Genome-Wide Association Study and Pathway-Level Analysis of Kernel Color in Maize.

Rapid development and adoption of biofortified, provitamin A-dense orange maize (Zea mays L.) varieties could be facilitated by a greater understanding of the natural variation underlying kernel color, including as it relates to carotenoid biosynthesis and retention in maize grain. Greater abundance of carotenoids in maize kernels is generally accompanied by deeper orange color, useful for distinguishing provitamin A-dense varieties to consumers. While kernel color can be scored and selected with high-throughput, low-cost phenotypic methods within breeding selection programs, it remains to be well established as to what would be the logical genetic loci to target for selection for kernel color. We conducted a genome-wide association study of maize kernel color, as determined by colorimetry, in 1,651 yellow and orange inbreds from the Ames maize inbred panel. Associations were found with y1, encoding the first committed step in carotenoid biosynthesis, and with dxs2, which encodes the enzyme responsible for the first committed step in the biosynthesis of the isoprenoid precursors of carotenoids. These genes logically could contribute to overall carotenoid abundance and thus kernel color. The lcyE and zep1 genes, which can affect carotenoid composition, were also found to be associated with colorimeter values. A pathway-level analysis, focused on genes with a priori evidence of involvement in carotenoid biosynthesis and retention, revealed associations for dxs3 and dmes1, involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis; ps1 and vp5, within the core carotenoid pathway; and vp14, involved in cleavage of carotenoids. Collectively, these identified genes appear relevant to the accumulation of kernel color

The devices, experimental scaffolds, and biomaterials ontology (DEB): a tool for mapping, annotation, and analysis of biomaterials' data

The size and complexity of the biomaterials literature makes systematic data analysis an excruciating manual task. A practical solution is creating databases and information resources. Implant design and biomaterials research can greatly benefit from an open database for systematic data retrieval. Ontologies are pivotal to knowledge base creation, serving to represent and organize domain knowledge. To name but two examples, GO, the gene ontology, and CheBI, Chemical Entities of Biological Interest ontology and their associated databases are central resources to their respective research communities. The creation of the devices, experimental scaffolds, and biomaterials ontology (DEB), an open resource for organizing information about biomaterials, their design, manufacture, and biological testing, is described. It is developed using text analysis for identifying ontology terms from a biomaterials gold standard corpus, systematically curated to represent the domain's lexicon. Topics covered are validated by members of the biomaterials research community. The ontology may be used for searching terms, performing annotations for machine learning applications, standardized meta-data indexing, and other cross-disciplinary data exploitation. The input of the biomaterials community to this effort to create data-driven open-access research tools is encouraged and welcomed.Preprin

Synopsis of the genus Cinnamomum Schaeffer (Lauraceae) in India

A checklist of the genus Cinnamomum in India is presented including nomenclature, a brief description, details of the publications where the detailed description and illustration of the species appeared, phenology, distribution of the species within and outside India and IUCN threat status. A total of 45 taxa (43 species and two infraspecific taxa) have been recorded here based on available information. Twenty-four taxa are found to be endemic to India. Kerala in Peninsular India records the largest number of 24 taxa and may be considered as hotspot area for this genus. The genus possesses the greatest phytogeographical affinity to China with 13 species

Clinical Efforts Double Disparity for Nonphysician URiM Faculty: Implications for Academic Family Medicine

With a new definition of high-quality primary care and the shift in nonphysician faculty’s role as core faculty members in family medicine residency programs, new attention is needed on the delineation of clinical efforts and clinical efforts disparities across disciplines (eg, psychology, marriage and family therapy, pharmacy) within departments of family medicine. Additionally, those who identify as underrepresented in medicine (URiM), specifically those who are nonphysician faculty, are dually impacted by the clinical efforts double disparity. This paper examines the current landscape of clinical efforts in academic family medicine for physician faculty and nonphysician faculty as well as discusses how to build equity in clinical efforts for nonphysician faculty and URiM faculty within academic family medicine impacted by the double disparity

Unveiling genetic diversity in teak (Tectona grandis L. f.) accessions through ISSR profiling

