Associations Between Neighborhood Resources and Youths' Response to Reward Omission in a Task Modeling Negatively Biased Environments.

OBJECTIVE: Neighborhoods provide essential resources (eg, education, safe housing, green space) that influence neurodevelopment and mental health. However, we need a clearer understanding of the mechanisms mediating these relationships. Limited access to neighborhood resources may hinder youths from achieving their goals and, over time, shape their behavioral and neurobiological response to negatively biased environments blocking goals and rewards. METHOD: To test this hypothesis, 211 youths (aged ∼13.0 years, 48% boys, 62% identifying as White, 75% with a psychiatric disorder diagnosis) performed a task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Initially, rewards depended on performance (unbiased condition); but later, rewards were randomly withheld under the pretense that youths did not perform adequately (negatively biased condition), a manipulation that elicits frustration, sadness, and a broad response in neural networks. We investigated associations between the Childhood Opportunity Index (COI), which quantifies access to youth-relevant neighborhood features in 1 metric, and the multimodal response to the negatively biased condition, controlling for age, sex, medication, and psychopathology. RESULTS: Youths from less-resourced neighborhoods responded with less anger (p < .001, marginal R2 = 0.42) and more sadness (p < .001, marginal R2 = 0.46) to the negatively biased condition than youths from well-resourced neighborhoods. On the neurobiological level, lower COI scores were associated with a more localized processing mode (p = .039, marginal R2 = 0.076), reduced connectivity between the somatic-motor-salience and the control network (p = .041, marginal R2 = 0.040), and fewer provincial hubs in the somatic-motor-salience, control, and default mode networks (all pFWE < .05). CONCLUSION: The present study adds to a growing literature documenting how inequity may affect the brain and emotions in youths. Future work should test whether findings generalize to more diverse samples and should explore effects on neurodevelopmental trajectories and emerging mood disorders during adolescence. DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STATEMENT: One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented sexual and/or gender groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper received support from a program designed to increase minority representation in science. We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group. We actively worked to promote inclusion of historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science in our author group.

Comparing anti-tumor and anti-self immunity in a patient with melanoma receiving immune checkpoint blockade.

BACKGROUND: Tumor regression following immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is often associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), marked by inflammation in non-cancerous tissues. This study was undertaken to investigate the functional relationship between anti-tumor and anti-self immunity, to facilitate irAE management while promoting anti-tumor immunity. METHODS: Multiple biopsies from tumor and inflamed tissues were collected from a patient with melanoma experiencing both tumor regression and irAEs on ICB, who underwent rapid autopsy. Immune cells infiltrating melanoma lesions and inflamed normal tissues were subjected to gene expression profiling with multiplex qRT-PCR for 122 candidate genes. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry was conducted to assess the expression of 14 candidate markers of immune cell subsets and checkpoints. TCR-beta sequencing was used to explore T cell clonal repertoires across specimens. RESULTS: While genes involved in MHC I/II antigen presentation, IFN signaling, innate immunity and immunosuppression were abundantly expressed across specimens, irAE tissues over-expressed certain genes associated with immunosuppression (CSF1R, IL10RA, IL27/EBI3, FOXP3, KLRG1, SOCS1, TGFB1), including those in the COX-2/PGE2 pathway (IL1B, PTGER1/EP1 and PTGER4/EP4). Immunohistochemistry revealed similar proportions of immunosuppressive cell subsets and checkpoint molecules across samples. TCRseq did not indicate common TCR repertoires across tumor and inflammation sites, arguing against shared antigen recognition between anti-tumor and anti-self immunity in this patient. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive study of a single patient with melanoma experiencing both tumor regression and irAEs on ICB explores the immune landscape across these tissues, revealing similarities between anti-tumor and anti-self immunity. Further, it highlights expression of the COX-2/PGE2 pathway, which is known to be immunosuppressive and potentially mediates ICB resistance. Ongoing clinical trials of COX-2/PGE2 pathway inhibitors targeting the major COX-2 inducer IL-1B, COX-2 itself, or the PGE2 receptors EP2 and EP4 present new opportunities to promote anti-tumor activity, but may also have the potential to enhance the severity of ICB-induced irAEs.

