Supreme Court Term Limits: A Path to a More Accountable High Court

Today's Supreme Court has assumed a degree of power and importance that would have been unrecognizable in the founding era. A recent cascade of ethics scandals has laid bare a system in which justices wield tremendous power for decades with little accountability while the Court's rulings are increasingly unmoored from democratic values and the principle of judicial restraint. For all these reasons, there are growing calls for reform. One of the most popular options would also be among the most transformative: establishing 18-year terms and regularized appointments for justices.This paper explains how such a reform would work, why it would bolster the Court's legitimacy, and how to transition from the current system. It also discusses how the core elements of this reform could be adopted by statute, consistent with the Constitution, by establishing the role of "senior justice.

Efectos genéticos directos, maternos y de ambiente permanente para características de crecimiento hasta el destete en ovinos Texel

Tesis para obtener el grado de Magister Scientiae en Producción de Rumiantes Menores, de la Universidad Nacional del Comahue, en 2021Los parámetros genéticos se utilizan para estimar el valor de la cría de animales, que representa su valor genético. Tener sus especificaciones permite una mayor precisión en las predicciones de los valores genéticos que también se reflejan en la respuesta genética de los personajes a la selección. Bajo la hipótesis de que existen efectos maternos que influyen sobre las características de crecimiento en ovinos Texel, se estimaron los componentes de varianza y los parámetros fenotípicos, genotípicos y ambientales para las características de peso al nacimiento (PCN), peso a los cincuenta días (PC50) y peso a los cien días (PC100) de edad. Se utilizó información proveniente del Servicio Nacional de Evaluación Genética Provino para la raza ovina Texel, correspondiente al período 2000-2017. Se evaluaron genéticamente 6333 animales presentes en la matriz de parentesco. Se realizaron análisis de varianza preliminares con modelos mixtos considerando el año y mes de nacimiento, la edad de la madre al parto, el sexo, tipo de nacimiento, tipo de crianza, grupo contemporáneo y covariables de edad y peso de los corderos para identificar los efectos fijos a incluir en los modelos definitivos a utilizar a posteriori. Para evaluar la importancia de la inclusión de los componentes maternos en los modelos definitivos, se consideraron cinco modelos lineales unicarácter, y se los comparó entre ellos utilizando la prueba de la razón de la verosimilitud. El modelo más completo, que incluye los efectos genéticos directos y maternos, el ambiente permanente y la covariancia entre los efectos genéticos directos y maternos (M5), es el que presentó valores máximos para el logaritmo de la función de la verosimilitud en las características PCN y PC50. Para el caso de PC100 el modelo más adecuado es el que incluye los efectos genéticos directos y maternos y la covariancia entre estos (M3). Los valores de heredabilidad directa estimados para las características PCN, PC50 y PC100 fueron 0,35, 0,36 y 0,41, respectivamente. Dichos valores aumentaron desde el nacimiento hasta el destete. Los efectos genéticos maternos fueron importantes en todas las características (PCN = 0,16, PC50 = 0,05 y PC100 = 0,22). Los valores de los efectos de ambiente permanente en las características PCN y PC50 fueron de 0,1 y 0,16 respectivamente. La correlación genética entre los efectos genéticos directos y maternos en todas las características analizadas fueron negativas y de alta magnitud (-0,64 a -0,82). Para las características analizadas en este estudio se evidenció que los efectos maternos, tanto genéticos como de ambiente permanente, son un componente importante de variación, y la no inclusión de los mismos en los modelos, genera una sobrestimación de la heredabilidad total, comprometiendo el progreso genético. La estimación de estos efectos proporciona una nueva herramienta disponible para mejorar las predicciones del valor genético de los animales de ésta raza.Genetic parameters are used to estimate the value of animal husbandry, which represents their genetic value. Having their specifications allows greater precision in the predictions of the breeding values also being reflected in the genetic response of the characters to the selection. Under the hypothesis that there are maternal effects that influence the growth characteristics in Texel sheep, the components of variance and the phenotypic, genotypic and environmental parameters for the characteristics of birth weight (PCN), weight at fifty days (PC50) and weight at one hundred days (PC100) were estimated. The source of information is the National Service of Pro-Ovine Genetic Evaluation for Texel sheep, corresponding to the 2000-2017 period. 6333 animals present in the kinship matrix were genetically evaluated. Preliminary variance analysis were performed with mixed models considering the year and month of birth, mother's age at parturition, sex, type of birth, type of breeding, group contemporary and covariates of lamb's age and weight, to identify the fixed effects to be included in the final model. To evaluate the importance of the inclusion of maternal components in the definitive models, five linear models were considered and compared with each other using the likelihood ratio test. The most complete model, which includes direct and maternal genetic effects, the permanent environment and the covariance between direct and maternal genetic effects (M 5) presented maximum values for the logarithm of the likelihood function in the characteristics PCN and PC50. In the case of PC100, the most suitable model is that which includes direct and maternal genetic effects and the covariance between them (M 3). The estimated direct heritability values for characteristics PCN, PC50 and PC100 were 0.35, 0.36 and 0.41, respectively. These values increased from birth to weaning. Maternal genetic effects were important in all characteristics (PCN = 0.16, PC50 = 0.05 and PC100 = 0.22). The values of the effects of permanent environment in the PCN and PC50 characteristics were 0.1 and 0.16 respectively. The genetic correlation between direct and maternal genetic effects in all the analyzed characteristics were negative and of high magnitude (-0.64 to -0.82). For the characteristics analyzed in this study, maternal effects, both genetic and permanent environment, are an important component of variation. Their exclusion of the models generates an overestimation of the total heritability, compromising the progress genetic. The estimation of these effects provides a new tool to improve predictions of the genetic value of the animals of this breed.EEA Santiago del EsteroFil: Cordoba, Alicia Beatriz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santiago del Estero; Argentina

