Generalizing the Algebra of Throws to Rank-3 Matroids

The algebra of throws is a geometric construction which reveals the underlying algebraic operations of addition and multiplication in a projective plane. In Desarguesian projective planes, the algebra of throws is a well-defined, commutative and associative binary operation. However, when we consider an analogous operation in a more general point-line configuration that comes from rank-3 matroids, none of these properties are guaranteed. We construct lists of forbidden configurations which give polynomial time checks for certain properties. Using these forbidden configurations, we can check whether a configuration has a group structure under this analogous operation. We look at the properties of configurations with such a group structure, and discuss their connection to the jointless Dowling geometries

Scholarly Activity in Residency: A Needs Assessment of Challenges and Proposed Solutions

Introduction Resident physician participation in scholarly activity is associated with significant benefits ranging from trainees’ personal development to improved quality of patient care. Residency programs have taken varied approaches to improve resident engagement in scholarship, though interventions have demonstrated mixed results regarding objective measures of scholarly productivity. Concerns regarding waining interest in scholarship amongst internal medicine residents prompted a department-wide needs assessment to evaluate opportunities for scholarship and challenges preventing resident participation. Methods A web-based survey was developed and distributed to Department of Internal Medicine faculty and residents at the PGY2 level or higher and recent graduates within the last year prior to the study. We investigated perceived opportunities for resident scholarship, perceived challenges with resident scholarly activity, preferences regarding scholarly projects, and faculty experiences with mentorship. Descrptive statistics were used to describe survey responses. Results Faculty and trainees shared similar perceptions of inadequate opportunities for resident participation in scholarly activity and endorsed a preference to join ongoing projects early in their course as opposed to starting new projects or joining projects near their completion. Both groups identified lack of resident time as a barrier to resident participation in scholarly activity but faculty were more likely to report lack of resident aptitude for research and lack of faculty time and aptitude for mentorship as challenges. Conclusions Residents and faculty are not aware of all the resources in place to support scholarship opportunities for trainees. Resident and faculty time is a significant barrier to resident scholarship and further efforts are needed to support faculty and trainee collaboration while mitigating challenges which limit the use of currently available resources. Regular curricular assessment is necessary to ensure that trainees and faculty are aware of available resources and that those resources are meeting the departments specific needs

The Effect of Prenatal Breastfeeding Classes on the Initiation Rate and Duration of Breastfeeding

Aim: To determine whether an educational prenatal breastfeeding class will increase the initiation rate and duration of breastfeeding among mothers. Background: Breastfeeding rates continue to be low, particularly among teenage mothers and nonwhite mothers. Some of the factors that contribute to this are social support, education about breastfeeding, social stigmas, and time. Significance: Breastfeeding can provide many positive benefits to mothers, babies, and communities. Having no breastfeeding education makes women less likely to initiate and maintain breastfeeding. Methods: Correlational quasi-experimental design. Prenatal breastfeeding class lasting 8 weeks prior to childbirth. Phone interview at 1 week postpartum to determine if breastfeeding was initiated and follow up phone interviews at 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months postpartum to determine duration of breastfeeding. Analysis: For this research study we plan to analyze our data in the following way: We will evaluate the demographics and present descriptive statistics to describe our sample and to determine if there were group differences. For our independent variable (IV) and dependent variables (DV), in order to test our hypothesis, we will use Pearson’s Correlational Test to evaluate the correlation between the prenatal breastfeeding class and initiation and duration of breastfeeding. Limitations: Limitations of this study are potential of lack of participation in the class, difficulty with communication postpartum, and small sample size

Cross-cultural equivalence of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) across four African countries in a multi-national study of adults

The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) has been widely used to screen psychological distress across many countries. However, its performance has not been extensively studied in Africa. The present study sought to evaluate and compare measurement properties of the K10 across four African countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa. Our hypothesis is that the measure will show equivalence across all. Data are drawn from a neuropsychiatric genetic study among adult participants (N = 9179) from general medical settings in Ethiopia (n = 1928), Kenya (n = 2556), Uganda (n = 2104), and South Africa (n = 2591). A unidimensional model with correlated errors was tested for equivalence across study countries using confir- matory factor analyses and the alignment optimization method. Results displayed 30 % noninvariance (i.e., variation) for both intercepts and factor loadings across all countries. Monte Carlo simulations showed a cor- relation of 0.998, a good replication of population values, indicating minimal noninvariance, or variation. Items “so nervous,” “lack of energy/effortful tasks,” and “tired” were consistently equivalent for intercepts and factor loadings, respectively. However, items “depressed” and “so depressed” consistently differed across study coun- tries (R2 = 0) for intercepts and factor loadings for both items

The disordered N-terminal tail of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid protein forms a dynamic complex with RNA

The SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid (N) protein is responsible for condensation of the viral genome. Characterizing the mechanisms controlling nucleic acid binding is a key step in understanding how condensation is realized. Here, we focus on the role of the RNA binding domain (RBD) and its flanking disordered N-terminal domain (NTD) tail, using single-molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer and coarse-grained simulations. We quantified contact site size and binding affinity for nucleic acids and concomitant conformational changes occurring in the disordered region. We found that the disordered NTD increases the affinity of the RBD for RNA by about 50-fold. Binding of both nonspecific and specific RNA results in a modulation of the tail configurations, which respond in an RNA length-dependent manner. Not only does the disordered NTD increase affinity for RNA, but mutations that occur in the Omicron variant modulate the interactions, indicating a functional role of the disordered tail. Finally, we found that the NTD-RBD preferentially interacts with single-stranded RNA and that the resulting protein:RNA complexes are flexible and dynamic. We speculate that this mechanism of interaction enables the Nucleocapsid protein to search the viral genome for and bind to high-affinity motifs

COVID-19 as a catalyst to inspire learning and create fresh, meaningful interpersonal interactions : a case study of positive psychology in higher education

Increasingly, school curricula are embedding the principles of positive psychology to enhance wellbeing. To our knowledge, very few universities have taken this step. Since 2018, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia has offered a distinctive programme to develop students’ personal wellbeing and resilience together with academic performance and personal effectiveness. This programme includes four workshops focused on identifying purpose and fostering social responsibility. To overcome the COVID-19 restrictions on teaching, these workshops were redesigned for small-group web-based coaching. This study tests two propositions: i) the workshops achieved wider unintended benefits to students’ sense of belonging, and ii) the concept of belonging derived from research in secondary schools is meaningful in a university setting. Primary data was gathered using semi-structured interviews (n=8). Interview transcripts were analysed using a deductive approach informed by a validated construct of school belonging comprising ten factors. Results showed how the workshops cultivated belonging, especially through teacher support and students’ personal characteristics, consistent with previous school-based research. Regarding their contributions to belonging, the pandemic situation seemed to heighten the importance of peer support and downplay the importance of extracurricular activities. Despite obvious challenges, COVID-19 has been a catalyst to inspire learning and create fresh, meaningful interpersonal interactions in higher education

Pregnancy outcome in thoracic aortic disease data from the Registry Of Pregnancy And Cardiac disease

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death during pregnancy with thoracic aortic dissection being one of the main causes. Thoracic aortic disease is commonly related to hereditary disorders and congenital heart malformations such as bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). Pregnancy is considered a high risk period in women with underlying aortopathy. METHODS: The ESC EORP Registry Of Pregnancy And Cardiac disease (ROPAC) is a prospective global registry that enrolled 5739 women with pre-existing cardiac disease. With this analysis, we aim to study the maternal and fetal outcome of pregnancy in women with thoracic aortic disease. RESULTS: Thoracic aortic disease was reported in 189 women (3.3%). Half of them were patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS), 26% had a BAV, 8% Turner syndrome, 2% vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and 11% had no underlying genetic defect or associated congenital heart defect. Aortic dilatation was reported in 58% of patients and 6% had a history of aortic dissection. Four patients, of whom three were patients with MFS, had an acute aortic dissection (three type A and one type B aortic dissection) without maternal or fetal mortality. No complications occurred in women with a history of aortic dissection. There was no significant difference in median fetal birth weight if treated with a beta-blocker or not (2960 g (2358-3390 g) vs 3270 g (2750-3570 g), p value 0.25). CONCLUSION: This ancillary analysis provides the largest prospective data review on pregnancy risk for patients with thoracic aortic disease. Overall pregnancy outcomes in women with thoracic aortic disease followed according to current guidelines are good

Mutant huntingtin confers cell-autonomous phenotypes on Huntington’s disease iPSC-derived microglia

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a dominantly inherited CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene (HTT). Neuroinflammation and microglia have been implicated in HD pathology, however it has been unclear if mutant HTT (mHTT) expression has an adverse cell-autonomous effect on microglial function, or if they are only activated in response to the neurodegenerative brain environment in HD. To establish a human cell model of HD microglia function, we generated isogenic controls for HD patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) with 109 CAG repeats (Q109). Q109 and isogenic Q22 iPSC, as well as non-isogenic Q60 and Q33 iPSC lines, were differentiated to iPSC-microglia. Our study supports a model of basal microglia dysfunction in HD leading to elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine production together with impaired phagocytosis and endocytosis capacity, in the absence of immune stimulation. These findings are consistent with early microglia activation observed in pre-manifest patients and indicate that mHTT gene expression affects microglia function in a cell-autonomous way

Shared Microexponents: A Little Shifting Goes a Long Way

This paper introduces Block Data Representations (BDR), a framework for exploring and evaluating a wide spectrum of narrow-precision formats for deep learning. It enables comparison of popular quantization standards, and through BDR, new formats based on shared microexponents (MX) are identified, which outperform other state-of-the-art quantization approaches, including narrow-precision floating-point and block floating-point. MX utilizes multiple levels of quantization scaling with ultra-fine scaling factors based on shared microexponents in the hardware. The effectiveness of MX is demonstrated on real-world models including large-scale generative pretraining and inferencing, and production-scale recommendation systems