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Purpose Among homicides in the United States, intimate partners kill almost 50% of female and 10% of male victims. Intimate partner violence (IPV) also contributes to an estimated 6% of suicides. These trends suggest that opportunities for IPV interventions prior to the fatalities may have been missed. Thus, researchers must investigate the context and circumstances of IPV-related fatalities to inform effective prevention strategy development. There are two primary national fatality databases that can be used to examine such factors: the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS, homicide and suicides); and the Uniform Crime Reporting-Supplementary Homicide Reports (UCR-SHR, homicides). These datasets include data on many IPV-related violent deaths but are limited by variations in data quality. Method This critical review summarizes opportunities and challenges when examining IPV-related fatalities using these national datasets. To document how the current literature is conceptualizing IPV, a rapid review on IPV-related homicide and suicide articles was performed (2019-2022). Missingness analyses were conducted to describe limitations in key dataset variables. Results These datasets enable tracking IPV-related fatalities nationally over time. However, issues with the operationalization of variables that record IPV circumstances, particularly in the UCR-SHR, and high levels of missingness represent significant barriers to research. Novel methodologies can optimize the use of these datasets. Conclusion National-level datasets enable researchers to examine IPV-related fatalities, evaluate policy differences between states, and monitor trends and disparities. This research can inform key recommendations for interventions to prevent IPV-related fatalities., Author(s): Millan A. AbiNader [sup.1] , Laurie M. Graham [sup.2] , Julie M. Kafka [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.25879.31, 0000 0004 1936 8972, School of Social Policy and Practice, University [...]

Although male-focused sexual and relationship violence (SRV) prevention programs are widely promulgated, limited guidance concerning how programs should be implemented for rigorous evaluation exists. To help develop evidence for such guidance, this paper reports on 20 interviews with leaders at youth-serving community-based organizations (CBOs) and educational institutions, which are sites for male-focused SRV prevention programs. This study examined: (1) how programs can be designed to engage male participants; and (2) how youth-serving CBOs and educational institutions can partner with researchers for evaluations. Findings underscore the importance of attending to the unique needs of program participants, their parents/guardians, and host organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) are found in a variety of marine cold‐water fishes where they prevent freezing by binding to nascent ice crystals. Their diversity (types I, II, III and antifreeze glycoproteins), as well as their scattered taxonomic distribution hint at their complex evolutionary history. In particular, type I AFPs appear to have arisen in response to the Late Cenozoic Ice Age that began ~ 34 million years ago via convergence in four different groups of fish that diverged from lineages lacking this AFP. The progenitor of the alanine‐rich α‐helical type I AFPs of sculpins has now been identified as lunapark, an integral membrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum. Following gene duplication and loss of all but three of the 15 exons, the final exon, which encoded a glutamate‐ and glutamine‐rich segment, was converted to an alanine‐rich sequence by a combination of frameshifting and mutation. Subsequent gene duplications produced numerous isoforms falling into four distinct groups. The origin of the flounder type I AFP is quite different. Here, a small segment from the original antiviral protein gene was amplified and the rest of the coding sequence was lost, while the gene structure was largely retained. The independent origins of type I AFPs with up to 83% sequence identity in flounder and sculpin demonstrate strong convergent selection at the level of protein sequence for alanine‐rich single alpha helices that bind to ice. Recent acquisition of these AFPs has allowed sculpins to occupy icy seawater niches with reduced competition and predation from other teleost species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial adhesins attach their hosts to surfaces that the bacteria will colonize. This surface adhesion occurs through specific ligand‐binding domains located towards the distal end of the long adhesin molecules. However, recognizing which of the many adhesin domains are structural and which are ligand binding has been difficult up to now. Here we have used the protein structure modeling program AlphaFold2 to predict structures for these giant 0.2‐ to 1.5‐megadalton proteins. Crystal structures previously solved for several adhesin regions are in good agreement with the models. Whereas most adhesin domains are linked in a linear fashion through their N‐ and C‐terminal ends, ligand‐binding domains can be recognized by budding out from a companion core domain so that their ligand‐binding sites are projected away from the axis of the adhesin for maximal exposure to their targets. These companion domains are "split" in their continuity by projecting the ligand‐binding domain outwards. The "split domains" are mostly β‐sandwich extender modules, but other domains like a β‐solenoid can serve the same function. Bioinformatic analyses of Gram‐negative bacterial sequences revealed wide variety ligand‐binding domains are used in their Repeats‐in‐Toxin adhesins. The ligands for many of these domains have yet to be identified but known ligands include various cell‐surface glycans, proteins, and even ice. Recognizing the ligands to which the adhesins bind could lead to ways of blocking colonization by bacterial pathogens. Engineering different ligand‐binding domains into an adhesin has the potential to change the surfaces to which bacteria bind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, considerable and increasing attention has been paid to the high prevalence of sexual and intimate partner violence, stalking, and sexual harassment (i.e., interpersonal violence) on college and university campuses. Consequences of these victimizations are vast and long-lasting. Given the potential impact of dynamic changes in federal guidance on how to address interpersonal violence on campuses, it is even more critical for faculty from many different disciplines focused on anti-violence research and practice to be involved in efforts to intervene with and prevent such violence. In this commentary, we outline opportunities for faculty leadership in the areas of research, teaching, and service based on available research in these areas as well as our collective experiences as members of academia (e.g., students, former students, faculty) and former intimate partner violence and sexual assault service providers. Additionally, we discuss challenges that may arise for faculty (e.g., fixed-term faculty, adjunct faculty, pre-tenure assistant professors, tenured professors) taking on such leadership opportunities, such as increased workload and emotional labor, and make recommendations to help mitigate these challenges., Author(s): Laurie M. Graham [sup.1] , Annelise Mennicke [sup.2] , Cynthia F. Rizo [sup.1] , Leila Wood [sup.3] , Cecilia W. Mengo [sup.4] Author Affiliations: (Aff1) 0000000122483208, grid.10698.36, School of [...]

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