Genomic strategies to facilitate breeding for increased β-Glucan content in oat (Avena sativa L.).

Background: Hexaploid oat (Avena sativa L.) is a commercially important cereal crop due to its soluble dietary fiber β-glucan, a hemicellulose known to prevent cardio-vascular diseases. To maximize health benefits associated with the consumption of oat-based food products, breeding efforts have aimed at increasing the β-glucan content in oat groats.

Engineered biomimetic cisplatin-polyphenol nanocomplex for chemo-immunotherapy of glioblastoma by inducing pyroptosis.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is characterized by pronounced immune escape and resistance to chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Preliminary investigations revealed a marked overexpression of gasdermin E (GSDME) in GBM. Notably, cisplatin (CDDP) demonstrated a capacity of inducing pyroptosis by activating caspase-3 to cleave GSDME, coupled with the release of proinflammatory factors, indicating the potential as a viable approach of inducing anti-tumor immune activation.

Recruiting participants for focus groups in health research: a meta-research study.

Background: Focus groups (FGs) are an established method in health research to capture a full range of different perspectives on a particular research question. The extent to which they are effective depends, not least, on the composition of the participants. This study aimed to investigate how published FG studies plan and conduct the recruitment of study participants.

Blood absolute lymphocyte count and trajectory are important in understanding severe COVID-19.

Background: Low blood absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) may predict severe COVID-19 outcomes. Knowledge gaps remain regarding the relationship of ALC trajectory with clinical outcomes and factors associated with lymphopenia.

Methods: Our post hoc analysis of the Therapeutics for Inpatients with COVID-19 platform trial utilized proportional hazards models to assess relationships between Day (D) 0 lymphopenia (ALC < 0.

Development of a TSR-based method for understanding structural relationships of cofactors and local environments in photosystem I.

Background: All chemical forms of energy and oxygen on Earth are generated via photosynthesis where light energy is converted into redox energy by two photosystems (PS I and PS II). There is an increasing number of PS I 3D structures deposited in the Protein Data Bank (PDB). The Triangular Spatial Relationship (TSR)-based algorithm converts 3D structures into integers (TSR keys).

An Investigation into the Public's Attitude Toward Opting out of Brain Death.

Background: There have been growing sentiments that the Uniform Determination of Death Act needs to be revised. One suggestion is to include a conscience clause, that is, allowing patients to "opt-out" of brain death determination. Understanding public attitudes toward a conscience clause may help inform policymakers and future proposed revisions.

Dynamic X-ray Microtomography vs. Laser-Doppler Vibrometry: A Comparative Study.

Purpose: There are challenges in understanding the biomechanics of the human middle ear, and established methods for studying this system show significant limitations. In this study, we evaluate a novel dynamic imaging technique based on synchrotron X-ray microtomography designed to assess the biomechanical properties of the human middle ear by comparing it to laser-Doppler vibrometry (LDV).

Methods: We examined three fresh-frozen temporal bones (TB), two donated by white males and one by a Black female, using dynamic synchrotron-based X-ray microtomography for 256 and 512 Hz, stimulated at 110 dB and 120 dB sound pressure level (SPL).

2-[F]Fluoropropionic Acid PET Imaging of Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity.

Purpose: Treatment of pediatric cancers with doxorubicin is a common and predictable cause of cardiomyopathy. Early diagnosis of treatment-induced cardiotoxicity and intervention are major determinants for the prevention of advanced disease. The onset of cardiomyopathies is often accompanied by profound changes in lipid metabolism, including an enhanced uptake of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA).

Obstetric Sonar, Media Archaeology, Feminist Critique.

The snub-nosed, reclining, and serene image of the fetus is commonplace in cultural representations and analyses of obstetric ultrasound. Yet following the provocation of various feminist scholars, taking the fetal sonogram as the automatic object of concern vis-à-vis ultrasound cedes ground to anti-abortionists, who deploy fetal images to argue that life begins at conception and that the unborn are rights bearing subjects who must be protected. How might feminists escape this analytical trap, where discussions of ultrasonics must always be engaged in the act of debunking? This article orients away from the problem of fetal representation by employing a method which may appear to be wildly unsuitable: media archaeology.

Predicting image memorability from evoked feelings.

While viewing a visual stimulus, we often cannot tell whether it is inherently memorable or forgettable. However, the memorability of a stimulus can be quantified and partially predicted by a collection of conceptual and perceptual factors. Higher-level properties that represent the "meaningfulness" of a visual stimulus to viewers best predict whether it will be remembered or forgotten across a population.

Governance and resilience as entry points for transforming food systems in the countdown to 2030.

Due to complex interactions, changes in any one area of food systems are likely to impact-and possibly depend on-changes in other areas. Here we present the first annual monitoring update of the indicator framework proposed by the Food Systems Countdown Initiative, with new qualitative analysis elucidating interactions across indicators. Since 2000, we find that 20 of 42 indicators with time series have been trending in a desirable direction, indicating modest positive change.

The association of perceived health status and presence of chronic conditions with physical activity in childhood cancer survivors.

