Multiple Myeloma : an update on disease biology and therapy

Multiple myeloma is a malignancy of immunoglobulin producing plasma cells. Clinical features include bone pain due to lytic bone lesions or pathological fractures, anemia, symptomatic hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, recurrent infections and amyloidosis. In the last few years, there have been considerable advances in the understanding of the biology of this disease. While multiple myeloma is biologically diverse, several oncogenes are activated in this illness. In addition, the role of the bone marrow microenvironment to support the growth and survival of the malignant cells has been well described. In this review, we discuss recent developments in the molecular pathogenesis of myeloma. These recent observations are being translated into novel therapeutic approaches that target both the tumor cell as well as the stroma. Current therapeutic strategies are discussed.peer-reviewe

Educator Perceptions of Generational Poverty, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Student Learning

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine educators perceptions of the effects of generational poverty and adverse childhood experiences on student learning and to understand the factors that might facilitate breaking the cycle of generational poverty and adverse childhood experiences with respect to student learning. Data collection strategies included individual interviews and document review. Analysis of data occurred in three phases: categorization of data, building the explanation in narrative form and reexamination of the data. The analysis of the data was based on Payne’s idea of generational poverty and the CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences(ACE) study. The credibility of the analysis was protected by triangulation of data through multiple sources of evidence, establishment of a chain of evidence, and member checking. After interviews were conducted the following themes emerged as ways to break the cycle of generational poverty and adverse childhood experiences: tutoring/after school programs, mentors/peer buddies, educating educators, parent involvement, and accountability. The results are detailed in the study

It\u27s Not a Phobia: Reducing Transnegativity Using Imagined Intergroup Contact

The present study evaluated the efficacy of a novel imagined intergroup contact procedure in reducing feelings of transnegativity held by cisgender individuals. The intervention, based on the Fast Friends Procedure (Aron et al., 1997), has participants interact with a fictional transgender person who answers questions about himself; participants then write a free-response answer to the question for themselves. The current hypotheses were that the imagined intergroup contact procedure would (1) reduce feelings of transnegativity, (2) reduce feelings of contact apprehension toward transgender people, and (3) increase feelings of self-other overlap between cisgender people and a transgender target. In Study 1, a group of primarily White, cisgender female college students (n = 44) completed the imagined contact procedure to see if it increased feelings of self-other overlap; a demographically similar group was evaluated for Study 2 (n = 55) to see if it increased feelings of self-other overlap while decreasing feelings of contact apprehension and self-reported transnegative beliefs. While Study 1 saw an increase of feelings in self-other overlap between cisgender people and the transgender target (Cohen’s d = .59), Study 2 saw no impact of the imagined intergroup contact procedure on any of the target measures (all ps \u3e .05). This may be due to small sample size and inadequate power or due to the imagined intergroup contact scenario using only part of the Fast Friends Procedure (Aron et al., 1997); rather than using all twenty-four questions, it only sampled four of them. If the findings are accurate, it means that the novel imagined intergroup contact procedure, as used in the current study, is an ineffective way to reduce transnegativity among participants. Researchers must continue exploring new venues of prejudice reduction to best protect transgender individuals

Studying the effects of various process parameters on early age hydration of single- and multi-phase cementitious systems

”The hydration of multi-phase ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and its pure phase derivatives, such as tricalcium silicate (C3S) and belite (ß-C2S), are studied in the context varying process parameters -- for instance, variable water content, water activity, superplasticizer structure and dose, and mineral additive type and particle size. These parameters are studied by means of physical experiments and numerical/computational techniques, such as: thermodynamic estimations; numerical kinetic-based modelling; and artificial intelligence techniques like machine learning (ML) models. In the past decade, numerical kinetic modeling has greatly improved in terms of fitting experimental, isothermal calorimetry to kinetic-based modelling based the evolving understanding of hydration processes. However, there are remaining points of contention within literature, that could potentially take an additional decade to resolve. The dissertation work utilizes the numeric kinetic-based, phase boundary nucleation and growth (pBNG) model but also introduces ML models as a technique to predict the heat-evolution -- which, is related to other fresh properties, such as rheological, microstructural, and mechanical properties -- of a paste system by utilizing underlying nonlinear time-dependent composition-property relationships”--Abstract, page iv

A practical approach to goal modelling for time-constrained projects

Goal modelling is a well known rigorous method for analysing problem rationale and developing requirements. Under the pressures typical of time-constrained projects its benefits are not accessible. This is because of the effort and time needed to create the graph and because reading the results can be difficult owing to the effects of crosscutting concerns. Here we introduce an adaptation of KAOS to meet the needs of rapid turn around and clarity. The main aim is to help the stakeholders gain an insight into the larger issues that might be overlooked if they make a premature start into implementation. The method emphasises the use of obstacles, accepts under-refined goals and has new methods for managing crosscutting concerns and strategic decision making. It is expected to be of value to agile as well as traditional processes

