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To address the persistent underrepresentation of women and racial and ethnic minorities in STEM, the current study utilized a quasi-experimental posttest waitlist control group approach to examine the effect of a 1-year virtual peer mentoring program on the academic, professional, and psychosocial outcomes of graduate mentors and undergraduate mentees enrolled in STEM degree programs at two historically black institutions. The findings demonstrated that mentors and mentees participating in the mentoring program experienced increased levels of community, STEM achievement, career self-efficacy, and intent to persist in STEM degrees and careers. Mentors experienced increased interest in science, engineering, and technology, and mentees experienced increased interest in science, engineering, and mathematics. The implications of the program, especially among women and racial and ethnic minorities enrolled in historically black institutions, are discussed, as well as suggestions for future study.

Plasmacytoid urothelial carcinoma (PUC) is a newly recognized rare variant of urothelial carcinoma, which is now being increasingly diagnosed prospectively as well as by retrospective analysis of cases with a poor prognosis. Morphologically, these tumors simulate plasma cell neoplasms and pose a diagnostic challenge. Identifying this variant is essential in two aspects: therapy and prognosis. Here, we present a case who underwent multiple transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) procedures, each with a diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma, the plasmacytoid type which was confirmed on radical cystectomy, and after 1 year, the patient presented with duodenal metastasis. We discuss the morphological aspects of differentiating this tumor from variants of urothelial carcinoma and other tumors with a plasmacytoid appearance. Despite the recognition and aggressive treatment, the patient expires within 2 years of the first diagnosis of bladder carcinoma.

Objective: A biallelic missense mutation in mitofusin 2 (MFN2) causes multiple symmetric lipomatosis and partial lipodystrophy, implicating disruption of mitochondrial fusion or interaction with other organelles in adipocyte differentiation, growth and/or survival. In this study, we aimed to document the impact of loss of mitofusin 1 (Mfn1) or 2 (Mfn2) on adipogenesis in cultured cells. Methods: We characterised adipocyte differentiation of wildtype (WT), Mfn1-/- and Mfn2-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in which Mfn1 or 2 levels were reduced using siRNA. Results: Mfn1-/- MEFs displayed striking fragmentation of the mitochondrial network, with surprisingly enhanced propensity to differentiate into adipocytes, as assessed by lipid accumulation, expression of adipocyte markers (Plin1, Fabp4, Glut4, Adipoq), and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. RNA sequencing revealed a corresponding pro-adipogenic transcriptional profile including Pparg upregulation. Mfn2-/- MEFs also had a disrupted mitochondrial morphology, but in contrast to Mfn1-/- MEFs they showed reduced expression of adipocyte markers. Mfn1 and Mfn2 siRNA mediated knockdown studies in 3T3-L1 adipocytes generally replicated these findings. Conclusions: Loss of Mfn1 but not Mfn2 in cultured pre-adipocyte models is pro-adipogenic. This suggests distinct, non-redundant roles for the two mitofusin orthologues in adipocyte differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimWe designed a study to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of two soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors, 1-(1-propanoylpiperidin-4-yl)-3-(4-trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)urea (TPPU) and trans-4-{4-[3-(4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl)-ureido]cyclohexyloxy}benzoic acid (t-TUCB), in ischemia-reperfusion (IR) model.MethodsCardioprotective effects of the sEH inhibitors were evaluated against IR-induced myocardial damage in hearts from normal, hypertensive, and diabetic rats using Langendorff's apparatus. In addition, the effect of sEH inhibitors on endothelial function was evaluated in vitro and ex vivo using isolated rat thoracic aorta.ResultsIschemia-reperfusion (IR) increased the myocardial damage in hearts from normal rats. IR-induced myocardial damage was augmented in hearts isolated from hypertensive and diabetic rats. Myocardial damage as evident from increase in the activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) in heart perfusate was associated with significant decrease in the heart rate and developed tension, and increase in the resting tension in isolated heart. Both sEH inhibitors protected the heart in normal, hypertensive, and diabetic rats subjected to IR injury. The sEH inhibitor t-TUCB relaxed phenylephrine precontracted aorta from normal rats. Relaxant effect of acetylcholine (ACh) was reduced in aortas from diabetic and hypertensive rats compared to normal rats. Pretreatment of sEH inhibitors to diabetic and hypertensive rats increased relaxant effect of ACh on aortas isolated from these rats.ConclusionsProphylactic treatment with sEH inhibitors decreased myocardial damage due to IR, hypertension and diabetes, and decreased endothelial dysfunction created by diabetes and hypertension. Therefore, inhibitors of sEH are useful probes to study cardiovascular pathology, and inhibition of the sEH is a potential approach in the management of IR-induced cardiac damage and endothelial dysfunction-related cardiovascular disorders.