Multivariate Assessment of Inhibitory Control in Youth: Links With Psychopathology and Brain Function.

Inhibitory control is central to many theories of cognitive and brain development, and impairments in inhibitory control are posited to underlie developmental psychopathology. In this study, we tested the possibility of shared versus unique associations between inhibitory control and three common symptom dimensions in youth psychopathology: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and irritability. We quantified inhibitory control using four different experimental tasks to estimate a latent variable in 246 youth (8-18 years old) with varying symptom types and levels. Participants were recruited from the Washington, D.C., metro region. Results of structural equation modeling integrating a bifactor model of psychopathology revealed that inhibitory control predicted a shared or general psychopathology dimension, but not ADHD-specific, anxiety-specific, or irritability-specific dimensions. Inhibitory control also showed a significant, selective association with global efficiency in a frontoparietal control network delineated during resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. These results support performance-based inhibitory control linked to resting-state brain function as an important predictor of comorbidity in youth psychopathology.

Use of hand-held ultrasound to perform E-FAST by general surgery residents in a trauma reference center: First experience in the Colombian Caribbean region / Uso de ecografía portátil para realizar E-FAST por residentes de cirugía general en un centro de referencia en trauma: primera experiencia en la región del Caribe colombiano

Introduction. Extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (E-FAST) can be performed with minimal training and achieve ideal results. It allows easy transport and use in austere environments such as the Colombian Caribbean, where many centers do not have 24-hour radiology services. The objective of this study was to determine the performance of the use of E-FAST in the evaluation of trauma by second-year general surgery residents in the emergency department. Methods. Retrospective observational study that evaluated the diagnostic performance of E-FAST with Butterfly IQ, in patients with thoracoabdominal trauma, who attended a referral center in the Colombian Caribbean between November 2021 and July 2022. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were evaluated, compared with intraoperative findings or conventional imaging. Results. A total of 46 patients were included, with a mean age of 31.2 ± 13.8 years, 87.4% (n=39) were male. The main mechanism of trauma was penetrating (n=32; 69.5%). It was found that 80.4% (n=37) of the patients had a positive E-FAST result, and of these, 97% (n=35) had a positive intraoperative finding. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 92.1%, 75%, 94.6%, and 66.6%, respectively. The positive likelihood ratio was 3.68, while the negative likelihood ratio was 0.10. Conclusion. General surgery residents have the competence to perform accurate E-FAST scans. The hand-held ultrasound device is an effective diagnostic tool for trauma and acute care surgery patients.

Introducción. La evaluación enfocada extendida con ecografía en trauma (E-FAST, extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma) puede realizarse con entrenamiento mínimo y lograr resultados ideales. Su fácil transporte permite usarla en entornos austeros, como el Caribe colombiano, donde muchos centros no disponen de servicio radiológico las 24 horas. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar el rendimiento del uso de E-FAST por residentes de cirugía general de segundo año en la evaluación del paciente con trauma en urgencias. Métodos. Estudio observacional retrospectivo que evaluó el rendimiento diagnóstico de E-FAST con Butterfly IQ, en pacientes con trauma toracoabdominal que acudieron a un centro de referencia del Caribe colombiano, entre noviembre de 2021 y julio de 2022. Se evaluaron sensibilidad, especificidad, valores predictivos positivo y negativo, comparando la descripción de la ecografía con los hallazgos intraoperatorios o imagenología convencional. Resultados. Se incluyeron un total de 46 pacientes, con una media de edad de 31,2 ± 13,8 años, siendo el 87,4 % (n=39) hombres. El principal mecanismo de trauma fue penetrante (n=32; 69,5 %). Se encontró que el 80,4 % (n=37) de los pacientes tuvo resultado E-FAST positivo, y que, de estos, el 97 % (n=35) tuvo un hallazgo positivo intraoperatorio. Se calculó una sensibilidad de 92,1 %, especificidad de 75 %, valor predictivo positivo de 94,6 % y negativo de 66,6 %; la razón de verosimilitud positiva fue de 3,68 y la negativa de 0,10. Conclusión. Los residentes de cirugía general están capacitados para realizar exploraciones E-FAST precisas. El ecógrafo portátil es una herramienta de diagnóstico eficaz para pacientes traumatizados.

