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Vibrational fine structure observed in the published He-I UV photoelectron spectra of H[subscript 2] and N[subscript 2] molecules recorded at room temperature and under microwave excitation or at 700 °C have been reexamined and compared with calculations of the Franck-Condon factors (FCFs) using simple harmonic oscillator wave functions and/or those obtained using Morse potentials. In general, FCFs are used to explain vibronic transitions of molecules observed in the UV-vis and photoelectron spectra of diatomic and polyatomic molecules, which can be computed using differing levels of complexity. We advocate constructing the vibrational wave functions numerically, rather than analytically, with the help of a program such as Excel, Origin, or Python. In this way students can also verify the normalization and orthogonality of the wave functions using numerical integration routes provided within these programs. Special attention is drawn to possible deviations of the FCFs of the vibrationally excited molecules from those of the ground states.

Identity matters in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) because it can affect an individual's long-term sense of belonging, which may in turn affect their persistence in STEMM. Early K-12 science classes often teach students about the foundational discoveries of the field, which have been predominately made, or at least published, by White men. This homogeneity can leave underrepresented individuals in STEMM feeling isolated, and underrepresented K-12 students may feel as though they cannot enter STEMM fields. This study aimed to examine these feelings of inclusivity in STEMM through an interactive workshop that asked middle schoolers to identify scientists from images of individuals with various racial and gender identities. We found that a plurality of students had a positive experience discussing diversity in science and recognizing underrepresented individuals as scientists.

Physiology is an important field for students to gain a better understanding of biological mechanisms. Yet, many students often find it difficult to learn from lectures, resulting in poor retention. Here, we utilize a learning workshop model to teach students at different levels ranging from middle school to undergraduate. We specifically designed a workshop to teach students about mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum contact (MERC) sites. The workshop was implemented for middle school students in a laboratory setting that incorporated a pretest to gauge prior knowledge, instructional time, hands-on activities, interactive learning from experts, and a posttest. We observed that the students remained engaged during the session of interactive methods, teamed with their peers to complete tasks, and delighted in the experience. Implications for the design of future physiological workshops are further offered.

Building a diverse laboratory that is equitable is critical for the retention of talent and the growth of trainees professionally and personally. Here, we outline several strategies including enhancing understanding of cultural competency and humility, establishing laboratory values, and developing equitable laboratory structures to create an inclusive laboratory environment to enable trainees to achieve their highest success.

A key organismal response to overnutrition involves the development of new adipocytes through the process of adipogenesis. Preadipocytes sense changes in the systemic nutrient status and metabolites can directly modulate adipogenesis. We previously identified a role of de novo nucleotide biosynthesis in adipogenesis induction, whereby inhibition of nucleotide biosynthesis suppresses the expression of the transcriptional regulators PPARγ and C/EBPα. Here, we set out to identify the global transcriptomic changes associated with the inhibition of nucleotide biosynthesis. Through RNA sequencing (RNAseq), we discovered that mitochondrial signatures were the most altered in response to inhibition of nucleotide biosynthesis. Blocking nucleotide biosynthesis induced rounded mitochondrial morphology, and altered mitochondrial function, and metabolism, reducing levels of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, and increasing fatty acid oxidation (FAO). The loss of mitochondrial function induced by suppression of nucleotide biosynthesis was rescued by exogenous expression of PPARγ. Moreover, inhibition of FAO restored PPARγ expression, mitochondrial protein expression, and adipogenesis in the presence of nucleotide biosynthesis inhibition, suggesting a regulatory role of nutrient oxidation in differentiation. Collectively, our studies shed light on the link between substrate oxidation and transcription in cell fate determination.

Summary: Abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms (AAAs, TAAs) remain a major cause of deaths worldwide, in part due to the lack of reliable prognostic markers or early warning signs. Sox6 has been found to regulate renin controlling blood pressure. We hypothesized that Sox6 may serve as an important regulator of the mechanisms contributing to hypertension-induced aortic aneurysms. Phenotype and laboratory-wide association scans in a clinical cohort found that SOX6 gene expression is associated with aortic aneurysm in subjects of European ancestry. Sox6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) expression were upregulated in aortic tissues from patients affected by either AAA or TAA. In Sox6 knockout mice with angiotensin-II-induced AAA, we found that Sox6 plays critical role in the development and progression of AAA. Our data support a regulatory role of SOX6 in the development of hypertension-induced AAA, suggesting that Sox6 may be a therapeutic target for the treatment of aortic aneurysms.

