University Of Florida Research Articles

552 Substance Abuse Research: Bench to Community (SARB2C) as a Model for Team Science

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: To present Substance Abuse Research: Bench to Community (SARB2C) as a model for team science both within and between institutions. Emerging from targeted efforts by the NIH to engage translational scientists in prominent public health issues, the initiative illustrates the benefits of bringing together researchers and trainees to share ideas. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: In 2019 a group was formed at University of Florida to discuss ongoing translational research in the area of substance abuse, including faculty, staff, and trainees from across the campus. The group was expanded in February 2022 to include domestic colleagues at the University of Kentucky as well as international collaborators at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. One-hour monthly meetings began in person but now take place virtually. Larger projects are discussed individually, focusing on opportunities for collaboration. Attendees also provide updates on their work, including proposals in development and manuscripts in process. This facilitates dialogue around the science, from the bench to the community, and connects people to advance team science. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: In light of the ongoing opioid epidemic and the public health threat of other emerging substances, collaboration among researchers in this area is essential to advance the science and explore real-world solutions. SARB2C demonstrates the benefit of connecting researchers across T0 to T4, and that of including trainees for invaluable experience. This environment fosters open discussion and creativity and helps break down the silos that impede science. A highlight from early in the group’s history was a visit from the Program Officer for the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute in February 2020. Since that time, multiple collaborations have resulted in grants submitted, such as P30 center grants and an innovative R61/R33, as well as numerous publications. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: A complex public health emergency like the opioid epidemic requires creativity and collaboration, from laboratory science to interventions in the community, putting it squarely within the sights of translational research. SARB2C will soon enter its fifth year of linking researchers and training the next generation of scientists.

Citizen Science and Urban Home Gardeners’ Attitudes Toward Gardening

Citizen science is a participatory research method that enlists community members as scientists to collect data at a scale that would not be possible for researchers on their own and in research contexts that are difficult for researchers to reach. Although the contribution of citizen science to scientific data collection is well-known, a new area of research investigates the impact that citizen science programs have on the citizen scientists. Gardening can support healthy dietary patterns, food access, and food system resilience in urban communities. Leveraging home gardening can be a good way for cooperative extension and community groups to support the health and wellbeing of their community members. However, to reap the health and community benefits of gardening, individuals need to adopt the behavior of gardening. In this study, researchers from University of Florida conducted a home gardening citizen science program between Mar 2022 and Jul 2022 for the purpose of assessing whether participating in a citizen science home gardening program increases the likelihood of participants’ future home gardening. Researchers used a matched pretest and posttest evaluation design to assess whether participation in this program affected the citizen scientists’ (n = 112) beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions of home gardening. Citizen science program participants improved their attitudes and beliefs about home gardening but had limited improvement in their self-efficacy about home gardening after participation in the program. A 1-year follow-up survey found that program participants had adopted new gardening behaviors and reported benefits of participating in the program beyond gardening. These results highlight the value of citizen science to facilitate intentions to home garden and show the importance of information and program support to ensure the success of program participants.

Associations between sleep health, negative reinforcement learning, and alcohol use among South Florida college students with elevated internalizing symptoms

