BMC Research Notes

Background. Journal clubs (JCs) are a popular education format. Interest in studying their impact is high, and authors often report positive results related to subjective parameters. Objective assessments of effectiveness are limited and contradictory. In this paper, we share our experience and describe our journal club effectiveness. Methods. We conducted a prospective cohort study within our online journal club. Meetings followed a discussion-based format and were held via Zoom, with timing and topics determined by voting in the club Telegram chat. Enrolment occurred in waves and included an application, entry test, and interview. During each recruitment wave, both club members (treatment group) and applicants (control) completed an admission test assessing knowledge of evidence-based medicine and statistics. Results. The JC currently comprises 27 members. Over the past year, 76 meetings were held, with 75% of participants grading their experience with 9 or 10 on a ten-point scale. Multivariate analysis demonstrated non-significantly results (SMD = 0.19 (95% CI 0.004; 0.38), p = 0.046) among participants. However, in other adjusted models, differences between groups were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion. While the analysis of the subjective outcomes is consistent with findings from previous studies, the objective outcomes remain inconclusive. Further research is needed to refine the methodology for the organization and evaluation of journal clubs.

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWUnderstudied bacterial genera present a dynamic phylogenetic landscape and opportunities for discovering new taxa as more strains are isolated and genomic data is added. Here, through phylogenomic analysis, we describe three novel species of the globally distributed cosmopolitan marine bacterial genus Microbulbifer. This genus is ubiquitous in saltwater microbiomes and is a validated source of biodegradation enzymes as well as high value small molecule natural products. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) to the closest known species, Microbulbifer variabilis ATCC 700307T, was less than 88.4% for all three novel species. Isolates of the three novel species, designated as PAAF003T (T = type strain), ZKSA006T, and SSSA003T were imaged to reveal their phormological characteristics. Based on phylogenetic data, strains PAAF003T, ZKSA006T, and SSSA003T represent three new species of the genus Microbulbifer, for which the names Microbulbifer maximicatervae sp. nov., Microbulbifer regidiadema sp. nov., and Microbulbifer mixtoriginis sp. nov. are proposed, respectively, under the SeqCode. We also reconstructed a robust phylogeny of available Microbulbifer genomes, which should faciliatate future isolation and strain description studies.

Birth preparedness is a critical strategy aimed at promoting safe childbirth by encouraging pregnant women and their families to create thoughtful birth plans and prepare for potential complications. This approach ensures timely access to skilled maternity and health care services, which are essential for reducing maternal mortality. This study assessed the factors influencing birth preparedness among pregnant women attending Antenatal Care Clinics at the Regional Referral Hospital in Makeni City, Sierra Leone. A probability sampling method was used to select 112 pregnant women, and data were collected during 2023 with a structured questionnaire, using the Matturie Birth Preparedness Scale, as uniquely designed and prepared for this study. The collected data were analyzed using STATA software (version 14.0). Our findings revealed significant gaps in birth preparedness: 83.0% of respondents were unaware of their expected delivery date, 79.5 % did not register for antenatal care in their first trimester, and 72.3% had not chosen a delivery location. A striking 92.9% had not identified a potential blood donor. Knowledge gaps were evident, with 62.5% lacking childbirth knowledge and 55.4% unaware of pregnancy complications. Overall, only 17.86%(= 0) of respondents were genuinely prepared for childbirth. Our study highlights a significant lack of birth preparedness among pregnant women in Makeni City, Sierra Leone, with low awareness of critical factors such as expected delivery dates, danger signs, and prenatal emergency planning.