Abstract Student enrollment continues to increase in online programs, but there is concern surrounding the reportedly high rates of attrition in online classes compared to face-to-face classes. Undergraduate students are poorly prepared and lack the human agency necessary for success in the online learning environment. To address the lack of persistence of undergraduate online students, universities must create and implement interventions that prepare students for the online learning environment and help them develop as autonomous learners. This study examined whether differences in self-regulation, self-direction, and online learning self-efficacy exist between students participating in an experimental high-impact First-Semester Seminar (FSS) class and a traditional FSS class while controlling for pre-existing factors. A quantitative, quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest research design was used for this study with nonequivalent control groups, and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and follow up analyses of covariances (ANCOVA) were used to analyze the data. MANCOVA results revealed a statistically significant difference between groups. Follow-up ANCOVAs revealed differences between the posttest scores of the traditional FSS class and the high-impact FSS class on the measurements for self-directed learning and self-regulated learning.

Background and aims: Aberrations in the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) locus are associated with poor prognosis in pediatric precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) patients. The primary objective of this pilot study is to enhance our understanding of the IgH phenotype by exploring the intracellular chiral metabolome. Materials and methods: Leukemia cells were isolated from the bone marrow of BCP-ALL pediatric patients at diagnosis. The samples' metabolome and transcriptome were characterized using untargeted chiral metabolomic and next-generation sequencing transcriptomic analyses. Results: For the first time D-amino acids were identified in the leukemic cells' intracellular metabolome from the bone marrow niche. Chiral metabolic signatures at diagnosis was indicative of a resistant phenotype. Through integrated network analysis and Pearson correlation, confirmation was obtained regarding the association of the IgH phenotype with several genes linked to poor prognosis. Conclusion: The findings of this study have contributed to the understanding that the chiral metabolome plays a role in the poor prognosis observed in an exceptionally rare patient cohort. The findings include elevated D-amino acid incorporation in the IgH group, the emergence of several unknown, potentially enantiomeric, metabolites, and insights into metabolic pathways that all warrant further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyphenated plasma mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for ultra-sensitive measurements in aqueous solutions. Our team investigated elevated levels of aluminium, manganese, nickel and chromium in brewed beverage samples (tea). Tea is a popular beverage and is consumed on a regular basis by adults and children. Elevated concentrations of toxins could be detrimental to the human body and remediation measures are necessary to reduce the levels of these metal toxins in tea leaves. Eight brands of tea samples were analysed for toxic trace metals after brewing in ultrapure Millipore water. A study of this nature, where metal toxins are extracted by boiling, is relatively underexplored. High resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer was employed to examine the levels of the elements of interest. The performance of the instrument was validated using certified reference standards. Minor perturbations in performance were adjusted by use of an internal standard. The selected elements produce elevated levels in excess of a factor of 20 in some cases, compared to European Union standards for drinking water. These toxins tend to originate from the soil and water used to cultivate the tea leaves, and possibly from the chemical processes linked to the production of the tea leaves. It may be possible to use these elevated elemental levels to identify or “fingerprint” the country of origin of the corresponding tea sample. Our work could be considered a valuable source of reference data, and could contribute to sustainable development.

Background: Ewing sarcoma is a malignant tumour found mainly in childhood and adolescence. The present study aims at analyzing the data on Ewing sarcoma cases of bone from the National Cancer Registry Programme, India to provide incidence, patterns, and trends in the Indian population. Materials and Methods: The data of five Population Based Cancer Registries (PBCR) of Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Bhopal and Delhi over 30 years period (1982– 2011) were used to calculate the Age Specific and Age Standardized Incidence Rates (ASpR and ASIR), and trends in incidence was analyzed by linear and Joinpoint Regression. Results: Ewing sarcoma comprised around 15 % of all bone malignancies. Sixty-eight percent were 0–19 years, with 1.6 times risk of tumour in bones of limbs as compared to other bones. The highest incidence rate (per million) was in the 10–14 years age group (male −4.4, female −2.9) with significantly increasing trend in ASpR observed in both sexes. Pooled ASIR per million for all ages was higher in male (1.6) than female (1.0) with an increasing rate ratio of ASIR with increase in age. Trend of pooled ASIR for all ages was significantly increased in both sexes. Twelve percent cases were reported in ≥30 years of age. Conclusion: This paper has described population based measurements on burden and trends in incidence of skeletal Ewing in India. These may steer further research questions on the clinical and molecular epidemiology to explain factors associated with the increasing incidence of Ewing sarcoma bone observed in India. Keywords: Ewing sarcoma, Bone, Incidence, Cancer Registry, India