Purpose: Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at risk for therapy-related late effects. Physical activity (PA) can minimize some late effects risk, but rates of PA are low in CCS. We aimed to determine how perception of survivor health status and presence of chronic conditions are associated with patient- or proxy-reported PA.

Effect of hearing experience on preschool-aged children's eye gaze to a talker during spoken language processing.

Speechreading-gathering speech information from talkers' faces-supports speech perception when speech acoustics are degraded. Benefitting from speechreading, however, requires listeners to visually fixate talkers during face-to-face interactions. The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that preschool-aged children allocate their eye gaze to a talker when speech acoustics are degraded.

ROAR-CAT: Rapid Online Assessment of Reading ability with Computerized Adaptive Testing.

The Rapid Online Assessment of Reading (ROAR) is a web-based lexical decision task that measures single-word reading abilities in children and adults without a proctor. Here we study whether item response theory (IRT) and computerized adaptive testing (CAT) can be used to create a more efficient online measure of word recognition. To construct an item bank, we first analyzed data taken from four groups of students (N = 1960) who differed in age, socioeconomic status, and language-based learning disabilities.

Can surface topography reliably determine the Rigo classification system?

Purpose: No studies have explored the reliability of the Rigo classification system using surface topography (ST), which would allow optimization without radiation exposure. This study aims to measure and compare the intra- and inter-observer reliability (Kappa values) and accuracy of the Rigo system between ST and X-ray for overall types and subtypes.

Methods: X-ray and ST images of 31 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients were selected.

Structural changes of muscle spindles in the multifidus muscle after intervertebral disk injury are resolved by targeted muscle activation.

Purpose: Fibrosis of muscle spindles (sensory organs) in back muscles induced by intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration could limit transmission of muscle stretch to the sensory receptor and explain the proprioceptive deficits common in back pain. Exercise reduces back muscles fibrosis. This study investigated whether targeted muscle activation via neurostimulation reverses or resolves muscle spindle fibrosis in a model of IVD injury.

Innate Versus Acquired: A Review of Predictive Technical Aptitude Assessments in Surgical Trainee Selection.

Purpose Of Review: The evaluation and selection process of similarly qualified applicants for surgical residency positions in the United States (US) is challenging. Technical aptitude assessments may provide an opportunity to improve the selection process by offering insight into a candidate's technical skills. The use of these assessments prompts consideration of the degree to which technical aptitude in surgery is innate versus acquired.

Role of Endoluminal Functional Lumen Imaging Probe in Bariatric Surgery and Bariatric Endoscopy.

Obesity is associated with significant morbidity, with an estimated prevalence of 42.4% in the USA. Treatment of severe obesity often involves Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.

Preoperative Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Utilization and Association with Bariatric Surgery Outcomes.

Background: The efficacy of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (GLP1RA) for the treatment of obesity has led to considerably increased demand for these medications. GLP1RA use prior to bariatric surgery may represent a novel approach to treating obesity. The objectives of this study were to (1) describe trends in pre-bariatric GLP1RA use, (2) investigate social and clinical factors associated with their use, and (3) evaluate differences in clinical outcomes based on preoperative GLP1RA use.

A multi-site feasibility study of a stepped-care telehealth intervention for depression and anxiety in post-treatment cancer survivors at community cancer clinics (WF-30917CD).

Purpose: This feasibility study estimated accrual, retention, adherence, and summarized preliminary efficacy data from a stepped-care telehealth intervention for cancer survivors with moderate or severe levels of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms.

Methods: Participants were randomized to intervention or enhanced usual care (stratified by symptom severity). In the intervention group, those with moderate symptoms received a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) workbook/6 bi-weekly check-in calls (low intensity) and severe symptoms received the workbook/12 weekly therapy sessions (high intensity).

Effects of injectable trace minerals (Se, Zn, Cu, and Mn) administration on the immune response elicited by primary intranasal modified-live virus vaccination in dairy calves.

The objective was to determine the effects of injectable trace minerals (ITM, containing Se, Cu, Zn & Mn) administered at the time of primary intranasal (IN) modified-live virus (MLV) vaccination of young dairy calves on the serum neutralizing antibody (SNA) titers to Bovine herpes virus 1 (BHV1), Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and Bovine Parainfluenza type 3 virus (BPIV); cytokine expression in peripheral white blood cells, and BHV1-specific IgA titers in nasal secretions following the vaccination. A total of 60 calves (1 month old) were administered an IN MLV vaccine containing BHV1, BRSV, BPIV (Inforce 3) and randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups: ITM (n = 30; Multimin90, containing Se, Cu, Zn, and Mn) or SAL (n = 30; sterile saline). There was a consistent decay in virus-specific SNA titers in both groups.

Decoding the functional impact of the cancer genome through protein-protein interactions.

Acquisition of genomic mutations enables cancer cells to gain fitness advantages under selective pressure and, ultimately, leads to oncogenic transformation. Interestingly, driver mutations, even within the same gene, can yield distinct phenotypes and clinical outcomes, necessitating a mutation-focused approach. Conversely, cellular functions are governed by molecular machines and signalling networks that are mostly controlled by protein-protein interactions (PPIs).