Una aproximación desde el modelamiento a la estimación de la amenaza por lahares: el caso del sector Tamasagra en la ciudad de Pasto, Colombia

The computational program Titan2F, a two phase flow modeling program, is used to model several hypothetical scenarios of volcanic origin mud flows (lahars) in order to estimate the spacial and temporary evolution of this potentially destructive natural phenomena at its entrance of the city of Pasto, Colombia through the Mijitayo river basin. The predictions of the program suggest that extremely high and destructive dynamic pressures at the entrance to the city can be expected. In addition, our simulations show that half of the Tamasagra and El Bosque neighbors can be inundated with lahar depths of about 1 meter thickness. The program shows to be capable to deal with the modeling of the effect of the streets and buildings on the flow behavior, showing how the streets channelizes the flow governing the path of it. In addition, our results allow to identify regions where the flow loss most of its energy, where mitigation of risk can be suggested.El programa Titan2F para el modelamiento de flujos bifásicos, fué usado para modelar escenarios hipotéticos de flujos de lodo de orígen volcánico (lahares) a fin de estimar la evolución espacial y temporal de este fenómeno potencialmente destructivo en su entrada a la ciudad de Pasto, Colombia, por la cuenca del rio Mijitayo. Las predicciones del programa sugieren presiones dinámicas extremadamente altas a la antrada del abanico de dispersion de la cuenca. Adicionalmente, se predicen niveles de inundación del orden de metros, aproximadamente en la mitad del área de los barrios Tamasagra y El Bosque. El programa es capaz de modelar el efecto de las calles y edificaciones en el comportamiento del flujo, mostrando como las calles lo canalizan, controlando su camiNúm. Se encuentran zonas donde el flujo pierde su energía, donde se sugieren medidas de mitigación

The influence of ecophysiological factors on growth, aflR gene expression and aflatoxin B1 production by a type strain of Aspergillus flavus

Maize is prone to infection by Aspergillus flavus, which can contaminate the product with aflatoxins. The objective of this study was to examine the impact that interactions between water activity (aw) and temperature may have on growth, the expression of a biosynthetic regulatory gene (aflR) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production by a strain of A. flavus on a maize-based medium. Results showed that there were some differences between lag phases and growth rates of A. flavus. The optimum growth rate for A. flavus was at 30 °C and 0.99 aw. No growth occurred at 0.90 aw and 20 °C. Both temperature and aw had an influence on the relative aflR gene expression and AFB1 production by A. flavus; however, the results for AFB1 production were not consistent with the effects on gene expression or growth. These findings provide data that are useful to better understand the conditions which represent higher risks from AFB1 production. However, the aflR expression was not a good indicator of AFB1 production alone. Thus, further molecular studies of other AF-related genes should be done. These results are discussed in the context of harvesting and storage of maize and the prevailing environmental conditions to minimise AFB1 contamination

Estrategia para prevenir la incidencia del VIH en las mujeres de Cali, (Colombia)

