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Introduction: Adolescence is a developmental stage that often coincides with increasing sleep problems. Focus groups were conducted to inform development of an adolescent eHealth sleep intervention by exploring opinions about (1) healthy sleep practices, and (2) using an eHealth intervention., Methods: Adolescents 14-18 years old experiencing symptoms of insomnia based on the Insomnia Sleep Index, with and without recurrent pain, and associated stakeholders (i.e., parents, school personnel, and health care providers) were recruited. Across six online focus groups, 24 adolescents with insomnia participated (14 pain-free, 10 with recurrent pain; 10 male, 14 female). Across seven online focus groups, 22 stakeholders participated, including 8 parents, 9 school professionals, and 5 health care providers (10 male, 8 female). Using a content analysis, subthemes were induced from transcripts., Results: Most healthy sleep practices were perceived as reasonable for adolescents to implement, except avoiding technology before bed and using bedrooms only for sleep. Three primary barriers to sleep practices were identified, including a variable schedule due to lifestyle factors, technology at night, and academics interfering with sleep, and only in the pain group, the barrier related to pain was identified. Content addressing adolescent-specific barriers was considered important to include in a sleep intervention. Desirable eHealth components included interactive features, videos, audio, and pictures to present information. A common barrier to using an eHealth sleep intervention was the program feeling too academic, with accessibility of the sleep information and strategies as a common facilitator., Conclusions: This research represents the first step in a user-centered approach to developing an adolescent eHealth sleep intervention. These results provide insights from a range of perspectives on guiding adolescents to follow healthy sleep practices. Next, these findings will be integrated in the development of an eHealth intervention for adolescents with and without recurrent pain.

In 2021, the World Health Organization reclassified glioblastoma, the most common form of adult brain cancer, into isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)-wild-type glioblastomas and grade IV IDH mutant (G4 IDHm) astrocytomas. For both tumor types, intratumoral heterogeneity is a key contributor to therapeutic failure. To better define this heterogeneity, genome-wide chromatin accessibility and transcription profiles of clinical samples of glioblastomas and G4 IDHm astrocytomas were analyzed at single-cell resolution. These profiles afforded resolution of intratumoral genetic heterogeneity, including delineation of cell-to-cell variations in distinct cell states, focal gene amplifications, as well as extrachromosomal circular DNAs. Despite differences in IDH mutation status and significant intratumoral heterogeneity, the profiled tumor cells shared a common chromatin structure defined by open regions enriched for nuclear factor 1 transcription factors (NFIA and NFIB). Silencing of NFIA or NFIB suppressed in vitro and in vivo growths of patient-derived glioblastomas and G4 IDHm astrocytoma models. These findings suggest that despite distinct genotypes and cell states, glioblastoma/G4 astrocytoma cells share dependency on core transcriptional programs, yielding an attractive platform for addressing therapeutic challenges associated with intratumoral heterogeneity.

If a browse damage index indicates that a tree has been 50% browsed by herbivores, does this mean half the leaves are entirely eaten or are all the leaves half eaten? Were the affected leaves old or young? Large or small? In sunshine or shade? Understanding what effect browsing will have on the photosynthetic capacity and the plant's survival ability clearly requires a greater understanding of browsing strategy across the canopy than can be given by a single index value. We developed stochastic models of leaf production, growth and consumption using data from kamahi (Weinmannia racemosa) trees in New Zealand which have been browsed by possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), to ascertain which of six feasible browsing strategies possums are most likely to be employing. We compared the area distribution of real fallen leaves to model output in order to select the best model, and used the model to predict the age distribution of leaves on the tree and thus infer its photosynthetic capability. The most likely browsing strategy that possums employ on kamahi trees is a preference for virgin (i.e. previously unbrowsed) leaves, consistent with the idea that browsing increases the production of chemical plant defences. More generally, our results show that herbivore browsing strategy can significantly change the whole-plant photosynthetic capability of any plant and hence its ability to survive, and therefore, herbivore damage indices should be used in conjunction with more detailed information about herbivore browsing strategy.