Medical student non-modifiable risk factors and USMLE Step 1 exam score

For diversity to exist in the medical graduate workforce, students from all backgrounds should have equitable opportunities of employment. Specialties have utilized a minimal threshold for USMLE Step 1 score when screening applicants for residency interviews. The OHSU SOM class of 2021 completed a 14-question voluntary survey on their Step 1 score and the following non-modifiable risk factors: Adverse Childhood Experience score (ACEs), sex, gender, Underrepresented in Medicine status (URiM), family income during adolescence, highest degree held by a guardian, discrimination experience during medical school, federal/state assistance use, and rural versus urban primary home. Descriptive statistics and unadjusted risk ratios were applied to study the relation between Step 1 score and non-modifiable risk factors as well as certain non-modifiable risk factors and ACEs ≥ 3. The mean Step 1 score was 230 (213, 247). Of the students, 28.2% identified ACEs ≥ 3, 13.6% were considered URiM, and 65.4% were female. URiM were 2.34 (1.30, 4.23),females were 2.77 (1.06-7.29), and those who experienced discrimination in medical school were 4.25 (1.85, 9.77) times more likely to have ACEs ≥ 3. Students who had ACEs ≥ 3 were 3.58 (1.75, 7.29) times less likely to meet a minimal threshold for residency interviews of 220. These are the first results to demonstrate a relationship between Step 1 score and ACEs. Those who identified as URiM, females, and those who experienced discrimination in medical school were at a higher risk of ACEs of ≥ 3. Step 1 transitioned to pass/fail in January 2022. However, the first application cycle that residencies will see pass/fail scoring is 2023-2024, and fellowships will continue to see scored Step 1 until, at the earliest, the 2026-2027 application cycle. These data contribute to a foundation of research that could apply to Step 2CK testing scores, and help to inform decisions about the diversity and equity of the residency interview process.

Who needs education on LGBTQIA+ healthcare inclusion?

The topic of education on healthcare needs and equity of care for LGBTQIA+ populations is an extremely current issue. There is a demand for education on these topics not only from medical and other health sciences students but also from established healthcare professionals. Given this widespread educational deficiency, it is natural to ask whether the teaching class is prepared to satisfy these requests or in turn needs training on these issues and above all whether it is capable of transmitting attention and sensitivity on the issues of inclusion and equality in needs of healthcare.

Citation bias, diversity, and ethics

How often a researcher is cited usually plays a decisive role in that person's career advancement, because academic institutions often use citation metrics, either explicitly or implicitly, to estimate research impact and productivity. Research has shown, however, that citation patterns and practices are affected by various biases, including the prestige of the authors being cited and their gender, race, and nationality, whether self-attested or perceived. Some commentators have proposed that researchers can address biases related to social identity or position by including a Citation Diversity Statement in a manuscript submitted for publication. A Citation Diversity Statement is a paragraph placed before the reference section of a manuscript in which the authors address the diversity and equitability of their references in terms of gender, race, ethnicity, or other factors and affirm a commitment to promoting equity and diversity in sources and references. The present commentary considers arguments in favor of Citation Diversity Statements, and some practical and ethical issues that these statements raise.

Using longitudinal qualitative research to understand the experiences of minoritized people

This paper demonstrates how Longitudinal Qualitative Research (LQR) is an innovative method to understand the lived experiences of members of minoritized groups when temporality is a structuring element of their experiences. Most qualitative research in psychology is cross-sectional, which limits our understanding of individuals whose experiences are context-dependent and linked to the temporal norms of specific social environments. LQR is unique for allowing researchers to compare change and stability over time and reveal how social challenges and barriers impact perspective shifts and long-term decision-making. To demonstrate the usefulness of LQR as an inclusive methodology, we discuss an ongoing study of career decision-making among a diverse cohort of biomedical scientists. We have used annual interviews to follow biomedical science trainees from the beginning of their PhD into the initial stages of their careers. We present case studies of minoritized scientists to illustrate the methods for long-term engagement used to elicit sensitive and critical information during their training. We show how LQR is a viable methodology for a variety of research questions and can be accomplished using large or small sample sizes and limited resources. Our primary goal is to show how LQR is useful to understand the experiences of minoritized individuals in contexts that have historically excluded them.

Addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion: A response of professional nursing organizations to the future of nursing: 2020-2030 recommendations

One way in which professional nursing organizations have chosen to address the social determinants of health (SDoH) is through policy work focused on diversity, health equity and anti-racism activities. The recent report, Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity (FON 2020-2030), calls on professional nursing organizations and/or nursing coalitions to focus on addressing the SDoH to mitigate health inequities, including a focus on addressing racism and promoting practices to ensure the diversity of the nursing workforce. While these recommendations highlight issues of high importance to nursing and the broader society, they assume that professional nursing organizations or coalitions have not been sufficiently engaged in this work to date. Our goal was to better understand the current and/or ongoing activities of professional nursing organizations around their anti-racism work of diversity, health equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities recommended in the FON 2020-2030 report. To address this goal, we conducted a needs assessment of professional nursing organizations to document their DEI activities and the timing of these activities relevant to the recommendations in the report. The 26 responding organizations indicated they had been engaged in work addressing DEI issues for periods ranging from 4 months to 51 years. Minimal funding was the major barrier to advancing this work. Creating a vigorous shared DEI agenda across the profession, as suggested in the FON 2020-2030 report, will require input from nurses across the profession, as well as identification of resources to support this critical endeavor.

Diversity and distribution of biosynthetic gene clusters in agricultural soil microbiomes

Bacterial secondary metabolites serve as an important source of molecules for drug discovery. They also play an important function in mediating the interactions of microbial producers with their living environment and surrounding organisms. However, little is known about the genetic novelty, distribution, and community-level impacts of soil bacterial biosynthetic potential on a large geographic scale. Here, we constructed the first catalog of 11,149 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) from agricultural soils across China and unearthed hidden biosynthetic potential for new natural product discovery from the not-yet-cultivated soil bacteria. Notably, we revealed soil pH as the strongest environmental driver of BGC biogeography and predicted that soil acidification and global climate change could damage the biosynthetic potential of the soil microbiome. The co-occurrence network of bacterial genomes revealed two BGC-rich species, i.e., Nocardia niigatensis from Actinobacteriota and PSRF01 from Acidobacteriota, as the module hub and connector, respectively, indicating their keystone positions in the soil microbial communities. We also uncovered a dominant role of BGC-inferred biotic interactions over environmental drivers in structuring the soil microbiome. Overall, this study achieved novel insights into the BGC landscape in agricultural soils of China, substantially expanding our understanding of the diversity and novelty of bacterial secondary metabolism and the potential role of secondary metabolites in microbiota assembly.IMPORTANCEBacterial secondary metabolites not only serve as the foundation for numerous therapeutics (e.g., antibiotics and anticancer drugs), but they also play critical ecological roles in mediating microbial interactions (e.g., competition and communication). However, our knowledge of bacterial secondary metabolism is limited to only a small fraction of cultured strains, thus restricting our comprehensive understanding of their diversity, novelty, and potential ecological roles in soil ecosystems. Here, we used culture-independent metagenomics to explore biosynthetic potentials in agricultural soils of China. Our analyses revealed a high degree of genetic diversity and novelty within biosynthetic gene clusters in agricultural soil environments, offering valuable insights for biochemists seeking to synthesize novel bioactive products. Furthermore, we uncovered the pivotal role of BGC-rich species in microbial communities and the significant relationship between BGC richness and microbial phylogenetic turnover. This information emphasizes the importance of biosynthetic potential in the assembly of microbial communities.