Occupational ocular injuries are a preventable yet neglected public health problem, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Maintenance workers are exposed to diverse ocular hazards daily, yet compliance with protective measures is consistently poor. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 85 maintenance workers at the Maintenance and Essential Services Organization (MESO) of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, recruited through stratified convenience sampling across seven occupational sections. A structured questionnaire assessed knowledge of ocular hazards and protective equipment, attitudes toward ocular safety, and safety practices. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA); chi-square and Fishers exact tests assessed associations (p < 0.05). Participants were predominantly male (84/85, 98.8%), with a mean age of 44.5 {+/-} 10.4 years. Overall knowledge was good (mean 9.40 {+/-} 1.59 out of 11), but attitude and practice scores were average (2.78 {+/-} 0.92 and 3.27 {+/-} 0.93, respectively). Most workers correctly identified goggles and face shields as protective, but only about half recognized that ordinary sunglasses and spectacles offer inadequate protection. Although 97.6% (83/85) recognized the need for ocular protection, only 7.1% (6/85) reported consistent protective eyewear use, and fewer than half (45.9%, 39/85) had received formal ocular safety training. Routine general protective equipment use was significantly associated with ocular protection use (Fishers exact test, p = 0.011). Sand and dust particles were the leading causes of injury and only 25% (5/20) of injured workers sought formal care. Workers demonstrated good knowledge but poor attitudes and practices toward ocular safety, suggesting that knowledge alone does not translate into protective behaviour even within a relatively well-resourced institutional setting. Findings suggest that limited access to task-appropriate protective eyewear may represent an important institutional barrier. Institutional PPE supply and section-specific safety training are essential to bridge this knowledge-practice gap.

Introduction: Generative artificial intelligence (AI) can produce realistic clinical scenarios on demand and deliver immediate, individualized feedback, yet its use to teach ethical reasoning, rather than to address the ethics of AI itself, remains underexplored in interprofessional healthcare education. Aim: This pilot study examined how interprofessional healthcare students perceived an AI-enhanced, case-based platform designed to support ethical decision-making across physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and audiology. Methods: Students enrolled in an interprofessional education course completed an online module of 20 instructor-vetted, AI-generated ethics cases and an optional post-activity survey of Likert-scale and open-ended items. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively and qualitative responses were analyzed through content analysis. Results: Ten students responded. Within this small sample, perceptions of platform utility and usability were strongly positive, with all respondents agreeing that immediate feedback and scenario variety supported learning. Perceptions were more divided when the platform was compared directly with traditional classroom learning, and respondents identified pacing and auto-scrolling as usability concerns. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest AI-enhanced case-based platforms can engage students and support applied ethics learning but are best positioned to complement rather than replace traditional instruction. Findings are exploratory given the small, demographically limited sample.

Transcriptomic profiling has become a cornerstone of modern biomedical research. To make transcriptomic analyses accessible to a broader scientific community, specifically including researchers with limited bioinformatics expertise, we introduced ArrayAnalysis in 2013 as a user-friendly web-based application for microarray data analysis. We now present a major update (https://arrayanalysis.org), introducing a strongly interactive platform that facilitates the dedicated exploration and analysis of both microarray and RNA-seq data, and allows for the generation of publication-ready outputs. Users can perform key analysis steps, including data pre-processing and quality control, differential expression analysis, and gene set analysis, via a sequential, interactive workflow. At each step, the application provides interactive visualizations accompanied by information pages to support interpretation. Users can dynamically adjust figure layouts and colour palettes and export figures as vector graphics and high-resolution raster images. For non-expert users, ArrayAnalysis offers step-by-step guidance to support correct usage and facilitate learning, while for experienced bioinformaticians, it provides a streamlined and flexible workflow ideal for large-scale analyses requiring efficient and consistent processing. ArrayAnalysis is available both as a web application and for local deployment as a desktop application, Docker image, or R package, making it suitable for diverse computational environments, user groups, and analytical purposes. Together, ArrayAnalysis empowers a broad community of biomedical researchers to unlock the full potential of transcriptomic data. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=96 SRC="FIGDIR/small/738193v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (39K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1072123org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@11095e0org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1dfaee7org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@53d31e_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

