University Of Kansas Research Articles

Evaluation of evolving sepsis screening criteria in discriminating suspected sepsis and mortality among adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit

BackgroundInstitutions struggle with successful use of sepsis alerts within electronic health records. ObjectiveTest the association of sepsis screening measurement criteria in discrimination of mortality and detection of sepsis in a large dataset. DesignRetrospective, cohort study using a large United States (U.S.) intensive care database. The Institutional Review Board exempt status was obtained from Kansas University Medical Center Human Research Protection Program (10-1-2015). Setting334 U.S. hospitals participating in the eICU Research Institute. ParticipantsNine hundred twelve thousand five hundred and nine adult intensive care admissions from 183 hospitals. MethodsExposures included: systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria ≥ 2 (Sepsis-1); systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria with organ failure criteria ≥ 3.5 points (Sepsis-2); and sepsis-related organ failure assessment score ≥ 2 and quick score ≥ 2 (Sepsis-3). Discrimination of outcomes was determined with/without (adjusted/unadjusted) baseline risk exposure to a model. The receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and odds ratios (ORs) for each decile of baseline risk of sepsis or death were assessed. ResultsWithin the eligible cohort of 912,509, a total of 86,219 (9.4 %) patients did not survive their hospital stay and 186,870 (20.5 %) met the definition of suspected sepsis. For suspected sepsis discrimination, Sepsis-2 (unadjusted AUROC 0.67, 99 % CI: 0.66–0.67 and adjusted AUROC 0.77, 99 % CI: 0.77–0.77) outperformed Sepsis-3 (SOFA unadjusted AUROC 0.61, 99 % CI: 0.61–0.61 and adjusted AUROC 0.74, 99 % CI: 0.74–0.74) (qSOFA unadjusted AUROC 0.59, 99 % CI: 0.59–0.60 and adjusted AUROC 0.73, 99 % CI: 0.73–0.73). Sepsis-2 also outperformed Sepsis-1 (unadjusted AUROC 0.58, 99 % CI: 0.58–0.58 and adjusted AUROC 0.73, 99 % CI: 0.73–0.73). In between differences of AUROCs were statistically significantly different. Sepsis-2 ORs were higher for the outcome of suspected sepsis when considering deciles of risk than the other measurement systems. Conclusions and relevanceSepsis-2 outperformed other systems in suspected sepsis detection and was comparable to SOFA in prognostic accuracy of mortality in adult intensive care patients.

Jack Dwayne Farmer April 18, 1947-February 22, 2023.

Jack Dwayne Farmer April 18, 1947-February 22, 2023.

Microvascular constriction via fatty acid-mediated oxidative stress in humans

Purpose: Excess plasma lipids promote oxidative stress and impair vascular function. Herein, we examined microcirculatory blood flow and tested the hypothesis that a co-infusion of a water-soluble antioxidant (ascorbic acid, AA) would attenuate reductions in retinal arteriole lumen diameter and increase resistance resulting from acutely elevated plasma lipids in healthy adults. Methods: A 20% IV fat emulsion (Intralipid) was administered for 2 hours to 8 healthy, middle-aged adults (2 men/6 women) with and without co-infusion of ascorbic acid (separate visits) in a double-blinded, crossover study design. Co-infusion of AA was administered at 0.06g/kg fat free mass in 100 ml saline at 5 mL/min over 20 min (bolus) followed by a drip infusion at 0.02 g/kg fat-free mass in 30 ml saline at 0.33 mL/min over 90 min. Retinal arteriole lumen diameter and resistance were assessed via Laser Speckle Flowgraphy at baseline and after infusion. Results: Lipid infusion significantly increase plasma fatty acid concentrations (lipid w/o AA: +36 ± 18 vs. lipid with AA: +41 ± 13 vs. μmol/L, P=0.84). AA infusion significantly increased plasma ascorbic acid concentrations (lipid w/o AA: -1 ± 7 vs. lipid with AA: +26 ± 11 μmol/L, P=0.04). A significant increase in retinal arteriole resistance was observed following lipid infusion (lipid w/o AA: +20 ± 8 %, vs. lipid with AA: +17 ± 8 %, P=0.40). In accordance, lipid infusion significantly reduced retinal arteriole lumen diameter; however, co-infusion of AA reversed the lipid-mediated decrease in retinal arteriole diameter (lipid w/o AA: -3 ± 1 % vs. lipid with AA: +3 ± 2 %, P=0.01). Conclusions: Although microvascular resistance was increased, co-infusion of the antioxidant (ascorbic acid) reversed the fatty acid-mediated reduction in arteriole lumen diameter. Therefore, these preliminary findings suggest that acute elevations in plasma fatty acids induce microvascular constriction via an oxidative stress pathway. Funding and support: R01HL159370-01 (S.W.H.). This work was also supported by a CTSA grant from NCATS awarded to the University of Kansas for Frontiers: University of Kansas Clinical and Translational Science Institute (# UL1TR002366). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH or CTSA. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Dendritic cell intrinsic role of Ptpn22and its pro-autoimmune allele enhance anti-viral immunity