The European livestock resistome

Metagenomic sequencing has proven to be a powerful tool in the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Here, we provide a comparative analysis of the resistome from pigs, poultry, veal calves, turkey, and rainbow trout, for a total of 538 herds across nine European countries. We calculated the effects of per-farm management practices and antimicrobial usage (AMU) on the resistome in pigs, broilers, and veal calves. We also provide an in-depth study of the associations between bacterial diversity, resistome diversity, and AMR abundances as well as co-occurrence analysis of bacterial taxa and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and the universality of the latter. The resistomes of veal calves and pigs clustered together, as did those of avian origin, while the rainbow trout resistome was different. Moreover, we identified clear core resistomes for each specific food-producing animal species. We identified positive associations between bacterial alpha diversity and both resistome alpha diversity and abundance. Network analyses revealed very few taxa-ARG associations in pigs but a large number for the avian species. Using updated reference databases and optimized bioinformatics, previously reported significant associations between AMU, biosecurity, and AMR in pig and poultry farms were validated. AMU is an important driver for AMR; however, our integrated analyses suggest that factors contributing to increased bacterial diversity might also be associated with higher AMR load. We also found that dispersal limitations of ARGs are shaping livestock resistomes, and future efforts to fight AMR should continue to emphasize biosecurity measures.IMPORTANCEUnderstanding the occurrence, diversity, and drivers for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is important to focus future control efforts. So far, almost all attempts to limit AMR in livestock have addressed antimicrobial consumption. We here performed an integrated analysis of the resistomes of five important farmed animal populations across Europe finding that the resistome and AMR levels are also shaped by factors related to bacterial diversity, as well as dispersal limitations. Thus, future studies and interventions aimed at reducing AMR should not only address antimicrobial usage but also consider other epidemiological and ecological factors.

Supporting neurodivergent nursing students in their practice placements

Neurodivergent conditions such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Tourette's syndrome are common, and it is highly likely that practice assessors and supervisors will be asked to support neurodivergent nursing students in their practice learning environments. This article details the strengths that neurodivergent students can bring to nursing, as well as some of the challenges they may experience in practice settings. It outlines how practice assessors and supervisors can develop neuro-inclusive learning environments where neurodivergent students can thrive, as well as how to support them if they are not meeting their required proficiencies. The authors also discuss how appropriate reasonable adjustments can be implemented by using a collaborative approach with students.

Diversity in Hand Surgery Leadership: The Impact of Mentorship and Bias

BACKGROUND

Diversity in leadership drives innovation. However, underrepresented minorities may face barriers. The aim of this study is to understand the impact of gender and race on the experience of leaders in hand surgery.

METHODS

An anonymous survey was sent to leaders in hand surgery who attained the position of national society president, head of a division/department, or hand fellowship director. The survey assessed demographic information, grit, mentorship, and bias.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-one leaders responded for a response rate of 60.5%. Men represented 81.0% and women 19.0%. Most respondents were white (87.6%) with 7% Asian and 6% any other race. Ninety-one percent of female respondents lived in a dual career household, compared with 53.7% of male respondents (odds ratio [OR] 0.15, P = .017). Female respondents had significantly higher grit compared with male respondents (4.3 vs 4.0, P = .050). Male respondents were more likely to have a male mentor/sponsor than women (95% vs 76%, respectively, P = .001). White respondents were more likely to have a white mentor/sponsor than nonwhite respondents (91% vs 61%, respectively, P = .009). Ninety-five percent of women reported experiencing bias compared with 27% of men (P < .001). Specifically, women reported bias in salary, promotion, nomination, sponsorship, networking, and clinical resources. Nonwhite respondents were significantly more likely to experience bias in promotion (P = .006).

CONCLUSIONS

Women and racial minorities face bias and barriers to leadership within hand surgery.

Comparative Evaluation of Secondary Metabolite Chemodiversity of Citrus Genebank Collection in Greece: Can the Peel be More than Waste?

Citrus fruits are among the most economically important crops in the world. In the global market, the Citrus peel is often considered a byproduct but substitutes an important phenotypic characteristic of the fruit and a valuable source of essential oils, flavonoids, carotenoids, and phenolic acids with variable concentrations. The Mediterranean basin is a particularly dense area of autochthonous genotypes of Citrus that are known for being a source of healthy foods, which can be repertoires of valuable genes for molecular breeding with the focus on plant resistance and quality improvement. The scope of this study was to characterize and compare the main phenotypic parameters (i.e., peel thickness, fruit volume, and area) and levels of bioactive compounds in the peel of fruits from the local germplasm of Citrus in Greece, to assess their chemodiversity regarding their polyphenolic, volatile, and carotenoid profiles. A targeted liquid chromatographic approach revealed hesperidin, tangeretin, narirutin, eriocitrin, and quercetin glycosides as the major polyphenolic compounds identified in orange, lemon, and mandarin peels. The content of tangeretin and narirutin followed the tendency mandarin > orange > lemon. Eriocitrin was a predominant metabolite of lemon peel, following its identification in lower amounts in mandarin and at least in the orange peel. For these citrus-specific metabolites, high intra- but also interspecies chemodiversity was monitored. Significant diversity was found in the essential oil content, which varied between 1.2 and 3% in orange, 0.2 and 1.4% in mandarin, and 0.9 and 1.9% in lemon peel. Limonene was the predominant compound in all Citrus species peel essential oils, ranging between 88 and 93% among the orange, 64 and 93% in mandarin, and 55 and 63% in lemon cultivars. Carotenoid analysis revealed different compositions among the Citrus species and accessions studied, with β-cryptoxanthin being the most predominant metabolite. This large-scale metabolic investigation will enhance the knowledge of Citrus peel secondary metabolite chemodiversity supported by the ample availability of Citrus genetic resources to further expand their exploitation in future breeding programs and potential applications in the global functional food and pharmaceutical industries.

