Children’s episodic and generic reports of alleged abuse

With the present data, we explored the relations between the language of interviewer questions, children’s reports, and case and child characteristics in forensic interviews. Results clearly indicated that the type of questions posed by interviewers – either probing generic or episodic features of an event – was related to the specificity of information reported by children. Further, interviewers appeared to adjust their questioning strategies based on the frequency of the alleged abuse. Children alleging single instances of abuse were asked more episodic questions than those alleging multiple abuses. In contrast, children alleging multiple incidents of abuse were asked a greater proportion of generic questions. Given that investigators often seek forensically-relevant episodic information, it is recommended that training for investigators focus on recognition of prompt selection tendencies and developing strategies for posing non-suggestive, episodically focused questions

Discovery of genes implicated in whirling disease infection and resistance in rainbow trout using genome-wide expression profiling

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Whirling disease, caused by the pathogen <it>Myxobolus cerebralis</it>, afflicts several salmonid species. Rainbow trout are particularly susceptible and may suffer high mortality rates. The disease is persistent and spreading in hatcheries and natural waters of several countries, including the U.S.A., and the economic losses attributed to whirling disease are substantial. In this study, genome-wide expression profiling using cDNA microarrays was conducted for resistant Hofer and susceptible Trout Lodge rainbow trout strains following pathogen exposure with the primary objective of identifying specific genes implicated in whirling disease resistance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Several genes were significantly up-regulated in skin following pathogen exposure for both the resistant and susceptible rainbow trout strains. For both strains, response to infection appears to be linked with the interferon system. Expression profiles for three genes identified with microarrays were confirmed with qRT-PCR. <it>Ubiquitin-like protein 1 </it>was up-regulated over 100 fold and <it>interferon regulating factor 1 </it>was up-regulated over 15 fold following pathogen exposure for both strains. Expression of <it>metallothionein B</it>, which has known roles in inflammation and immune response, was up-regulated over 5 fold in the resistant Hofer strain but was unchanged in the susceptible Trout Lodge strain following pathogen exposure.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study has provided an initial view into the genetic basis underlying immune response and resistance of rainbow trout to the whirling disease parasite. The identified genes have allowed us to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms implicated in salmonid immune response and resistance to whirling disease infection.</p

Improving treatment and survival: a population‐based study of current outcomes after a hepatic resection in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

AbstractBackgroundPopulation‐based studies historically report underutilization of a resection in patients with colorectal metastases to the liver. Recent data suggest limitations of the methods in the historical analysis. The present study examines trends in a hepatic resection and survival among Medicare recipients with hepatic metastases.MethodsMedicare recipients with incident colorectal cancer diagnosed between 1991 and 2009 were identified in the SEER(Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results)‐Medicare dataset. Patients were stratified into historical (1991–2001) and current (2002–2009) cohorts. Analyses compared treatment, peri‐operative outcomes and survival.ResultsOf 31 574 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer to the liver, 14 859 were in the current cohort treated after 2002 and 16 715 comprised the historical control group. The overall proportion treated with a hepatic resection increased significantly during the study period (P< 0.001) with pre/post change from 6.5% pre‐2002 to 7.5% currently (P < 0.001). Over time, haemorrhagic and infectious complications declined (both P ≤ 0.047), but 30‐day mortality was similar (3.5% versus 3.9%, P = 0.660). After adjusting for predictors of survival, the use of a hepatic resection [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.38–0.42, P < 0.001] and treatment after 2002 (HR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.86–0.90, P < 0.001) were associated with a reduced risk of death.ConclusionsCase identification using International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD‐9) codes is imperfect; however, comparison of trends over time suggests an improvement in multimodality therapy and survival in patients with colorectal metastases to the liver

Identification of an Early Unipotent Neutrophil Progenitor with Pro-tumoral Activity in Mouse and Human Bone Marrow

Neutrophils are short-lived cells that play important roles in both health and disease. Neutrophils and monocytes originate from the granulocyte monocyte progenitor (GMP) in bone marrow; however, unipotent neutrophil progenitors are not well defined. Here, we use cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) methodologies to identify a committed unipotent early-stage neutrophil progenitor (NeP) in adult mouse bone marrow. Importantly, we found a similar unipotent NeP (hNeP) in human bone marrow. Both NeP and hNeP generate only neutrophils. NeP and hNeP both significantly increase tumor growth when transferred into murine cancer models, including a humanized mouse model. hNeP are present in the blood of treatment-naive melanoma patients but not of healthy subjects. hNeP can be readily identified by flow cytometry and could be used as a biomarker for early cancer discovery. Understanding the biology of hNeP should allow the development of new therapeutic targets for neutrophil-related diseases, including cancer

A coalescent-based estimator of genetic drift, and acoustic divergence in the Pteronotus parnellii species complex

Dávalos, Liliana M., Lancaster, Winston C., Núñez-Novas, Miguel S., León, Yolanda M., Lei, Bonnie, Flanders, Jon, Russell, Amy L. (2018): A coalescent-based estimator of genetic drift, and acoustic divergence in the Pteronotus parnellii species complex. Heredity 122 (4): 417-427, DOI: 10.1038/s41437-018-0129-3, URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41437-018-0129-

Characterization of a cluster of dominant suppressors of position effect variegation including effects on heterochromatic variegating rearrangements in Drosophila melanogaster

