Hospital‐Based Careers in Pediatric Hematology‐Oncology: The State of the Field and Future Needs

ABSTRACT In response to the evolving complexity of inpatient care, pediatric hematology/oncology (PHO) hospitalist programs have become a vital component of care delivery. To advance this emerging field, we convened a multidisciplinary collaboration from programs across the United States to define the landscape, identify challenges, and outline a path forward. This Special Report highlights the critical role of PHO hospitalists in delivering specialized, high‐acuity care, leading quality improvement and patient safety efforts, and discussing workforce challenges. It offers a collaborative framework to support sustainable growth and define the future of PHO hospitalist medicine.

Mycobacteria, survival, and universal stress proteins

Universal stress proteins (USPs) have remained an enigma since their first description by Nystrom and Neidhardt in 1992. Despite being upregulated under diverse stresses and found across a range of bacterial species, decades of studies suggested only general and potentially redundant protective functions for USPs. Recent studies have uncovered that USPs are critical regulators of bacterial survival processes in Actinobacteria, most notably in Mycobacterium tuberculosis , one of the most prolific and lethal of human pathogens. This brief review places these recent studies in the context of earlier publications and discusses their importance for future USP research, our understanding of these regulatory proteins, and novel therapeutic options that these proteins present in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, related Actinobacteria, and across diverse bacterial species. Impact Statement Universal stress proteins (USPs) have recently been directly implicated in survival processes in Mycobacteria, related Actinobacteria, and multiple bacterial pathogens. This new understanding identifies these stress‐responsive proteins as important targets for mechanistic studies in bacterial survival and promising targets for novel antimicrobial therapeutics.

PARP inhibitors elicit distinct transcriptional programs in homologous recombination competent castration‐resistant prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most lethal cancer in men in the US. African American (AA) men have twice the incidence and death rate of European American (EA) men. Advanced PCa shows increased expression and activity of the DNA damage/repair pathway enzyme, poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1). PARP1 inhibitors (PARPi) are FDA‐approved for advanced PCa tumors with mutations in the homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway. However, PARPi can provide benefit in model systems without HRR deficiencies. PARPi have distinct biochemical mechanisms, potencies, and toxicity profiles. While there is emerging evidence of differences in DNA damage/repair pathway enzyme expression between EA and AA men, PARP1 expression has not been fully explored in the context of race. This study hypothesized: (a) AA and EA PCa may respond differently to PARPi and (b) different PARPi may uniquely impact the transcriptome, irrespective of HRR status. Study results indicate a link between racial background and PARP1 expression/activity and define unique and overlapping transcriptional responses downstream of all five PARPi. These findings may lead to refined personalized recommendations for use of specific PARPi.

ATG4B is required for mTORC1 ‐mediated anabolic activity and is associated with clinical outcomes in non‐small cell lung cancer

The complex interplay of metabolic signaling networks is critical to the pathophysiology of lung cancer. The anabolic mTORC1 kinase and catabolic process of autophagy are key among these regulatory pathways. While their relationship has long been viewed as a matter of simple inhibition, with mTORC1 as a negative regulator of autophagy, new evidence suggests that this relationship may be more nuanced than previously described. Here, we demonstrate that an autophagy‐related, ATG4B, is required for mTORC1 activity and is associated with negative clinical outcomes in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Targeting ATG4B in vitro suppresses cell proliferation, protein synthesis rates, and mTORC1 signaling in a cellular model of NSCLC. In contrast, overexpressing the ATG4B protease in healthy models of lung tissue increased mTORC1 kinase activity in healthy lung cell models, indicating that an increase in ATG4B is sufficient to drive cellular anabolic signaling. Finally, we found that ATG4B expression is high in NSCLC patient tumors, is elevated in early‐stage cancer, and predicts survival in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Taken together, our results demonstrate that ATG4B is required for anabolic behavior in NSCLC, indicating that the autophagic cascade may be a required input for mTORC1 activity and cellular anabolism in lung cancer. These results have implications for the field of cancer biology more broadly, as they indicate that the far from being a simple target of mTORC1, the autophagic cascade may serve as a requisite input for anabolic signaling, casting new light on the relationship between these processes in cancer pathophysiology. [Correction added on 25 February 2026, after first online publication: 9th sentence has been revised as “Targeting ATG4B in vitro suppresses cell proliferation, protein synthesis rates, and mTORC1 signaling in a cellular model of NSCLC”].