Emphasis of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on US Adult Infectious Disease Fellowship Program Websites in the Era of Virtual Recruitment

Women and underrepresented-in-medicine applicants value a climate for diversity when selecting graduate medical education training programs. Climate may not be accurately represented during virtual recruitment. Optimizing program websites may help overcome this barrier. We reviewed websites for adult infectious disease fellowships that participated in the 2022 National Resident Matching Program for emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Fewer than half expressed DEI language in their mission statement or had a dedicated DEI statement or webpage. Programs should consider emphasizing their commitment to DEI prominently on their websites, which may help recruit candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Powdery mildew-induced changes in phyllosphere microbial community dynamics of cucumber

As an important habitat for microorganisms, the phyllosphere has a great impact on plant growth and health, and changes in phyllosphere microorganisms are closely related to the occurrence of leaf diseases. However, there remains a limited understanding regarding alterations to the microbial community in the phyllosphere resulting from pathogen infections. Here, we analyzed and compared the differences in phyllosphere microorganisms of powdery mildew cucumber from three disease severity levels (0% < L1 < 30%, 30% ≤ L2 < 50%, L3 ≥ 50%, the number represents the lesion coverage rate of powdery mildew on leaves). There were significant differences in α diversity and community structure of phyllosphere communities under different disease levels. Disease severity altered the community structure of phyllosphere microorganisms, Rosenbergiella, Rickettsia, and Cladosporium accounted for the largest proportion in the L1 disease grade, while Bacillus, Pantoea, Kocuria, and Podosphaera had the highest relative abundance in the L3 disease grade. The co-occurrence network analysis of the phyllosphere microbial community indicated that the phyllosphere bacterial community was most affected by the severity of disease. Our results suggested that with the development of cucumber powdery mildew, the symbiotic relationship between species was broken, and the entire bacterial community tended to compete.

The Prevalence of Peer Sexual Harassment During Childhood in Australia

Sexual harassment inflicted by adolescents on their peers is a major public health issue, but its prevalence across childhood is not known. We provide the first nationally representative data on the prevalence of peer sexual harassment across childhood, using cross-sectional data from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study (ACMS). The ACMS surveyed 8,503 people aged 16 and over about their experiences of child maltreatment and associated health outcomes. The prevalence of peer sexual harassment was assessed using the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ)-R2 Adapted Version (ACMS), with survey data weighted to reflect characteristics of the Australian population. Overall, 1 in 10 (10.4% (95% Confidence Intervals (CI) [9.7, 11.3])) Australians experienced peer sexual harassment during childhood. Peer sexual harassment is an issue disproportionately affecting gender-diverse individuals (24.0%, 95% CI [15.5, 35.2]) and women (15.3%, 95% CI [14.0, 16.7%]), compared to men (5.0%, 95% CI [4.3, 5.9]). Rates of peer sexual harassment were also very high among sexuality diverse participants (prevalence estimates ranging between 14.2% and 29.8%). Peer sexual harassment was predominately inflicted by male peers (9.6%, 95% CI [8.9, 10.4]), compared to 1.8% (95% CI [1.5, 2.2]) reporting harassment from female peers. These findings have implications for understanding and reducing attitudes supporting peer sexual harassment in childhood, particularly against girls and gender and sexuality diverse youth, and associations with other gendered violence both in childhood and later life.

Counseling in a different language: An analysis of experiences and resources in multilingual genetic counseling

This study set out to investigate the experiences of bilingual/multilingual genetic counselors in the United States and Canada who have counseled in a non-English language and characterize their training experiences to identify potential areas for improvement. A total of 32 bilingual and/or multilingual genetic counselors completed online surveys. Approximately 83% of participants typically counsel patients in languages for which they believe their proficiency is at least good without the participation of an interpreter. Challenges to providing language-concordant care include insufficient patient-facing translation tools/resources, with roughly half reporting they have created their own resources out of necessity. For training programs, there was a strong desire for more supervision in bilingual/multilingual genetic counseling students' non-English language during training to help foster genetics-related language skills development.

The role of omics in improving the orphan crop tef

Tef or teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is a cereal crop indigenous to the Horn of Africa, where it is a staple food for a large population. The popularity of tef arises from its resilience to environmental stresses and its nutritional value. For many years, tef has been considered an orphan crop, but recent research initiatives from across the globe are helping to unravel its undisclosed potential. Advanced omics tools and techniques have been directed toward the exploration of tef's diversity with the aim of increasing its productivity. In this review, we report on the most recent advances in tef omics that brought the crop into the spotlight of international research.

Physico-Chemical and Rheological Trait-Based Identification of Indian Wheat Varieties Suitable for Different End-Uses

India has increased its wheat production phenomenally in the last two decades and it now has a buffer stock of 9.7 million tonnes. However, despite the release of several wheat cultivars, the end-use quality traits of Indian wheat varieties have not been explored in-depth to determine the increasing demand of the domestic processing industry as well as export. In this study, 55 wheat genotypes including 47 released varieties, and 8 genetic stocks were grown along with 10 Australian varieties grown during cropping seasons: 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 and diversity in different physiochemical and rheological traits was evaluated. They showed considerable diversity in all the quality traits studied. However, very few genotypes could be found suitable for any one end-use. Five genotypes were found to possess four to five traits for superior bread-making quality. Two varieties and three advanced breeding lines had up to four good chapati quality traits. None of the released varieties investigated had suitable traits for biscuit making; however, two breeding lines possessed requisite quality traits suitable for biscuit making. It is, therefore, concluded that systematic breeding efforts are required to develop genotypes that bring together the most important quality traits in a single genotype to be suitable for domestic industry as well as for export.

Interpreter-mediated neuropsychological assessment: Clinical considerations and recommendations from the European Consortium on Cross-Cultural Neuropsychology (ECCroN)

OBJECTIVE

With increasing international migration, societies have become increasingly diverse worldwide. Although neuropsychological assessment is influenced by several diversity characteristics, language barriers have repeatedly been identified as one of the main challenges to cross-cultural neuropsychological assessment in migrant populations. Importantly, neuropsychologists are often required to conduct interpreter-mediated neuropsychological assessments without any graduate training or continuing education on the topic. To address this gap, the objective of this paper is to provide guidelines for interpreter-mediated neuropsychological assessment.

METHOD

A European Consortium on Cross-Cultural Neuropsychology (ECCroN) task force conducted a conceptual literature review and provided recommendations for good practice and working principles to inform the preparation and administration of interpreter-mediated assessments.

RESULTS

ECCroN takes the position that it is the responsibility of neuropsychologists, as well as the institutions or organizations that employ them, to ensure effective communication between themselves and their patients. This may be accomplished by preparing for an interpreter-mediated assessment by engaging an appropriate interpreter, which in most circumstances will be a professional in-person interpreter speaking the same language(s) or dialect(s) as the patient, and considering practical, language, and cross-cultural issues. During the assessment, reasonable steps should be taken to proactively manage the proceedings and adopt a communication style that facilitates effective patient-directed communication, and when interpreting test data and determining formulations and diagnoses, the limitations of interpreter-mediated assessment should be carefully considered.

