The osteology of ‘Periptychus carinidens’: a robust, ungulate-like placental mammal (Mammalia: Periptychidae) from the Paleocene of North America

Periptychus is the archetypal genus of Periptychidae, a clade of prolific Paleocene 'condylarth' mammals from North America that were among the first placental mammals to radiate after the end-Cretaceous extinction, remarkable for their distinctive dental anatomy. A comprehensive understanding of the anatomy of Periptychus has been hindered by a lack of cranial and postcranial material and only cursory description of existing material. We comprehensively describe the cranial, dental and postcranial anatomy of Periptychus carinidens based on new fossil material from the early Paleocene (Torrejonian) of New Mexico, USA. The cranial anatomy of Periptychus is broadly concurrent with the inferred plesiomorphic eutherian condition, albeit more robust in overall construction. The rostrum is moderately elongate with no constriction, the facial region is broad, and the braincase is small with a well-exposed mastoid on the posterolateral corner and tall sagittal and nuchal crests. The dentition of Periptychus is characterized by strongly crenulated enamel, enlarged upper and lower premolars with a tall centralised paracone/protoconid. The postcranial skeleton of Periptychus is that of a robust, medium-sized (~20 Kg) stout-limbed animal that was incipiently mediportal and adopted a plantigrade stance. The structure of the fore- and hindlimb of Periptychus corresponds to that of a typically terrestrial mammal, while morphological features of the forelimb such as the low tubercles of the humerus, long and prominent deltopectoral crest, pronounced medial epicondyle, and hemispherical capitulum indicate some scansorial and/or fossorial ability. Most striking is the strongly dorsoplantarly compressed astragalus of Periptychus, which in combination with the distal crus and calcaneal morphology indicates a moderately mobile cruropedal joint. The anatomy of Periptychus is unique and lacks any extant analogue; it combines a basic early placental body plan with numerous unique specializations in its dental, cranial and postcranial anatomy that exemplify the ability of mammals to adapt and evolve following catastrophic environmental upheaval

Investigating ecological tolerances of submerged aquatic vegetation in two spring-fed Central Texas rivers for the purpose of informing ecological restoration.

Efforts to restore native aquatic vegetation in two ecologically unique spring-fed streams in Central Texas have elucidated the need to characterize conditions under which these restored communities might persist under future scenarios of reduced spring-flow. First, we tested the extent to which submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) can utilize bicarbonate (HCO3-). Prolonged low-flow conditions induce shifts in the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) available for photosynthetic processes, and our results indicate that some species are incapable of fixing HCO3- while others readily or can be induced to do so. Second, we carried out an in situ distributed planting of the preferred native, Ludwigia repens, across various environmental conditions to determine those in which it succeeded. While results varied across locations, there appear to be ideal ranges in flow, depth, sediment type, and riparian canopy cover. Our findings have implications for plant choice in restoration projects and suggest a likely shift in SAV community composition under some projected flow conditions

Investigating ecological tolerances of submerged aquatic vegetation in two spring-fed Central Texas rivers for the purpose of informing ecological restoration.

Efforts to restore native aquatic vegetation in two ecologically unique spring-fed streams in Central Texas have elucidated the need to characterize conditions under which these restored communities might persist under future scenarios of reduced spring-flow. First, we tested the extent to which submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) can utilize bicarbonate (HCO3-). Prolonged low-flow conditions induce shifts in the dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) available for photosynthetic processes, and our results indicate that some species are incapable of fixing HCO3- while others readily or can be induced to do so. Second, we carried out an in situ distributed planting of the preferred native, Ludwigia repens, across various environmental conditions to determine those in which it succeeded. While results varied across locations, there appear to be ideal ranges in flow, depth, sediment type, and riparian canopy cover. Our findings have implications for plant choice in restoration projects and suggest a likely shift in SAV community composition under some projected flow conditions

Review of the Evidence Base for Peer Network Interventions for Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

A systematic literature review was conducted to examine the evidence for peer network interventions for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Fifteen studies were identified and evaluated for methodological rigor using the quality indicators published by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and by examining the risk of bias. Relying only on the guidelines from the CEC, peer network interventions are an evidence-based practice for increasing the communication and interaction of students with IDD with their peers without disabilities. However, risk of bias assessment revealed several methodological issues, outcome measurement was generally restricted to being context-bound rather than generalized, and there is a need for further research at the middle school level, with students with intellectual disability who do not have an autism diagnosis, and with students who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Implications are provided about training and supporting school personnel to implement peer network interventions. </jats:p

sj-pdf-1-rse-10.1177_07419325221075013 – Supplemental material for Review of the Evidence Base for Peer Network Interventions for Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-rse-10.1177_07419325221075013 for Review of the Evidence Base for Peer Network Interventions for Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities by Elizabeth E. Biggs and Sarah E. Robison in Remedial and Special Education</p

Connecting People and Place Prosperity: Workforce Development and Urban Planning in Scholarship and Practice

In recent years, the field of workforce development has emerged as a distinct area of policy and practice. While planning scholars have begun to engage with the workforce development field, its relevance and points of connection to planning scholarship remain underexplored. This article attempts to define the workforce development field by articulating its core concerns as well as its domains of practice and scholarship outside the planning field. The article locates workforce development within three stands of planning scholarship, concluding that workforce development represents an important bridge for planners between “place” and “people” prosperity within communities

Epidemiology of Overuse Injuries in US Secondary School Athletics From 2014–2015 to 2018–2019 Using the National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network Surveillance Program

