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The U.S. psychology workforce is considerably less diverse than the population that it serves. While several recruitment and admission practices are effective for diversifying psychology training programs, upstream recruitment of underrepresented candidates is particularly promising. Aiming to diversify the clinical psychology graduate program applicant pool, the Student Training Equity Project (STEP) was developed to promote and evaluate upstream recruitment of undergraduate students of color interested in psychology graduate studies. This study used a mixed-method design to evaluate immediate outcomes for three STEP programmatic strategies. Survey results suggest that STEP networking events were associated with undergraduate research and mentorship opportunities. Findings suggest that STEP funding supported students in producing research products (e.g., manuscripts) that might bolster graduate application materials. STEP website engagement data showed over 1,000 views per year, and highlighted ways to improve outreach. More controlled evaluation is needed to determine whether STEP contributed to diversification of the applicant pool.

IntroductionThe innate immune response is an important first checkpoint in the evolution of an infection. Although adaptive immunity is generally considered the immune component that retains antigenic memory, innate immune responses can also be affected by previous stimulations. This study evaluated the impact of vaccination on innate cell activation by TLR7/8 agonist R848, as well as seasonal variations.MethodsTo this end, blood samples from a cohort of 304 food and retail workers from the Quebec City region were collected during three visits at 12-week intervals. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear neutrophils were isolated during the first and third visits and were stimulated with R848 to assess the innate immune response.ResultsOur results show that IL-8 production after stimulation decreased after vaccination. In addition, the IL-8 response was significantly different depending on the season when the visit occurred, for both COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.DiscussionThis study highlights that innate immune responses can be affected by SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and fluctuate seasonally.

Ping Du,1 Tiffany Cristarella,2 Camille Goyer,2 Yola Moride2,3 1Global Evidence and Outcomes, Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA; 2YolaRX Consultants Inc., Montreal, QC, Canada; 3Center for Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USACorrespondence: Ping Du, Email pd7561@gmail.comAbstract: Congenital (cTTP) and immune-mediated (iTTP) thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura are serious and rare clotting disorders resulting from a deficiency in the ADAMTS13 enzyme. A systematic review was conducted using the Ovid® MEDLINE & Embase databases to synthesize the epidemiology and burden of cTTP and iTTP worldwide (from January 1, 2010, to February 6, 2020, with an update that covered the period January 1, 2020–February 11, 2022). Outcomes of interest were incidence and prevalence of TTP, incidence of acute episodes, mortality, burden of illness (eg complications, healthcare utilization, patient-reported outcomes) and disease management. A total of 221 eligible observational studies were included. The incidence rate of acute episodes ranged from 0.19– 0.35 person-years in adult patients with cTTP, and 1.81– 3.93 per million persons per year for iTTP in the general population. Triggers of acute episodes were similar for cTTP and iTTP, with pregnancy and infection the most commonly observed. Exacerbation in patients with iTTP varied widely, ranging from 2.4– 63.1%. All-cause mortality was observed in 0– 13.4% of patients with cTTP, across studies and follow-up periods, and in 1.1% (median follow-up: 0.4 years) to 18.8% (1 year) of patients with iTTP during acute episodes. Cardiovascular, renal, and neurological disease were common complications. TTP also led to work disturbances, feelings of anxiety and depression, and general activity impairment. TTP treatment regimens used were generally reflective of current treatment guidelines. The evidence identified describes a high patient burden, highlighting the need for effective treatment regimens leading to improvements in outcomes. Considerable evidence gaps exist, particularly for disease epidemiology, patient-reported outcomes, costs of disease management, and associated healthcare resource utilization. This review may help increase disease awareness and highlights the need for additional real-world studies, particularly in geographical regions outside the United States and Western Europe.Keywords: thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, epidemiology, burden of illness, disease management, patient-reported outcomes, ADAMTS13

Potatoes are a globally significant food crop, valued not only for their caloric content but also for their significant contribution to vital nutrients for human health, such as vitamins, amino acids, and phenolic compounds. The chemical composition of potatoes—including ascorbic acid (a.k.a. vitamin C), tyrosine, chlorogenic acid, tryptophan, phenylalanine, protein, and thiamine (a.k.a. vitamin B1)—is highly influenced by nutrient management. However, the impact of potassium (K) fertilizer rates on potato quality remains largely unknown. Conducted over two years in Idaho and Oregon, this study investigates how K fertilization and cultivar impact the biochemical composition of potato tubers. Results showed that ascorbic acid content was higher in tubers grown in Idaho, especially in the cultivar Clearwater Russet, with a significant increase observed at the highest K fertilizer rate (896 kg ha−1). Tyrosine levels were largely influenced by cultivar, with Russet Burbank exhibiting substantially higher content, while K fertilization generally reduced tyrosine levels. Chlorogenic acid content was also higher in Idaho-grown tubers, while tryptophan and phenylalanine contents were notably higher in Russet Burbank, with tryptophan levels peaking in Oregon-grown tubers. The protein content of tubers was 23 % higher in 2020 compared to 2021, and on average, Russet Burbank had approximately 13 % higher protein content than Clearwater Russet. Thiamine content varied significantly between years, with a marked increase observed in 2021. These findings underscore the crucial role of environmental conditions, genetic factors, and nutrient management on the nutritional quality of potato tubers, offering valuable insights for optimizing crop production.