Negative reinforcement is proposed to mediate associations between sleep and alcohol use, especially among people with depression and/or anxiety symptoms. Worse sleep (e.g., shorter duration, less efficiency, more irregular timing) exacerbates negative emotions, which alcohol may temporarily relieve. Not yet examined, we propose sleep indirectly impacts early stages of alcohol use via differences in negative reinforcement learning (NRL), since sleep impacts emotion, reward response, and learning. The current study aimed to replicate associations between sleep and alcohol use, test associations with NRL, and examine indirect associations between sleep health and alcohol use via NRL among 60 underage college students (ages 18-20 years, 77% female) varying in depression and anxiety symptoms. Participants wore Fitbit smartwatches and completed daily diaries measuring sleep and substance use for ∼14 days before completing two computer tasks assessing social (SNRL) and monetary (MNRL) negative reinforcement learning. Robust generalized linear models tested direct associations within the proposed model. SNRL performance was positively associated with alcohol use, but no other associations were observed. Statistical mediation models failed to indicate indirect effects of sleep on alcohol use via SNRL or MNRL performance. Post-hoc exploratory models examining depression and anxiety symptoms as moderators of direct associations indicated several interactions. Positive associations between sleep timing variability and alcohol use were weakened at higher anxiety symptom severity and stronger at higher depression symptom severity. The positive association between SNRL performance and alcohol use was also stronger at higher depression symptom severity. Among students with elevated depression symptoms, variable sleep timing and stronger SNRL performance were independently associated with more alcohol use, but indirect effects were not supported. Future research should replicate findings, confirm causality of interactions, and examine sleep timing and behavioral responses to negative social stimuli as targets for improving alcohol-related outcomes among underage college students with elevated depressive symptoms.

Comparative outcomes of open mesenteric bypass after a failed endovascular or open mesenteric revascularization for chronic mesenteric ischemia

IntroductionClinical practice guidelines have recommended an endovascular-first approach (ENDO) for the management of patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI), whereas an open mesenteric bypass (OMB) is proposed for subjects deemed to be poor ENDO candidates. However, the impact of a previous failed endovascular or open mesenteric reconstruction on a subsequent OMB is unknown. Accordingly, this study was designed to examine the results of a remedial OMB (R-OMB) after a failed ENDO or a primary OMB (P-OMB) for patients with recurrent CMI. MethodsAll patients who underwent an OMB from 2002 to 2022 at the University of Florida were reviewed. Outcomes after an R-OMB (ie, history of a failed ENDO or P-OMB) and P-OMB were compared. The primary end point was 30-day mortality, whereas secondary outcomes included complications, reintervention, and survival. The Kaplan-Meier methodology was used to estimate freedom from reintervention and all-cause mortality, whereas multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling identified predictors of death. ResultsA total of 145 OMB procedures (R-OMB, n = 48 [33%]; P-OMB, n = 97 [67%]) were analyzed. A majority of R-OMB operations were performed for a failed stent (prior ENDO, n = 39 [81%]; prior OMB, n = 9 [19%]). R-OMB patients were generally younger (66 ± 9 years vs P-OMB, 69 ± 11 years; P = .09) and had lower incidence of smoking exposure (29% vs P-OMB, 48%; P = .07); however, there were no other differences in demographics or comorbidities. R-OMB was associated with less intraoperative transfusion (0.6 units vs P-OMB, 1.4 units; P = .01), but there were no differences in conduit choice or bypass configuration.The overall 30-day mortality and complication rates were 7% (n = 10/145) and 53% (n = 77/145), respectively, with no difference between the groups. Notably, R-OMB had decreased cardiac (6% vs P-OMB, 21%; P < .01) and bleeding complication rates (2% vs P-OMB, 15%; P = .01). The freedom from reintervention (1 and 5 years: R-OMB: 95% ± 4%, 83% ± 9% vs P-OMB: 97% ± 2%, 93% ± 5%, respectively; log-rank P = .21) and survival (1 and 5 years: R-OMB: 82% ± 6%, 68% ± 9% vs P-OMB: 84% ± 4%, 66% ± 7%; P = .91) were similar. Independent predictors of all-cause mortality included new postoperative hemodialysis requirement (hazard ratio [HR], 7.4, 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1-17.3; P < .001), pulmonary (HR, 2.7, 95% CI, 1.4-5.3; P = .004) and cardiac (HR, 2.4, 95% CI, 1.1-5.1; P = .04) complications, and female sex (HR, 2.1, 95% CI, 1.03-4.8; P = .04). Notably, R-OMB was not a predictor of death. ConclusionsThe perioperative and longer-term outcomes for a remedial OMB after a failed intraluminal stent or previous open bypass appear to be comparable to a P-OMB. These findings support the recently updated clinical practice guideline recommendations for an endovascular-first approach to treating recurrent CMI due to the significant perioperative complication risk of OMB. However, among the subset of patients deemed ineligible for endoluminal reconstruction after failed mesenteric revascularization, R-OMB results appear to be acceptable and highlight the utility of this strategy in selected patients.

