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Abstract Background Physical activity promotes health and is particularly important during middle and older age for decreasing morbidity and mortality. We assessed the correlates of changes over time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in Hispanic/Latino adults from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL: mean [SD] age 49.2 y [11.5]) and compared them to a cohort of primarily White adults from the Framingham Heart Study (FHS: mean [SD] 46.9 y [9.2]). Methods Between 2008 and 2019, we assessed accelerometry-based MVPA at two time points with an average follow-up of: 7.6 y, SD 1.3 for HCHS/SOL, and 7.8 y, SD 0.7 for FHS. We used multinomial logistic regression to relate socio-demographic and health behaviors with changes in compliance with 2018 US recommendations for MVPA from time 1 to time 2 (remained active or inactive; became active or inactive) across the two cohorts. Results In HCHS/SOL mean MVPA was 22.6 (SD, 23.8) minutes at time 1 and dropped to 16.7 (19.0) minutes at time 2. In FHS Mean MVPA was 21.7 min (SD, 17.7) at time 1 and dropped to 21.3 min (SD, 19.2) at time 2. Across both cohorts, odds of meeting MVPA guidelines over time were about 6% lower in individuals who had lower quality diets vs. higher, about half in older vs. younger adults, about three times lower in women vs. men, and 9% lower in individuals who had a higher vs. lower BMI at baseline. Cohorts differed in how age, gender, income, education, depressive symptoms, marital status and perception of general health and pain associated with changes in physical activity. High income older Hispanics/Latino adults were more likely to become inactive at the follow-up visit as were HCHS/SOL women who were retired and FHS participants who had lower levels of education and income. Higher depressive symptomology was associated with becoming active only in HCHS/SOL women. Being male and married was associated with becoming inactive in both cohorts. Higher perception of general health and lower perception of pain were associated with remaining active only in FHS adults. Conclusions These findings highlight potentially high-risk groups for targeted MVPA intervention.

Abstract Hemophilia A is the most common X-linked bleeding disorder affecting more than half-a-million individuals worldwide. Persons with severe hemophilia A have coagulation FVIII levels 3 years post-treatment. Cells engraft in major organs, and none of the recipients mount immune responses to either the cells or the FVIII they produce. Thus, these studies attest to the feasibility, immunologic advantage, and safety of treating hemophilia A prior to birth.

Abstract Background Chiropractors commonly encounter patients who present for spine pain with parallel substance use. There is currently no widespread training within the chiropractic profession to prepare chiropractors to recognize and address substance use in clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to examine chiropractors’ confidence, self-perceptions, and interest in education associated with identifying and addressing patient substance use. Methods A 10-item survey was developed by the authors. The survey addressed chiropractors’ assessment of their training, experiences, and educational interest/needs regarding identifying and addressing patient substance use. The survey instrument was uploaded to Qualtrics and was electronically distributed to chiropractic clinicians at active and accredited English-speaking Doctor of Chiropractic degree programs (DCPs) in the United States. Results A total of 175 individual survey responses were returned from a total of 276 eligible participants (63.4% response rate) from 16 out of 18 active and accredited English-speaking DCPs (88.8% of DCPs) in the United States. Nearly half of respondents strongly disagreed or disagreed (n = 77, 44.0%) that they were confident in their ability to identify patients who misuse prescription medication. The majority of respondents (n = 122, 69.7%) indicated that they did not have an established referral relationship with local clinical providers who provide treatment for individuals who use drugs or misuse alcohol or prescription medications. Most respondents strongly agreed or agreed (n = 157, 89.7%) that they would benefit from participating in a continuing education course on topics related to patients who use drugs or misuse alcohol or prescription medications. Conclusions Chiropractors indicated a need for training to help them identify and address patient substance use. There is a demand among chiropractors to develop clinical care pathways for chiropractic referrals and collaboration with health care professionals who provide treatment for individuals who use drugs or misuse alcohol or prescription medications.

Abstract Background Activation of inflammatory pathways promotes organ dysfunction in COVID-19. Currently, there are reports describing lung function abnormalities in COVID-19 survivors; however, the biological mechanisms remain unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between serum biomarkers collected during and following hospitalization and pulmonary function in COVID-19 survivors. Methods Patients recovering from severe COVID-19 were prospectively evaluated. Serum biomarkers were analyzed from admission to hospital, peak during hospitalization, and at the time of discharge. Pulmonary function was measured approximately 6 weeks after discharge. Results 100 patients (63% male) were included (age 48 years, SD ± 14) with 85% having at least one comorbidity. Patients with a restrictive spirometry pattern (n = 46) had greater inflammatory biomarkers compared to those with normal spirometry (n = 54) including peak Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratio (NLR) value [9.3 (10.1) vs. 6.5 (6.6), median (IQR), p = 0.027] and NLR at hospital discharge [4.6 (2.9) vs. 3.2 (2.9) p = 0.005] and baseline C-reactive protein value [164.0 (147.0) vs. 106.5 (139.0) mg/dL, p = 0.083). Patients with an abnormal diffusing capacity (n = 35) had increased peak NLR [8.9 (5.9) vs. 5.6 (5.7) mg/L, p = 0.029]; baseline NLR [10.0 (19.0) vs. 4.0 (3.0) pg/ml, p = 0.002] and peak Troponin-T [10.0 (20.0) vs. 5.0 (5.0) pg/ml, p = 0.011] compared to patients with normal diffusing capacity (n = 42). Multivariable linear regression analysis identified predictors of restrictive spirometry and low diffusing capacity, but only accounted for a low degree of variance in pulmonary function outcome. Conclusion Overexpression of inflammatory biomarkers is associated with subsequent lung function abnormalities in patients recovered from severe COVID-19.

Abstract Background Whole microbiome RNASeq (metatranscriptomics) has emerged as a powerful technology to functionally interrogate microbial communities. A key challenge is how best to process, analyze, and interpret these complex datasets. In a typical application, a single metatranscriptomic dataset may comprise from tens to hundreds of millions of sequence reads. These reads must first be processed and filtered for low quality and potential contaminants, before being annotated with taxonomic and functional labels and subsequently collated to generate global bacterial gene expression profiles. Results Here, we present MetaPro, a flexible, massively scalable metatranscriptomic data analysis pipeline that is cross-platform compatible through its implementation within a Docker framework. MetaPro starts with raw sequence read input (single-end or paired-end reads) and processes them through a tiered series of filtering, assembly, and annotation steps. In addition to yielding a final list of bacterial genes and their relative expression, MetaPro delivers a taxonomic breakdown based on the consensus of complementary prediction algorithms, together with a focused breakdown of enzymes, readily visualized through the Cytoscape network visualization tool. We benchmark the performance of MetaPro against two current state-of-the-art pipelines and demonstrate improved performance and functionality. Conclusions MetaPro represents an effective integrated solution for the processing and analysis of metatranscriptomic datasets. Its modular architecture allows new algorithms to be deployed as they are developed, ensuring its longevity. To aid user uptake of the pipeline, MetaPro, together with an established tutorial that has been developed for educational purposes, is made freely available at https://github.com/ParkinsonLab/MetaPro . The software is freely available under the GNU general public license v3. Video Abstract

