The University of Texas at El Paso

Aims We sought to explore how acute alcohol exposure alters decision-making in rats performing an approach-avoid decision-making task. Increasing concentrations of alcohol were mixed with decreasing concentrations of sucrose to mimic mixed/sweetened alcoholic beverages. Methods Rats were trained on an apparatus in which different concentrations of sucrose were available in four different corners of the arena. During daily sessions, a tone signaled each trial start, followed by illumination (15 lux, blue LEDs) of a single corner port, indicating the potential availability of sucrose at that location. The rat (one rat per arena, both females and males) then chose to approach the lit corner to have the solution dispensed or avoid it, with no solution being dispensed. We examined how the decisions to pursue sucrose rewards shifted with the addition and subsequent removal of ethanol from the sucrose ports. Results Males were greatly affected by the introduction of alcohol into the task environment, shifting their approach preference to solutions containing higher alcohol concentrations rather than maintaining the prior preference for high-sucrose-concentration solutions. In contrast, females’ choice patterns and task performance remained largely unchanged. We also explore a method for identifying changes in decision-making tendencies during and after alcohol consumption within individual subjects. Conclusions This research explores the introduction of alcohol in varying concentrations with sucrose solutions during an approach-avoid task, with male decision-making and behavioral patterns significantly impacted. We also explore a novel approach for identifying individual adaptations of decision-making behavior when alcohol becomes available, which could be expanded upon in future research.

Spinel cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4, CFO) nanoparticles (NPs) are a major focus of fundamental science and technological innovation due to their distinctive mix of magnetic, electrical, and chemical characteristics. CFO NPs have outstanding chemical stability, modest saturation magnetism (∼80 emu/g), a high Curie temperature (∼793 K), and significant magnetocrystalline anisotropy. These characteristics, further improved by cation substitution and surface functionalization, enable a wide range of applications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of CFO NPs, covering their synthesis methods, physicochemical characterization, surface modifications, and diverse applications. We compare the environmental impact, scalability, yield, and particle size control of a variety of synthesis techniques, including co-precipitation, hydrothermal, sol-gel route, combustion method, microemulsion, thermal decomposition, electrochemical synthesis, polyol method, and green synthesis methods. The sustainable alternative of green synthesis, which employs plant- and microbe-mediated biosynthesis, is becoming increasingly important in the biomedical and environmental sectors. Furthermore, we explore advanced surface functionalization techniques that employ monomeric, inorganic, and polymeric stabilizers to improve the biocompatibility and stability of CFO NPs. The effects of cation substitution (such as transition metals and rare-earth dopants) on the physicochemical and magnetic properties of CFO NPs are examined in detail, addressing challenges like cost and stability in real-world applications. Moreover, the present review provides a detailed discussion correlating structural, morphological, magnetic, dielectric, optical, and electrical properties of CFO with synthesis methods and modifications. The traditional energy storage and conversion applications of CFO are comprehensively discussed. Additionally, the review highlights magnetic applications, biomedical applications (e.g., MRI contrast agents, magnetic hyperthermia, and biosensors), the role of CFO in electronics and optoelectronics, purification and catalysis applications, as well as advances in electromagnetic technologies. Emerging applications, including their roles in quantum computing, nanorobotics, tissue engineering, and bioimaging, are also discussed, emphasizing the cutting-edge potential of CFO NPs in multifunctional technologies. The objective of this review is to critically evaluate recent advancements, challenges, and future research directions to bridge the divide in understanding CFO NPs. This systematic evaluation establishes a strong foundation for researchers, allowing them to investigate novel applications of CFO NPs in both current and emerging technological domains.

In life‐testing experiments, while single objective and constraint‐based optimal designs have been well‐explored, research on multi‐objective designs is still emerging. This paper addresses this concept by applying compound optimal designs to life‐testing scenarios. We implement a novel approach that integrates compound design strategies with considerations of cost and variability, focusing on products with Weibull lifetimes under progressive hybrid censoring. Our approach utilizes a graphical method to develop and evaluate efficient test designs, balancing cost with factors such as trace, determinant, and variance of the inverse Fisher information matrix (FIM). We provide an illustrative example to demonstrate the advantages of compound optimal designs over traditional constraint‐based methods and use sensitivity analysis to assess design robustness and limitations. Additionally, we analyze real‐life data to validate the practical applicability of our approach, showcasing its effectiveness in optimizing life‐testing experiments.

