De-novo Genome Assembly of the Edwardsiid Anthozoan Edwardsia elegans.

Cnidarians (sea anemones, corals, hydroids, and jellyfish) are a key outgroup for comparisons with bilaterial animals to trace the evolution of genomic complexity and diversity within the animal kingdom, as they separated from most other animals 100s of millions of years ago. Cnidarians have extensive diversity, yet the paucity of genomic resources limits our ability to compare genomic variation between cnidarian clades and species. Here we report the genome for Edwardsia elegans, a sea anemone in the most specious genus of the family Edwardsiidae, a phylogenetically important family of sea anemones that contains the model anemone Nematostella vectensis.

Plantar sensation associates with gait instability in older adults.

Background: Advanced age brings a loss of plantar sensation, represented, for example, as higher sensation thresholds in standardized testing. This is thought to contribute to an increased risk of falls among older adults - an intuitive premise that has yet to be fully investigated, especially in the context of walking balance. The purpose of this study was to quantify the association between plantar sensation and the instability elicited by a suite of walking balance perturbations that differ in direction and context in a cohort of n = 28 older adults (73.

Using Classifiers To Predict Catalyst Design for Polyketone Microstructure.

We applied a classifier method to predict palladium catalysts for the formation of nonalternating polyketones via the copolymerization of CO and ethylene; current examples are limited to using phosphine sulfonate and diphosphazane monoxide supporting ligands. With the reported workflow, we discovered two new classes of palladium complexes capable of achieving the synthesis of nonalternating polyketones with a lower CO content than those made by known palladium catalysts. Our results show that we doubled the number of classes of palladium compounds that can catalyze the formation of this type of polymer.

Multiplexed single-cell imaging reveals diverging subpopulations with distinct senescence phenotypes during long-term senescence induction.

Cellular senescence is a phenotypic state that contributes to the progression of age-related disease through secretion of pro-inflammatory factors known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Understanding the process by which healthy cells become senescent and develop SASP factors is critical for improving the identification of senescent cells and, ultimately, understanding tissue dysfunction. Here, we reveal how the duration of cellular stress modulates the SASP in distinct subpopulations of senescent cells.

B7-H3 CAR-T cell therapy combined with irradiation is effective in targeting bulk and radiation-resistant chordoma cancer cells.

Background: Chordoma is a slow-growing, primary malignant bone tumor that arises from notochordal tissue in the midline of the axial skeleton. Surgical excision with negative margins is the mainstay of treatment, but high local recurrence rates are reported even with negative margins. High-dose radiation therapy (RT), such as with proton or carbon ions, has been used as an alternative to surgery, but late local failure remains a problem.

Engineered alginate-polyethyleneimine and sludge-aluminosilicate biochar composites for greywater treatment: Performance evaluation and models for designing pilot-scale systems.

Greywater, originating from kitchen sinks and toilets, constitutes 75-80 % of the domestic wastewater produced in homes and can be reclaimed for non-potable uses. This study synthesized novel sludge-derived aluminosilicates and alginate-polyethyleneimine (PEI) biochar composites. The aluminosilicates offer a sustainable approach to sludge management, while alginate-polyethyleneimine presents a green biochar modification approach.

Massively parallel reporter assay investigates shared genetic variants of eight psychiatric disorders.

A meta-genome-wide association study across eight psychiatric disorders has highlighted the genetic architecture of pleiotropy in major psychiatric disorders. However, mechanisms underlying pleiotropic effects of the associated variants remain to be explored. We conducted a massively parallel reporter assay to decode the regulatory logic of variants with pleiotropic and disorder-specific effects.

Risk of carcinomas among children and adolescents with birth defects.

Background: Birth defects are associated with childhood cancer, but little is known regarding pediatric carcinomas, a group of especially rare tumors.

Methods: We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) for any carcinoma, as well as thyroid, hepatocellular, and renal carcinoma specifically, up to 18 years of age among children with major, non-syndromic anomalies or chromosomal/genetic syndromes, relative to unaffected children.

Results: Our registry-linkage study included nine states and 21,933,476 children between 1990 and 2018: 641,827 with non-syndromic anomalies, and 49,619 with syndromes.

Impact of Subsequent Fellowship on Urology Chief Resident Case Log Volumes.

