Maricopa Medical Center

Background/Objectives: Fusarium wilt of cotton, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (FOV), is a destructive vascular disease that severely impacts cotton production. Among its variants, race 4 (FOV4) is especially aggressive, leading to early season stand losses and yield reductions. While resistant cultivars of Gossypium barbadense (pima cotton) have been developed, the molecular basis of this resistance remains unclear. This study aimed to characterize transcriptomic responses associated with FOV4 resistance in pima cotton. Methods: We conducted an in vitro infection assay using two G. barbadense cultivars with contrasting phenotypes: the highly resistant ‘DP348RF’ and the highly susceptible ‘GB1031’. Root tissues were sampled at multiple stages of infection, and RNA sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes and pathways contributing to resistance. Results: Resistant plants ‘DP348RF’ showed strong induction of genes related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism, chitinase activity, and lignification compared to the susceptible cultivar. Notably, genes involved in the biosynthesis and reinforcement of the Casparian strip, a critical biochemical barrier limiting pathogen penetration into vascular tissues, were uniquely and significantly upregulated in resistant roots. These transcriptional responses suggest that fortification of cell wall barriers and enhanced antimicrobial defenses contribute to effective restriction of FOV4 colonization. Conclusions: Our findings identify a distinct molecular signature of resistance to FOV4 in pima cotton, with Casparian strip reinforcement emerging as a potential mechanism limiting vascular infection. These insights provide a foundation for breeding strategies aimed at improving Fusarium wilt resistance in cotton.

Abstract Integrated crop‐livestock systems, where livestock and crops are produced in rotation or simultaneously, have long been a common agricultural practice. However, the shift toward specialization in the latter half of the 20th century led to separating livestock from crop production, resulting in environmental and economic challenges. To address these issues, this study examines the short‐term effects of integrating cattle grazing on annual forages and its impact on subsequent spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) yields. Conducted from 2020 to 2023 at South Dakota State University's West River Research Farm, the study used a randomized complete block design with four treatments: grazed cover crops (CG), swathed grazed cover crops (SG), ungrazed monoculture sorghum‐sudangrass (Sorghum × drumondii) hay (C1), and ungrazed cover crops (C2), all followed by spring wheat. Results showed that grazing treatments, especially SG, led to a 20% increase in wheat yield compared to C1. Soil health indicators showed no significant differences between grazed and control plots. However, grazed treatments had higher soil NO3‐N levels, indicating increased nitrogen availability. Protein content in wheat remained consistent across treatments, suggesting that yield gains were due to enhanced nitrogen availability during early growth stages. These findings support that livestock integration can boost crop yields by improving short‐term nitrogen availability. Further research is needed to assess long‐term impacts on soil health, crop productivity, and to determine sustainable grazing practices for integrated systems.

The Great Salt Lake entered the zeitgeist of environmental concern in 2022 when a coalition of scientists and activists warned in a highly publicized report that the lake might be just five years away from complete desiccation, a possibility one state official warned was tantamount to an “environmental nuclear bomb”. Shortly thereafter, an unpredicted and unprecedented pluvial winter resulted in an increase in inflow, temporarily halting the lake’s decline and prompting Utah’s governor to mock the dire prediction as “a joke”, an outcome that speaks to the tension between agenda-setting and trust-building that researchers face when sharing worst-case warnings, particularly those based on short-term variability. Here, we describe a robust relationship between the lake and groundwater in the surrounding region and demonstrate how coupled models can thus be used to improve lake elevation predictions, suggesting that while the situation may not be as dire as some have warned, the lake remains at long-term risk as a result of climate warming. We further suggest that efforts to communicate the risk of future desiccation should be informed by stochastic variability and guided by long-term fluctuations in the total water storage of the endorheic lake’s watershed.

Reference: Ely SF, Gill JR, editors. Principles of forensic pathology: From investigation to certification. Cambridge, MA: Academic Press; 2023. 590 pp. In Ely and Gill's Principles of Forensic Pathology: From Investigation to Certification [1], 19 chapters cover a variety of topics pertinent to the forensic pathology practitioner, with a focus on how to approach the breadth of cases encountered in the autopsy suite. Sections cover many of the standard topics addressed in comprehensive forensic medicine textbooks, including death certification, scene investigations, the forensic autopsy, perinatal and pediatric deaths, natural deaths in the adult, medical intervention-related deaths, trauma (firearms/blunt force/sharp force/asphyxia/etc.), toxicological deaths, and in-custody deaths. Modern topics addressed in this book include the COVID-19 pandemic, postmortem computed tomography imaging interpretation, and the utility of molecular genetics in investigating unexpected deaths. The uniqueness of this book lies in the systematic outlining of how conclusions are arrived at, with an emphasis on consistency and rationality over dogmatism. For example, a section on a suggested approach to hemorrhage of unclear origin walks the reader through the common scenarios encountered at autopsy, the reasonable possibilities of the underlying etiology, the importance of context, and the value in recognizing and regarding the mechanism of death. The tenets of this book emphasize an orderly approach to the medicolegal death investigation and autopsy report. To address the daunting task of codifying forensic thinking, the text outlines practical considerations necessary for accurate interpretations of postmortem examination findings, along with common mistakes and cognitive errors to avoid. Concepts, standards, and pathophysiologic principles are laid out in dense text, with full-color photographs used to illustrate important ideas. The book is well-researched, with abundant resources listed at the end of each chapter. The value of this book lies in the suggested questions to ask, the approach to take in answering them, and how to reach conclusions that meet the burden of proof required of the forensic medicine practitioner. For example, in approaching a blunt trauma-related death, algorithms for autopsy report organization are proffered alongside how the features of an injury may correlate with specific circumstances/actions, typical autopsy findings associated with given scenarios, mechanisms of death to consider when assessing the lethality of an injury, and important factors to recognize regarding unwitnessed trauma. The greatest works stand on the shoulders of giants, and this book is no exception. It owes a significant debt to the witticisms of Charles S. Hirsch, along with Lester Adelson, and many others. The maxims of these luminaries of the forensic pathology world are gathered from writings and personal interactions and preserved here for future generations, including: “Toxicology gives us information, but not conclusions” and “You can't see what you can't believe” (p. 576). Many chapters memorialize guidance cultivated from an entire career's worth of practice. For example, in a chapter on “Communication,” Dr. Jonathan Hayes offers a reflective examination of the realistic conversations that occur between medical examiners/coroners, families, and juries, with constructive aphorisms gleaned from over 30 years of work. Readers looking for in-depth discussions of any given topic, such as firearms and firearm injuries, are best directed to textbooks dedicated to that subject. However, the subtleties of forensic pathology, such as the best practices for documentation and written narratives, are where the reader will find the highest yield. Minor typographical errors and mislabels of figures/images in this book do little to distract from the overall content. Novices, and those in charge of training them, will appreciate advice on choosing a fellowship program, nuances of forensic pathology practice and death certification, and a recommended reading list. Other practitioners, looking to develop defensible opinions that are evidence-based and non-arbitrary, will appreciate the general principles and finer points ensconced in this book. Ely and Gill's Principles of Forensic Pathology: From Investigation to Certification [1] addresses a deficiency in the forensic literature by offering recommendations that bridge the gap between foundational knowledge and the wisdom of experience.

