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This music score was submitted for Resonate 2024: An Open Access Call for Scores by the UCLA Music Library with Bent Frequency and Jan Berry Baker.

The clinical management of coronary artery disease and the prevention of acute coronary syndromes require knowledge of the underlying atherosclerotic plaque pathobiology. Hybrid imaging modalities capable of comprehensive assessment of biochemical and morphological plaques features can address this need. Here we report the first implementation of an intravascular catheter system combining fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) with polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PSOCT). This system provides multi-scale assessment of plaque structure and composition via high spatial resolution morphology from OCT, polarimetry-derived tissue microstructure, and biochemical composition from FLIm, without requiring any molecular contrast agent. This result was achieved with a low profile (2.7 Fr) double-clad fiber (DCF) catheter and high speed (100 fps B-scan rate, 40 mm/s pullback speed) console. Use of a DCF and broadband rotary junction required extensive optimization to mitigate the reduction in OCT performance originating from additional reflections and multipath artifacts. This challenge was addressed by the development of a broad-band (UV-visible-IR), high return loss (47 dB) rotary junction. We demonstrate in phantoms, ex vivo swine coronary specimens and in vivo swine heart (percutaneous coronary access) that the FLIm-PSOCT catheter system can simultaneously acquire co-registered FLIm data over four distinct spectral bands (380/20 nm, 400/20 nm, 452/45 nm, 540/45 nm) and PSOCT backscattered intensity, birefringence, and depolarization. The unique ability to collect complementary information from tissue (e.g., morphology, extracellular matrix composition, inflammation) with a device suitable for percutaneous coronary intervention offers new opportunities for cardiovascular research and clinical diagnosis.

Food insecurity is a major threat to global public health and sustainable development. As of 2022, 2.4 billion people worldwide experienced moderate to severe food insecurity. The occurrence and severity of food insecurity can depend greatly on power and social hierarchies, with women and girls often being less food secure than men and boys even within the same household. Moreover, social roles, such as the socialization of a mother to feed her children, impact food insecurity and its consequences. This study aims to uncover the relationships between food insecurity and mental health for women in the Chitwan Valley of Nepal. Utilizing longitudinal data from the Chitwan Valley Family Study, we connect food security data from 2015 with mental health data collected from 2016 to 2018. We find that women have a higher prevalence of major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic attacks than men, especially if they are experiencing food insecurity. Among women, we find that those who have recently experienced severe food insecurity have a significantly higher likelihood of meeting diagnostic criteria for generalized anxiety disorder and panic attacks than food-secure women. However, women's food insecurity is not significantly correlated with major depressive disorder. Moreover, we find that food insecurity is likely to co-occur with women's agricultural and wage work. These findings suggest a need for gender-attentive policy and programs accounting for both causes and consequences of food insecurity.

Abstract In partial onset epilepsy, seizures arise focally in the brain and often propagate. Patients frequently become refractory to medical management, leaving neurosurgery, which can cause neurologic deficits, as a primary treatment. In the cortex, focal seizures spread through horizontal connections in layers II/III, suggesting that severing these connections can block seizures while preserving function. Focal neocortical epilepsy is induced in mice, sub‐surface cuts are created surrounding the seizure focus using tightly‐focused femtosecond laser pulses, and electrophysiological recordings are acquired at multiple locations for 3–12 months. Cuts reduced seizure frequency in most animals by 87%, and only 5% of remaining seizures propagated to the distant electrodes, compared to 80% in control animals. These cuts produced a modest decrease in cortical blood flow that recovered and left a ≈20‐µm wide scar with minimal collateral damage. When placed over the motor cortex, cuts do not cause notable deficits in a skilled reaching task, suggesting they hold promise as a novel neurosurgical approach for intractable focal cortical epilepsy.

Adherens junctions (AJs) create spatially, chemically and mechanically discrete microdomains at cellular interfaces. Here, using a mechanogenetic platform that generates artificial AJs with controlled protein localization, clustering and mechanical loading, we find that AJs also organize proteolytic hotspots for γ-secretase with a spatially regulated substrate selectivity that is critical in the processing of Notch and other transmembrane proteins. Membrane microdomains outside of AJs exclusively organize Notch ligand-receptor engagement (LRE microdomains) to initiate receptor activation. Conversely, membrane microdomains within AJs exclusively serve to coordinate regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP microdomains). They do so by concentrating γ-secretase and primed receptors while excluding full-length Notch. AJs induce these functionally distinct microdomains by means of lipid-dependent γ-secretase recruitment and size-dependent protein segregation. By excluding full-length Notch from RIP microdomains, AJs prevent inappropriate enzyme-substrate interactions and suppress spurious Notch activation. Ligand-induced ectodomain shedding eliminates size-dependent segregation, releasing Notch to translocate into AJs for processing by γ-secretase. This mechanism directs radial differentiation of ventricular zone-neural progenitor cells in vivo and more broadly regulates the proteolysis of other large cell-surface receptors such as amyloid precursor protein. These findings suggest an unprecedented role of AJs in creating size-selective spatial switches that choreograph γ-secretase processing of multiple transmembrane proteins regulating development, homeostasis and disease.

