Cuisine and Identity in Contemporary Japan

Anthropolog

Apoyo A La Inserción Universitaria En Ingeniería Comercial Uc A Partir De 4 Años De Experiencias En Programas De Acceso Inclusivo

La carrera de Ingeniería Comercial en la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC-Chile) ha mostrado una alta concentración de estudiantes provenientes de establecimientos educacionales particulares pagados (>90% 2003-2013), de características homogéneas, alto nivel educacional de los hogares y alto nivel de ingresos relativo al país. De forma natural las estructuras de atención de alumnos y el foco de la docencia se ajustan a ello, al no haber mayor necesidad de generar protocolos e instancias de apoyo para responder a eventuales problemáticas relacionadas a contextos de mayor vulnerabilidad social de un estudiante. En el año 2010, se levanta en la UC - Chile una preocupación respecto de la sobre-representación de alumnos provenientes de establecimientos particulares pagados en el alumnado de la universidad. A nivel país sólo el 10% de los alumnos terminaba su educación secundaria en un establecimiento particular pagado, mientras que en la UC-Chile para ese mismo año este grupo representaba el 65% de sus alumnos. Tras analizar las principales razones que generaban esta diferencia, se crea el programa “Talento e Inclusión”, vía de acceso a la UC-Chile que se enfoca en jóvenes de escasos recursos provenientes del sistema educacional municipal y particular subvencionado, que hubieren demostrado excelencia académica durante su etapa escolar pero que no alcanzan los puntajes necesarios en las pruebas de selección universitaria de Chile. En el año 2013, Ingeniería Comercial se suma a esta vía de admisión, siendo ya 4 generaciones al 2016. Su apertura presenta diversos desafíos en la integración de estos estudiantes y visibiliza problemáticas no resueltas. En este trabajo se busca relatar el proceso de cambio en el que se ha visto envuelta la unidad académica en estos 4 años. Se ha trabajado principalmente en nivelación académica y acompañamiento integral de los estudiantes, en búsqueda de asegurar su permanencia y mejorar la experiencia de aprendizaje. La Facultad está en un proceso de integración de las distintas instancias de apoyo como parte de su proceso cotidiano de trabajo, y de instalar más profundamente la inclusión y la diversidad como parte fundamental del desarrollo de la institución y sus alumnos. Los principales resultados están en las sinergias alcanzadas a nivel institucional y local para mejorar el apoyo entregado a los estudiantes, de forma sustentable y aumentando la participación de los propios alumnos. Hay mucho por hacer, sin embargo se reconoce un foco en la equidad de acceso para todos los estudiantes como guía en el desarrollo del apoyo a la inserción universitaria

Recruiting for Epigenetic Research: Facilitating the Informed Consent Process

Because the effects of epigenetic (gene-environment interaction) changes have been associated with numerous adverse health states, the study of epigenetic measures provides exciting research opportunities for biobehavioral scientists. However, recruitment for studies focusing on any aspect of genetics poses challenges. Multiple factors, including lack of knowledge regarding a research study, have been identified as barriers to recruitment. Strengthening the informed consent process through extended discussion has been found to be effective in recruiting for research studies in general, yet there is a paucity of information that focused on such a recruitment strategy for epigenetic studies. In this paper, we share our experiences with strategies to strengthen the informed consent process as well as provide samples of materials developed to heighten potential participants’ understanding of epigenetics, in 4 epigenetic research studies with women from diverse backgrounds experiencing a range of health issues. The combined enrollment success rate for epigenetic studies using the process was 89% with participants representing a diverse population. We posit that carefully developed recruitment scripts provided a foundation for improving potential participants’ understanding of the research project. Easy to understand illustrations of the epigenetic process provided a basis for active engagement and encouraged individual questions

Development and Optimization of a Machine-Learning Prediction Model for Acute Desquamation After Breast Radiation Therapy in the Multicenter REQUITE Cohort

Breast Radiation Therapy; Machine-Learning Prediction; Acute DesquamationRaditeràpia de mama; Predicció d'aprenentatge automàtic; Descamació agudaRadioterapia de mama; Predicción de aprendizaje automático; Descamación agudaPurpose Some patients with breast cancer treated by surgery and radiation therapy experience clinically significant toxicity, which may adversely affect cosmesis and quality of life. There is a paucity of validated clinical prediction models for radiation toxicity. We used machine learning (ML) algorithms to develop and optimise a clinical prediction model for acute breast desquamation after whole breast external beam radiation therapy in the prospective multicenter REQUITE cohort study. Methods and Materials Using demographic and treatment-related features (m = 122) from patients (n = 2058) at 26 centers, we trained 8 ML algorithms with 10-fold cross-validation in a 50:50 random-split data set with class stratification to predict acute breast desquamation. Based on performance in the validation data set, the logistic model tree, random forest, and naïve Bayes models were taken forward to cost-sensitive learning optimisation. Results One hundred and ninety-two patients experienced acute desquamation. Resampling and cost-sensitive learning optimisation facilitated an improvement in classification performance. Based on maximising sensitivity (true positives), the “hero” model was the cost-sensitive random forest algorithm with a false-negative: false-positive misclassification penalty of 90:1 containing m = 114 predictive features. Model sensitivity and specificity were 0.77 and 0.66, respectively, with an area under the curve of 0.77 in the validation cohort. Conclusions ML algorithms with resampling and cost-sensitive learning generated clinically valid prediction models for acute desquamation using patient demographic and treatment features. Further external validation and inclusion of genomic markers in ML prediction models are worthwhile, to identify patients at increased risk of toxicity who may benefit from supportive intervention or even a change in treatment plan

