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How did I get to become a cell biologist? Or, more generally, why do things happen the way they do? The answer provided by the philosopher Democritus and later adopted by Jacques Monod is "everything existing in the universe is the fruit of chance and necessity." While I read Monod's book Chance and Necessity as an undergraduate student, little did I appreciate the accuracy of this citation and how much of my scientific trajectory would be guided by chance.

Copyright of Der Pathologe is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Der Pathologe is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

John Avise's career has coincided with, and to a considerable degree, guided the rise and expansion of molecular ecology and molecular evolution. Indeed, he has been a preeminent leader in both fields. John's first scientific paper on the evolutionary genetics of cave fishes, published in 1972 as an outcome of his Master's thesis, quickly became a Citation Classic. This early application of protein electrophoresis to natural populations was conducted in Robert K. Selander's laboratory at the University of Texas. It was probably the first multi‐locus allozyme survey of any fish species. It was an auspicious beginning for a highly productive and highly successful scientific career. John has published nearly 300 scientific articles, plus nine books — and still counting. He enjoys the rare distinction of being a ‘Highly Cited Author’ on the ISI Web of Knowledge list.Listing the scientific milestones in John's career would take much space. A sample should suffice. In the late 1970s at the University of Georgia, he introduced, with Bob Lansman, mitochondrial (mt) DNA methods to population biology. Wes Brown, working independently of Avise and Lansman during this same time period, was the other pioneer who recognized and documented the distinctive molecular and transmission properties of mtDNA that make it such a powerful tool for research in population genetics. mtDNA remains one of the most popular and successful molecular systems for a great variety of studies in molecular ecology and evolution.John Avise is the acknowledged father of the field of phylogeography. He coined the term, defined the discipline's major principles, wrote the leading textbook (Phylogeography), and provided many of the field's earliest and still most fascinating empirical results. He was among the early leaders who came to appreciate the multi‐dimensional genetic perspectives in conservation biology, as witnessed in Conservation Genetics, an early compendium that he co‐edited with Jim Hamrick. John has been a tireless advocate for nature and for natural history studies. He has led the successful melding of molecular genetics with traditional biological and field observations. His seminal and widely used textbook, Molecular Markers, Natural History, and Evolution (now in its second edition), remains the basic reference and touchstone for these studies.John has investigated a great variety of genetic processes in nature, often in collaboration with others, notably his 24 graduate students, of which many have become prominent scientists. Influential and oft‐classic papers that emerged from Avise's lab have encompassed, among other topics: histocompatibility polymorphisms and clonal diversity in coral reef invertebrates; phylogeographic analyses of individual species and regional biotas, such as the terrestrial, maritime, and freshwater faunas of the southeastern United States; genetic analysis of hybridization and introgression phenomena in vertebrate and invertebrate taxa, which include the introduction and application of cytonuclear disequilibrium statistics; population genetics and evolution of endangered species of marine turtles; population genetics of clonal vertebrates, including gynogenetic and hybridogenetic fishes and polyembryonic mammals; speciation patterns and processes in birds, fishes, and other animal groups; genetic analyses of mating systems and reproductive behaviors in many invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes; and much, much more.John Avise's many achievements have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. Among them: Sloan Fellowship in Molecular Evolution, Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation, Caesar Kleberg Foundation Medal for Wildlife Conservation, Brewster Memorial Award from the American Ornithologists’ Union, and Wilhelmine Key Award from the American Genetics Association. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences. John has served as President of the Society for the Study of Evolution, the American Genetics Association, and the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution. He has served on the editorial boards of 15 journals in molecular biology, ecology, evolution, and conservation.John was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1948 and attended the University of Michigan, receiving a B.S. degree in Natural Resources. His Master's degree in Zoology at the University of Texas preceded a two‐year stint as a lab technician for Michael H. Smith at the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory in Aiken, South Carolina. He then joined Francisco Ayala's research group at the University of California, Davis, where he received his Ph.D. in Genetics. In 1975, he joined the faculty at the University of Georgia (UGA) and worked his way up the ranks from Assistant Professor to Distinguished Professor of Genetics. He retired from UGA in 2005 to assume his current position of Distinguished Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California, Irvine. His research and writing continue unabated and he is co‐organizing with Ayala a colloquium series sponsored by the National Academy of Sciences, under the umbrella title In the Light of Evolution, with each colloquium devoted to a different biological topic that is important to society as well as scientifically interesting. The first colloquium, entitled Adaptation and Complex Design, was held at the Beckman Center of the National Academy of Sciences in Irvine, December 1–2, 2006. The second colloquium, on Biodiversity and Extinction, will be held December 7–8, 2007, also at the Academy's Beckman Center in Irvine.John has written ‘trade’ books for audiences beyond the scientific community. They include Captivating Life, an autobiography as well as a historical record of the birth and development of molecular ecology; The Genetic Gods, an essay on evolution and religion; The Hope, Hype, and Reality of Genetic Engineering, on genetically modified organisms; Genetics in the Wild, a compilation of nature's most intriguing genetic phenomena; and, most recently, Evolutionary Pathways in Nature, a thoughtful and broadly‐encompassing examination of the power and utility of phylogenetic perspectives in biology.John thinks of himself as a natural historian at heart, a geneticist in mindset, and a concerned environmentalist in his gut. I am pleased to convey his deep appreciation for this year's Molecular Ecology Prize, which he graciously accepts on behalf of his students and postdocs, who are listed below.

