Single-molecule systems for the detection and monitoring of plasma-circulating nucleosomes and oncoproteins in diffuse midline glioma.

The analysis of cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) and proteins in the blood of patients with cancer potentiates a new generation of non-invasive diagnostic approaches. However, confident detection of tumor-originating markers is challenging, especially in the context of brain tumors, where these analytes in plasma are extremely scarce. Here, we apply a sensitive single-molecule technology to profile multiple histone modifications on individual nucleosomes from the plasma of patients with diffuse midline glioma (DMG).

Liver disease-linked metabolic and behavioral factors associated with cognitive performance in an observational study of community dwelling adults.

Modifiable risk factors associated with cognitive functioning are important for identifying potential targets for intervention development. Although there are a few recognized modifiable risk factors (e.g.

Progressive Loss of Cerebral Structures in ALG11-Related Congenital Disorder Glycosylation.

Background: Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are a group of metabolic disorders related to dysfunctional glycoprotein and glycolipid biosynthesis. ALG11-related CDG is a rare member of this group, characterized by severe neurodevelopmental impairment, progressive microcephaly, sensorineural hearing loss, and epilepsy. The objective of this report is to provide an update on the phenotype and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at age seven years for a patient initially described in early infancy with fetal brain disruption sequence.

Black/White disparities in low birth weight across maternal trajectories of social mobility in South Carolina.

Persistent racial disparities in low birth weight (LBW) in the United States may be better understood through the adoption of a life course perspective that considers differential exposure and vulnerability of Black and White women to socioeconomic position across generations. Using a multigenerational dataset of singleton birth certificates from South Carolina from 1989 to 2020 linked along the maternal line, we constructed intergenerational social mobility trajectories of grandmaternal and maternal education and compared unadjusted and adjusted associations between trajectories and LBW among Black and White women. We found that White women were more likely to be upwardly mobile, and Black women to be downwardly mobile.

Association Between Language, Interpreter Use, and Pediatric Surgical Outcomes.

Background: Inequities exist in pediatric surgical outcomes. Differential outcomes have been identified across racial groups, geography, and socioeconomic standing. However, the association between preferred language, interpreter use, and surgical outcomes is not well-studied in pediatric surgical literature.

Simulations of the Potential for Diffraction Enhanced Imaging at 8 keV using Polycapillary Optics.

Conventional x-ray radiography relies on attenuation differences in the object, which often results in poor contrast in soft tissues. X-ray phase imaging has the potential to produce higher contrast but can be difficult to utilize. Instead of grating-based techniques, analyzer-based imaging, also known as diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI), uses a monochromator crystal with an analyzer crystal after the object.

Gender Imbalance in Citation Practices in Communication Sciences and Disorders Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose: Despite recent advances, gender inequality remains a major concern within the workforce. One manifestation of gender inequality in academia is the undercitation of women-authored compared to men-authored papers that is thought to reflect implicit biases and has important implications for the academic advancement for research-intensive female faculty. These studies largely stem from male-dominant professions.

Development of the Lee Symptom Scale-Skin Sclerosis for chronic GVHD-associated sclerosis.

Sclerosis is a highly morbid manifestation of chronic GVHD (cGVHD), associated with distressing symptoms and significant long-term disability. A patient-reported outcome measure (PRO) for cGVHD-associated sclerosis is essential to advance therapeutic trials. We aimed to develop a PRO for adults with cGVHD-associated sclerosis and evaluate and refine its content validity.

Reaccreditation and Pathways Recognition Experiences of Small Local and Tribal Health Departments.

Context: This paper describes experiences and views of leadership teams from 4 small local health departments (LHDs) seeking Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) reaccreditation or Pathways Recognition using PHAB Standards & Measures Version 2022. The Pathways program launched in 2022 provides additional supports for improvement of public health practice.

Objective: Given the need to accelerate accreditation among small health departments, the purpose of this study is to share small health departments' strategies for overcoming accreditation challenges and actionable advice for use by other health departments.

Public Health Accreditation Board Accreditation and Pathways Recognition Among Small Health Departments: Motivation, Communication, and Celebration.

This paper explores how small local health departments (LHDs) motivated staff members, communicated progress toward Public Health Accreditation Board accreditation or Pathways Recognition, and celebrated interim and final accreditation accomplishments. Qualitative key informant interviews were conducted with 22 employees and affiliates of 4 LHDs with jurisdiction populations <50 000. LHDs motivated staff through ownership, creative strategies to monitor and record progress, and meaningful no- or low-cost incentives.

In vivo imaging of mitochondrial function in normal, glaucoma suspect, and glaucoma eyes.

To investigate macula and optic nerve head (ONH) mitochondrial metabolic activity using flavoprotein fluorescence (FPF) in normal, glaucoma suspect (GS), and open-angle glaucoma (OAG) eyes we performed a cross-sectional, observational study of FPF in normal, GS, and OAG eyes. The macula and ONH of each eye was scanned and analyzed with a commercially available FPF measuring device (OcuMet Beacon, OcuSciences Inc., Ann Arbor, MI).

Glyphosate exposure and GM seed rollout unequally reduced perinatal health.

The advent of herbicide-tolerant genetically modified (GM) crops spurred rapid and widespread use of the herbicide glyphosate throughout US agriculture. In the two decades following GM-seeds' introduction, the volume of glyphosate applied in the United States increased by more than 750%. Despite this breadth and scale, science and policy remain unresolved regarding the effects of glyphosate on human health.