Epigenetic Alterations and an Increased Frequency of Micronuclei in Women with Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM), characterized by chronic widespread pain, fatigue, and cognitive/mood disturbances, leads to reduced workplace productivity and increased healthcare expenses. To determine if acquired epigenetic/genetic changes are associated with FM, we compared the frequency of spontaneously occurring micronuclei (MN) and genome-wide methylation patterns in women with FM () to those seen in comparably aged healthy controls ( (MN); (methylation)). The mean (sd) MN frequency of women with FM (51.4 (21.9)) was significantly higher than that of controls (15.8 (8.5)) (; df = 1; ). Significant differences ( sites) in methylation patterns were observed between cases and controls considering a 5% false discovery rate. The majority of differentially methylated (DM) sites (91%) were attributable to increased values in the women with FM. The DM sites included significant biological clusters involved in neuron differentiation/nervous system development, skeletal/organ system development, and chromatin compaction. Genes associated with DM sites whose function has particular relevance to FM included BDNF, NAT15, HDAC4, PRKCA, RTN1, and PRKG1. Results support the need for future research to further examine the potential role of epigenetic and acquired chromosomal alterations as a possible biological mechanism underlying FM

Enabling Responsible Living Springer A Multi-Level Framework and Values-Based Indicators to Enable Responsible Living

Abstract Efforts to enable responsible living require supporting frameworks and tools to bridge science and values at all levels from local to global. At the local level, community action is most effective in a village or neighbourhood where people will invest for the common betterment of their families and neighbours. Educational activities in and outside formal education for children, preadolescents, youth and adults should encourage action for responsible living based on the community's own values and vision of human purpose and well-being. Values-based indicators can help to measure the impact of sustainability education on behaviours in communities and organizations, as demonstrated in a recent pilot project. At the national level, in addition to formal curricular change, the media and diverse organizations of civil society from businesses to faith-based organizations can lead discussions of various dimensions of responsible living. Internationally, the debate on the future of sustainability around the Rio+20 conference has stimulated a re-examination of preconceptions and certitudes about individual and collective purposes and underlining the importance of values and ethical principles to sustainability. Linking local efforts to these international debates and implementing values-based indicators of education for sustainability will help to move from words to action for responsible living

The Spectrum of Clinical Utilities in Molecular Pathology Testing Procedures for Inherited Conditions and Cancer: A Report of the Association for Molecular Pathology

Clinical utility describes the benefits of each laboratory test for that patient. Many stakeholders have adopted narrow definitions for the clinical utility of molecular testing as applied to targeted pharmacotherapy in oncology, regardless of the population tested or the purpose of the testing. This definition does not address all of the important applications of molecular diagnostic testing. Definitions consistent with a patient-centered approach emphasize and recognize that a clinical test result\u27s utility depends on the context in which it is used and are particularly relevant to molecular diagnostic testing because of the nature of the information they provide. Debates surrounding levels and types of evidence needed to properly evaluate the clinical value of molecular diagnostics are increasingly important because the growing body of knowledge, stemming from the increase of genomic medicine, provides many new opportunities for molecular testing to improve health care. We address the challenges in defining the clinical utility of molecular diagnostics for inherited diseases or cancer and provide assessment recommendations. Starting with a modified analytic validity, clinical validity, clinical utility, and ethical, legal, and social implications model for addressing clinical utility of molecular diagnostics with a variety of testing purposes, we recommend promotion of patient-centered definitions of clinical utility that appropriately recognize the valuable contribution of molecular diagnostic testing to improve patient care

The production of ionizing photons in UV-faint z~3-7 galaxies

The demographics of the production and escape of ionizing photons from UV-faint early galaxies is a key unknown in discovering the primary drivers of reionization. With the advent of JWST it is finally possible to observe the rest-frame optical nebular emission from individual sub-L$^*$ z>3 galaxies to measure the production of ionizing photons, $\xi_\mathrm{ion}$. Here we study a sample of 380 z~3-7 galaxies spanning -23 <M$_\mathrm{UV}$ < -15.5 (median M$_\mathrm{UV}\approx$ -18) with deep multi-band HST and JWST/NIRCam photometry covering the rest-UV to optical from the GLASS and UNCOVER JWST surveys. Our sample includes 109 galaxies with Lyman-alpha emission detected in MUSE spectroscopy. We use H-alpha fluxes inferred from NIRCam photometry to estimate the production rate of ionizing photons which do not escape these galaxies $\xi_\mathrm{ion}(1-f_\mathrm{esc})$. We find median $\log_{10}\xi_\mathrm{ion}(1-f_\mathrm{esc})=25.33\pm 0.47$, with a broad intrinsic scatter 0.42 dex, implying a broad range of galaxy properties and ages in our UV-faint sample. Galaxies detected with Lyman-alpha have ~0.1 dex higher $\xi_\mathrm{ion}(1-f_\mathrm{esc})$, which is explained by their higher H-alpha EW distribution, implying younger ages, higher sSFR and thus more O/B stars. We find significant trends of increasing $\xi_\mathrm{ion}(1-f_\mathrm{esc})$ with increasing H-alpha EW, decreasing UV luminosity, and decreasing UV slope, implying the production of ionizing photons is enhanced in young, low metallicity galaxies. We find no significant evidence for sources with very high ionizing escape fraction ($f_\mathrm{esc}$>0.5) in our sample, based on their photometric properties, even amongst the Lyman-alpha selected galaxies. This work demonstrates that considering the full distribution of $\xi_\mathrm{ion}$ across galaxy properties is important for assessing the primary drivers of reionization.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, submitted to A&