Background: Biochemical, biophysical and structural characterisation of isozymes from the ubiquitous family of iron- or manganese-dependent superoxide dismutases (SodFMs) requires the purification of high-quality preparations of recombinant enzymes. Determination of their key biochemical parameter, their catalytic metal-preference, requires the comparison of the catalytic turnover of samples loaded exclusively with iron versus samples loaded exclusively with manganese. Both of these aims are inhibited by the potential contamination of recombinant preparations of SodFMs, prepared by heterologous overexpression inside Escherichia coli cells, by even low levels of endogenous SodFMs from the host, both of which show very high turnover with either manganese (E. coli MnSOD) or iron (FeSOD). To overcome this problem, we created a strain of E. coli lacking the endogenous SodFMs. Here, we characterised this E. coli BL21 (DE3) {Delta}sodA{Delta}sodB strain, determining the physiological effects of SodFM deletion and demonstrating its utility for producing recombinant SodFMs for in vitro characterisation and use. Results: Genomic analysis verified the targeted gene deletions, without off-target effects. Growth, expression, elemental analysis, and proteomic data confirmed a lack of physiological defects of the strain except for a known inability to grow on glucose, which is overcome by heterologous SodFM expression. We demonstrate the utility of the strain for the efficient production of diverse recombinant SodFMs, including highly divergent, understudied isozymes, including the ability to precisely control the metal-loading of the heterologously expressed protein. Conclusions: The E. coli strain described herein is a useful microbial cell factory for production of recombinant SodFMs, which should find widespread utility as expression host of choice, enabling more efficient production of protein for studies of the biochemical, biophysical and structural properties of this remarkable family of metalloenzymes.

Objectives: Research on mental health in agriculture has increased in recent years; however, it remains largely focused on farmers themselves and is predominantly male-oriented. The mental health of farm wives and partners, many of whom play integral roles in farm operations, business management, and family life, remains difficult to characterise. This study therefore aims to explore the prevalence and causes of mental health challenges among farm wives and partners, and to investigate their use of, and barriers to, mental health support services. Methods: Quantitative data was collected using over 450 structured questionnaire responses that assessed mental health prevalence, contributing stressors and support service utilisation. Results: Findings indicate that there is a high prevalence of mental ill health amongst farm wives, seemingly due to industry stressors and support role overwhelm. Interpersonal relationships played a significant role in the types of mental distress experienced and highlighted the toll that farm life can take on farm wives' social and emotional connections. Despite a range of formal and informal support services being available, and effective when used, significant barriers to accessing these services were identified, including both practical difficulties and self-stigmatisation due to cultural beliefs. Conclusions: Farm wives and partners experience substantial mental health burdens linked to their diverse and often underrecognized roles within agricultural systems. In future, targeted interventions are needed to reduce stigma, improve service accessibility, and recognize women's contributions within farm enterprises. Further research and dedicated investment are also essential to better understand and help improve the mental health of this overlooked population within agricultural industries.

