A variety of genetic techniques have been devised to determine cell lineage relationships during tissue development. Some of these systems monitor cell lineages spatially and/or temporally without regard to gene expression by the cells, whereas others correlate gene expression with the lineage under study. The GAL4 Technique for Real-time and Clonal Expression (G-TRACE) system allows for rapid, fluorescent protein-based visualization of both current and past GAL4 expression patterns and is therefore amenable to genome-wide expression-based lineage screens. Here we describe the results from such a screen, performed by undergraduate students of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Undergraduate Research Consortium for Functional Genomics (URCFG) and high school summer scholars as part of a discovery-based education program. The results of the screen, which reveal novel expression-based lineage patterns within the brain, the imaginal disc epithelia, and the hematopoietic lymph gland, have been compiled into the G-TRACE Expression Database (GED), an online resource for use by the Drosophila research community. The impact of this discovery-based research experience on student learning gains was assessed independently and shown to be greater than that of similar programs conducted elsewhere. Furthermore, students participating in the URCFG showed considerably higher STEM retention rates than UCLA STEM students that did not participate in the URCFG, as well as STEM students nationwide.

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Emergency lower extremity embolectomy has high morbidity, mortality, and resource utilization. These data provide a benchmark for this complex patient population and may assist in risk stratifying patients, allowing for improved informed consent and goals of care at the time of presentation.

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Background and Objectives: Venous thromboembolisms (VTEs) in patients who have undergone a colorectal cancer operation increases morbidity and mortality, lengthens recovery time, and are costly. The current common standard is a 28-day prophylactic regimen of 40 mg enoxaparin daily. This study aims to examine the variability in prophylaxis discharge prescriptions at one institution, report 30-day postoperative incidence of venous thromboembolisms and bleeding, and to offer a new protocol for VTE prophylaxis in postoperative patients. Methods: This retrospective case series occurred at Abington-Jefferson Health Hospital in Abington, PA. The electronic medical record was searched for patients who underwent an operation for colorectal cancer from October 2019 to mid-March 2020 and all discharge prophylaxis regimens were recorded and patient demographics were analyzed. Outcomes were measured by rate of VTEs and postoperative complications such as bleeding, transfusions, re-admission, and intensive care admission in the 30-day postoperative period. Results: Eighteen of 57 patients received a medication besides 40 mg of enoxaparin daily. These 18 patients were divided into six different subgroups of various prophylaxis regimens. No patients developed a venous thromboembolism. Four of 18 patients experienced postoperative bleeding complications. Conclusions: Patients with similar pre-operative comorbidities have various venous thromboembolism perioperative prophylaxis regimens prescribed. Despite prescription variations, VTE rates remain negligible. Patients with different comorbid conditions may require alterations to the traditionally prescribed 40 mg enoxaparin daily. Upon discharge, aspirin 81 mg with 40 mg of enoxaparin daily for high-risk patients shows benefits, but requires further investigation.