Acceptability of a dapivirine levonorgestrel vaginal ring in two Phase 1 trials (MTN-030/IPM 041 and MTN-044/IPM 053/CCN019): Implications for multipurpose prevention technology development.

End-user feedback early in product development is important for optimizing multipurpose prevention technologies for HIV and pregnancy prevention. We evaluated the acceptability of the 90-day dapivirine levonorgestrel ring (DPV-LNG ring) used for 14 days compared to a dapivirine-only ring (DVR-200mg) in MTN-030/IPM 041 (n = 23), and when used for 90 days cyclically or continuously in MTN-044/IPM 053/CCN019 (n = 25). We enrolled healthy, non-pregnant, HIV-negative women aged 18-45 in Pittsburgh, PA and Birmingham, AL (MTN-030 only).

Planned Surgical Trajectory Affects Clinical Motor Outcome in Deep Brain Stimulation Targeted at Subthalamic Nucleus for Parkinson's Disease.

Background And Objectives: Surgical planning is critical to achieve optimal outcome in deep brain stimulation (DBS). The relationship between clinical outcomes and DBS electrode position relative to subthalamic nucleus (STN) is well investigated, but the role of surgical trajectory remains unclear. We sought to determine whether preoperatively planned DBS lead trajectory relates to adequate motor outcome in STN-DBS for Parkinson's disease (PD).

Use of the Ostial Flash balloon in aorto-ostial chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: The use of the Ostial Flash balloon (Ostial Corporation) has received limited study in aorto-ostial chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary artery intervention (PCI).

Methods: The authors evaluated the outcomes of Ostial Flash balloon use in a large CTO-PCI registry (PROGRESS-CTO, NCT02061436).

Results: The Ostial Flash balloon was used in 54 of 907 aorto-ostial CTO PCIs in 905 patients (6.

Screening for Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.

Importance: Osteoporotic fractures are associated with psychological distress, subsequent fractures, loss of independence, reduced ability to perform activities of daily living, and death.

Objective: The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a systematic review to evaluate the evidence on the benefits and harms of screening for osteoporosis to prevent fractures in adults 40 years or older with no known diagnosis of osteoporosis or history of fragility fracture.

Population: Adults 40 years or older without known osteoporosis or history of fragility fractures.

Antimicrobial membranes based on polycaprolactone:pectin blends reinforced with zeolite faujasite for cloxacillin-controlled release.

Multifunctional membranes applied to biomedical materials become attractive to support the biological agents and increase their properties. In this study, biopolymeric fibers based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and pectin (PEC) were reinforced with faujasite zeolite (FAU) for cloxacillin antibiotic (CLX) loading. FAU with a high specific surface area (347 ± 8 m g), high crystallinity and particles with a diameter of up to 100 nm were produced under optimized synthesis conditions (100 °C/4 h).

Epigenetics in the modern era of crop improvements.

Epigenetic mechanisms are integral to plant growth, development, and adaptation to environmental stimuli. Over the past two decades, our comprehension of these complex regulatory processes has expanded remarkably, producing a substantial body of knowledge on both locus-specific mechanisms and genome-wide regulatory patterns. Studies initially grounded in the model plant Arabidopsis have been broadened to encompass a diverse array of crop species, revealing the multifaceted roles of epigenetics in physiological and agronomic traits.

A One-Dimensional Energy Balance Model Parameterization for the Formation of CO Ice on the Surfaces of Eccentric Extrasolar Planets.

Eccentric planets may spend a significant portion of their orbits at large distances from their host stars, where low temperatures can cause atmospheric CO to condense out onto the surface, similar to the polar ice caps on Mars. The radiative effects on the climates of these planets throughout their orbits would depend on the wavelength-dependent albedo of surface CO ice that may accumulate at or near apoastron and vary according to the spectral energy distribution of the host star. To explore these possible effects, we incorporated a CO ice-albedo parameterization into a one-dimensional energy balance climate model.

A Hospital Resource for Nurses Navigating Doctoral Education and Beyond.

Advancing nursing practice to improve care and system outcomes requires doctoral-prepared nurses to conduct programs of research and translate science to practice. The authors describe a Doctoral support group (DSG) at one hospital designed to support nurses considering and navigating doctoral education while continuing as hospital employees. Strategies from 18 years' experience are provided for others to develop and sustain a DSG as part of an environment to support and retain nurses with doctoral degrees.

Evaluation of two MALDI-TOF MS systems and extraction methods for identification of filamentous fungi recovered from clinical specimens.

Unlabelled: Rapid and accurate identification of cultured molds is important to determine clinical significance and therapeutic decision-making. Conventional mold identification uses phenotypic macroscopic and microscopic characterization; however, this can take days or weeks for colony maturity and definitive microscopic structure formation, be limited to genus-level identification, and be misidentified due to morphologic mimics or similarities between closely related species. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) revolutionized bacterial and yeast identification but remains uncommon for molds in part because of limited reference libraries.

Optimizing automated photo identification for population assessments.

Several legal acts mandate that management agencies regularly assess biological populations. For species with distinct markings, these assessments can be conducted noninvasively via capture-recapture and photographic identification (photo-ID), which involves processing considerable quantities of photographic data. To ease this burden, agencies increasingly rely on automated identification (ID) algorithms.