Abstract The tyrosine phosphatase PTPN22 encodes the enzyme Lyp (PEP in mice) in all immune cells. 5–10% of the North American population expresses the PTPN22 autoimmunity risk allele 1858C>T (rs2476601) causing amino acid substitution R620W (R619W in mice). This mutation alters lymphocyte activation, toll-like receptor signaling, and cytokine production. Ptpn22 knockout (PEP-null) and alternative allele-expressing (PEP-R619W) mice clear persistent virus LCMV-cl13, have enhanced anti-viral T cell function, and a more immunostimulatory dendritic cell (DC) phenotype compared to wildtype (PEP-WT). Adoptive transfer studies suggest a T cell extrinsic mechanism driving enhanced T cell function in PEP-null and -R619W animals. However, the relative contribution of PEP-differing non-T cells during virus infection is not known. We hypothesize that the DC, as the sole PEP-differing cell, is the critical non-T cell driving increased T cell function and enhanced anti-viral immunity.To interrogate this, we employ CD11c Ptpn22 conditional knock out (cKO) mice and bone marrow derived DC (BMDC) cultures from PEP-WT, -null, and -R619W mice. During LCMV-cl13 infection, CD11c Ptpn22 cKO mice have improved disease outcome compared to WT mice. In a T cell: DC co-culture assay, both PEP-null and PEP-R619W DCs lead to more CD4 T cell function over WT DCs. Also, PEP-null and PEP-R619W BMDCs have changed response to virus infection. Taken together, these data suggest Ptpn22 and its allele have DC intrinsic mechanisms that alter anti-viral immunity. Results of this study lead to a more complete understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms, particularly in the DC, this common allele alters the immune response during infection. Supported by grants from the University of Kansas (KU), KU CBID CoBRE Research Award, and KU Center for Genomics.

Impaired endothelial function via fatty acids and the potential role of oxidative stress

Purpose: Excess plasma lipids promote oxidative stress and impaired vascular function. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that a water-soluble antioxidant (ascorbic acid, AA) would attenuate reductions in endothelium-dependent dilation resulting from acutely elevated plasma fatty acids. Methods: A 20% IV fat emulsion (Intralipid) was administered for 2 hours to 8 healthy, middle-aged adults (2 men/6 women) with and without co-infusion of ascorbic acid (separate visits) in a double-blinded, crossover study design. Co-infusion of AA was administered at 0.06g/kg fat free mass in 100 ml saline at 5 mL/min over 20 min (bolus) followed by a drip infusion at 0.02 g/kg fat-free mass in 30 ml saline at 0.33 mL/min over 90 min. Endothelium-dependent dilation was assessed via brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and expressed as % increase in diameter from baseline before forearm occlusion. Results: Lipid infusion significantly increase plasma fatty acid concentrations (w/o AA: +36 ± 18 vs. with AA: +41 ± 13 vs. μmol/L, P=0.84). AA infusion significantly increased plasma ascorbic acid concentrations (w/o AA: -1 ± 7 vs. with AA: +26 ± 11 μmol/L, P=0.04). Compared with baseline, FMD was significantly reduced following lipid infusion at (Baseline: 9.3 ± 1.1 vs. 20 min: 4.4 ± 1.3 vs. End: 5.3 ± 2.9 %, P=0.03), and when statistically adjusting for the stimulus (shear rate area under the curve) via analysis of covariance (P=0.02). FMD was also significantly reduced following lipid infusion with co-infusion of AA (Baseline: 8.9 ± 1.0 vs. 20 min: 5.3 ± 1.0 vs. End: 6.4 ± 3.8 %, P=0.02), but not when statistically adjusting for shear rate under the curve (P=0.08). Conclusions: Elevated plasma fatty acids impair endothelium-dependent dilation in healthy adults. However, co-administration of an antioxidant (ascorbic acid) limited the reduction in FMD when correcting for shear rate. Therefore, these preliminary data suggest that fatty acids may reduce endothelium-dependent dilation via an oxidative stress mechanism. Funding and support: R01HL159370-01 (S.W.H.). This work was also supported by a CTSA grant from NCATS awarded to the University of Kansas for Frontiers: University of Kansas Clinical and Translational Science Institute (# UL1TR002366). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH or CTSA. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Oxidative stress-related impairment of endothelial function in uncomplicated obesity

