Podcast episode 3: Reflections on Travel Seminar to Arizona/Mexico Border

This article and podcast was originally published in The Prophet -- a journal created by and for the students at the Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) to amplify the voices of STH students by promoting and sharing a range of perspectives on matters of concern including, but not limited to, spiritual practices, faith communities and society, the nature of theology, and current affairs. It serves as a platform for STH students to share their academic work, theological reflections, and life experiences with one another and the wider community.Matt Lewellyn-Otten (MDiv ’18) and Bailey Brawner (MDiv ’18) discuss their experience at the Arizona/Mexico border

Evidence that MEK1 positively promotes interhomologue double-strand break repair

During meiosis there is an imperative to create sufficient crossovers for homologue segregation. This can be achieved during repair of programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which are biased towards using a homologue rather than sister chromatid as a repair template. Various proteins contribute to this bias, one of which is a meiosis specific kinase Mek1. It has been proposed that Mek1 establishes the bias by creating a barrier to sister chromatid repair, as distinct from enforcing strand invasion with the homologue. We looked for evidence that Mek1 positively stimulates strand invasion of the homologue. This was done by analysing repair of DSBs induced by the VMA1- derived endonuclease (VDE) and flanked by directly repeated sequences that can be used for intrachromatid single-strand annealing (SSA). SSA competes with interhomologue strand inva- sion significantly more successfully when Mek1 function is lost. We suggest the increase in intrachromosomal SSA reflects an opportunistic default repair pathway due to loss of a MEK1 stimulated bias for strand invasion of the homologous chromosome. Making use of an inhibitor sensitive mek1-as1 allele, we found that Mek1 function influences the repair pathway throughout the first 4-5 h of meiosis. Perhaps reflecting a particular need to create bias for successful interhomologue events before chromosome pairing is complete. © The Author(s) 2010. Published by Oxford University Pres

What Online Communities Leave Out: Unlikely Friendships

Not long ago, a study was conducted to see how quickly Americans make decisions about other people regarding the potential for friendship. The answer: between two and four seconds. Posting about ­­­­­­­­the beauty of unlikely friendships from In All Things - an online journal for critical reflection on faith, culture, art, and every ordinary-yet-graced square inch of God’s creation. https://inallthings.org/what-online-communities-leave-out-unlikely-friendships

Taproot™ Technology: Tree Coring for Fast, Noninvasive Plume Delineations

In Efforts to Evaluate the Use of Plants as a Forensic Tool for Delineating Contaminated Soil and Groundwater, a Laboratory Experiment and a Field Sampling Effort Were Undertaken. Site Assessments Are Often Costly and Inaccurate, Requiring Multiple Mobilizations to Hone in on Source Areas and Getting Accurate Estimates of Contaminant Extent and Distribution. as These Extensive Site Delineations Take Place, Valuable Time and Resources Are Lost. the Findings of This Study Show that Plants Can Be Used as a Tool to Evaluate a Variety of Subsurface Contaminants, Either in the Vadose Zone or in the Saturated Zone. in the First Field Application of Taproot™ Technology, a Large, Heavily Forested Site Was Sampled in One Day and the Contamination On-Site Was More Accurately Delineated Than Had Been Generated at the Site in over a Decade, with More Than 26 Wells Installed. New Source Zones Were Detected on the Site, and the Presence of New Waste Depositions Was Uncovered for the First Time Showing the Great Value of Tree Coring as a Contaminant Detection Tool. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Rapid variability of accretion in AM Herculis

We present the last pointed observation of AM Her carried out during the life of the BeppoSAX satellite. It was bright at the beginning of the observation, but dropped to the lowest X-ray level ever observed so far. The X-ray emission during the bright period is consistent with accretion occurring onto the main pole of the magnetized white dwarf. The rapid change from the active state to the low deep state indicates a drop by a factor of 17 in the accretion rate and hence that accretion switched-off. The short timescale (less than one hour) of this variation still remains a puzzle. Optical photometry acquired simultaneousy during the low state shows that the white dwarf remains heated, although a weak emission from the accretion stream could be still present. Cyclotron radiation, usually dominating the V and R bands, is negligible thus corroborating the possibility that AM Her was in an off-accretion state. The X-ray emission during the inactive state is consistent with coronal emission from the secondary late type star.Comment: 6 pages A&A-Latex, 6 Figures, accepted for publication in A&

