Geometry of Jump Systems

A jump system is a set of lattice points satisfying a certain two-step axiom. We present a variety of results concerning the geometry of these objects, including a characterization of two-dimensional jump systems, necessary (though not sufficient) properties of higher-dimensional jump systems, and a characterization of constant-sum jump systems

Crossing State Lines For Collaborative Newspaper Digitization: The Gateway to Oklahoma History

This presentation discusses a collaborative project between the Oklahoma Historical Society and the University of North Texas (UNT) to digitize all of the pre-1923 newspapers in the Oklahoma Historical Society's collection. The project involved building The Gateway to Oklahoma History, which allows easy access to newspapers for students, researchers, and journalists

Genome sequencing analysis identifies new loci associated with Lewy body dementia and provides insights into its genetic architecture

The genetic basis of Lewy body dementia (LBD) is not well understood. Here, we performed whole-genome sequencing in large cohorts of LBD cases and neurologically healthy controls to study the genetic architecture of this understudied form of dementia and to generate a resource for the scientific community. Genome-wide association analysis identified five independent risk loci, whereas genome-wide gene-aggregation tests implicated mutations in the gene GBA. Genetic risk scores demonstrate that LBD shares risk profiles and pathways with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, providing a deeper molecular understanding of the complex genetic architecture of this age-related neurodegenerative condition

Genome sequencing analysis identifies new loci associated with Lewy body dementia and provides insights into its genetic architecture

The genetic basis of Lewy body dementia (LBD) is not well understood. Here, we performed whole-genome sequencing in large cohorts of LBD cases and neurologically healthy controls to study the genetic architecture of this understudied form of dementia, and to generate a resource for the scientific community. Genome-wide association analysis identified five independent risk loci, whereas genome-wide gene-aggregation tests implicated mutations in the gene GBA. Genetic risk scores demonstrate that LBD shares risk profiles and pathways with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, providing a deeper molecular understanding of the complex genetic architecture of this age-related neurodegenerative condition

Retrospective evaluation of whole exome and genome mutation calls in 746 cancer samples

Funder: NCI U24CA211006Abstract: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) curated consensus somatic mutation calls using whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), respectively. Here, as part of the ICGC/TCGA Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium, which aggregated whole genome sequencing data from 2,658 cancers across 38 tumour types, we compare WES and WGS side-by-side from 746 TCGA samples, finding that ~80% of mutations overlap in covered exonic regions. We estimate that low variant allele fraction (VAF < 15%) and clonal heterogeneity contribute up to 68% of private WGS mutations and 71% of private WES mutations. We observe that ~30% of private WGS mutations trace to mutations identified by a single variant caller in WES consensus efforts. WGS captures both ~50% more variation in exonic regions and un-observed mutations in loci with variable GC-content. Together, our analysis highlights technological divergences between two reproducible somatic variant detection efforts

The Evolving Business Policies Course--Is Management Gaming the Logical Pedagogy?

The business policies course, in terms of both content and pedagogy, is undergoing dramatic changes. Many of those changes have received little attention in the literature and yet these changes clearly affect the quality of the business policies course. The panel reviewed their experience in the use of management games in teaching business policies with the following pedagogy: a course which divides the emphasis between case study and half game participation (Bob Mclntire), the use of management games over multiple sections with emphasis on intercollegiate competition (Chad Pierson), a case study course designed to emphasize experiential learning with the interaction game, Boss, as the primary vehicle (Precha Thavikulwat), and the use of a complex game (Topexec) for the total business policies course (Bill Newell)

Mercury methylation linked to nitrification in the tropical North Atlantic Ocean

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a toxin that poses health risks to humans and wildlife, primarily through consumption of seafood (Sunderland and Mason, 2007). Most MeHg bioaccumulation by marine fish likely occurs in the upperof seafood (Sunderland and Mason, 2007). Most MeHg bioaccumulation by marine fish likely occurs in the upper 200 m of the ocean, which is mostly oxygenated (Mason et al., 2012). However, mechanisms of Hg methylation in oxic seawater remain unknown, since the hgcAB gene cluster, which encodes proteins for MeHg production, had been found exclusively in anaerobic microbes (Gilmour et al., 2013; Parks et al., 2013). Recent work, however, has shown that hgc genes are widespread in oxic seawater, including in the icroaerophilic nitrifier, Nitrospina (Tada et al., 2020; Tada et al., 2021; Gionfriddo et al., 2016; Bowman et al., 2020). Here, we show that potential MeHg production rates in Western Tropical North Atlantic Ocean surface waters, within and near the Amazon River plume, were correlated positively and strongly to nitrification rates and Nitrospina-specific 16S gene expression. Potential Hg methylation and nitrification rates were highest at the most saline and least turbid stations, indicating that sediment particles and nutrient-rich, riverine discharges were not the primary factors promoting either process. These novel results in oxic seawater provide further evidence that Hg methylation is linked to abundant, nitrifying microbes and may help explain marine MeHg distributions

An international consensus definition for contextual factors: findings from a nominal group technique

Objective: Emerging literature suggests contextual factors are important components of therapeutic encounters and may substantially influence clinical outcomes of a treatment intervention. At present, a single consensus definition of contextual factors, which is universal across all health-related conditions is lacking. The objective of this study was to create a consensus definition of contextual factors to better refine this concept for clinicians and researchers. Design: The study used a multi-stage virtual Nominal Group Technique (vNGT) to create and rank contextual factor definitions. Nominal group techniques are a form of consensus-based research, and are beneficial for identifying problems, exploring solutions and establishing priorities. Setting: International. Main outcome measures: The initial stages of the vNGT resulted in the creation of 14 independent contextual factor definitions. After a prolonged discussion period, the initial definitions were heavily modified, and 12 final definitions were rank ordered by the vNGT participants from first to last. Participants: The 10 international vNGT participants had a variety of clinical backgrounds and research specializations and were all specialists in contextual factors research. Results: A sixth round was used to identify a final consensus, which reflected the complexity of contextual factors and included three primary domains: (1) an overall definition; (2) qualifiers that serve as examples of the key areas of the definition; and (3) how contextual factors may influence clinical outcomes. Conclusion: Our consensus definition of contextual factors seeks to improve the understanding and communication between clinicians and researchers. These are especially important in recognizing their potential role in moderating and/or mediating clinical outcomes

Validation of Fistula Risk Score calculator in diverse North American HPB practices.

BACKGROUND: Fistula Risk Score (FRS) is a previously developed tool to assess the risk of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF) following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). METHODS: Prospectively collected databases from 4 university affiliated and non-affiliated HPB centers in United States and Canada were used. The influence of individual baseline characteristics, FRS and FRS group on CR-POPF was assessed in univariate and multivariate analyses. FRS calculator performance was assessed using a C-statistic. RESULTS: 444 patients were identified. Pathology, soft pancreas texture and pancreatic duct size were associated with CR-POPF rates (p \u3c 0.001 for each); EBL was not (p = 0.067). The negligible risk group consisted of 50 (11.3%) patients, low risk of 118 (26.6%), moderate 234 (52.7%) and high risk group of 42 (9.5%) patients. The overall rate of CR-POPF was 20%. Of the patients in the negligible risk group, 2% developed CR-POPF, 13.6% of the low risk, 23.1% moderate and 42.9% in the high risk group (p \u3c 0.001). Overall C-statistic was 0.719. CONCLUSION: FRS is robust and able to stratify the risk of developing CR-POPF following PD in diverse North American academic and non-academic institutions. The FRS should be used in research and to guide clinical management of patients post PD in these institutions