Publication rates on the topic of racial and ethnic diversity in dermatology versus other specialties

Background: The population of the U.S. is becoming more diverse every year. The field of dermatology is not following the same trend. Objective: To assess the promotion of diversity in the field of dermatology by analyzing publications focused on diversity, compared to other specialties. Methods: The PubMed database was systematically searched to identify publications focused on diversity from January 2008 to July 2019. The search criteria were as follows: dermatology/radiology/ophthalmology/ anesthesiology/orthopedic surgery/family medicine/ internal medicine/general surgery AND diversity/ diverse/racial/race/ethnic/ethnicity/cultural/culture/competency/competence. Comparisons were made using single-factor ANOVA and two-group t-tests. A qualitative analysis was performed for publications in the field of dermatology. Results: From January 2016 to July 2019, there were 25 publications focused on diversity in dermatology (Mean=6.25, SD=2.06), compared to 6 in radiology (Mean=1.50, SD=1.29, P=0.01), two in ophthalmology (Mean=0.50, SD=0.58, P=0.01), two in anesthesiology (Mean=0.50, SD=1.00, P=0.01), 12 in orthopedic surgery (Mean=3.00, SD=1.41, P=0.04), 23 in family medicine (Mean=5.75, SD=2.22, P=0.75), 9 in internal medicine (Mean=2.25, SD=1.71, P=0.02), and 7 in general surgery (Mean=1.75, SD=0.50, P=0.02). Conclusions: Although the field of dermatology has suffered from a lack of racial/ethnic diversity, efforts to promote diversity via increased publications in the last four years have been stronger in dermatology compared to many other fields

A New Site Index Model for Intensively Managed Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) Plantations in the West Gulf Coastal Plain

Site index (SI) estimation for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations is important for the successful management of this important commercial tree species in the West Gulf Coastal Plain of the United States. This study evaluated various SI models for intensively managed loblolly plantations in the West Gulf Coastal Plain using data collected from permanent plots installed in intensively managed loblolly pine plantations across east Texas and western Louisiana. Six commonly used SI models (Cieszewski GADA model, both Chapman-Richards ADA and GADA models, both Schumacher ADA and GADA models, and McDill-Amateis GADA model) were fit to the data and compared. The Chapman-Richards GADA model and the McDill-Amateis GADA model were similar and best in their fit statistics. These two models were further compared to the existing models (Diéguez-Aranda et al. 2006 (DA2006), Coble and Lee 2010 (CL2010)) commonly used in the region. Both the Chapman-Richards GADA and the McDill-Amateis GADA models consistently predicted greater heights up to age 25 than the models of DA2006 and CL2010, with larger height differences for the higher quality sites, but predicted shorter heights thereafter. Ultimately, the McDill-Amateis GADA model was chosen as the best model for its consistency in predicting reasonable heights extrapolated beyond the range of the data. Foresters can use this model to make more informed silvicultural prescriptions for intensively managed loblolly pine plantations in the West Gulf Coastal Plain

Despite a variety of ballot measures and some expensive races, the midterms were relatively quiet for judicial elections

While most commentators have been focused on the outcome of key Senate races in this year’s midterm elections, it is important to remember that many states were also electing judges for high courts as well this week. Chris W. Bonneau and Jeremy R. Johnson give an overview of the results including a million dollar race in North Carolina, ballot measures on judicial retirement ages, and Tennessee’s vote to allow the governor to appoint judges of the Supreme Court and intermediate appellate court, subject to legislative approval

QED One-loop Corrections to a Macroscopic Magnetic Dipole

We consider the field equations of a static magnetic field including one-loop QED corrections, and calculate the corrections to the field of a magnetic dipole. PACS: 12.20.Ds, 97.60.Jd, 97.60.GbComment: 11 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Journal of Physics

Asymmetrically severe internal auditory canal hypoplasia: A case report.

We present a case of an otherwise healthy 20-month-old with congenital sensorineural hearing loss. CT and MR imaging demonstrated bilateral asymmetrically severe hypoplasia of the internal auditory canals and vestibulocochlear nerves. Additional developmental inner ear anomalies were present in this patient, including unilateral semicircular canal hypoplasia and suspected bilateral cochlear hypoplasia. The patient retained normal facial nerve function bilaterally. We highlight the current research and understanding of congenital IAC abnormalities

Human fur gene encodes a yeast KEX2-like endoprotease that cleaves pro-beta-NGF in vivo.

Extracts from BSC-40 cells infected with vaccinia recombinants expressing either the yeast KEX2 prohormone endoprotease or a human structural homologue (fur gene product) contained an elevated level of a membrane-associated endoproteolytic activity that could cleave at pairs of basic amino acids (-LysArg- and -ArgArg-). The fur-directed activity (furin) shared many properties with Kex2p including activity at pH 7.3 and a requirement for calcium. By using antifurin antibodies, immunoblot analysis detected two furin translation products (90 and 96 kD), while immunofluorescence indicated localization to the Golgi apparatus. Coexpression of either Kex2p or furin with the mouse beta-nerve growth factor precursor (pro-beta-NGF) resulted in greatly enhanced conversion of the precursor to mature nerve growth factor. Thus, the sequence homology shared by furin and the yeast KEX2 prohormone processing enzyme is reflected by significant functional homology both in vitro and in vivo

Final Report for the FY16 Surface Casing Estimator Site Project

The Surface Casing Estimator Site is a website that provides estimates of possible surface-casing requirements for wells and related information. Work during FY16 for the Surface Casing Estimator Site project involved (1) scanning more than 7,960 geophysical logs of the Q-log library for 12 counties and parts of 3 counties, (2) constructing digital data sets composed of geologic information that relates to estimating surface-casing requirements and groundwater depths for 5 counties in East Texas, and (3) merging/programming the new data with the Website's existing data. The Estimator Site provides information on elevations and depths for the top and base of fresh water; the base of usable-quality water; the base of underground sources of drinking water; and the top and base of critical water-bearing stratigraphic units, aquifer names, geophysical logs, and well locations. The FY16 work has enabled about 375 additional geophysical logs in 5 East Texas counties to be viewed through the Surface Casing Estimator Site.Bureau of Economic Geolog

Final Report for the FY18 Surface Casing Estimator Site Project

The Surface Casing Estimator Site is an online platform designed to offer estimates of potential surface casing requirements for wells, along with relevant information. During the fiscal year 2018, the Surface Casing Estimator Site project focused on several tasks: 1. Scanning geophysical logs from the Q-log library for 12 counties. 2. Compiling digital datasets containing geological information pertinent to estimating surface casing requirements and groundwater depths for 7 counties in West Texas and 1 county within the Texas Gulf Coastal Plain. 3. Integrating and programming the newly acquired data with the existing data on the website. The Estimator Site furnishes data regarding elevations and depths for various parameters, including the top and base of fresh water, the base of usable-quality water, the base of underground sources of drinking water, and the top and base of critical water-bearing stratigraphic units. Additionally, it provides information on aquifer names, geophysical logs, and the locations of wells. The work undertaken during FY18 has significantly expanded the resources available on the Surface Casing Estimator Site, allowing approximately 700 additional geophysical logs from 8 Texas counties to be accessed through the platform.Bureau of Economic Geolog