Disability and the stratification of post-secondary pathways: Evidence from a large administrative linkage.

Research has linked disability to differential experiences and outcomes for students at multiple levels of education. To date, however, available data sources have prevented comprehensive analyses of the statistical relationship between disability and the pathways traveled by students through Ontario post-secondary education (PSE). Through this study, we examine this topic by leveraging a large multifaceted linkage that brings together rich administrative data from the Toronto District School Board (Grades 9-12), Ontario college and university enrollment records (2009-2018), as well as government student loans and tax records. We use these data to statistically model differences in the PSE pathways traveled by more than 33,000 TDSB students. Our analyses identify statistically significant differences in the likelihood that students with/without disabilities will travel certain PSE pathways. However, such differences shrink drastically once we control for high school-level factors (e.g., academic performance, absenteeism). We elaborate on the importance of these findings for both social stratification researchers and policymakers.

La recherche a établi un lien entre le handicap et les différences d'expériences et de résultats pour les étudiants à plusieurs niveaux d'enseignement. Toutefois, jusqu'à présent, les sources de données disponibles n'ont pas permis d'effectuer des analyses complètes de la relation statistique entre le handicap et les parcours suivis par les étudiants tout au long de leurs études postsecondaires (PSE) en Ontario. Dans le cadre de cette étude, nous examinons ce sujet en tirant parti d'un vaste couplage à facettes multiples qui rassemble de riches données administratives provenant du Toronto District School Board (9e­12e année), des dossiers d'inscription des collèges et universités de l'Ontario (2009­2018), ainsi que des prêts étudiants du gouvernement et des dossiers fiscaux. Nous utilisons ces données pour modéliser statistiquement les différences dans les parcours d'études postsecondaires suivis par plus de 33 000 élèves du TDSB. Nos analyses mettent en évidence des différences statistiquement significatives dans la probabilité que les étudiants handicapés et non handicapés empruntent certains itinéraires d'études postsecondaires. Cependant, ces différences diminuent considérablement une fois que nous contrôlons les facteurs liés au niveau secondaire (par exemple, les résultats scolaires, l'absentéisme). Nous expliquons l'importance de ces résultats pour les chercheurs en stratification sociale et les décideurs politiques.

Phased Diploid Genome Sequence for the Fast-Growing Microalga Picochlorum celeri.

Picochlorum celeri is a fast-growing marine microalga with high biomass productivity. Here, we report the use of PacBio sequencing to assemble the phased diploid genome of P. celeri.

Increasing person-centred care in paediatrics.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric patients (PPs) often feel that they are not involved in care and treatment decisions. Although training clinicians may help, there is a lack of evaluated training programmes specifically for work with PPs. The aim of this article is to evaluate 'Me first', a training programme aimed at improving clinicians' attitudes and communication skills when working with PPs. METHODS: A total of 69 clinicians attended 'Me first' training and completed questionnaires across three time points: (1) prior to attending the training; (2) at the end of the training; and (3) 4-6 weeks later. This included 14 medical staff, 29 nursing staff and 26 allied health staff. Attitude was measured using the Leeds Attitudes to Concordance II (LATCon II) scale, and communication skills were measured using the Effective Listening and Interactive Communication Scale (ELICS). RESULTS: Overall, clinicians reported that their attitude and communication skills improved after attending 'Me first'. This was maintained 4-6 weeks later. Subgroup analysis showed that allied health staff did not maintain the improved attitude at the follow-up conducted 4-6 weeks later. Subgroup analysis showed that allied health staff did not maintain the improved attitude at the follow-up conducted 4-6 weeks later CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that 'Me first' may be helpful in improving clinician attitudes and communication skills with PPs. Further research should examine whether PPs report higher levels of communication and decision making with clinicians who have attended training.

The mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes of the green alga Haematococcus are made up of nearly identical repetitive sequences.

The chlamydomonadalean green alga Haematococcus lacustris (strain UTEX 2505) has the largest chloroplast genome on record: 1352 kb with ∼90% non-coding DNA [1,2]. But what of the mitochondrial genome? Here we present sequencing, assembly, and analysis of the mitogenome that shows that it, too, is extremely expanded. What's more, the same repetitive elements have spread throughout the mitochondrial and chloroplast (or plastid) DNA (mtDNA and ptDNA, respectively), resulting in the situation whereby these two distinct organelle genomes are made up of nearly identical sequences.

Next-Generation Sequencing of Haematococcus lacustris Reveals an Extremely Large 1.35-Megabase Chloroplast Genome.

Haematococcus lacustris is an industrially relevant microalga that is used for the production of the carotenoid astaxanthin. Here, we report the use of PacBio long-read sequencing to assemble the chloroplast genome of H. lacustris strain UTEX:2505. At 1.35 Mb, this is the largest assembled chloroplast of any plant or alga known to date.

Complete Genome Sequence of the Model Oleaginous Alga Nannochloropsis gaditana CCMP1894.

The model oleaginous alga Nannochloropsis gaditana was completely sequenced using a combination of optical mapping and next-generation sequencing technologies to generate one of the most complete eukaryotic genomes published to date. The assembled genome is 30.7 Mb long.