Mentoring Minority Cancer Researchers of Tomorrow: Comparison of the Face-to-Face, Virtual, and Hybrid Training Methods of the CaRE2 Summer Cancer Research Education and Training Program.

In our previous publication, we reported a framework to develop an undergraduate cancer research training program at Florida A&M University (FAMU) under the umbrella of the Florida-California Cancer Research, Education, and Engagement (CaRE2) Health Equity Center activity by harnessing the resources available at FAMU, the University of Florida (UF), and the University of Southern California (USC) Cancer Centers. The implementation of the CaRE2 face-to-face training platform was dramatically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic during the summer of 2020 and 2021 training periods. However, a concerted effort was made to restructure the face-to-face training model into virtual and hybrid training methods to maintain the continuity of the program during the pandemic. This article compared the three methods to identify the best platform for training URM students in cancer disparity research. The program's effectiveness was measured through motivation, experiences, and knowledge gained by trainees during and one year after the completion of the program. The results showed that the participants were highly positive in their feedback about the professional and academic values of the program. Although the virtual and hybrid methods experienced significant challenges during the pandemic, the hybrid training module offered an "above average" effectiveness in performance, like the face-to-face mentoring platform in mentoring URM students in cancer disparity research.

Abstract 1008: Pilot evaluation of an online course for primary care providers on preparing patients for cancer discussions with their oncologists

Abstract Introduction: Cancer clinical trial (CCT) accrual is only 5-8%, and barriers to participate can be more acute for underserved groups. Enrollment of racial/ethnic minorities, older adults, adolescents, and young adults is not adequate to understand treatment outcomes unique to these populations. Education before seeing an oncologist can increase patients’ willingness to ask and consider receiving treatment through a CCT. Because primary care providers (PCPs) interact with patients during diagnosis, provide ongoing care, and are a trusted source of information, they can educate and normalize inquiries about therapeutic CCTs. The aim of this study was to pilot test an innovative, tailored online CCT course for PCPs. Methods: To participate, PCPs (MD, DO, NP, or PA) had to provide care in an outpatient setting, refer patients to a cancer treatment specialist in the past year, and be an English speaker residing in the U.S. or its territories. PCPs were recruited from Clinical Directors Network, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Florida. The 1-hour online course includes four modules hosted by a PCP and radiation oncologist with video segments of a CCT expert who summarized CCT recruitment research. Participants interact with patient scenarios and learn about the patient’s cancer diagnosis and medical/personal background. Videos of actors playing the roles of patient and doctor demonstrate communication skills taught in the course. PCPs completed short surveys prior to and immediately after completing the course. Results: 28 PCPs participated. PCPs were mainly MDs (88.9%), residents (17, 60.7%), White (46.4%), non-Hispanic/Latino (92.9%), and 50% women. Mean knowledge of CCTs scores (0-100%) increased significantly from pre (M=56.7, SD=17.5) to post (M=82.1, SD=12; p&amp;lt;.001) indicating that PCPs answered more true/false statements about CCTs correctly after training. Using a 1-5 scale with 5=strongly agree, PCPs’ attitudes and beliefs scores also increased significantly from pre (M=4.2, SD=.6) to post (4.7, SD=.4, p&amp;lt;.001) indicating that PCPs were more likely to agree they have a role in their patients’ cancer treatment, including CCTs, after training. Using the same scale, PCPs’ willingness to communicate about CCTs increased significantly from pre (M=4.4, SD= .5) to post (M=4.7, SD=.5, p=.007), indicating that PCPs were more willing to engage with patients diagnosed with cancer before referring them to a cancer specialist after training. Conclusions: Significant pilot findings in knowledge, attitudes and beliefs, and communication scores demonstrate that the online course was effective at educating PCPs about CCTs, and improving PCPs’ attitudes about the CCT referral process, and their willingness to engage in their patients’ cancer care. Future research will include a larger sample and explore the course’s impact on PCP’s referral behavior. Citation Format: Alyssa Crowe, Elisa S. Weiss, Margo Michaels, Domenic Durante, Maria Sae-Hau, Andrea Cassells, Carla L. Fisher, Jason Arnold, Taylor Vasquez, Ana Natale-Pereira, Raymond Mailhot, Zhongyue Zhang, Carma L. Bylund. Pilot evaluation of an online course for primary care providers on preparing patients for cancer discussions with their oncologists [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1008.