Soil salinity is a significant environmental stress that limits plant growth and reduces crop productivity. This problem diminishes the quantity of cultivable land and has a detrimental impact on productivity. Salinity and toxic contaminants, such as heavy metals originating from industrial effluents, are widespread in agricultural lands located in arid and semiarid regions, resulting in low crop productivity. Nevertheless, due to the increasing worldwide population, it is imperative to exploit salt-affected regions for farming to satisfy the demand for food. Certain plants or cultivars have distinct adaptive characteristics that enable them to overcome the adverse effects of elevated salinity and industrial effluents. Phytoremediation is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach for restoring heavy metal-contaminated and saline soils. This method utilizes plants to remove or neutralize salts and pollutants, contributing to soil desalination and purification. Enhancing the efficiency of phytoremediation requires a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind heavy metal accumulation and plant tolerance. Halophytes, which thrive in high-salinity environments, are particularly well-suited for this purpose. Their associated microbes play a crucial role in enhancing salt tolerance and stabilizing toxic substances. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the ability of halophytes to survive in saline conditions and their interactions with soil microorganisms in mitigating soil salinity and industrial pollutants. Addressing these challenges is essential for promoting sustainable agriculture and global food security. Graphical Abstract

Using data from the states’ annual comprehensive financial reports for the period 2003 to 2018, the authors apply a dynamic panel model frame to test how state tax and expenditure limitations (TELs) and rainy-day funds (RDFs) affect key aspects of the state fiscal condition. Guided by the fiscal illusion theory, we hypothesize that TELs and RDFs will affect various short-term solvency indicators but will not have a significant impact on pension and long-term solvency indicators. The study provides mixed empirical evidence, cautioning that these relations are complex. The results provide empirical evidence supporting most of the hypotheses related to short-term solvencies, such as cash and budgetary solvencies. In addition, the study finds that neither tax nor expenditure limitations have a significant impact on the net asset ratio and the long-term ratios. Similarly, there is evidence that TELs and RDFs do not affect the two pension solvency ratios. This is probably the first study to provide a dynamic panel model to assess how two major state fiscal institutions influence various state government’s short-term and long-term fiscal solvency conditions.

This study evaluates the impact response and damage tolerance of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites with varying Aramid pulp reinforcement ratios subjected to low-velocity impact (LVI) at an energy level of 5 J. Pristine (unreinforced) and reinforced samples with 1X, 2X, and 4X Aramid pulp ratios were analyzed through drop-weight impact tests, flexural tests, and micro-CT scans. Results indicate that increasing reinforcement enhances energy absorption and maximum displacement but decreases peak force due to improved load distribution via delamination and matrix cracking. While 4X reinforced samples exhibit the highest energy absorption, they also show the most significant internal damage, including extensive delamination, void formation, and intralaminar failure. Flexural behavior reveals a decreased in stiffness and strength with higher reinforcement levels, which is attributed to weak fiber-matrix adhesion and resin-rich zones. Optimal reinforcement was observed at 2X, where flexural strain peaked due to effective crack bridging. Excessive reinforcement led to agglomeration effects, exacerbating void formation and structural weakening. The findings underscore the importance of optimizing reinforcement ratios and ensuring uniform dispersion to balance between energy dissipation and mechanical performance in CFRP laminates.

Pampulha Lake is an urban lake located in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, that is part of a modern ensemble considered one of the main tourist attractions in the city. The ensemble was nominated as a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site in 2016. Despite its cultural and recreational relevance to the local population, Pampulha Lake has suffered from anthropogenic pollution, which has led to water quality impairment over time. Once used for water supply, the lake became eutrophic due to domestic sewage and industrial wastewater discharge in its main tributaries, thus showing recurrent algae blooms and contamination by potentially toxic metals. This study provides the first broad assessment of the occurrence of pesticides and emerging contaminants such as pharmaceutical drugs, personal care products, and hormones in different regions of the lake. Seasonality affected the concentration of several contaminants, such as atrazine, simazine, and caffeine. Spatial variations were also observed for target contaminants, indicating possible sources related to anthropic activities. Risk assessment indicated that imidacloprid and fipronil detected in Pampulha Lake have the potential to threaten aquatic life. Hence, a monitoring plan is needed to identify the main sources of pollution and provide information to support decision-making on remediation strategies.