Emotion Regulation and Aggression: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

ABSTRACT Research on emotion regulation (ER) and aggression has increased rapidly in the past years, but heterogeneity across studies make integration of findings challenging. To estimate the size and consistency of the relationship between ER and aggression we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis. In total, 16,369 articles were retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL, and 137 articles (171 studies) provided 918 effect sizes from a total sample of N  = 252,605. Multilevel models showed significant pooled relationships, with small‐to‐moderate effects. Use of adaptive strategies was associated with lower aggression ( r  = −0.090, I 2  = 78%), but the precision estimate test (PET) bias corrected effect was non‐significant. Use of maladaptive strategies ( r  = 0.329, I 2  = 93%), and difficulties regulating emotions ( r  = 0.248, I 2  = 89%), were associated with higher aggression. P‐ curves suggested little evidence of selective reporting while cumulative meta‐analysis showed relatively consistent effects over time. Moderator analyses showed that effects were generally stronger for physical and other forms of aggression than sexual aggression, and weaker for intimate partner targets than other targets. Difficulties in ER were most strongly related to reactive compared with proactive aggression, but the use of ER strategies did not differ between motivations. Our findings suggest that interventions targeting ER, including those that explore and challenge angry predispositions and provide skills to manage impulse control, may help to prevent aggressive behaviour.

Influence of scan mode, tilt, and radiation dose on CT radiomic metrics

Abstract Background Radiomic features derived from computed tomography (CT) are highly susceptible to variations in acquisition parameters, which can introduce confounding effects in multicenter research and reduce diagnostic accuracy. While the effects of parameters such as scanning mode and dose have been studied, the impact of gantry tilt—despite its routine clinical use—remains underexplored in radiomics literature. Purpose To systematically evaluate how scan mode (axial vs. helical), gantry tilt (0° vs. 5°), and radiation dose affect CT‐based radiomic metrics using an anthropomorphic liver phantom containing six 3D‐printed texture inserts, with special emphasis on the novel inclusion of tilt. Methods Twelve unique image acquisition configurations were scanned on a GE Revolution Apex CT scanner, with each configuration repeated once. Manual segmentation of volumes of interest (VOIs) was performed, and 93 radiomic features spanning six texture families were extracted using PyRadiomics. First‐order dispersion metrics (standard deviation, interquartile range, and coefficient of variation) were analyzed alongside higher‐order features via regression with heatmap visualization, and repeatable, robust, and calibratable features were identified. Results Helical scans without tilt generally exhibited lower first‐order dispersion than axial scans. Introducing a 5° tilt reduced dispersion in axial scans but had inconsistent effects in helical scans, with no coherent trend observed. Radiation dose demonstrated an expected inverse relationship with dispersion metrics. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis revealed that 34% of radiomic metrics exhibited good or excellent repeatability across all trials (ICC ≥ 0.6), but only 13% demonstrated good or excellent robustness, highlighting the sensitivity of radiomic metrics to scanning conditions. Regression analysis yielded 31 metrics (33%) that can be calibrated using their significant linear relationships with the parameters varied in this study, thereby allowing researchers to correct for variations in acquisition settings. Conclusions These findings underscore the importance of accounting for acquisition variability—including less frequently examined parameters such as tilt—when designing radiomic studies, selecting robust features, and interpreting results in clinical and multicenter studies. This approach helps distinguish meaningful biological variation from imaging artifacts, thereby improving the reliability of radiomic analysis in personalized medicine.