Estimating internal moisture generation rates in recently constructed, occupied homes in the southeastern United States

Internal moisture generation (IMG), or moisture generated by building occupants via activities such as respiration, cooking, bathing, and cleaning, is a critical input required for design, analysis, and simulation of building enclosure and HVAC systems. Based on previously published values, ASHRAE Standard 160-2021 provides guidance for estimating IMG rates for moisture control design analysis, which is based on occupied home datasets collected in the 1980s and 1990s. Residential energy use simulation software also utilizes estimates for IMG for energy rating, energy analysis, and code compliance calculations, as specified in ANSI/RESNET/ICC Standard 301. Data quantifying IMG rates in newer homes are useful in determining the continued relevance of current design and simulation guidance, and whether the guidance represents conditions found in new housing stock. ASHRAE Research Project 1844, conducted by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), a research institute of the University of Central Florida, estimated IMG rates in newer occupied homes built since 2013 in the southeastern United States using a moisture balance model approach. The project obtained occupied home data in cooperation with a U.S. Department of Energy Building America research project to characterize indoor air quality (IAQ) in newer U.S. homes, along with presence, functionality, and occupant use of control measures. Full-scale laboratory homes operating with known IMG rates were used to validate a moisture balance model and quantify the accuracy of estimates obtained when the model is applied to data from occupied homes with unknown IMG rates.

Block-wise dynamic mixed-precision for sparse matrix-vector multiplication on GPUs

Sparse matrix-vector multiplication (SpMV) plays a critical role in a wide range of linear algebra computations, particularly in scientific and engineering disciplines. However, the irregular memory access patterns, extensive memory usage, high bandwidth requirements, and underutilization of parallelism hinder the computational efficiency of SpMV on GPUs. In this paper, we propose a novel approach called block-wise dynamic mixed-precision (BDMP) to address these challenges. Our methodology involves partitioning the original matrix into uniformly sized blocks, with each block’s size determined by considering architectural characteristics and accuracy requirements. Additionally, we dynamically assign precision to each block using a precision selection method that takes into account the value distribution of the original sparse matrix. We develop two distinct SpMV computation algorithms for BDMP: BDMP-PBP (Precision-based partitioning) and BDMP-TCKI (Tailored compression and kernel implementation). BDMP-PBP partitions the matrix into two independent matrices for separate computations based on block precision, offering flexibility for integration with other optimization techniques. Meanwhile, BDMP-TCKI focuses on achieving significant thread-level parallelism and memory utilization by tailoring an appropriate compressed storage format and kernel implementation for each block. We compare BDMP with NVIDIA’s cuSPARSE library and three state-of-the-art SpMV methods, including SELLP, MergeBase, and BalanceCSR, using matrices from the University of Florida’s SuiteSparse dataset collection. BDMP-PBP and BDMP-TCKI show average speedups up to 2.64×\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ imes $$\\end{document} and 2.91×\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ imes $$\\end{document} on Turing RTX 2080Ti, and up to 2.99×\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ imes $$\\end{document} and 3.22×\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\ imes $$\\end{document} on Ampere A100. The results demonstrate that BDMP enables the optimization of computation speed without compromising the precision necessary for reliable results.