CONCLUSION

Adhering to the provided recommendations and working principles may help neuropsychologists provide competent interpreter-mediated neuropsychological assessments to linguistically diverse patients.

Defining interventions and metrics to improve diversity in CNS clinical trial participation: A SNO and RANO effort

Despite major strides in cancer research and therapy, these advances have not been equitable across race and ethnicity. Historically marginalized groups (HMG) are more likely to have inadequate preventive screening, increased delays in diagnosis, and poor representation in clinical trials. Notably, Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous people represent 30% of the population but only 9% of oncology clinical trial participants. As a result, HMGs lack equitable access to novel therapies, contradicting the principle of distributive justice, as enshrined in the Belmont report, which demands the equitable selection of subjects in research involving human subjects. The lack of clinical trial diversity also leads to low generalizability and potentially harmful medical practices. Specifically, patients with brain cancer face unique barriers to clinical trial enrollment and completion due to disease-specific neurologic and treatment-induced conditions. Collectively, the intersection of these disease-specific conditions with social determinants of health fosters a lack of diversity in clinical trials. To ameliorate this disparity in neuro-oncology clinical trial participation, we present interventions focused on improving engagement of HMGs. Proposals range from inclusive trial design, decreasing barriers to care, expanding trial eligibility, access to tumor profiling for personalized medical trials, setting reasonable metrics and goals for accrual, working with patient community stakeholders, diversifying the neuro-oncology workforce, and development of tools to overcome biases with options to incentivize equity. The diversification of participation amongst neuro-oncology clinical trials is imperative. Equitable access and inclusion of HMG patients with brain tumors will not only enhance research discoveries but will also improve patient care.

Getting started writing a personal diversity statement

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

Enhancing comparative T cell receptor repertoire analysis in small biological samples through pooling homologous cell samples from multiple mice

Accurate characterization and comparison of T cell receptor (TCR) repertoires from small biological samples present significant challenges. The main challenge is the low material input, which compromises the quality of bulk sequencing and hinders the recovery of sufficient TCR sequences for robust analyses. We aimed to address this limitation by implementing a strategic approach to pool homologous biological samples. Our findings demonstrate that such pooling indeed enhances the TCR repertoire coverage, particularly for cell subsets of constrained sizes, and enables accurate comparisons of TCR repertoires at different levels of complexity across T cell subsets with different sizes. This methodology holds promise for advancing our understanding of T cell repertoires in scenarios where sample size constraints are a prevailing concern.

Student's perspectives of inclusive practices in anatomy education

There is a drive to implement inclusive practices in anatomy by adapting curricula and utilizing inclusive language and resources that negate biases. However, to date there is no data regarding student's perception of inclusivity. Therefore, the study aims to investigate anatomy student's opinions on inclusive practices in anatomy education based on the protected characteristics of age, disability, ethnicity, gender affirmation and sex. One hundred and forty-five students completed a questionnaire with 21 Likert-scale and two open-ended questions. Kruskal-Wallis tests compared responses by groups defined by the protected characteristics of the Equality Act (2010). Most students (71.2%; n = 84) agreed or strongly agreed that "improving inclusivity in anatomy education should be educator's priority". In terms of representation, there was a statistically different response rate from students from different ethnic backgrounds to the statements "there are anatomy educators" (p < 0.001), "images in textbooks" (p < 0.001) and "models in the dissection room" (p < 0.001) "that look like me". Most students agreed or strongly agreed to statements relating to the protected characteristics of age (70.4%; n = 68), disability (78.6%; n = 77), ethnicity (59.8%; n = 64), gender affirmation (46.3%; n = 46) and sex (51.5%; n = 62). Themes identified relating to improving inclusivity included "reflecting reality", "teaching the truth", "the invisibility of women" and the "learning environment". Students have confirmed that anatomists, as gatekeepers of the knowledge of the human body, should foster inclusive teaching practices that will benefit all students and potentially future patient care.

Gaps in parasitological research in the molecular era

We live in the age of molecular biology and '-omics', and molecular methods have opened up unimagined possibilities for biological research, including parasitology. However, too one-sided a focus on new approaches can lead to major gaps as less 'cool' topics are neglected. Selected areas of research are briefly discussed to highlight the gaps caused by the current excessive focus on molecular and '-omics' methods. It is crucial to combine both 'classical' and modern methods without neglecting the complexity of the interactions of parasites with their hosts and the environment (One Health concept), which is even more urgent in today's rapidly changing world. Parasitologists should be more involved in field studies and multidisciplinary assessment of parasites.

Accounting for diversity in the treatment of suicide and self-injury: A systematic review of the past 50 years of randomized controlled trials

PURPOSE

Patients receiving treatment for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) have diverse backgrounds, yet it remains unclear exactly who is represented in the current SITB treatment literature.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of the past 50 years of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) testing SITB treatments to evaluate sampling practices and reporting of sample characteristics, as well as inclusion of global populations across the included 525 papers. We also assessed changes over the past five decades in these three domains.

RESULTS

SITB RCTs frequently reported age and sex (98.6%-95.1%), less frequently reported race (83.4%-38.6%), socioeconomic status (48.1%-46.1%) and ethnicity (41.9%-8.1%), and rarely reported LGBTQ+ status (3.7%-1.6%). U.S.-based RCTs featured predominantly White, non-Hispanic, and non-LGBTQ+ samples. Most RCTs were conducted in high-income North American or European countries. Sample reporting practices, sample representativeness, and inclusion of global populations modestly and inconsistently improved over time.

CONCLUSIONS

There has not been substantial improvement in reporting practices, sample representativeness, or inclusion of global populations in SITB RCTs over the past 50 years. Acknowledging who is being studied and representing diverse populations in SITB treatment research is key to connecting research advances with those who may need it most.

You Want to be a Surgical Leader? Consider Training Elsewhere - An Observation of How Training Background May Impact Leadership Selection

OBJECTIVE

The significance of thought differences has always held importance in medicine, but it could be considered as increasingly acknowledged and valued to a greater extent in recent times as more emphasis is placed on diversity, equity, and inclusion. These unique perspectives have been examined according to race, gender, and ethnicity, but there is limited published data examining the prevalence of leadership roles within surgical departments in terms of training background. Our main objective is to identify trends in surgical leaders' education, and emphasize training diversity in surgical leadership.

DESIGN

A descriptive study of the training background of all surgical academic leaders.

SETTING

This internet search was performed at a tertiary care, academic medical center.

PARTICIPANTS

Academic chairpersons, division directors, and program directors.