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a pervasive circadian rhythm disruptor. Exposure to ALAN is associated with detrimental effects on physiology and behavior, including disrupted metabolism, immune function, endocrine function, and pain behavior. Given the detrimental effects of ALAN and other circadian rhythm disruptors on pain, we sought to understand how ALAN may alter the progression and severity of diabetic neuropathy. To do this, we used a previously reported high-fat diet and streptozotocin injection protocol to induce a type II diabetic phenotype in ∼8 week old female and male mice and then exposed the mice to either control or ALAN lighting conditions in 14:10 h light-dark cycles for 4 weeks. Male mice housed in control conditions exhibited reduced responsiveness to cold pain; in contrast, ALAN blunted this effect in male mice. ALAN exposure also elevated blood glucose and altered body mass loss in male mice. These effects were not present in female mice. The results of this study highlight the need to consider and study ALAN exposure and sex as a biological variable as risk factors in the treatment and mitigation of pain.

The human genome is pervasively transcribed and produces a wide variety of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), constituting the majority of transcripts across human cell types. Some specific nuclear lncRNAs have been shown to be important regulatory components acting locally. As RNA-chromatin interaction and Hi-C chromatin conformation data showed that chromatin interactions of nuclear lncRNAs are determined by the local chromatin 3D conformation, we used Hi-C data to identify potential target genes of lncRNAs. RNA-protein interaction data suggested that nuclear lncRNAs act as scaffolds to recruit regulatory proteins to target promoters and enhancers. Nuclear lncRNAs may therefore play a role in directing regulatory factors to locations spatially close to the lncRNA gene. We provide the analysis results through an interactive visualization web portal at https://fantom.gsc.riken.jp/zenbu/reports/#F6_3D_lncRNA.

COVID-19 restrictions led to a nearly 50% decline in youth sport participation across the United States (Dorsch et al., 2021). Today, communities and sport organizations have resumed sport. However, research has yet to fully elucidate how COVID-19 restrictions impacted youth participation across different sociodemographic groups during the pandemic. The present study explored the association between race and affluence and their relationship with parents' attitudes toward children's youth sport participation before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Online questionnaires were completed by a nationally representative sample of 3706 parents (Mage = 39.57 ± 9.03 years) who had a child regularly participating in youth sport before COVID-19. Multivariate Analyses of Variance using Tukey post-hoc tests were conducted to examine the main effect differences by race and affluence and the interactive effects of race and affluence. Results suggest that race and affluence -- independently and in combination -- were salient categorical variables of children's weekly hours of sport participation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings highlight that White*high affluent groups had the highest rates of sport participation during the COVID-19 pandemic and that these families desire to invest more time and money at greater rates upon returning. Theoretically, designed intersectionality research is recommended to explore further effects of race and affluence in youth sport.

Mitochondrial membrane potential directly powers many critical functions of mitochondria, including ATP production, mitochondrial protein import, and metabolite transport. Its loss is a cardinal feature of aging and mitochondrial diseases, and cells closely monitor membrane potential as an indicator of mitochondrial health. Given its central importance, it is logical that cells would modulate mitochondrial membrane potential in response to demand and environmental cues, but there has been little exploration of this question. We report that loss of the Sit4 protein phosphatase in yeast increases mitochondrial membrane potential, both by inducing the electron transport chain and the phosphate starvation response. Indeed, a similarly elevated mitochondrial membrane potential is also elicited simply by phosphate starvation or by abrogation of the Pho85-dependent phosphate sensing pathway. This enhanced membrane potential is primarily driven by an unexpected activity of the ADP/ATP carrier. We also demonstrate that this connection between phosphate limitation and enhancement of mitochondrial membrane potential is observed in primary and immortalized mammalian cells as well as in Drosophila. These data suggest that mitochondrial membrane potential is subject to environmental stimuli and intracellular signaling regulation and raise the possibility for therapeutic enhancement of mitochondrial function even in defective mitochondria.

Chlamydia vaccine approaches aspire to induce Th1 cells for optimal protection, despite the fact that there is no direct evidence demonstrating Th1-mediated Chlamydia clearance from the female reproductive tract (FRT). We recently reported that T-bet-deficient mice can resolve primary Chlamydia infection normally, undermining the potentially protective role of Th1 cells in Chlamydia immunity. Here, we show that T-bet-deficient mice develop robust Th17 responses and that mice deficient in Th17 cells exhibit delayed bacterial clearance, demonstrating that Chlamydia-specific Th17 cells represent an underappreciated protective population. Additionally, Th2-deficient mice competently clear cervicovaginal infection. Furthermore, we show that sensing of IFN-γ by non-hematopoietic cells is essential for Chlamydia immunity, yet bacterial clearance in the FRT does not require IFN-γ secretion by CD4 T cells. Despite the fact that Th1 cells are not necessary for Chlamydia clearance, protective immunity to Chlamydia is still dependent on MHC class-II-restricted CD4 T cells and IL-12p40. Together, these data point to IL-12p40-dependent CD4 effector maturation as essential for Chlamydia immunity, and Th17 cells to a lesser extent, yet neither Th1 nor Th2 cell development is critical. Future Chlamydia vaccination efforts will be more effective if they focus on induction of this protective CD4 T cell population.

Introduction: Rural and under-resourced urban communities face unique challenges in addressing patients’ social determinants of health needs (SDoH). Community health workers (CHWs) can support patients experiencing social needs, yet little is known about how rural and under-resourced primary care clinics are screening for SDoH or utilizing CHWs. Methods: Interviews were conducted with primary care clinic providers and managers across a geographically large and predominately rural state to assess screening practices for SDoH and related community resources, and perspectives on using CHWs to address SDoH. Interviews were conducted by phone, recorded, and transcribed. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. We completed interviews with 27 respondents (12 providers and 15 clinic managers) at 26 clinics. Results: Twelve (46.1%) clinics had a standardized process for capturing SDoH, but this was primarily limited to Medicare wellness visits. Staffing and time were identified as barriers to proper SDoH screening. Lack of transportation and affordable medication were the most cited SDoH. While respondents were all aware of CHWs, only 8 (30.8%) included a CHW on their care team. Perceived barriers to engaging CHWs included cost, space, and availability of qualified CHWs. Perceived benefits of engaging CHWs in their practice were: assisting patients with navigating resources and programs, relieving clinical staff of non-medical tasks, and bridging language barriers. Conclusions: Rural and under-resourced primary care clinics need help in identifying and addressing SDoH. CHWs could play an important part in addressing social needs and promoting preventive care if financial constraints could be addressed and local CHWs could be trained.

