Towards an environmental quality standard (EQS) for lithium in fresh water.

Lithium (Li), because of its widespread and increasing use in Li-ion batteries, is an element of vital importance to the energy transition away from fossil fuels and toward clean, renewable energy (green energy). Extraction and refining operations, as well as utilisation in a growing number of applications, are expanding and thus increasing the environmental releases of Li. In order to evaluate consequences of such releases, and to risk assess the accumulation of Li in aquatic ecosystems, environmental quality standards (EQS) are needed so that measured concentrations can be evaluated.

Improving Efficiency and Communication around Sedated Fracture Reductions in a Pediatric Emergency Department.

Introduction: Procedural sedation for fracture reduction in the pediatric emergency department (ED) is a time-consuming process requiring multidisciplinary coordination. We implemented a quality improvement initiative aimed at (1) decreasing mean ED length of stay (LOS) for children with sedated long bone fracture reductions by 15% over 12 months and (2) improving interdisciplinary communication around procedural sedation.

Methods: Pediatric emergency medicine fellows at a children's hospital designed and implemented an initiative targeting the efficiency of the sedation process.

A Hazardous Materials Educational Curriculum Improves Pediatric Emergency Department Staff Skills.

Objective: Emergency department (ED) providers require competency in responding to hazardous materials (HAZMAT) events. The optimal strategies to teach HAZMAT response principles to ED providers and to ensure skill retention are not known. Our aim was to design, implement, and evaluate a multifaceted, interprofessional educational curriculum for pediatric ED staff to improve their skills, knowledge, and confidence in responding to a HAZMAT event.

Outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplant in children with congenital heart disease.

CHD is the most commonly occurring birth defect in the United States. Improvements in supportive care for CHD result in increasing numbers of survivors who may develop benign or malignant conditions for which HSCT is indicated. However, the ability of individuals with CHD to tolerate HSCT is unknown.

Molecular evolution of GYPC: evidence for recent structural innovation and positive selection in humans.

GYPC encodes two erythrocyte surface sialoglycoproteins in humans, glycophorin C and glycophorin D (GPC and GPD), via initiation of translation at two start codons on a single transcript. The malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum uses GPC as a means of invasion into the human red blood cell. Here, we examine the molecular evolution of GYPC among the Hominoidea (Greater and Lesser Apes) and also the pattern of polymorphism at the locus in a global human sample.