RESULTS

124 programs had pertinent information available. There was a mean of 7.6 leaders per institute examined: total 939 positions (119 chairs, 704 division directors, 116 program directors). 90/119 (76%) of the Chairs led at institutions outside of the places they completed their training. 4/119 (3%) did all their training at the same institution they chaired. 25/119 (21%) completed at least some but not all their training there, and later rose to the role of Chair. Among division directors, 217/704 (31%) did some training at that institution, and program directors were significantly more likely to have completed some training at their current institute (53/116, 46%; p = 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences when examined geographically. Women made up 18% of the leaders and were significantly more likely to lead as program director rather than a chair or division director (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

A majority of surgery chairs hold positions at institutions where they did not complete their medical training. This suggests that outside perspective could be a contributing factor when searching for this position.

What's the big IDEA? Incorporating inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) in population health nutrition research and practice

Historically, the constructs of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) have not been sufficiently considered or included in population health nutrition research and practice. Consequently, current nutrition assessment benchmarks and knowledge translation tools may not accurately or adequately reflect diversity in the Canadian population or produce meaningful dietary guidance. The purpose of this current opinion paper is to introduce the population health nutrition research and practice framework and explore the current application of IDEA within this framework. Recommendations are offered to incorporate the constructs of IDEA along the continuum of future nutrition research and services to improve population nutritional health.

Microbiological profile of peri-implantitis: Analyses of peri-implant microbiome

PURPOSE

To characterize the microbiome composition in peri-implant pocket of peri-implantitis and peri-implant sulcus controls using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this controlled clinical cross-sectional study, 23 subjects with control implants (n = 14) and diseased implants (peri-implantitis, n = 21) were included. The peri-implant pocket/sulcus was sampled and used to extract DNA and amplify the 16S rRNA gene using universal primers targeting the V3-V4 regions. The resulting 16S PCR amplicons were sequenced on Illumina MiSeq, and the sequences were processed using DADA2 and the Human Oral Microbiome Database (HOMD) as references. Alpha and Beta diversity, as well as core microbiome and differential abundance analyses, were performed using the MicrobiomeAnalyst workflow.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in microbial diversity between control implants and implants with peri-implantitis (Shannon p = 0.82). Overall bacterial community structure assessed through beta diversity analysis was also not significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.18). However, high levels of Gram-negative bacteria were detected in peri-implant pockets compared to the control sulcus. Abundant species in peri-implantitis were Capnocytophaga leadbetteri, Treponema maltophilum, Peptostreptococcus, Neisseria, P. gingivalis, and Porphyromonas endodontali, Lactococcus lactis and Filifactor alocis (p < 0.05). Gram-positive bacteria such as Streptococcus salivaris, Prevotella melaninogenica, L. wadei, and Actinomyces spp. serve were more abundant in peri-implant control sulcus.

CONCLUSIONS

Peri-implant sulcus in control implants harbors predominantly Gram-positive bacteria, whereas pockets of implants with peri-implantitis harbor predominantly Gram-negative bacteria.

Black and Hispanic predoctoral dental students' perceptions and considerations of careers in academic dentistry

BACKGROUND

Dental schools aim to train and support a diverse dentist workforce. Among all faculty, full-time and part-time faculty who identify as members of historically underrepresented groups are 13.9% and 8.4%, respectively. The recruitment and retention of faculty is a known challenge, with growing faculty vacancies at dental schools. This study explored dental student perceptions of academic careers, specifically focusing on Black and Hispanic predoctoral students.

METHODS

From August to November 2022, we conducted focus group with second-, third-, and fourth-year predoctoral dental students who identified as Black or Hispanic using a semi-structured interview guide that was developed for this study. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Four themes emerged: (1) students perceived academic dental dentistry as inclusive but not diverse spaces for Black and Hispanic people; (2) academic dental careers were perceived as secondary careers; (3) academic dental careers were perceived as a career option with a lack of autonomy and less income, compared to clinical practice in other settings; (4) students expressed a lack of knowledge about pathways to academic dental careers. Despite these challenges, students expressed interest in academic dental careers and noted being inspired by younger faculty members.

CONCLUSION

Dental schools must do more to encourage dental students to consider careers in academic dentistry. Pathway programs, mentoring, and the presentation of academic careers as a viable career option for students by faculty should be further emphasized practices. Increasing the diversity of faculty members is also key. Students cannot be who they cannot see.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Otolaryngology Applicants and Residents: Recruiting a Diverse Workforce

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to examine the racial and ethnic representation of otolaryngology applicants and residents and determine if there have been any improvements in recruiting a diverse workforce over the past several years.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on self-reported race and ethnicity data of otolaryngology applicants to United States residency programs from 2016 to 2022 from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and residents from 2011 to 2022 from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The changes in proportions of applicants and residents by race and ethnicity separately was compared as well as the proportion of applicants to residents. Descriptive analyses and chi-square tests were used to compare proportions of groups by race and ethnicity.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of applicants by race or ethnicity from 2016-2017 to 2021-2022. There was a decrease in the proportion of White residents from 58.1% to 54.5% from 2011-2012 to 2018-2019. There were higher proportions of White residents than applicants and lower proportions of Black residents than applicants in the two cycles analyzed. In the most recent cycle analyzed, the proportion of Hispanic or Latino residents was higher than the proportion of Hispanic or Latino applicants.

CONCLUSION

While there may be improvements to increase representation of otolaryngology applicants and residents, there continues to be inequalities and a lack of diversity. Further initiatives are needed to ensure diversity in the field improves moving forward.

Potential PCR amplification bias in identifying complex ecological patterns: Higher species compositional homogeneity revealed in smaller-size coral reef zooplankton by metatranscriptomics

PCR-based high-throughput sequencing has permitted comprehensive resolution analyses of zooplankton diversity dynamics. However, significant methodological issues still surround analyses of complex bulk community samples, not least as in prevailing PCR-based approaches. Marine drifting animals-zooplankton-play essential ecological roles in the pelagic ecosystem, transferring energy and elements to higher trophic levels, such as fishes, cetaceans and others. In the present study, we collected 48 size-fractionated zooplankton samples in the vicinity of a coral reef island with environmental gradients. To investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of zooplankton diversity patterns and the effect of PCR amplification biases across these complex communities, we first took metatranscriptomics approach. Comprehensive computational analyses revealed a clear pattern of higher/lower homogeneity in smaller/larger zooplankton compositions across samples respectively. Our study thus suggests changes in the role of dispersal across the sizes. Next, we applied in silico PCR to the metatranscriptomics datasets, in order to estimate the extent of PCR amplification bias. Irrespective of stringency criteria, we observed clear separations of size fraction sample clusters in both metatranscriptomics and in silico datasets. In contrast, the pattern-smaller-fractioned communities had higher compositional homogeneity than larger ones-was observed in the metatranscriptomics data but not in the in silico datasets. To investigate this discrepancy further, we analysed the mismatches of widely used mitochondrial CO1 primers and identified priming site mismatches likely driving PCR-based biases. Our results suggest the use of metatranscriptomics or, although less ideal, redesigning the CO1 primers is necessary to circumvent these issues.

