Investing in Workforce Program Innovation: A Formative Evaluation of Five Workforce Organizations' Experiences During the Human Capital Innovation Fund Initiative

In this report, Investing in Workforce Program Innovation: A Formative Evaluation of Five Workforce Organizations' Experiences during the Human Capital Innovation Fund Initiative, we describe the five organizations' experiences planning, implementing, and adapting new strategies. Investing in Workforce Program Innovation offers insights into the complex work of developing and maintaining relationships that cross institutions. We discuss factors grantees considered when identifying partner organizations, the approaches they used to find common ground and work effectively together, and the ways in which partnerships evolved and deepened over time. We describe how organizations cultivated long-term relationships with employers to not only inform workforce program design and promote job placement, but also to engage employers to reflect upon their hiring and employment practices. Finally, we discuss the ways in which HCIF-supported organizations tailored comprehensive and ongoing supports to the unique needs of their participants to help them succeed in and beyond training programs

A single-nucleus RNA-sequencing pipeline to decipher the molecular anatomy and pathophysiology of human kidneys

Defining cellular and molecular identities within the kidney is necessary to understand its organization and function in health and disease. Here we demonstrate a reproducible method with minimal artifacts for single-nucleus Droplet-based RNA sequencing (snDrop-Seq) that we use to resolve thirty distinct cell populations in human adult kidney. We define molecular transition states along more than ten nephron segments spanning two major kidney regions. We further delineate cell type-specific expression of genes associated with chronic kidney disease, diabetes and hypertension, providing insight into possible targeted therapies. This includes expression of a hypertension-associated mechano-sensory ion channel in mesangial cells, and identification of proximal tubule cell populations defined by pathogenic expression signatures. Our fully optimized, quality-controlled transcriptomic profiling pipeline constitutes a tool for the generation of healthy and diseased molecular atlases applicable to clinical samples

Xylazine in the Opioid Epidemic: A Systematic Review of Case Reports and Clinical Implications

Introduction and objectives: The opioid overdose epidemic is exacerbated by the emergence of Xylazine as an illicit drug adulterant. Xylazine, a veterinary sedative, can potentiate opioid effects while also causing toxic and potentially fatal side effects. This systematic review aims to assess the impact of Xylazine use and overdoses within the opioid epidemic context.Method: A systematic search was conducted following PRISMA guidelines to identify relevant case reports, and case series related to Xylazine use. A comprehensive literature search included databases like Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar, utilizing keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms related to Xylazine. Thirty-four articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. Results: Intravenous (IV) administration was a common route for Xylazine use among various methods, including subcutaneous (SC), intramuscular (IM), and inhalation, with overall doses ranging from 40 mg to 4300 mg. The average dose in fatal cases was 1,200 mg, compared to 525 mg in non-fatal cases. Concurrent administration of other drugs, primarily opioids, occurred in 28 cases (47.5%). Intoxication was identified as a notable concern in 32 out of 34 studies, and treatments varied, with the majority experiencing positive outcomes. Withdrawal symptoms were documented in one case study, but the low number of cases with withdrawal symptoms may be attributed to factors such as a limited number of cases or individual variation. Naloxone was administered in eight cases (13.6%), and all patients recovered, although it should not be misconstrued as an antidote for Xylazine intoxication. Of the 59 cases, 21 (35.6%) resulted in fatal outcomes, with 17 involving Xylazine use in conjunction with other drugs. The IV route was a common factor in six out of the 21 fatal cases (28.6%). Conclusion: This review highlights the clinical challenges associated with Xylazine use and its co-administration with other substances, particularly opioids. Intoxication was identified as a major concern, and treatments varied across the studies, including supportive care, naloxone, and other medications. Further research is needed to explore the epidemiology and clinical implications of Xylazine use. Understanding the motivations and circumstances leading to Xylazine use, as well as its effects on users, is essential for developing effective psychosocial support and treatment interventions to address this public health crisis

Developing an implementation fidelity checklist for a vocational rehabilitation intervention

Background: Despite growing numbers of studies reporting the efficacy of complex interventions and their implementation, many studies fail to report information on implementation fidelity or describe how fidelity measures used within the study were developed. This study aimed to develop a fidelity checklist for measuring the implementation fidelity of an early, stroke-specialist vocational rehabilitation intervention (ESSVR) in the RETAKE trial. Methods: To develop the fidelity measure, previous checklists were reviewed to inform the assessment structure, and core intervention components were extracted from intervention descriptions into a checklist, which was ratified by eight experts in fidelity measurement and complex interventions. Guidance notes were generated to assist with checklist completion. To test the measure, two researchers independently applied the checklist to fifteen stroke survivor intervention case notes using retrospective observational case review. The scoring was assessed for interrater reliability. Results: A fidelity checklist containing 21 core components and 6 desirable components across 4 stages of intervention delivery was developed with corresponding guidance notes. Interrater reliability of each checklist item ranged from moderate to perfect (Cohen’s kappa 0.69–1). Conclusions: The resulting checklist to assess implementation fidelity is fit for assessing the delivery of vocational rehabilitation for stroke survivors using retrospective observational case review. The checklist proved its utility as a measure of fidelity and may be used to inform the design of future implementation strategies.publishedVersio

An atlas of healthy and injured cell states and niches in the human kidney

Understanding kidney disease relies on defining the complexity of cell types and states, their associated molecular profiles and interactions within tissue neighbourhood