Recent ucla_postprints items

Curbing the car or charging at the curb?

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Curbing the car or charging at the curb?

Highly Specific Inhibitor for Syk Induces Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cell Apoptosis

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Highly Specific Inhibitor for Syk Induces Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Cell Apoptosis

Use of Whole Blood in Pediatric Congenital Heart Surgery

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Objectives Cardiopulmonary bypass is necessary for surgical repair of complex congenital heart disease. We studied whether whole blood use in circuit prime and for initial intraoperative transfusion needs improved postoperative outcomes in infants less than 2 months of age. Methods Single center retrospective chart review of infants who underwent cardiac surgery utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass between May 2019 and February 2023. We reviewed and analyzed intra and postoperative variables for whole blood and standard blood prime patients while the remainder of clinical management stayed unchanged. Results Ninety-five patients were included in our analysis. Donor exposure was reduced in the whole blood group with a median of 3 donors (Q1-Q3: 2-4) compared to the standard group with 5 donors (Q1-Q3: 5-6, p <0.001). The whole blood cohort utilized whole blood for intraoperative transfusion needs over individual blood components. Whole blood recipients had lower postoperative platelet...

Loss-of-function mutations in SCN4A cause severe foetal hypokinesia or classical congenital myopathy.

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Congenital myopathies are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of muscle disorders characterized by congenital or early-onset hypotonia and muscle weakness, and specific pathological features on muscle biopsy. The phenotype ranges from foetal akinesia resulting in in utero or neonatal mortality, to milder disorders that are not life-limiting. Over the past decade, more than 20 new congenital myopathy genes have been identified. Most encode proteins involved in muscle contraction; however, mutations in ion channel-encoding genes are increasingly being recognized as a cause of this group of disorders. SCN4A encodes the α-subunit of the skeletal muscle voltage-gated sodium channel (Nav1.4). This channel is essential for the generation and propagation of the muscle action potential crucial to muscle contraction. Dominant SCN4A gain-of-function mutations are a well-established cause of myotonia and periodic paralysis. Using whole exome sequencing, we identified homozygous...

The archetypal ecocide: is environmental devastation in the Alberta oil sands an international crime?

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Alberta oil sands operations have long been referred to as ‘ecocidal’ in view of the environmental devastation they cause. Yet the oil sands operations continue to grow, with the rewards, risks and damages provoking polarised reactions. Government and corporate industry sources highlight the oil sands as ‘an immense economic driver’ and ‘a secure source of energy for the world’. Critics, including many Indigenous peoples in the region, protest the severe environmental destruction wrought by the extractive operations as criminal acts of ‘ecocide’. In this article, we apply the contemporary proposed definition of the international crime of ecocide to the Alberta oil sands operations. While there has been a wealth of comment on this definition of the crime, there are fewer attempts to apply it to real life examples of environmental destruction. This article builds on this work, using a detailed application of the proposed definition to the oil sands operations both to highlight...

A geometric approach to beta diversity: Reply

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A geometric approach to beta diversity: Reply

Understanding the potential for climate adaptation of the Atlantic Forest hotspot requires a research collaboration network

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Atlantic Forest, a global biodiversity hotspot, faces severe threats due to land use and climate change. Understanding its ecosystem dynamics and resilience is crucial but hindered by the lack of integrated long-term data, limiting the development of effective conservation and adaptation policies. Currently, research efforts are fragmented and cover a minimal fraction of the biome. Collaborative research that integrates existing long-term monitoring initiatives under common standards and supports new efforts toward this goal is pivotal. The Atlantic Forest Monitoring Network (Rede DAMA – Dinâmica Ambiental da Mata Atlântica), a recently established initiative, brings together scientists working across the biome to harmonize methods, share knowledge and data, and strengthen collective capacity. Networks such as Rede DAMA are fundamental to integrate robust data, inform science-based adaptation strategies, guide large-scale restoration, and support global climate commitments....

Real-world genetic testing data of ovarian cancer patients: Informing counseling and risk reduction in patients over age seventy

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Older women are underrepresented in hereditary cancer guidelines, and the prevalence of pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) germline variants in ovarian cancer (OC) patients aged ≥70 remains poorly characterized. Current recommendations for risk-reducing interventions and surveillance rely heavily on variant and family history (FH), yet their applicability in older populations is uncertain. We evaluated age-stratified prevalence of P/LP variants at OC diagnosis to identify at-risk older patients and inform more inclusive genetic counseling strategies. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 113,236 OC patients undergoing germline testing through the Myriad Collaborative Research Registry (1996-2024). Variant prevalence, ancestry, FH, and testing patterns were evaluated across age groups, with focus on patients ≥70. RESULTS: Overall, 14,513 patients (12.8%) harbored a P/LP variant, including 13,049 (11.5%) in established OC susceptibility genes. Among patients...

Ligandability at the Membrane Interface of GPx4 Revealed through a Reverse Micelle Fragment Screening Platform.

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

While they account for a large portion of drug targets, membrane proteins present a unique challenge for drug discovery. Peripheral membrane proteins (PMPs), a class of water-soluble proteins that bind to membranes, are also difficult targets, particularly those that function only when bound to membranes. The protein-membrane interface in PMPs is often where functional interactions and catalysis occur, making it a logical target for inhibition. However, protein-membrane interfaces are underexplored spaces in inhibitor design, and there is a need for enhanced methods for small-molecule ligand discovery. In an effort to better initiate drug discovery efforts for PMPs, this study presents a screening methodology using membrane-mimicking reverse micelles (mmRM) and NMR-based fragment screening to assess ligandability at the protein-membrane interface. The proof-of-principle target, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4), is a lipid hydroperoxidase that is essential for the oxidative protection...

Imaging Biomarkers in Radiotherapy.

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Advances in medical imaging modalities such as multiparametric and functional MRI, PET, and CT/CBCT, together with complementary innovations such as radiomics, artificial intelligence (AI), adaptive radiotherapy, and theranostics, have expanded the role of imaging from anatomical guidance to biologically informed treatment planning, adaptation, and response assessment. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the technical foundations of imaging biomarkers in radiotherapy (RT), spanning functional and molecular imaging techniques and data-driven analytic approaches. We synthesize current clinical evidence across major disease sites, highlighting how imaging biomarkers are being used to refine target delineation, guide dose painting and functional avoidance, predict and monitor treatment response, and support adaptive and personalized RT strategies. We also critically examine key challenges to clinical translation and implementation, including standardization and...

Causal Effect of Character Gender on Readers Preferences.

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Stakeholders in the publishing industry observe strong gender homophily between authors and readers, but it is unclear what causes this alignment. One possible mechanism involves reader preferences for gendered characters - specifically, the largely untested hypothesis that men are less inclined to read books with women protagonists, while women are more willing to read stories featuring protagonists of any gender. This mechanism may affect not only the publication but also the promotion and adaptation of books with women characters. However, there is little causal evidence about the underlying claim: for a given book, would men be more likely to read it if it featured a man character? Would women be more likely to read it if it featured a woman character? Our study provides new causal evidence on these questions in a well-powered study. Using a randomized survey experiment involving 3,000 participants, we isolate the causal effect of protagonist gender on reader preferences....

On the Meaning of the Dynamo Radius in Giant Planets with Stable Layers

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Current structure models of Jupiter and Saturn suggest that helium becomes immiscible in hydrogen in the outer part of the planets’ electrically conducting regions. This likely leads to a layer in which overturning convection is inhibited due to a stabilizing compositional gradient. The presence of such a stably stratified layer impacts the location and mechanism of convectively driven dynamo action. Juno’s measurements of Jupiter’s magnetic field enabled an estimate of its dynamo radius based on the magnetic Lowes spectrum. A depth of ∼0.8RJ is obtained, where 1RJ is Jupiter’s radius. This is rather deep, considering that the electrical conductivity inside Jupiter is expected to reach significant values at ∼0.9RJ. Here, we use three-dimensional numerical dynamo simulations to explore the effects of the existence and location of a stably stratified helium rain layer on both the inferred Lowes radius and the location of the radial extent of dynamo action. We focus on a Jupiter-like...

Climate Predicts Tree Dispersal Strategies Across Brazil's Ecosystems

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

ABSTRACT Aim We investigate the distribution of dispersal modes — endozoochory (via animal ingestion), synzoochory (via animal seed accumulation) and anemochory (via wind)—and seed mass of woody plants across Brazilian ecosystems, testing whether their relative abundance in local plant communities could be predicted by climate, edaphic factors and dispersal agents (e.g., the main vectors moving seeds). We expected climate to be the main predictor of dispersal strategy abundance. Location Brazilian ecosystems (Amazon, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and Caatinga). Time Period 2004–2020. Major Taxa Studied Woody angiosperms, trees and shrubs. Methods We assigned seed mass to 1984 species and dispersal mode to 2203 species within 300 old‐growth and non‐flooded plots. We employed Random Forest regressions to assess the influence of water availability, temperature seasonality, soil fertility, wind and frugivorous primates on the community‐weighted means of seed mass and dispersal...