Suspensions remove students from the learning environment at high rates throughout the United States. Policy and theory highlight social groups that face disproportionately high suspension rates-racial-minoritized students, students with a prior suspension, and students with disabilities. We used an active placebo-controlled, longitudinal field experiment (Nteachers = 66, Nstudents = 5822) to test a scalable "empathic-mindset" intervention, a 45- to 70-min online exercise to refocus middle school teachers on understanding and valuing the perspectives of students and on sustaining positive relationships even when students misbehave. In preregistered analyses, this exercise reduced suspension rates especially for Black and Hispanic students, cutting the racial disparity over the school year from 10.6 to 5.9 percentage points, a 45% reduction. Significant reductions were also observed for other groups of concern. Moreover, reductions persisted through the next year when students interacted with different teachers, suggesting that empathic treatment with even one teacher in a critical period can improve students' trajectories through school.

This article presents a portrait of sexual violence on university campuses (SVUC) at six universities in Québec (Canada) and explores differences and similarities in the experiences of students, professors and employees. Data are drawn from the "Enquête Sexualité, Sécurité et Interactions en Milieu Universitaire" (ESSIMU). They reveal disturbing rates of SVUC among students (36.2%), professors (38.8%) and employees (38.7%). The results show that the hierarchical status of perpetrators was higher than that of victims for a significant proportion of professors (33%) and employees (50.7%). When asked about the type of assistance they would want in the event of SVUC, the majority of students, professors and employees affirmed they would want support during the reporting/complaint process, information about available recourse within the university to report the incident, and psychological support provided by a resource outside the university.

As the field of public health rises to the demands of real-time surveillance and rapid data-sharing needs in a postpandemic world, it is time to examine our approaches to the dissemination and accessibility of such data. Distinct challenges exist when working to develop a shared public health language and narratives based on data. It requires that we assess our understanding of public health data literacy, revisit our approach to communication and engagement, and continuously evaluate our impact and relevance. Key stakeholders and cocreators are critical to this process and include people with lived experience, community organizations, governmental partners, and research institutions. In this viewpoint paper, we offer an instructive approach to the tools we used, assessed, and adapted across 3 unique overdose data dashboard projects in Rhode Island, United States. We are calling this model the “Rhode Island Approach to Public Health Data Literacy, Partnerships, and Action.” This approach reflects the iterative lessons learned about the improvement of data dashboards through collaboration and strong partnerships across community members, state agencies, and an academic research team. We will highlight key tools and approaches that are accessible and engaging and allow developers and stakeholders to self-assess their goals for their data dashboards and evaluate engagement with these tools by their desired audiences and users.

Background: The dominant perspective in society is that stress has negative consequences, and not surprisingly, the vast majority of interventions for coping with stress focus on reducing the frequency or severity of stressors. However, the effectiveness of stress attenuation is limited because it is often not possible to avoid stressors, and avoiding or minimizing stress can lead individuals to miss opportunities for performance and growth. Thus, during stressful situations, a more efficacious approach is to optimize stress responses (i.e., promote adaptive, approach-motivated responses). Objectives and Conclusions: In this review, we demonstrate how stress appraisals (e.g., [Jamieson, J. P., Nock, M. K., & Mendes, W. B. (2012). "Mind over matter: reappraising arousal improves cardiovascular and cognitive responses to stress." "Journal of Experimental Psychology: General," 141(3), 417-422. doi:10.1037/a0025719]) and stress mindsets (e.g., [Crum, A. J., Salovey, P., & Achor, S. (2013). "Rethinking stress: The role of mindsets in determining the stress response." "Journal of Personality and Social Psychology," 104(4), 716-733. doi:10.1037/a0031201]) can be used as regulatory tools to optimize stress responses, facilitate performance, and promote active coping. Respectively, these interventions invite individuals to (a) perceive stress responses as functional and adaptive, and (b) see the opportunity inherent in stress. We then propose a novel integration of reappraisal and mindset models to maximize the utility and effectiveness of stress optimization. Additionally, we discuss future directions with regard to how stress responses unfold over time and between people to impact outcomes in the domains of education, organizations, and clinical science.

