Texas A&M University

Educational approaches to teach the 2017 periodontal classification to dental healthcare professionals: A scoping review

Abstract Background Diagnostic errors are a major concern, particularly when long‐standing diagnostic criteria are updated. Following the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri‐implant Diseases and Conditions, a new classification was released in 2018....

Protocol to study recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection in murine model with built-in colonization and contamination controls

Pre-colonization with endogenous murine Clostridioides difficile strains and cross-contamination between animals can compromise recurrent C. difficile infection (R-CDI) studies. We present a murine R-CDI protocol with built-in colonization and contamination controls. Mice receive...

From optimistic to overwhelmed: exploring health beliefs and barriers to oral anticancer medication adherence among cancer survivors

Abstract Purpose This study explored cancer survivors’ health beliefs about oral anticancer medications (OAMs) and examined how these beliefs influence adherence-related decision-making, while identifying barriers and strategies to support cancer management. Methods Twelve patien...

The cosmological constant problem: An accessible introduction

We present a pedagogical introduction to the cosmological constant problem that requires only basic knowledge of quantum field theory and general relativity. A massive real scalar field is used to illustrate how the quantum vacuum energy density and pressure can be calculated bot...

Improved specificity of a probe-based real-time PCR for the detection of Dirofilaria immitis in canine blood

Abstract Background Dirofilaria immitis is a vector-borne filarioid nematode distributed worldwide and endemic across most of North America. In dogs, it is considered the most important parasite and a known cause of acquired cardiomyopathy. Clinically, canine heartworm disease ca...

Curve fitting algorithm for multimodal particle size distributions – a theoretical basis

Abstract. Here we detail an open-source curve fitting algorithm for multimodal particle size distributions (MPSDs) and evaluate it against a ten-year dataset of ambient particle size distribution (PSD) measurements collected at Storm Peak Laboratory, a remote mountainous research...

“Nobody Wants to Die That Way”: The Intersection of Immigration Enforcement and Emergency Medical Services in a Rural South Texas County

Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of migration and immigration enforcement on this inland, rural community’s EMS clinicians and first responders. We conducted 13 in-depth interviews with emergency responders in a rural county in Texas. Interviews wer...

Restoration of oscillatory shear stress in humans activates an endothelial protective genetic program and prevents DVT

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. DVT clots typically form in the sinus of the deep venous valves and are strongly associated with immobility and reduced venous flow. Physical activity alters venous blood flow, gene...

The impact of work from home on urban expansion: a GIS simulation via an intelligent self-adapting multiscale agent-based model

Urban land use is increasingly shaped by evolving work modalities, particularly the rise of Work from Home (WFH) arrangements. This study introduces a hybrid Artificial Neural Network – Agent-Based Modeling (ANN – ABM) framework to simulate urban expansion under differentiated wo...

Dissociable Roles of Primary Motor and Supplementary Motor Cortex in Shaping the Neural Drive to Muscle

Abstract The primary motor cortex (M1) and supplementary motor area (SMA) are critical for motor execution and planning, yet their distinct causal contributions to modulating the neural drive to muscles remain incompletely understood. To dissociate their roles, we applied inhibit...

Perceptions of turnout gear fit and movement restrictions among firefighters of different gender, service type, and measurement status

To understand the factors contributing to ill-fitting gear, this study investigated user perceptions across firefighters of different gender, service type, and pre-sizing measurement status. A total of 345 firefighters (19.8% women, 34.8% volunteer firefighters, and 18.0% not mea...

Effects of excipient particle size range on the performance of selective laser sintered pharmaceutical printlets

This study investigates how the particle size range (PSR) of the polymeric component in a powder mixture affects the structural strength and drug release rate of additively manufactured pharmaceutical tablets (printlets). These printlets were fabricated via Selective Laser Sinter...

Gemfibrozil promotes longevity and health by restricting amino acid uptake through the Dipeptide transporter, PEPT1

The FDA-approved fibrate, gemfibrozil, has been used clinically to treat hyperlipidaemia, showing efficacy both in lowering triglycerides and increasing high-density lipoproteins. However, in recent years, the drug has been increasingly investigated for potential clinical use in...

Influence of pore fluid viscosity and fluid-clay interactions on the hydromechanical response of resedimented kaolinite

Abstract Understanding how pore fluid properties influence the hydromechanical behavior of clay-rich formations is essential for evaluating the performance and long-term stability of subsurface geoenergy systems, including caprock integrity, storage containment, and unconventiona...

Serotonin Transporterand Organic Cation Transporter3 Contribute to Basolateral Amygdala Serotonin Clearance and RecentFear Memory Recall

Abstract Converging evidence implicates dysregulation of serotonin in emotion-related psychiatric disorders. Leading pharmacotherapies for such disorders, including general anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorders, target the serotonin transporter (SERT); yet, selective seroton...

Examining smartphone-assessed executive function metrics and intrinsic resting-state functional connectivity in depression

<title>Abstract</title> Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common and costly mental health condition that is often associated with deficits in executive function. Smartphone applications (“apps”) have emerged as promising methods for assessing mental health-related outcomes in...

An orbifold framework for classifying layer groups with an application to knitted fabrics

Abstract Entangled structures, such as textiles and architected materials, are often doubly periodic. Owing to this property and their finite transverse thickness, the symmetries of these materials are described by the crystallographic layer groups. While orbifold notation provid...

Direct avirulence effector-receptor interaction confers wheat immunity against insects

Wheat immunity against the global pest Hessian fly operates on a gene-for-gene basis, yet molecular mechanisms underlying resistance-avirulence interactions have remained elusive for over five decades due to the absence of any cloned insect-resistance gene. Here, we cloned the H1...

Delivering building demand flexibility for grid-interactive operation: from perception and cognition to decision, execution, and verification

As both buildings and power systems undergo rapid decarbonization, demand flexibility (DF) in buildings has emerged as a key enabler for renewable energy integration, grid reliability, energy resilience, and efficient and low carbon operation. By dynamically adjusting building en...

Structure-based TCR-pMHC binding prediction and generalization to unseen peptides

Abstract The interaction between T-cell receptors (TCRs) with the peptide-bound major histocompatibility complex (MHC) intricately impacts the functional specificity of T-cell-mediated adaptive immune response. Consequently, implication in immunotherapy has contributed to the eve...