Axillary Artery Deployment of Endovascular Aortic Repair Iliac Limb for Preservation of Internal Iliac Artery Blood Flow.

The axillary artery approach has been used for access for complex endovascular aortic procedures such as thoracic endovascular aortic repair with poor anatomy for traditional deployment as well as for fenestrated and branched abdominal aortic endografts. We report the first case of an iliac graft limb deployment through the axillary artery during an endovascular aortic repair for maintenance of anterograde internal iliac flow in a patient with a symptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm and chronic occlusion of both the external iliac and common femoral arteries.

Genome and phylogenetic analyses of Trypanosoma evansi reveal extensive similarity to T. brucei and multiple independent origins for dyskinetoplasty.

Two key biological features distinguish Trypanosoma evansi from the T. brucei group: independence from the tsetse fly as obligatory vector, and independence from the need for functional mitochondrial DNA (kinetoplast or kDNA). In an effort to better understand the molecular causes and consequences of these differences, we sequenced the genome of an akinetoplastic T. evansi strain from China and compared it to the T. b. brucei reference strain. The annotated T. evansi genome shows extensive similarity to the reference, with 94.9% of the predicted T. b. brucei coding sequences (CDS) having an ortholog in T. evansi, and 94.6% of the non-repetitive orthologs having a nucleotide identity of 95% or greater. Interestingly, several procyclin-associated genes (PAGs) were disrupted or not found in this T. evansi strain, suggesting a selective loss of function in the absence of the insect life-cycle stage. Surprisingly, orthologous sequences were found in T. evansi for all 978 nuclear CDS predicted to represent the mitochondrial proteome in T. brucei, although a small number of these may have lost functionality. Consistent with previous results, the F1FO-ATP synthase γ subunit was found to have an A281 deletion, which is involved in generation of a mitochondrial membrane potential in the absence of kDNA. Candidates for CDS that are absent from the reference genome were identified in supplementary de novo assemblies of T. evansi reads. Phylogenetic analyses show that the sequenced strain belongs to a dominant group of clonal T. evansi strains with worldwide distribution that also includes isolates classified as T. equiperdum. At least three other types of T. evansi or T. equiperdum have emerged independently. Overall, the elucidation of the T. evansi genome sequence reveals extensive similarity of T. brucei and supports the contention that T. evansi should be classified as a subspecies of T. brucei.

What have our patients learnt after being hospitalised for an acute myocardial infarction?

BACKGROUND: Education for hospitalised patients is an important aspect of care for people who have an acute cardiovascular event. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cardiovascular risk factor behaviours of patients together with their acute coronary syndrome (ACS) knowledge, attitudes and beliefs following admission to hospital for an acute myocardial infarction. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with an acute myocardial infarction participated in an observational study. Patients completed a questionnaire consisting of cardiovascular risk factor behaviour questions and the ACS Response Index prior to discharge and at follow-up 10 weeks later. RESULTS: Of the 135 participants enrolled, 114 (84%) completed follow-up, 70% were males; mean age was 63 (± 11.6) years. The median length of hospital stay was 3 days (IQR 1) and the time to follow-up after discharge was 10 weeks. Self-reported risk factor behaviours improved significantly for diet (p < 0.001) and smoking cessation (p = 0.023) following discharge. At discharge 39% of patients had inadequate knowledge of ACS symptoms. The ACS Response Index improved significantly after discharge for attitudes (p = 0.004) and beliefs (p = 0.008). Despite 85% of patients indicating they would attend cardiac rehabilitation only 30% had commenced a programme at follow-up. CONCLUSION: Patients reported implementing a number of healthy lifestyle changes following discharge including smoking cessation and healthy eating. Attitudes and beliefs regarding ACS showed a significant improvement following discharge. More than one third of patients had inadequate knowledge at discharge, suggesting current education practices may not be meeting the needs of patients with a myocardial infarction.

A thermostable L-aminoacylase from Thermococcus litoralis: cloning, overexpression, characterization, and applications in biotransformations.

A thermostable L-aminoacylase from Thermococcus litoralis was cloned, sequenced, and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The enzyme is a homotetramer of 43 kDa monomers and has an 82% sequence identity to an aminoacylase from Pyrococcus horikoshii and 45% sequence identity to a carboxypeptidase from Sulfolobus solfataricus. It contains one cysteine residue that is highly conserved among aminoacylases. Cell-free extracts of the recombinant enzyme were characterized and were found to have optimal activity at 85 degrees C in Tris-HCl at pH 8.0. The recombinant enzyme is thermostable, with a half-life of 25 h at 70 degrees C. Aminoacylase inhibitors, such as mono-tert-butyl malonate, had only a slight effect on activity. The enzyme was partially inhibited by EDTA and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, suggesting that the cysteine residue and a metal ion are important, but not essential, for activity. Addition of Zn2+ and Co2+ to the apoenzyme increased the enzyme activity, whereas Sn4+ and Cu2+ almost completely abolished enzyme activity. The enzyme was most specific for substrates containing N-benzoyl- or N-chloroacetyl-amino acids. preferring substrates containing hydrophobic, uncharged, or weakly charged amino acids such as phenylalanine, methionine, and cysteine.