Context With 8 million annual US high school student-athletes, the epidemiology of sport-related injuries has garnered significant interest. The most recent studies examining overuse injury rates in high school sports were based on data from 2012 to 2013 and, therefore, may not reflect current overuse injury rates in high school sports. Objective To (1) determine overuse time-loss (TL) and non–time-loss (NTL) injury rates among high school student-athletes using National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network Surveillance Program (NATION-SP) data collected from 2014–2015 to 2018–2019 and (2) compare overuse injury rates based on student-athlete sex defined by whether it was a boys' sport or a girls' sport, the sport itself, and the injury location. Design Descriptive epidemiology study. Setting Online injury surveillance from 211 high schools (345 individual years of high school data). Patients or Other Participants Athletes who participated in secondary school–sponsored boys' or girls' sports. Main Outcome Measure(s) Boys' and girls' overuse injury data from the NATION-SP during the 2014–2015 to 2018–2019 school years were analyzed. Overuse injuries were identified using a combination of the reported injury mechanism and diagnosis. Time-loss injuries resulted in restriction from participation beyond the day of injury; NTL injuries did not result in restriction from participation beyond the day of injury or involved no lost time due to the injury. Injury counts, rates, and rate ratios (IRRs) were reported with 95% CIs. Results The total overuse injury rate was 5.3/10 000 athlete-exposures (AEs; 95% CI = 5.1, 5.7), the NTL overuse injury rate was 3.4/10 000 AEs (95% CI = 3.1, 3.6), and the TL overuse injury rate was 2.0/10 000 AEs (95% CI = 1.8, 2.2). The overuse injury rate was greater in girls' sports compared with boys' sports (IRR = 1.9; 95% CI = 1.7, 2.1). The highest rates of overuse injury were observed in girls' cross-country (19.2/10 000 AEs; 95% CI = 15.0, 24.2), girls' track and field (16.0/10 000 AEs; 95% CI = 13.5, 18.8), and girls' field hockey (15.1/10 000 AEs; 95% CI = 10.2, 21.6). Overuse injury rates were higher for the lower extremity than the upper extremity (IRR = 5.7; 95% CI = 4.9, 6.7) and for the lower extremity than the trunk and spine (IRR = 8.9; 95% CI = 7.3, 10.8). Conclusions Awareness of the overuse injury risk, as well as prevention and intervention recommendations, is necessary and should be specifically targeted at cross-country, field hockey, and track and field athletes. </jats:sec

Epidemiology of Overuse Injuries in U.S. Secondary School Athletics from 2014-2015 to 2018-2019 Using the National Athletic Treatment, Injury, and Outcomes Network Surveillance Program

Background: Large-scale injury surveillance systems such as the National Athletic Treatment, Injury and Outcomes Network Surveillance Program (NATION-SP) allow for the investigation of injury rates in national samples of high school athletes. The most recent studies examining overuse injury rates in high school sports reported data from 2012-2013 and therefore may not reflect current overuse injury rates in high school sports. Hypothesis/Purpose: To 1) determine overuse time-loss (TL) and non-time-loss (NTL) injury rates among high school student athletes using NATION-SP data collected from 2014-2015 to 2018-2019 and 2) compare overuse injury rates based on student-athlete gender defined by sport, sport, and injury location. We hypothesized that TL overuse injury rates would be greater than those previously reported from earlier data (1.64/10,000 athletic exposures (AEs) and 1.50/10,000 AEs). We also hypothesized that overall overuse rates would be greater in girls’ sports compared to boys’ sports and would differ between injury types (TL vs. NTL) and injury location. Methods: During the 2014-2015 through 2018-2019 school years, NATION-SP documented TL and NTL injuries from 222 high schools. This study included 23 high school sports during preseason, regular season, and post-season competitions and practices. Overuse injuries were identified using a combination of reported injury mechanism and diagnosis. Injury counts, rates, and rate ratios (IRRs) were reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The overall overuse injury rate was 6.6/10,000 AEs (95%CI=6.3, 6.9), the NTL overuse injury rate was 4.0/10,000 AEs (95%CI=3.8, 4.3), and the TL overuse injury rate was 2.6/10,000 AEs (95%CI=2.4, 2.8). The overuse injury rate was greater in girls’ sports compared to boys’ sports (IRR=1.8; 95%CI=1.6, 1.9). The highest rates of overuse injury regardless of sport gender were reported in girls’ cross-country (20.0/10,000 AEs; 95%CI=15.7, 25.1), girls’ field hockey (17.6/10,000 AEs; 95%CI=12.3, 24.5), and girls’ track and field (17.5/10,000 AEs; 95%CI=14.9, 20.4). Overuse injury rates were highest for the lower extremity compared to the upper extremity (IRR=5.45; 95%CI=4.76, 6.27) and for the lower extremity compared to the trunk and spine (IRR=11.08; 95%CI=9.21, 13.45). Conclusions: Using NATION-SP data collected over five consecutive school years, overuse injury rates among high school athletes were much greater than previously reported earlier in the decade. Awareness of overuse injury risk as well as prevention and intervention recommendations are necessary and should be specifically targeted towards cross-country, field hockey, and track and field athletes. [Table: see text][Figure: see text] </jats:sec

Evaluating plant immunity using mass spectrometry-based metabolomics workflows

Metabolic processes in plants are key components of physiological and biochemical disease resistance. Metabolomics, the analysis of a broad range of small molecule compounds in a biological system, has been used to provide a systems-wide overview of plant metabolism associated with defense responses. Plant immunity has been examined using multiple metabolomics workflows that vary in methods of detection, annotation, and interpretation, and the choice of workflow can significantly impact the conclusions inferred from a metabolomics investigation. The broad range of metabolites involved in plant defense often supports the need for multiple chemical detection platforms and implementation of a non-targeted approach. A review of the current literature reveals a wide range of workflows that are currently used in plant metabolomics, and new methods for analyzing and reporting mass spectrometry data can improve the ability to translate investigative findings among different plant-pathogen systems