From Value Stream Mapping to Choreographic Tension Mapping: Preliminary Results and Insights from an Exploratory Study

ABSTRACT Value Stream Mapping (VSM), a lean manufacturing technique, is a process analysis approach that focuses on value and waste. This project explored the development and incorporation of a VSM-inspired tool to help dance composition students consider the value present in their choreography explicitly. The proposed Choreographic Tension Mapping (CTM) tool was incorporated into an upper-level dance composition course in the Dance Program in collaboration with the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Florida. Students used this tool multiple times throughout the semester. They responded to a set of prompts to reflect on their experience of using CTM and its impact on their creative processes. Students’ responses to one of the prompts were qualitatively analyzed. The preliminary findings demonstrated the potential benefits of the use of CTM to support the development of skills in choreographing, collaborating in a group, and giving constructive feedback in dance composition education.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Cerebral Palsy in Children With Congenital Heart Disease Based on Risk of Surgical Mortality

BackgroundChildren with congenital heart disease (CHD) have a higher prevalence of motor impairment secondary to brain injury, resulting in cerebral palsy (CP). The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of CP in CHD in a single-center cohort, stratify risk based on surgical mortality using Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (STAT) categories and identify risk factors. MethodsRetrospective cohort study of pediatric patients registered in the University of Florida (UF) Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery database from 2006 to 2017 with a diagnosis of CHD who continued follow-up for more than two years at UF. ResultsA total of 701 children with CHD met inclusion criteria. Children identified to have CP were 54 (7.7%). Most common presentation was spastic hemiplegic CP with a Gross Motor Function Classification System of level 2. Analysis of surgical and intensive care factors between the two groups showed that children with CHD and CP had longer time from admission to surgery (P = 0.003), higher STAT categories 4 and 5 (P = 0.038), and higher frequency of brain injury and seizures (P < 0.001). Developmental disabilities and rehabilitation needs were significantly greater for children with CHD and CP when compared with those with CHD alone (P < 0.001). ConclusionsIn our cohort, 7.7% children with CHD develop CP; this is significantly higher than the 2010 US population estimate of 0.3%. Our study suggests higher STAT categories, brain injury, and seizures are associated with developing CP in children with CHD.

NIDA on dramatic increase of mushroom seizures

From 2017 – 2022, law enforcement seizures across the United States of mushrooms containing psilocybin increased dramatically, according to a new study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The number of law enforcement seizures increased from 402 seizures in 2017 to 1,396 in 2022. In addition, the total weight of psilocybin mushrooms seized by law enforcement increased from 226 kg (498 lbs.) seized in 2017 compared with 844 kg (1,861 lbs.) in 2022. This analysis, published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, was led by researchers at New York University (NYU) Langone Health in New York City, and the University of Florida, Gainesville. The data used for the analysis were collected through the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, a grant program aimed at reducing drug trafficking and misuse administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Though law enforcement seizures do not necessarily reflect prevalence of use, they represent an indicator of the availability of illicit drugs. “We are in the middle of a rapidly evolving cultural, media, and legal landscape when it comes to psychedelics, and we need data to help shape informed and appropriate public health strategies,” said NIDA Director Nora D. Volkow, M.D., in announcing the research publication last week. “Moving forward, we must continue to track data on the availability of psychedelics, patterns in use, and associated health effects to guide efforts in promoting accurate education and reducing potential harms among people who do plan to use psychedelic drugs.” Adverse effects of psilocybin mushrooms, such as “bad trips,” are marked by “distorted thinking, perceptual changes, putting oneself in physical danger, and intense feelings of fear, anxiety, and confusion,” according to NIDA. “People who take psychedelic drugs like psilocybin may also experience short‐term side effects such as raised blood pressure and heart rate, agitation, confusion, vomiting, or nausea, which may be severe and require medical attention.” Joseph J. Palamar, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, co‐investigator on the NIDA‐funded National Drug Early Warning System (NDEWS), and lead author on the paper, said “Research studies suggesting its effectiveness in treating mental health issues and extensive positive media coverage may lead some people to seek ‘shrooms’ outside of medical contexts. People who use psilocybin outside of medical supervision need to be educated about risks associated with use.”