Objective: To characterize the impact of subsequent fellowship on the case log experience of trainees throughout their residency and specifically their chief resident year.

Materials And Methods: Urology resident case logs from 2010 to 2022 were obtained from 13 institutions for total residency and chief years. Five categorized index procedures were included for analysis: General Urology; Endourology; Reconstructive Urology; Urologic Oncology; and Pediatric Urology.

Association of Prehabilitation in the Precystectomy Pathway in Patients With Bladder Cancer on Postoperative Outcomes.

Purpose: Prehabilitation in patients with bladder cancer recommended for cystectomy has the potential to improve functional status and outcomes after cystectomy. Prior research has shown that increasing exercise preoperatively can improve strength and quality of life, but research has not yet investigated the impact on length of stay, readmissions, complications and mortality.

Methods: We compared historical controls (2021-2022) for patients with bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy at a major academic center to those referred for prehabilitation consultation (2023) on postoperative outcomes, namely hospital length of stay, 30 and 90 day readmission rates, postoperative complications and 90-day mortality.

Development and Implementation of Oral Anticancer Agent Tools for a Thematic Quality Improvement Program: A Collaboration Between Hematology Oncology Pharmacist Association and ASCO Quality Training Program.

Purpose: The Hematology Oncology Pharmacist Association Oral Chemotherapy Collaborative (HOPA OCC) developed practice-based tools to use in program development and improvement for the management of patients receiving oral anticancer agents (OAAs).

Methods: These tools include a baseline OAA program assessment, clinical OAA adherence tool, and OAA dashboard. HOPA OCC distributed these tools to teams participating in the 6-month HOPA ASCO Quality Training Programs (QTPs).

The interaction between antithrombin and endothelial heparan sulfate mitigates pulmonary thromboinflammation after trauma and hemorrhagic shock.

Introduction: Trauma and hemorrhagic shock (T/HS) are associated with multiple organ injury. Antithrombin (AT) has anti-inflammatory and organ protective activity through its interaction with endothelial heparan sulfate containing a 3-O-sulfate modification. Our objective was to examine the effects of T/HS on 3-O-sulfated (3-OS) heparan sulfate expression and determine whether AT-heparan sulfate interactions are necessary for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Selective PDE4 Inhibitors for the Therapy of Pulmonary Injury.

Pulmonary inflammation is the main cause of lung injury. Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) is a promising anti-inflammatory target for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Herein, we designed and synthesized 43 compounds in two novel series of benzimidazole derivatives as PDE4 inhibitors.

Characteristics influencing COVID-19 testing and vaccination among Spanish-speaking Latine persons in North Carolina.

Background: Latine populations in the United States continue to be disproportionately affected by COVID-19 with high rates of infection and mortality. Our community-based participatory research partnership examined factors associated with COVID-19 testing and vaccination within a particularly hidden, underserved, and vulnerable population: Spanish-speaking Latines.

Methods: In 2023, native Spanish-speaking Latine interviewers conducted phone-based structured individual assessments with 180 Spanish-speaking, predominantly immigrant Latines across North Carolina.

Selectivity Effects of Hydrogen Acceptors and Catalyst Structures in Alcohol Oxidations Using (Cyclopentadienone)iron Tricarbonyl Compounds.

Oppenauer-type oxidations are catalyzed by air- and moisture-stable, sustainable, (cyclopentadienone)iron carbonyl compounds, but the substrate scope is limited due to the low reduction potential of acetone, which is the most commonly used hydrogen acceptor. We discovered that furfural, an aldehyde derived from cellulosic biomass, is an effective hydrogen acceptor with this class of catalysts. In general, reactions using furfural as the hydrogen acceptor led to higher isolated yields of ketones and aldehydes compared to those using acetone.

Suggested Dosing of Select Beta-lactam Agents for the Treatment of Antimicrobial-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections in Children.

Background: The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) publishes annual guidance on the treatment of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) gram-negative infections. Within the AMR guidance, suggested dosages of antibiotics for adults infected with AMR pathogens are provided. This document serves as a companion document to the IDSA guidance to assist pediatric specialists with dosing β-lactam agents for the treatment of AMR infections in children.

