A Public Health Framework for Screening Mammography: Evidence-Based Versus Politically Mandated Care

This Viewpoint highlights the societal risks of politically motivated mandates relating to public health guidelines. Although the Affordable Care Act mandated insurance coverage for U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)-recommended preventive services, it went further for mammography screening. Instead of relying on the most recent USPSTF guidelines, Congress amended the ACA to require the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to use its 2002 guidelines, which recommended screening every 1-2 years starting at age 40. The FY 2016 Consolidated Appropriations Act instructs DHHS to interpret any reference to “current” USPSTF breast cancer screening recommendations to mean those issued “before 2009” — in other words, its 2002 recommendations. Essentially, Congress is requiring health insurers to ignore modern scientific assessments, and instead use 14-year-old guidance. The ACA improved the public’s health by guaranteeing that insurers provide uniform, cost-free access to preventive services based on modern evidence of effectiveness. The public’s health is best served when women’s personal decisions about screening are informed by evidence rather than political considerations. The Congress’s paternalistic response to USPSTF mammography-screening recommendations vividly illuminate the social costs of politically mandated care. Rather than benefiting women, political interference with science can discourage shared decision-making, increase harms from screening, and sow public doubt about the value and integrity of science

Characterization of Suppressor of IKKepsilon function using immunofluorescence assays and quantitative colocalization analysis

During viral infections, Toll-like receptor-3 (TLR3) stimulation initiates signaling to activate transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines and type-1 interferons. Suppressor of IKK-ε (SIKE) interacts with two kinases in the signaling pathway, IKK-ε and TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), inhibiting the transcription of type I interferons. Recently, this laboratory discovered that SIKE blocks TBK1-mediated activation of type I interferons by acting as a high affinity, alternative substrate of TBK1. Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) assays suggested that the SIKE interaction network impinged upon the cytoskeleton and RNA transport. To characterize SIKE’s function within the antiviral response, SIKE’s role in RNA transport and cytoskeletal rearrangements was targeted for further study through immunofluorescence assays (IFAs), using traditional confocal microscopy. SIKE was found to colocalize with cytoskeleton components (β-actin and α-tubulin), endosomal and plasma membrane markers (Rab11a, LAMP-1, and LC3), and ribosomes (S6). Additionally, IFA labeling for actin cytoskeleton-associated proteins revealed that SIKE colocalized with α-actinin, β-catenin, ezrin, and Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) in both myeloid and epithelial cells. These results were consistent with the hypothesis that SIKE functions in trafficking related to the anti-viral innate immune response. To further delineate the colocalization of α-actinin, α-tubulin, actin, and S6 colocalization with SIKE, super-resolution microscopy, Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM), was used. In both cell lines, we found that SIKE colocalized with α-actinin, but did not consistently colocalize with the other markers. Therefore, SIKE localizes with actin, tubulin, and S6 at distances greater than the 85nm resolution achieved using SIM techniques. To address SIKE function following pathogen challenge, SIKE interactions were examined following two distinct stimuli. Polyinosinic acid: polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) was used as a mimic for viral dsRNA challenge. Following poly(I:C) stimulation, SIKE localization from 15 minutes to 24 hours showed little to no change. In addition to mediating a response to viral challenge, TBK1, the kinase that phosphorylates SIKE, maintains Salmonella-containing vacuoles (SCVs) following S. enterica serovar typhimurium infection. Therefore, changes in SIKE colocalization during Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium infection were examined. Because TBK1 is integral to maintenance of the Salmonella containing vacuole, the hypothesis was that SIKE may also contribute to the host cell response to this infection. SIKE colocalization with various markers for Salmonella-containing vacuoles changes during the time course of Salmonella infection (15 minutes to 18 hours) in a manner that suggested SIKE may play a role in signaling and trafficking related to the host cell’s response to this infection. These studies support a SIKE and α-actinin interaction that is consistent with SIKE functioning in the cytoskeleton. Furthermore, SIKE’s altered colocalization following Salmonella challenge suggest this protein may contribute to cytoskeletal structures that maintain these pathogen-containing vacuoles

Harder – Better – Faster – Stronger? Roman Archaeology and the Challenge of ‘Big Data’.

This paper deals with the integration of large data sets in Roman archaeological research. Starting with an an overview of the definition of the term and its use in the humanities and in Roman archaeology, the paper then traces the use of big data in four sub-fields of Roman archaeology: pottery studies/Samian ware, zooarchaeology, numismatics, and landscape archaeology. Finally, the sub-fields are compared, and recommendations are offered for future data-driven research. Three conclusions can be drawn. 1. The managing and understanding of ever-increasing datasets has been a dominant theme of the last 40–50 years in Roman archaeology but possibly has not been explicitly discussed. 2. Many databases are concerned with only one specific unit or artefact genre, thus reinforcing a certain ‘siloisation’. 3. Data-driven Roman archaeology has the potential to challenge existing narratives and even act as a corrective for traditional frameworks or narratives

Photochemical reduction of benzophenone by 2-butyne-l, 4-diol and photochemical solvolysis reactions of beta-phenethyl compounds

The irradiation of a dioxane solution of benzophenone in the presence of 2-butyne-1, 4-diol leads to reduction of the ketone rather than addition across the triple bond of the alkyne. However, great difficulty was encountered in identifying the product due to the formation of an organic complex involving benzopinacol and the dioxane. Nuclear magnetic resonance and ultraviolet spectral data confirm the presence of the complex. An attempt was made to induce a known ground state reaction by photochemical means. This ground state reaction is known to proceed through an ethylene phenonium ion intermediate. Both β-phenethyl bromide and β-phenethyltrimethylammonium tetrafluoroborate were irradiated in alcoholic solvents, but no reaction was observed

Determination of toxic material penetrations for wildland respirator filters

Thousands of wildland firefighters are exposed to high levels of toxic materials every year. Carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and acrolein gases, along with high particulate concentrations, are the major toxics encountered. Currently, the only respiratory protection wildland firefighters use is a bandanna over the mouth and nose. In this study, a modem activated carbon cartridge with an electrostatic prefilter was compared to a typical bandanna for its ability to filter wildland smoke toxics such as formaldehyde and particulates. The results of the tests were disappointing; neither filter performed very well. The activated carbon cartridge and prefilter efficiently collected formaldehyde gas for up to 60 minutes; however, it only collected 85 percent of the challenge particulate. ]Me bandanna, as expected, was only partially effective at collecting smoke particulate and filtered no toxic gases

Protocols for calibrating multibeam sonar

Development of protocols for calibrating multibeam sonar by means of the standard-target method is documented. Particular systems used in the development work included three that provide the water-column signals, namely the SIMRAD SM2000/90- and 200-kHz sonars and RESON SeaBat 8101 sonar, with operating frequency of 240 kHz. Two facilities were instrumented specifically for the work: a sea well at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and a large, indoor freshwater tank at the University of New Hampshire. Methods for measuring the transfer characteristics of each sonar, with transducers attached, are described and illustrated with measurement results. The principal results, however, are the protocols themselves. These are elaborated for positioning the target, choosing the receiver gain function, quantifying the system stability, mapping the directionality in the plane of the receiving array and in the plane normal to the central axis, measuring the directionality of individual beams, and measuring the nearfield response. General preparations for calibrating multibeam sonars and a method for measuring the receiver response electronically are outlined. Advantages of multibeam sonar calibration and outstanding problems, such as that of validation of the performance of multibeam sonars as configured for use, are mentioned