Extensive cellular multi-tasking within biofilms.

is a soil-dwelling bacterium that can form biofilms, or communities of cells surrounded by a self-produced extracellular matrix. In biofilms, genetically identical cells often exhibit heterogeneous transcriptional phenotypes, so that subpopulations of cells carry out essential yet costly cellular processes that allow the entire population to thrive. Surprisingly, the extent of phenotypic heterogeneity and the relationships between subpopulations of cells within biofilms of even in well-studied bacterial systems like remains largely unknown.

Mental health and cultural continuity among an urban Indigenous population in Toronto, Canada.

Objectives: Mental health and psychiatric disorders significantly affect individuals on personal and social levels. Indigenous populations in Canada have disproportionately high rates of mental health diagnoses. Our Health Counts (OHC) Toronto assessed mental health, racism, family disruption, and cultural continuity among urban Indigenous people.

Cryo-EM structures of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 spike.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron BA.2 sub-lineage has gained in proportion relative to BA.1.

Scaled-Up Multi-Needle Electrospinning Process Using Parallel Plate Auxiliary Electrodes.

Electrospinning has gained much attention in recent years due to its ability to easily produce high-quality polymeric nanofibers. However, electrospinning suffers from limited production capacity and a method to readily scale up this process is needed. One obvious approach includes the use of multiple electrospinning needles operating in parallel.

Structural diversity of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike.

Aided by extensive spike protein mutation, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant overtook the previously dominant Delta variant. Spike conformation plays an essential role in SARS-CoV-2 evolution via changes in receptor-binding domain (RBD) and neutralizing antibody epitope presentation, affecting virus transmissibility and immune evasion. Here, we determine cryo-EM structures of the Omicron and Delta spikes to understand the conformational impacts of mutations in each.

Structural diversity of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron spike.

Aided by extensive spike protein mutation, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant overtook the previously dominant Delta variant. Spike conformation plays an essential role in SARS-CoV-2 evolution via changes in receptor binding domain (RBD) and neutralizing antibody epitope presentation affecting virus transmissibility and immune evasion. Here, we determine cryo-EM structures of the Omicron and Delta spikes to understand the conformational impacts of mutations in each.

A broadly cross-reactive antibody neutralizes and protects against sarbecovirus challenge in mice.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronaviruses 1 (SARS-CoV) and 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, can cause deadly infections. The mortality associated with sarbecovirus infection underscores the importance of developing broadly effective countermeasures against them, which could be key in the prevention and mitigation of current and future zoonotic events. Here, we demonstrate the neutralization of SARS-CoV; bat coronaviruses WIV-1 and RsSHC014; and SARS-CoV-2 variants D614G, B.

Exploring the Birth Stories of Women on the Autism Spectrum.

Objective: To explore birth stories of autistic women to understand how they make sense of the experience of childbirth.

Design: Narrative analysis.

Setting: Online interviews.

Long-distance travel for birthing among Indigenous and non-Indigenous pregnant people in Canada.

Background: For Indigenous Peoples in Canada, birthing on or near traditional territories in the presence of family and community is of foundational cultural and social importance. We aimed to evaluate the association between Indigenous identity and distance travelled for birth in Canada.

Methods: We obtained data from the Maternity Experiences Survey, a national population-based sample of new Canadian people aged 15 years or older who gave birth (defined as mothers) and were interviewed in 2006-2007.

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination and Anaphylaxis: Recommendations of the French Allergy Community and the Montpellier World Health Organization Collaborating Center.

Vaccines against COVID-19 (and its emerging variants) are an essential global intervention to control the current pandemic situation. Anaphylactic reactions have been reported after SARS-CoV2 RNA vaccines. Anaphylaxis is defined as a severe life-threatening generalized or systemic hypersensitivity reaction.

Doping Liquid Crystals of Colloidal Inorganic Nanotubes by Additive-Free Metal Nanoparticles.

Doping liquid-crystal phases with nanoparticles is a fast-growing field with potential breakthroughs due to the combination of the properties brought by the two components. One of the main challenges remains the long-term stability of the hybrid system, requiring complex functionalization of the nanoparticles at the expense of their self-assembly properties. Here we demonstrate the successful synthesis of additive-free noble-metal nanoparticles at the surface of charged inorganic nanotubes.

Furlow Palatoplasty: Should We Also Focus on the Size of the Nasopharynx?