Effects of stocking density and beak trimming method on feeding behaviors of poultry

Concern over animal welfare has had a substantial and growing impact on the livestock industry both in the US and abroad. Quantification of animal welfare has been a challenging area for both the production and the research communities. Feeding behaviors have been shown to be an indicator of animal well-being, thus one method to evaluate and quantify animal welfare is through continuous and automated monitoring of feeding behaviors. Two studies were designed and conducted to evaluate the effects of controversial management practices on the feeding behaviors of poultry. The first study investigated the effects of four cage stocking densities on the feeding characteristics of mature laying hens. The second study investigated the effects of three different beak trimming methods performed at one day of age and two feed forms on the feeding activities of turkey poults from 8 to 21 days of age. As a result of the first study, no significant differences in feeding characteristics could be detected among the four stocking densities studied (348, 387, 426, and 465 cm² cage floor space per hen; 54, 60, 66, and 72 in² cage floor space per hen). The second study detected no significant differences in feeding characteristics measured or body weight gains for the four beak trimming methods (non-trimmed control, hot blade, electric arc, or infrared) and the two feed forms (mash or crumble) studied. Quantification of specific responses such as feeding behavior to potential stressors (i.e. stocking density, beak trimming method, and feed form) through studies such as these may yield better livestock housing design and management decisions based upon scientific data to improve animal welfare

Selection and Demography Drive Range-Wide Patterns of Mhc Variation in Mule Deer (odocoileus Hemionus)

Variation at functional genes involved in immune response is of increasing concern as wildlife diseases continue to emerge and threaten populations. The amount of standing genetic variation in a population is directly associated with its potential for rapid adaptation to novel environments. For genes in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which are crucial in activating the immune response and which have extremely high levels of polymorphism, the genetic variation has been shown to be influenced by both parasite-mediated selection and historical population demography. To better understand the relative roles of parasite-mediated selection and demography on MHC evolution in large populations, I analyzed geographic patterns of variation at the MHC DRB class II locus in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). I identified 31 new MHC-DRB alleles which were phylogenetically similar to other cervid MHC alleles, and I found 1 allele that was shared with white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). I found evidence for selection on the MHC based on high dN/dS ratios, positive neutrality tests, deviations from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) and greater isolation-by-distance (IBD) than expected under neutrality. However, I also saw evidence that historical demography is important in shaping variation at the MHC, in the similar variation structures between MHC and microsatellites and the lack of significant environmental drivers of variation at either locus. These results show that both natural selection and historical demography are important drivers in the evolution of the MHC in mule deer and may aid in predicting how future adaptation is shaped when this species is confronted with environmental challenges

You\u27re Wearing the Orange Shorts? African American Hooters Girls and the All American Girl Next Door

Hooters restaurants are typically staffed by Caucasian women that resemble the company’s idea of an “All American Girl, Surfer Girl, Girl Next Door” image, promoted in employee training materials. However, my experience working for this company has been in a predominantly African American-staffed Hooters, atypical for the corporation. Through a mixed methods approach encompassing content analysis, participant observation, autoethnography, and interviews, this research seeks to understand the ideal Hooters Girl image promoted by the corporation, and the performance of that ideal in an atypical Hooters location

An empirical study of web surfers\u27 privacy concerns

Just imagine how you would feel if you found out that someone secretly followed you for months. This person knows your name, address, and birth date, but it does not stop there. They have discovered what medications you currently take, that you plan to vacation in Cocoa Beach, Florida from March 10th to the 18th, what kind of music you listen to, even how old your children are and the fact that you think your spouse is cheating on you. Do you think that this only happens to people in the movies? Think again. This is but a sample of what marketers and websites can deduce from tracking you online

The toxicity of our (virtual) cities: Prevalence of dark participation in games and perceived effectiveness of reporting tools

Dark participation in games (i.e., trolling and toxic behavior) have been gaining ever-increasing academic attention as a negative aspect of online gaming. Much of the literature in this area has focused on the personality and identity of the perpetrators, but this has been largely outside of the gaming context. The present study aims to explore the prevalence rates of dark participation in the online gaming community, the reporting function to punish deviant players, and the importance of dual identities (troll and gamer) in the perpetration of deviant in-game behaviors. Our results indicated that nearly all players in our sample had been victims of dark participation or witnessed in-game victimization, suggesting that it is a major problem in the community, but that many players also use the reporting function. Troll identity was predictive of these behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed