt of dicamba, glyphosate, or a combination of these individually in separate trials with glyphosate on sweetpotato. Reduced rates of 1/10, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500, 1/750, and 1/1,000 of the 1× use rate of each dicamba formulation at 0.56 kg ha−1, glyphosate at 1.12 kg ha−1, and a combination of the two at aforementioned rates were applied to ‘Beauregard’ sweetpotato at storage root formation (10 d after transplanting) in one trial and storage root development (30 d after transplanting) in a separate trial. Injury with each salt of dicamba (BAPMA or DGA) applied alone or with glyphosate was generally equal to or greater than glyphosate applied alone at equivalent rates, indicating that injury is most attributable to the dicamba in the combination. There was a quadratic increase in crop injury and a quadratic decrease in crop yield (with respect to most yield grades) observed with an increased herbicide rate of dicamba applied alone or in combination with glyphosate applied at storage root development. However, with a few exceptions, neither this relationship nor the significance of herbicide rate was observed on crop injury or sweetpotato yield when herbicide application occurred at the storage root formation stage. In general, crop injury and yield reduction were greatest at the highest rate (1/10×) of either salt of dicamba applied alone or in combination with glyphosate, although injury observed at lower rates would be cause for concern after initial observation by sweetpotato producers. However, in some cases yield reduction of No.1 and marketable grades was observed following 1/250×, 1/100×, or 1/10× application rates of dicamba alone or with glyphosate when applied at storage root development.

A national need is to prepare for and respond to accidental or intentional disasters categorized as chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive (CBRNE). These incidents require specific subject-matter expertise, yet have commonalities. We identify 7 core elements comprising CBRNE science that require integration for effective preparedness planning and public health and medical response and recovery. These core elements are (1) basic and clinical sciences, (2) modeling and systems management, (3) planning, (4) response and incident management, (5) recovery and resilience, (6) lessons learned, and (7) continuous improvement. A key feature is the ability of relevant subject matter experts to integrate information into response operations. We propose the CBRNE medical operations science support expert as a professional who (1) understands that CBRNE incidents require an integrated systems approach, (2) understands the key functions and contributions of CBRNE science practitioners, (3) helps direct strategic and tactical CBRNE planning and responses through first-hand experience, and (4) provides advice to senior decision-makers managing response activities. Recognition of both CBRNE science as a distinct competency and the establishment of the CBRNE medical operations science support expert informs the public of the enormous progress made, broadcasts opportunities for new talent, and enhances the sophistication and analytic expertise of senior managers planning for and responding to CBRNE incidents.

The Enenteridae Yamaguti, 1958 and Gyliauchenidae Fukui, 1929 exhibit an interesting pattern of host partitioning in herbivorous fishes of the Indo-West Pacific. Enenterids are known almost exclusively from fishes of the family Kyphosidae, a group of herbivorous marine fishes common on tropical and temperate reefs. In contrast, gyliauchenids are found in most of the remaining lineages of marine herbivorous fishes, but until the present study, had never been known from kyphosids. Here we report on the first species of gyliauchenid known from a kyphosid. Endochortophagus protoporus gen. nov., sp. nov. was recovered from the Western buffalo bream, Kyphosus cornelii (Whitley, 1944), collected off Western Australia. Kyphosus cornelii also hosts an enenterid, Koseiria allanwilliamsi Bray & Cribb, 2002, and is thus the first fish known in which enenterids and gyliauchenids co-occur. Molecular phylogenetic analyses place the new species close to those of Affecauda Hall & Chambers, 1999 and Flagellotrema Ozaki, 1936, but there is sufficient morphological evidence, combined with the unusual host, to consider it distinct from these genera. We discuss factors which may have contributed to the host partitioning pattern observed between enenterids and gyliauchenids.