Summary: It is well-understood that the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields have unique challenges that discourage recruiting and retaining underrepresented minorities. Research programs aimed at undergraduates have arisen as a critical mechanism for fostering innovation and addressing the challenges faced by underrepresented minorities. Here, we review various undergraduate research programs designed to provide exposure to undergraduates, with a focus on underrepresented minorities in STEM disciplines. We provide insight into selected programs' objectives, key features, potential limitations, and outcomes. We also offer recommendations for future improvements of each research program, particularly in the context of mentorship. These programs range from broad-reaching initiatives (e.g., Leadership Alliance) to more specific programs targeting underrepresented students. By offering a nuanced understanding of each program’s structure, we seek to provide a brief overview of the landscape of diversity-focused STEM initiatives and a guide on how to run a research program effectively.

There remains a clear deficiency in recruiting middle school students in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine fields, especially for those students entering physiology from underrepresented backgrounds. A large part of this may be arising from a disconnect between how science is typically practiced at a collegiate and K-12 level. Here, we have envisioned mitochondria and their diverse subcellular structures as an involver for middle school students. We present the framework for a workshop that familiarizes students with mitochondria, employing three-dimensional visual-spatial learning and real-time critical thinking and hypothesis forming. This workshop had the goal of familiarizing middle school students with the unique challenges the field currently faces and better understanding the actuality of being a scientist through critical analysis including hypothesis forming. Findings show that middle school students responded positively to the program and felt as though they had a better understanding of mitochondria. Future implications for hands-on programs to involve underrepresented students in science are discussed, as well as potential considerations to adapt it for high school and undergraduate students.

AbstractObjective To evaluate the serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance in pneumococcal infections in adults and to provide a perspective regarding serotype coverage of both current and future pneumococcal vaccines.Patients and methods This passive surveillance study was conducted with the Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated from the specimens of patients with pneumonia (materials isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage), bacteraemia, meningitis, pleuritis and peritonitis between 2015 and 2018. Serogrouping and serotyping were performed by latex particle agglutination and by conventional Quellung reaction using commercial type-specific antisera, respectively. The strains were analysed for penicillin, cefotaxime, erythromycin and moxifloxacin susceptibilities by E-test.Results In the whole study group (410 samples from adults aged ≥18 years), the most frequent serotypes were 3 (14.1%), 19 F (12%) and 1 (9.3%). The vaccine coverage for PCV13, PCV15, PCV20 and PPV23 was 63.9%, 66.6%, 74.1% and 75.9%, respectively, in all isolates. Penicillin non-susceptibility in invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) was 70.8% and 57.1% in the patients aged

Abstract Background Mutations in genes involved in DNA damage repair (DDR), a hallmark of cancer, are associated with increased cancer cell sensitivity to certain therapies. This study sought to evaluate the association of DDR pathogenic variants with treatment efficacy in patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods A retrospective cohort of consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC attending a tertiary medical center who underwent next‐generation sequencing in 01/2015‐8/2020 were clustered according to DDR gene status and compared for overall response rate (ORR), progression‐free survival (PFS) (patients receiving systemic therapy), local PFS (patients receiving definitive radiotherapy), and overall survival (OS) using log‐rank and Cox regression analyses. Results Of 225 patients with a clear tumor status, 42 had a pathogenic/likely pathogenic DDR variant (pDDR), and 183 had no DDR variant (wtDDR). Overall survival was similar in the two groups (24.2 vs. 23.1 months, p = 0.63). The pDDR group had a higher median local PFS after radiotherapy (median 45 months vs. 9.9 months, respectively; p = 0.044), a higher ORR (88.9% vs. 36.2%, p = 0.04), and a longer median PFS (not reached vs. 6.0 months, p = 0.01) in patients treated with immune checkpoint blockade. There was no difference in ORR, median PFS, and median OS in patients treated with platinum‐based chemotherapy. Conclusion Our retrospective data suggest that in patients with stage 4 NSCLC, pathogenic variants in DDR pathway genes may be associated with higher efficacy of radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This should be further explored prospectively.