ECR Spotlight – Brendan Gibbs

ECR Spotlight is a series of interviews with early-career authors from a selection of papers published in Journal of Experimental Biology and aims to promote not only the diversity of early-career researchers (ECRs) working in experimental biology but also the huge variety of animals and physiological systems that are essential for the ‘comparative’ approach. Brendan Gibbs is an author on ‘ Kinematics and muscle activity of pectoral fins in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) station holding in turbulent flow’, published in JEB. Brendan is a PhD candidate in the lab of James C. Liao at the University of Florida, USA, investigating sensory processing and adaptive motor control.

Social network analysis of the CaRE2 health equity center: Team science in full display.

Cancer health disparities that exist in the Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino/x communities are scientific challenges, yet there are limited team science approaches to mitigate these challenges. This article's purpose is to evaluate the team science collaborations of the National Institutes of Health-funded Florida-California Cancer Research, Education & Engagement (CaRE2 ) Center partnership underscoring the inclusion of multidisciplinary team members and future under-represented minority (URM) cancer researchers. To understand our collaborative efforts, we conducted a social network analysis (SNA) of the CaRE2 Center partnership among University of Florida, Florida A&M University, and University of Southern California with data collected via the dimensions.ai application programming interface. We downloaded metadata for all publications associated with dimensions.ai IDs. The CaRE2 collaboration network increased over time as evidenced by accruing more external collaborators and more publishing of collaborative works. Degree centrality of key personnel was stable in each wave of the networks. CaRE2 key personnel averaged a total of 60.8 collaborators in 2018-2019 (SD = 57.4, minimum = 3, maximum = 221), and 65.8 collaborators in 2020-2021 (SD = 56.06, minimum = 4, maximum = 222). Betweenness was largely stable across all groups and waves. We observed a steady decline in transitivity, the probability that a pair of CaRE2 co-authors shared a third co-author, from 0.74 in 2018 to 0.47 in 2022. The SNA findings suggest that the CaRE2 Center partnership's publications show growth in team science collaborations with the inclusion of multidisciplinary team members from the three partner institutions and future URM cancer researchers who were mentored as trainees and early-stage investigators.

Campus Voting During the COVID-19 Pandemic

How did the pandemic impact turnout of young voters living in university communities? Leveraging the mandatory vacating of Florida college students living on campuses and drawing on administrative data from Florida’s voter file, we argue that on-campus registered young voters who had to leave their university housing in the days prior to Florida’s 2020 Presidential Preference Primary (PPP) were less likely to turn out compared to adjacent off-campus young voters because they lost the opportunity to cast early in-person and Election Day ballots. Using a difference-in-differences (DiD) design, we find that on-campus students, in part because they had early and Election Day voting available to them on campus in the 2020 general election, were more likely than comparable off-campus student-aged registered voters to cast ballots in the November election. Our study has important implications for academic debates concerning the turnout effects of convenience voting reforms and the ability of voters to cast ballots prior to Election Day.

Promoting Student Insight Into Communication Barriers With the Use of "Throwdowns".

By Karen S. Reed, DHSc, MSN, RN, CNE, CRRN, CNL, University of Florida College of Nursing, Gainesville, [email protected]. The author declares no conflict of interest.

A single-institutional experience with 36 children less than 5 kilograms supported with the Berlin Heart: Comparison of congenital versus acquired heart disease.