Purpose: Visceral obesity is associated with vascular oxidative stress and development of hypertension. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that suppression of vascular oxidative stress in adults with visceral obesity would improve endothelium-dependent dilation. Methods: IV infusion of a water-soluble antioxidant (ascorbic acid) was performed in 15 middle-age obese adults (3 men/12 women) without diabetes or hypertension in a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, crossover study design. Ascorbic acid was infused at 0.06g/kg fat free mass in 100 ml saline at 5 mL/min over 20 min (bolus) followed by a drip infusion at 0.02 g/kg fat-free mass in 30 ml saline at 0.5 mL/min over 60 min. Endothelium-dependent dilation was assessed via brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and expressed as % increase in diameter from baseline before forearm occlusion. Results: Android fat distribution in the visceral cavity (VAT%) was 39 ± 10% and body mass index (BMI) was 37 ± 6 kg/m2. IV infusion significantly increased plasma ascorbic acid concentrations (Baseline: 42 ± 2 vs. Bolus: 66 ± 6 vs. End: 62 ± 4 μmol/L, P<0.001). Compared with baseline, bolus infusion of ascorbic acid significantly increased FMD (Baseline: 5.8 ± 2.5 vs. Bolus: 9.0 ± 4.0 vs. End: 8.0 ± 4.2 %, P=0.01), which remained after statistically adjusting for the stimulus (shear rate area under the curve) via analysis of covariance (P=0.04). No significant change in FMD was observed following placebo (saline) during a separate study visit (Baseline: 8.0 ± 4.4 vs. Bolus: 8.3 ± 3.9 vs. End: 8.6 ± 2.9 %, P=0.86). Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that acute elevations in plasma ascorbic acid concentrations improve endothelium-dependent dilation in middle-aged adults with visceral obesity. Future studies should target mechanisms by which mediators of oxidative stress in obesity (e.g., hyperlipidemia, hyperinsulinemia) inhibit nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation. Funding and support: R01HL159370-01 (S.W.H.). This work was also supported by a CTSA grant from NCATS awarded to the University of Kansas for Frontiers: University of Kansas Clinical and Translational Science Institute (# UL1TR002366). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH or CTSA. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Depression and Dementia Risk: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Denmark (P2-6.008)