Category: Ankle Arthritis; Ankle Introduction/Purpose: The utility of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) for management of end-stage ankle arthritis continues to increase. Postoperative infection after TAA is a devastating complication leading to additional surgeries, hospitalizations, long term antibiotics, arthrodesis, and sometimes amputation. Diabetes has been shown to be associated with postoperative infections following other orthopedic procedures. While the majority of literature demonstrates an association between diabetes and post- operative complications following TAA, other studies have demonstrated no such association. The goal of this study was to determine if diabetes influences the outcomes following TAA. Methods: An insurance database was utilized to identify patients undergoing TAA for end-stage ankle arthritis with a concurrent diagnosis of diabetes based on CPT, ICD-9, and ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes from 2010 to 2021. The postoperative outcomes of all cause revision, periprosthetic joint infection, periprosthetic joint infection with revision, and aseptic revision were compared between diabetic and nondiabetic patients with a minimum 2-year follow up using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards analyses. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and Charlson Comorbidity Index was queried and analyzed via univariate and multivariate analysis, along with 90-day postoperative outcomes. Results: The study population included 8,317 patients who underwent TAA, 345 of which had a concurrent diagnosis of diabetes, with a minimum of 2-year follow up from 2010 to 2021. After multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis, the 5-year cumulative incidence of PJI was 7.3% in diabetic patients compared to 3.9% in nondiabetic patients, with a 95% increased risk of revision (HR 1.95, 95% CI: 1.15-3.30, P=0.01). Diabetic patients also demonstrated a 5-year cumulative incidence of septic revision rate of 1.4% compared to 0.4% in nondiabetic patients, with a 363% increased risk (HR 4.63, 95% CI: 1.22-17.52, P=0.02). After controlling for differences in demographics and comorbidities through multivariate analysis, diabetes was independently associated with an increased risk for stroke (OR 10.12, P=0.007). Conclusion: The incidence of post-operative complications, including increased risk of 5-year risk of periprosthetic joint infection and septic revision was higher among diabetic patients compared to nondiabetic patients.

Summary:. Chest masculinization is the most common surgery performed in transgender men, and although incidence of occult cancer is lower than in cis-gender women receiving mastectomy or reduction mammoplasties, the incidence of high-risk lesions is comparable. In patients with concerns for occult malignancy, Magtrace is a nonradioactive tracer available to assist management for its delayed sentinel lymph node mapping capabilities. We present the first case report using Magtrace before masculinizing mastectomies in a transgender man.

A população masculina é mais propensa a doenças, principalmente crônicas e graves, com maiores taxas de mortalidade. Isso decorre de uma cultura marcada pela falta do hábito de procurar pelo atendimento médico, resultando em diagnósticos tardios e complicações irreparáveis. Assim, para superar esse quadro, foi estabelecida a Política Nacional de Atenção Integrada à Saúde do Homem (PNAISH). Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho relata uma experiência em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde, localizada em um município Pernambucano, que utilizou estratégias para aproximar a população masculina dos serviços de saúde. Ao passo que, em longo prazo, pode ter como resultado a redução da morbimortalidade masculina por causas previsíveis associadas à saúde do homem.

ABSTRACTNoroviruses are a major cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide and can establish chronic infection in immunocompromised individuals. To investigate the mechanisms of norovirus evolution during chronic infection, we selected seven representative patients from a National Institutes of Health study cohort who sustained norovirus infection for periods ranging from 73 to 1,492 days. Six patients shed viruses belonging to a single genotype (GII.2[PNA], GII.4 New Orleans[P4], GII.4 Den Haag[P4], GII.3[P21], GII.6[P7], or GII.14[P7]) over the period examined, while one patient sequentially shed two genotypes (GII.6[P7] followed by GII.4 Sydney[P31]). Norovirus genomes from consecutive stool samples were sequenced at high resolution (>3,300 reads/nucleotide position) using the Illumina platform and subjected to bioinformatics analysis. Norovirus sequences could be resolved into one or more discrete clonal RNA genomes that persisted within these patients over time. Phylogenetic analyses inferred that clonal populations originated from a single founder virus and not by reinfection with community strains. Estimated evolutionary rates of clonal populations during persistent infection were similar to those of noroviruses from acute infection in the global database, suggesting that inherently higher RNA-dependent polymerase error rates were not associated with the ability to persist. The high-resolution analysis of norovirus diversity and evolution at the population level described here should allow a better understanding of adaptive mutations sustained during chronic infection.IMPORTANCENoroviruses are an important cause of chronic diarrhea in patients with compromised immune systems. Presently, there are no effective therapies to clear the virus, which can persist for years in the intestinal tract. The goal of our study was to develop a better understanding of the norovirus strains that are associated with these long-term infections. With the remarkable diversity of norovirus strains detected in the immunocompromised patient cohort we studied, it appears that most, if not all, noroviruses circulating in nature may have the capacity to establish a chronic infection when a person is unable to mount an effective immune response. Our work is the most comprehensive genetic data set generated to date in which near full-length genomes from noroviruses associated with chronic infection were analyzed by high-resolution next-generation sequencing. Analysis of this data set led to our discovery that certain patients in our cohort were shedding noroviruses that could be subdivided into distinct haplotypes or populations of viruses that were co-evolving independently. The ability to track haplotypes of noroviruses during chronic infection will allow us to fine-tune our understanding of how the virus adapts and maintains itself in the human host, and how selective pressures such as antiviral drugs can affect these distinct populations.