The risk of aberrant growth of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cells in response to DNA damage is a potential concern as the tumor suppressor genes TP53 and CDKN2A are transiently inactivated during reprogramming. Herein, we evaluate the integrity of cellular senescence pathways and DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair in Sendai virus reprogrammed iPSC-derived human fibroblasts (i-HF) compared to their parental skin fibroblasts (HF). Using transcriptomics analysis and a variety of functional assays, we show that the capacity of i-HF to enter senescence and repair DSB is not compromised after damage induced by ionizing radiation (IR) or the overexpression of H-RASV12. Still, i-HF lines are transcriptionally different from their parental lines, showing enhanced metabolic activity and higher expression of p53-related effector genes. As a result, i-HF lines generally exhibit increased sensitivity to various stresses, have an elevated senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), and cannot be immortalized unless p53 expression is knocked down. In conclusion, while our results suggest that i-HF are not at a greater risk of transformation, their overall hyperactivation of senescence pathways may impede their function as a cell therapy product.

Research with community samples suggests that non-affective features of families, such as the amount of time parents and adolescents spend together, affect depressive symptoms in adolescents. It is possible, however, that spending time with parents not only protects against the onset of depressive symptoms, but also reduces symptoms in adolescents who are already depressed. The current study was designed to test this formulation while also examining whether affective dimensions of family functioning - specifically parental warmth - accounted for or moderated observed associations. Finally, we tested the reverse direction of the associations, examining whether greater severity of depression in adolescents results in parents spending less time with them. Forty-one adolescents (ages 14 to 17 years) who met criteria for a current major depressive episode participated in the present study with one parent. Once each month for six time points, dyads completed reports of depressive symptoms and the amount of time parents and adolescents spent with each other. Participants also completed measures of parental warmth. Results of lagged multilevel modeling indicated that spending more time with a parent predicted fewer depressive symptoms in adolescents at the following assessment relative to their mean; in contrast, greater severity of depressive symptoms did not predict spending less time with a parent at the following assessment. In contrast, parental warmth did not account for or moderate the association between time together and depressive symptoms. These results suggest that non-affective dimensions of family life, specifically spending more time with parents, have beneficial effects on depressive symptoms in adolescents diagnosed with depression.

Background: Obesity is a serious public health concern, challenging health professionals worldwide. Women with obesity have an increased risk of triggering psychological disorders, due to the weight stigma. Stigmatization of weight-related health correlates with behavior and contributes to a vicious cycle of obesogenic processes. Objective: Our objective is to analyze the association between the presence of mental suffering, risk of mental disorders, and eating behaviors in lean, overweight, and obese women. Methods: A total of 169 adult women aged between 20 and 39 years were included, and participants signed the informed consent, answered a questionnaire on eating habits, the Self Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20), the Scale of Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS-21), and the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire—R21 (TFEQ-R21). Results: The presence of mental suffering was higher in the lean group (26.9%) compared to the overweight and obese group (57.8%). The overweight and obese group had significantly higher scores for the SRQ, DASS, and TFEQ-R21 (p = 0.001 for all analyses), except when evaluating cognitive restraint. Several correlations among scores were found and summarized. There was no significant effect of body mass index on emotional eating, albeit body mass index exerts effects on the DASS score and on binge eating behavior, both of which present mediation effects on emotional eating. Conclusions: These results support the connection between mental health status and the presence of overweight and obesity and emphasize that mental health risks also need specific targeting in public policy.