Influence of birthplace and age at migration on cognitive aging among Hispanic/Latino populations in the U.S.: Study of Latinos-Investigation of Neurocognitive Aging (SOL-INCA).

Background And Objectives: While Hispanic/Latino populations in the U.S. are remarkably diverse in terms of birthplace and age at migration, we poorly understand how these factors are associated with cognitive aging.

Violence against women and girls research: Leveraging gains across disciplines.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, linked to numerous health, economic, and human rights outcomes. Target 5.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals calls for elimination of all forms of VAWG; however, progress toward achieving this goal has been inadequate.

Entropy stabilized form chirality in curved rod nematics: structure and symmetries.

Monte Carlo molecular simulations of curve-shaped rods show the propensity of such shapes to polymorphism revealing both smectic and polar nematic phases. The nematic exhibits a nanoscale modulated local structure characterized by a unique, polar, -symmetry axis that tightly spirals generating a mirror-symmetry-breaking organization of the achiral rods-form chirality. A comprehensive characterization of the polarity and its symmetries in the nematic phase confirms that the nanoscale modulation is distinct from the elastic deformations of a uniaxial nematic director in the twist-bend nematic phase.

Genomic sequencing in diverse and underserved pediatric populations: parent perspectives on understanding, uncertainty, psychosocial impact, and personal utility of results.

Purpose: Limited evidence evaluates parents' perceptions of their child's clinical genomic sequencing (GS) results, particularly among individuals from medically underserved groups. Five Clinical Sequencing Evidence-Generating Research (CSER) consortium studies performed GS in children with suspected genetic conditions with high proportions of individuals from underserved groups to address this evidence gap.

Methods: Parents completed surveys of perceived understanding, personal utility, and test-related distress after GS result disclosure.

Random Survival Forest Machine Learning for the Prediction of Cardiovascular Events Among Patients With a Measured Lipoprotein(a) Level: A Model Development Study.

Background: Established risk models may not be applicable to patients at higher cardiovascular risk with a measured Lp(a) (lipoprotein[a]) level, a causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Methods: This was a model development study. The data source was the Nashville Biosciences Lp(a) data set, which includes clinical data from the Vanderbilt University Health System.

Stressors contributing to burnout among acute care and trauma surgery care teams: a systems-analysis approach.

Background: Burnout negatively impacts healthcare professionals' well-being, leading to an increased risk of human errors and patient harm. There are limited assessments of burnout and associated stressors among acute care and trauma surgery teams.

Methods: Acute care and trauma surgery team members at a US academic medical center were administered a survey that included a 2-item Maslach Burnout Inventory and 21 workplace stressors based on the National Academy of Medicine's systems model of clinician burnout and professional well-being.

Trauma Survivors Network: history and evolution of a program empowering survivors and families impacted by traumatic injury.

The Trauma Survivors Network (TSN), a program of the American Trauma Society (ATS), has a unique history spanning decades with a vision to continue expanding and strengthening services to support survivors and families impacted by traumatic injury. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the ATS has adapted TSN services to provide both virtual and in-person services for trauma survivors, increasing equity and inclusion for many survivors to access TSN services for the first time. The recent policy changes in the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma provide an impetus for the TSN to grow and expand services in support of a diverse group of trauma survivors and their loved ones.

Impact of mask wearing time on fluid consumption and physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose: To examine the associations between mask-wearing on fluid consumption and physical activity behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: 137 college students (female, 72.5%; age, 26 ± 9 y) completed a survey detailing their fluid intake, physical activity behaviors, and time spent wearing a mask throughout the day during the previous month in the Fall 2020 academic semester.

Assessing self-determined motivation for drinking alcohol via the Comprehensive Relative Autonomy Index for Drinking.

Introduction: Self-Determination Theory (SDT) examines human motivation in multiple domains; however, the only existing measure assessing SDT-informed behavioral regulations for drinking focuses on responsible drinker behaviors, rather than drinking , which is important given the alignment between SDT and harm reduction approaches to alcohol use. The aim of this study was to test the structural validity of the SDT-informed Comprehensive Relative Autonomy Index for Drinking (CRAI-Drinking) among college students.

Methods: Participants included two convenience samples with a total of 630 adult drinkers (M = 21.