Cross-lagged panel model of depressive mood and influencing factors in high-risk perinatal depression

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundWhile research has uncovered intricate relationships between cognitive reactivity (CR), sleep quality, perceived stress, family function, mindfulness, and perinatal depression (PND), their temporal dynamics remain unclear. Previous studies have focused primarily on cross-sectional analyses or single-time-point associations and lack longitudinal exploration of the bidirectional relationships and temporal precedence between these variables.MethodsThe study was conducted in Fujian Province, China, from December 2021 to January 2023. A cross-lagged panel model was used to examine the temporal relationships among CR, sleep quality, perceived stress, family function, mindfulness, and PND in pregnant women at high risk for depression. A total of 329 participants completed a baseline questionnaire during the third trimester (T1) and completed follow-up assessments three months postpartum (T2). Standardized scales were used to measure key variables. Statistical analyses were...

A New Scaling Law for Nondipolar Magnetic Fields in Rapidly Rotating Stars and Planets

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Magnetic field generation in giant planets and rapidly rotating stars produces a diverse range of field geometries, from large-scale dipole-dominated configurations to complex, small-scale multipolar structures. Earlier dynamo studies have suggested that multipolar solutions tend to arise when rotational effects become less dominant. We investigate the strength of nondipolar magnetic fields generated in systems dominated by rotation. 40 three-dimensional, spherical-shell dynamo simulations were carried out using the MagIC code, primarily made up of bistable pairs—simulations with the same control parameters that can settle in both a dipolar and nondipolar steady state regime. We use this suite of models to test how their magnetic field strength scales with heat flux and velocity. Our dynamo simulations produce magnetic fields with morphologies that fall on the two distinct branches, dipolar and nondipolar, yet have very similar convective velocities. The strength of the dipole...

Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an art-making program to manage fear of cancer recurrence (AM-I-FCR) in lung cancer patients: a randomized controlled pilot study

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundFear of cancer recurrence (FCR) imposes a significant psychological and physical burden on cancer patients. Art-making interventions may offer a novel approach to alleviating FCR. This study aimed to develop an art-making program (AM-I-FCR) and assess its feasibility and preliminary effects on FCR in lung cancer patients.MethodsThe AM7-I-FCR was developed and evaluated via intervention mapping from March to December 2023. Step 1 (needs assessment) involved qualitative interviews. Step 2 (setting objectives) included translation and matrix creation. Step 3 (program design) involved a theoretical framework and a systematic review. Step 4 (program production) conducted expert meetings and collected patient feedback. Step 5 (implementation) and Step 6 (program evaluation) involved a pilot-randomized controlled trial (RCT) from August to December 2023 at a tertiary hospital in Fuzhou, China. The participants were randomized to receive either standard care or AM-I-FCR plus...

Personalized modeling of stress and blood pressure reactivity using mobile health data

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Psychological stress is a key driver of short-term blood pressure (BP) elevations and cardiovascular risk, yet its moment-to-moment impact in daily life remains difficult to predict. In this longitudinal observational study, we collected multimodal data from 20 adults with self-reported hypertension, including continuous wearable-derived heart rate and activity, ecological momentary assessment (EMA) stress ratings, and ambulatory BP measurements in free-living conditions. The dataset comprised 3694 EMA responses and 3812 BP measurements collected over approximately four weeks per participant (mean 24.1 ± 8.5 days). We evaluated whether participant-specific (“personalized”) models outperform a single pooled population model. Two prediction tasks were examined: (i) prediction of near-term BP elevations from wearable signals and stress EMA responses and (ii) prediction of self-reported stress from wearable signals and BP. Across both tasks, personalized models consistently improved...

The global forest diameter spectrum using a machine learning approach

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Global forest assessments assist climate policy development, ecosystem science, and conservation planning, yet they rely on biomass and canopy data that do not explicitly represent the stand structural attributes derived from tree diameter measurements. This limits the ability to compare size-related structure and within-stand heterogeneity at large spatial scales. Here we present a global, spatially explicit dataset of stand-level tree diameter structure for forest cover in 2020 at 0.027° (~3 km) resolution, based on 1,203,524 georeferenced forest inventory plots comprising 54.6 million trees (≥10 cm DBH) integrated with more than 50 environmental and satellite-derived covariates into machine learning models. The dataset provides the first globally consistent maps of three complementary diameter-based metrics: arithmetic mean diameter (Dmean), quadratic mean diameter (Dqm), and the coefficient of variation of diameter (Dcv), representing average tree size, large-tree dominance,...

Second thoughts about first principles in biology

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Second thoughts about first principles in biology

A Comparison of Local Anesthetics for Intravenous Catheter Insertion in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion is one of the most painful procedures pediatric patients undergo during hospitalization. To date, local anesthetics delivered via cream, patch, and needle-free injection have not been rigorously evaluated together. This study aimed to investigate feasibility and potential efficacy of local anesthetics on pain intensity during PIVC insertion in an unblinded, single-center, randomized clinical pilot trial. Between March 2017 and February 2020, 88 hospitalized children aged 12 months to 18 years in an acute pediatric unit at an academic medical center were randomized to 1 of 3 local anesthetics: 1) lidocaine/prilocaine cream, 2) lidocaine/tetracaine patch, and 3) unbuffered lidocaine needle-free injection. Feasibility outcomes were recruitment and protocol adherence. Pain intensity was measured using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (age <8 years) and Verbal Numeric Rating (VNRS) scales (age ≥8 years) before, during,...

5.29 First Do No Harm: Measuring Disparities in Child Involuntary Mental Health Detainment Order Use and Provider Justification Using Natural Language Processing

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

5.29 First Do No Harm: Measuring Disparities in Child Involuntary Mental Health Detainment Order Use and Provider Justification Using Natural Language Processing

Time-restricted feeding enhances cross-tissue temporal coordination of mitochondrial-associated transcripts

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Coordinating metabolism with the day-night cycle is essential for health. Circadian rhythms synchronize cellular and tissue functions with the external environment. Nutrient timing is a potent circadian cue that entrains peripheral clocks across organs. Mitochondria exhibit daily rhythms in energy metabolism and redox regulation; however, the temporal organization of mitochondrial-associated transcriptional programs across tissues remains unknown. We hypothesized that time-restricted feeding (TRF) enhances the cross-tissue coordination of mitochondrial-associated transcripts (MATs). Using a 22-tissue, 24-h transcriptomic dataset from mice under ad libitum or TRF conditions, we applied correlation- and phase-based analyses to quantify the intra- and inter-tissue alignment of MAT expression. TRF markedly increased cross-tissue coordination, nearly quadrupling the number of globally aligned MATs. Among these, Coq10b emerged as the most rhythmically aligned gene across...

On the Misuse of Virus-Transformed Human Corneal Epithelial Cells as Surrogates for Normal Cells

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Research in corneal biology and pathology including disease modeling and drug testing largely depends on the availability of human ex vivo cultures. Because normal corneal epithelium can be cultured only for several passages, stable epithelial cell lines transformed by different agents or spontaneously have been developed. Telomerase immortalized diploid cell lines introduced more recently were shown to recapitulate traits of normal cells including the expression of some markers and stratification ability. At the same time, there are frequently used cell lines generated by transformation with viruses. The most popular lines were shown to be unstable, tetraploid, lacking important epithelial markers, having aberrant differentiation and deviating from normal cells by gene expression patterns. This perspective reviews properties of various corneal epithelial cell lines and cautions against the use of virally transformed, especially tumorigenic cell lines, as seriously deviating form...

Learning when not to share: Refusal as a methodological practice of purposeful data disclosure

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Learning when not to share: Refusal as a methodological practice of purposeful data disclosure

“Doing the Real Work”: Latina Women, Resistance, and State Surveillance in a Border County

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract The experiences of Latina women and girls with state surveillance, and their responses to unfair policies and practices, remain underexplored. Drawing on in-depth interviews with Latinas—primarily of Mexican descent—living in San Diego, we examine how encounters with local police and immigration enforcement shape their political practices. Participants described repeated negative encounters with police and immigration enforcement agencies over the life course. These cumulative experiences fostered distrust of police and critical views of surveillance practices designed to restrict the mobility of immigrants and other systematically minoritized groups. In response, many of the women engaged in community organizing and adopted counter-surveillance strategies. Our findings show how patterned experiences with state surveillance generate political critique and action.

THE MEDICAL INCAPACITY HOLD: A NOVEL HEALTHCARE POLICY ADDRESSING AN EXISTING GAP IN COMMITMENT STATUTES

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

THE MEDICAL INCAPACITY HOLD: A NOVEL HEALTHCARE POLICY ADDRESSING AN EXISTING GAP IN COMMITMENT STATUTES

Odor tracking in flying Drosophila requires visual reafference and compass neurons

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Flying Drosophila critically depend on high-contrast visual surroundings to localize odor sources in still air, yet the neural mechanisms of visual integration for active odor tracking are unknown. We demonstrate that Ellipsoid body-Protocerebral bridge-Gall (E-PG) neurons—head direction cells in the central complex—work in concert with self-generated visual motion signals to maintain a stable heading metric during olfactory navigation in flight. Using a magnetic tether system and a digital “visual clamp,” we show that removing the visual feedback generated by a fly’s own turns (reafference) causes the animal to lose its heading within an odor plume. Thus, olfactory and mechanosensory signals alone are insufficient for plume stabilization. E-PG neurons have been shown to store visual changes in heading during flight. Genetically hyperpolarizing E-PG neurons significantly compromised the flies’ ability to both acquire and maintain heading toward a food odor. Notably, silencing...