Different housing initiatives, policies and programs favouring or impacting social mix at the neighbourhood level exist in Canadian cities, including in the city of Montreal. Social mix was (and still is) part of the political discourse along with local planning practices as a means of including the most deprived and marginalized populations within the urban space through social housing. With the aim of developing a more inclusive city, the local administration has recently adopted an inclusionary zoning by-law which was received positively by scholars and housing advocates, although the considerable criticism for its limited scope. Inspired by a constructivist analysis of public and social policies and based on a study of collective identity of housing groups using document analysis, the goal of this paper is to explore how urban social movements evaluate this housing policy, and how, despite the policy objective of inclusiveness, it cannot satisfactorily address core housing needs of disadvantaged populations. Keywords: housing, inclusionary zoning, collective action, Montreal Différents programmes, politiques et initiatives de logement favorisant ou influençant la mixité sociale à l'échelle des quartiers existent dans les villes canadiennes, y compris à Montréal. La mixité sociale a fait (et fait) partie du discours politique et des pratiques de planification locales comme moyen d'inclure les populations les plus défavorisées et marginalisées grâce au logement social. Dans le but de développer une ville plus inclusive, l'administration locale a récemment adopté un nouveau règlement de zonage d'inclusion qui a été reçu positivement par les universitaires et les groupes de défense du logement, malgré les nombreuses critiques en raison de sa portée limitée. Inspiré d'une analyse constructiviste des politiques publiques et sociales et basé sur une étude de l'identité collective des groupes de défense du logement à l'aide d'une recherche documentaire, cet article explore comment les mouvements sociaux urbains évaluent cette politique du logement et comment, malgré des objectifs de mixité sociale, le règlement ne peut pas répondre de manière satisfaisante aux besoins en logement des populations défavorisées. Mots-clés : logement, zonage d'inclusion, action collective, Montréal, Introduction Throughout the 20th century, social mix was the object of various studies and was embodied in urban planning practices. It was and still is seen as a counterweight to [...]

Abstract Background The dual COVID-19 and overdose emergencies amplified strain on healthcare systems tasked with responding to both. One downstream consequence of the pandemic in the USA and Canada was a surge in drug overdoses resulting from public health-restricted access to services and an increasingly toxic unregulated drug supply. This study aimed to describe changes implemented by programs prescribing pharmaceutical alternatives to the drug supply during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods An environmental scan used surveys and qualitative interviews with service providers across Canada to examine pharmaceutical alternative prescribing practices and programs before and during the pandemic. This study summarized the nature, frequency, and reasons for pandemic-driven service delivery changes using directed content analysis, counts, and thematic analysis. Results Eighty-two of the 103 participating sites reported 1193 unique changes in physical space (368), client protocols (347), program operations (342), ancillary services (127), and staffing (90). Four qualitative themes describing the reasons for these changes emerged, namely (1) decreasing risk of COVID-19 infection; (2) decreasing risk of overdose; (3) prioritizing acute care of COVID-19 patients; and (4) improving client access to treatment. Conclusions While most changes were aimed at decreasing risk of COVID-19 infection, some were found to be at odds with the measures needed to combat the overdose crisis; others met dual objectives of decreased risk of both overdose and infection. Further research should examine which changes should be kept or reversed once COVID-19-related public health measures are lifted.

Introduction: The innate immune response is an important first checkpoint in the evolution of an infection. Although adaptive immunity is generally considered the immune component that retains antigenic memory, innate immune responses can also be affected by previous stimulations. This study evaluated the impact of vaccination on innate cell activation by TLR7/8 agonist R848, as well as seasonal variations. Methods: To this end, blood samples from a cohort of 304 food and retail workers from the Quebec City region were collected during three visits at 12-week intervals. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear neutrophils were isolated during the first and third visits and were stimulated with R848 to assess the innate immune response. Results: Our results show that IL-8 production after stimulation decreased after vaccination. In addition, the IL-8 response was significantly different depending on the season when the visit occurred, for both COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Discussion: This study highlights that innate immune responses can be affected by SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and fluctuate seasonally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of probiotics in reducing the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis has been supported by a very large number of studies. However, the utilization of probiotics in preterm infants remains a topic of debate. This study aims to assess the rate of probiotic use in European neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), compare administration protocols, and identify barriers and concerns associated with probiotic use. An online questionnaire was distributed via email to European NICUs between October 2020 and June 2021. Different questions related to the frequency of probiotic use were proposed. Data on probiotic administration protocols and reasons for non-utilization were collected. The majority of responses were from France and Switzerland, with response rates of 85% and 89%, respectively. A total of 21% of French NICUs and 100% of Swiss NICUs reported routine probiotic use. There was significant heterogeneity in probiotic administration protocols, including variations in probiotic strains, administration, and treatment duration. The main obstacles to routine probiotic use were the absence of recommendations, lack of consensus on strain selection, insufficient scientific evidence, and concerns regarding potential adverse effects. The rate of routine probiotic administration remains low in European NICUs, with heterogeneity among protocols. Further trials are necessary to elucidate optimal treatment modalities and ensure safety of administration.

Abstract Background Opioid use is escalating in North America and comes with a multitude of health consequences, including HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) outbreaks among persons who inject drugs (PWID). HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and HCV treatment regimens have transformative potential to address these co-occurring epidemics. Evaluation of innovative multi-modal approaches, integrating harm reduction, opioid agonist therapy (OAT), PrEP, and HCV treatment is required. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of an on-site integrated care model where delivery of PrEP and HCV treatment for PWID takes places at syringe service programs (SSP) and OAT programs compared with referring PWID to clinical services in the community through a patient navigation model and to examine how structural factors interact with HIV prevention adherence and HCV treatment outcomes. Methods The Miami-Montreal Hepatitis C and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis trial (M2HepPrEP) is an open-label, multi-site, multi-center, randomized, controlled, superiority trial with two parallel treatment arms. A total of 500 persons who injected drugs in the prior 6 months and are eligible for PrEP will be recruited in OAT clinics and SSP in Miami, FL, and Montréal, Québec. Participants will be randomized to either on-site care, with adherence counseling, or referral to off-site clinics assisted by a patient navigator. PrEP will be offered to all participants and HCV treatment to those HCV-infected. Co-primary endpoints will be (1) adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis medication at 6 months post-randomization and (2) HCV sustained virological response (SVR) 12 weeks post-treatment completion among participants who were randomized within the HCV stratum. Up to 100 participants will be invited to participate in a semi-structured interview regarding perceptions of adherence barriers and facilitators, after their 6-month assessment. A simulation model-based cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed to determine the comparative value of the strategies being evaluated. Discussion The results of this study have the potential to demonstrate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of offering PrEP and HCV treatment in healthcare venues frequently attended by PWID. Testing the intervention in two urban centers with high disease burden among PWID, but with different healthcare system dynamics, will increase generalizability of findings. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03981445 . Trial registry name: Integrated HIV Prevention and HCV Care for PWID (M2HepPrEP). Registration date: June 10, 201.

Abstract Background The principles for maintenance intravenous fluid prescription in children were developed in the 1950s. These guidelines based on the use of hypotonic solutions have been challenged regularly for they seem to be associated with an increased risk of hospital-acquired hyponatremia. Case presentation We report the case of a 4-week-old Caucasian child admitted for acute bronchiolitis who received hypotonic maintenance fluids and developed severe hyponatremia (94 mmol/L) with hyponatremic encephalopathy. Conclusion This clinical situation can serve as a reminder of the latest recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding the use of intravenous fluids that promote the use of isotonic fluids in children.

Plant non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are small proteins capable of transferring phospholipids between membranes and binding non-specifically fatty acids in vitro. They constitute large gene families in plants, e.g., 83 in potato (Solanum tuberosum). Despite their recognition decades ago, very few have been functionally characterized. Here, we set out to better understand the function of one of the potato members, StnsLTPI.33. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we show that StnsLTPI.33 is expressed throughout the potato plant, but at relatively higher levels in roots and leaves compared to petals, anthers, and the ovary. We also show that ectopically-expressed StnsLTPI.33 fused to green fluorescent protein colocalized with an apoplastic marker in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, indicating that StnsLTPI.33 is targeted to the apoplast. Constitutive overexpression of the StnsLTPI.33 gene in potato led to increased levels of superoxide anions and reduced plant growth, particularly under salt stress conditions, and enhanced susceptibility to Alternaria solani. In addition, StnsLTPI.33-overexpressing plants had a depleted leaf pool of pipecolic acid, threonic acid, and glycine, while they accumulated putrescine. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an nsLTP that is associated with enhanced susceptibility to a pathogen in potato.

Abstract Background High-dose vitamin C is increasingly used for sepsis and more recently for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections. Proponents argue that the low cost and near perfect safety profile of vitamin C support its early adoption. Yet, adverse events might be underreported and underappreciated. Case presentation We report a 73-year-old non-diabetic white man with end-stage renal disease on peritoneal dialysis admitted to the intensive care unit with septic shock that was suspected to be due to peritonitis. The patient was enrolled in LOVIT (Lessening Organ Dysfunction with VITamin C; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03680274), a randomized placebo-controlled trial of high-dose intravenous vitamin C. He developed factitious hyperglycemia, as measured with a point-of-care glucometer, that persisted for 6 days after discontinuation of the study drug, confirmed to be vitamin C after unblinding. He also had short-lived iatrogenic coma because of hypoglycemia secondary to insulin administration. These events triggered a protocol amendment. Conclusions Although factitious hyperglycemia has been reported before using certain glucometers in patients treated with high-dose vitamin C, the persistence of this phenomenon for 6 days after the discontinuation of the therapy is a distinguishing feature. This case highlights the importance of monitoring glucose with a core laboratory assay for up to a week in specific populations, such as patients on peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Historically, hepatitis C virus (HCV) pretreatment evaluation has required multiple visits, frequently resulting in loss to follow-up and a delayed initiation of treatment. New technologies can accelerate this process. We investigated the feasibility of a single-day evaluation program and its impact on evaluation completion, treatment eligibility awareness, and treatment initiation among people who inject drugs (PWIDs). Methods: HCV-infected PWID who were unaware if they were eligible for treatment were recruited in a prospective evaluation of an accelerated model of care between 2017 and 2019 and compared to a historical cohort. The patients underwent a medical evaluation, rapid HCV viral load testing, and transient elastography during a single visit, at the end of which they were informed whether they were eligible for treatment. A historical cohort of patients fulfilling the same inclusion criteria and evaluated with the usual standard of care spanning several visits who were examined at the addiction medicine clinic from 2014 to 2016 served as the comparison group. Results: The accelerated and historical cohorts included 99 and 76 patients, respectively. The cohorts did not differ significantly by age and gender, but more patients in the historical cohort were undergoing opioid agonist therapy, while more patients in the accelerated cohort injected drugs in the last month. An accelerated evaluation resulted in a higher rate of evaluation completion (100% vs 67.1%; P

The U.S. psychology workforce is considerably less diverse than the population that it serves. While several recruitment and admission practices are effective for diversifying psychology training programs, upstream recruitment of underrepresented candidates is particularly promising. Aiming to diversify the clinical psychology graduate program applicant pool, the Student Training Equity Project (STEP) was developed to promote and evaluate upstream recruitment of undergraduate students of color interested in psychology graduate studies. This study used a mixed-method design to evaluate immediate outcomes for three STEP programmatic strategies. Survey results suggest that STEP networking events were associated with undergraduate research and mentorship opportunities. Findings suggest that STEP funding supported students in producing research products (e.g., manuscripts) that might bolster graduate application materials. STEP website engagement data showed over 1,000 views per year, and highlighted ways to improve outreach. More controlled evaluation is needed to determine whether STEP contributed to diversification of the applicant pool.

People living with HIV (PLWH), despite suppression of viral replication with antiretroviral therapy (ART), have high morbidity and mortality due to immune activation and chronic inflammation. Discovering new biomarkers of immune activation status under ART will be pertinent to improve PLWH quality of life when the majority will be treated. We stipulate that plasma large and small extracellular vesicle (EVs) and their microRNA content could be easily measured biomarkers to monitor immune activation in PLWH. Venous blood samples from n = 128 ART-treated PLWH with suppressed viral load (≤ 20 copies/mL) and n = 60 HIV-uninfected participants were collected at five testing or treatment centers of PLWH in Burkina Faso. Large and small plasma EVs were purified, counted, and the mature miRNAs miR-29a, miR-146a, and miR-155 were quantified by RT-qPCR. Diagnostic performances of large and small EVs miRNAs level were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). Among the EVs microRNA measured, only large EVs miR-155 copies distinguished PLWH with immune activation, with AUC of 0.75 for CD4/CD8 < 1 (95% CI: 0.58–0.91, P = 0.0212), and 0.77 for CD8 T cells ≥ 500/µL (95% CI: 0.63–0.92, P = 0.0096). In addition, PCA results suggest that large EVs miR-155 copies may be a biomarker of immune activation. Since miR-155 may influence immune cell function, its enrichment in large EV subpopulations could be a functional biomarker of immune activation in PLWH on ART. This measure could help to monitor and diagnose the immune activation with more accuracy.

Abstract It is still unclear if immune responses will compromise the large‐scale utilization of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs)‐derived cell therapies. To answer this question, we used humanized mouse models generated by the adoptive transfer of peripheral blood mononuclear cells or the cotransplantation of hematopoietic stem cells and human thymic tissue. Using these mice, we evaluated the engraftment in skeletal muscle of myoblasts derived either directly from a muscle biopsy or differentiated from hiPSCs or fibroblasts. Our results showed that while allogeneic grafts were mostly rejected and highly infiltrated with human T cells, engraftment of autologous cells was tolerated. We also observed that hiPSC‐derived myogenic progenitor cells (MPCs) are not targeted by autologous T cells and natural killer cells in vitro. These findings suggest that the reprogramming and differentiation procedures we used are not immunogenic and that hiPSC‐derived MPCs will be tolerated in the presence of a competent human immune system.

Those experiencing homelessness in Canada are impacted inequitably by COVID-19 due to their increased exposure, vulnerability of environment and medical comorbidities, and their lack of access to preventive care and treatment in the context of the pandemic. In shelter environments one is unable to effectively physically distance, maintain hygiene, obtain a test, or isolate. As a result, unique strategies are required for this population to protect them and those who serve them. Recommendations are provided to reduce or prevent further negative consequences from the COVID-19 pandemic for people experiencing homelessness. These recommendations were informed by a systematic review of the literature, as well as a jurisdictional scan. Where evidence did not exist, expert consensus from key providers and those experiencing homelessness throughout Canada was included. These recommendations recognize the need for short-term interventions to mitigate the immediate risk to this community, including coordination of response, appropriate precautions and protective equipment, reducing congestion, cohorting, testing, case and contact management strategies, dealing with outbreaks, isolation centres, and immunization. Longer-term recommendations are also provided with a view to ending homelessness by addressing the root causes of homelessness and by the provision of adequate subsidized and supportive housing through a Housing First strategy. It is imperative that meaningful changes take place now in how we serve those experiencing homelessness and how we mitigate specific vulnerabilities. These recommendations call for intersectoral, collaborative engagement to work for solutions targeted towards protecting the most vulnerable within our community through both immediate actions and long-term planning to eliminate homelessness.

Potato cultivars susceptible to common scab were previously reported to harbor five to six times more abundant pathogenic Streptomyces spp. in the rhizosphere soils compared with tolerant cultivars. It is still unclear if the diversity of soil bacterial communities is related to the abundance of pathogenic Streptomyces spp. This study evaluated the effects of potato cultivar on the diversity of bacterial communities in three spatial locations (soil located close to the plant [SCP], in the rhizosphere soil [RS], and in the geocaulosphere soil [GS]) in 2013 and 2014. Common scab tolerant (Goldrush and Hindenburg) and susceptible cultivars (Green Mountain and Agria) were planted in a field infested with pathogenic Streptomyces spp. causing common scab. The β-diversity of the bacterial community was significantly different between years and on dates within each year according to a permutational multivariate analysis of variance. The β-diversity also varied significantly among spatial locations (i.e., SCP, RS, and GS), probably due to changes in soil properties, but did not change significantly among potato cultivars. The architecture of the bacterial network in RS in 2014 was more complex compared with 2013 with a 2.5-fold increase in the number of bacteria included according to a co-occurrence analysis. These results indicated that the soil bacterial community diversity changed temporally and spatially. However, bacterial community diversity and richness were not affected by potato cultivar, suggesting that there were no relationships between bacterial community diversity or richness and the abundance of pathogenic Streptomyces spp.

Thiamin diphosphate (ThDP), also known as vitamin B1, serves as an enzymatic cofactor in glucose metabolism, the Krebs cycle, and branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis in all living organisms. Unlike plants and microorganisms, humans are not able to synthesize ThDP de novo and must obtain it from their diet. Staple crops such as rice are poor sources of thiamin. Hence, populations that mainly consume rice commonly suffer thiamin deficiency. In addition to thiamin's nutritional function, studies in rice have shown that some thiamin biosynthesis genes are involved in resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae, which causes a serious disease in rice fields. This study shows that overexpression of two thiamin biosynthesis genes, 4-methyl-5-β-hydroxyethylthiazole phosphate synthase and 4-amino-2-methyl-5-hydroxymethylpyrimidine phosphate synthase, involved in the first steps of the thiazole and pyrimidine synthesis branches, respectively, increased thiamin content up to fivefold in unpolished seeds that retain the bran. However, thiamin levels in polished seeds with removed bran were similar to those found in polished control seeds. Plants with higher accumulation of thiamin did not show enhanced resistance to X. oryzae. These results indicate that stacking of two traits can enhance thiamin accumulation in rice unpolished grain. We discuss potential roadblocks that prevent thiamin accumulation in the endosperm.

The hallmark of HIV-1 infection is the rapid dysregulation of immune functions. Recent investigations for biomarkers of such dysregulation in people living with HIV (PLWH) reveal a strong correlation between viral rebound and immune activation with an increased abundance of extracellular vesicles (EVs) enriched with microRNA-155. We propose that the activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) leads to an increased miR-155 expression and production of miR-155-rich extracellular vesicles (miR-155-rich EVs), which can exacerbate HIV-1 infection by promoting viral replication. PBMCs were incubated with either HIV-1 (NL4.3Balenv), a TLR-7/8 agonist, or TNF. EVs were harvested from the cell culture supernatant by differential centrifugation, and RT-qPCR quantified miR-155 in cells and derived EVs. The effect of miR-155-rich EVs on replication of HIV-1 in incubated PBMCs was then measured by viral RNA and DNA quantification. HIV-1, TLR7/8 agonist, and TNF each induced the release of miR-155-rich EVs by PBMCs. These miR-155-rich EVs increased viral replication in PBMCs infected in vitro. Infection with HIV-1 and inflammation promote the production of miR-155-rich EVs, enhancing viral replication. Such autocrine loops, therefore, could influence the course of HIV-1 infection by promoting viral replication.

Rapid response to environmental changes and abiotic stress to coordinate developmental programs is critical for plants. To accomplish this, plants use the ubiquitin proteasome pathway as a flexible and efficient mechanism to control protein stability and to direct cellular reactions. Here, we show that all three members of the R2R3 S23 MYB transcription factor subfamily, MYB1, MYB25, and MYB109, are degraded by the 26S proteasome, likely facilitated by a CUL3-based E3 ligase that uses MATH-BTB/POZ proteins as substrate adaptors. A detailed description of MYB1, MYB25, and MYB109 expression shows their nuclear localization and specific tissue specific expression patterns. It further demonstrates that elevated expression of MYB25 reduces sensitivities toward abscisic acid, osmotic and salt stress in Arabidopsis, while downregulation of all S23 members results in hypersensitivities. Transcriptional profiling in root and shoot of seedlings overexpressing MYB25 shows that the transcription factor widely affects cellular stress pathways related to biotic and abiotic stress control. Overall, the work extends our knowledge on proteins targeted by CUL3-based E3 ligases that use MATH-BTB/POZ proteins as substrate adaptors and provides first information on all members of the MYB S23 subfamily.

BackgroundHome adaptation processes enhancing occupational engagement rely on identifying environmental barriers, generally during time-consuming home visits performed by occupational therapists (OTs). Relevance of a 3D model to the OT’s work has been attested, but a convenient and consumer-available technology to map the home environment in 3D is currently lacking. For instance, such a technology would support the exploration of home adaptations for a person with disability, with or without an OT visit. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to document the development and acceptability of a 3D mapping eHealth technology, optimizing its contribution to the OT’s work when conducting assessments in which home representations are essential to fit a person’s needs. MethodsA user-centered perspective, embedded in a participatory design framework where users are considered as research partners (not as just study participants), is reported. OTs, engineers, clinicians, researchers, and students, as well as the relatives of older adults contributed by providing ongoing feedback (eg, demonstrations, brainstorming, usability testing, questionnaires, prototyping). System acceptability, as per the Nielsen model, is documented by deductively integrating the data. ResultsA total of 24 stakeholders contributed significantly to MapIt technology’s co-design over a span of 4 years. Fueled by the objective to enhance MapIt’s acceptability, 11 iterations lead to a mobile app to scan a room and produce its 3D model in less than 5 minutes. The app is available for smartphones and paired with computer software. Scanning, visualization, and automatic measurements are done on a smartphone equipped with a motion sensor and a camera with depth perception, and the computer software facilitates visualization, while allowing custom measurement of architectural elements directly on the 3D model. Stakeholders’ perception was favorable regarding MapIt’s acceptability, testifying to its usefulness (ie, usability and utility). Residual usability issues as well as concerns about accessibility and scan rendering still need to be addressed to foster its integration to a clinical context. ConclusionsMapIt allows to scan a room quickly and simply, providing a 3D model from images taken in real-world settings and to remotely but jointly explore home adaptations to enhance a person’s occupational engagement.

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are intercellular messengers with epigenetic potential since they can shuttle microRNA (miRNA). EVs and miRNA play a role in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection immunopathogenesis. Chronic immune activation and systemic inflammation during HIV infection despite effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) are associated with non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) comorbidities in people living with HIV (PLWH). Analysis of plasma EVs and their miRNA content may be useful as immune activation or inflammatory biomarkers in PLWH receiving ART. In this study, we hypothesized that the number, size, and miRNA of large and small EVs could reflect immune activation associated with an elevated CD8 T-cell count or a low CD4/CD8 ratio in PLWH. Methods: Plasma EVs subtype purified from PLWH and uninfected controls were sized using dynamic light scattering and quantified using flow cytometry and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity. Expression of mature miRNAs miR-92, miR-155, miR-223 was measured by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in EVs and leucocytes. Results: HIV infection induces increased production of small EVs in plasma. EV subtypes were differentially enriched in miR-92, miR-155, and miR-223. Positive correlations between CD8 T-cell count and large EVs abundance and small EVs AChE activity were observed. CD4/CD8 ratio was negatively correlated with small EV AChE activity, and miRNA-155 level per small EV was negatively correlated with CD8 T-cell count. Conclusions: These findings suggest that quantifying large or small EVs and profiling miRNA content per EV might provide new functional biomarkers of immune activation and inflammation.