Health, Economic, and Social Disparities among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Sexually Diverse Adults: Results from a Population-Based Study

We investigated health, economic, and social disparities among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and sexually diverse adults, 18 years and older. Analyzing 2011-2019 Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (N = 109,527), we estimated and compared the prevalence rates of background characteristics, economic and social indicators, health outcomes, chronic conditions, health care access, health behaviors, and preventive care by gender and sexual identity. Sexual minority adults reported heightened risks of poor general health, physical and mental health, disability, subjective cognitive decline, and financial barriers to health care, compared with their straight counterparts. Economic disparities and disability were evident for lesbians and both bisexual adult women and men. We found higher rates of smoking and excessive drinking among lesbians and bisexual women, and higher rates of smoking and living alone among gay men. Sexually diverse adults experience disparities in health care access. This study is one of the first to identify disparities among sexually diverse populations, in addition to lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults. More research is required to understand the mechanisms of disparities within these groups to address their distinct intervention needs.

Identifying the prevalence and characteristics of diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders in academic emergency medicine

Objectives

Our study aims to better understand and describe the current state of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leadership in emergency medicine (EM) by identifying the prevalence of department DEI leadership positions, their demographics, and their job duty characteristics.

Methods

We disseminated an electronic survey from April to July 2022 to Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine, Academy for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Medicine, and the Equity and Inclusion Committee to identify department DEI leads. From July to August 2022, a 45-question survey was sent to all identified DEI leaders on individual characteristics, DEI experience, and DEI lead job description.

Results

We received a response from 79 out of 120 academic EM departments identified (65.8%). Of the responding institutions, 59 (74.7%) reported a DEI leader. A total of 74.6% of these DEI leaders responded at least partially to our survey and 57.6% responded in full. The most common titles were vice/associate chair of DEI (34.4%), director of DEI (28.1%), and DEI committee chair (18.8%). Most respondents (84.4%) were the inaugural DEI lead in their department and 84.4% of respondents did not have a formal DEI role in their department previously. On average, respondents have had their DEI title for 2 years (range 0-7 years) with an average of 7 years (range 0-30 years) of experience performing DEI work. Many (63.4%) do not receive any funded effort for their DEI roles. Most DEI leads were not tenure track (72.2%) and most commonly at the rank of assistant professor (47.2%) followed by associate professor (33.3%), full professor (16.7%), and instructor (2.8%).

Conclusions

This is the first known study to assess the characteristics of DEI department leaders in EM. EM DEI leadership positions are new, common, and led by diverse personal identities and are often not funded. Future directions could gain qualitative insight into this workforce to guide best practices in EM DEI leadership.

Measuring Greenspace in Rural Areas for Studies of Birth Outcomes: A Comparison of Street View Data and Satellite Data

Using street view data, in replace of remotely sensed (RS) data, to study the health impact of greenspace has become popular. However, direct comparisons of these two methods of measuring greenspace are still limited, and their findings are inconsistent. On the other hand, almost all studies of greenspace focus on urban areas. The effectiveness of greenspace in rural areas remains to be investigated. In this study, we compared measures of greenspace based on the Google Street View data with those based on RS data by calculating the correlation between the two and evaluating their associations with birth outcomes. Besides the direct measures of greenness, we also compared the measures of environmental diversity, calculated with the two types of data. Our study area consists of the States of New Hampshire and Vermont, USA, which are largely rural. Our results show that the correlations between the two types of greenness measures were weak to moderate, and the greenness at an eye-level view largely reflects the immediate surroundings. Neither the street view data- nor the RS data-based measures identify the influence of greenspace on birth outcomes in our rural study area. Interestingly, the environmental diversity was largely negatively associated with birth outcomes, particularly gestational age. Our study revealed that in rural areas, the effectiveness of greenspace and environmental diversity may be considerably different from that in urban areas.

Simplified detection of genetic background admixture using artificial intelligence

Admixture refers to the mixing of genetic ancestry from different populations. Admixture is important for genomic medicine because it can affect how an individual responds to certain medications, how they metabolize drugs, and susceptibility to certain diseases. For example, some genetic variants associated with drug metabolism and response may be more common in certain populations, and individuals with admixed ancestry may have a different frequency of these variants than individuals from the ancestral populations. Understanding the patterns of admixture in a population can also help researchers identify new genetic variants associated with diseases or traits and develop more personalized and targeted treatments. In this study, we compared and classified the known and self-reported genetic backgrounds from 1000 Genomes Project and admixed samples from GTEx projects using supervised, unsupervised and statistical classification methodologies. We developed a novel tool called Admix-AI that uses a one-dimensional convolutional neural network to understand and classify admixed genetic backgrounds using 213 DNA-marker based genetic background labels. Admix-AI can be used to discover admixed proportions in samples and ultimately aid personalized genomic medicine by identifying specific biomarker systems. We compared Admix-AI to the existing admixture categorization software and found our tool to be computationally faster with 2× speedup and streamlined usage. Admix-AI is available as open-source code under GPL version 3.0 license at https://github.com/rpauly/Admix-AI.

Science Education for the Youth (SEFTY): A Neuroscience Outreach Program for High School Students in Southern Nevada during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Laboratory outreach programs for K-12 students in the United States from 2020 to 2022 were suspended or delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions. While Southern Nevada also observed similar closures for onsite programs, we and others hypothesized that in-person laboratory activities could be prioritized after increasing vaccine doses were available to the public and masking was encouraged. Here, we describe how the Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Precision Medicine at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) collaborated with administrators from a local school district to conduct training activities for high school students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Science Education for the Youth (SEFTY) program's curriculum was constructed to incorporate experiential learning, fostering collaboration and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange. Leveraging neuroscience tools from our UNLV laboratory, we engaged with 117 high school applicants from 2021 to 2022. Our recruitment efforts yielded a diverse cohort, with >41% Pacific Islander and Asian students, >9% African American students, and >12% multiracial students. We assessed the impact of the SEFTY program through pre- and postassessment student evaluations, revealing a significant improvement of 20.3% in science proficiency (p < 0.001) after participating in the program. Collectively, our laboratory curriculum offers valuable insights into the capacity of an outreach program to actively foster diversity and cultivate opportunities for academic excellence, even in the challenging context of a global pandemic.

Race and sex diversity in Canadian academic surgical societies

BACKGROUND

It is vital for national professional surgical societies to embrace diversity, inclusion, and equity. This study examines race and sex diversity in two Canadian surgical societies.