<h3>Objective:</h3> Examine the relation between depression and incident dementia in Denmark. <h3>Background:</h3> Depressive symptoms often precede onset of dementia, but prior research reports diminished or null associations with increasing time since depression diagnosis. The absence of an association between remote depression diagnosis and incident dementia suggests depression is an early symptom rather than a cause of dementia. <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> This nationwide population-based cohort study leverages data collected routinely and prospectively from Danish population-based registries from 1978–2018. Individuals with depression ages ≥18 years were matched with members of the general population on sex, birth year, and date of depression diagnosis. Using Cox proportional hazards regression models, we estimated hazard ratios (HR) for the association between depression and dementia. To characterize the relationship between depression and dementia, all analyses were stratified by time elapsed between diagnoses (1–10 years; &gt;10–20 years; &gt;20–39 years). Because risk of depression and dementia may differ by age and sex, we conducted separate analyses for men and women and by age category. <h3>Results:</h3> Among 246,499 persons with depressive disorders and 1,190,302 matched persons, depression was associated with more than double the hazard of dementia (HR=2.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.37, 2.49). This HR was largest within the first 10 years after depression diagnosis (HR=2.60, 95% CI: 2.53, 2.68), but persisted &gt;10–20 years (HR=1.89, 95% CI: 1.79, 2.01) and &gt;20–39 years (HR=1.80, 95% CI: 1.59, 2.04). The association between depression and dementia was stronger among men (HR=3.02, 95% CI: 2.88, 3.16) than women (HR=2.22, 95% CI: 2.16, 2.29), and strongest among individuals diagnosed with depression between ages 18–44 (HR=3.09, 95% CI: 2.66, 3.60). <h3>Conclusions:</h3> This study demonstrates a robust association between incident depression and subsequent dementia when the diagnoses are separated by more than two decades, and thus suggests a role for depression as a major risk factor. <b>Disclosure:</b> Dr. Elser has nothing to disclose. Dr. Horvath-Puho has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gradus has nothing to disclose. Dr. Smith has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lash has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Amgen. Dr. Lash has received publishing royalties from a publication relating to health care. Maria Glymour has nothing to disclose. Prof. Soerensen has nothing to disclose. Dr. Henderson has stock in Abbott, Amgen, Roche. The institution of Dr. Henderson has received research support from NIH. The institution of Dr. Henderson has received research support from Health IQ. Dr. Henderson has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a External advisory committee member, Alzheimer’s Disease Center with University of Kansas. Dr. Henderson has a non-compensated relationship as a adjunct (honorary) professor with Aarhus University that is relevant to AAN interests or activities.

Remote multimodal monitoring of motor neuron disease progression using wearable sensors and digital assessments (S14.010)

<h3>Objective:</h3> To develop and assess the feasibility of a robust multi-modal platform to remotely monitor motor neuron disease (MND) symptoms and disease progression using wearable sensors and digital assessments of speech, handwriting, and pattern-tracing skills. <h3>Background:</h3> Frequent remote assessments of different disease symptoms and progression are critical in improving care for patients with neurological disorders and clinical trial readiness. There is a need for a multi-modal technological solution to objectively measure and monitor disease progression in MND. <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> Participants with MND were enrolled for up to 12 months of remote monitoring. They wore PAMSys™ pendant sensors for the duration of study to measure physical activity, walking parameters, postural transition, and falls during activities of daily living. Digital speech and handwriting and pattern tracing skill assessments were performed using the BioDigit Home™ (BioSensics LLC) tablet on biweekly basis. <h3>Results:</h3> To date, nine participants have been enrolled (4 female), with a median age of 69 years (range 44–2 years). High compliance for the pendant-sensor-based physical activity monitoring was observed and provided a reliable tool to assess fall risk in patients with MND (with some subjects having up to 1.5 confirmed falls per week and one reported near fall per week). Furthermore, on average, subjects completed 91.9% (range 53.8%–100%) of assigned speech task. 88% of the participants were able to perform handwriting and pattern-tracing tasks. <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Our preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility of the multi-modal telemonitoring solution to remotely monitor mobility and disease symptoms in MND. The longitudinal monitoring may address the problem of subjective biases, measure functional changes over time, and compensate for the impact of biological variability in intermittent single visits. Patient recruitment and data collection is ongoing, and the most updated results will be presented during the meeting. <b>Disclosure:</b> The institution of Andrew Geronimo has received research support from BioSensics, LLC. Mr. Casado has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of BioSensics LLC. Dr. Mishra has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Biosensics. Mr. Lim has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vaziri has received personal compensation for serving as an employee of Biosensics. Dr. Simmons has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Cytokinetics. The institution of Dr. Simmons has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Amylyx. Dr. Simmons has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving as a Consultant for Sanofi. Dr. Simmons has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Alexion. Dr. Simmons has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Biogen. Dr. Simmons has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Alector. Dr. Simmons has received personal compensation in the range of $500-$4,999 for serving on a Scientific Advisory or Data Safety Monitoring board for Corcept. The institution of Dr. Simmons has received personal compensation in the range of $100,000-$499,999 for serving as an Editor, Associate Editor, or Editorial Advisory Board Member for Wiley. The institution of Dr. Simmons has received research support from MGH. The institution of Dr. Simmons has received research support from MT Pharma. The institution of Dr. Simmons has received research support from University of Kansas. The institution of Dr. Simmons has received research support from ALS Association.