Introduction. Large soft tissue defects resulting from trauma in the pediatric population are common. MLLs are a rare subset of these injuries with no standard treatment regimen. Thorough surgical debridement of these lesions is often warranted to remove necrotic tissue and contamination, which results in a large, open soft tissue defect. STSGs may be used to provide tissue coverage; however, they have limitations, including donor site morbidity and additional surgical time and cost. Case Report. A 12-year-old female with a cutaneous thermal contact burn and an MLL of the right lower medial thigh declined STSG to avoid additional operations. The wound was treated with an SHSFM that is engineered to mimic the structure and architecture of human extracellular matrix and supports cellular infiltration and proliferation with minimal inflammatory response. Over a 4-month period, the SHSFM was applied 6 times at 2- to 3-week intervals, resulting in complete regranulation and wound closure with no further surgical procedures required. Conclusions. This case demonstrates the utility of the SHSFM in the management of pediatric surgical wounds and highlights the flexibility of the SHSFM in achieving the goals of both patient and physician alike.

Case seriesPatient: Male, 33-year-old • Male, 51-year-oldFinal Diagnosis: Cardio thoracic traumaSymptoms: Hemorrhagic shockMedication: —Clinical Procedure: Intrathoracic negative pressure therapy • thoracotomySpecialty: Biotechnology • Cardiac Surgery • Critical Care Medicine • SurgeryObjective:Unusual clinical courseBackground:Damage control surgery (DCS) is an established emergency operative concept, initially described and most often utilized in abdominal trauma. DCS prioritizes managing acute hemorrhage and contamination, leaving the abdominal wall fascia open and covering the existing wound with a temporary abdominal wall closure, most commonly negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT). The patient undergoes aggressive resuscitation to optimize physiology. Once achieved, the patient is returned to the operating room for definitive surgical intervention. There is limited evidence suggesting that using damage control thoracotomy within the chest cavity improves mortality and morbidity rates. Our review failed to find a case in which NPWT using ABTHERA ADVANCE™ Open Abdomen Dressing has been successfully used in the setting of thoracic trauma.Case Reports:This case series describes 2 examples of NPWT as a form of temporary chest closure in penetrating and blunt thoracic injury. The first case was a penetrating self-inflicted stab wound to the chest. The NPWT was applied as a form of temporary thoracotomy, closure at the index surgery. The second case was a blunt injury to the chest of a polytrauma patient following a motor vehicle accident. The patient sustained rib fractures on his left side and had a bilateral pneumothorax. An emergent thoracotomy was performed due to delayed intrathoracic bleeding noted on hospital day 11, and NPWT was applied as described above, in the first case.Conclusions:These cases suggest that damage control thoracotomy with intrathoracic placement of a modified ABTHERA ADVANCE™ Open Abdomen Dressing negative-pressure system may be an effective and life-saving technique with the potential for positive outcomes in these high-risk patients.

Abstract NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract Session 3586 Faculty, Teacher & Industry Partnership In The Semiconductor Industry Richard Newman, Michael Lesiecki Maricopa Advanced Technology Education Center The Maricopa Center (MATEC) has been established by the National Science Foundation through its Advanced Technology Education program to promote the development of a world class work force in the semiconductor related industries. MATEC acts through its education and industry partners to develop curricula at the community college and secondary school level. In addition, the center sponsors faculty and teacher internships and training programs and encourages enrollment and awareness of the programs on a national basis. MATEC is initiating innovative activities that directly involve a community college faculty member with a secondary school teacher partner and a industry representative to form a working group to implement the programs. The presentation will discuss specific model internship programs that are applicable to high technology industries in general. In addition, an overview will be given of faculty training and development projects that have been initiated by community college faculty under MATEC sponsorship. Acknowledgement: partial support for this work was provided by the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technology Education Program through Grant # DUE9602373. RICHARD NEWMAN, is the Faculty Development Specialist at MATEC. MICHAEL LESIECKI, is the director of MATEC.