University of Pittsburgh

Fire, fuel, and climate in the Great Basin from the Middle Holocene to present from the sediments of Blue Lake, NV

Abstract Continuous, high-resolution sedimentary records from the Great Basin are rare. By combining physical sedimentology with charcoal analysis to document changes in lake level and biomass burning, we explore the coevolution of climate and fire ecology over the past 7000 year...

Neighborhood Contemporary Redlining and Racial Mortgage Lending Bias and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Women With Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated neighborhood structural inequities are associated with cardiovascular outcomes among breast cancer survivors. We investigated the associations between bias in mortgage lending practices (contemporary redlining and racial lending bias) and car...

First-year medical student perceptions of urologic and robotic surgery following pilot hands-on robotic workshops

To explore first-year medical students’ perceptions of urology and robotic surgery following participation in hands-on robotic surgery workshops. Urology Interest Group hosted three separate workshops for first-year medical students, and surveys were administered retrospectively....

Associations between reduction of hypotension and treatment intensity in hypotension prediction index studies

BACKGROUND: The Hypotension Prediction Index (HPI) is developed for proactive prevention of hypotension and existing meta-analyses report reduced hypotension with HPI-guided management in comparison with a strategy based on MAP alerts of 65 mmHg. Still, validation studies suggest...

Understanding COVID-19 Vaccination Intention in Japan: The Influence of Individual Social Capital and Personal Beliefs on Vaccination

Background/Objectives: Vaccine hesitancy remains a significant public health challenge in Japan, particularly following the HPV vaccine suspension (2013–2022) that severely damaged vaccination trust. Although prior studies have linked individual social capital to vaccination beha...

Prenatal exposure to wildfire fine particulate matter and fetal growth outcomes in the United States: Findings from the ECHO Cohort

Background: Increasing exposure to wildfire fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) may pose unique risks to fetal development. We assessed associations between prenatal wildfire PM 2.5 exposure and fetal growth outcomes, including birth weight at term, birth weight for gestational age...

Medetomidine as a Fentanyl Adulterant: Pharmacology, Detection, Clinical Presentation, and Management

Abstract Purpose of Review Medetomidine is a veterinary α2-adrenergic agonist that has been an adulterant of illicitly manufactured opioids since 2022. We review its pharmacology, detection, intoxication, withdrawal, and management, and assess why severe withdrawal has emerged in...

In Silico Structure-Reactivity Analysis of Lignin-Derived Phenolics: O–H Bond Dissociation Enthalpies, Spin Delocalization, and a Propagator/Terminator Framework for Antifungal-Relevant Activity

Abstract Plant phenolics represent a prospective source of renewable antifungal drugs, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying their activity within the structurally varied phenolic components of natural products like wood vinegar remain ambiguous. Nine phenolic compounds from co...

Tozorakimab to Prevent COPD Exacerbations

BACKGROUND: Many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have exacerbations despite receiving standard-of-care inhaled maintenance therapy. Dysregulated interleukin-33 signaling is implicated in the pathogenesis of COPD. Tozorakimab is a monoclonal antibody tha...

A biodegradable polyurethane adhesive augments tendon–bone interface healing in a rat Achilles repair model

Aims: Surgical repair infrequently restores the native tendon-bone interface (TBI, also referred to as the enthesis), resulting in excessive scar formation, compromised biomechanics, and frequent re-tears. A simple, biodegradable surgical adjunct that supports tendon-bone healing...

Cryptographically Secured Machine Learning for Resilient Multi-Tier Supply Chains

As we move further into a more digital supply chain, we have seen tremendous improvements in terms of efficiency, but we have also seen a rise in the risks that data vulnerabilities pose, particularly for intermediary supply chain nodes. As a result, traditional security measures...

GENETIC AND PHARMACOLOGIC ACTIVATION OF BECLIN1 PREVENTSALDOSTERONE-INDUCED CARDIOVASCULAR DAMAGE

Aldosterone promotes endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular injury through mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activation. Autophagy is essential for endothelial homeostasis, yet its role in aldosterone-mediated vascular dysfunction remains unclear. We tested whether aldosterone...

Radiology considerations for the PREMIUM study: a multicenter randomized controlled trial of abbreviated MRI versus ultrasound for liver cancer screening in cirrhosis

Abstract This paper describes the rationale and radiology considerations in the implementation of the Preventing Liver Cancer Mortality through Imaging with Ultrasound versus MRI (PREMIUM) study. PREMIUM is a multicenter, randomized controlled trial sponsored by the Department of...

Steric control of signaling bias in the immunometabolic receptor GPR84

Abstract Biased signaling in G protein-coupled receptors offers therapeutic promise, yet rational design of biased ligands remains challenging due to limited mechanistic understanding. Here, we report a molecular basis for controlling signaling bias at the immunometabolic recepto...

Adaptive multi-scale attention-enhanced V-NET for accurate and efficient multi-shell diffusion MRI estimation

Multi-shell acquisition protocols sample diffusion signals at different b -values. While higher b -values (e.g., \(b = 2000\, \mathrm {s/mm^2}\) ) offer increased sensitivity to microstructural features, their acquisition is time-intensive and suffers from reduced signal-to-noise...

Unsupervised machine learning for placental disease using cell spatial organization

Artificial intelligence (AI) screening of placental slides and patient data uncovers decisive biomarkers, most notably decidual vasculopathy, that predict recurrent preeclampsia and adverse maternal–child outcomes 1–4 . Clinical adoption of such screening methods remains limited...

Greater D3-Creatine Muscle Mass and MRI Thigh Muscle Volume are Associated with Higher Bone Strength in Older Adults: Exploratory Findings in The Study of Muscle, Mobility and Aging (SOMMA)

Abstract Low bone mineral density (BMD) and impaired bone strength are established risk factors for fractures in older adults. Decreased muscle size also contributes to fracture risk, however, the relationship between muscle size and bone density, microarchitecture, and strength...

Assessment Is Not Assurance: Recommendation Homogeneity, the Execution Gap, and the Limits of the Security Assessment Market in IT and OT

Organizations spend billions per year on recurring security assessments: compliance audits, risk and maturity assessments, penetration tests, and advisory engagements. This paper tests the premise that assessment produces protection against three bodies of evidence. First, an ori...

Reproducibility, Replicability, and Research Quality in Homogeneous Catalysis

Abstract Researchers from all sectors of homogeneous catalysis convened in response to concerns regarding reproducibility in science to analyze the issue and provide recommendations. In addition to an in-person workshop, the group engaged the broader homogeneous catalysis communi...

Empowering Wind Energy Output Optimization: Comparative Assessment of Hybrid Artificial Intelligence Models Towards Wind Speed Forecasting Accuracy

Wind power forecasting is essential for the reliable and efficient operation of wind farms based on power grids, which is significantly important for stakeholders like wind farm owners, power pools, and power traders. Wind power prediction is also crucial for optimal power dispat...