Modeling Large Dust Aerosols in the Community Earth System Model Version 2 (CESM2)

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract Dust aerosols have a wide size distribution from less than 0.1 to over 100 μm and dominate Earth's atmospheric aerosol mass. However, most Earth system models (ESMs) inadequately represent dust aerosols larger than 10 μm in diameter, limiting the accuracy of the simulated dust cycle and climate impacts. Here, we introduce a new modeling framework that captures the full observed size distribution of dust aerosols, incorporating recent advances into a mineral‐resolved version of the Community ESM, while addressing known issues in previous versions. Comprehensive evaluation against diverse observations of bulk dust and component minerals demonstrates that the model reproduces the observed dust cycle across particle sizes. Incorporating the previously unrepresented large‐dust fractions substantially alters dust budget estimates, highlighting potential changes in simulated climate impacts and underscoring the importance of comprehensive size‐resolved dust modeling....

A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial to Improve Influenza and Tdap Vaccination Rates for Pregnant Women.

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

We evaluated the impact of a provider and nurse-based intervention on influenza and Tdap vaccination rates among pregnant women.

Methods

The VAX-MOM trial was a 2-arm cluster randomized clinical trial conducted across 4 health systems (14 obstetric practices in Rochester, NY, and 13 in Los Angeles, CA), from April 2021 to June 2022. Practices were randomized to receive provider and nurse training via online modules (covering influenza and pertussis infections, vaccination, and workflow changes, such as presumptive vaccine recommendations) or standard care. Co-primary outcomes were influenza and Tdap vaccination rates for women delivering live births during the intervention. Analyses adjusted for clustering within practices.

Results

The study included 5992 and 6768 women eligible for Tdap vaccination, and 4609 and 5294 women eligible for influenza vaccination (intervention and control practices, respectively). Influenza vaccination rates declined...

Learning from Within: Life-Affirming Practices and Third Spaces Created by and for Incarcerated Youth

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Grounded in a Black feminist approach (Collins, 2022; Evans-Winters, 2019), in this article, I weave together the personal and professional to share what I have learned as a Black Latina educator, researcher, and abolitionist who for the past twelve years has worked in carceral spaces alongside numerous men, women, youth, and gender expansive people. I bridge what I have learned from theories of the flesh (Madison, 1993; Moraga & Anzaldúa 2021) to what I have learned as a researcher who works with incarcerated youth and use it as a lens to better understand and study youth confinement. Drawing on data from a three-year critical ethnographic study focused on teaching, learning, and identity development in a juvenile detention center, this article explores young people’s experiences living and learning while confined. Using three distinct vignettes, this article touches on the lives of Black and Mexican heritage youth who at the time were detained in a juvenile detention center...

Voltage-dependent Ca2+ release is impaired in hypokalemic periodic paralysis caused by CaV1.1-R528H but not by NaV1.4-R669H

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HypoPP) is a channelopathy of skeletal muscle caused by missense mutations in the voltage sensor domains (usually at an arginine of the S4 segment) of the Ca_V1.1 calcium channel or of the Na_V1.4 sodium channel. The primary clinical manifestation is recurrent attacks of weakness, resulting from impaired excitability of anomalously depolarized fibers containing leaky mutant channels. Although the ictal loss of fiber excitability is sufficient to explain the acute episodes of weakness, a deleterious change in voltage sensor function for Ca_V1.1 mutant channels may also compromise excitation-contraction coupling (EC-coupling). We used the low-affinity Ca²⁺ indicator Oregon Green 488 BAPTA-5N (OGB-5N) to assess voltage-dependent Ca²⁺-release as a measure of EC-coupling for our knock-in mutant mouse models of HypoPP. The peak ΔF/F₀ in fibers isolated from Ca_V1.1-R528H...

Antiretroviral regimen and sex-specific metabolic heterogeneity in pediatric HIV

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Host metabolism is increasingly recognized as relevant in HIV remission and cure research yet remains understudied in children living with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (CLWH). The relation between clinical factors and plasma metabolic profiles, generated by untargeted ultra high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, of pre-pubescent, virally suppressed CLWH (n = 155) and uninfected controls (UCs, n = 155) was investigated. The specific antiretroviral treatment (ART) regimen dominated the plasma metabolic profile and significantly influenced metabolic sexual dimorphism in CLWH. Two CD4%-associated metabotypes among well-controlled CLWH on the same regimen suggested divergent, sub-clinical responses to ART. Phospholipids were most frequently able to predict HIV status independent of treatment regimen. Metabolic biomarkers are unlikely to reliably predict outcomes in CLWH across regimens, if not curated for ART-induced divergence....

Cancer Screening and Citizenship Status in the US.

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Importance: Immigrants without US citizenship, or noncitizens, disproportionately endure poverty, labor exclusions, and inadequate health care access-structural drivers of adverse cancer outcomes. While screening is critical for preventing cancer deaths, and cancer is the leading cause of death among noncitizens, little is known about citizenship status and its potential influence on cancer screening. Objectives: To examine cancer screening inequities associated with citizenship status, evaluate whether these inequities vary across states, and determine whether structural factors mediate these inequities. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study used nationally representative data from the National Health Interview Survey (2010-2023). Eligibility for cancer screening and the timing and types of tests considered appropriate were determined using US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines. Data were analyzed from May to August 2025. Exposure: Citizenship status:...

CT findings in biomass smoke-associated interstitial lung disease: A retrospective analysis

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Objectives: Household air pollution from biomass fuel combustion remains a major global health burden, affecting nearly 3 billion people worldwide. Although biomass smoke exposure is a recognized risk factor for chronic airway disease, its role in interstitial lung disease (ILD) is less well defined, and characteristic CT features have not been systematically described in patients without coexisting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Material and Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 23 patients with biomass smoke exposure and radiographic evidence of ILD, excluding those with alternative ILD etiologies or pre-existing COPD. CT scans were independently assessed by a thoracic radiologist and two pulmonologists for predominant patterns, distributions, and additional findings, with consensus classification. We report proportions with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and performed exploratory Spearman correlation to assess associations between selected CT features. Results:...

Can Citizen Pressure Be Induced to Improve Public Service Provision?

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Can Citizen Pressure Be Induced to Improve Public Service Provision?

Real-world clinical outcomes of Trastuzumab Deruxtecan in HER2-expressing ovarian and endometrial Cancer

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

ObjectiveTrastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd), a HER2-directed antibody-drug conjugate, received FDA approval on April 5, 2024 for HER2-expressing solid tumors based on the phase II DESTINY-PanTumor02 trial (n = 40 per tumor type). Despite rapid clinical adoption, real-world evidence in gynecologic cancers remains limited. This study aims to address this gap.MethodsThis single-center retrospective cohort study included patients with ovarian cancer (OC) or endometrial cancer (EC) who received T-DXd between September 2022 and January 2026. Primary outcomes were real-world progression free survival (rwPFS) and real-world response rate (rwRR). Secondary outcomes included real-world disease control rate (rwDCR), safety, and time on treatment (TOT). Exploratory analysis aimed to evaluate predictors of progression or death on T-DXd using multivariate cox regression.ResultsAs of February 2026, 40 patients (20 OC, 20 EC) received T-DXd, with a median follow-up...

Improving Medication Reconciliation at Discharge: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background

Medication discrepancies remain a persistent patient safety concern despite decades of quality improvement efforts. Research indicates that about half of hospitalized adults experience at least one such discrepancy after discharge, often stemming from unclear clinician roles and poor communication among nurses, physicians, and pharmacists. Understanding nurses' perspectives is critical to designing interventions that will improve medication reconciliation and enhance patient safety at discharge.

Purpose

This study aimed to explore RNs' perspectives of medication reconciliation during hospital discharge, focusing on barriers, communication patterns, and opportunities for system improvement.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was administered to nursing staff across medical telemetry, cardiac observation, short-stay, and general observation units at a large quaternary academic teaching hospital between March 21 and April 30, 2022. The survey assessed...

Anterior cingulate cortex mixes retrospective cognitive signals and ongoing movement signatures during decision-making

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In dynamic environments, animals must closely monitor the effects of their actions to inform switches in behavioral strategy. Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) neurons track decision outcomes in these environments. Yet, it remains unclear whether ACC neurons similarly monitor behavioral history in static environments and, if so, whether these signals are distinct from movement representations. We recorded large-scale ACC activity in freely moving mice making visual evidence-accumulation decisions. Many ACC neurons exhibited nonlinear mixed selectivity for previous choices and outcomes (trial history) and were modulated by movements. Trial history could be stably decoded from population activity and accounted for a separable component of neural activity than posture and movements. Trial history encoding was conserved across different subjects and was unaffected by fluctuating behavioral biases. These findings demonstrate that trial history monitoring in ACC is implemented in a conserved...

A Medical Incapacity Hold Policy Reduces Inappropriate Use of Involuntary Psychiatric Holds While Protecting Patients From Harm

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: The use of involuntary psychiatric holds (IPH) to detain patients who lack the capacity to make health care decisions due to nonpsychiatric conditions is common. While this practice prevents patient harm, it also deprives civil liberties, risks liability for false imprisonment, and may hinder disposition. Medical incapacity hold (MIH) policies, which establish institutional criteria and processes for detaining patients who lack capacity but do not meet criteria for an IPH, provide a potential solution. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on adult medical/surgical inpatients placed on an IPH or MIH over the 1-year periods before and after implementation of a MIH policy at an academic medical center. The primary outcome was frequency of IPH utilization in patients who did not qualify for an IPH as determined by 2 independent physician reviewers. A Cohen's kappa was calculated to determine inter-rater reliability. Differences in patient demographics and...