Production and Incorporation of Calcium-Hydrolyzed Nanoparticles in Alkali-Activated Mine Tailings.

This work presented the production and incorporation of calcium-hydrolyzed nano-solutions at three concentrations (1, 2, and 3 wt.%) in alkali-activated gold mine tailings (MTs) from Arequipa, Perú. As the primary activator solution, a sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution at 10 M was used. Calcium-hydrolyzed nanoparticles with a particle size of 10 nm were localized inside self-assembled molecular spherical systems (micelles) with diameters of less than 80 nm that were well-dispersed in aqueous solutions and acted as secondary activator, and also as additional calcium resource for alkali-activated materials (AAMs) based on low-calcium gold MTs. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (HR-TEM/EDS) analyses were carried out to characterize the morphology, size, and structure of the calcium-hydrolyzed nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses were then used to understand the chemical bonding interactions in the calcium-hydrolyzed nanoparticles and in the AAMs. Scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and quantitative X-ray diffraction (QXRD) were performed to study the structural, chemical, and phase compositions of the AAMs; uniaxial compressive tests evaluated the compressive strength of the reaction AAMs; and nitrogen adsorption-desorption analyses measured porosity changes in the AAMs at the nanostructure level. The results indicated that the main cementing product generated was amorphous binder gel with low quantities of nanostructured C-S-H and C-A-S-H phases. The surplus production of this amorphous binder gel produced denser AAMs at the micro-level and nano-level (macroporous systems). In addition, each increase in the concentration of calcium-hydrolyzed nano-solution had a direct/proportional effect on the mechanical properties of the AAM samples. AAM with 3 wt.% calcium-hydrolyzed nano-solution had the highest compressive strength, with a value of 15.16 MPa, which represented an increase of 62% compared with the original system without nanoparticles that were aged under the same conditions at 70 °C for seven days. These results provided useful information about the positive effect of calcium-hydrolyzed nanoparticles on gold MTs and their conversion into sustainable building materials through alkali activation.

Demystifying global climate models for use in the life sciences.

For each assessment cycle of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), researchers in the life sciences are called upon to provide evidence to policymakers planning for a changing future. This research increasingly relies on highly technical and complex outputs from climate models. The strengths and weaknesses of these data may not be fully appreciated beyond the climate modelling community; therefore, uninformed use of raw or preprocessed climate data could lead to overconfident or spurious conclusions. We provide an accessible introduction to climate model outputs that is intended to empower the life science community to robustly address questions about human and natural systems in a changing world.

De una idea a una publicación original en cirugía: Una guía para futuros cirujanos académicos. Capítulo Futuros Cirujanos, Asociación Colombiana de Cirugía / From an idea to an original publication in surgery: A guide for future academic surgeons. Future Surgeons Chapter, Colombian Surgical Association

Introducción. Recientemente, se ha evidenciado un crecimiento exponencial de artículos de estudiantes y autores jóvenes; sin embargo, la mayoría de esos artículos no han sido citados. El objetivo de este artículo fue presentar un manual de fácil interpretación, aplicable durante el proceso de construcción de un manuscrito académico original en cirugía. Métodos. Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura en las bases de datos académicas, utilizando las palabras clave "manuscrito académico", "cirugía", "investigación" y "how to do it", así como sinónimos. Se incluyeron estudios originales, revisiones y las directrices STROCSS 2021, publicadas hasta marzo de 2023. Resultados. Se logró recopilar una guía empírica, con recomendaciones y directrices útiles para la creación de un manuscrito académico en cirugía, óptima para uso en todos los niveles académicos. Conclusión. Se deben brindar herramientas que sean aplicables en todos los niveles educativos, desde un estudiante hasta cirujano graduado. Con este artículo se buscan dar a conocer un camino para transformar una idea en una publicación científica original de alto impacto, de forma metódica y fácil de entender, actuando como un incentivo y facilitador para la producción científica y académica en cirugía para Colombia y Latinoamérica