Carbapenems currently serve as the last line of defense when treating serious infections caused by multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales species; however, heteroresistance of these species is thought to cause failure in the treatment with these broad-spectrum antibiotics. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of carbapenem heteroresistance and associated genotypic modifications among phenotypically meropenem-susceptible Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates. A total of 204 isolates of E. coli (n: 118) and K. pneumoniae (n: 86) from various clinical samples were included in this prospective experimental study. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the isolates were performed by VITEK® (bioMérieux, France). Strains that were found susceptible to carbapenem group antibiotics (meropenem, imipenem, and ertapenem) with automated system were further investigated by disk diffusion method. The isolates with discrete colony growth within the clear inhibition zone among phenotypically meropenem-susceptible strains were tested for heteroresistance with the “gold standard” population analysis profile-area under the curve (PAP-AUC) method. In addition, heteroresistant isolates were analyzed for the presence of carbapenemase genes with in-house PCR method. The heteroresistance prevalence rate was 3.5% for E. coli and 18.1% for K. pneumoniae. The presence of heteroresistance in a total of 10 meropenem-susceptible isolates (E. coli, n: 4; K. pneumoniae, n: 6) was confirmed by the PAP-AUC method. The most frequently detected carbapenemase in heteroresistant isolates was OXA-48 (6/10), followed by NDM-1 (2/10). Meropenem is frequently preferred as initial empirical monotherapy in most of Gram-negative infections in adult and pediatric patients. The presence of heteroresistance against meropenem is too important to ignore, and for this reason, it seems beneficial to prefer combined treatment regimens in clinical practice.

We identify problematic areas throughout the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) pipeline that perpetuate racial disparities in academia. Distinct ways to curtail these disparities include early exposure and access to resources, supportive mentoring networks and comprehensive training programs specifically for racially minoritized students and trainees at each career stage. These actions will revitalize the STEM pipeline.

This study adds to the regional and global discourse and understanding of gender stereotyping in accounting education in a Middle Eastern context by investigating the impact of family, society, and the accountants' work environment as being more suitable for men, on majoring in accounting. Data were collected through a field survey from 830 business students from three universities in Jordan. Structural equation analyses of the quantitative data show a significant influence of patriarchal values on college students and gender stereotyping of accounting as a profession. Accountants' work environments are still perceived by respondents as being more suitable for men, reflecting slow social changes and denying the accounting profession diversity and the potential contributions of women to the profession.

The present study aims to investigate the cultural identity concept and its relation to cultural heritage within a conservation framework under the threat of unfettered interventions for modernity and its requirements by analyzing the reproduced architectural works. Furthermore, the study focused on clarifying and tracking the effects of architectural reproduction on society and individuals, as well as on the local way of thinking and local culture in a specific region known as the "Levant." The research method is developed in two interconnected ways: qualitative 'interpretive' research methods are used to explain the pure concept of cultural heritage, while a 'simulation strategy' is used between traditional and historical architectural elements to create new architectural elements with historical origins and contemporary touches. Construct logic is a method of "modernizing local architecture”, in that it controls modern architecture and uses it to develop local architecture rather than obliterating and distorting it. "Muqarnas," one of the Islamic architectural decorative elements widely used in the Levant and surrounding geography, is chosen as the simulation case study for developing new contemporary architectural elements used both structurally and decoratively. The simulation approach used in the study is limited to several traditional architectural elements from the study's historical and cultural context, which were documented with architectural and technical data as well as illustrative drawings. It may be possible to raise conservation awareness by simulating some traditional architectural elements and developing them in a highly technical environment. Furthermore, it can provide the opportunity to obtain new architectural elements of a contemporary cultural nature that resist architectural reproduction in a variety of internal and external fields, as well as structural solutions.

Probing the population of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus in an oligotrophic water column habitat at increasing depths reveals that light-harvesting quantum efficiency increases with depth.