Collaborative performances of and toward survival in the communication classroom and beyond: an inter-institutional performance forum

ABSTRACT This forum features collaborative performances comprised of graduate student and faculty contingencies representing various institutions: University of Kansas, Arizona State University, University of South Florida, and University of Denver. Drawing on lived experience through the vantage of instructor and/or of student, participants embody performances of survival in the communication classroom and beyond. In particular, participants draw on performance as a means of enhancing their approach to pedagogy using an embodied critical lens that attends to and seeks to resist the pervasive intersectional powers animating (in)formal learning environments.

A novel outpatient regimen in management of fluoropyrimidine-induced cardiotoxicity.

Fluoropyrimidines (FP) are cornerstone drugs in the treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies. Cardiotoxicity secondary to an FP chemotherapy is a serious complication. There are no standardized guidelines on the treatment of FP induced cardiotoxicity which may result in interruption and even discontinuation of life saving treatment. We present our experience in FP rechallenge using a novel outpatient regimen based on our "up-front" triple agent antianginal protocol. We report the retrospective study of the patients with suspected FP induced cardiotoxicity. Patients meeting the criteria were selected by C3OD (curated cancer clinical outcomes database) at Kansas University Medical Center (KUMC). We identified all patients with gastrointestinal malignancies who had suspected FP induced cardiotoxicity from January 2015 to March 2022. We then included the patients who were rechallenged with planned fluoropyrimidine regimen utilizing the three drug KU-protocol. We utilized a novel regimen by repurposing the already FDA-approved anti-anginal drugs in a manner that minimizes the risk of hypotension and bradycardia. In this retrospective study, 10 patients with suspected fluoropyrimidine induced cardiotoxicity were included from January-2015 to March-2022 at KUMC. Out of 10 patients who were rechallenged utilizing KU-protocol, eight patients (80%) were able to complete the previously planned fluoropyrimidine regimen. None of the patients required ER visits or hospital admission due to cardiac symptoms during the rechallenge utilizing the KU-protocol. Utilizing our novel outpatient regimen, we have successfully and safely allowed re-challenge of FP chemotherapy with good tolerability and completion of the intended course of chemotherapy without recurrent morbidity.

Contributors

Previous articleNext article FreeContributorsPDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreMiloš Broćić is a Ph.D. candidate from the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto. His work lies at the intersection of political sociology, culture, and sociological theory. His primary research interests include exploring the social bases of moral conflict and assessing intellectual movements in sociology.Jonah Stuart Brundage is assistant professor of sociology at the University of Michigan. His research interests include historical and comparative sociology, political sociology, economic sociology, and social theory. He is currently writing a book on the role of diplomats and treaty-making in the rise of the British Empire.Kristopher Velasco is assistant professor of sociology at Princeton University. He uses the case of LGBT+ rights to illuminate changes within international organizations, transnational processes, and world culture. Kristopher received his B.A. from the University of Kansas and M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.Carly R. Knight is assistant professor of sociology at New York University. She is an economic sociologist with interest in organizations, law, culture, and markets. Her research examines the history of American corporate capitalism and the cultural processes through which economic actors are constructed.Adam Goldstein is assistant professor jointly appointed in the Department of Sociology and the School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. His primary research focuses on the social consequences of financial capitalism in the United States. He holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley.Geoffrey T. Wodtke is associate professor of sociology at the University of Chicago and associate director of the Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality and Mobility at the Harris School of Public Policy.Ugur Yildirim is a data scientist at Slingshot Finance. He earned his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2020.David J. Harding is professor of sociology at University of California, Berkeley, and the faculty director of the Berkeley D-Lab.Emma Zang, Ph.D., is assistant professor of sociology, biostatistics, and global affairs at Yale University. Her research interests lie at the intersection of health and aging, family demography, and inequality. She is also interested in developing and evaluating statistical methods to model trajectories and life transitions. She has published articles in the top sociology, demography, family, methodology, and health journals.Poh Lin Tan is an assistant professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. Her research focuses on women’s fertility, health and work-life balance in the contexts of extremely low fertility rates in Singapore and Asia, with publications across sociology, demography, economics and social policy journals. She serves as the secretary of the Population Association of Singapore.Philip J. Cook is professor emeritus of public policy and economics at Duke University. His research interests include education, criminal behavior, income inequality, and other topics. Previous articleNext article DetailsFiguresReferencesCited by American Journal of Sociology Volume 128, Number 5March 2023 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/725539 © 2023 The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