METHODS

Websites of the Canadian Society of Cardiac Surgeons (CSCS) and the Canadian Association of General Surgeons (CAGS) and previous programs of their annual meetings were reviewed. Leadership positions, conference speakers, and award winners were categorized by race and sex.

RESULTS

White males made up the largest category of Cardiac Surgery meeting speakers (73/142 [51%]), CAGS committee members (89/198 [45%]), CAGS past presidents (38/43 [88%]), and General Surgery meeting speakers (841/1472 [57%]). Of the 17 members that made up the CSCS board of directors and officers, 8 were White males (47%), 5 were BIPOC males (29%), 3 were White females (18%), and 1 was a BIPOC female (6%). Of the 42 members of the CAGS board of directors and advisory committee, 16 were White males (38%), 5 were BIPOC males (12%), 17 were White females (40%), and 4 were BIPOC females (10%).

CONCLUSIONS

BIPOC individuals and females are underrepresented in both societies compared to White males. However, in CAGS, improvements in representation can be seen in recent years. It is important that both of these organizations continue to embrace diversity.

Sustaining eastern oak forests: Synergistic effects of fire and topography on vegetation and fuels

Across much of the eastern United States, oak forests are undergoing mesophication as shade-tolerant competitors become more abundant and suppress oak regeneration. Given the historical role of anthropogenic surface fires in promoting oak dominance, prescribed fire has become important in efforts to reverse mesophication and sustain oaks. In 2000 we established the Ohio Hills Fire and Fire Surrogate (FFS) study to examine whether repeated prescribed fire (Fire), mechanical partial harvest (Mech), and their combined application (Mech + Fire) reduced the dominance of subcanopy mesophytic competitors, increased the abundance of large oak-hickory advance regeneration, created a more diverse and productive ground-layer flora, and produced fuel beds more conducive to prescribed fire, reducing the risk of high-severity wildfire. Here we report on the ~20-year effects of treatments on vegetation and fuels and examine the support for interactive effects across a topographic-moisture and energy gradient. In general, we found that Fire and Mech + Fire treatments tended to reverse mesophication while the Mech-only treatment did not. The moderate and occasionally high-intensity fires resulted in effects that were ultimately very similar between the two fire treatments but were modulated by topography with increasing fire severity on drier sites. In particular, we found support for an interaction effect between treatment and topography on forest structure and tree regeneration responses. Fire generally reduced mesophytic tree density in the midstory and sapling strata across all site conditions, while leading to substantial gains in the abundance of large oak-hickory advance regeneration on dry and intermediate landscape positions. Fire also promoted ground-layer diversity and created compositionally distinct communities across all site conditions, primarily through the increased richness of native perennial herbs. However, the fire had limited effects on fine surface fuel loading and increased the loading of large woody fuels, potentially increasing the risk of high-severity wildfire during drought conditions. We conclude that two decades of repeated fires, with and without mechanical density reduction, significantly shifted the trajectory of mesophication across most of the landscape, particularly on dry and intermediate sites, highlighting the capacity of a periodic fire regime to sustain eastern oak forests and promote plant diversity but modulated by topography.

Abundance and diversity of fungal endophytes isolated from monk fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii) grown in a Canadian research greenhouse

Monk fruit (Siraitia grosvenorii) is an herbaceous perennial vine of the Cucurbitaceae family cultivated commercially mainly in southern China. There is very little information available about the fungal endophytes in monk fruit. In this study, monk fruit plants were grown from seeds in a research greenhouse at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia, Canada to explore the abundance and diversity of their fungal endophytes. Fungal endophytes were isolated from seeds, seedlings, mature monk fruit plants, and fruits, and cultured on potato dextrose agar and water agar media. Isolates were identified by microscopic examination and BLAST comparison of ITS sequences to published sequences in GenBank. At least 150 species of fungal endophytes representing 60 genera and 20 orders were recovered from monk fruit tissues. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) was carried out to explore the similarity of fungal communities among roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds based on fungal orders. Our study showed that monk fruit plants are a rich source of fungal endophytes with the greatest abundance and diversity in leaves. This work has deepened our understanding of the intricate interactions between plants and fungi that sustain ecosystems and underpin plant health and resilience.

Limitations in Faculty Advancement for Underrepresented Groups in Academic Otolaryngology

OBJECTIVE

Despite the increasing racial diversity of the United States, representation in academic medicine faculty does not reach concordance with the general population and worsens with higher rank. Few studies have examined this within academic Otolaryngology and surgical subspecialties. This project aims to compare rank equity in academic Otolaryngology on self-reported gender and race/ethnicity between the years 2000 and 2020.

METHODS

Publicly available data were obtained from the Association of American Medical Colleges under the "Data & Reports" section for the years 2000 and 2020. The report comprised of full-time faculty from all U.S. medical schools. To determine parity between faculty ranks across gender and race/ethnicity, rank equity index (REI) was calculated for associate/assistant, professor/associate, and professor/assistant professor comparisons.

RESULTS

The percentage of women faculty in Otolaryngology has increased from 21% in 2000 to 37% in 2020; however, they did not achieve parity at all rank comparisons for both years. On the contrary, men were above parity at all rank comparisons. Improvements in rank equity occurred for Black/African American (Black) and Hispanic Latino/Spanish Origin (Latine) faculty between the years 2000 and 2020; however, when accounting for gender, benefits were concentrated among men.

CONCLUSION

Advancement along the academic ladder is limited for women of all racial groups in academic Otolaryngology. While improved rank equity was seen for Black and Latine faculty, these improvements were largely among men. Future directions should aim to identify barriers to recruitment, retention, and promotion for women and underrepresented in medicine (URiM) academic otolaryngologists and create interventions that diversify Otolaryngology faculty at all ranks.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

NA Laryngoscope, 134:1625-1632, 2024.

Multiple transitions between realms shape relict lineages of Proteus cave salamanders

In comparison to biodiversity on Earth's surface, subterranean biodiversity has largely remained concealed. The olm (Proteus anguinus) is one of the most enigmatic extant cave inhabitants, and until now little was known regarding its genetic structure and evolutionary history. Olms inhabit subterranean waters throughout the Dinaric Karst of the western Balkans, with a seemingly uniform phenotypic appearance of cave-specialized traits: an elongate body, snout and limbs, degenerated eyes and loss of pigmentation ("white olm"). Only a single small region in southeastern Slovenia harbours olms with a phenotype typical of surface animals: pigmented skin, eyes, a blunt snout and short limbs ("black olm"). We used a combination of mitochondrial DNA and genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism data to investigate the molecular diversity, evolutionary history and biogeography of olms along the Dinaric Karst. We found nine deeply divergent species-level lineages that separated between 17 and 4 million years ago, while molecular diversity within lineages was low. We detected no signal of recent admixture between lineages and only limited historical gene flow. Biogeographically, the contemporaneous distribution of lineages mostly mirrors hydrologically separated subterranean environments, while the historical separation of olm lineages follows microtectonic and climatic changes in the area. The reconstructed phylogeny suggests at least four independent transitions to the cave phenotype. Two of the species-level lineages have miniscule ranges and may represent Europe's rarest amphibians. Their rarity and the decline in other lineages call for protection of their subterranean habitats.