Abstract In the context of continuous emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), one strategy to prevent the severe outcomes of COVID-19 is developing safe and effective broad-spectrum vaccines. Here, we present preclinical studies of a RBD vaccine derived from the Gamma SARS-CoV-2 variant adjuvanted with Alum. The Gamma-adapted RBD vaccine is more immunogenic than the Ancestral RBD vaccine in terms of inducing broader neutralizing antibodies. The Gamma RBD presents more immunogenic B-cell restricted epitopes and induces a higher proportion of specific-B cells and plasmablasts than the Ancestral RBD version. The Gamma-adapted vaccine induces antigen specific T cell immune responses and confers protection against Ancestral and Omicron BA.5 SARS-CoV-2 challenge in mice. Moreover, the Gamma RBD vaccine induces higher and broader neutralizing antibody activity than homologous booster vaccination in mice previously primed with different SARS-CoV-2 vaccine platforms. Our study indicates that the adjuvanted Gamma RBD vaccine is highly immunogenic and a broad-spectrum vaccine candidate.

Documented natural infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in exotic and companion animals following human exposures are uncommon. Those documented in animals are typically mild and self-limiting, and infected animals have only infrequently died or been euthanized. Through a coordinated One Health initiative, necropsies were conducted on 5 animals from different premises that were exposed to humans with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The combination of epidemiologic evidence of exposure and confirmatory real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction testing confirmed infection in 3 cats and a tiger. A dog was a suspect case based on epidemiologic evidence of exposure but tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Four animals had respiratory clinical signs that developed 2 to 12 days after exposure. The dog had bronchointerstitial pneumonia and the tiger had bronchopneumonia; both had syncytial-like cells with no detection of SARS-CoV-2. Individual findings in the 3 cats included metastatic mammary carcinoma, congenital renal disease, and myocardial disease. Based on the necropsy findings and a standardized algorithm, SARS-CoV-2 infection was not considered the cause of death in any of the cases. Continued surveillance and necropsy examination of animals with fatal outcomes will further our understanding of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals and the potential role of the virus in development of lesions.

Instructors often encounter challenges in the implementation of evidence-based teaching practices in large-enrollment STEM courses. A novel Instructional-Teams Model (I-TM) seeks to address some of these challenges with the support of student assistants in specialized roles. I-TM roles focus on supporting course and classroom management (instructional managers), formative assessment (learning researchers), and student engagement (learning assistants, who are already a common feature of many large-enrollment STEM courses). We analyzed benefits and challenges in teaching with this model as expressed by participating instructors. Our results support the utility of the I-TM for implementing evidence-based, active-learning instruction in large-enrollment STEM courses.

ObjectiveTo determine if a single brain biopsy utilizing a freeze-core needle harvest system Cassi II under ultrasound guidance provides a diagnostic sample; to evaluate the technique's efficacy in procuring diagnostic samples in comparison with “open” surgical biopsies; and to describe intraoperative complications associated with the technique.Study designExperimental clinical study.AnimalsSeventeen dogs and four cats with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnoses of readily surgically accessible intracranial masses.MethodsImmediately prior to surgical biopsy (SB), freeze-core biopsy (FCB) sample was obtained from each patient under ultrasound guidance.ResultsHistopathology results from single FCB samples were found to be in 100% agreement with the SB samples. Freezing artifact was minimal and did not interfere with histopathologic interpretation. There were no intraoperative complications specifically attributable to the use of the FCB system.ConclusionBased on the results of this small experimental study, the FCB system is expected to safely yield diagnostic quality intracranial masses biopsy specimens.Clinical significanceThis system has the potential of obtaining diagnostic biopsies of more deeply seated brain lesions (i.e., intra-axial tumors considered inaccessible or with large risks/difficulties by standard surgical means) which would provide a definitive diagnosis to guide appropriate therapy.

The City of Wichita Falls (CWF) Cypress Environmental Laboratory (CEL) established an integrated monitoring program in response to extreme taste and odor (T&O) events in 2016. The program uses field monitoring with sondes, sensory analysis to describe types of odors, water quality bench testing, algae/cyanobacteria identification and enumeration by flow-imaging microscopy, actinomycetes culturing, T&O detection by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), cyanotoxin screening by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and cyanotoxin detection by fluorometry. To date, the CEL had detected 16 T&O events prior to finished tap being discharged to the distribution system. This has allowed utility staff to take proactive measures to mitigate events, which has virtually eliminated consumer T&O complaints. This article provides a brief history of T&O analysis, means to monitor and mitigate blooms, T&O compounds, and cyanotoxins, and measures the effectiveness of the CEL's monitoring program by evaluating each T&O event, and specifically geosmin. HIGHLIGHTS Poor water quality aesthetics undermine consumer confidence.; An integrated approach to monitoring is the key to providing the most complete water quality understanding.; Sensory analysis cannot be replaced by analytical techniques.; Monitoring programs should be consistently evaluated and updated.; Integrated monitoring programs can effectively reduce customer complaints.;