ATA Centennial Interview Series: Thyroid Hormone Metabolism—A Historical Perspective

In this video, Dr. Val Galton from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth is interviewed by Dr. Meredith Hartley from the University of Kansas. The conversation focuses on Dr. Galton's experiences as a thyroid researcher and on the ATA Centennial Special Article1 that she coauthored with Dr. Arturo Hernandez titled, “Thyroid Hormone Metabolism: A Historical Perspective.” No competing financial interests exist. Runtime of video: 10 mins 38 secs

The Restless and Relentless Mind of Wes Jackson: Searching for Sustainability by Robert Jensen

Reviewed by: The Restless and Relentless Mind of Wes Jackson: Searching for Sustainability by Robert Jensen Robert Lee Cavazos The Restless and Relentless Mind of Wes Jackson: Searching for Sustainability. By Robert Jensen. Foreword by David W. Orr. Lawrence: University of Kansas, 2021. vii + 140 pp. Illustrations, notes. $29.95 cloth. Robert Jensen is a professor emeritus at the University of Texas at Austin who, in The Restless and Relentless Mind of Wes Jackson, chronicles the work of Wes Jackson, the founder of The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas. Every year, Jackson holds an annual conference known as the Prairie Festival, in which researchers, environmentalists, and graduate students come together at the Big Barn to confront ecological and social issues in order to build a more sustainable future. [End Page 63] Conversations at the conference are centered around soil. Jackson believes that soil is vital for the survival of humankind, and that humans' intervention in agriculture has stripped carbon from soils, making agriculture unsustainable. Jackson challenges us to change how we see and think about things. The book attempts to understand how we humans took our position of dominance, which Jackson sees as detrimental to our future. We humans believe we have the right to change a system we benefit from despite the harm the system does to nature. The Green Revolution changed everything: it increased agricultural yields. Modern agriculture kills: the use of pesticides and herbicides that contaminate the water supply and kill the land is why Jackson sees it as not being sustainable. The following three chapters represent the centerpiece of Jensen's portrayal of Jackson's perspective on how humans began to outsmart themselves and move away from sustainability. We must learn to take nature seriously. No matter how far technology advances, we will forever be part of nature. Agriculture was always a part of nature until humans intervened in it. In the chapter "Taking Nature Seriously," Jackson sees nature as the supreme farmer. The natural agricultural process allows resources to be used freely and recycled organically so nothing is wasted. Our current agricultural system cannot reproduce this process. Our trust in machinery blinds us to reality; it and our technologies allow us to produce toxic chemicals without having to worry about the consequences, delaying the inevitable. Our current system is not sustainable, but machinery is not the answer. Technology does not solve our problems, as explained in the chapter "Too Many, Too Much." Humans consume renewable resources beyond the rate of replacement. The ability to use modern technology as a solution gets us into trouble. Humans assume they can play God in agricultural matters. With all the advances of civilization, we became greedy, which led to long-lasting devastation. In the chapter "Knowledge," we have become overconfident in our knowledge, to be blinded by our own beliefs even though acting on those beliefs will result in catastrophic damage. This is why we will truly never understand everything. The importance of a good future is to return to the basics of living life naturally, bringing communities together. This is where Jackson believes a more sustainable world awaits us—one that replaces the modern agricultural and industrial world of intensive carbon emission. Unfortunately, we see ourselves as bigger than nature; "we believe ourselves to be separable from the ecosystems on which our lives depend" (108). This is what makes Jackson's vision so important, as his book shows how humanity must return to nature if it is to have a fighting chance. Dramatic changes are needed because unstable ecosystems are not sustainable. Jackson makes you think about not only how to live a more sustainable life but more importantly how to appreciate nature. Robert Lee Cavazos Division of Sociology Tarleton State University Copyright © 2023 Center for Great Plains Studies

