What is community resilience in relation to violent extremism, and how can we build it? This article explores strategies to harness community assets that may contribute to preventing youth from ...embracing violent extremism, drawing from models of community resilience as defined in relation to disaster preparedness. Research suggests that social connection is at the heart of resilient communities and any strategy to increase community resilience must both harness and enhance existing social connections, and endeavor to not damage or diminish them. First, the role of social connection within and between communities is explored. Specifically, the ways in which social bonding and social bridging can diminish risk for violence, including violent extremism, is examined. Second, research on the role of social connection between communities and institutions or governing bodies (termed social linking) is described. This research is discussed in terms of how the process of government partnering with community members can both provide systems for early intervention for violent extremism, as well as strengthen bonding and bridging social networks and in this way contribute broadly to building community resilience. Finally, community-based participatory research, a model of community engagement and partnership in research, is presented as a road map for building true partnerships and community engagement.
The transport pathways of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCP) discharges within the urban water cycle include both combined and separate sewer systems with only the former receiving ...treatment. The dry-weather flow dilution patterns for selected PPCPs following discharge from a sewage treatment works (STW) to a North London stream indicate a persistent downstream increase in concentration. The dilution ratio analysis also indicates that the STW's final effluent only contributes a dilution of the endogenous concentrations already present in the river flow which reflects a progressive PPCP load with increasing urbanization; “worst-case” scenarios being probably related to wet-weather conditions. Maximum PPCP concentrations fall above the reported PEC levels and the analysis highlights the deficiencies of conventional acute toxicity for the evaluation of long-term effects of episodic urban discharges. Groundwater analysis points to sewer exfiltration which is limited in terms of PPCP impact to 25–50cm depths.
PPCP compounds are ubiquitous and persistent in urban receiving waters reflecting input from both point and non-point sources.
In the search for new positive-electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries, recent research has focused on nanostructured lithium transition-metal phosphates that exhibit desirable properties such ...as high energy storage capacity combined with electrochemical stability. Only one member of this class-the olivine LiFePO4 (ref. 3)-has risen to prominence so far, owing to its other characteristics, which include low cost, low environmental impact and safety. These are critical for large-capacity systems such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Nonetheless, olivine has some inherent shortcomings, including one-dimensional lithium-ion transport and a two-phase redox reaction that together limit the mobility of the phase boundary. Thus, nanocrystallites are key to enable fast rate behaviour. It has also been suggested that the long-term economic viability of large-scale Li-ion energy storage systems could be ultimately limited by global lithium reserves, although this remains speculative at present. (Current proven world reserves should be sufficient for the hybrid electric vehicle market, although plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and electric vehicle expansion would put considerable strain on resources and hence cost effectiveness.) Here, we report on a sodium/lithium iron phosphate, A2FePO4F (A=Na, Li), that could serve as a cathode in either Li-ion or Na-ion cells. Furthermore, it possesses facile two-dimensional pathways for Li+ transport, and the structural changes on reduction-oxidation are minimal. This results in a volume change of only 3.7% that-unlike the olivine-contributes to the absence of distinct two-phase behaviour during redox, and a reversible capacity that is 85% of theoretical.
As the University of Minnesota Biocatalysis/Biodegradation Database (UM-BBD, http://umbbd.ahc.umn.edu/) starts its second decade, it includes information on over 900 compounds, over 600 enzymes, ...nearly 1000 reactions and about 350 microorganism entries. Its Biochemical Periodic Tables have grown to include biological information for almost all stable, non-noble-gas elements (http://umbbd.ahc.umn.edu/periodic/). Its Pathway Pre&QJ1;diction System (PPS) (http://umbbd.ahc.umn.edu/predict/) is now an internationally recognized, open system for predicting microbial catabolism of organic compounds. Graphical display of PPS rules, a stand-alone version of the PPS and guidance for PPS users are being developed. The next decade should see the PPS, and the UM-BBD on which it is based, find increasing use by national and international government agencies, commercial organizations and educational institutions.
The University of Minnesota Biocatalysis/Biodegradation Database (UM-BBD, http://umbbd.msi.umn.edu/) began in 1995 and now contains information on almost 1200 compounds, over 800 enzymes, almost 1300 ...reactions and almost 500 microorganism entries. Besides these data, it includes a Biochemical Periodic Table (UM-BPT) and a rule-based Pathway Prediction System (UM-PPS) (http://umbbd.msi.umn.edu/predict/) that predicts plausible pathways for microbial degradation of organic compounds. Currently, the UM-PPS contains 260 biotransformation rules derived from reactions found in the UM-BBD and scientific literature. Public access to UM-BBD data is increasing. UM-BBD compound data are now contributed to PubChem and ChemSpider, the public chemical databases. A new mirror website of the UM-BBD, UM-BPT and UM-PPS is being developed at ETH Zürich to improve speed and reliability of online access from anywhere in the world.