Introduction. Recently, there has been an exponential growth of articles by students and young authors; however, most of the articles have not been cited. This review presents an easy-to-interpret manual, applicable during the process of writing an original academic manuscript in surgery. Methods. A systematic literature review was performed in academic databases using the keywords "Academic Manuscript", "Surgery", "Research" and "How to do it", as well as synonyms; the search date was performed until March 2023, where original studies, reviews and STROCSS 2021 guidelines were included. Results. It was possible to compile an empirical guide, with useful recommendations and guidelines for the creation of an academic manuscript in surgery, optimal for use at all academic levels. Conclusion. Tools should be provided that are applicable at all educational levels, from a student to a graduate surgeon. The authors seek to show a way to transform an idea into an original scientific publication of high impact, in a methodical and easy to understand way, so this article acts as an incentive and facilitator for scientific and academic production in surgery in Colombia and Latin America

GRINCIRCAR: una iniciativa para promover la cirugía académica e investigación quirúrgica en el caribe colombiano / GRINCIRCAR: an initiative to promote academic surgery and surgical research in the Colombian Caribbean

Introducción. La investigación quirúrgica es uno de los pilares de la cirugía académica, que integra el microambiente para lograr una adecuada práctica basada en la evidencia, realizar planteamientos y conseguir eventuales soluciones a necesidades quirúrgicas de una población. En el caribe colombiano existen brechas significativas en cuanto al aporte en investigación quirúrgica, comparado con otras regiones del país. Por ende, es necesaria una iniciativa que haga frente a estos retos. Métodos. El Grupo Colaborativo de Investigación en Cirugía General y Subespecialidades del Caribe Colombiano (GRINCIRCAR), es una iniciativa fundada por una colectividad de estudiantes de medicina, médicos residentes de cirugía y cirujanos académicos de universidades del caribe colombiano, que buscan impulsar la investigación quirúrgica y aportar a la resolución de problemas de salud en cirugía de la región. Discusión. De acuerdo al programa de investigación con políticas y prioridades en salud establecidos por el Instituto Nacional de Salud, existen por lo menos dos dimensiones donde se involucra directamente la cirugía. A pesar de esto, no existen datos sobre la distribución de recursos para la investigación quirúrgica en la región del Caribe colombiano, pese a que el acceso al cuidado quirúrgico básico y las enfermedades quirúrgicas, hace parte de las prioridades en salud y cirugía global. Conclusiones. Se necesita promover la cirugía académica y la investigación quirúrgica en la región del caribe colombiano. La investigación colaborativa podría ser una solución al integrar la participación de múltiples centros y participantes

Introduction. Surgical research is one of the cornerstones of academic surgery, which integrates the microenvironment to achieve an adequate evidence-based practice, asking the right questions to achieve eventual solutions to the surgical needs of a population. In the Colombian Caribbean, there are significant gaps in the contribution in surgical research, compared to other regions of the country. Therefore, an initiative is needed to address these challenges. Methods. The Collaborative Group for Research in General Surgery and Subspecialties of the Colombian Caribbean (GRINCIRCAR) is an initiative founded by a group of medical students, surgical residents and academic surgeons from Colombian Caribbean universities, who seek to promote surgical research and contribute to solutions of health problems in surgery in the region. Discussion. According to the research program, health policies and priorities established by the National Institute of Health, there are at least two dimensions where surgery is directly involved. Despite this, there are no data on the distribution of resources for surgical research in the Colombian Caribbean region, despite the fact that access to basic surgical care and surgical diseases are part of the priorities in global health and surgery. Conclusions. There is a need to promote academic surgery and surgical research in the Colombian Caribbean region. Collaborative research in the region could be a solution by integrating the participation of multiple centers and participants

A metric-based framework for climate-smart conservation planning.