Analysis of justification for author order and gender bias in author order among those contributing equally

The practice of designating two or more authors as equal contributors (ECs) on a scientific publication is increasingly common as a form of sharing credit. However, EC authors are often unclearly attributed on curriculum vitae (CVs) or citation engines, and it is unclear how research teams determine author order within an EC listing. In response to studies showing that male authors were more likely to be placed first in an EC listing, the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) required that authors explain the reasons for author order beginning in 2020. In this study, we analyze data from over 2,500 ASM publications to see how this policy affected gender bias and how research teams are making decisions on author order. Data on publications from 2018 to 2021 show that gender bias was largely nonsignificant both before and after authors were asked by ASM to provide an EC statement. The most likely reasons for EC order included alphabetical order, seniority, and chance, although there were differences for publications from different geographic regions. However, many research teams used unique methods in order selection, highlighting the importance of EC statements to provide clarity for readers, funding agencies, and tenure committees.

IMPORTANCE

First-author publications are important for early career scientists to secure funding and educational opportunities. However, an analysis published in eLife in 2019 noted that female authors are more likely to be placed second even when both authors report they have contributed equally. American Society for Microbiology announced in response that they would require submissions to include a written justification of author order. In this paper, we analyze the resultant data and show that laboratories are most likely to use some combination of alphabetical order, seniority, and chance to determine author order. However, the prevalence of these methods varies based on the research team's geographic location. These findings highlight the importance of equal contributor statements to provide clarity for readers, funding agencies, and tenure committees. Furthermore, this work is critically important for understanding how these decisions are made and provides a glimpse of the sociology of science.

Swapping White for High-Fibre Bread Increases Faecal Abundance of Short-Chain Fatty Acid-Producing Bacteria and Microbiome Diversity: A Randomized, Controlled, Decentralized Trial

A low-fibre diet leads to gut microbiota imbalance, characterized by low diversity and reduced ability to produce beneficial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). This imbalance is associated with poor gastrointestinal and metabolic health. We aimed to determine whether one dietary change, substitution of white bread with high-fibre bread, improves gut microbiota diversity and SCFA-producing capability. Twenty-two healthy adults completed a two-phase randomized, cross-over trial. The participants consumed three slices of a high-fibre bread (Prebiotic Cape Seed Loaf with BARLEYmax®) or control white bread as part of their usual diet for 2 weeks, with the treatment periods separated by a 4-week washout. High-fibre bread consumption increased total dietary fibre intake to 40 g/d, which was double the amount of fibre consumed at baseline or during the white bread intervention. Compared to white bread, the high-fibre bread intervention resulted in higher faecal alpha diversity (Shannon, p = 0.014) and relative abundance of the Lachnospiracae ND3007 group (p < 0.001, FDR = 0.019) and tended to increase the butyrate-producing capability (p = 0.062). In conclusion, substituting white bread with a high-fibre bread improved the diversity of gut microbiota and specific microbes involved in SCFA production and may enhance the butyrate-producing capability of gut microbiota in healthy adults. These findings suggest that a single dietary change involving high-fibre bread provides a practical way for adults to exceed recommended dietary fibre intake levels that improve gut microbiota composition and support gastrointestinal and metabolic health.

Baltic Sea coastal sediment-bound eukaryotes have increased year-round activities under predicted climate change related warming

Climate change related warming is a serious environmental problem attributed to anthropogenic activities, causing ocean water temperatures to rise in the coastal marine ecosystem since the last century. This particularly affects benthic microbial communities, which are crucial for biogeochemical cycles. While bacterial communities have received considerable scientific attention, the benthic eukaryotic community response to climate change remains relatively overlooked. In this study, sediments were sampled from a heated (average 5°C increase over the whole year for over 50 years) and a control (contemporary conditions) Baltic Sea bay during four different seasons across a year. RNA transcript counts were then used to investigate eukaryotic community changes under long-term warming. The composition of active species in the heated and control bay sediment eukaryotic communities differed, which was mainly attributed to salinity and temperature. The family level RNA transcript alpha diversity in the heated bay was higher during May but lower in November, compared with the control bay, suggesting altered seasonal activity patterns and dynamics. In addition, structures of the active eukaryotic communities varied between the two bays during the same season. Hence, this study revealed that long-term warming can change seasonality in eukaryotic diversity patterns. Relative abundances and transcript expression comparisons between bays suggested that some taxa that now have lower mRNA transcripts numbers could be favored by future warming. Furthermore, long-term warming can lead to a more active metabolism in these communities throughout the year, such as higher transcript numbers associated with diatom energy production and protein synthesis in the heated bay during winter. In all, these data can help predict how future global warming will affect the ecology and metabolism of eukaryotic community in coastal sediments.

Contribution to the characterization of the seed endophyte microbiome of Argania spinosa across geographical locations in Central Morocco using metagenomic approaches

Microbial endophytes are microorganisms that live inside plants, and some of them play important yet understudied roles in plant health, growth, and adaptation to environmental conditions. Their diversity within plants has traditionally been underestimated due to the limitations of culture-dependent techniques. Metagenomic profiling provides a culture-independent approach to characterize entire microbial communities. The argan tree (Argania spinosa) is ecologically and economically important in Morocco, yet its seed endophyte microbiome remains unexplored. This study aimed to compare the bacterial and fungal endophyte communities associated with argan seeds collected from six sites across Morocco using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and ITS regions, respectively. Bacterial DNA was extracted from surface-sterilized seeds and amplified using universal primers, while fungal DNA was isolated directly from seeds. Bioinformatics analysis of sequencing data identified taxonomic profiles at the phylum to genus levels. The results indicated that bacterial communities were dominated by the genus Rhodoligotrophos, while fungal communities exhibited varying degrees of dominance between Ascomycota and Basidiomycota depending on site, with Penicillium being the most abundant overall. Distinct site-specific profiles were observed, with Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Aspergillus present across multiple locations. Alpha diversity indices revealed variation in endophyte richness between seed sources. In conclusion, this first exploration of the argan seed endophyte microbiome demonstrated environmental influence on community structure. While facing limitations due to small sample sizes and lack of ecological metadata, it provides a foundation for future mechanistic investigations into how specific endophyte-host interactions shape argan adaptation across Morocco's diverse landscapes.