Forecasting Urban Water Demand and Effects on Wastewater Management: An Integrated Systems Approach with Uncertainty

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Water demand forecasting is an important tool for integrated water management. Long-term demand predictions include inherent uncertainty, but few studies have investigated empirical methods to forecast water demand that include uncertainty from many driving factors or evaluate how changes in demand affect linked systems such as wastewater conveyance and treatment. This study presents a novel approach for long-term urban water demand forecasting that (1) integrates uncertainty in technology, behavior, and climate; and (2) estimates effects of demand changes on wastewater management systems. We demonstrate this using a case study of 350 urban water supply agencies and more than 300 wastewater treatment systems in California serving 31 million people. For the period from 2020 to 2030, we used modeling with Monte Carlo simulations to estimate future scenarios of urban water demand given changes in efficiency, climate, water rates, and population. Effects of demand changes on wastewater...

Ocular Translation Due to Gravitational Acceleration

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose: We asked if human globe position in the orbit is influenced by gravitational head orientation. Methods: In 11 adult volunteers, surface coil magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 2 mm thick axial and quasi-coronal planes with a centered visual target was performed in supine position that aligned the cranial midline along the gravity vector, and was repeated in right and left decubitus positions that oriented gravity orthogonally. From coronal MRI, we computed globe centroid positions relative to the whole head. Results: In decubitus posture relative to supine, the upper eye shifted 0.85 ± 0.55 mm anteriorly and 0.44 ± 0.49 mm medially (P < 0.005 for both), without shifting superiorly. The lower eye translated anteriorly by 0.73 ± 0.59 mm (P < 10-4), 0.36 ± 0.56 mm laterally (P < 0.02), and 0.25 ± 0.50 mm superiorly (P < 0.03). Vector magnitude of translation was significantly non-zero at 1.13 ± 0.55 mm for upper eyes and 1.16 ± 0.59 mm for lower eyes (P <...

Leveraging EMIT spectroscopy and machine learning to estimate soil texture and particle grain size in dust-producing regions

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The primary mission of NASA's Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) is to improve our understanding of mineral dust in atmospheric radiative forcing using a novel set of spectroscopically-based mineral observations. In order to estimate mineral mass abundance, information on median surface grainsize is required. Knowledge of clay and silt fractions as well as the sub-components of the sand fractions is required for calculation of median grainsize. Therefore, this study aimed to produce a map of surface soil texture suitable for the intended application. Spectral reflectance data were incorporated into a multi-output Random Forest model to predict mass fraction for seven particle size classes: silt (TSI), clay (Clay), and five sand size classes: very coarse sand (S1, 1–2 mm diameter), coarse sand (S2, 1/2–1 mm), medium sand (S3, 1/4–1/2 mm), fine sand (S4, 1/8–1/4 mm), and very fine sand (S5, 1/16–1/8 mm diameter). To account for the presence...

Artificial Intelligence in Psychiatric Graduate Medical Education

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

ObjectivePsychiatry graduate medical education (GME) faces converging pressures of increasing clinical demand, rising administrative burden, and workforce burnout. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models (LLMs), offers new possibilities for expanding educational capacity and personalizing training. However, the relational and narrative foundations of psychiatric practice create unique challenges for responsible integration. This review defines opportunities and risks of AI across key domains of psychiatry GME.MethodsPsychiatric education leaders applied the Josiah Macy Foundation’s framework for AI in medical education to four domains of psychiatry GME: recruitment, didactic development and clinical learning, assessment and feedback, and program evaluation.ResultsAI has potential to reduce administrative burden, augment clinical reasoning instruction, enable more consistent formative assessment, and support data-driven program improvement....

Patterns of Emotional Eating Changes After Sleeve Gastrectomy

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundEmotional eating is very common among metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) candidates. However, the changes of emotional eating after sleeve gastrectomy (SG), its impact on short-term weight loss outcomes, and sex differences in emotional eating are still not well established.ObjectiveTo study the changes of emotional eating changes after SG and its impact on short-term weight loss.SettingUniversity Hospital, United States.Methods 122 patients who had SG were included. Patient demographics, weight loss, and pre- and post-operative emotional eating scores were collected. Emotional eating was measured by the Coping subscale of the Palatable Eating Motives Scale.ResultsOf the 122 patients enrolled, 95 completed both the pre-operative and post-operative surveys (77.87%). For the whole study population, the average emotional eating scores decreased significantly from 1.31 ± 1.17 in pre-op to 1.01 ± 1.16 one year after SG (p = .007). Women reported greater emotional eating...

Friends in Our Lives: Perspectives of Young People Who Participated in a Professional Mentoring Program

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Mentoring programs are popular interventions to support holistic development for young people. One specific model of mentoring that has emerged over the past few decades in the United States is professional mentoring. Research has illustrated that this model of mentoring may be particularly helpful for young people who could benefit from extra support in their lives that a volunteer mentoring program does not have the capacity to provide. Despite the emerging utilization of professional mentoring programs, little is known about the ideal characteristics of a professional mentor and young people’s experiences in these professional mentoring programs. This study interviewed 12 young people who participated in the same professional mentoring program in different regions of the United States. The participants discussed their ideal characteristics in a mentor, highlighted factors that made the professional mentoring program impactful to them, and shared their ideas on how to improve...

Low-Dose Atropine for Pediatric Myopia: First-Year Progression as a Risk-Stratification and Management Signal

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose: To determine whether first-year refractive progression predicts longer-term on-treatment myopia control and whether early progression guides escalation decisions and subsequent trajectories. Design: Retrospective cohort, single practice. Participants: Five hundred fifty-five children (1107 eyes) treated with 0.01% (93.5%) or 0.02% (6.5%) atropine for ≥12 months. Methods: Spherical equivalent refraction (SER) progression was annualized (diopters [D]/year; positive = worse). At 12 months, eyes met or did not meet the ≤0.25 D/year threshold; children were categorized as responsive (both eyes), partially responsive (one eye), or unresponsive (neither eye). Progression was also modeled continuously (per 0.25 D/year). Escalation was defined as increasing the atropine concentration and/or adding optical therapy. Primary analyses associated 12-month response with on-treatment outcomes and progression before and after escalation. Eye-level models accounted for intereye correlation...

Collection of ambient noise data across California to derive Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratios (HVSR)

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Microtremor-based horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios (mHVSR) offer insights into subsurface seismic velocity structure, primarily through resonant features revealed by peaks in mHVSR curves. Typically derived from three-component broadband seismometers with high-pass corner frequencies of 0.0083 Hz over relatively short observation periods (1-2 hrs), mHVSR is a cost-effective and time-efficient method of site characterization. This approach has been shown to correlate with site-specific ground motion characteristics and recent studies suggest that mHVSR holds significant potential for improving ergodic ground motion models. This study produced mHVSR curves at 1,127 seismic stations with permanently installed broadband seismometers across California and neighboring states. Each mHVSR curve was uniformly processed using the Python library hvsrprocpy following standard procedures with minor modification. These data were added to the Community Shear-Wave Velocity (VS) Profile...

Evolution of the BSSA14 GMM for the NGA-West3 Project

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We present the development of ground-motion models (GMMs) to predict 5% damped pseudo-spectral accelerations (PSA) and effective amplitude spectra (EAS) as part of the NGA-West3 project. Our approach utilizes the project dataset and shared functional forms for the PSA and EAS models, which are being developed in a coordinated manner to ensure internal consistency. This is different from other approaches that focus mainly on EAS models and then convert them to PSA using random vibration theory and duration models. Both our EAS and PSA models are conditioned on the same predictor variables and include broad regional adjustments to capture tectonic variability. The PSA model is being developed through a traditional period-by-period mixed-effects framework, whereas the EAS model utilizes a seismologically-based source parameterization and frequency-dependent path and site models. Ongoing work aims to refine regionalization, anelastic attenuation, and site response models.

The high frequency attenuation parameter in NGA-West3 EAS: Modeling κ0 with varying levels of complexity

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We are working on the development of an earthquake ground-motion model (GMM) for effective amplitude spectra (EAS, the smoothed quadratic mean of two horizontal-component Fourier amplitude spectra) as part of the NGA-West3 project. κ0 is a model parameter that controls the shape of the high frequency portion of the EAS spectrum by determining how far it deviates from an ω^{-2} source model. Here, we focus on development of κ0 models within the GMM, with increasing levels of complexity: regional constants, regional relationships with VS30, and a modular model based on the depth to the 1 km/s shear wave velocity isosurface (z1). We estimate average values of κ0 range from 0.023 – 0.065 s. Mexico, southern California, and Japan have lower than average κ0 (less attenuation) whereas Taiwan and northern California have higher than average values (more attenuation). We find that sites with low time-averaged shear wave velocity in the upper 30 m (VS30) have larger κ0, whereas VS30 has...