Climate change is already having profound effects on biodiversity, but climate change adaptation has yet to be fully incorporated into area-based management tools used to conserve biodiversity, such as protected areas. One main obstacle is the lack of consensus regarding how impacts of climate change can be included in spatial conservation plans. We propose a climate-smart framework that prioritizes the protection of climate refugia-areas of low climate exposure and high biodiversity retention-using climate metrics. We explore four aspects of climate-smart conservation planning: (1) climate model ensembles; (2) multiple emission scenarios; (3) climate metrics; and (4) approaches to identifying climate refugia. We illustrate this framework in the Western Pacific Ocean, but it is equally applicable to terrestrial systems. We found that all aspects of climate-smart conservation planning considered affected the configuration of spatial plans. The choice of climate metrics and approaches to identifying refugia have large effects in the resulting climate-smart spatial plans, whereas the choice of climate models and emission scenarios have smaller effects. As the configuration of spatial plans depended on climate metrics used, a spatial plan based on a single measure of climate change (e.g., warming) will not necessarily be robust against other measures of climate change (e.g., ocean acidification). We therefore recommend using climate metrics most relevant for the biodiversity and region considered based on a single or multiple climate drivers. To include the uncertainty associated with different climate futures, we recommend using multiple climate models (i.e., an ensemble) and emission scenarios. Finally, we show that the approaches we used to identify climate refugia feature trade-offs between: (1) the degree to which they are climate-smart, and (2) their efficiency in meeting conservation targets. Hence, the choice of approach will depend on the relative value that stakeholders place on climate adaptation. By using this framework, protected areas can be designed with improved longevity and thus safeguard biodiversity against current and future climate change. We hope that the proposed climate-smart framework helps transition conservation planning toward climate-smart approaches.

Effect of the Class C Fly Ash on Low-Reactive Gold Mine Tailing Geopolymers.

Beneficiation of industrial wastes, such as mine tailings (MTs), through development of alternative eco-friendly geopolymer binders for construction composites offers a twofold environmental benefit, as it reduces the demand for cement and it increases the sustainability of industrial processes by creating a value-added product from an industrial byproduct. While MTs have the requisite composition for use as a geopolymer precursor, they are often low-reactive. This study explored the effect of Class C Fly Ash (FAc) on the geopolymerization of low-reactive gold MTs. A 10 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution was used as the alkaline activator with four different concentrations of FAc (5, 10, 15 and 20 wt.%). The results indicated that the combination of FAc with the low-reactive gold MTs improved the physicochemical stability of the final geopolymerized samples, with a 95-120% increase in compressive strength, compared to the geopolymer samples of only low-reactive gold MTs. Although some of the strength improvement could be attributed to geopolymerization of the FAc itself, the presence of the FAc also improved the reactivity of the MTs, increasing the geopolymer production of the MTs. This study documents the positive effects of the FAc on gold MTs with low-calcium content and their conversion into sustainable inorganic composite geopolymers for the construction field.

Climate Velocity Can Inform Conservation in a Warming World.

Climate change is shifting the ranges of species. Simple predictive metrics of range shifts such as climate velocity, that do not require extensive knowledge or data on individual species, could help to guide conservation. We review research on climate velocity, describing the theory underpinning the concept and its assumptions. We highlight how climate velocity has already been applied in conservation-related research, including climate residence time, climate refugia, endemism, historic and projected range shifts, exposure to climate change, and climate connectivity. Finally, we discuss ways to enhance the use of climate velocity in conservation through tailoring it to be more biologically meaningful, informing design of protected areas, conserving ocean biodiversity in 3D, and informing conservation actions.