Postemergence grass weed control in turf-type bermudagrass is currently available only with repeated applications of organic arsenicals and/or with combinations of metribuzin which decrease turf quality. Research was conducted to determine tolerance of the turf-type bermudagrass cultivars, Tifway, Ormond, and common, to diclofop rates ranging from 0.54 to 4.48 kg ai ha-1 with and without MSMA (2.2 kg ai ha-1) and metribuzin (0.2 kg ai ha-1). Bermudagrass cultivars tolerated diclofop well. When injury was evident, a rate response was noted, with higher rates (3.4 and 4.5 kg ha-1) resulting in increased phytotoxicity. However, this level of phytotoxicity was acceptable and the turf soon recovered (3 to 14 d). The addition of crop oil concentrate (1.25% v/v) did not affect turf quality. Addition of MSMA resulted in slightly lower turf quality than diclofop alone. However, these responses were acceptable and usually the turf recovered by 14 d after treatment. Metribuzin applied alone or in combination with diclofop damaged turf to unacceptable levels and up to 21 d were required for turf recovery.

In North America, terrestrial records of biodiversity and climate change that span Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 are rare. Where found, they provide insight into how the coupling of the ocean–atmosphere system is manifested in biotic and environmental records and how the biosphere responds to climate change. In 2010–2011, construction at Ziegler Reservoir near Snowmass Village, Colorado (USA) revealed a nearly continuous, lacustrine/wetland sedimentary sequence that preserved evidence of past plant communities between ~140 and 55 ka, including all of MIS 5. At an elevation of 2705 m, the Ziegler Reservoir fossil site also contained thousands of well-preserved bones of late Pleistocene megafauna, including mastodons, mammoths, ground sloths, horses, camels, deer, bison, black bear, coyotes, and bighorn sheep. In addition, the site contained more than 26,000 bones from at least 30 species of small animals including salamanders, otters, muskrats, minks, rabbits, beavers, frogs, lizards, snakes, fish, and birds. The combination of macro- and micro-vertebrates, invertebrates, terrestrial and aquatic plant macrofossils, a detailed pollen record, and a robust, directly dated stratigraphic framework shows that high-elevation ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado are climatically sensitive and varied dramatically throughout MIS 5.

Multiple means of overcoming interspecific competition between transplanted cabbage and interseeded cover crops were studied in field trials conducted from 1995 to 2001. Cover crop species and time of seeding (1995 and 1996), use of supplemental nitrogen (1997 and 1998), and herbicide regulation (1999 and 2001) were evaluated with the objective of integrating soil-improving cover crops into cabbage production while facilitating weed suppression with minimal use of herbicides. Cabbage was cultivated at 10, 10 + 20, or 10 + 20 + 30 d after transplanting (DAT) with or without cover crops (hairy vetch, lana vetch, or oats) sown at the time of the last cultivation. Early interseeding (10 DAT) of all species significantly reduced cabbage yields. Both vetches could be sown 20 or 30 DAT without a yield penalty. However, weed suppression was not consistently greater than cultivation without cover crops. Spring oats were unacceptably competitive, even when sown 30 DAT in some years. With additional nitrogen, cabbage yields were consistently increased, but the increases were not directly related to decreased competition from either weeds or cover crops. The potential for herbicide regulation of cover crops to prevent cabbage yield losses could not be evaluated because cabbage yields were not reduced by cover crops in 1999 and 2001. Although interseeded crops did not generally provide significant in-season weed suppression compared with cultivation alone, the lack of yield penalty and the potential soil-improving qualities of legumes may justify interseeding hairy vetch at 20 DAT in an integrated system.

Patterned micro-and nanowires composed of Iron Oxide (FexOy) were electrochemically deposited from an ionic liquid solution of choline chloride (ChCl) and urea, using ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) ™ templates originally developed for Electroplate and Lift (E&L) Lithography. The wires were electroplated under varying rigor of anhydrous and inert atmosphere techniques, at voltages of either -2V or -5V vs. an Al/Al(III) reference electrode. The morphology of the deposited FexOy wires was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while their oxygen content was evaluated using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). By using sublimed grade reagents and minimizing exposure to atmospheric water vapor and oxygen, the oxygen content of the electroplated wires decreased from 15 at% to 5 at%.