Young people and the Baptist church: Staying and leaving

The purpose of this study was to understand and compare the young people’s experiences of the church between those who attended church at the time of the study, and those who were no longer attending church at the time of the study. The study was conducted to understand more about the experiences that lead young people to leave the church, and the experiences that motivate young people to stay. A literature review, and a phenomenological study was conducted into this experience. 15 young people aged 19 – 29 were interviewed using openended questions. It was found through the literature review that relationships were the key aspect of staying or leaving. Positive relationships (including with the leadership) motivated young people to engage with church, and negative relationships motivated young people to disengage. It was found that many described a change in culture to be a cause, but this was found to be based on little evidence or poor research. The phenomenology conducted in this study found that relationships were important for the participants in this study, as was small group Bible studies. This study found a contrasting perspective between descriptions and experiences of spirituality, and those of religion, as well as contrasting correlations between spirituality and church. Participants reflected on staying despite having negative experiences, and leaving despite having positive experiences, because there were other reasons that held more weight in their decision than relationships alone. Those who had left the church reflected on how this affected them, and there were both positive, neutral and negative effects for those who left the church. The study concludes by demonstrating the application to youth work including: the importance of incorporating spirituality in youth work services, incorporating spiritual perspectives in youth work training, and recommending that faith based youth ministries adopt a youth work model

Examining the Appreciative Instruction Methods Used by Instructors within an Adult Degree Completion Associate’s Program

This study examines the appreciative instruction methods used by instructors within an online Adult Degree Completion Associates degree program. The researchers conducted a qualitative study that assesses the appreciative instruction methods used by instructors of the Associate of Science in Professional Studies (ASPS) program. The ASPS program is designed to apply students’ past achievements and peak performance learning moments toward degree attainment. The results of the study revealed key themes of the instructional methods used by instructors within the ASPS program which contributed to the development of a Model for Appreciative Instruction within Adult Degree Completion Programs. The study has implications on the faculty and program development frameworks that are used within Adult Degree Completion Programs

A cancer cell-line titration series for evaluating somatic classification.

BackgroundAccurate detection of somatic single nucleotide variants and small insertions and deletions from DNA sequencing experiments of tumour-normal pairs is a challenging task. Tumour samples are often contaminated with normal cells confounding the available evidence for the somatic variants. Furthermore, tumours are heterogeneous so sub-clonal variants are observed at reduced allele frequencies. We present here a cell-line titration series dataset that can be used to evaluate somatic variant calling pipelines with the goal of reliably calling true somatic mutations at low allele frequencies.ResultsCell-line DNA was mixed with matched normal DNA at 8 different ratios to generate samples with known tumour cellularities, and exome sequenced on Illumina HiSeq to depths of >300×. The data was processed with several different variant calling pipelines and verification experiments were performed to assay >1500 somatic variant candidates using Ion Torrent PGM as an orthogonal technology. By examining the variants called at varying cellularities and depths of coverage, we show that the best performing pipelines are able to maintain a high level of precision at any cellularity. In addition, we estimate the number of true somatic variants undetected as cellularity and coverage decrease.ConclusionsOur cell-line titration series dataset, along with the associated verification results, was effective for this evaluation and will serve as a valuable dataset for future somatic calling algorithm development. The data is available for further analysis at the European Genome-phenome Archive under accession number EGAS00001001016. Data access requires registration through the International Cancer Genome Consortium's Data Access Compliance Office (ICGC DACO)

Evidence-Based intervention (Ebi) Mapping: a Systematic approach to Understanding the Components and Logic of Ebis

