Data-driven guidelines for phylogenomic analyses using SNP data.

Premise: There is a general lack of consensus on the best practices for filtering of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and whether it is better to use SNPs or include flanking regions (full "locus") in phylogenomic analyses and subsequent comparative methods.

Methods: Using genotyping-by-sequencing data from 22 species, we assessed the effects of SNP vs. locus usage and SNP retention stringency.

A Look at Preceptor Challenges within Organizations: The Case for Medical Laboratory Scientists.

The clinical phase of health professions programs encounters certain challenges that need to be dealt with to achieve desired competencies. It is beneficial to both students and clinical educators, or preceptors, when these challenges are identified and addressed. A 48-question survey was deployed by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) to thousands of clinical educators in the laboratory professions over a 6-week period.

Effect of Choose-Your-Own-Adventure (CYOA) Activities on Pharmacy Student Knowledge.

Objective: Many strategies are used in pharmacy education to maintain student engagement through active learning. Gamification, such as the choose-your-own-adventure activity (CYOAA), is one such method. The purpose of this study was to assess improvement in clinical knowledge and retention after the implementation of CYOAA.

Dengue Virus Serotype 3 Origins and Genetic Dynamics, Jamaica.

We identified 3 clades of dengue virus serotype 3 belonging to genotype III isolated during 2019-2020 in Jamaica by using whole-genome sequencing and phylogenomic and phylogeographic analyses. The viruses likely originated from Asia in 2014. Newly expanded molecular surveillance efforts in Jamaica will guide appropriate public health responses.

Clinical Educators' Teaching Approaches and Attributes in Laboratory Medicine.

The quality of clinical experiences for students in health care professions relies heavily on clinical educators. Hence the quest to be informed on qualities that make great clinical educators in medical laboratory professions as well as teaching methods. A 48-question survey was developed, validated, and distributed to laboratory professionals in the American Society for Clinical Pathology database.

The genetic mechanisms underlying the convergent evolution of pollination syndromes in the Neotropical radiation of L.

Selection together with variation in floral traits can act to mold floral form, often driven by a plant's predominant or most effective pollinators. To investigate the evolution of traits associated with pollination, we developed a phylogenetic framework for evaluating tempo and mode of pollination shifts across the genus L., known for its evolutionary toggle between traits related to bee and bird pollination.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Laboratory Professionals' Clinical Education: a Qualitative Study.

A 48-question survey was developed and disseminated to laboratory professionals. This survey sought the perspective of clinical educators on a variety of topics, including two open-ended questions on the impact COVID-19 had on student clinical rotations and the ensuing policy changes. Of 207 clinical sites that participated in the survey.

Establishing the Need for Standardized Clinical Educator Training Programs for Medical Laboratory Professionals.

Backround: There is minimal, if any, training for clinical educators in medical laboratory professions. This leads to challenges with teaching, assessment and workload/training balance. Hence, the need for standardized clinical educator training.

Re-imagining higher education: A cohort of teachers' experiences to face the 'new normal' during COVID19.

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted education of over 220 million post-secondary students, globally. A need to rise to the challenges and re-imagine ways of educating students becomes essential. This paper explores the learning trajectories experienced by a cohort of B Ed Honours students completing their degree during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Barriers to help-seeking among intimate partner violence survivors with opioid use disorder.

Intimate partner violence is common among people with opioid use disorder (OUD), but little research has focussed on identifying barriers survivors with OUD face when trying to leave an abusive relationship. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 40 postpartum women with OUD. Interview questions were designed to identify barriers to help-seeking and facilitators and supports that have helped survivors make positive changes.

Lack of change in CA1 dendritic spine density or clustering in rats following training on a radial-arm maze task.

 Neuronal plasticity is thought to underlie learning and memory formation. The density of dendritic spines in the CA1 region of the hippocampus has been repeatedly linked to mnemonic processes. Both the number and spatial location of the spines, in terms of proximity to nearest neighbour, have been implicated in memory formation.

Revisiting floral fusion: the evolution and molecular basis of a developmental innovation.

Throughout the evolution of the angiosperm flower, developmental innovations have enabled the modification or elaboration of novel floral organs enabling subsequent diversification and expansion into new niches, for example the formation of novel pollinator relationships. One such developmental innovation is the fusion of various floral organs to form complex structures. Multiple types of floral fusion exist; each type may be the result of different developmental processes and is likely to have evolved multiple times independently across the angiosperm tree of life.

Survey of full-scale sidestream enhanced biological phosphorus removal (S2EBPR) systems and comparison with conventional EBPRs in North America: Process stability, kinetics, and microbial populations.

Sidestream EBPR (S2EBPR) is an emerging alternative process to address common challenges in EBPR related to weak wastewater influent and may improve EBPR process stability. A systematic evaluation and comparison of the process performance and microbial community structure was conducted between conventional and S2EBPR facilities in North America. The statistical analysis suggested higher performance stability in S2EBPR than conventional EBPR, although possible bias associated with other plant-specific factors might have affected the comparison.

An approach to obtaining informed consent from patients with cancer.

This article describes a workshop held to address a perceived gap in nurses' knowledge about obtaining informed consent from participants in clinical trials. It summarises the legal requirements needed for informed consent to be gained and outlines the content of the workshop.

Identification of bismuth-thiolate-carboxylate clusters by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

The known thermal and hydrolytic stability of bismuth-sulfur bonds indicates that biological targets for bismuth likely involve thiol or thiolate functionalities, such as in L-cysteine. Complexes of bismuth with cysteine or other thiol-carboxylic acid ligands have been isolated and characterized providing a preliminary view of the potential participation of these functional groups in the biochemical mechanisms involving bismuth. A broader assessment of bismuth-thiolate interactions has been possible using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS).

Cooperative influence of thiolate ligands on the bio-relevant coordination chemistry of bismuth.

The widespread use of bismuth compounds (e.g., bismuth subsalicylate, colloidal bismuth subcitrate) in medicine for over 200 years is founded on empirical observations, and definitive chemical mechanisms associated with the bioactivity of these compounds are not understood.

Acute and late morbidity in the treatment of advanced bladder carcinoma with accelerated radiotherapy, carbogen, and nicotinamide.

Background: Accelerated radiotherapy combined with carbogen and nicotinamide (ARCON) to overcome tumor hypoxia and cell proliferation achieved high tumor control and survival in Phase II studies of patients with advanced head and neck and bladder carcinomas. Thus, morbidity and treatment outcomes from the latter study were analyzed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of ARCON.

Methods: Acute and late morbidity was assessed in 105 patients with high-grade superficial or muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma who were given accelerated radiotherapy (50-55 grays in 4 weeks) with carbogen alone or with ARCON.