The City of Wichita Falls’ Cypress Environmental Laboratory developed a comprehensive taste and odor (T&O) monitoring program to identify T&O compounds, their point of origin, and how to mitigate each T&O event to lessen its impact and maintain consumer confidence. In January 2023, a T&O compound was detected in the water system using sensory analysis with a threshold odor number (TON) of 3, guiding further analytical testing to identify for musty compounds. The unknown was confirmed to be 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (2,4,6-TBA) at a maximum of 9.86 ng/L. Its point of origin for production was tracked to a raw water line using chlorine dioxide as a primary disinfectant. Jar tests were performed to confirm that the mode of production was excess free chlorine from the generation of chlorine dioxide in the presence of bromide in raw water. The event was mitigated using powdered activated carbon in clarifiers to adsorb and settle out the compound, resulting in a non-detectable level (a TON of 1 and

The UNC-Greensboro Speaking Center (SC) acknowledges the growing impact of social media as a means of sharing information, connecting with stakeholders, and fostering a community of practice. In this study, we review the history of social media integration into our center. After securing a presence primarily on multiple platforms, we shifted our focus away from using social media solely for information dissemination to promote social connections and relationships. In our latest digital project during the summer of 2019, we launched a new social media campaign with the goal of promoting our center to incoming freshmen. Through acknowledging our progress, our center plans to continue increasing our social media presence as we believe these platforms remain prospective interpersonal resources.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to systematically investigate whether plaque autofluorescence properties assessed with intravascular fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIm) can provide qualitative and quantitative information about intimal composition and improve the characterization of atherosclerosis lesions.BackgroundDespite advances in cardiovascular diagnostics, the analytic tools and imaging technologies currently available have limited capabilities for evaluating in situ biochemical changes associated with luminal surface features. Earlier studies of small number of samples have shown differences among the autofluorescence lifetime signature of well-defined lesions, but a systematic pixel-level evaluation of fluorescence signatures associated with various histological features is lacking and needed to better understand the origins of fluorescence contrast.MethodsHuman coronary artery segments (n = 32) were analyzed with a bimodal catheter system combining multispectral FLIm with intravascular ultrasonography compatible with in vivo coronary imaging. Various histological components present along the luminal surface (200-μm depth) were systematically tabulated (12 sectors) from each serial histological section (n = 204). Morphological information provided by ultrasonography allowed for the accurate registration of imaging data with histology data. The relationships between histological findings and FLIm parameters obtained from 3 spectral channels at each measurement location (n = 33,980) were characterized.ResultsOur findings indicate that fluorescence lifetime from different spectral bands can be used to quantitatively predict the superficial presence of macrophage foam cells (mFCs) (area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve: 0.94) and extracellular lipid content in advanced lesions (lifetime increase in 540-nm band), detect superficial calcium (lifetime decrease in 450-nm band area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve: 0.90), and possibly detect lesions consistent with active plaque formation such as pathological intimal thickening and healed thrombus regions (lifetime increase in 390-nm band).ConclusionsOur findings indicate that autofluorescence lifetime provides valuable information for characterizing atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries. Specifically, FLIm can be used to identify key phenomena linked with plaque progression (e.g., peroxidized-lipid-rich mFC accumulation and recent plaque formation).

Limited access to undergraduate research experiences for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics students has led to creation of classroom-based opportunities for students to participate in authentic science. Revising laboratory courses to engage students in the practices of science has been shown to have many benefits for students. However, the instructor's role in successful implementation of authentic-inquiry curricula requires further investigation. Previous work has demonstrated that navigating an instructional role within the open-ended format of an inquiry curriculum is challenging for instructors. Little is known about effective strategies for supporting students in authentic scientific practices. To address this challenge, we investigated instructors with prior experience teaching Authentic Inquiry through Modeling in Biology (AIM-Bio) in order to reveal strategies that are likely to help students succeed in this context. We took a unique approach that uncovered how instructors supported students and how they intended to support students in the scientific practices of modeling and experimental design. Analysis included in vivo recordings of instructor-student interactions paired with instructor interviews over the course of a semester. Findings detail the ways in which instructors flexibly responded to students through their in-the-moment actions. Additionally, the instructor intentions provided crucial explanatory power to explain the rationale behind teaching choices made.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

Summary: Droplet-based single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) data are plagued by ambient contaminations caused by nucleic acid material released by dead and dying cells. This material is mixed into the buffer and is co-encapsulated with cells, leading to a lower signal-to-noise ratio. Although there exist computational methods to remove ambient contaminations post-hoc, the reliability of algorithms in generating high-quality data from low-quality sources remains uncertain. Here, we assess data quality before data filtering by a set of quantitative, contamination-based metrics that assess data quality more effectively than standard metrics. Through a series of controlled experiments, we report improvements that can minimize ambient contamination outside of tissue dissociation, via cell fixation, improved cell loading, microfluidic dilution, and nuclei versus cell preparation; many of these parameters are inaccessible on commercial platforms. We provide end-users with insights on factors that can guide their decision-making regarding optimizations that minimize ambient contamination, and metrics to assess data quality.