We reviewed outcomes in all 36 consecutive children <5 kg supported with the Berlin Heart pulsatile ventricular assist device at the University of Florida, comparing those with acquired heart disease (n = 8) to those with congenital heart disease (CHD) (n = 28). The primary outcome was mortality. The Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests were used to assess group differences in long-term survival after ventricular assist device insertion. T-tests using estimated survival proportions were used to compare groups at specific time points. Of 82 patients supported with the Berlin Heart at our institution, 49 (49/82 = 59.76%) weighed <10 kg and 36 (36/82 = 43.90%) weighed <5 kg. Of 36 patients <5 kg, 26 (26/36 = 72.22%) were successfully bridged to transplantation. (The duration of support with ventricular assist device for these 36 patients <5 kg was [days]: median = 109, range = 4-305.) Eight out of 36 patients <5 kg had acquired heart disease, and all eight [8/8 = 100%] were successfully bridged to transplantation. (The duration of support with ventricular assist device for these 8 patients <5 kg with acquired heart disease was [days]: median = 50, range = 9-130.) Twenty-eight of 36 patients <5 kg had congenital heart disease. Eighteen of these 28 [64.3%] were successfully bridged to transplantation. (The duration of support with ventricular assist device for these 28 patients <5 kg with congenital heart disease was [days]: median = 136, range = 4-305.) For all 36 patients who weighed <5 kg: 1-year survival estimate after ventricular assist device insertion = 62.7% (95% confidence interval = 48.5-81.2%) and 5-year survival estimate after ventricular assist device insertion = 58.5% (95% confidence interval = 43.8-78.3%). One-year survival after ventricular assist device insertion = 87.5% (95% confidence interval = 67.3-99.9%) in acquired heart disease and 55.6% (95% confidence interval = 39.5-78.2%) in CHD, P = 0.036. Five-year survival after ventricular assist device insertion = 87.5% (95% confidence interval = 67.3-99.9%) in acquired heart disease and 48.6% (95% confidence interval = 31.6-74.8%) in CHD, P = 0.014. Pulsatile ventricular assist device facilitates bridge to transplantation in neonates and infants weighing <5 kg; however, survival after ventricular assist device insertion in these small patients is less in those with CHD in comparison to those with acquired heart disease.

Registration of ‘CP 15‐2516’ sugarcane for organic soils in Florida

Abstract‘CP 15‐2516’ (Reg. no. CV‐215, PI 703029) sugarcane cultivar, a complex hybrid of Saccharum spp., was developed jointly by USDA‐ARS, the University of Florida, and the Florida Sugar Cane League. CP 15‐2516 was released in June 2022 for commercial cultivation on the Florida organic (muck) soils due to its high cane and sucrose yields, commercial recoverable sucrose (CRS), and economic index (EI). CP 15‐2516 originated from CPX13‐1630, a cross between a female parent (CP 95‐1039) and a male parent (‘CP 06‐2400’). CP 15‐2516 is resistant to brown rust, orange rust, and Sugarcane mosaic virus strain E. CP 15‐2516 harbors the Bru1 marker associated with brown rust resistance. CP 15‐2516 is moderately resistant to leaf scald and ratoon stunt disease, smut, and yellow leaf. Based on the results of three harvest cycles over five locations in Stage 4 on muck soils, cane and sucrose yields of CP 15‐2516 were 10.48% (181.31 Mg ha−1) and 11.49% (18.62 Mg ha−1) respectively, higher (P &lt; .05) than those of the reference cultivar ‘CP 96‐1252’. Compared with CP 96‐1252, the EI of CP 15‐2516 was significantly (P &lt; .05) higher by 15% (3233 ha−1). The mean cane fiber content of CP 15‐2516 was 138.7 kg Mg−1 and was 1% to 8% higher than the reference cultivars (‘CP 00‐1101’, CP 96‐1252, and ‘CPCL 05‐1201’). CP 15‐2516 flowers intermittently during January in Florida's climate. CP 15‐2516 has a better freeze tolerance than commercial reference cultivars CP 00‐1101 and CP 96‐1252. CP 15‐2516 is expected to positively contribute to the profitability and sustainability of the Florida sugarcane industry.