Summary of the NGA-West3 Project Database

Sun, 23 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Next Generation Attenuation (NGA)-West3 Program database builds upon that of NGA-West2 for shallow crustal earthquakes in active tectonic regimes to provide a robust dataset to develop the next iteration of NGA ground motion models (GMMs). Researchers from Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, and the United States, amongst others, have collaborated to develop consistently processed data with uniform metadata from the respective regions, with data for other regions drawn from literature (e.g., Greece, Japan, Türkiye). Over 150,000 three-component ground motions (mostly in California and Japan) with magnitudes generally greater than 3.0 have been newly added and the total database size is over 175,000 ground motions (generally three-component except for two-component records from KiK-Net stations in Japan). The database is being used by several teams of NGA GMM developers.

Facile strategy enabling both high loading and high release amounts of the water-insoluble drug clofazimine using mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Facile strategy enabling both high loading and high release amounts of the water-insoluble drug clofazimine using mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Photothermal Nanoblades for Delivery of Large-Sized Cargo into Mammalian Cells at High Throughput

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Technologies for transferring large-sized cargo into mammalian cells are needed to advance key applications in cell engineering. However, reliable methodologies for introducing large-sized cargo into mammalian cells are nearly completely lacking. This talk will present two new technologies, photothermal nanoblade and BLAST, that overcome the size limitation of cargo delivery into mammalian cells.

Discovery and cryoEM structure of FPM13, a periplasmic metalloprotein unique to Francisella

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We report the identification and cryoEM structure of the Francisella protein FTN_1118, a previously uncharacterized 13 kDa periplasmic protein unique to the Francisella genus. The protein was serendipitously discovered during purification of Francisella type VI secretion system (T6SS) effector proteins and is hereby designated as FPM13 (Francisella Periplasmic Metalloprotein, 13 kDa) based on its cellular and biochemical properties. Identified by the cryoID approach based on our cryoEM density map, FPM13 exists naturally as a cylindrical 18-mer complex with 9-fold dihedral symmetry, formed by stacking two donut-shaped nonamers head-to-head. Measuring ~8 nm in height and outer diameter with a 3.5 nm central channel, the complex features a double-layered wall comprising an inner β-sheet core and an outer α-helical shell. Each FPM13 monomer adopts a compact fold comprising an N-terminus β-strand, an α-helix and two additional β strands at the C-terminus. Inter-ring loop interactions,...

Staying Happier

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

As many happiness seekers inevitably discover, human beings are remarkably susceptible to hedonic adaptation—the process of becoming accustomed to positive life changes. Even if individuals observe short-term increases in happiness, how can they avoid the natural erosion of happiness over time? Can anyone ever stay happier? In the present chapter, we review the mechanisms underlying hedonic adaptation to positive experiences and present evidence that sheds light on how people can deliberately prevent or slow it down. We argue that the intentional, effortful use of positive activities can produce and sustain significant increases in happiness.

Autonomic and neural responses to varying transcutaneous cervical electrical stimulation parameters

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundTranscutaneous cervical electrical stimulation (TCES) offers a noninvasive approach to modulate the autonomic nervous system (ANS), but optimal stimulation parameters remain undefined. This pilot study aimed to identify optimal TCES parameters by evaluating autonomic and neural responses across varying frequencies, current intensities, electrode montages, and durations, using heart rate variability (HRV) and electroencephalography (EEG) alpha-band power as biomarkers of parasympathetic activity.MethodsTwenty healthy adults completed four testing sessions, each examining one stimulation parameter. Autonomic data were collected including electrocardiography, non-invasive blood pressure, pupillometry, photoplethysmography, and dry-electrode EEG. Four frequencies (10, 25, 40, 150 Hz), three current intensities (sub-sensation threshold, sensation threshold, supra-sensation threshold), three electrode montages (bilateral, left-only, right-only), and two durations (4,...

Next Generation Liquefaction Susceptibility Database and Modeling

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Next Generation Liquefaction Susceptibility Database and Modeling

There is No Consensus on Biological Sex

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

There is ongoing scientific and societal discourse on the definition of biological sex. At this critical moment when misinformation about sex is being applied to policy globally, scientific clarification is valuable. Here, we evaluate the primary approaches to defining sex and synthesise the active discourse to conclude that there is no current consensus on a definition of sex that is free of assumptions and limitations. While there is no current consensus, we do not advocate for a single definition and contend that a lack of unanimity is not inherently problematic. No matter what definitional choices are used, we provide actionable recommendations to improve accuracy when describing sex. Most importantly, regardless of scientific debates, no biological definition of sex should be used to dictate human rights.

Where We Go From Here: Harnessing Queer Perspectives to Advance Practice in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In this manuscript, we invite the field of ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB) to interrogate our relationship with society at large, consider the perspective of queer scientists, and take action to produce more accurate and objective science. Science and society continuously shape one another; this relationship determines what science is funded, which inquiries are pursued, and whose voices are included in the production and dissemination of knowledge. In EEB, many scientists have worked to address biases that originated from and were legitimized by societal norms. Here, we investigate this science-society relationship further by exploring how this relationship has historically impacted and continually impacts LGBTQ+ people. Using illustrative examples, we discuss societal trends and their influence on science over time, current biases in interpreting data, and the downstream impacts on policy. To move beyond inclusion to an epistemological intervention, we propose a framework...

Mitigation of hydrogen crossover in liquid alkaline water electrolysers using gas recombination catalysts

Tue, 18 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The rising demand for hydrogen calls for improvements in the efficiency of liquid alkaline water electrolysers (LAWEs), which can be fulfilled by advanced electrodes or separators. Nevertheless, they also intensify hydrogen crossover and safety concerns, thus mandating efficient mitigation strategies. Here we studied the correlation between cathodes and hydrogen crossover behaviours and mitigated safety risks by designing a gas recombination catalyst (GRC). We attribute the elevated hydrogen crossover associated with platinum-based cathodes to their preferential utilization for the hydrogen evolution reaction that creates elevated hydrogen supersaturation, as evidenced by direct measurements of dissolved hydrogen concentration. Varying the placement of platinum layers relative to the cathode–separator interface also supports this conclusion. The implementation of a GRC reduces hydrogen crossover by 95% without affecting LAWE performance and functions for over 1,000 h at 1 A cm−2....

Health Behaviors Are Moralized When Perceived to Cause Harm.

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

People readily moralize health, whether by criticizing smokers or treating exercise as noble. Drawing from the theory of dyadic morality, we theorized that people moralize health most strongly when they perceive poor health as a source of suffering. Through five studies (total N = 2,055), we show that perceived harm can drive the moralization of health. We identified three types of harm-personal, interpersonal, and collective-that people perceive as relevant to health and created a 15-item measure to capture each (Study 1). Perceived interpersonal harm reliably predicted moralizations of health, whether health was conceived broadly (Study 2) or as a concrete health issue (e.g., smoking, eating healthfully, disease prevention; Study 3). Experimentally manipulating the interpersonal harmfulness of a health behavior caused participants to moralize it (Studies 4 and 5), whereas disgust had no unique effect (Study 4). We suggest that perceived harm plays a key role in moralizing...

Vaccines in Pregnancy: A Review of Guidelines

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract

Importance: Vaccination during pregnancy protects both the pregnant individual and the fetus from severe infectious diseases. Maternal immunization has expanded over the past decade, with new vaccines, robust safety data, and clear evidence of neonatal benefit through transplacental IgG transfer.

Objective: To summarize current evidence regarding the safety, efficacy, and clinical recommendations for vaccines administered before and during pregnancy, outline strategies to address vaccine hesitancy, and provide an updated reference of vaccines recommended and contraindicated during pregnancy.

Evidence Acquisition: Evidence synthesized from guidelines issued by the CDC, ACOG, SMFM, and major peer-reviewed publications including randomized trials, observational studies, vaccine safety surveillance systems, and meta-analyses. Literature informing...

The State of Corporate Sustainability Disclosure 2026

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The State of Corporate Sustainability Disclosure 2026

Classism, Perceived Stress, and Mental Health Symptoms: Cross-Sectional Evidence from a Census-Matched U.S. Sample

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background/Objectives: Classism, or discrimination based on social class, is associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. However, limited research has examined the psychological processes that may help explain these associations. The present study tested whether perceived stress statistically mediated the associations between experienced and anticipated classism and mental health symptoms. Methods: A U.S. census-matched sample on age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, and census region (n = 1993) was analyzed. Missing data were addressed using Bayesian multiple imputation, and mediation models estimated total, direct, and indirect effects. Results: Results indicated that perceived stress statistically accounted for the associations between both experienced and anticipated classism and higher depression and anxiety symptoms, even after adjusting for income and education. In exploratory analyses, individuals living at or below the...

Perceived Stress and Associations Between Food Insecurity, Diet Quality, and Eating Behaviors: Evidence from Two Cross-Sectional Studies in U.S. Samples

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background/Objectives: The present investigation examined whether perceived stress statistically mediated the association between food insecurity and diet quality, as well as maladaptive eating behaviors (i.e., reward-based eating, comfort eating). Methods: Study 1 used cross-sectional data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study (N = 624), in which Black and white women completed self-report measures of food security, perceived stress, diet quality, and reward-based eating. Study 2 used cross-sectional data from a census-matched U.S. sample by age, gender, income, race/ethnicity, and census region (N = 1993), with self-report measures of food security, perceived stress, and comfort eating. Mediation analyses tested the indirect effect of perceived stress on associations between food insecurity and diet quality, reward-based eating, and comfort eating, controlling for sociodemographic factors. Results: In Study...