Se trabajó sobre esta patología del virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) que hoy en día es catalogada como la pandemia que ha cobrado muchas vidas desde su aparición en (1981) de la cual hay unas hipótesis de cómo se contagió el ser humano, se ha buscado la cura y aun no se ha podido hallar, pero esto no quiere decir que las personas necesariamente mueren de VIH (SIDA) la ciencia ha avanzado bastante y en su mayoría las personas contagiadas no mueren por esta causa si no por otras, gracias a la medicina pueden llevar vidas prácticamente normales, pero para las el caso de las madres lactantes que padecen esta patología ahí es donde nace la gran preocupación de cómo afecta esta enfermedad a niños que acaban de nacer y necesitan de la lactancia como base fundamental para su desarrollo y que debido a esto no pueden ser lactados. En la siguiente investigación se pueden encontrar como la desinformación de esta enfermedad puede ser una de las principales causas de contagio, ya que a pesar de ser una enfermedad vieja hay quienes aún no tienen claro la importancia de cuidar y ser responsables con este tema, y que a pesar de la sociedad tan liberal en la nos encontramos hay quienes discriminan a estas personas y aun no tiene claro cuáles son las formas de contagio.We worked on this pathology of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that today is classified as the pandemic that has claimed many lives since its appearance in (1981), of which there are some hypotheses of how the human being was infected. sought the cure and still could not find it, but this does not mean that people necessarily die of HIV (AIDS) science has come a long way and most infected people do not die from this cause if not from others, thanks to Medicine can lead practically normal lives, but in the case of nursing mothers who suffer from this pathology, this is where the great concern arises as to how this disease affects children who have just been born and need breastfeeding as a fundamental basis for their development. And because of this they cannot be lactated. In the following investigation you can find how the disinformation of this disease can be one of the main causes of infection, since despite being an old disease there are those who are still not clear about the importance of taking care of and being responsable with this issue, and that despite the liberal society in which we find oírseles, there are those who discriminate against these people and it is still nuclear what the forms of contagion are

Nodal-Stage Classification in Invasive Lobular Breast Carcinoma: Influence of Different Interpretations of the pTNM Classification

Purpose Application of current nodal status classification is complicated in lobular breast carcinoma metastases. The aim of this study was to define the optimal interpretation of the pTNM classification in sentinel node (SN) -positive patients to select patients with limited or with a high risk of non-SN involvement. Patients and Methods SN metastases of 392 patients with lobular breast carcinoma were reclassified according to interpretations of the European Working Group for Breast Screening Pathology (EWGBSP) and guidelines by Turner et al, and the predictive power for non-SN involvement was assessed. Results Reclassification according to definitions of EWGBSP and Turner et al resulted in different pN classification in 73 patients (19%). The rate of non-SN involvement in the 40 patients with isolated tumor cells according to Turner et al and with micrometastases according to EWGBSP was 20%, which is comparable to the established rate for micrometastases. The rate of non-SN involvement in the 29 patients with micrometastases according to Turner et al and with macrometastases according to EWGBSP was 48%, which is comparable to the established rate for macrometastases. Therefore, the EWGBSP method to classify SN tumor load better reflected the risk of non-SN involvement than the Turner et al system. Conclusion Compared with the guidelines by Turner et al, the EWGBSP definitions better reflect SN metastatic tumor load and allow better differentiation between patients with lobular breast carcinoma who have a limited or a high risk of non-SN metastases. Therefore, we suggest using the EWGBSP definitions in these patients to select high-risk patients who may benefit from additional local and/or systemic therapy

Reproducibility and predictive value of scoring stromal tumour infiltrating lymphocytes in triple-negative breast cancer : a multi-institutional study

Several studies have demonstrated a prognostic role for stromal tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The reproducibility of scoring sTILs is variable with potentially excellent concordance being achievable using a software tool. We examined agreement between breast pathologists across Europe scoring sTILs on H&E-stained sections without software, an approach that is easily applied in clinical practice. The association between sTILs and response to anthracycline-taxane NACT was also examined. Pathologists from the European Working Group for Breast Screening Pathology scored sTILs in 84 slides from 75 TNBCs using the immune-oncology biomarker working group guidance in two circulations. There were 16 participants in the first and 19 in the second circulation. Moderate agreement was achieved for absolute sTILs scores (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.683, 95% CI 0.601-0.767, p-value = 25% (kappa = 0.53) and for LPBC (kappa = 0.49), but poor for sTILs as 10% increments (kappa = 0.24). Increasing sTILs was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of a pathological complete response (pCR) on multivariable analysis. Increasing sTILs in TNBCs improves the likelihood of a pCR. However, inter-observer agreement is such that H&E-based assessment is not sufficiently reproducible for clinical application. Other methodologies should be explored, but may be at the cost of ease of application.Non peer reviewe