Longitudinal changes of swallowing safety and efficiency in infants with spinal muscular atrophy who received disease modifying therapies.

Dysphagia is a common feature of the natural history of patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Literature regarding swallowing safety and efficiency is scarce in patients with SMA, particularlyin the era of newborn screening programs and disease-modifying therapies. To describe the longitudinal changes of swallowing safety and efficiency in children with SMA who received one or more disease modifying therapies METHODS: Case series of patients with SMA followed at the University of Florida from 1 May 2019 to 31 December 2022 who had two or more videofluoroscopy swallowing studies (VFSS), with the first being within 30 days of their first treatment. Data extracted from the electronic health record included: neuromotor outcomes, VFSS penetration aspiration scores (PAS), presence of abrnormal oral or pharyngeal residue, clinical history, and timing of disease-modifying therapies administration. Seven subjects were included (five male); three were diagnosed via newborn screen. Median age at diagnosis was 10 days (range: 4-250). Median age at initial VFSS was 29 days (range: 9-246), and age at the last VFSS was 26.1 months (range: 18.2-36.2). All subjects received onasemnogene-abeparvovec (OA); four received additional therapies. PAS at diagnosis was abnormal in four subjects. Six subjects required feeding modifications after VFSS results. Of these, three had silent aspiration (PAS 8) and three of them improved after treatment. Swallowing safety and efficiency can be impaired in patients with SMA despite early treatment. Larger, prospective studies are needed to define optimal timiing of longitudinal instrumental evaluations.

Methods of biotechnology Biotech BioBrawl: A competition-based learning approach to biotechnology.

Biotechnology students entering the workforce often struggle in their application of textbook knowledge to build the solutions that we see in science and health fields today. Some students may be naive to what a job in the biotechnology industry can encompass. Students should graduate having a firm grasp of the prospects of their field and have the confidence to begin contributing to the growth of the industry. For this, it is necessary for students to be able to start practising applications in their coursework before they graduate. A competition titled "Biotech BioBrawl" was incorporated in the University of Central Florida's Methods in Biotechnology (MCB4721C/MCB5722C) course agenda during the semester of Fall 2021. This competition challenged students to harness innovation and applied science in a group setting that led to the development and pitch of an original idea to a panel of judges with various biotechnology industry experiences.

Nutrition of Florida lawns when summer fertilizer blackout period is enforced

AbstractIn Florida, multiple counties restrict the application of N to turfgrass and landscapes during the summer rainy season. These summer fertilizer blackout periods could impact turfgrass quality and the functionality of warm‐season turfgrass species. A 2‐year study was conducted at the University of Florida's Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center (FLREC) and West Florida Research and Education Center (WFREC) to assess turfgrass performance of ‘Floratam’ and ‘Classic’ St. Augustinegrass [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze] as well as ‘Empire’ and ‘Palisades’ zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.), respectively, receiving no N fertilization during summer blackout period using eight fertilization programs compared to an unfertilized control. Visual quality, normalized difference vegetation index, percentage green cover, and dark green color index were assessed biweekly. Roots were collected before and after the fertilizer blackout period to determine root dry weight. While no differences were detected in St. Augustinegrass at the FLREC and zoysiagrass at the WFREC, all fertilized treatments except urea reached and maintained an acceptable turfgrass quality (≥6) throughout the blackout period, suggesting that urea by itself was not sufficient to support an optimal turfgrass performance during a fertilizer blackout period. The addition of P to nutrition programs did not influence turfgrass quality. Results indicate that N source is the most important factor to sustain turfgrass quality year‐round in Florida.