Introduction: To reduce greenhouse gases, the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol seeks a phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons. R134a alternatives were analyzed for use in a water-cooled chiller: R450A, R513A, R516A, R1234ze (E), R515A, and R515B.Methods: A thermodynamic model of the chiller was employed to calculate compressor power, an input to the life cycle climate performance (LCCP) framework to estimate total equivalent carbon dioxide emissions, CO2eq. Emissions were calculated for an 809 kW [230 Tons of refrigeration (RT) nameplate] water-cooled centrifugal chiller at constant cooling capacity using five power sources (i.e., coal, distillate fuel oil, natural gas, nuclear, and wind) for a median chiller lifetime of 27 years. Two chiller operating profiles were considered: one using operational data from a university campus and a second from literature based on the Atlantic Fleet operation.Results and discussion: When powered via fossil fuels, over 90% of emissions were due to the indirect emissions from energy; therefore, the global warming potential (GWP) of the refrigerant was not the primary contributor to the total CO2eq emissions. With natural gas, total LCCP emissions were reduced for R450A (7.8%), R513A (4.7%), R516A (9.4%), R1234ze (E) (10%), R515A (8.4%), and R515B (6.4%) compared to R134a for the university campus load profile. For the round-the-clock Atlantic Fleet profile, there were emission reductions for R450A (3.6%), R513A (0.25%), R516A (2.3%), R1234ze (E) (2.4%), R515A (1.5%) and R515B (2.4%) compared to R134a. When coupled with renewable energy, the indirect emissions from the chillers substantially decreased, and GWP-dependent leakage emissions accounted for up to 74% or 40% of emissions from R134a alternatives powered by wind and nuclear, respectively. For operation using the load profile from the university campus chillers, R450A had the highest coefficient of performance (COP) of 5.802, while R513A had the lowest COP (5.606). Tradeoffs between alternative refrigerants exist in terms of operation, temperature glide, size of heat exchangers, system design, flammability, cost, availability, and material compatibility. In terms of flammability, R134a, R513A, R450A, R515B and R515A are A1 (nonflammable) fluids. R450A and R516A also have temperature glides of 0.4 K and 0.056 K, respectively, which can affect condenser design. In terms of equipment modification (sizing), R513A require fewer modifications.

ABSTRACTA humanized monoclonal antibody h2E2 designed to bind cocaine with high affinity, specificity, and a long half-life (~7 d in rats) is being developed as a treatment for cocaine use disorder. We report here a pharmacokinetic (PK) study of h2E2 using male and female rats conducted under a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) protocol over a dose range of 40 to 1200 mg/kg. The maximum concentration measured in rat plasma (Cmax) varied proportionately to the dose administered in both male and female rats. The terminal elimination half-lives (t1/2β) were not significantly different in male and female rats at all doses tested. Importantly, this study reports pharmacokinetics for a humanized monoclonal antibody at a dose never tested before. h2E2 has a high affinity for cocaine, whereas low or no affinity was demonstrated for cocaine metabolites (all except cocaethylene), endogenous monoamines, and methamphetamine. This demonstrates its specificity and a potential lack of interactions with physiological and endocrine systems. A review of the clinical signs in single-dose toxicity studies in rats revealed no effects on the central nervous, respiratory, or cardiovascular systems following single intravenous doses of 40 to 1200 mg/kg. This study predicts that this monoclonal antibody may be safe and effective in humans.

Microfluidics, also known as lab-on-a-chip or micro total analysis systems, can precisely regulate and manipulate micro-sized fluids. They have great potential in biology, chemistry, and medicine, as well as other fields of science. By definition, microfluidic devices operate with small-volume samples and small reactant quantities, which renders them both efficient and affordable. However, such small objects have very demanding requirements for the utilized optical detection system. Due to the specifics of those devices, monitoring the results of experiments is carried out with commercial inverted optical microscopes. Unfortunately, that type of optical device is still expensive. In this article, we present a truly functional, inexpensive, standalone, three-dimensionally printed, and inverted microscope, including the design, engineering, and manufacturing process and some of the experiments that have been conducted with it. Finally, we summarize the advantages of this three-dimensionally printed microscope (including the total fabrication costs) and the future improvements that will be introduced to it.

Abstract Viruses can affect coral health by infecting their symbiotic dinoflagellate partners (Symbiodiniaceae). Yet, viral dynamics in coral colonies exposed to environmental stress have not been studied at the reef scale, particularly within individual viral lineages. We sequenced the viral major capsid protein (mcp) gene of positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses known to infect symbiotic dinoflagellates (‘dinoRNAVs’) to analyze their dynamics in the reef-building coral, Porites lobata. We repeatedly sampled 54 colonies harboring Cladocopium C15 dinoflagellates, across three environmentally distinct reef zones (fringing reef, back reef, and forereef) around the island of Moorea, French Polynesia over a 3-year period and spanning a reef-wide thermal stress event. By the end of the sampling period, 28% (5/18) of corals in the fringing reef experienced partial mortality versus 78% (14/18) of corals in the forereef. Over 90% (50/54) of colonies had detectable dinoRNAV infections. Reef zone influenced the composition and richness of viral mcp amino acid types (‘aminotypes’), with the fringing reef containing the highest aminotype richness. The reef-wide thermal stress event significantly increased aminotype dispersion, and this pattern was strongest in the colonies that experienced partial mortality. These findings demonstrate that dinoRNAV infections respond to environmental fluctuations experienced in situ on reefs. Further, viral productivity will likely increase as ocean temperatures continue to rise, potentially impacting the foundational symbiosis underpinning coral reef ecosystems.

Electrophilic borylation of sterically hindered arenes is a challenging transformation. Here, authors report a metal-free electrophilic C–H borylation of hindered arenes using a boron cluster reagent producing valuable aryl boronic esters.

The present bibliometric analysis used traditional measures and network science techniques to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced research in Clinical Psychology. Publication records from the Web of Science (WoS) were obtained for journal articles published prior to (2015 and 2018), during (2020), and at the end of the pandemic (2022) for the search terms “men and mental health” and “women and mental health”. Network analyses of author-provided keywords showed that COVID-19 co-occurred with fear, anxiety, depression, and stress for both men and women in 2020. In 2022, COVID-19 co-occurred with topics related to world-wide lockdowns (e.g., alcohol use, substance use, intimate partner violence, loneliness, physical activity), and to more fundamental topics in Clinical Psychology (e.g., eating disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder). Although the COVID pandemic was associated with several changes in the research topics that were examined in Clinical Psychology, pre-existing disparities in the amount of mental health research on men compared to women did not appear to increase (in contrast to increases associated with COVID in pre-existing gender disparities observed in other areas of society).

In September 2021, 14 smallmouth bass (SMB; Micropterus dolomieu) with skin lesions were collected from Green Bay waters of Lake Michigan and submitted for diagnostic evaluation. All the skin samples tested positive for largemouth bass virus (LMBV) by conventional PCR. The complete genome of the LMBV (99,328 bp) isolated from a homogenized skin sample was determined using an Illumina MiSeq sequencer. A maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis based on the 21 core iridovirus genes supported the LMBV isolated from SMB (LMBV-WVL21117) as a member of the species Santee-Cooper ranavirus. Pairwise nucleotide comparison of the major capsid protein (MCP) gene showed that LMBV-WVL21117 is identical to other LMBV reported from the United States and nearly identical to doctor fish virus and guppy virus 6 (99.2%) from Southeast Asia, as well as LMBV isolates from China and Thailand (99.1%). In addition, ML phylogenetic analysis based on the MCP gene suggests three genotypes of LMBV separated by region: genotype one from the United States, genotype two from Southeast Asia, and genotype three from China and Thailand. Additional research is needed to understand the prevalence and genetic diversity of LMBV strains circulating in wild and managed fish populations from different regions.