The present study focuses on understanding the genetic diversity among the selected teak accessions using Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Genomic DNA from ten selected teak accessions was extracted using a modified Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTAB) protocol, ensuring high quality and yield. ISSR primers were employed to amplify DNA fragments and resulting bands were visualized. Banding patterns were analyzed to determine the presence of alleles and polymorphism. The study revealed significant genetic diversity among teak accessions, with 212 alleles identified, of which 199 were polymorphic. Cluster analysis grouped accessions into three distinct clusters based on genetic relatedness, highlighting the influence of environmental factors and geographic location on teaks’ genetic variability. Cluster I comprised two accessions, A1 (Top slip-6) and A2 (Top slip-10) (Jaccards’ coefficient=0.361). Notably, A6 (Nellikutha-1) and A4 (Nedumkayam-2) show a close genetic relationship, sharing a common ancestry with A10 (Karulai) and finally, all three are linked with A7 (Nedumkayam-1), forming cluster II. Cluster III included two pairs of closely related accessions: A3(TC4)-A5(TC11) and A8(Nellikutha-2) - A9 (Shankaram-thode1). Neis’ genetic identity and distance indices provided further insights into the degree of genetic similarity and differentiation among accessions

Applying Bloom\u27s Taxonomy in Primary Care Behavioural Health Training

Bloom\u27s cognitive learning taxonomy is widely used in medical education. The revised taxonomy published by Kathwohl and colleagues describes the levels in action forms to support learner thinking: Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyse, Evaluate and Create. The taxonomy has been commonly used to design and structure educational goals and objectives. However, most uses occur at the course or rotation curriculum level, whereas applying the taxonomy at the level of individual educational activities remained limited. This article addresses this limitation by applying the taxonomy in daily clinical teaching in Primary Care Behavioural Health education by providing practical clinical teaching examples and encourages its use in such real-life primary care learning contexts. Particularly, this article will provide clinical educators with a roadmap on teaching in primary care that takes into account the complexity of the patient and presenting concerns

Interdisciplinary Integrated Primary and Behavioral Healthcare (I2PBH) Initiative: Establishing a Multidisciplinary and Innovative Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) Certificate Training Program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Purpose: The Interdisciplinary Integrated Primary and Behavioral Healthcare (I2PBH) Initiative aims to establish a Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) certificate pathway that equips the next generation of behavioral health professionals to provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and population-based care. By leveraging evidence-based PCBH Integrated Care, the program addresses critical challenges in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), such as limited access to behavioral health services and increasing behavioral health disparities. This initiative actively promotes health equity by building a sustainable workforce pipeline prepared to serve medically underserved populations and reduce behavioral healthcare disparities in the RGV. Description: Established in 2019, the I2PBH initiative trains up to six graduate students annually from four mental health disciplines, emphasizing foundational and advanced clinical skills of the PCBH model. The PCBH Certificate Program is a 12‐hour program that trains students to provide behavioral health care in medical settings. This pathway prepares students to serve as Behavioral Health Consultants (BHCs) in primary care settings, meeting practicum and internship requirements. To date, the program has successfully trained a total of 23 program alumni and 11 current and new trainees. Key components of the program include trauma-informed, culturally adaptive coursework, such as Foundations of Integrated Behavioral Health and Clinical Skills for the BHC. Advanced clinical supervision and training incorporate mixed-reality simulations and asynchronous distance learning via virtual platforms like Blackboard and Zoom. This approach focuses on PCBH-specific competencies while providing concurrent primary-care-focused clinical experiences and equips students to deliver evidence-based behavioral healthcare in medically underserved communities while fostering trauma-informed and culturally sensitive care. Furthermore, the program’s target population also includes medically underserved communities in the RGV, where students gain hands-on experience addressing healthcare disparities through supervised clinical placements. Specialized coursework, including a focus on Latino Health Issues in Integrated Behavioral Health, further equips trainees to address the unique cultural and health needs of the region. Partners: The I2PBH initiative partners with the departments of Family Medicine, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, and Rehabilitation Counseling at UTRGV to facilitate interdisciplinary training and curriculum development. Additionally, the program coordinates training opportunities for training with three Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Primary Care Clinics and one mobile clinic, located within Hidalgo, Starr, Cameron, and Willacy counties in the Rio Grande Valley. Looking Ahead: The I2PBH Initiative is committed to expanding its reach and impact in the coming years. Future goals include increasing student enrollment, developing additional coursework tailored to emerging behavioral health challenges, and strengthening collaborations with teams of interdisciplinary providers across the nation. By continuing to foster a workforce skilled in trauma-informed and culturally adaptive care, the I2PBH Initiative seeks to make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of communities in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond

Promoting Resident Well-Being through the Fortify Resilience Initiative: Exploring the Impact of Wellness Interventions on Psychological Outcomes in Graduate Medical Education and Beyond

Background: The Fortify Resilience Initiative (FRI) is focused on building and sustaining a culture of well-being for Residents and Fellows (R/Fs) at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of Medicine (SOM) Graduate Medical Education (GME) residency and fellowship programs. The current literature underscores the pressing need to address the mental health and well-being of medical residents and fellows, who face heightened risks of burnout and psychological distress. These challenges are particularly acute in underserved regions like the Rio Grande Valley, where healthcare workforce shortages exacerbate health disparities. By promoting the well-being of medical residents and fellows, the goals of FRI are to promote the resilience of the healthcare workforce, improve care quality, and contribute to advancing health equity. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the FRI well-being services by investigating the relationship between service participation and psychological outcomes (i.e., psychological flexibility, self-compassion, resilience, and burnout) and identify factors associated with service utilization. Methods: This cross-sectional study included participants from UTRGV SOM GME residency and fellowship programs across all specialty areas. Online surveys were disseminated to 140 past and current UTRGV SOM GME R/Fs via Qualtrics. Currently, 50 R/Fs have responded to the survey (35.71% response rate). The survey collected demographic data (i.e., age, gender, race, income, relationship status, number child dependents), program characteristics (i.e., specialty, year of residency), and awareness and utilization rates of wellness services. Psychological flexibility, self-compassion, resilience, and burnout were measured using validated instruments. Additionally, single-item measures were used to assess R/Fs perceived social support, mental health, and physical health. The survey took participants approximately 15 minutes to complete. R/Fs who completed the survey received a $20 gift card via Tango. Results: Preliminary findings indicate high awareness of FRI services among residents (\u3e85%) and varied participation rates across service types. Early descriptive analyses indicate trends toward higher psychological flexibility, resilience, and self-compassion among residents utilizing FRI wellness services. Detailed descriptive, correlational, and inferential analyses are ongoing, with results expected to highlight significant relationships between service participation and measures of psychological well-being. Conclusions: The Fortify Resilience Initiative contributes to promoting health equity by addressing the well-being of medical residents and fellows who serve underserved communities. By enhancing psychological resilience and reducing burnout, this initiative supports the development of a sustainable healthcare workforce equipped to meet the needs of diverse populations. Preliminary findings suggest that participation in wellness services may positively impact key psychological outcomes, underscoring the importance of integrating such services into residency programs. This study highlights the role of resident well-being in advancing health equity and eliminating health disparities in regions with significant healthcare access challenges. Ongoing analyses will provide actionable insights for improving resident wellness and fostering equity-driven healthcare practices

Numerical Studies on Thrust Augmentation in High Area Ratio Rocket Nozzles by Secondary Injection

Single stage to orbit propulsion devices are being developed as part of low cost access to space endeavors. Sea level operation of high area ratio rocket nozzle used in rocket engines leads to an overexpanded flow condition resulting in high side loads. Secondary injection of propellants in high area ratio nozzle is an attractive option to overcome the inefficiency of operation of such nozzles in sea level conditions in addition to the augmentation of thrust. A numerical study on thrust augmentation in high area ratio nozzle by secondary injection of propellants is presented here. The turbulent compressible reacting flow in rocket nozzle with auxiliary injection is simulated using conservation equations for chemical species based on finite rate chemistry model and compressible Navier-Stokes equations with AUSM+-up upwind scheme based unstuctured finite volume solver. An optimized eight step, six species reduced H2-O2finite chemistry reaction model is used to model the supersonic combustion. The indigenously developed solver has an efficient rescaling algorithm to alleviate the effect of stiffness in conventional explicit algorithm for simultaneous solution of reacting flow. The code is validated using the wall pressure and hydrogen concentration values reported for the similar high area ratio rocket nozzle. Accurate prediction of nozzle performance is possible with present turbulent reacting flow simulation as it take care of all losses in nozzle flow. Extensive computations have been performed for the performance estimation of high area ratio rocket nozzle for various prospective auxiliary injection options