Objectives The 2016 Draft National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) universal protocol ''A Performance Test Protocol for Closed System Transfer Devices Used During Pharmacy Compounding and Administration of Hazardous Drugs.'' employing ATD GC MS with the 2016 Draft NIOSH proposed challenge agent 2 Phenoxyethanol (2 POE, 2.5% w/v in water) was used to assess the containment performance of two barrier and two air-cleaning CSTDs in a head-to-head test with replication (n=4) for both NIOSH tasks 1 (drug preparation) and 2 (drug administration). The study objective was to assess the containment performance of both physical barrier and air-cleaning CSTDs. Methods ChemoLock barrier (ICU Medical, USA), ChemoLock air-cleaning (ICU Medical, USA), PhaSeal barrier (Becton Dickinson, USA), and Tevadaptor air-cleaning (Simplivia, IL now marketed as Chemfort) CSTDs were evaluated using the 2016 Draft NIOSH universal test protocol for Task 1 (n=4) and Task2 (n=4). A 100 mL empty IV bag, accessed with a CH-10 ChemoClave bag spike was used with the IV administration set in Task 2 to avoid pressurisation of the occluded administration set during the simulated ''IV push''. Air samples were collected (GilAir pump) at 100mL/minute for 30 minutes on Tenax TA thermal desorption (TD) tubes (Markes, UK). 2 POE, a semi-volatile surrogate mimicking hazardous drugs was prepared at 2.5% w/v solution in MilliQ water. This was aliquoted (50mL) into drug vials and crimp sealed with a butyl rubber stopper (Adelphi, UK). 2 POE was analysed against a calibration curve (n=8) in the range 0.6ng to 200ng using analytical methods published previously. Chromeleon v7.3 CDS (Thermo Scientific, UK) was used for analysis based on detection of SIM ions (M/Z: 77, 94, 138). Blank TD tubes (n=85) were used to determine the experimental LOD and LLOQ. Negative control tests (employing MilliQ water as surrogate) were performed for each CSTD Task 1 (n=1) and Task 2 (n=1). An open ''needle and syringe'' positive control test was performed at 5 and 10 microlitre volumes in the NIOSH chamber to demonstrate system suitability. Results Chamber cleaning and analysis performed between tests, gave average blank values (n=85) of 0.05{+/-}0.01 ppbv (95% confidence interval). The experimental limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LLOQ) for the tests was 0.16{+/-}0.01 ppbv and 0.41{+/-}0.01 ppbv respectively. The positive control tests produced signals of 3.13 ppbv (n=1) and 6.59 ppbv (n=1) for 5 microlitre and 10 microlitre releases of 2 POE respectively and demonstrated system suitability to quantify down to a 650 nanolitre liquid release volume. (1) ChemoLock barrier, (2) ChemoLock air-cleaning, (3) BD PhaSeal barrier and (4) Tevadaptor air-cleaning CSTDs all generated <LLOQ signals for both NIOSH tasks 1 and 2. No statistically significant difference was found between the containment performance of the two air-cleaning and the two physical barrier CSTDs evaluated in this study. Conclusions System suitability was demonstrated using deliberate releases of the 2 POE surrogate at 5 and 10 microlitre volumes producing 2-POE concentrations in the NIOSH chamber of 3.13 ppbv and 6.59 ppbv respectively. Evaluation of the containment performance gave <LLOQ (0.41{+/-}0.01ppbv) for all four of the CSTDs tested in the study: (1) ChemoLock barrier, (2) ChemoLock air-cleaning, (3) BD PhaSeal barrier and (4) Tevadaptor air-cleaning, based on testing of four replicates of each technology in both NIOSH Task 1 and NIOSH Task 2. There was no statistically significant difference in containment found between the two air-cleaning and the two barrier CSTDs evaluated in this study.

Yeast infections are becoming an increasing public health concern, mainly due to the spread of opportunistic species and the emergence of strains resistant to commonly used antifungal drugs. Marine resources are a promising source of bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides and other biopolymers with potential antifungal applications. In this study, a sulfate-containing polysaccharide-rich extract was obtained from the red alga Jania adhaerens and chemically characterized. Its antifungal activity was compared with that of a commercial chitosan formulation against clinically relevant yeasts, including species of Candida, Cryptococcus, 'Clavispora, Naganishia and Trichosporon. Growth kinetics were monitored in liquid medium over 24 h, and antifungal activity was evaluated through growth rate analysis, growth inhibition at 20 h and susceptibility clustering. The polysaccharide extract showed moderate but consistent growth inhibition, with the strongest effects observed at 5 mg mL-1. Maximum growth inhibition reached 60.9% in Cryptococcus deuterogattii and 59.8% in Candida albicans, although no complete inhibition was observed within the tested concentration range. In contrast, chitosan showed a stronger antifungal effect, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values between 10 and 20 {micro}g mL-1 in several species and maximum inhibition values above 80% in the most susceptible yeasts. However, C. albicans showed marked resistance to chitosan, with inhibition below 12%. K-means clustering confirmed distinct susceptibility profiles between treatments, supporting a species-dependent response. Overall, these results highlight marine-derived biopolymers as promising antifungal candidates and show that chitosan and algal sulphated polysaccharides produce distinct, species-dependent antifungal profiles.