Polyphenols and fermentable fibers have shown favorable effects on gut microbiota composition and metabolic function. However, few studies have investigated whether combining multiple fermentable fibers or polyphenols may have additive beneficial effects on gut microbial states. Here, an in vitro fermentation model, seeded with human stool combined from 30 healthy volunteers, was supplemented with blends of polyphenols (PP), dietary fibers (FB), or their combination (PPFB) to determine influence on gut bacteria growth dynamics and select metabolite changes. PP and FB blends independently led to significant increases in the absolute abundance of select beneficial taxa, namely Ruminococcus bromii, Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp., and Dorea spp. Total short-chain fatty acid concentrations, relative to non-supplemented control (F), increased significantly with PPFB and FB supplementation but not PP. Indole and ammonia concentrations decreased with FB and PPFB supplementation but not PP alone while increased antioxidant capacity was only evident with both PP and PPFB supplementation. These findings demonstrated that, while the independent blends displayed selective positive impacts on gut states, the combination of both blends provided an additive effect. The work outlines the potential of mixed substrate blends to elicit a broader positive influence on gut microbial composition and function to build resiliency toward dysbiosis.

Abstract Premise The explosion of available genomic data poses significant opportunities and challenges for genome‐wide association studies. Current approaches via linear mixed models (LMM) are straightforward but prevent flexible assumptions of an a priori genomic architecture, while Bayesian sparse LMMs (BSLMMs) allow this flexibility. Complex traits, such as specialized metabolites, are subject to various hierarchical effects, including gene regulation, enzyme efficiency, and the availability of reactants. Methods To identify alternative genetic architectures, we examined the genetic architecture underlying the carotenoid content of an association mapping panel of Helianthus annuus individuals using multiple BSLMM and LMM frameworks. Results The LMMs of genome‐wide single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified a single transcription factor responsible for the observed variations in the carotenoid content; however, a BSLMM of the SNPs with the bottom 1% of effect sizes from the results of the LMM identified multiple biologically relevant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for carotenoid content external to the known (annotated) carotenoid pathway. A candidate pathway analysis (CPA) suggested a β‐carotene isomerase to be the enzyme with the highest impact on the observed carotenoid content within the carotenoid pathway. Discussion While traditional LMM approaches suggested a single unknown transcription factor associated with carotenoid content variation in sunflower petals, BSLMM proposed several QTLs with interpretable biological relevance to this trait. In addition, the CPA allowed for the dissection of the regulatory vs. biosynthetic genetic architectures underlying this metabolic trait.

Introduction: To reduce the cervical cancer burden, many governments have emphasized the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as an important prevention strategy. Despite its effectiveness in preventing human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and free HPV immunization programs, vaccine acceptance is not guaranteed as some cultures are still against it due to various reasons. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and perception of human papillomavirus vaccination (HPV) among parents of young girls (aged 8 – 12) in Mbarara City. Methodology: The study was cross-sectional employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches for data collection and analysis. Information was collected from a sample of 288 respondents and 12 key informants using questionnaires and interviews. Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and STATA Version 18.0 Results: The study discovered that the level of Knowledge on HPV vaccination among parents of young girls was relatively low (41.3%) despite most respondents revealing to have heard about HPV and its associated infections like cervical cancer and genital warts. The study also found out that a large portion of community members (62.1%) still had negative attitudes towards the vaccine which has negatively affected their perceptions. Negative attitudes and perceptions equally played a big role towards vaccination leading to low vaccine acceptability in the area. The study further discovered a wide knowledge gap about HPV infection and HPV vaccine uptake (42%) and this has to be addressed. Conclusion: In conclusion, the study confirmed that knowledge about human papillomavirus vaccination (HPV) was low and attitude and perception of human papillomavirus vaccination (HPV) was poor among parents of young girls (aged 8 – 12). Recommendations: Tailored community-based interventions and sensitization programs are a viable means to achieve this for multiple reasons. There is a need for specific training for healthcare workers who are the first contact point for patients.

The sensory friendly concert (SFC) represents an increasingly popular effort toward engaging the autism community in live music performances by promoting inclusive practices and offering specialized accommodations to counter what many consider the rigidity of concert etiquette. The authors explore academic and historical perspectives on SFCs and seek to highlight best practices for the design and facilitation of inclusive community music events in live and virtual settings. Drawing upon the experience of adapting a planned in-person protocol to the virtual setting, the authors explore benefits that extend far beyond the autism community. In addition to providing an environment in which self-expression, diversity, and community are celebrated, SFCs can serve as a transition-oriented therapeutic intervention aimed at promoting progress toward goals related to independent living and musical participation in the broader society, including school and community ensembles.

Background/objectives: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of global mortality. Systematic studies on cardiovascular-related mortality at national and subnational levels in Peru are lacking. We aimed to describe the trends in cardiovascular-related mortality between 2017 and 2022 in Peru at national and subnational levels and by socioeconomic indicators. Subjects/methods: We used data from the Peruvian death registry 2017–2022. Using ICD-10 codes, mortality was categorized into: hypertensive-, coronary-, and cerebrovascular- related deaths. We estimated age-standardized cardiovascular-related mortality rates by sex at national and regional levels, and by natural regions (Coast, Highlands, Amazon). We estimated the change in mortality rates between 2017–2019 and 2020–2022 and explored factors that contributed to such a change. We explored ecological relationships between mortality rates and socioeconomic indicators. Findings: Overall 183,386 cardiovascular-related deaths were identified. Coronary-related deaths (37.2 %) were followed by hypertensive-related (25.1 %) and cerebrovascular-related deaths (22.6 %). Peru showed a marked increasing trend in cardiovascular-related mortality in 2020–2022 (77.8 %). The increase clustered in the Coast and Highlands, with the highest change observed in Lima (132.1 %). Mortality was highest in subjects with lower education and subjects with public health insurance. Gini coefficient was associated with lower mortality rates while unemployment was associated with higher mortality rates. Interpretation: There was a notable rise in cardiovascular-related mortality in Peru, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic with a slight decrease in 2022. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the factors that contribute to the increase in cardiovascular deaths in Peru will facilitate the development of precise interventions at both the national and regional levels.