BACKGROUND: Despite the development of numerous evidence-based interventions (EBIs), many go unused in practice. Hesitations to use existing EBIs may be due to a lack of understanding about EBI components and what it would take to adapt it or implement it as designed. to improve the use of EBIs, program planners need to understand their goals, core components, and mechanisms of action. This paper presents EBI Mapping, a systematic approach based on Intervention Mapping, that can be used to understand and clearly describe EBIs, and help planners put them into practice. METHODS: We describe EBI Mapping tasks and provide an example of the process. EBI Mapping uses principles from Intervention Mapping, a systematic framework for planning multilevel health promotion interventions. EBI Mapping applies the Intervention Mapping steps retrospectively to help planners understand an existing EBI (rather than plan a new one). We explain each EBI Mapping task and demonstrate the process using the VERB Summer Scorecard (VSS), a multi-level community-based intervention to improve youth physical activity. RESULTS: EBI Mapping tasks are: 1) document EBI materials and activities, and their audiences, 2) identify the EBI goals, content, and mechanisms of action, 3) identify the theoretical change methods and practical applications of those methods, 4) describe design features and delivery channels, and 5) describe the implementers and their tasks, implementation strategies, and needed resources. By applying the EBI Mapping tasks, we created a logic model for the VSS intervention. The VSS logic model specifies the links between behavior change methods, practical applications, and determinants for both the at-risk population and environmental change agents. The logic model also links the respective determinants to the desired outcomes including the health behavior and environmental conditions to improve the health outcome in the at-risk population. CONCLUSIONS: EBI Mapping helps program planners understand the components and logic of an EBI. This information is important for selecting, adapting, and scaling-up EBIs. Accelerating and improving the use of existing EBIs can reduce the research-to-practice gap and improve population health

Quantitative trait loci controlling agronomic and biochemical traits in \u3ci\u3eCannabis sativa\u3c/i\u3e

Understanding the genetic basis of complex traits is a fundamental goal of evolutionary genetics. Yet, the genetics controlling complex traits in many important species such as hemp (Cannabis sativa) remain poorly investigated. Because hemp’s change in legal status with the 2014 and 2018 U.S. Federal Farm Bills, interest in the genetics controlling its numerous agriculturally important traits has steadily increased. To better understand the genetics of agriculturally important traits in hemp, we developed an F2 population by crossing two phenotypically distinct hemp cultivars (Carmagnola and USO31). Using whole-genome sequencing, we mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with variation in numerous agronomic and biochemical traits. A total of 69 loci associated with agronomic (34) and biochemical (35) trait variation were identified. We found that most QTL co-localized, suggesting that the phenotypic distinctions between Carmagnola and USO31 are largely controlled by a small number of loci. We identified TINY and olivetol synthase as candidate genes underlying colocalized QTL clusters for agronomic and biochemical traits, respectively. We functionally validated the olivetol synthase candidate by expressing the alleles in yeast. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry assays of extracts from these yeast colonies suggest that the USO31 olivetol synthase is functionally less active and potentially explains why USO31 produces lower cannabinoids compared to Carmagnola. Overall, our results help modernize the genomic understanding of complex traits in hemp

Interaction of suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 with cavin-1 links SOCS3 function and cavin-1 stability

YesEffective suppression of JAK–STAT signalling by the inducible inhibitor “suppressor of cytokine signalling 3” (SOCS3) is essential for limiting signalling from cytokine receptors. Here we show that cavin-1, a component of caveolae, is a functionally significant SOCS3- interacting protein. Biochemical and confocal imaging demonstrate that SOCS3 localisation to the plasma membrane requires cavin-1. SOCS3 is also critical for cavin-1 stabilisation, such that deletion of SOCS3 reduces the expression of cavin-1 and caveolin-1 proteins, thereby reducing caveola abundance in endothelial cells. Moreover, the interaction of cavin-1 and SOCS3 is essential for SOCS3 function, as loss of cavin-1 enhances cytokine-stimulated STAT3 phosphorylation and abolishes SOCS3-dependent inhibition of IL-6 signalling by cyclic AMP. Together, these findings reveal a new functionally important mechanism linking SOCS3-mediated inhibition of cytokine signalling to localisation at the plasma membrane via interaction with and stabilisation of cavin-1.This work was supported by project grants to T.M.P. from the Chief Scientist Office (ETM/226), British Heart Foundation (PG12/1/ 29276, PG 14/32/30812), and a National Health Service Greater Glasgow and Clyde Research Endowment Fund (2011REFCH08). P.F.P. was supported by the National Institutes of Health grant DK097708. J.J.L.W. was supported by a doctoral training studentship from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Doctoral Training Programme in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Glasgow (BB/F016735/1). N.A. was supported by a Saudi Government PhD Scholarship. This work was also supported in part by equipment grants to T.M.P. from Diabetes UK (BDA 11/0004309) and Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK-EG2016A-3)