Abstract Introduction In-hospital cardiac arrest carries high mortality despite standardized ACLS training. Educators face increasing time constraints in developing assessment tools for ACLS training. Two possible solutions to this problem are using pre-medical students or using artificial intelligence to generate test questions. This study compared the quality of pre-medical student-generated ACLS test questions vs. AI-generated ACLS test questions, testing the hypothesis that AI-generated questions are non-inferior to student-generated questions. Methods Ten pre-medical students created ACLS questions following predefined criteria, while an AI model (Northwell's Artificial Intelligence Hub) generated comparable questions. A blinded ACLS-certified physician evaluated questions on the qualities of Alignment, Clarity, Cognitive Level, and Question Design using a standardized rubric (Likert scale: 1 = poor quality, 5 = excellent). Student's T-test and Chi-square analysis were used to compare the quality of questions on different rubric domains within each arm (student vs. AI) and within one domain (eg, question Clarity) between arms. The Student's T test was used when 2 comparator groups were compared (eg, Clarity of student-generated vs. AI-generated questions) within one arm. The ANOVA test was used when comparing more than 2 comparator groups (eg, Alignment vs. Clarity vs. Cognitive Level) within one arm. Statistical significance was set as a priority at p <0.05. Results Both student-generated and AI-generated questions were of high quality. AI-generated questions achieved the maximum score in the domains of Alignment, Clarity, and Question Design, but fell short of perfect scores in the domain of Cognitive Level (8 of 50 questions were less than 5). Student-generated questions achieved less-than-perfect scores in each domain. No significant difference was found in overall mean question scores between groups (students = 4.79, AI = 4.81; p = 0.9). However, AI-generated questions had significantly-greater Clarity (students = 4.8, AI = 5; p = .0461), while Alignment, Cognitive level, and Question Design showed no significant differences. Conclusion AI-generated questions demonstrated overall quality comparable to those generated by pre-medical students, supporting the potential role of AI as a scalable tool in ACLS educational assessment development. Further studies are warranted to evaluate additional AI platforms and determine optimal integration of AI in medical education assessment design.

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) concepts are difficult for medical students to grasp. We developed a Python-Streamlit web application providing interactive visualizations to enhance EBM education. Preliminary use with first year medical students demonstrated high engagement and improved conceptual understanding, supporting the feasibility of integrating interactive, web-based tools into EBM curricula.

Reliable DNA isolation is a critical prerequisite for PCR-based food authentication, particularly for meat products where complex matrices may compromise DNA quality and amplification efficiency. This study aimed to analytically validate an automated DNA extraction method from meat matrices using Qiagen QIAcube Connect in combination with the DNeasy(R) Mericon Food Kit. Validation parameters included DNA concentration, total yield, purity, integrity, and assessment of PCR inhibitors using real-time PCR targeting the porcine cytochrome b gene. The method produced a mean DNA concentration of 219.5 ng/{micro}L with an average yield of 21,519.7 ng, exceeding predefined acceptance criteria. Agarose gel electrophoresis confirmed DNA fragment sizes larger than the target amplicon, indicating suitability for PCR analysis. Real-time PCR evaluation demonstrated excellent linearity (R2 = 0.99-1.00), amplification efficiencies between 90.34% and 99.84%, and mean {Delta}Ct values of 0.10, confirming the absence of PCR inhibition. These results indicate that the validated automated method is robust, reproducible, and suitable for routine PCR-based meat species authentication in food control laboratories.

Past few decades witnessed a boom in pharmaceutical and bioproduct industry with the help of bioprocess technology. Industrially important bioproducts can be produced in large scale for commercialization with the help of fermenters. Here in, pharmaceutically valuable bioproduct melanin, synthesized from Pseudomonas stutzeri strain BTC109 by using two different sized bioreactors. Under controlled conditions the bacteria were allowed to synthesis melanin nanoparticles. The important parameters to be monitored here are pH, dissolved oxygen, agitation, aeration, melanin production and cell biomass concentration. Graphical abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=163 SRC="FIGDIR/small/737634v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (43K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@d92fe5org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@d76c07org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@f5516forg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1b5864b_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG HighlightsO_LIPharmaceutical and bioproduct development industries witnessed a shoot up due to bioprocess technology. C_LIO_LIIndustrially important bioproduct like melanin can be produced in large scale with the help of industrial fermentation technology. C_LIO_LIThe product thus obtained was found to be nano sized and it can be commercialized. C_LI