Objectives: (1) To determine the incidence rate of velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) according to 7 speech criteria post-Furlow palatoplasty. (2) To find an anatomical measurement of the cleft palate (or combination of measurements) associated with the occurrence of VPD.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Cytologic features and diagnostic value of PeriView FLEX transbronchial needle aspiration targeting pulmonary nodules.

Background: Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) of peripheral lung nodules can be difficult with conventional devices due to their limited flexibility. A promising new technology for accessing these lesions is the PeriView FLEX TBNA device, which has a flexible spiral-grooved needle. The present study reports the unique cytologic features, diagnostic value, and potential pitfalls of PeriView FLEX TBNA specimens.

Archaeological assessment reveals Earth's early transformation through land use.

Environmentally transformative human use of land accelerated with the emergence of agriculture, but the extent, trajectory, and implications of these early changes are not well understood. An empirical global assessment of land use from 10,000 years before the present (yr B.P.

Barriers to and Facilitators of Successful Early School Transitions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review.

Early school transitions are exciting, yet challenging, experiences for children with special needs, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and their families. Transition to school support practices can help facilitate this difficult process for key stakeholders. The purpose of this systematic review was to synthesize the literature on transition to kindergarten support practice use for children with ASD and other developmental disabilities.

Development and in vivo test of a miniature Raman probe for early cancer detection in the peripheral lung.

The management of cancer in the periphery lung is in critical need of new strategies. Here, the development and test of a novel miniature Raman probe capable of navigating the peripheral lung architecture is reported. The probe was 1.

Initial Clinical Experience With a Flexible Peripheral 21-G Needle Device.

Background: Bronchoscopic techniques can be used to safely sample peripheral lung nodules (PLN), and transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) can further increase the diagnostic yield. Current needle devices not necessarily designed for this indication have limitations. We report our initial experience with a new flexible nitinol peripheral TBNA needle specifically designed for such sampling.

Reversible strain alignment and reshuffling of nanoplatelet stacks confined in a lamellar block copolymer matrix.

We designed a nanocomposite consisting of CdSe nanoplatelets dispersed in the form of short stacks in the polybutadiene domains of a polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene (SBS) thermoplastic elastomer matrix. Under strain, the material displays reversible, macroscopic anisotropic properties, e.g.

Extra-articular subcutaneous "inverted king post-truss" ligament reconstruction for severe swan neck deformity (snapping finger).

A swan neck deformity (SND) can be well tolerated for a long time, until the appearance of a disabling "snapping finger". In its most advanced condition, the other hand is needed to initiate finger flexion. We propose a technique of extra-articular, subcutaneous ligament reconstruction with an "inverted king post-truss" configuration use in roofs and to reinforce railway bridges.

Endoscopic high-resolution autofluorescence imaging and OCT of pulmonary vascular networks.

High-resolution imaging from within airways may allow new methods for studying lung disease. In this work, we report an endoscopic imaging system capable of high-resolution autofluorescence imaging (AFI) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in peripheral airways using a 0.9 mm diameter double-clad fiber (DCF) catheter.

Effects of Bronchial Thermoplasty on Airway Smooth Muscle and Collagen Deposition in Asthma.

Rationale: The aim of bronchial thermoplasty is to improve asthma symptoms by reducing central airway smooth muscle mass. Up to now, the reduction of smooth muscle mass has been documented for only 1 group of 10 patients who had 15% or more of their pretreatment total bronchial biopsy area occupied by smooth muscle.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of bronchial thermoplasty on airway smooth muscle mass and airway collagen deposition in adult patients with asthma, regardless of pretreatment smooth muscle area.

Strain-controlled fluorescence polarization in a CdSe nanoplatelet-block copolymer composite.

By dispersing semi-conducting CdSe nanoplatelets within a styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer matrix we form homogeneous fluorescent hybrid films. Reversible orientation control of the nanoplatelets is simply achieved through stretching the film, leading to tuneable fluorescence anisotropy. Such adjustable polarization effects are useful for modulating the optical response in composite materials.

Interventional pulmonology: an update for internal medicine physicians.

Interventional pulmonology is a subspecialty that uses advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to care for patients with benign and malignant diseases of the lung, airways and pleura. There has been a rapid proliferation of new pulmonary procedural technologies over the last decade. Common diagnostic applications include endobronchial ultrasound, guided bronchoscopy and a number of pleural disease interventions.