The 2003 International Prize for Biology was awarded to Shinya Inoue for his pioneering work in visualizing dynamic processes within living cells using the light microscope. He and his scientific descendants are now pushing light microscopy even further by developing new techniques such as imaging single molecules, visualizing processes in living animals, and correlating results from light and electron microscopy.

Physician-scientists play a crucial role in advancing medical knowledge and patient care, yet the long periods of time required to complete training may impede expansion of this workforce. We examined the relationship between postgraduate training and time to receipt of NIH or Veterans Affairs career development awards (CDAs) for physician-scientists in internal medicine. Data from NIH RePORTER were analyzed for internal medicine residency graduates who received specific CDAs (K08, K23, K99, or IK2) in 2022. Additionally, information on degrees and training duration was collected. Internal medicine residency graduates constituted 19% of K awardees and 28% of IK2 awardees. Of MD-PhD internal medicine-trained graduates who received a K award, 92% received a K08 award; of MD-only graduates who received a K award, a majority received a K23 award. The median time from medical school graduation to CDA was 9.6 years for K awardees and 10.2 years for IK2 awardees. The time from medical school graduation to K or IK2 award was shorter for US MD-PhD graduates than US MD-only graduates. We propose that the time from medical school graduation to receipt of CDAs must be shortened to accelerate training and retention of physician-scientists.

Research and development of military-required innovations are usually funded through the issuance of grants and contracts. The limitations of these funding methods are the a priori specifications and objectives that limit creativity and often do not produce capabilities beyond the desired outcomes or leverage the best ideas and solutions available. This limited engagement of commercial industry to develop military-required innovations usually relies solely on government funding and receipt of proposals from companies whose business model is built on receiving government grants and contracts, with the government owning most of the risks. Because the produced capabilities or products are designed to be military-unique, there is a limited or no commercial market available, usually driving the price per unit extremely high to the point that the military cannot afford to procure products in quantities sufficient to enable businesses to keep production lines open, however, for military-required or desired capabilities or products that have a commercial market, there are other funding pathways available to develop products by partnering with industry, academia, and other non-government organizations and leveraging their ideas and funding. One such way of engaging the commercial industry is through the use of prize competitions. This often under-utilized pathway has several notable strengths such as (1) reduced risks and costs for the military to develop novel capabilities and products; (2) new and novel creative solutions to solve military problems; (3) utilizing a results-oriented approach that funds the successful achievement of acceptance criteria versus funding of potential to achieve; (4) enticing investors by increased competition for a successful product or capability; and (5) delivery of a commercially available, affordable, field-tested, and viable capabilities and products. Prize competitions may be used by any/all federal agencies as authorized by Congressional Public Laws and Federal regulations. The specifics of this pathway for funding pathway and applications for use by medical researchers, developers, and project/program managers are spelled out in the article, along with the regulatory guidance and resources for finding out more about current and past prize competitions., (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States 2023. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.)

Advances in biomedical research require a robust physician scientist workforce. Despite being equally successful at securing early career awards from the NIH as men, women MD-PhD physician scientists are less likely to serve as principal investigators on mid- and later careers awards. Here, we discuss the causes of gender disparities in academic medicine, the implications of losing highly trained women physician scientists, and the institutional and systemic changes needed to sustain this pool of talented investigators., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The objective of the ASPIRE award programme of the International Association for Health Professions Education is to go beyond traditional accreditation processes. Working in partnership with the ASPIRE Academy, the programme aims to encourage and support excellence in health professions education, in part by showcasing and exemplifying best practices. Each year ASPIRE award applications received from institutions across the globe describe their greatest achievements in a variety of areas, one of which is curriculum development, where evaluation of applications is carried out using a framework of six domains. These are described in this paper as key elements of excellence, specifically, Organisational Structure and Curriculum Management; Underlying Educational Strategy; Content Specification and Pedagogy; Teaching and Learning Methods and Environment; Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation; Scholarship. Using examples from the content of submissions of three medical schools from very different settings that have been successful in the past few years, achievements in education processes and outcomes of institutions around the world are highlighted in ways that are relevant to their local and societal contexts.