Prognostic value of histopathologic traits independent of stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte levels in chemotherapy-naïve patients with triple-negative breast cancer

Background: In the absence of prognostic biomarkers, most patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (eTNBC) are treated with combination chemotherapy. The identification of biomarkers to select patients for whom treatment de-escalation or escalation could be considered remains an unmet need. We evaluated the prognostic value of histopathologic traits in a unique cohort of young, (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy-naïve patients with early-stage (stage I or II), node-negative TNBC and long-term follow-up, in relation to stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) for which the prognostic value was recently reported. Materials and methods: We studied all 485 patients with node-negative eTNBC from the population-based PARADIGM cohort which selected women aged &lt;40 years diagnosed between 1989 and 2000. None of the patients had received (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy according to standard practice at the time. Associations between histopathologic traits and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) were analyzed with Cox proportional hazard models. Results: With a median follow-up of 20.0 years, an independent prognostic value for BCSS was observed for lymphovascular invasion (LVI) [adjusted (adj.) hazard ratio (HR) 2.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.49-3.69], fibrotic focus (adj. HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.09-2.37) and sTILs (per 10% increment adj. HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.69-0.82). In the sTILs &lt;30% subgroup, the presence of LVI resulted in a higher cumulative incidence of breast cancer death (at 20 years, 58%; 95% CI 41% to 72%) compared with when LVI was absent (at 20 years, 32%; 95% CI 26% to 39%). In the ≥75% sTILs subgroup, the presence of LVI might be associated with poor survival (HR 11.45, 95% CI 0.71-182.36, two deaths). We confirm the lack of prognostic value of androgen receptor expression and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 -low status. Conclusions: sTILs, LVI and fibrotic focus provide independent prognostic information in young women with node-negative eTNBC. Our results are of importance for the selection of patients for de-escalation and escalation trials.</p

Thrombotic and bleeding complications in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and severe COVID-19: a study of ERIC, the European Research Initiative on CLL

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may be more susceptible to COVID-19 related poor outcomes, including thrombosis and death, due to the advanced age, the presence of comorbidities, and the disease and treatment-related immune deficiency. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of thrombosis and bleeding in patients with CLL affected by severe COVID-19. METHODS: This is a retrospective multicenter study conducted by ERIC, the European Research Initiative on CLL, including patients from 79 centers across 22 countries. Data collection was conducted between April and May 2021. The COVID-19 diagnosis was confirmed by the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for SARS-CoV-2 on nasal or pharyngeal swabs. Severe cases of COVID-19 were defined by hospitalization and the need of oxygen or admission into ICU. Development and type of thrombotic events, presence and severity of bleeding complications were reported during treatment for COVID-19. Bleeding events were classified using ISTH definition. STROBE recommendations were used in order to enhance reporting. RESULTS: A total of 793 patients from 79 centers were included in the study with 593 being hospitalized (74.8%). Among these, 511 were defined as having severe COVID: 162 were admitted to the ICU while 349 received oxygen supplementation outside the ICU. Most patients (90.5%) were receiving thromboprophylaxis. During COVID-19 treatment, 11.1% developed a thromboembolic event, while 5.0% experienced bleeding. Thrombosis developed in 21.6% of patients who were not receiving thromboprophylaxis, in contrast to 10.6% of patients who were on thromboprophylaxis. Bleeding episodes were more frequent in patients receiving intermediate/therapeutic versus prophylactic doses of low-molecular-weight heparin (LWMH) (8.1% vs. 3.8%, respectively) and in elderly. In multivariate analysis, peak D-dimer level and C-reactive protein to albumin ratio were poor prognostic factors for thrombosis occurrence (OR?=?1.022, 95%CI 1.007?1.038 and OR?=?1.025, 95%CI 1.001?1.051, respectively), while thromboprophylaxis use was protective (OR?=?0.199, 95%CI 0.061?0.645). Age and LMWH intermediate/therapeutic dose administration were prognostic factors in multivariate model for bleeding (OR?=?1.062, 95%CI 1.017-1.109 and OR?=?2.438, 95%CI 1.023-5.813, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CLL affected by severe COVID-19 are at a high risk of thrombosis if thromboprophylaxis is not used, but also at increased risk of bleeding under the LMWH intermediate/therapeutic dose administration