The mosiac, cell-autonomous expression of genes resulting from chromosomal rearrangement and relocation next to broken heterochromatin is termed position effect variegation (PEV). Since the gene is inactivated due to chromatin changes, this system allows the genetic study of chromatin structure and function using mutations which rescue the mosaic phenotype. These mutations called suppressors of variegation, Su(var)s, must influence chromatin structure. The genetic characterization of several groups of Su(var)s has been undertaken in this study using Drosophila melanogaster. Variegation of the light gene, located in heterochromatin, is enhanced by several Su(var) mutations on chromosome two. This opposite effect suggests that products of these Su(var)s are essential for functioning heterochromatin and deleterious for euchromatic environments. Other Su(var)s have slight or no effects on the same variegating rearrangements, demonstrating functional differences, among the Su(var)s tested. A group of Su(var)s located within 4 map units near the centromere of chromosome three was characterized using deficiency mapping, new compound autosome formation and inter se complementation based on newly established homozygous phenotypes. Two Su(var)s mapped to 87B on 3R, while one Su(var) maps to 3L according to compound mapping. Inter se complementation, in combination with mapping data, suggests that four seperate loci make up this group of Su(var)s. Eight of nine Su(var)s are extremely sensitive to heterochromatic deletions as shown by their responses to loss of 2R heterochromatin, as well as the Y chromosome. In contrast, Su(var)A130 is insensitive to both forms of heterochromatic deficiencies. Su(var)s show complicated reactions to maternal verses paternal source effects. Six of nine Su(var)s show a female-specific temperature sensitive maternal effect. Some maternal and paternal effects are observed at 22 C. Su(var)A57 is maternal semi-lethal and suppressed at 29 C. This characterization has better defined these mutants, making them ammenable to molecular study.Science, Faculty ofZoology, Department ofGraduat

Oral History Interview with Jovita Soria, November 10, 2012

Interview with Jovita Soria, Mexican-born immigrant to Plano, Texas, for the DFW Metroplex Immigration Oral History Project. The interview includes Soria's personal experiences of childhood in Mexico, her first experience in Plano at the age of seventeen and her second on as a live-in nanny, her move to Abilene, Texas, and return to Mexico with her husband. Soria also talks about her return to Plano as an illegal immigrant, difficulties with illegal status, assimilation into Texas culture, children's experiences as Mexican-American, and her thoughts on the immigration process

Oral History Interview with Shelley Schnittker, February 24, 2013

Interview with U.S. Navy Seaman, Avionics Technician, and Persian Gulf War-era Veteran Shelley Schnittker for the Women Veterans Oral History Project. The interview includes her experiences with childhood in Arlington and the effects of her parent's divorce. She talks about her experience in drug rehab, reasons for joining the Navy, training in a job recently opened to women, her experience in an all-female company at boot camp, life at duty station in San Diego, California, and the reaction of her family when she told them of her enlistment. It also includes her experience as part of a detachment aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation, her thoughts on women in combat and the expanding role of women in the Navy in the early 1990s. She talks about her first marriage, as well as attending Baylor University and the reaction of other students in regards to her veteran status, the lack of support for women veterans at Baylor, the shellback ceremony, and her advice for future generations of women in the military. Schnittker also talks about unreported sexual assault during avionics school, and gives advice to victims of military sexual trauma. It includes an appendix with photographs and a list detailing Schnittker's military career

Oral History Interview with Laura Nevada Weger, March 31, 2013

Interview with Laura Nevada Weger, U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class, Cryptologic Technician, and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, for the Women Veterans Oral History Project. The interview includes Weger's personal experiences of childhood, her family history of military service, reasons for joining the Navy, reaction from her family to her enlistment, training as a cryptological technician, first duty station at Whidbey Island, Washington. Weger talks about the lack of women in unit, rate of pregnancy among unit, sexual assault in the Navy, being a sexual assault victim advocate at SPAWAR, Chantilly, Virginia, deployments aboard the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, the Shellback Ceremony and hazing, her activity in veterans groups, the civilian reaction to service, reflections on military service, her second duty station at SPAWAR, Chantilly, Virginia, and advice for future female service members. Additionally, she includes her thoughts on the lifting of combat exclusion ban on women, working at a joint command, integrated barracks, women on submarine duty, the Naval medical system, and her grandmother's service in the Women's Army Corp during the Korean War. The interview includes an appendix with photographs and a list detailing Weger's military career

Oral History Interview with Marjorie Rae Lutkins Babcock, March 31, 2013

Interview with Marjorie Rae Lutkins Babcock, Women's Army Corps Enlisted, Keypunch Operator, and Korean War-ere Veteran, for the Women Veterans Oral History Project. The interview includes Babcock's personal experiences of childhood in Michigan, basic training at Fort Lee, Virginia, duty assignments at Governor's Island, New York and Hanau, Germany, her temporary duty assignment at the Pentagon, her placement in the Veterans of Foreign War's Women's Auxiliary despite veteran status, and her brother's experience in the Merchant Marines during World War II. Additionally, the interview includes her reason for enlisting, her family's reaction to her enlistment, impressions of post-war Germany, advice for future women service members, her views on service and women in combat, and her daughter's views of the military and the military service of her mom and other family members. The interview includes an appendix with photographs and a list detailing Babcock's military career