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a reevaluation of safety protocols across various sectors, including the arts. This study addresses a critical gap in understanding SARS-CoV-2 persistence on materials commonly associated with musical instruments and scores, such as alloys, varnishes, reeds, and paper. While previous research has explored viral survival on various surfaces, limited data exists for materials specific to musical contexts. In this work, we investigate the efficacy of quarantine as a non-destructive method for inactivating SARS-CoV-2 on 16 materials, including brass, silver plating, ABS plastic, ebonite, and various varnishes and paper types. Results revealed significant variability in viral persistence across materials. Non-porous surfaces like metals and ABS plastic cleared infectivity within 3 days, while porous materials such as reeds and music scores required up to 7 days. Gold-plated brass and certain varnishes showed intermediate persistence, with infectivity clearing after 4 days. These findings are in agreement with prior studies indicating that SARS-CoV-2 survival is highly dependent on surface composition, with porous and organic-coated materials retaining viable virus longer due to reduced environmental stress. Our results highlight the feasibility of stratified quarantine protocols based on material type, offering practical guidelines for musicians and institutions and provides critical insights for mitigating SARS-CoV-2 transmission risks in musical settings.

Background. A primary constraint on the capacity of EMS programs to meet industry demand is psychomotor instruction and verification, requiring direct observation of each student by a qualified evaluator. Whether AI video analysis can relieve it is untested; none has been applied to EMS skill examination or compared with human examiners. Objective. To quantify human EMS evaluator inter-rater reliability and evaluate an AI video-analysis platform against it. Methods. In a prospective, fully crossed study, five certified EMS evaluators and an AI platform independently scored identical video-recorded EMT performances of cervical collar application (n=15), bag-valve-mask (BVM) ventilation (n=14), and medical assessment (n=15) on dichotomous checklists with critical-failure criteria. Agreement was assessed at item, score, and decision levels using Fleiss' kappa, Krippendorff's alpha, Gwet's AC1, and ICC(2,1)/ICC(2,k). Results. Human item agreement was moderate (kappa 0.409 to 0.467), as was single-rater reliability (ICC(2,1) 0.539 to 0.694), against good panel reliability (ICC(2,k) 0.854 to 0.919). Recorded pass/fail agreement was fair (kappa 0.297 to 0.388) and critical-failure agreement near zero for two skills (kappa 0.028, 0.119). AI alignment tracked rubric observability rather than task complexity: r = 0.857 (collar, exceeding every human), -0.173 (BVM), 0.664 (medical), and it was most lenient on two skills. Conclusions. Human evaluators are an imperfect standard, especially on critical failures. The AI was a legitimate additional rater where checklist items were discrete and visually verifiable, but not where credit required judging continuous quantities such as ventilation rate, volume, or suction duration. Defensible uses are formative and archival, not summative. These results reflect an early, non-specialist configuration: a baseline, not a limit.

The natural variation that distinguishes living organisms within a single species is currently being studied intensively, primarily at the genetic level. Unfortunately, studies of natural variants at the level of protein gene products are not very common, mainly due to the lack of appropriate databases and bioinformatics tools. The main research technique used to study proteomes/peptidomes is mass spectrometry (MS). A classic method for interpreting raw mass spectrometry data in proteomic/peptidomic studies involves the use of databases containing representative (canonical) sequences that define the proteome of the organism under study. In this paper, we present the AliceDB database, which contains information on over 7 million natural variants of protein sequences described in the scientific literature for Homo sapiens. The data contained in the AliceDB database can be utilized using widely available and commonly used software for interpreting proteomic data. Test results regarding the use of the AliceDB database for the interpretation of proteomic data indicate that accounting for the presence of natural variants increases both the number and quality of identified proteins. Furthermore, it is easy to identify protein sequence variants that may, for example, be of significance in medicine.