Transitions in Psychological Distress Phenotypes and Patient‐Reported Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Total Joint Arthroplasty

Psychological distress is common in individuals undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Understanding psychological phenotypes and their transitions from before to after surgery can inform risk stratification and targeted care. This study aimed to characterize psychological phenotypes, examine transitions, and compare patient outcomes across phenotypes. This retrospective study included 494 patients who underwent primary hip (43%) or knee (57%) arthroplasty at Duke University Health System (2018–2024). Latent transition analysis identified and examined transitions of psychological phenotypes preoperatively and postoperatively using the Optimal Screening for Prediction of Referral and Outcome Yellow Flag tool. Demographic characteristics, phenotype transitions, Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference (PI), PROMIS Physical Function (PF), pain intensity, and high‐impact chronic pain (HICP) were compared across phenotypes. The optimal model fit was a constrained model comprising five classes: class 1 (low self‐efficacy with poor pain coping), class 2 (low distress), class 3 (poor pain coping), class 4 (high distress), and class 5 (low self‐efficacy with acceptance). Most patients (n = 271, 55%) transitioned to a different phenotype. The probabilities for remaining in the same class ranged from 0.19 (poor pain coping) to 0.61 (low distress). The incidence of high distress was 6% within 12 months after TJA. High distress was associated with lower PROMIS‐PF and higher PROMIS‐PI scores, pain intensity, and prevalence of HICP (P < 0.001). Transitions were observed across all phenotypes, with some demonstrating greater stability and others showing more state‐like variability. Identifying phenotypes with distinct trajectories and outcomes may support targeted screening and preoperative risk stratification.

Correction to “Bioinspired Hydrophilic and Oleophilic Absorption Media from Biotemplated Fungi”

Catalyst Layer Modifications for Enhanced Performance of Fluorine‐Free Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

The inclusion of insoluble, hyperbranched sulfonated phenylated poly(phenylene) terphenyl (HB‐sPPT) particles in catalyst layers (CLs) is demonstrated to enhance the current‐voltage characteristics of proton exchange membrane fuel cells based on Pemion ionomer and Pemion membranes. HB‐sPPT ionomer particles are prepared in three different sizes: as‐prepared (45 μm), hand‐ground (33 μm), or ball‐milled (20 μm). Incorporated into CLs, the ionomer particles affect the CL's electrochemically active surface area, porosity, and ionic conductivity. This results in a 30% increment in maximum power in fuel cells containing ionomer particles in the CL, with the effect being inversely correlated to the particle size.

From Pyrolysis Oil to Advanced Biographite Anode: Unravelling Biocoke Structural Evolution and Delayed Coking Effects

Catalytic graphitization of biomass‐derived carbon offers a promising route to produce biographite as a sustainable alternative to petroleum‐based synthetic graphite for lithium‐ion battery (LIB) anodes. This study investigates the physicochemical properties of biocokes produced from pyrolysis oil at carbonization temperatures ranging from 150°C to 500°C. Using an iron (Fe) catalyst, graphitization was performed at 1500°C, significantly lower than the ∼3000°C required for conventional synthetic graphite. The effects of introducing an intermediate‐temperature hold (400°C–600°C) prior to graphitization were evaluated, simulating a “delayed coking” process to enable the coproduction of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). Chemical structure evolution during biocoke formation was analyzed, and proposed mechanisms are presented. Biographites produced via the delayed coking pathway exhibited high crystallinity and excellent electrochemical performance in both half‐cell and full‐cell LIB configurations. The full cells exhibited an initial discharge capacity close to the theoretical capacity of the NMC622 cathode (175 mAh/g at 4.2 V), and high capacity retention (∼88%) after 150 cycles. Notably, the graphitic and electrochemical properties remained stable across the range of intermediate hold temperatures. These findings provide a foundation for optimizing temperature parameters in delayed coking systems to enable scalable, integrated production of biographite and SAFs from pyrolysis oil.