There is a high prevalence of chronic pain among middle-aged and older adults in the United States. Chronic life stressors have been shown to have detrimental consequences for myriad health conditions, including chronic pain. However, there is limited evidence on the types of chronic life stressors that affect middle-aged and older adults and how these stressors influence the chronic pain burden in this population. Moreover, the interaction between chronic life stressors and racial/ethnic identity remains poorly understood as it relates to chronic pain. The current analysis used the 2018 Health and Retirement Study to investigate relationships between chronic life stressors and odds to experience any chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain. Chronic life stressors were characterized, overall and by racial/ethnic identity, and the main and interaction effects were calculated to evaluate relationships between chronic life stressors, racial/ethnic identity, and odds of experiencing any chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain. Results indicate that in 2018, the most common chronic life stressor among middle-aged and older adults was dealing with their own health problems (68%), followed by dealing with the physical or emotional issues affecting a spouse or child (46%). Adjusted analyses showed that a higher total of chronic life stressors increased the odds of middle-aged and older adults experiencing any chronic pain and high-impact chronic pain. There were no significant interactions between the overall chronic life stress burden and racial/ethnic identity as a predictor of odds to experience any chronic pain or high-impact chronic pain, but significant interaction effects were found related to specific chronic life stressors. Findings underscore the significant impact of chronic life stressors on the chronic pain burden among middle-aged and older adults in the United States, which cut across racial/ethnic identity.

ABSTRACT California serogroup viruses (CSGVs) of medical importance in the United States include La Crosse virus, Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV), California encephalitis virus, and snowshoe hare virus. Current diagnosis of CSGVs relies heavily on serologic techniques for detecting immunoglobulin M (IgM), an indication of a recent CSGV infection. However, human-positive control sera reactive to viruses in the serogroup are scarce because detection of recent infections is rare. Here, we describe the development of new murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) reactive to CSGVs and the engineering of a human-murine chimeric antibody by combining the variable regions of the broadly CSGV cross-reactive murine MAb, 3-3B6/2-3B2 and the constant region of the human IgM. MAb 3-3B6/2-3B2 recognizes a tertiary epitope on the Gn/Gc heterodimer, and epitopes important in JCV neutralization were mapped to the Gc glycoprotein. This engineered human IgM constitutively expressed in a HEK-293 stable cell line can replace human-positive control sera in diagnostic serological techniques such as IgM antibody capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-ELISA). Compared to the parent murine MAbs, the human-chimeric IgM antibody had identical serological activity to CSGVs in ELISA and demonstrated equivalent reactivity compared to human immune sera in the MAC-ELISA. Importance Orthobunyaviruses in the California serogroup cause severe neurological disease in children and adults. While these viruses are known to circulate widely in North America, their occurrence is rare. Serological testing for CSGVs is hindered by the limited availability and volumes of human-positive specimens needed as controls in serologic assays. Here, we described the development of a murine monoclonal antibody cross-reactive to CSGVs engineered to contain the variable regions of the murine antibody on the backbone of human IgM. The chimeric IgM produced from the stably expressing HEK293 cell line was evaluated for use as a surrogate human-positive control in a serologic diagnostic test.

Neighborhoods have been identified as important determinants of health-related outcomes, but limited research has assessed the influence of neighborhood context along the cancer continuum. This study used census tract-level data from the United States Census Bureau and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to characterize Miami-Dade County census tracts (n = 492) into social vulnerability clusters and assess their associated breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening participation rates. We identified disparities by social vulnerability cluster in cancer screening participation rates. Further investigation of geographic disparities in social vulnerability and cancer screening participation could inform equity-focused cancer control efforts.

Across bacteria, protein-based organelles called bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) encapsulate key enzymes to regulate their activities. The model BMC is the carboxysome that encapsulates enzymes for CO2 fixation to increase efficiency and is found in many autotrophic bacteria, such as cyanobacteria. Despite their importance in the global carbon cycle, little is known about how carboxysomes are spatially regulated. We recently identified the two-factor system required for the maintenance of carboxysome distribution (McdAB). McdA drives the equal spacing of carboxysomes via interactions with McdB, which associates with carboxysomes. McdA is a ParA/MinD ATPase, a protein family well studied in positioning diverse cellular structures in bacteria. However, the adaptor proteins like McdB that connect these ATPases to their cargos are extremely diverse. In fact, McdB represents a completely unstudied class of proteins. Despite the diversity, many adaptor proteins undergo phase separation, but functional roles remain unclear. Here, we define the domain architecture of McdB from the model cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942, and dissect its mode of biomolecular condensate formation. We identify an N-terminal intrinsically disordered region (IDR) that modulates condensate solubility, a central coiled-coil dimerizing domain that drives condensate formation, and a C-terminal domain that trimerizes McdB dimers and provides increased valency for condensate formation. We then identify critical basic residues in the IDR, which we mutate to glutamines to solubilize condensates. Finally, we find that a condensate-defective mutant of McdB has altered association with carboxysomes and influences carboxysome enzyme content. The results have broad implications for understanding spatial organization of BMCs and the molecular grammar of protein condensates.

Background There is limited evidence on the potential negative metabolic health impacts of prolonged and uninterrupted sedentary bouts in structurally disadvantaged youth. This study investigated associations between sedentary bout variables and metabolic health markers in the Hispanic Community Health Study/SOL Youth (Study of Latino Youth). Methods and Results SOL Youth was a population‐based cohort of 1466 youth (age range, 8–16 years; 48.5% female); 957 youth were included in the analytic sample based on complete data. Accelerometers measured moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA), total sedentary time, and sedentary bout patterns (daily time spent in sedentary bouts ≥30 minutes, median sedentary bout duration, and number of daily breaks from sedentary time). Clinical measures included body mass index, waist circumference, fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, fasting insulin, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. After adjusting for sociodemographics, total sedentary time, and MVPA, longer median bout durations and fewer sedentary breaks were associated with a greater body mass index percentile (bbouts=0.09 and bbreaks=−0.18), waist circumference (bbouts=0.12 and bbreaks=−0.20), and fasting insulin (bbouts=0.09 and bbreaks=−0.21). Fewer breaks were also associated with a greater homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (b=−0.21). More time in bouts lasting ≥30 minutes was associated with a greater fasting glucose (b=0.18) and glycated hemoglobin (b=0.19). Conclusions Greater accumulation of sedentary time in prolonged and uninterrupted bouts had adverse associations with adiposity and glycemic control over and above total sedentary time and MVPA. Findings suggest interventions in Hispanic/Latino youth targeting both ends of the activity spectrum (more MVPA and less prolonged/uninterrupted sedentary patterns) may provide greater health benefits than those targeting only MVPA.