Objective: To investigate and establish a baseline for sex and gender considerations in policy, research and curricula across the state of Victoria. Design and setting: Victoria was selected as a case study for Australia, using a mixed-methods approach to examine health and medical university curricula, research organisation policies and research funding between 2020-2025 prior to mandated inclusion. Main outcome measures: Primary outcomes include identification of predefined sex- and gender-related terms in university curricula descriptors and funded grant descriptions; and questionnaire responses from university course coordinators and organisational leads. Results: Data mining across nine Victorian universities (318 courses/3383 units) identified ~93% of units and ~60% of healthcare courses lacked sex and gender terms in their descriptors. Among medical research organisations operating in Victoria, including peak bodies, research institutes, hospitals and universities, ~70% (18/26) of the survey responders reported having no sex and gender policy. Rates of sex- and gender-term inclusion in research grants allocated in Victoria (3388) and Australia-wide (8974) validated Victoria as a case study for Australia for National Health and Medical Research Council (9.5%/8.9% respectively), Medical Research Future Funds (11%/10.2%), and Australian Research Council (4.8%/4.1%). One in nine Victorian awards from five government initiatives and one in ten from 12 non-government agencies included sex- and gender-term related terms in their guidelines. Conclusions: These baseline metrics indicate that sex and gender are still not widely considered in the education and research ecosystems. These findings support the need to build inclusive research policy at a national and state level, and accreditation standards across university education.

BackgroundHair tools such as hairbrushes and combs allow for various styling options to produce desired hairstyles among various people. However, there is the risk of they serving as fomites for infection and contamination especially among people in close habitation. ObjectivesThis study therefore decided to investigate the trend of microbial populations on these hair grooming tools in universities such as KNUST to inform student hygiene practices and disease prevention strategies. Methods30 students were randomly selected for the study, and swab samples from different hairbrushes and combs were taken for microbial investigation. Microbial isolates were identified based on their morphological and biochemical characteristics. Determination of efficacy of different cleaning methods for hair tools was also done. ResultsThe study found an average bacterial and fungal count of 7.4x102 CFU/ml and 4.6x103 CFU/ml, respectively. The bacterial isolates suspected included Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus sp., Bacillus subtilis, and Corynebacterium sp. The fungal isolates included Aspergillus species, Penicillium sp., Rhizopus sp., Neurospora sp., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Curlvularia sp. Correlation analysis showed higher bacterial numbers significantly associated with the presence of hair diseases such as dandruff (p=0.046). Water and detergent were found to be the most effective method of eliminating microbial content from hairbrushes and combs. ConclusionThis study uncovered a variety of microbes on KNUST students combs and hairbrushes, which is evident of microbial contamination. While these numbers are relatively low, this study highlights the need for students to still follow good hygiene procedures and implement efficient cleaning techniques of hair tools, as they may still serve as an ideal environment to harbor and transfer microbes

Scalesia gordilloi is a critically endangered species endemic to San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos archipelago and represents one of the most unique and vulnerable lineages within the adaptive radiation of the genus Scalesia. Despite its evolutionary distinctiveness and conservation importance, no genomic resources have been available for this species. Here, we present the first high-quality reference genome of S. gordilloi, generated using Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing. Across three PromethION R10.4.1 flow cells, we obtained 80.5 Gb of long reads (~25X coverage), which enabled a highly contiguous 3.61 Gb assembly composed of only 549 contigs and an N50 of 106.6 Mb. BUSCO completeness reached 98.6%, with assembly metrics comparable to other high-quality Asteraceae genomes. Repeat annotation revealed that 76.2% of the genome is composed of interspersed elements, dominated by LTR retrotransposons. Structural annotation resulted in 47,913 high-confidence protein-coding genes, consistent with expectations for large, repetitive Asteraceae genomes. This genome provides a critical foundation for conservation genomics, enabling assessments of genetic diversity, inbreeding, and adaptive potential in the species. It further establishes a framework for comparative genomics across the Scalesia radiation and supports future efforts to protect and restore one of the most threatened plant lineages of the Galapagos Islands.