Education for Algorithms and Advocacy

As society continues to progress in technology, an algorithms class is needed for younger generations now more than ever. Algorithms are seen in almost every part of students\u27 everyday lives. Students have grown up using various technologies, ranging from internet platforms to iPhones. Whether a student is googling an answer to a question or scrolling through social media, algorithms are controlling the information that a student receives. High school students need to be educated on algorithms at an early age so that they can better understand how they play a role in their lives. We have suggested that a textbook be designed and taught around to fill the gap in knowledge we are experiencing as a society from the ground up

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Liver Metastasis: Early Experience with the Cyberknife Robotic Radio-Surgery System

Background: The liver is a common site for malignant metastases. Surgical metastatic resection, ablative therapies, and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) all have advantages and limitations. Preliminary reports reveal SBRT treats hepatic metastases with limited toxicities. We reviewed our institution’s SBRT experience for the treatment of liver metastases to assess toxicity and outcomes.Methods: Hepatic metastases treated with SBRT were retrospectively reviewed from 2008-2010. Computed tomography (CT) identified tumor volume prior to SBRT, local recurrence and out-of-field progression after SBRT. Study endpoints were local recurrence, toxicity, and overall survival.Results: Thirty-three patients had 37 liver metastases treated with a median SBRT dose of 30Gy. Median follow-up was 8.1 months. Five lesions (13.5%) locally recurred after a median of 10.6 months. Seventeen patients had out-of-field progression (15 liver, 6 systemic) after a median of 5.1 months. Overall 23.5-month survival was 45.5%. Five patients reported nausea and seven reported pain after SBRT. There were no grade 4-5 toxicities or cases of liver failure.Conclusion: SBRT is safe and well tolerated in patients with hepatic metastases. SBRT offers a local therapy with limited toxicities to patients with lesions not amenable to traditional ablative, surgical, or regional therapies

Supporting Healthy Futures for East Africa: Celebrating 15 years of partnership in nursing education. School of Nursing and Midwifery in East Africa, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya

This impact evaluation study was designed on the basis of quality and accountability. It focused on sourcing evidence regarding the impact and achievements of a 15-year investment in nursing education and workforce capacity building. The study was also designed to enhance alumni connection and establish sustainable models for monitoring and evaluation.https://ecommons.aku.edu/books/1062/thumbnail.jp

Ratios of Community Respiration to Photosynthesis and Rates of Primary Production in Lake Erie Via Oxygen Isotope Techniques

ABSTRACT. To evaluate levels of primary production and community metabolism in Lake Eri

Scaling DEI: Evaluating Change Preparedness in Organizations

Many organizations implement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs to promote a diverse workforce, reduce bias, and improve organizational culture to foster inclusivity and belonging. However, research shows that the mere presence of DEI programs does not necessarily lead to significant change (Kalev & Dobbin, 2016). Despite the increasing adoption of these programs, their effectiveness remains inconsistent. Moreover, recent trends have shown a backlash against DEI efforts, with over 80 anti-DEI bills introduced in the American legislative system (Lamparksi, 2024) and major companies like Ford Motor, Lowe’s, and Meta scaling back their DEI initiatives (Elias, 2023; Yildirim, 2024). These developments highlight the need to assess whether organizations and their employees are genuinely prepared to support DEI initiatives, which can inform how these programs should be developed and implemented effectively. Despite the growing prominence of DEI initiatives in organizations, there is a significant gap in the academic literature regarding organizational readiness for DEI. Research has focused on outcomes and best practices of DEI programs and organizational readiness for change, but no research has examined readiness for DEI change. This gap is concerning, as organizations may struggle to create sustainable change if they neglect the critical preconditions and organizational capacities necessary for the successful integration of DEI initiatives into the workplace. The development of an organizational readiness for DEI scale would provide valuable insights for determining factors that enable or hinder the success of DEI initiatives. Navigating change management can be a difficult feat and is no different when introducing DEI initiatives. Despite these difficulties, there is a history of implementing effective programs in organizations that can be used as a foundational background for a DEI readiness scale. A DEI readiness scale could help organizations understand gaps between current and desired states, and build employees\u27 confidence in the organization\u27s ability to achieve change (Mladenova, 2022). This research project will aim to assess perceived leadership capabilities and inclusiveness (Hundschell et. al., 2024), employee behavioral intentions (Turner, 2023), and organizational support and resources (Wells-Cheeks, 2024; Billsten et. al., 2018; Hagan et. al., 2020) in the context of DEI initiatives. Study procedures include a comprehensive literature review, survey development, and pilot testing with Appalachian State University students and then administration to a partnering organization. The result of this research will be a practical tool that can measure an organization\u27s readiness for DEI initiatives, impacting the success of DEI program implementations

Human cytomegalovirus protein RL1 degrades the antiviral factor SLFN11 via recruitment of the CRL4 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is an important human pathogen and a paradigm of viral immune evasion, targeting intrinsic, innate, and adaptive immunity. We have employed two orthogonal multiplexed tandem mass tag-based proteomic screens to identify host proteins down-regulated by viral factors expressed during the latest phases of viral infection. This approach revealed that the HIV-1 restriction factor Schlafen-11 (SLFN11) was degraded by the poorly characterized, late-expressed HCMV protein RL1, via recruitment of the Cullin4-RING E3 Ubiquitin Ligase (CRL4) complex. SLFN11 potently restricted HCMV infection, inhibiting the formation and spread of viral plaques. Overall, we show that a restriction factor previously thought only to inhibit RNA viruses additionally restricts HCMV. We define the mechanism of viral antagonism and also describe an important resource for revealing additional molecules of importance in antiviral innate immunity and viral immune evasion

A Mendelian Trait for Olfactory Sensitivity Affects Odor Experience and Food Selection

SummaryHumans vary in acuity to many odors [1–4], with variation within olfactory receptor (OR) genes contributing to these differences [5–9]. How such variation also affects odor experience and food selection remains uncertain [10], given that such effects occur for taste [11–15]. Here we investigate β-ionone, which shows extreme sensitivity differences [4, 16, 17]. β-ionone is a key aroma in foods and beverages [18–21] and is added to products in order to give a pleasant floral note [22, 23]. Genome-wide and in vitro assays demonstrate rs6591536 as the causal variant for β-ionone odor sensitivity. rs6591536 encodes a N183D substitution in the second extracellular loop of OR5A1 and explains >96% of the observed phenotypic variation, resembling a monogenic Mendelian trait. Individuals carrying genotypes for β-ionone sensitivity can more easily differentiate between food and beverage stimuli with and without added β-ionone. Sensitive individuals typically describe β-ionone in foods and beverages as “fragrant” and “floral,” whereas less-sensitive individuals describe these stimuli differently. rs6591536 genotype also influences emotional associations and explains differences in food and product choices. These studies demonstrate that an OR variant that influences olfactory sensitivity can affect how people experience and respond to foods, beverages, and other products