Protein Coronas on Functionalized Nanoparticles Enable Quantitative and Precise Large-Scale Deep Plasma Proteomics.

Background: The wide dynamic range of circulating proteins coupled with the diversity of proteoforms present in plasma has historically impeded comprehensive and quantitative characterization of the plasma proteome at scale. Automated nanoparticle (NP) protein corona-based proteomics workflows can efficiently compress the dynamic range of protein abundances into a mass spectrometry (MS)-accessible detection range. This enhances the depth and scalability of quantitative MS-based methods, which can elucidate the molecular mechanisms of biological processes, discover new protein biomarkers, and improve comprehensiveness of MS-based diagnostics. Methods: Investigating multi-species spike-in experiments and a cohort, we investigated fold-change accuracy, linearity, precision, and statistical power for the using the Proteograph™ Product Suite, a deep plasma proteomics workflow, in conjunction with multiple MS instruments. Results: We show that NP-based workflows enable accurate identification (false discovery rate of 1%) of more than 6,000 proteins from plasma (Orbitrap Astral) and, compared to a gold standard neat plasma workflow that is limited to the detection of hundreds of plasma proteins, facilitate quantification of more proteins with accurate fold-changes, high linearity, and precision. Furthermore, we demonstrate high statistical power for the discovery of biomarkers in small- and large-scale cohorts. Conclusions: The automated NP workflow enables high-throughput, deep, and quantitative plasma proteomics investigation with sufficient power to discover new biomarker signatures with a peptide level resolution.

Short-range multispectral imaging is an inexpensive, fast, and accurate approach to estimate biodiversity in a temperate calcareous grassland.

Image sensing technologies are rapidly increasing the cost-effectiveness of biodiversity monitoring efforts. Species differences in the reflectance of electromagnetic radiation can be used as a surrogate estimate plant biodiversity using multispectral image data. However, these efforts are often hampered by logistical difficulties in broad-scale implementation. Here, we investigate the utility of multispectral imaging technology from commercially available unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones) in estimating biodiversity metrics at a fine spatial resolution (0.1-0.5 cm pixel resolution) in a temperate calcareous grassland in Oxfordshire, UK. We calculate a suite of moments (coefficient of variation, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis) for the distribution of radiance from multispectral images at five wavelength bands (Blue 450 ± 16 nm; Green 560 ± 16 nm; Red 650 ± 16 nm; Red Edge 730 ± 16 nm; Near Infrared 840 ± 16 nm) and test their effectiveness at estimating ground-truthed biodiversity metrics from in situ botanical surveys for 37-1 × 1 m quadrats. We find positive associations between the average coefficient of variation in spectral radiance and both the Shannon-Weiner and Simpson's biodiversity indices. Furthermore, the average coefficient of variation in spectral radiance is consistent and highly repeatable across sampling days and recording heights. Positive associations with biodiversity indices hold irrespective of the image recording height (2-8 m), but we report reductions in estimates of spectral diversity with increases to UAV recording height. UAV imaging reduced sampling time by a factor of 16 relative to in situ botanical surveys. We demonstrate the utility of multispectral radiance moments as an indicator of biodiversity in this temperate calcareous grassland at a fine spatial resolution using a widely available UAV monitoring system with a coarse spectral resolution. The use of UAV technology with multispectral sensors has far-reaching potential to provide cost-effective and high-resolution monitoring of biodiversity.

Adverse childhood experiences and interpersonal violence among college students: does a relationship exist?

OBJECTIVE: Previous research has found women who experience eight or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are 3.5 times as likely to be victims of adult IPV. This study examined the relationship between ACEs and IPV (physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and stalking) among college students. PARTICIPANTS: This study was conducted among undergraduate students (N = 2,900) at two large, non-profit, public universities in the United States. METHODS: Students completed a web-based survey addressing self-reported ACEs and violence that occurred within the current academic year. Chi-square tests and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between ACEs and violence. RESULTS: College students with higher ACE scores were more likely to experience violence. Students with ACE scores of four or higher were between 1.9-4.9 times more likely to experience violence. A dose response relationship was found between ACE score and experiences of violence. CONCLUSIONS: Campus violence prevention programs may benefit from incorporating discussion of ACEs into programing.

Understanding Lung Cancer Resources and Barriers Among Worksites With Mostly Male Employees in Eight Rural Kentucky Counties: A Focus Group Discussion.

Kentucky has the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the United States, and lung cancer is Kentucky's leading cause of cancer deaths. Males in Kentucky have higher lung incidence and mortality rates than females. Through support from the SelfMade Health Network, Kentucky developed a Regional Resource Lead Organization that collaboratively developed a multi-component worksite intervention on lung cancer among male populations. The intervention targets eight Kentucky counties. The first component and focus of this manuscript included focus group meetings with organizational representatives in each county that provide health, educational, and social services to men and worksites. The focus groups discussed four distinct areas: (a) lung cancer-related resources and services in each county; (b) perceived ways men in worksites learn about and access health-related services; (c) identification of potential challenges and barriers to reaching men in worksites; and (d) creation of linkages and potential partnerships between community organizations and worksites. Forty-five organizational representatives participated in the eight focus groups. Most resources and services discussed were related to tobacco treatment. Employers were the most commonly perceived way men learn about and access health-related services, while attitudes and behaviors were the most commonly perceived barriers preventing men from accessing services. The most common potential linkages and partnerships across all areas were community organizations and groups, employers, health-care providers, and mass media. Partnering with employers may provide an opportunity to reach males with lung cancer prevention and control resources and services.

Previous cesarean delivery associated with subsequent preterm birth in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between previous cesarean delivery and subsequent preterm birth in the second pregnancy among women in the United States with registered birth records. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study utilizing United States birth certificate data to generate the study population, which consisted of women delivering a singleton infant in their second live birth (n = 1,076,517) in the year 2016. Preterm birth and previous cesarean delivery measures were derived from United States birth certificates. Covariates included maternal age, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, payer source for delivery, pre-pregnancy body mass index, previous preterm birth, interpregnancy interval, and factors in the second pregnancy such as hypertensive disorders, diabetes, and cigarette use, trimester prenatal care began, weight gain during pregnancy, and presence of congenital anomalies. Women who experienced a cesarean delivery in the first pregnancy were compared to those who did not. RESULTS: When controlling for all covariates, women who had a cesarean delivery in their first pregnancy were 14% more likely to have a preterm birth in their second pregnancy (OR = 1.137, 95% CI = 1.117-1.158) compared to women who had not previously experienced a cesarean delivery. When risk was analyzed by sub categories of preterm birth based on gestational age, a differential association was noted, with a 10% increased risk of delivering before 34 weeks, a 1% increased risk for delivery between 34-36 weeks and no increased risk for delivery after 36 weeks compared to delivery at 39-40 weeks. CONCLUSION: This small, but statistically significant association between previous cesarean section and subsequent preterm birth suggests that efforts to reduce the number of index cesarean sections may contribute to reducing the overall preterm birth rate in the United States.