The triceps surae muscle, composed of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles, plays a major role in forward propulsion during walking. By generating positive ankle power during the push-off phase, these muscles produce the propulsive force required for forward progression. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that applying functional electrical stimulation (FES) to these muscles (soleus, gastrocnemius or the combination of the two) during the push-off phase would increase the ankle power generation and, consequently, enhance forward propulsion during walking in able-bodied adults. Fifteen young adults walked at their self-selected speed under four conditions: no stimulation, with bilateral stimulation of the soleus, gastrocnemius, and both muscles simultaneously. Muscles were stimulated just below the discomfort threshold during push-off, i.e., from heel-off to toe-off. FES significantly increased ankle power (+22 to 28 % depending on conditions), propulsive force (+15 to 18 %) and forward progression parameters such as walking speed (+14 to 20 %). Furthermore, walking speed was significantly higher (+5%) for combined soleus and gastrocnemius stimulation compared with gastrocnemius stimulation alone, with no further effect on other gait parameters. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that applying FES to the gastrocnemius and soleus, separately or simultaneously during the push-off phase, enhanced ankle power generation and, consequently, forward propulsion during walking in able-bodied adults. Combined stimulation of the soleus and gastrocnemius provided the greatest walking speed enhancement, without affecting other propulsion parameters. These findings could be useful for designing FES-based solutions for improving gait in healthy people with propulsion impairment, such as the elderly., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of sarcopenia and lumbar paraspinal muscle composition (PMC) on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after lumbar fusion surgery with 12-month follow-up (12 M-FU)., Methods: A prospective investigation of patients undergoing elective lumbar fusion was conducted. Preoperative MRI-based evaluation of the cross-sectional area (CSA), the functional CSA (fCSA), and the fat infiltration(FI) of the posterior paraspinal muscles (PPM) and the psoas muscle at level L3 was performed. Sarcopenia was defined by the psoas muscle index (PMI) at L3 (CSA Psoas [cm 2 ]/(patients' height [m]) 2 ). PROs included Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), 12-item Short Form Healthy Survey with Physical (PCS-12) and Mental Component Scores (MCS-12) and Numerical Rating Scale back and leg (NRS-L) pain before surgery and 12 months postoperatively. Univariate and multivariable regression determined associations among sarcopenia, PMC and PROs., Results: 135 patients (52.6% female, 62.1 years, BMI 29.1 kg/m 2 ) were analyzed. The univariate analysis demonstrated that a higher FI (PPM) was associated with worse ODI outcomes at 12 M-FU in males. Sarcopenia (PMI) and higher FI (PPM) were associated with worse ODI and MCS-12 at 12 M-FU in females. Sarcopenia and higher FI of the PPM are associated with worse PCS-12 and more leg pain in females. In the multivariable analysis, a higher preoperative FI of the PPM (β = 0.442; p = 0.012) and lower FI of the psoas (β = -0.439; p = 0.029) were associated with a worse ODI at 12 M-FU after adjusting for covariates., Conclusions: Preoperative FI of the psoas and the PPM are associated with worse ODI outcomes one year after lumbar fusion. Sarcopenia is associated with worse ODI, PCS-12 and NRS-L in females, but not males. Considering sex differences, PMI and FI of the PPM might be used to counsel patients on their expectations for health-related quality of life after lumbar fusion., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: To compare the performance of a composite citation score (c-score) and its six constituent citation indices, including H-index, in predicting winners of the Weisenfeld Award in ophthalmologic research. Secondary objectives were to explore career and demographic characteristics of the most highly cited researchers in ophthalmology., Methods: A publicly available database was accessed to compile a set of top researchers in the field of clinical ophthalmology and optometry based on Scopus data from 1996 to 2021. Each citation index was used to construct a multivariable model adjusted for author demographic characteristics. Using area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) analysis, each index's model was evaluated for its ability to predict winners of the Weisenfeld Award in Ophthalmology, a research distinction presented by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). Secondary analyses investigated authors' self-citation rates, career length, gender, and country affiliation over time., Results: Approximately one thousand unique authors publishing primarily in clinical ophthalmology/optometry were analyzed. The c-score outperformed all other citation indices at predicting Weisenfeld Awardees, with an AUC of 0.99 (95% CI: 0.97-1.0). The H-index had an AUC of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.83-0.96). Authors with higher c-scores tended to have longer career lengths and similar self-citation rates compared to other authors. Sixteen percent of authors in the database were identified as female, and 64% were affiliated with the United States of America., Conclusion: The c-score is an effective metric for assessing research impact in ophthalmology, as seen through its ability to predict Weisenfeld Awardees., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Royal College of Ophthalmologists.)