A joint validation study on camera-aided illuminance measurement

This joint study conducted in the United States and Japan reviewed existing illuminance measurement methods that use a conventional digital single-lens reflex camera, including (a) per-pixel illuminance calculation using non-fisheye wide-angle lenses, (b) hemispherical projection-based illuminance calculation, (c) the KU method developed by the University of Kansas (KU) and (d) the L-CEPT method developed by the Japanese team for per-pixel illuminance calculation using 180° fisheye lens. Next, laboratory and field measurements were conducted in 32 test scenarios in Kansas and Japan to improve and validate the two similar methods (c) and (d) for per-pixel illuminance calculation and compare them to the simplified method (b) using orthographic projection-based illuminance calculation. Based on the test results, the camera-aided illuminance measurement method could have an error rate of 13.7% ± 15.3% (SD) in all 32 scenarios. Large errors (&gt;25%) were observed in six extremely dynamic gymnasiums with rapidly changing morning sunlight. Alternatively, an average error rate of 7.7% ± 7.5% was observed in the 26 test scenarios without rapidly changing direct sunlight. The simplified orthographic projection-based method could achieve the same level of accuracy as the per-pixel KU/L-CEPT method. Yet, multiple issues on camera-aided illuminance measurement still need further investigation.

KU chemist Tao sentenced to time served

A federal judge sentenced former University of Kansas (KU) chemist Feng “Franklin” Tao on Jan. 18 to time served and 2 years’ supervised release for making false statements about undisclosed ties to a research university in China. “Dr. Tao is immensely relieved,” his defense attorney, Peter R. Zeidenberg, says in an emailed statement. In August 2019, federal agents arrested Tao, saying that he worked for China’s Fuzhou University without disclosing this conflict of interest to KU or to the US agencies that supported his research: the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Tao stood trial in March in Kansas City, Kansas, under the China Initiative . Intended to target economic espionage, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) program has been revamped, after the DOJ said it harmed Asian American communities. In April, a jury found Tao guilty of three counts of wire fraud and one count

The Life of Pioneering Amish Studies Scholar Walter Kollmorgen: Transcript of the Reschly-Jellison Interviews

On March 20, 1994, we interviewed Walter Kollmorgen. Reschly also conducted a follow-up interview March 8, 1995. Herein, we provide the transcripts of these interviews, which are of particular historical value since Kollmorgen was one of Amish studies’ first researchers. Kollmorgen was a native speaker of German from having grown up in a Lutheran family in rural Nebraska. He and his younger sister, Johanna, both contracted polio at a very young age. The combination of German and physical limitations enabled both to establish rapport in a short time with the Amish community in Lancaster County for his rural community study. It seems he communicated more with male leaders than female members, so his observations about women in the community were fairly general. He offered several insights concerning the internal politics at the USDA and the sources of the impulse to research rural communities on a theorized stability-instability continuum. Several officials were quite attracted to the Amish lifestyle, for example. As a geographer, Kollmorgen moved on to other academic topics during a long career at the University of Kansas and he often had to search his memory to recall aspects of his research in Lancaster County. Without much previous work to build on, Kollmorgen produced one of the first scholarly studies of Amish sociology, oriented to the questions of how and why they survived the Great Depression economically and culturally. [Abstract by author.]

