Sensitive bispecific chimeric T cell receptors for cancer therapy.

The expression of a synthetic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) to redirect antigen specificity of T cells is transforming the treatment of hematological malignancies and autoimmune diseases [1-7]. In cancer, durable efficacy is frequently limited by the escape of tumors that express low levels or lack the target antigen [8-12]. These clinical results emphasize the need for immune receptors that combine high sensitivity and multispecificity to improve outcomes.

Interactions between marine megafauna and plastic pollution in Southeast Asia.

Southeast (SE) Asia is a highly biodiverse region, yet it is also estimated to cumulatively contribute a third of the total global marine plastic pollution. This threat is known to have adverse impacts on marine megafauna, however, understanding of its impacts has recently been highlighted as a priority for research in the region. To address this knowledge gap, a structured literature review was conducted for species of cartilaginous fishes, marine mammals, marine reptiles, and seabirds present in SE Asia, collating cases on a global scale to allow for comparison, coupled with a regional expert elicitation to gather additional published and grey literature cases which would have been omitted during the structured literature review.

Insights into the distribution and ingestion of prey-like plastic fishing lures in Mediterranean rough-toothed dolphins.

Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) form an isolated subpopulation in the Mediterranean Sea that resides only in the eastern basin. Due to the paucity of records, the conservation threats these dolphins face and their ecology and distribution are poorly understood. While most observations indicate that individuals are found in two isolated clusters in the eastern basin, we hereby present five observations -three visual, one acoustic and one stranding- that possibly extend the range of this subpopulation to the entire offshore waters of the eastern basin.

'Eye in the sky': Off-the-shelf unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) highlights exposure of marine turtles to floating litter (FML) in nearshore waters of Mayo Bay, Philippines.

Litter is a serious threat to the marine environment, with detrimental effects on wildlife and marine biodiversity. Limited data as a result of funding and logistical challenges in developing countries hamper our understanding of the problem. Here, we employed commercial unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as a cost-effective tool to study the exposure of marine turtles to floating marine litter (FML) in waters of Mayo Bay, Philippines.

Socio-temporal contextual and community factors associated with daily exclusive ENDS use and dual use with tobacco cigarettes among adolescent vapers: an ecological momentary assessment study.

Background: Adolescents who dual use ENDS with tobacco cigarettes are more likely to have an increased risk of developing dependence. Yet, little is understood about the factors driving dual use among adolescents. The current study sought to reveal the day-to-day socio-temporal contextual and community factors associated with adolescents' use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), and how these factors predict dual use with tobacco cigarettes.

"I don't know whose mouth has been on this": youth nicotine and cannabis vaping practices in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Early COVID-19 safety protocols urged physical and social distancing, resulting in minimal contact with others. As social contexts are central to vaping among youth, we used semi-structured interviews to describe how youth who vape are making sense of their use practices and adaptations. The qualitative analyses revealed changes in vaping frequency and access, social isolation shaping substance- and product-specific use, and motivations and outcomes of dual use of nicotine and cannabis which were closely linked to the pandemic.

De novo design of protein homodimers containing tunable symmetric protein pockets.

Function follows form in biology, and the binding of small molecules requires proteins with pockets that match the shape of the ligand. For design of binding to symmetric ligands, protein homo-oligomers with matching symmetry are advantageous as each protein subunit can make identical interactions with the ligand. Here, we describe a general approach to designing hyperstable C2 symmetric proteins with pockets of diverse size and shape.

Changes in the Patterns and Characteristics of Youth ENDS Use over Time.

Research on youth use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) has explored the correlates of initiation and use; however, little is known about the factors that predict continued youth use of ENDS. We used an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) burst design to explore both daily variability within adolescents over a two-week observation period and variability over time two years later (2018 and 2020). The contribution of device characteristics, motivations for use, contextual factors, and community factors to daily use occasions were explored.

Daily variation in the patterns and characteristics of adolescent ENDS use.

Objective: Adolescents are more likely than young adults to use electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), yet most of what is known is concluded from young adult ENDS use as young adults are easier to survey. Additionally, while evidence about the prevalence and trends of adolescent ENDS use comes from cross-sectional studies, ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies provide greater detail about the ways in which adolescents vape and the environments that are favorable to adolescent vaping, providing important guidance for policy, prevention, and intervention.

Method: We conducted a 2-week EMA study with 50 adolescents to assess behaviors, contexts, and characteristics of ENDS use.

Association of Travel Distance to Nearest Abortion Facility With Rates of Abortion.

Importance: Travel distance to abortion services varies widely in the US. Some evidence shows travel distance affects use of abortion care, but there is no national analysis of how abortion rate changes with travel distance.

Objective: To examine the association between travel distance to the nearest abortion care facility and the abortion rate and to model the effect of reduced travel distance.

The impact of flavored ENDS use among adolescents on daily use occasions and number of puffs, and next day intentions and willingness to vape.

Background: The FDA's policies restricting sale of sweet flavored cartridge-based and disposable electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) comprise important steps toward curbing adolescent ENDS use. However, additional evidence is needed about the contribution of specific flavors to adolescents' ENDS use. This study investigated the effects of flavor use on same day vaping behaviors, and next day intentions and willingness.

