Characterization of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Structural Silk-elastinlike Protein Polymer

The structure of silk elastin-like protein (SELP) block copolymers containing Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles are investigated. These materials have potential applications for hyperthermia cancer therapy. SELPs undergo a gel transition at physiological temperatures, which can be used to localize delivery of nanoparticles at tumor sites. Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) are used to characterize the nanoparticles and the SELP-nanoparticle nanocomposite system. A series of nanoparticles with three different nominal diameters, 30, 50 and 80 nm, were added to 4 and 8 wt.% SELP samples. Different functionalities on the nanoparticle surface affect their interactions with SELP. The 50 nm nanoparticles in SELP exhibit chaining (linear association of the nanoparticles), while the 30 nm nanoparticles are too small and settle out of the polymer mesh and the 80 nm nanoparticles tend to cluster without any regard for SELP structure. The SELP concentration does not have a major affect on nanoparticle behavior in the nanocomposites

Collegiate Basketball Season-Ticket Holders’ Purchasing Motivation and Interests

This study examined the ticket purchasing motivation and interests of 334 season-ticket holders (199 males, 135 females) from two NCAA Division-I regional state institutions. The participants’ purchasing motivation and interests were surveyed onsite in the 2008-9 season by utilizing a12-item self-created instrument with a high level of internal reliability. The results indicated that the participants’ ticket purchasing motivation was mainly influenced by the competition and psycho-social related factor (CPR) and price and promotion (P&P) factor. The researchers further addressed the unique aspects in promoting regional Division-I basketball programs, and limitations and directions for future studies

Bending the Curve: Options for Achieving Savings and Improving Value in Health Spending

Analyzes the potential of fifteen federal health policy options to lower spending over the next ten years and yield higher value on investments in health care

Global Analysis of Human Population Density and Blue Carbon Stocks in Mangrove Soils

Recent research highlights the decline in blue carbon within mangrove ecosystems due to anthropogenic pressures. We investigate the impact of human population density on soil carbon stocks in urban mangrove forests to assess their contribution to the global carbon budget. Conducting a global analysis, we compile mangrove soil carbon data and calculate population density using European Commission records. Findings reveal a negative correlation between population density and mangrove soil carbon stocks. Specifically, when population density exceeds 300 people km−2, soil carbon decreases by 37% compared to isolated mangrove forests. However, accounting for climatic variables diminishes this negative relationship, rendering it insignificant in mixed effects models. This suggests population density alone may not accurately reflect human impacts on mangrove ecosystems, indicating that even in densely populated areas, mangrove forests can retain significant carbon stocks. Our study underscores the importance of conserving existing mangroves, especially in high-density urban areas, and advocates for further research on the relationship between human activities and mangrove carbon stocks

Patient experiences switching from in‐clinic to self‐administration of injectable contraception in two Western US states

ObjectiveWe describe the experiences and preferences of women who switched from clinic-administered intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM) to self-administered subcutaneous DMPA (DMPA-SC) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsWe conducted interviews with women in California and Washington about their experiences with self-administered DMPA-SC. We interviewed women after their first or second self-administered DMPA-SC injection and conducted follow-up interviews after their third or fourth injection. We performed both thematic and descriptive content analyses.ResultsWe completed 29 interviews with 15 women. Most participants (n = 10) were between the ages of 20 and 39 and the majority (n = 12) used DMPA primarily for contraception. Most (n = 13) described self-administered DMPA-SC as "very easy" or "somewhat easy" to use and reported greater convenience, decreased pain, fewer logistical and financial challenges, increased privacy, and improved comfort with injection compared to DMPA-IM. Participants identified difficulties obtaining DMPA-SC from pharmacies and safe needle disposal as barriers. Most (n = 13) would recommend DMPA-SC to a friend and desired to continue self-administration beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants recommended counseling all patients about this option alongside other contraceptive methods, and offering clinician supervision, if desired.ConclusionWomen who switched from in-clinic DMPA-IM to self-administered DMPA-SC during the COVID-19 pandemic preferred the latter and intended to continue self-administration. Self-administration of DMPA-SC should be routinely offered and easily accessible to patients

Examination of the Relationship between In-Store Environmental Factors and Fruit and Vegetable Purchasing among Hispanics.

Retail food environments have received attention for their influence on dietary behaviors and for their nutrition intervention potential. To improve diet-related behaviors, such as fruit and vegetable (FV) purchasing, it is important to examine its relationship with in-store environmental characteristics. This study used baseline data from the "El Valor de Nuestra Salud" study to examine how in-store environmental characteristics, such as product availability, placement and promotion, were associated with FV purchasing among Hispanic customers in San Diego County. Mixed linear regression models indicated that greater availability of fresh FVs was associated with a $0.36 increase in FV purchasing (p = 0.01). Placement variables, specifically each additional square foot of display space dedicated to FVs (p = 0.01) and each additional fresh FV display (p = 0.01), were associated with a$0.02 increase and $0.29 decrease, respectively, in FV purchasing. Introducing FV promotions in the final model was not related to FV purchasing. Exploratory analyses indicated that men reported spending$3.69 fewer dollars on FVs compared to women, controlling for covariates (p = 0.02). These results can help inform interventions targeting in-store environmental characteristics to encourage FV purchasing among Hispanics

Examining How Middle School Science Teachers Implement a Multimedia-enriched Problem-based Learning Environment

This study examined how a group of ten middle school teachers implemented a technology enriched problem-based learning (PBL) environment. The goal was to understand their motivation, document their implementation techniques, and identify factors that teachers considered important in using technology-based PBL tools in their teaching. The analysis identified four factors that provided the impetus for teachers to consider the adoption of technology-based PBL instruction. These factors are (1) the PBL program addresses the teachers’ curricular needs and implementing it has campus administrative and technical support, (2) the method is aligned with teachers’ pedagogical beliefs, (3) the PBL program offers a new way of teaching and promotes the development of higher-order thinking skills, and (4) the PBL program challenges students in a captivating manner and supports the learning needs of all students. Teachers’ implementation techniques with over 1,000 sixth graders were documented in detail with regard to: 1) the teacher’s roles, 2) the student’s role, and 3) the classroom interactions during the implementation of the PBL program. In addition, a detailed description of contrasting narratives of two pairs of teachers is provided, illustrating the range of implementation techniques that can occur using the same PBL program to allow for individualized instruction to meet different students’ needs. The goal of providing detailed implementation practices is to address the lack of “how to” in PBL implementation in K-12 classrooms as indicated in the literature and offer insights and ideas to those interested in adopting and implementing PBL. Findings are discussed within the theoretical framework and implications are provided

Isomeric triazines exhibit unique profiles of bioorthogonal reactivity.

Expanding the scope of bioorthogonal reactivity requires access to new and mutually compatible reagents. We report here that 1,2,4-triazines can be tuned to exhibit unique reaction profiles with biocompatible strained alkenes and alkynes. Computational analyses were used to identify candidate orthogonal reactions, and the predictions were experimentally verified. Notably, 5-substituted triazines, unlike their 6-substituted counterparts, undergo rapid [4 + 2] cycloadditions with a sterically encumbered strained alkyne. This unique, sterically controlled reactivity was exploited for dual bioorthogonal labeling. Mutually orthogonal triazines and cycloaddition chemistries will enable new multi-component imaging applications