There is a need for schools that train medical and health professionals to reflect on whether their education program is aligned to current demands and challenges. Such a reflection is not a luxury but a necessity, as achieving minimum standards is not enough. A school should aim for excellence and incorporate best practice in their education program. The ASPIRE-to-Excellence award panels have elaborated on examples of excellence in a number of themes in medical and health professional education. These are presented in a series of articles to be published in Medical Teacher in 2024 and 2025. The frameworks and critical elements described in these articles may be used by institutions as a first step in an evaluation of their program. The frameworks and elements described and examples can be used as a resource for schools and other healthcare learning organizations to consider as they endeavor to improve their education program.

The Canadian Society for Immunology (CSI) established a formal Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee with the goal of providing EDI advocacy and leadership within the CSI, as well as in the broader scientific community. A first task of this committee was to review the publicly available historical data on gender representation within the CSI's membership, leadership, award recipients, and conference chairs/presenters as a step in establishing a baseline reference point and monitoring the trajectory of future success in achieving true inclusion. We found that, except for overall membership and a specific subset of awards, all categories showed a historical bias toward men, particularly prior to 2010. Bias persists in various categories, evident even in recent years. However, we note an encouraging trend toward greater gender parity, particularly in the roles of President, symposium presenters, and workshop chairs, especially from 2017 onward. We present these findings as well as our recommendations to enhance inclusivity. These include a more comprehensive collection and secure storage of self-identification data, emphasis on EDI as an essential component of all annual meeting activities, and innovative measures of outreach, collaboration, and leadership with the aim of making the CSI a model for improving EDI in other professional research societies., (Copyright © 2024 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.)

Purpose: Women remain underrepresented in radiology and there is a paucity of literature examining the recognition of their professional contributions to the discipline. The purpose of this study was to examine the gender distribution of award winners across all North American radiology societies., Methods: The gender distribution of 1923 award recipients from 21 North American radiology societies between 1960 and 2021 was examined. Awards were divided into four categories: leadership, teaching, contribution to radiology, and promising new/young societal member. Primary outcome was the total proportion of awards received by gender. All data was compared to the gender distribution of working radiologists in North America., Results: A total of 1923 award recipients were identified between 1960 and 2021. Seventy-nine percent of award recipients were men (n = 1527) and 21 % were women (n = 396). As of 1970, the proportion of women award recipients increased 0.55 % ± 0.07 % each year. The proportion of women receiving radiological awards after 2018 is equal to or surpassing the percentage of women radiologists. Women received 36.4 % of leadership, 33.6 % of promising new member, 30.1 % of teaching, and 14.4 % of lifetime contribution awards., Conclusions: In the last five years, the proportion of women receiving awards was equal to or greater than the proportion of women radiologists. Women received more leadership awards and fewer lifetime contributor awards compared to men., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Resident research has been mandated by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education across all specialties. Southeast Michigan Center for Medical Education (SEMCME) has an annual Research Forum for resident competition, and we assessed the publication status of award-winning presentations., Methods: The SEMCME Research Forum's winning presentations from 1978 to 2018 were reviewed. The author's information and keywords from the abstract's title were used to search PubMed and Google Scholar databases for publications. Descriptive statistics were generally used to characterize the data., Results: Of 147 winning projects, 62% (78/126) were oral and 48% (10/21) were poster presentations; 88 (60%) were published. Obstetrics and gynecology had the highest publication rate (71%), followed by surgical (61%) and medical specialties (48%)., Conclusion: While 60% of the award-winning presentations at the SEMCME Research Forum were published, more work needs to be done to examine the barriers preventing the publication of the remaining projects., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Nobel Prize is one of the most sought-after awards in science and society. However, its reputation is not without complexities, including constraints on laureates and biases in nominations. Navigating the delicate balance between recognition and the tangible impacts of awarded contributions should offer insight into the Prize's significance beyond mere prestige and monetary value. While other awards may boast higher financial rewards, they often lack the same level of prestige. The inclusion of public figures as laureates and the extensive media coverage surrounding the Nobel Prize may further elevate its perceived importance, though this may hide a more nuanced reality. Additionally, the positive associations linked to the name "Nobel" resembling the adjective "noble" can enhance the award's prestige. This subtle connection to "nobility" adds a layer of honor and distinction to the Prize, contributing to its perceived significance and prestige. Moreover, the overrepresentation of Nobel laureates from specific countries prompts scrutiny over the fulfillment of Nobel's testament, which prioritizes contributions to global well-being. This discrepancy raises questions about the inclusivity and global impact of the Prize., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna (SEMI). All rights reserved.)