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KNEE JOINT ALIGNMENT, 3-D JOINT SPACE WIDTH AND SUBCHONDRAL BONE PARAMETERS IN INVIDUALS WITH RADIOGRAPHIC OSTEOARTHRITIS: A MOST INVESTIGATION

Joint alignment is an important factor in OA affecting how forces pass through the knee. The increasing use of weight bearing computed tomography (WBCT) in OA research has made the weight bearing stance an important consideration in 3-D imaging analysis, but its influence through biomechanics on the joint and subchondral bone is not fully understood. To investigate the relationship between knee joint alignment and 3-D joint parameters derived from joint space mapping of WBCT imaging in individuals with radiographic OA. WBCT of both knees was acquired at the 144-month visit of the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST). Knees with a KLG ≥2 were included in the analysis, taking the side with higher KLG or averaging subsequent results from both sides if equal. Joint space mapping was performed to obtain the 3-D JSW distribution along with femoral (f) and tibial (t) subchondral bone thickness (ST) and trabecular attenuation (TA). Everyone's knee parameter maps were then transferred to a canonical joint surface. Alignment of the knee joint was measured as the angle between the central axis of the distal femur and proximal tibia in a coronal multiplanar reformat slab of the WBCT data: neutral alignment was set as zero with varus signed positive (figure part (a)). Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was performed using a general linear model to test the dependence of each 3-D parameter distribution on alignment controlling for age, sex, mass, height, and joint space shape modes. SPM results were plotted on the canonical joint surface with unmasked regions representing a significance level of P<0.05. 136 knees were included in the analysis, 84 of which were females. Mean ± SD age was 66.4 ± 9.8 yrs; mass 85.3 ± 17.8 kg; height 1.69 ± 0.1 m. The distribution of radiographic grading was KL2 = 103; KL3 = 32; KL4 = 1. Mean alignment was 0.38 ± 3.80°. For each degree from valgus to varus, JSW was significantly narrower in the medial compartment and wider in the lateral compartment by up to 0.1 mm (figure part (d)). While TA was significantly greater by up to 10 AU in the medial femur (figure part (b)) and medial tibia (figure part (f)), there was up to 0.05 mm significantly thinner ST in the lateral femur (figure part (c)) and lateral tibia (figure part (e)). The opposite effects can be inferred for each degree towards valgus. The same analysis on KLG 0 and 1 knees in the same cohort (mean ± SD alignment 0.66 ± 2.94°) revealed no significant relationships. Subchondral bone plate and trabecular bone appear to behave differently in the medial and lateral compartments when considering knee joint alignment in individuals with OA. Greater subchondral trabecular bone attenuation was seen in the medial compartment with varus alignment, while greater subchondral bone plate thickness was seen in the lateral compartment with valgus alignment. Whether alignment is the cause or effect of OA and any altered biomechanics that may influence bone and joint space behaviour requires further investigation, but this study does establish that the forces associated with alignment appear to have different effects on subchondral bone in different compartments. National Institutes of Health, University of Kansas (R01AR071648), University of Iowa (U01AG18832) and University of California-San Francisco (U01AG19069). NS is a consultant for Integra BioLife, Trice Medical and Pacira Biosciences. TT has been a consultant for Curvebeam AI. The authors would like to thank participants and staff of the MOST study. CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS: [email protected]

Research abroad at the University of Kansas and life in the US

Research abroad at the University of Kansas and life in the US

The Invention of the Maghreb: Between Africa and the Middle East

The Invention of the Maghreb: Between Africa and the Middle East

Perception and production of L2 Arabic emphatic consonants: The role of communicative and traditional form-based approaches

This study examines the extent to which the communicative and traditional form-based approaches play a role in the perception and production of Arabic emphatic consonants by native English speakers. To this end, 19 English-speaking learners of Arabic from the University of Kansas participated in two experiments: perception and production. The experiments were followed by a 90-min period of instruction. The perception and production experiments included pre and posttests. The results of the experiments showed that there is a positive correlation between both approaches, i.e., communicative and traditional form-based in the perception and production of the Arabic emphatic consonants. The results also showed that the Arabic plain consonants were assimilated to their English counterparts and the emphatic consonants were not assimilated to any category in English. Further, the contrast between plain and emphatic consonants was found to be perceptually salient; both the control and experimental groups’ overall performance on the perception tasks was excellent in both the pre- and post-tests. In closing, the theoretical and pedagogical implications of the findings are discussed.