Abstract We hypothesized that when a proportional assist ventilator (PAV) is applied in order to reduce the pressure generated by the diaphragm, there would be a corresponding reduction in electrical activity of the diaphragm. Healthy participants (five male and four female) completed an incremental cycle exercise test to exhaustion in order to calculate workloads for subsequent trials. On the experimental day, participants performed submaximal cycling, and three levels of assisted ventilation were applied (low, medium and high). Ventilatory parameters, pulmonary pressures and EMG of the diaphragm (EMGdi) were obtained. To compare the PAV conditions with spontaneous breathing intervals, ANOVA procedures were used, and significant effects were evaluated with a Tukey–Kramer test. Significance was set at P

Background: As techniques and implants for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) evolve, a greater emphasis is being placed on preserving glenoid bone stock and optimizing shoulder biomechanics. Augmented baseplates preserve glenoid bone and improve shoulder range of motion by lateralizing the center of rotation of the glenosphere, while also reducing postoperative complications after rTSA. The technique for bone preservation with use of augmented baseplates in the absence of bone loss and the outcomes of a series of cases are contained in this report. Materials and Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for 37 patients with Walch type A1/Sirveaux E0 glenoids who underwent primary rTSA using a bone preserving technique with an augmented baseplate between January 2018 and January 2019 at a single site by a single surgeon. The primary outcome measures were range of motion, strength, and patient-reported clinical outcomes (pain and function rated on a visual analog scale; single assessment numeric evaluation; American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score; and disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score). Preoperative radiographs were analyzed for the presence of glenoid bone loss and postoperative radiographs were assessed for evidence of component loosening and scapular notching. A repeated measures design was used, and preoperative and postoperative comparisons were made using parametric t-tests. Results: At an average follow-up of 23.3 ± 6.3 months, there was a significant improvement in active forward flexion and abduction and nonsignificant improvement in external rotation. There was no radiographic evidence of glenoid notching in any of the patients and optimal glenoid inclination was observed. Patient-reported outcome scores after an average of 25.2 ± 10.0 months indicated a significant improvement in pain, function, and scores for the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand assessments. There were no substantial postoperative radiographic findings, intra/postoperative complications, or revisions/reoperations. Conclusion: rTSA with augmented baseplates for glenoid bone preservation in patients with minimal or no bone loss is effective for preserving glenoid bone stock and significantly improves the range of motion and patient-reported outcomes after approximately 2 years.

Background and Aims: Pouchitis is the most common long-term complication after ileal-pouch anal anastomosis in patients with ulcerative colitis. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) in chronic antibiotic dependent and refractory pouchitis. Methods: Multiple databases were searched through April 2022 for studies that reported the efficacy and safety of FMT in patients with chronic pouchitis. Meta-analysis using random effects model was performed to calculate pooled rates. Results: Eight studies with a total of 89 patients were included in our review, with 74 patients having received FMT and 15 patients having received placebo. The mean age ranged from 32.6 to 51.5 years. In patients that received FMT, the pooled rates of overall remission was (Pouchitis Disease Activity Index score < 7) 22% (95% CI, 9%–43%; I2, 29%), clinical remission was 20% (95% CI, 6%–49%; I2, 25%), clinical response rate was 42% (95% CI, 30%–54%; I2, 7%), and the relapse rate 60% (95% CI, 40%–77%, I2 16%) over the mean follow up of 4.67 months (range 1–12 months). The pooled proportion of patients with adverse events was 54% (95% CI, 21%–84%; I2, 73%). There were no serious adverse events or deaths. Conclusion: In patients with chronic pouchitis, FMT is safe though there are mixed results in terms of its long-term efficacy. Future Randomized Controlled Trials with larger sample sizes and greater standardization in terms of preparation, delivery, and length of treatment of FMT are needed to determine efficacy.

Abstract Anopheles stephensi, an invasive malaria vector native to South Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, was detected in Djibouti’s seaport, followed by Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, and Nigeria. If An. stephensi introduction is facilitated through seatrade, similar to other invasive mosquitoes, the identification of at-risk countries are needed to increase surveillance and response efforts. Bilateral maritime trade data is used to (1) identify coastal African countries which were highly connected to select An. stephensi endemic countries, (2) develop a prioritization list of countries based on the likelihood of An. stephensi introduction through maritime trade index (LASIMTI), and (3) use network analysis of intracontinental maritime trade to determine likely introduction pathways. Sudan and Djibouti were ranked as the top two countries with LASIMTI in 2011, which were the first two coastal African countries where An. stephensi was detected. With Djibouti and Sudan included as source populations, 2020 data identify Egypt, Kenya, Mauritius, Tanzania, and Morocco as the top countries with LASIMTI. Network analysis highlight South Africa, Mauritius, Ghana, and Togo. These tools can prioritize efforts for An. stephensi surveillance and control in Africa. Surveillance in seaports of identified countries may limit further expansion of An. stephensi by serving as an early warning system.

Abstract Background A central challenge in preclinical research investigating the biology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the translation of ASD-related social phenotypes across humans and animal models. Social orienting, an observable, evolutionarily conserved behavior, represents a promising cross-species ASD phenotype given that disrupted social orienting is an early-emerging ASD feature with evidence for predicting familial recurrence. Here, we adapt a competing-stimulus social orienting task from domesticated dogs to naturalistic play behavior in human toddlers and test whether this approach indexes decreased social orienting in ASD. Methods Play behavior was coded from the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) in two samples of toddlers, each with and without ASD. Sample 1 (n = 16) consisted of community-ascertained research participants, while Sample 2 involved a prospective study of infants at a high or low familial liability for ASD (n = 67). Coding quantified the child’s looks towards the experimenter and caregiver, a social stimulus, while playing with high-interest toys, a non-social stimulus. A competing-stimulus measure of “Social Attention During Object Engagement” (SADOE) was calculated by dividing the number of social looks by total time spent playing with toys. SADOE was compared based on ASD diagnosis and differing familial liability for ASD. Results In both samples, toddlers with ASD exhibited significantly lower SADOE compared to toddlers without ASD, with large effect sizes (Hedges’ g ≥ 0.92) driven by a lower frequency of child-initiated spontaneous looks. Among toddlers at high familial likelihood of ASD, toddlers with ASD showed lower SADOE than toddlers without ASD, while SADOE did not differ based on presence or absence of familial ASD risk alone. SADOE correlated negatively with ADOS social affect calibrated severity scores and positively with the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales social subscale. In a binary logistic regression model, SADOE alone correctly classified 74.1% of cases, which rose to 85.2% when combined with cognitive development. Conclusions This work suggests that a brief behavioral measure pitting a high-interest nonsocial stimulus against the innate draw of social partners can serve as a feasible cross-species measure of social orienting, with implications for genetically informative behavioral phenotyping of social deficits in ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Although nearly three decades have passed since genetically modified crops (so-called ‘GMOs’) were widely commercialized, vociferous debate remains about the use of biotechnology in agriculture, despite a worldwide scientific consensus on their safety and utility. This study analyzes the volume and tenor of the GMO conversation as it played out on social and traditional media between 2018 and 2020, looking at 103,084 online and print articles published in English-language media around the world as well as 1,716,071 social media posts. To our knowledge, our analysis is the first comprehensive survey of the shifting traditional and online media discourse on this issue during this time period. While the volume of traditional media coverage of GMOs increased significantly during the period, this was combined with a dramatic drop in the volume of social media posts of over 80%. Traditional media tended to be somewhat more positive in their coverage than social media in 2018 and 2019, but that gap disappeared in 2020. Both traditional and social media saw trends toward increasing favorability, with the positive trend especially robust in social media. The large decline in volume of social media posts, combined with a strong trend toward greater favorability, may indicate a drop in the salience of the GMO debate among the wider population even while the volume of coverage in traditional media increased. Overall, our results suggest that both social and traditional media may be moving toward a more favorable and less polarized conversation on ag-biotech overall.