The Efficacy of Using Blood Flow Restriction Training on Proximal Muscle and Joint Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review

Background: Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) when used with low-load exercise can improve muscular strength and recovery time in individuals attending rehab for distal extremity pathology. Current research suggests that BFRT when used proximally may elicit similar results. Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to analyze evidence regarding the efficacy for physical therapists to utilize BFRT for individuals attending therapy for proximal joint or trunk related injuries. Method(s): A literature review was conducted by five reviewers using CINAHL, Medline, EBSCO, and Academic Search Ultimate. Articles were examined using the search terms (BFR or Blood flow restriction or Blood flow restriction training) and (trunk or hip or shoulder or proximal). Exclusion criteria consisted of the following: PEDRO Score \u3c 3, publication date prior to 2010, systematic reviews or meta-analysis, and if the articles were not peer reviewed. Results: Of the 253 results produced in the search, 11were selected and considered to be eligible. Articles were examined using the PEDro Scale and Hierarchy of Evidence Scale from the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. The 11 articles were then grouped into one of the following categories: BFR and the proximal UE, BFR and the proximal LE, BFR and the Trunk, or BFR and systemic effects of the UE, Trunk, or LE. Upon further evaluation we determined that BFRT when used proximally produced the following improvements: increased CSA/strength, tendon thickness, Hb transport, increased perfusion, functional capabilities, balance, endurance, and decreased pain, and positive responses to metabolic stress. Conclusions: When used in healthy and already active populations, BFRT is a safe and effective compliment when used with exercise. Further research is required in order to determine the efficacy of using BFRT in individuals who are potential candidates for physical therapy rehabilitation. We recommend research be conducted while implementing a standardized BFR protocol in order to more consistently produce results that might further determine the efficacy of using BFRT on the proximal UE/LE and trunk for the purpose of joint/muscle rehabilitation.https://digitalcommons.misericordia.edu/research_posters2021/1066/thumbnail.jp

Predicting Recovery Following Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Using a Clustering Algorithm.

BACKGROUND: Recovery following total joint arthroplasty is patient-specific, yet groups of patients tend to fall into certain similar patterns of recovery. The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize recovery patterns following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using patient-reported outcomes that represent distinct health domains. We hypothesized that recovery patterns could be defined and predicted using preoperative data. METHODS: Adult patients were recruited from a large, urban academic center. To model postoperative responses to THA and TKA across domains such as physical health, mental health, and joint-specific measures, we employed a longitudinal clustering algorithm that incorporates each of these health domains. The clustering algorithm from multiple health domains allows the ability to define distinct recovery trajectories, which could then be predicted from preoperative and perioperative factors using a multinomial regression. RESULTS: Four hundred forty-one of 1134 patients undergoing THA and 346 of 921 undergoing TKA met eligibility criteria and were used to define distinct patterns of recovery. The clustering algorithm was optimized for 3 distinct patterns of recovery that were observed in THA and TKA patients. Patients recovering from THA were divided into 3 groups: standard responders (50.8%), late mental responders (13.2%), and substandard responders (36.1%). Multivariable, multinomial regression suggested that these 3 groups had defined characteristics. Late mental responders tended to be obese (P = .05) and use more opioids (P = .01). Substandard responders had a larger number of comorbidities (P = .02) and used more opioids (P = .001). Patients recovering from TKA were divided among standard responders (55.8%), poor mental responders (24%), and poor physical responders (20.2%). Poor mental responders were more likely to be female (P = .04) and American Society of Anesthesiologists class III/IV (P = .004). Poor physical responders were more likely to be female (P = .03), younger (P = .04), American Society of Anesthesiologists III/IV (P = .04), use more opioids (P = .02), and be discharged to a nursing facility (P = .001). The THA and TKA models demonstrated areas under the curve of 0.67 and 0.72. CONCLUSIONS: This multidomain, longitudinal clustering analysis defines 3 distinct patterns in the recovery of THA and TKA patients, with most patients in both cohorts experiencing robust improvement, while others had equally well defined yet less optimal recovery trajectories that were either delayed in recovery or failed to achieve a desired outcome. Patients in the delayed recovery and poor outcome groups were slightly different between THA and TKA. These groups of patients with similar recovery patterns were defined by patient characteristics that include potentially modifiable comorbid factors. This research suggests that there are multiple defined recovery trajectories after THA and TKA, which provides a new perspective on THA and TKA recovery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III