Income, Healthy Food Availability, and Consumption Mediate Rural–Urban Health Disparities

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundExamine the role of income, perceived healthy foods availability, and consumption as mediators of rural–urban health disparities.MethodPre-registered simple mediation models with post hoc multi-mediator models were tested using national- and state-level survey data. Oregon data was collected in an online Qualtrics survey between October 8 and November 9, 2021 using CloudResearch; Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5, a nationally representative dataset, was collected over 4 cycles from 2017 to 2020. Oregon residents (n = 771; rural = 313, urban = 458) self-reported online: income, perceived fruits and vegetable (FV) availability, FV consumption, and BMI measures (height, weight). HINTS respondents (rural n = 1235; urban n = 13,912) self-reported the same variables of interest without FV availability, and with an additional self-rated health variable detailed below. ResultsThe effect of rurality on BMI (b = 0.012, SE = 0.005, p = 0.01) and self-rated...

An experimental investigation of the stigmatization of weight loss and regain from GLP-1 receptor agonist use and cessation

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background/ObjectivesGlucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist medications (GLP-1s) are effective for weight loss, but when people discontinue them, they tend to regain weight. The present work sought to examine the stigma of losing and regaining weight after GLP-1 use and cessation.Subjects/MethodsIn two randomized, between-subjects experiments, participants evaluated a fictional target after reading a brief description of the target’s weight-related history, which varied by study condition. Study 1 (N = 607) aimed to understand stigma directed at individuals who lose weight using GLP-1s, so the target was described as either: having lost weight by using a GLP-1, having lost weight via diet and exercise, or not having lost weight. Study 2 (N = 706) examined stigma directed at people who regain weight after discontinuing GLP-1s, and the target was described as either: having regained weight after discontinuing a GLP-1, having regained weight after discontinuing a diet and exercise...

The Effect of Wearing an Obese Body Suit on Snack Food Consumption and Alcohol Consumption

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Effect of Wearing an Obese Body Suit on Snack Food Consumption and Alcohol Consumption

Psychiatric Morbidity After Bariatric Surgery and its Association with Postoperative Body Mass Index: A National Analysis

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) remains the most effective intervention for durable weight loss and improvement of obesity-related comorbidities. However, its association with psychiatric morbidity remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between prior MBS status and psychiatric morbidity at a national level and to identify any contributing factors. SETTING: National Inpatient Sample, the largest publicly available all-payer inpatient database in the United States. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using data from 2016 to 2021. Adult encounters (≥18 years) with documented body masss index (BMI) were included and stratified by prior MBS status. Following entropy balancing to minimize baseline differences, multivariable models were used to evaluate the independent cross-sectional association between prior MBS status and psychiatric morbidity odds. RESULTS: Among 32,879,950 encounters, 831,285 (2.5%) involved patients with prior...

Cell villages and Dirichlet modeling map human cell fitness genetics

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The capacity of cells to proliferate and survive is central to development and disease. Assays that measure cell fitness are therefore a cornerstone of biology, but traditional techniques lack donor diversity and have high technical variability that impedes scale and reproducibility. To overcome these barriers, we designed and validated a "cell village"-based fitness screening approach using pooled cultures of 12-39 genetically distinct human neural progenitor cell (NPC) lines. We also developed Townlet to establish a foundational statistical framework based on Dirichlet regression for analyzing proportional data from cell villages. Applying these systems, we identified hyperproliferation in NPCs harboring the autism risk factor chromosome 16p11.2 deletion, mapped common genetic variants near ZFHX3 associated with NPC proliferation rate, and discovered genetic modifiers of lead (Pb) sensitivity implicating ARNT2. Together, these experimental and analytical tools advance a scalable,...

Examining Undergraduates’ Intentions to Pursue a Science Career: A Longitudinal Study of a National Biomedical Training Initiative

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Disparities in the participation of individuals from historically excluded groups in science careers persist, particularly at advanced career stages. In response to this challenge, the National Institutes of Health developed the BUilding Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) initiative, aimed at undergraduate institutions to examine evidence-based strategies to engage and retain students across science-related fields. In this longitudinal study, we used propensity score matching and mixed-effects logistic regression models to examine the effects of BUILD on undergraduates' intentions to pursue science-related research careers. The results indicate that students who participated in BUILD are four times more likely to pursue a science-related research career in comparison to their non-BUILD counterparts. We also discuss and present the need to incorporate research training and mentorship to promote a diverse scientific workforce.

Institutionalizing grant-funded interventions: a multiple case study examining long-term investments in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM)

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background, context, and purposeAlthough funding agencies make large investments and encourage program adoption, little is known about the process of institutionalizing grant-funded efforts in higher education. This multiple case study examined how grant-funded awardees of a biomedical training grant worked toward institutionalizing program activities. Cases included 10 diverse postsecondary institutions (368 study participants) across the United States charged with implementing a federal grant aimed at comprehensive and multi-level approaches to engage and retain students from diverse backgrounds in biomedical research.FindingsEmploying prior frameworks on institutionalization in higher education, we examined how embedded campus agents appealed to two determinants of institutionalization: compatibility and mutualism. We identified institutional resources as an additional determinant. Compatibility is most commonly sought after as early as the grant proposal stage, while agents...

Correlates of Risk for Disinhibited Behaviors in the Million Veteran Program Cohort

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Importance: Many psychiatric outcomes share a common etiologic pathway reflecting behavioral disinhibition, generally referred to as externalizing (EXT) disorders. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have demonstrated the overlap between EXT disorders and important aspects of veterans' health, such as suicide-related behaviors and substance use disorders (SUDs). Objective: To explore correlates of risk for EXT disorders within the Veterans Health Administration (VA) Million Veteran Program (MVP). Design, Setting, and Participants: A series of phenome-wide association studies (PheWASs) of polygenic risk scores (PGSs) for EXT disorders was conducted using electronic health records. First, ancestry-specific PheWASs of EXT PGSs were conducted in the African, European, and Hispanic or Latin American ancestries. Next, a conditional PheWAS, covarying for PGSs of comorbid psychiatric problems (depression, schizophrenia, and suicide attempt; European ancestries only), was performed....

A 10-million-year biogeographic holding pen primed the Great American Biotic Interchange.

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The movement of taxa between North and South America across the Panamanian land bridge, known as the Great American Biotic Interchange (GABI), established modern-day mammal assemblages in the Americas, heralding the decisive end of what has been called the "splendid isolation" of the South American fauna. Lacking substantive low-latitude records, previous work on this pattern relied on South American and temperate North American fossils to conclude that pulsed interchanges began about 2.8 million years ago (mya). Based on new low-latitude fossil data from México, we found evidence for a prolonged, triphasic interchange. Phase 1 consisted of the initial accumulation of northern higher-latitude mammals in a Mexican "holding pen" beginning 10 mya. Dispersal began in phase 2, with a strong north-south gradient and increasing biogeographic connections (7 to 3 mya). The final phase consisted of the already well-described taxonomic pulses (from ~2.8 mya).

Community PrEP delivery preferences among pregnant and breastfeeding women using oral PrEP in south africa and kenya.

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated preferences for differentiated service delivery of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) versus clinic pick-up among oral PrEP-experienced pregnant and breastfeeding women (PBFW) in South Africa and Kenya. DESIGN AND METHODS: From September 2021 to February 2022, we surveyed PBFW in oral PrEP studies in South Africa and Kenya. We asked participants about their PrEP delivery preferences and used logistic regression models adjusted for age and country to identify predictors of preferring community over clinic-based PrEP delivery. RESULTS: We surveyed 394 South African and Kenyan PBFW (73% postpartum, median age 28 years). Overall, 59.5% of South African participants (n = 113) and 24.5% of Kenyan participants (n = 50, p < 0.01) were interested in community PrEP delivery, most frequently due to convenience (n = 80, 49.1%) and lower transportation costs (n = 78, 47.9%). Participants preferred clinic PrEP pick-up due to privacy (n = 174, 75.3%) and desire to...

Preferences and Acceptability for Long-Acting PrEP Agents Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women with Experience Using Daily Oral PrEP in South Africa and Kenya

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract Introduction Long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) options could overcome some barriers to oral PrEP persistence during pregnancy and postpartum. We evaluated long-acting PrEP preferences among oral PrEP-experienced pregnant and postpartum women in South Africa and Kenya, two countries with high coverage of oral PrEP and with pending regulatory approvals for long-acting injectable cabotegravir and the dapivirine vaginal ring (approved in South Africa, under review in Kenya). Methods From September 2021 to February 2022, we surveyed pregnant and postpartum women enrolled in oral PrEP studies in South Africa and Kenya. We evaluated oral PrEP attitudes and preferences for existing and future long-acting PrEP methods. Results We surveyed 190 women in South Africa (67% postpartum; median age 27 years [IQR 22-32]) and 204 women in Kenya (79% postpartum; median age 29 years [IQR 25-33]). 75% of participants reported oral PrEP use within the last 30 days. Overall,...

Advancing the inclusion of pregnant and lactating populations in HIV PrEP research: ethical, regulatory, and surveillance recommendations from a multisectoral working group.