The long-term consequences of concussion are still being uncovered but have been linked to disruptions in cognition and psychological well-being. Previous studies focusing on the association between concussion history and structural changes in the brain have reported inconsistent results. We sought to examine the effect of concussion history on cortical volume with a focus on functional networks. These networks are associated with many of the functions that can be disrupted in those with an extensive concussion history. We collected baseline behavioral data including the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing, a self-report measure of the number of diagnosed concussions, and structural MRI in college athletes (n=296; 263 men and 33 women, age range 17-24). Behavioral measures were collected by members of the Department of Athletics concussion management team using a standardized protocol as part of their on-boarding process. Collegiate athletes in the present study who self-reported concussion history did not report different baseline symptoms and did not exhibit consistent differences in cognitive performance relative to those who reported no concussion history. We found that concussion history was not related to cortical volume at the network or region level, even when we compared participants with two or more concussions to those with no concussion history. We did identify relationships between cortical volume in the visual network and dorsal attention network with cognitive performance. In addition to comparing cortical volume between individuals with and without reported concussion history, we also examined whether cortical volume changes could be observed within individuals from baseline to acutely following concussion. We found that network level cortical volume did not change within subjects from baseline measurement to acutely post-concussion. Together, these results suggest that both self-reported concussion history and acute concussion effects are not associated with changes in cortical volume in young adult athletes.

Background While the triggers for the metastatic transformation of breast cancer (BC) cells remain unknown, recent evidence suggests that intrinsic cellular metabolism could be a crucial driver of migratory disposition and chemoresistance. Aiming to decipher the molecular mechanisms involved in BC cell metabolic maneuvering, we study how a ketomimetic (ketone body-rich, low glucose) nutrient medium can engineer the glycocalyx and metabolic signature of BC cells, to further maneuver their response to therapy. Methods Doxorubicin (DOX) has been used as a model chemotherapeutic in this study. Bioorthogonal imaging was used to assess the degree of sialylation of the glycocalyx along with measurements of drug-induced cytotoxicity and drug internalization. Single cell label-free metabolic imaging has been performed, coupled with measurement of cellular proliferative and migratory abilities, and MS-based metabolomic screens. Transcriptomic analysis of crucial enzymes was performed using total RNA extraction and rt-qPCR. Results We found an inverse correlation of glycocalyx sialylation with drug-induced cytotoxicity and drug internalization, where ketomimetic media enhanced sialylation and protected BC cells from DOX. These hypersialylated cells proliferated slower and migrated faster as compared to their counterparts receiving a high glucose media, while exhibiting a preference for glycolysis. These cells also showed pronounced lipid droplet accumulation coupled with an inversion in their metabolomic profile. Enzymatic removal of sialic acid moieties at the glycocalyx revealed for the first time, a direct role of sialic acids as defense guards, blocking DOX entry at the cellular membrane to curtail internalization. Interestingly, the non-cancerous mammary epithelial cells exhibited opposite trends and this differential pattern in cancer vs. normal cells was traced to its biochemical roots, i.e. the expression levels of key enzymes involved in sialylation and fatty acid synthesis. Conclusions Our findings revealed that a ketomimetic medium enhances chemoresistance and invasive disposition of BC cells via two main oncogenic pathways: hypersialylation and lipid synthesis. We propose that the crosstalk between these pathways, juxtaposed at the synthesis of the glycan precursor UDP-GlcNAc, furthers advancement of a metastatic phenotype in BC cells under ketomimetic conditions. Non-cancerous cells lack this dual defense machinery and end up being sensitized to DOX under ketomimetic conditions.

Unethical actions by brands are ubiquitous in the marketplace. However, it is unknown how religiosity influences consumers’ purchase intentions of unethical brands, which is an important point to consider given that religiosity serves as one of the main core consumer value systems that can serve as a target market and psychological motivator to behavior. Across four studies, and contrary to what some prior theory and commonly held beliefs may suggest, this research documents several major findings. First, we find that religiosity increases consumers’ purchase intentions of unethical brands due to heightened moral licensing perceptions. In addition, we document a boundary condition to these effects, such that religiosity only leads to higher purchase intentions of unethical brands for consumers low (vs. high) in the importance of brand ethicality (i.e., the extent to which a consumer believes that it is important to consider the ethics of a brand when making purchase decisions).