Are high school students ready for their postgraduate education or a career that may not have been invented yet? As teachers focus on career prep and the necessary future-ready skills in the classroom, teachers are using technology to hone skills necessary for students' future success. Success in higher education or career pursuits requires students to develop a combination of technology through student-centered, project-based learning around the 4Cs (critical thinking/problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity/innovation). The literature on technology skills and 4C skills has historically focused on one set of skills or the other in isolation. This research addresses this gap in the literature by comparing the acquisition of the two skill sets to each other in the same (1:1 technology) environment. This is a mixed methods study using survey data collected from pre-service teachers in an education course. The study aims to understand what technology and 4C skills pre-service teachers who graduated from a 1:1 technology high school possess. The findings of this study showed that the respondents are more prepared and comfortable using their 4C skills than their technology skills. The potential implications of technology and 4C skills deficiencies and strengths on future teaching practices are discussed. technology) environment.

Voltage-controlled magnetic random-access memory is promising for high-performance computing applications. Here, a perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction structure with high voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy coefficient is developed, allowing sub-volt and sub-nanosecond precessional switching.

Misinformation is a serious problem in scientific debates ranging from climate change to vaccines to nuclear power. In this study we quantitatively assess the phenomenon of misinformation – defined as information which is at variance with widely-accepted scientific consensus – on genetically modified crops and food (“GMOs”) in the mainstream and online news media over a two-year period. We found an overall falsehood rate of 9% with a potential readership of 256 million. None of the misinformation was positive in sentiment; most was negative. About a fifth of Africa’s media coverage on GMOs contained misinformation, a worrying finding given the potential for genetic engineering to deliver improved nutrition and food security in the continent. We conclude that misinformation about GMOs in the mainstream media is still a significant problem, and outranks the proportion of misinformation in other comparable debates such as COVID-19 and vaccines.

Abstract Background Spawning migrations are a widespread phenomenon among fishes, often occurring in response to environmental conditions prompting movement into reproductive habitats (migratory cues). However, for many species, individual fish may choose not to migrate, and research suggests that conditions preceding the spawning season (migratory primers) may influence this decision. Few studies have provided empirical descriptions of these prior conditions, partly due to a lack of long-term data allowing for robust multi-year comparisons. To investigate how primers and cues interact to shape the spawning migrations of coastal fishes, we use acoustic telemetry data from Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis) in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA. A contingent of Snook migrate between rivers and coastal spawning sites, varying annually in both the proportion of the population that migrates and the timing of migration within the spawning season. However, the specific environmental factors that serve as migratory primers and cues remain unknown. Methods We used eight years of acoustic telemetry data (2012–2019) from 173 tagged Common Snook to investigate how primers and cues influence migratory patterns at different temporal scales. We hypothesize that (1) interannual differences in hydrologic conditions preceding the spawning season contribute to the number of individuals migrating each year, and (2) specific environmental cues trigger the timing of migrations during the spawning season. We used GLMMs to model both the annual and seasonal migratory response in relation to flow characteristics (water level, rate of change in water level), other hydrologic/abiotic conditions (temperature, salinity), fish size, and phenological cues independent of riverine conditions (photoperiod, lunar cycle). Results We found that the extent of minimum marsh water level prior to migration and fish size influence the proportion of Snook migrating each year, and that high river water level and daily rates of change serve as primary cues triggering migration timing. Conclusion Our findings illustrate how spawning migrations are shaped by environmental factors acting at different temporal scales and emphasize the importance of long-term movement data in understanding these patterns. Research providing mechanistic descriptions of conditions that promote migration and reproduction can help inform management decisions aimed at conserving ecologically and economically important species.

Self-assembled PbSe quantum dot (QD) superlattices are a class of materials that promises novel mesoscale electronic properties due to electronic coupling between individual QDs. Here, the authors reveal distinct electronic states manifested by the quantum confinement of charge carriers in epitaxially formed necking between QDs.

Abstract Background May–Thurner syndrome is a vascular disorder caused by the right common iliac artery compressing the left common iliac vein against the lumbar spine, causing distal venous stasis and potentially leading to fibrous change in the venous wall structure. Although May–Thurner syndrome is most commonly discovered in females upon investigation of new-onset deep vein thrombosis, we present the case of an otherwise healthy 29-year-old male with severe May–Thurner syndrome who presented with seizures, bilateral deep vein thrombosis, and diffuse pulmonary emboli. Seizures constituted the earliest presenting symptoms for the patient. Although it is difficult to prove that the patient’s seizures were related to the May–Thurner syndrome, this possible association renders this case extraordinary. Case presentation This report describes the case of a 29-year-old previously healthy white male with a severe case of left-sided May–Thurner syndrome that required extensive medical and interventional treatment. The patient experienced two seizures, one month apart, both of which occurred while residing at high altitude. The patient had no prior history of seizures, and epilepsy was ruled out. Three weeks after the second seizure, he presented to the emergency room with hemoptysis, dyspnea, and severe leg pain. Sites of thrombus were confirmed in both legs and diffusely in the lungs. Etiological work-up after treatment with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator revealed May–Thurner syndrome. Hematology workup including genetic testing showed no evidence of coagulopathy. Bilateral common iliac venous stents were placed to attempt definitive treatment. Despite stenting, the patient had another thrombotic event with associated sequelae after discontinuation of anticoagulation. The patient has not had another seizure since the stents were placed. Despite the negative testing, the patient remains on lifelong chemoprophylaxis in the event of an undiscovered hypercoagulopathy. Conclusions The care team theorizes that the seizures resulted from hypoxia due to May–Thurner syndrome-induced hemostasis and associated thrombotic events, the high-altitude location of his residence at the time he experienced the seizures, and shallow breathing during sleep. For patients with lower limb venous thrombosis, May–Thurner syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Endovascular treatment followed by extended prophylactic anticoagulation therapy until the patient is determined to be no longer at risk for thrombosis is recommended. Post-venoplasty thrombosis is a common complication of endovascular treatment of May–Thurner syndrome and should be carefully monitored.