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Despite a 60% decline in new HIV infections since 1995, significant challenges persist. In 2023, 1.3 million new HIV infections occurred, with 645,500 in sub-Saharan Africa, where cisgender adolescent girls and women represent over two-thirds of new cases. Approximately one-quarter of vertical HIV transmissions are linked to infections during pregnancy and lactation, yet data on PrEP use in these populations remains generally limited due to their exclusion from clinical trials, despite a recent movement toward inclusion, such as in the PURPOSE 1 trials evaluating the efficacy and safety of lenacapavir. This data gap is concerning given that women face an elevated risk of HIV acquisition during pregnancy. Despite this heightened risk, access to PrEP remains restricted among these groups. This article, based on insights from a multi-regional and multi-sectoral working group convened by the Forum for Collaborative Research between January 2024 and February 2025, addresses this critical...

Enabled self-care for HIV infection: an inflection point for sustainable epidemic control

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Enabled self-care for HIV infection: an inflection point for sustainable epidemic control

Factors influencing implementation of point-of-care tests for maternal and newborn screening and diagnosis in low-resource settings: a systematic review

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundDespite the potential of point-of-care (POC) tests to improve maternal and newborn health, implementation in low- and middle-income countries remains inconsistent. POC testing enables rapid, decentralized screening, but barriers across health system, facility, and individual levels may undermine uptake. This review synthesizes evidence on factors influencing the adoption, implementation, and sustainability of POC tests within maternal-child health programmes in low-resourced settings.MethodsA comprehensive search was performed across major bibliographic databases and grey literature sources using Boolean combinations of terms related to POC testing, maternal and newborn health, implementation, and low-resourced settings. Studies were eligible if they reported on adoption, implementation, or sustainability of POC tests for maternal or infant screening or diagnosis in low-resourced contexts. Data were extracted using a structured form capturing study characteristics, test...

Advancing ethical biomedical HIV prevention research for pregnant and lactating people

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Advancing ethical biomedical HIV prevention research for pregnant and lactating people

Transforming HIV prevention: the promise of long-acting preexposure prophylaxis in high HIV burden settings

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Recent research on efficacy and safety of long-acting preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) holds the promise to transform HIV prevention in high HIV burden settings. We review emerging findings regarding early end-user acceptability of long-acting PrEP modalities, feasibility of integrating long-acting PrEP into health systems, and considerations regarding drug resistance and cost. RECENT FINDINGS: Long-acting PrEP, particularly injectables, was found to be highly acceptable among individuals across key populations in high HIV burden settings. Concerns around use of long-acting PrEP highlight the importance of choice and ability to switch methods. Existing provider-level barriers to oral PrEP implementation (e.g., overburdened staff, training gaps) may impact long-acting PrEP rollout - however, utilization of PrEP implementation strategies such as task-shifting, timely PrEP training for all providers, differentiated service delivery, and integration with sexual health...

Intersecting Vulnerabilities: Depression, Suicidality, and HIV Risk Among Young Mothers in South Africa

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Many African women who are pregnant or parenting face intersecting challenges including intimate partner violence, unplanned pregnancies, and motherhood-related stresses that heighten vulnerability to poor mental health. Depression and suicidal ideation are associated with behaviors that increase HIV risk, yet limited research has explored these relationships in African contexts. This study examined associations between depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and sexual risk behaviors among unemployed young women aged 19–24 years in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Baseline data were collected between June-October 2018 from participants who had been sexually active in the past year. Prolonged sadness (≥ 2 weeks) and suicidal ideation in the past year were measured using validated single-item indicators. The composite HIV risk outcome captured transactional sex, partners with unknown HIV/STI status, and substance-influenced sex. Poisson regression models adjusted for age, intimate...

Participatory Prototyping of a Tailored Undetectable Equals Untransmittable Message to Increase HIV Testing Among Men in Western Cape, South Africa

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Daily antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppresses viral replication, rendering HIV undetectable through viral load (VL) testing. People living with HIV (PLWH) who have an undetectable VL cannot transmit HIV to sexual partners or through giving birth, a message commonly referred to as U = U (undetectable equals untransmittable). To increase knowledge and understanding of U = U among men, who have poorer HIV testing and treatment outcomes than women, we engaged men from high HIV burden communities in Cape Town in two interactive human-centered design cocreation workshops to develop local U = U messaging for men. Two trained workshop facilitators, explained the U = U message to 39 adult men (in two separate workshops), and asked them how to effectively communicate U = U to other men in the local language (isiXhosa). Participant-designed messages sought to inform men about U = U to help assuage fears of testing HIV positive (by removing the stigma of living with HIV and being a vector...

Long-term use of ART in African women of reproductive age

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Long-term use of ART in African women of reproductive age

Exploration of Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women’s Acceptability of Rapid Point-of-Care Urine Testing Within Antenatal and Postnatal Care, and Its Perceived Impact on PrEP Adherence When Paired with PrEP Biofeedback Adherence Counselling in Cape Town, South Africa

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Pregnant and breastfeeding women (PBFW) on oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) face barriers to adherence and persistence which may be improved by point-of-care adherence monitoring using urine tenofovir testing. We explored the acceptability of urine tenofovir testing for PrEP adherence monitoring among PBFW on oral PrEP, and how this, together with PrEP biofeedback adherence counselling, may have shaped PBFW’s PrEP adherence and persistence. Between September 2022 and May 2024, we conducted a study among PBFW without HIV on oral PrEP in Cape Town, South Africa. Participants were randomized to intervention (urine tenofovir testing at each study visit with biofeedback adherence counselling) or standard-of-care arms (urine collected but not analyzed with participant, with standard PrEP adherence counselling). Participants, with consistent and inconsistent PrEP use, were purposively sampled from both study arms between October and December 2023 for qualitative interviews. Analysis...

Prevalence, symptomology, and correlates of curable sexually transmitted infections among pregnant women in Eastern Cape, South Africa

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BackgroundCurable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) contribute to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Syndromic management is standard care in South Africa. We evaluated prevalence, symptomology, and correlates of curable STIs, among pregnant women in Eastern Cape, South Africa.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional analysis using baseline data from a randomized controlled trial of pregnant women attending their first antenatal care visit at public clinics in Buffalo City Municipality (2021-2024). Participants were tested for Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis, Neisseria (N.) gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas (T.) vaginalis using GeneXpert point-of-care tests and for syphilis using Alere Determine TP rapid test. Symptoms were self-reported and clinically-observed. Adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated using Poisson regression models with robust standard errors.ResultsAmong 1491 participants (median age: 28 years (IQR: 24-33); gestational age: 13 weeks (IQR: 8-18);...

Community-Based Adaptation and Evaluation of a Peer-Led Intervention to Address Alcohol Use and HIV in Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in South Africa: Protocol for the “Mentor Mothers Plus” Randomized Control Trial

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: In South Africa, pregnant and lactating women (PLW) face a dual burden of high alcohol use and HIV prevalence, both of which adversely affect maternal and infant health. However, few interventions address alcohol use and HIV risk concurrently in this population. OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to adapt and pilot-test in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) the peer-led multisession intervention Mentor Mothers Plus (MM+) to integrate alcohol reduction strategies with HIV prevention and care support (in a seroneutral intervention) among PLW in Saldanha Bay, Western Cape, South Africa. METHODS: Using the ADAPT-ITT (assessment, decision, adaptation, production, topical experts, integration, training, testing) framework, we adapted the evidence-based Mentor Mother (MM) model, originally aimed at reducing vertical HIV transmission among mothers with HIV. Our mixed methods design includes (1) qualitative research, including in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions...

Digital divide in clinical and operational artificial intelligence adoption and implementation stages: US hospital diffusion patterns and AI deserts

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVES: We examine how hospital characteristics relate to clinical and operational artificial intelligence (AI) adoption and implementation stages and characterize AI deserts and spatial clustering patterns to highlight place-based AI access gaps among United States (US) hospitals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the 2024 American Hospital Association Annual Survey data from 2720 hospitals with at least one AI response. We applied logistic regression models to examine the associations between hospital characteristics and AI adoption, local indicators of spatial association to identify local clusters, and distance analyses to locate AI desert hospitals (ie, geographically isolated nonadopters located >50 miles from the nearest AI adopters). RESULTS: We found that system membership, larger bed size, and nurse staffing intensity are positively associated with clinical and operational AI adoption and implementation stages, whereas rural location, for-profit ownership, and physician...

Dashboard-Directed Intervention to Improve Guideline-Directed Heart Failure Therapy for Veterans

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Significant gaps in guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) persist in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Although population health dashboards can identify these gaps, sustainable workflows integrating them into routine practice remain largely underutilized. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the implementation and outcomes of a dashboard-based intervention in a novel clinical-educational hybrid model aimed to improve GDMT use. METHODS: From July 2024 to June 2025, a weekly, half-day HF Dashboard Population Health Clinic was implemented at a single Veterans Affairs center. A supervised team of cardiology fellows and nurse practitioners performed medical record reviews of patients with gaps in GDMT identified on the Veterans Affairs HF Dashboard, with a focus on underutilization of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in HFrEF patients. Clinicians executed targeted telehealth interventions, initiated therapies,...

Early Release - New World Ocular Dirofilariasis Caused by Dirofilaria repens Infection, United States - Volume 32, Number 7—July 2026 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We describe an infection caused by Dirofilaria repens nematodes in California, USA. A firm nodule developed after an insect bite on a patient's eyelid. Excision with morphologic and molecular analysis confirmed D. repens infection. Our findings confirm the necessity of both molecular and histological studies to identify nematode infections.