Organizations that fund research are keen to ensure that their grant selection processes are fair and equitable for all applicants. In 2020, the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation introduced blinding to the first stage of the process used to review applications for Beckman Young Investigator (BYI) awards: applicants were instructed to blind the technical proposal in their initial Letter of Intent by omitting their name, gender, gender-identifying pronouns, and institutional information. Here we examine the impact of this change by comparing the data on gender and institutional prestige of the applicants in the first four years of the new policy (BYI award years 2021-2024) with data on the last four years of the old policy (2017-2020). We find that under the new policy, the distribution of applicants invited to submit a full application shifted from those affiliated with institutions regarded as more prestigious to those outside of this group, and that this trend continued through to the final program awards. We did not find evidence of a shift in the distribution of applicants with respect to gender., Competing Interests: AH, NP, JH No competing interests declared, (© 2024, Hultgren et al.)

BVA held its inaugural Wellbeing Awards at the end of last year and, here, members of one of the winning teams, Blue Cross Merton animal hospital in London, share their experiences of wellbeing initiatives that have had a positive impact., (© 2024 British Veterinary Association.)

A critical element of physician-scientist training is the development and practice of core competencies that promote success in research careers. The ability to develop compelling training and research proposals is one such foundational skill. The NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) individual fellowship for dual-degree students (F30, F31, or F31-Diversity) creates an ideal opportunity to provide formal instruction in grant-writing skills to physician-scientists early in training. In the guided process of preparing a predoctoral fellowship application, students learn to formulate clear short- and long-term research and training goals; construct a comprehensive, well-reasoned, and rigorous proposal; become familiar with funding agency priorities; and gain strategic insights into the peer review system. Beyond building scientific writing skills, the application process for an NRSA F30 or F31 is an opportunity for trainees to strengthen mentor-mentee relationships, identify learning opportunities key to their scientific development, and build effective research and mentoring teams. These skills also apply to developing future postdoctoral mentored K applications or faculty research program grants. Here, we outline key features of the structured proposal development training developed for students in the Yale MD-PhD Program and review outcomes associated with its implementation.

Importance: Students who ride older school buses are often exposed to high levels of exhaust during their commutes, which may adversely affect health and school attendance. As a result, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded millions of dollars to school districts to replace older, highly polluting school buses with newer, cleaner buses., Objective: To leverage the EPA's randomized allocation of funding under the 2012-2016 School Bus Rebate Programs to estimate the association between replacing old, highly polluting buses and changes in district-average standardized test scores., Design, Setting, and Participants: This study examined changes in reading and language arts (RLA) and math test scores among US school district applicants to the EPA's 2012-2016 national School Bus Rebate Programs 1 year before and after each lottery by selection status. Data analysis was conducted from January 15 to July 30, 2023., Exposure: Selection to receive EPA funding to replace older school buses with newer, cleaner alternatives., Main Outcomes and Measures: School district changes in RLA and math test scores among students in grades 3 through 8 before and after the EPA funding lotteries by selection status were measured using an intention-to-treat approach., Results: This study included 1941 school district applicants to the 2012-2106 EPA School Bus Rebate Programs. These districts had a mean (SD) of 14.6 (33.7) schools per district, 8755 (23 776) students per district, and 41.3% (20.2%) of students with free lunch eligibility. Among the applicants, 209 districts (11%) were selected for the clean bus funding. District-average student test scores did not improve among selected districts overall. In secondary analyses, however, districts replacing the oldest, highest polluting buses (ie, pre-1990) experienced significantly greater improvements in district-average test scores in the year after the lottery for RLA and math (SD improvement in test scores, 0.062 [95% CI, 0.050-0.074] and 0.025 [95% CI, 0.011-0.039], respectively) compared with districts without replacements., Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, the EPA funding was not associated with student test scores overall, but in secondary analyses, the replacement of the oldest school buses was associated with improved educational performance. These findings support prioritizing clean bus replacement of the oldest buses as an actionable way for improving students' educational performance.