A Genomic Pathway Approach to a Complex Disease: Axon Guidance and Parkinson Disease

While major inroads have been made in identifying the genetic causes of rare Mendelian disorders, little progress has been made in the discovery of common gene variations that predispose to complex diseases. The single gene variants that have been shown to associate reproducibly with complex diseases typically have small effect sizes or attributable risks. However, the joint actions of common gene variants within pathways may play a major role in predisposing to complex diseases (the paradigm of complex genetics). The goal of this study was to determine whether polymorphism in a candidate pathway (axon guidance) predisposed to a complex disease (Parkinson disease [PD]). We mined a whole-genome association dataset and identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were within axon-guidance pathway genes. We then constructed models of axon-guidance pathway SNPs that predicted three outcomes: PD susceptibility (odds ratio = 90.8, p = 4.64 × 10−38), survival free of PD (hazards ratio = 19.0, p = 5.43 × 10−48), and PD age at onset (R2 = 0.68, p = 1.68 × 10−51). By contrast, models constructed from thousands of random selections of genomic SNPs predicted the three PD outcomes poorly. Mining of a second whole-genome association dataset and mining of an expression profiling dataset also supported a role for many axon-guidance pathway genes in PD. These findings could have important implications regarding the pathogenesis of PD. This genomic pathway approach may also offer insights into other complex diseases such as Alzheimer disease, diabetes mellitus, nicotine and alcohol dependence, and several cancers

Lymphovascular space invasion and lack of downstaging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy are strong predictors of adverse outcome in young women with locally advanced breast cancer

Younger age diagnosis of breast cancer is a predictor of adverse outcome. Here, we evaluate prognostic factors in young women with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). We present a retrospective review of 104 patients younger than 40 years with LABC treated with surgery, radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy from 2003 to 2014. Patient‐, tumor‐, and treatment‐related factors important for overall survival (OS), local/regional recurrence (LRR), distant metastasis (DM), and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) were evaluated. Mean age at diagnosis was 34 years (23–39 years) with a median follow‐up of 47 months (8–138 months). Breast‐conserving surgery was performed in 27%. Axillary lymph node dissection was performed in 85%. Sixty percent of patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with 19% achieving pathologic complete response (pCR), and 61% downstaged. Lymph node positivity was present in 91% and lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) in 35%. Thirty‐two percent of patients had triple negative tumors (TN, ER‐/PR‐/HER2 nonamplified). Four‐year OS and RFS was 84% and 71%, respectively. Factors associated with worse OS on multivariate analysis include TN status, LVSI, and number of positive lymph nodes. LVSI was also associated with DM and LRR, as well as worse RFS. Downstaging was associated with improved 4 year RFS in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (74% vs. 38%, P = 0.002). With high risks of recurrence and inferior OS compared to older women, breast cancer in young women can be difficult to treat. Among additional factors, presence of LVSI and lack of downstaging portends a particularly worse prognosis

Deployment of Real-Time Network Traffic Analysis using GraphBLAS Hypersparse Matrices and D4M Associative Arrays

Matrix/array analysis of networks can provide significant insight into their behavior and aid in their operation and protection. Prior work has demonstrated the analytic, performance, and compression capabilities of GraphBLAS (graphblas.org) hypersparse matrices and D4M (d4m.mit.edu) associative arrays (a mathematical superset of matrices). Obtaining the benefits of these capabilities requires integrating them into operational systems, which comes with its own unique challenges. This paper describes two examples of real-time operational implementations. First, is an operational GraphBLAS implementation that constructs anonymized hypersparse matrices on a high-bandwidth network tap. Second, is an operational D4M implementation that analyzes daily cloud gateway logs. The architectures of these implementations are presented. Detailed measurements of the resources and the performance are collected and analyzed. The implementations are capable of meeting their operational requirements using modest computational resources (a couple of processing cores). GraphBLAS is well-suited for low-level analysis of high-bandwidth connections with relatively structured network data. D4M is well-suited for higher-level analysis of more unstructured data. This work demonstrates that these technologies can be implemented in operational settings.Comment: Accepted to IEEE HPEC, 8 pages, 8 figures, 1 table, 69 references. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2203.13934. text overlap with arXiv:2309.0180