Differential patterns of e-cigarette and tobacco marketing exposures among youth: Associations with substance use and tobacco prevention strategies.

Background: This study identified patterns of tobacco marketing exposures among youth and examined their associations with substance use and tobacco prevention strategies.

Methods: In Fall 2018, 2,058 middle and high school students (ages 11-18) in an Appalachian county completed a substance use and behavioral health surveillance survey. We conducted latent class analysis (LCA) to identify exposure classes based on responses to 14 tobacco marketing exposures.

Rapid uptake of early medical abortions in the Northern Territory: A family planning-based model.

Background: Abortion law reform does not necessarily translate into services, especially for those in regional areas. Although abortion has been legal in the Northern Territory (NT) since 1974, prior to 2017 legislation change, early medical abortions (EMAs) were effectively prohibited in primary care. In July 2017, Family Planning Welfare Association of the Northern Territory (FPNT) was awarded funding to provide EMAs free of charge for Medicare eligible clients.

Peer-Led Training to Reduce Alcohol Misuse and Related Harm among Greek-Affiliated Students.

High-risk alcohol use on college campuses is a significant public health concern, especially among students in fraternities and sororities. Alcohol harm-reduction programs that include protective behavioral strategies (PBSs) provide a promising approach to curb drinking among students, yet results have been inconsistent among high-risk drinkers. To evaluate the impact of a harm-reduction, peer-led training program called "Voice of Reason" (VOR) on alcohol knowledge and behaviors among students in Greek chapters.

Joy of gardening: a hospital-based cooking and gardening program.

Background: Nutrition interventions aid in implementing healthy eating. Garden-enhanced nutrition intervention programs have been conducted in schools. We sought to assess feasibility of a hospital-based cooking and gardening program.

Autumn shifts in cold tolerance metabolites in overwintering adult mountain pine beetles.

The mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a major forest pest of pines in western North America. Beetles typically undergo a one-year life cycle with larval cold hardening in preparation for overwintering. Two-year life cycle beetles have been observed but not closely studied.

If momma ain't happy with the mentoring relationship, ain't nobody happy with the mentoring relationship: Parental satisfaction as a predictor of mentoring match strength and length.

Much evidence exists on whether an individual's perception of a match relationship impacts match strength and length, but relatively less is known about whether parental perceptions of the match (i.e., whether the match is meeting their goals) impacts the length and strength of mentoring relationships.

Social media as a novel source of data on the impact of marine litter on megafauna: The Philippines as a case study.

Marine litter is a global threat to marine biodiversity. However, there is a key knowledge gap on the impacts of marine litter in the Philippines - a country of high marine biodiversity and large exclusive economic zone. This gap is addressed here by using information shared on the internet by citizen scientists and conservation groups to assess the impacts of marine litter on megafauna.

Estimating the Prevalence of United States Women with Alcohol-exposed Pregnancies and Births.

Aims: Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently estimated the number of women at risk for alcohol-exposed pregnancies (AEPs) as 3.

Current and past depressive symptoms and contraceptive effectiveness level method selected among women seeking reproductive health services.

Rationale: More thoroughly understanding the association between elevated depressive symptoms and effectiveness level of contraceptive method selected at a reproductive health visit could help women prevent unintended pregnancy.

Objective: This study examined how the association between both current and past depressive symptoms and effectiveness level of contraceptive method selected at a clinic visit varies by type of reproductive health visit.

Methods: Current and past depressive symptoms and contraceptive method selected were assessed among 1215 women aged 18-25 years seeking general reproductive health or abortion services at 40 community clinics throughout the United States.

A pilot investigation of food insecurity among children seen in an outpatient pediatric nephrology clinic.

Food insecurity (FI) is common - affecting one in six American households with children. FI is defined as limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods. Awareness of food insecurity and its impact on health has increased since the American Academy of Pediatrics 2015 policy statement, "Promoting Food Security for All Children.

Training contraceptive providers to offer intrauterine devices and implants in contraceptive care: a cluster randomized trial.

Background: US unintended pregnancy rates remain high, and contraceptive providers are not universally trained to offer intrauterine devices and implants to women who wish to use these methods.

Objective: We sought to measure the impact of a provider training intervention on integration of intrauterine devices and implants into contraceptive care.

Study Design: We measured the impact of a continuing medical education-accredited provider training intervention on provider attitudes, knowledge, and practices in a cluster randomized trial in 40 US health centers from 2011 through 2013.

Integration of Health Coaching Concepts and Skills into Clinical Practice Among VHA Providers: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Although studies of health coaching for behavior change in chronic disease prevention and management are increasing, to date no studies have reported on what concepts and skills providers integrate into their clinical practice following participation in health coaching courses. The purpose of this qualitative study was to assess Veterans Health Administration (VHA) providers' perceptions of the individual-level and system-level changes they observed after participating with colleagues in a 6-day Whole Health Coaching course held in 8 VHA medical centers nationwide.

Methods: Data for this study were from the follow-up survey conducted with participants 2 to 3 months after completing the training.