Increasing Knowledge about Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators at the End of Life, an Effective Approach for Hospice Workers to Improve Patient Care.

Background: Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) decrease mortality in high-risk patients but can also cause distressing shocks near death. Patients who lack knowledge about their ICDs are more likely to have an active device at the end of life. Many hospice workers lack sufficient knowledge to educate patients about ICDs.

Palliative Care for Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has become the leading form of heart failure worldwide, particularly among elderly patient populations. HFpEF is associated with significant morbidity and mortality that may benefit from incorporation of palliative care (PC). Patients with HFpEF have similarly high mortality rates to patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Assessment of Fungal Succession in Decomposing Swine Carcasses ( L.) Using DNA Metabarcoding.

The decomposition of animal bodies is a process defined by specific stages, described by the state of the body and participation of certain guilds of invertebrates and microorganisms. While the participation of invertebrates in decomposing is well-studied and actively used in crime scene investigations, information on bacteria and fungi from the scene is rarely collected or used in the identification of important factors such as estimated time of death. Modern molecular techniques such as DNA metabarcoding allow the identification and quantification of the composition of microbial communities.

MycoPins: a metabarcoding-based method to monitor fungal colonization of fine woody debris.

The MycoPins method described here is a rapid and affordable protocol to monitor early colonization events in communities of wood-inhabiting fungi in fine woody debris. It includes easy to implement field sampling techniques and sample processing, followed by data processing, and analysis of the development of early dead wood fungal communities. The method is based on fieldwork from a time series experiment on standard sterilized colonization targets followed by the metabarcoding analysis and automated molecular identification of species.

Citizen science helps in the study of fungal diversity in New Jersey.

The history of fungal diversity of the Northeastern United States is currently fragmentary and restricted to particular functional groups or limited geospatial scales. Here, we describe a unique by its size, lifespan and data originators dataset, to improve our understanding of species occurrence and distribution across the state and time. Between the years 2007 to 2019, over 30 parks and nature preserves were sampled during forays conducted by members of the New Jersey Mycological Association (USA), a nonprofit organization of fungi enthusiasts.

Identifying unknown specimens using predictive phylogenies for remote forensic education.

One significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for educators in forensic science was adapting what is traditionally a very applied field to a virtual learning environment. Because of this, science classes with a practical laboratory component had to implement significant adjustments to ensure that student learning objectives were still met, including practical elements. To provide learners with an alternative to a traditional lab exercise in forensic entomology, we designed an exercise to be conducted completely remotely to instruct students in how to identify a real unknown specimen using a hypothetical phylogenetic tree they create.

Indirect facilitation between prey promotes asymmetric apparent competition.

Apparent competition is one mechanism that can contribute to the complex dynamics observed in natural systems, yet it remains understudied in empirical systems. Understanding the dynamics that shape the outcome of processes like apparent competition is vital for appreciating how they influence natural systems. We empirically evaluated the role of indirect trophic interactions in driving apparent competition in a model laboratory system.

Jose Delgado: A controversial trailblazer in neuromodulation.

Dr. Jose Delgado performed audacious demonstrations utilizing brain stimulation to instantly change behavior in animals. These feats spark ethical debates to this day.

Therapeutic Applications of Curcumin and Derivatives in Colorectal Cancer.

Curcumin (CUR), a natural phenolic compound, has been increasingly investigated in several malignancies due to its safe profile and ability to affect a wide range of oncogenic targets. With the ability to affect metastasis, apoptosis, and angiogenesis in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its tolerability at high doses, CUR is an attractive target for study. However, poor bioavailability and unfavorable pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics have hampered CUR's efficacy in clinical trials.

Online laboratory exercise on computational biology: Phylogenetic analyses and protein modeling based on SARS-CoV-2 data during COVID-19 remote instruction.

Suspended on-site instruction during the COVID-19 created an exceptional challenge for teaching hands-on laboratory classes. We designed an online laboratory activity using computational biology techniques to overcome this issue. This set of online exercises introduces bioinformatics skills into existing curricula in the form of guided tutorials based on molecular data on SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Overlooking the smallest matter: viruses impact biological invasions.

Parasites and pathogens have recently received considerable attention for their ability to affect biological invasions, however, researchers have largely overlooked the distinct role of viruses afforded by their unique ability to rapidly mutate and adapt to new hosts. With high mutation and genomic substitution rates, RNA and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) viruses may be important constituents of invaded ecosystems, and could potentially behave quite differently from other pathogens. We review evidence suggesting that rapidly evolving viruses impact invasion dynamics in three key ways: (1) Rapidly evolving viruses may prevent exotic species from establishing self-sustaining populations.