The University of Minnesota Pathway Prediction System (UM-PPS, http://umbbd.msi.umn.edu/predict/) is a rule-based system that predicts microbial catabolism of organic compounds. Currently, its ...knowledge base contains 250 biotransformation rules and five types of metabolic logic entities. The original UM-PPS predicted up to two prediction levels at a time. Users had to choose a predicted product to continue the prediction. This approach provided a limited view of prediction results and heavily relied on manual intervention. The new UM-PPS produces a multi-level prediction within an acceptable time frame, and allows users to view prediction alternatives much more easily as a directed acyclic graph.
Background:
Preservation of articular cartilage in the setting of acute or chronic injury in the adolescent and young adult knee is paramount for long-term joint health. Achieving osseous union, ...minimizing implant-related injury, and eliminating the need for reoperation for traumatic chondral and osteochondral lesions (OCLs) and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) remain a challenge for the orthopaedic surgeon.
Purpose:
To evaluate radiographic healing, patient-reported outcomes, and short-term complications after suture-bridge fixation of chondral fragments, osteochondral fractures, and OCD lesions in the knee.
Study Design:
Case series; Level of evidence, 4.
Methods:
The study included consecutive patients (38 patients, 40 knees) treated within a single academic sports medicine institution who underwent suture-bridge fixation of an OCL or an OCD lesion of the knee from initiation of the technique in October 2019 through March 2021. The suture-bridge technique entailed bioabsorbable knotless anchors placed on the outside margins of the lesion with multiple strands of hand-tensioned absorbable (No. 0 or No. 1 Vicryl) or nonabsorbable (1.3-mm braided polyester tape) bridging suture. Healing was assessed by radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with MRI scans obtained on all OCD lesions and any chondral-only lesions. MRI scans were available for 33 of 40 (82.5%) knees within 1 year of surgery and were evaluated for lesion healing. Complications and rates and timing of return to sport were evaluated. Patient-reported outcomes in the OCD cohort were evaluated with the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) to determine early pain and functional improvement.
Results:
In total, 33 (82.5%) lesions demonstrated full union, and no lesions failed treatment. MRI assessment of healing (mean, 5.8 months; range, 3-12 months) demonstrated 9 (64.3%) OCD lesions with full union, 5 (35.7%) OCD lesions with stable union, and no OCD lesions with nonunion. Of the OCLs, 17 (89.5%) had full union, 2 (10.5%) had stable union, and none had nonunion. The 7 bony OCLs without an MRI scan demonstrated complete radiographic union. In 30 (75.0%) lesions, patients returned to sports at a mean of 6.5 months (range, 3.8-10.2 months). KOOS Activities of Daily Living, Pain, Quality of Life, and Symptoms scores demonstrated significant improvement from baseline at 6 months and at 1 year. There were 2 (5%) complications, consisting of reoperation for marginal chondroplasty on an otherwise stable lesion, and re-operation for intial un-treated patellar instability, with no reoperations for failure or revision of the suture-bridge construct.
Conclusion:
In this series of OCLs and OCD lesions of the knee, suture-bridge fixation demonstrated excellent rates of MRI and radiographic union and good early outcomes with minimal short-term complications. This technique may be used for lesion salvage as an alternative to metallic and nonmetallic screw/tack constructs in the treatment of these challenging lesions. Longer term follow-up and investigation are warranted.
Abstract
Accurate prediction of physical alterations in carbonate reservoirs under dissolution is critical for development of subsurface energy technologies. The impact of mineral dissolution on flow ...characteristics depends on the connectivity and tortuosity of the pore network. Persistent homology is a tool from algebraic topology that describes the size and connectivity of topological features. When applied to 3D X‐ray computed tomography (XCT) imagery of rock cores, it provides a novel metric of pore network heterogeneity. Prior works have demonstrated the efficacy of persistent homology in predicting flow properties in numerical simulations of flow through porous media. Its ability to combine size, spatial distribution, and connectivity information make it a promising tool for understanding reactive transport in complex pore networks, yet limited work has been done to apply persistence analysis to experimental studies on natural rocks. In this study, three limestone cores were imaged by XCT before and after acid‐driven dissolution flow‐through experiments. Each XCT scan was analyzed using persistent homology. In all three rocks, permeability increase was driven by the growth of large, connected pore bodies. The two most homogenous samples saw an increased effect nearer to the flow inlet, suggesting emerging preferential flow paths as the reaction front progresses. The most heterogeneous sample showed an increase in along‐core homogeneity during reaction. Variability of persistence showed moderate positive correlation with pore body size increase. Persistence heterogeneity analysis could be used to anticipate where greatest pore size evolution may occur in a reservoir targeted for subsurface development, improving confidence in project viability.
Key Points
Persistent homology applied to 3D imagery provides detailed information about the size, connectivity, and heterogeneity of pore features
Permeability increase in dissolving carbonates due to growth of large, connected pore bodies with little intrusion into disconnected pores
Sample with highly heterogeneous pore size saw an increase in along‐core pore size homogeneity after reaction
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