Social cognition and functional outcome in schizophrenia: The moderating role of cardiac vagal tone

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Individuals with schizophrenia face significant challenges in daily functioning, and although social cognition predicts how well patients respond to these challenges, associated physiological mechanisms remain unspecified. The present study draws from polyvagal theory and tested the hypothesis that respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), an established indicator of the capacity to self-regulate and adapt to environmental demands, combines with social cognition to predict functional outcome. Using data from 41 schizophrenia patients and 36 healthy comparison subjects, we replicated group differences in RSA and social cognition and also demonstrated that RSA and social cognition interact to predict how effectively patients manage work and independent living activities. Specifically, RSA did not enhance functional outcomes when social cognition was already strong, but higher levels of RSA enabled effective role functioning when social- cognitive performance was impaired. Jointly, RSA...

A Comparative Analysis of Wildland Fire Smoke PM2.5 Exposure Estimates Across California From 2008 to 2018

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The development of smoke fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) exposure surfaces for estimating air pollution trends and associated health effects has advanced considerably. Currently available smoke exposure products rely on various data sources and modeling techniques, as there is no gold standard method for modeling wildfire smoke PM_2.5. This study compares multiple daily smoke PM_2.5 data sets developed using diverse methodologies spanning 2008-2018. Incorporating metrics for short- and long-term exposure, we compare four data sets at the census tract level in California: one using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's chemical transport model (CTM), the Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System (CMAQ); two using statistical methods, also referred to as machine learning (ML) techniques; and one combining these approaches to develop an ML-calibrated CTM-based exposure surface. Our analysis highlights differences between the data sets in...

On Reparative Science

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

ABSTRACT Through a radical re‐reading of Orlando Fals Borda's conceptualization of participatory action research (PAR), I argue that PAR is more adequately grounded within the broader Fals Bordian framing of ciencia popular , defined as science for, with, and propelled by social movements. I problematize key elements of Fals Borda's works that illuminate the historical silencing of feminist thought and street‐level movement leaders of the Colombian left. Using the space created by Fals Borda's conceptual shortcomings, I share lessons learned through my friendship and shared movement space with Jhon Restrepo and Daniela Maldonado, organizers who embody a new kind of ciencia popular , which I call reparative science. I conclude with forward thinking on next steps for reparative science and articulate possible pathways forward toward a science that centers collective care in protective spaces that grow in distance from the dehumanizing structures of the nonprofit and academic industrial...

Full-scattering-matrix deterministic phonon boltzmann transport simulation

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Solutions to the phonon Boltzmann transport equation under the relaxation-time approximation (RTA) are fundamentally limited in that they do not account for the off-diagonal elements of the scattering matrix, which encode intermode energy redistribution. We find that the phonon in-scattering matrix is globally incompressible, requiring nearly its full rank for any useful Frobenius accuracy. The incompressibility worsens as the Brillouin zone is refined. We show that, despite this difficulty, one can develop a computationally efficient 3D BTE solver incorporating the complete scattering matrix by leveraging our two structural discoveries: the non-equilibrium phonon distribution inhabits a remarkably low-dimensional subspace of mode space regardless of how many phonon modes exist, and the leading singular modes of the scattering operator align selectively with this transport-active subspace. Consequently, truncation incurs negligible transport error even under large norm error....

Clinical impact of plasma cell-free DNA metagenomic next-generation sequencing testing in neonatal and infant populations

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Objective: Plasma cell-free DNA metagenomic next-generation sequencing (cf-mNGS) tests offer the ability to detect microbial DNA from a single blood sample; however, its clinical utility in infants remains incompletely characterized. This study aims to evaluate the real-world clinical impact of plasma cf-mNGS testing in the neonatal and infant population. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: A large academic medical center in Los Angeles, California. Patients: 95 hospitalized neonates and infants (≤12 months of age). Methods: Clinical impact was adjudicated using predefined criteria. Results: We reviewed 95 unique plasma cf-mNGS testing episodes performed between February 2018 and August 2024. The mean age at testing was 4.2 months (SD, 3.8). All patients were hospitalized in the intensive care unit at the time of testing. Tests were most frequently performed for evaluation of "culture-negative sepsis" (30.5%), unexplained hospital-onset fevers (25.3%), and multiorgan...

Improving Protein Structure Prediction Using Integrative Cryo-EM and Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry Modeling

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Proteins play essential roles in cellular processes, and accurate three-dimensional structures are critical for understanding function and enabling drug discovery. High-resolution methods such as cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and X-ray crystallography can provide detailed structural information. However, many proteins are characterized only by low-resolution or sparse data, which are difficult to translate into accurate atomic models. Mass spectrometry-based approaches such as ion mobility (IM-MS) provide global structural information through collisional cross section (CCS) but lack atomistic detail. Here, we present CRIM (cryo-EM + IM-MS), an integrative Rosetta scoring function that combines low-resolution cryo-EM density with IM-MS-derived CCS restraints to improve monomeric protein structure prediction. CRIM integrates the REF2015 energy with CCS agreement (via PARCS) and an electron density term (elec_dens_fast). On an ideal data set of 60 proteins, CRIM reduced the...

Complete Genome Sequence of Laguna Mountains Skipper (Pyrgus ruralis lagunae).

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A complete genome assembly for the endangered Pyrgus ruralis lagunae (Laguna Mountains Skipper) (Scott, 1981) is reported here. Illumina short-read sequencing was performed using tissue from a whole specimen of a single deceased individual. The selected specimen was a foundress individual collected directly from the wild population prior to captive propagation, minimizing the potential influence of captive breeding, genetic drift, or artificial selection on genomic patterns. This reference genome is an important resource for studying this endangered lepidopteran.

Death by incarceration: Detention duration, overdose, and COVID-19 in Los Angeles County Jails, 2008-2023.

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

IMPORTANCE: Jail mortality in the United States has risen sharply in recent years, yet deaths in custody-especially those related to substance use-remain underexamined. The COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid crisis compounded pre-existing carceral health issues, necessitating a closer examination of their combined impact and aftermath. Previous reports suggest that incarcerated people-particularly those who overdose on drugs-die early in their confinement. This article indicates that the dual health threats of the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid crisis have changed this relationship, substantially extending the time from arrest to death. OBJECTIVE: To investigate how duration of confinement, manners and causes of death (e.g., COVID-19, substance use), and pandemic mitigation policies impacted mortality in Los Angeles (LA) County Jail from 2008-2023. DESIGN: A retrospective, observational study utilizing linked datasets to identify mortality trends and associated factors. SETTING:...

Virulence Phenotypes Differentiate Persistent vs. Resolving Isolates of Human Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is a common and life-threatening bloodstream infection often caused by methicillin-resistant SA (MRSA) isolates. Up to 35% of SAB patients fail to clear infection with gold-standard anti-MRSA antibiotics, even if the isolate meets susceptibility breakpoints in conventional assays in vitro. Such outcomes are termed persistent and may involve small colony variant (SCV) adaptation of SA in vivo. METHODS: In this study, we assessed virulence phenotypes and mechanisms in persistent (PB) vs. resolving (RB) MRSA isolates from SAB. RESULTS: Overall, PB isolates caused less hemolysis or biofilm formation than RB isolates, but proteolysis was equivalent. Attenuation of these virulence phenotypes increased longitudinally during the course of SAB. Although PB vs. RB isolates had similar human endothelial cell invasion rates, PB isolates more frequently formed SCVs intracellularly and inversely correlated with pH. Study PB and RB isolates...

Deep Learning Models Capture Umbrella Sampling-Derived Energetic Trends: A Troponin C Case Study

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Deep learning models have transformed several fields lately. In the past, capturing thermodynamic trends from free energies has relied on computationally expensive and time-consuming umbrella sampling simulations for dynamic proteins. Here, we investigate whether modern deep learning protein design methods (ProteinMPNN and ThermoMPNN) can obtain comparable energetic readouts more expeditiously. As a case study we use Troponin C (TnC) as a model system. TnC plays a central role in regulating muscle contraction through calcium-induced hydrophobic patch opening, transitioning between closed and open conformations. Disease associated mutations and isoform specific differences in TnC modulate this process by altering the free energies of hydrophobic patch opening. From ThermoMPNN, we quantified the free-energy differences associated with disease-linked variants in both open and closed states of cardiac TnC and compared with umbrella sampling results for the free energy of hydrophobic...

Clinician Perceptions of the Impact of Switching HPV Vaccine Initiation to 9-10 Years.

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although HPV vaccine initiation as early as aged 9 years has been recommended, most clinicians initiate at ages 11 to 12 years. We assessed clinician-reported impact of early initiation on parental responses and vaccine discussions. METHODS: As part of an ongoing cluster randomized pragmatic trial across 31 Colorado and California pediatric practices, we allocated practices to switch HPV vaccine initiation to ages 9 to 10 years or to enhanced usual care (initiation at ages 11 to 12 years). All clinicians received online training on improving HPV vaccination; intervention arm clinicians also received training on initiating at ages 9 to 10 years. We surveyed all clinicians in both arms at 1, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 months (all >80% response rates), and queried clinicians in the ages 9 to 10 years arm about vaccination at ages 9 to 10 vs 11 to 12 years. RESULTS: Almost all intervention arm clinicians switched rapidly...