Polyether polyketides are a structurally diverse group of natural products known for their antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities. Lasalocid A is a canonical natural polyether produced by the soil bacterium Streptomyces lasalocidi. In lasalocid A biosynthesis, a polyene polyketide intermediate is converted to a bisepoxide by the flavin‐dependent monooxygenase enzyme Lsd18. Remarkably, Lsd18 acts on two distinct C=C groups in the substrate molecule, forming two (R,R) epoxides. We have determined the X‐ray crystal structures of Lsd18 in the substrate‐free, substrate‐bound, and product‐bound forms. Our work has revealed that Lsd18 has an extra‐large substrate‐binding pocket that allows the polyene to adopt different conformations within the enzyme pocket. This feature enables Lsd18 to epoxidate both of the C=C groups. Additionally, a subpocket located near the Lsd18 active site controls stereoselectivity by dictating which face of the C=C group is placed next to the flavin. Molecular understanding of how Lsd18 transforms a polyene into a bisepoxide during lasalocid A biosynthesis lays the foundation for the production of designer polyethers for drug development.

Polyether polyketides are a structurally diverse group of natural products known for their antimicrobial and antiproliferative activities. Lasalocid A is a canonical natural polyether produced by the soil bacterium Streptomyces lasalocidi. In lasalocid A biosynthesis, a polyene polyketide intermediate is converted to a bisepoxide by the flavin‐dependent monooxygenase enzyme Lsd18. Remarkably, Lsd18 acts on two distinct C=C groups in the substrate molecule, forming two (R,R) epoxides. We have determined the X‐ray crystal structures of Lsd18 in the substrate‐free, substrate‐bound, and product‐bound forms. Our work has revealed that Lsd18 has an extra‐large substrate‐binding pocket that allows the polyene to adopt different conformations within the enzyme pocket. This feature enables Lsd18 to epoxidate both of the C=C groups. Additionally, a subpocket located near the Lsd18 active site controls stereoselectivity by dictating which face of the C=C group is placed next to the flavin. Molecular understanding of how Lsd18 transforms a polyene into a bisepoxide during lasalocid A biosynthesis lays the foundation for the production of designer polyethers for drug development.

We examine whether CEO narcissism is associated with management forecast issuance and how investors respond to those forecasts. Narcissists look for opportunities for self‐enhancement, and earnings forecasts provide a setting to demonstrate managerial skills. We find that narcissistic CEOs are more likely to issue management forecasts. We document that forecasts issued by narcissistic CEOs are no more likely to be missed, no more optimistically biased, no less precise, and no less accurate than those issued by non‐narcissistic CEOs. We find that investors respond less favourably to good news management earnings forecasts from narcissistic CEOs. Our results suggest that investors treat management earnings forecasts from narcissistic CEOs as lacking credibility, even though they have similar forecast properties to those issued by less narcissistic CEOs.

This article, set in El Paso, Texas, in 1908, concerns immigration inspector Robert L. Dodd who was accused and administratively removed by the federal Immigration Bureau for facilitating the introduction of undocumented Japanese immigrants into the United States. The article examines the government’s case against Dodd and argues that his dismissal was not only a miscarriage of justice but also may have been structured to scapegoat Dodd as part of the ongoing efforts in the Progressive Era toward civil service reforms within federal service.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is altering natural light conditions globally, with dramatic effects on insect behaviour. Flight‐to‐light behaviour is one of the most noticeable and ecologically significant impacts. Research has focused on nocturnal and crepuscular insect taxa, but diurnal insects also exhibit flight‐to‐light behaviour. Community science is increasingly recognised as useful for biological research. iNaturalist is an unstructured community science project where observations are geo‐tagged photos of organisms. We downloaded iNaturalist observations of butterflies at artificial light sources in the United States and Canada. We manually verified that observations were from light sources and recorded light source information. We examined light visitation in butterflies and checked for signals of natural history traits predicting light visitation at a species level. We compiled 384 observations of butterflies at light sources, representing 107 species, 74 genera and all six diurnal butterfly families. Most observations came from residential light sources or insect sampling/observation schemes (e.g., moth sheets). Observation frequency at lights varied across butterfly families: Lycaenidae were observed the most and Papilionidae the least. Habitat preference may influence light visitation: closed‐habitat species were observed more frequently than open‐habitat species. There were no clear relationships between observation frequency and wingspan or migratory behaviour. A broad diversity of butterflies has been observed at artificial light sources. Butterfly species differ in the frequency with which they are reported at light sources on iNaturalist. Natural history traits may be useful in predicting a species' vulnerability to ALAN.