Counseling Customers: Emerging Roles for Genetic Counselors in the Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Market

Individuals now have access to an increasing number of internet resources offering personal genomics services. As the direct-to-consumer genetic testing (DTC GT) industry expands, critics have called for pre- and post-test genetic counseling to be included with the product. Several genetic testing companies offer genetic counseling. There has been no examination to date of this service provision, whether it meets critics’ concerns and implications it may have for the genetic counseling profession. Considering the increasing relevance of genetics in healthcare, the complexity of genetic information provided by DTC GT, the mediating role of the internet in counseling, and potential conflicts of interest, this is a topic which deserves further attention. In this paper we offer a discourse analysis of ways in which genetic counseling is represented on DTC GT websites, blogs and other online material. This analysis identified four types of genetic counseling represented on the websites: the integrated counseling product; discretionary counseling; independent counseling; and product advice. Genetic counselors are represented as having the following roles: genetics educator; mediator; lifestyle advisor; risk interpreter; and entrepreneur. We conclude that genetic counseling as represented on DTC GT websites demonstrates shifting professional roles and forms of expertise in genetic counseling. Genetic counselors are also playing an important part in how the genetic testing market is taking shape. Our analysis offers important and timely insights into recent developments in the genetic counseling profession, which have relevance for practitioners, researchers and policy makers concerned with the evolving field of personal genomics. Keywords Genetic counseling Internet Direct-to-consumer genetic testing Discourse analysis

SERS Detection of Graphene Oxide in Acid Catalyzed Sol-Gels

Silica sol-gel and aerogel substrates were synthesized using a modified acid catalyzed hydrolysis of tetramethyl orthosilicate method that incorporated graphene oxide and silver nanoparticles into the matrix. The effectiveness of loading of graphene oxide was monitored by UV-vis and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Characterization data suggests that graphene oxide is detectable through SERS while integrated into a sol-gel and that size of silver nanoparticles has an impact on the SERS spectrum of graphene oxide

Directional spectra comparisons between HF radar and a wave model

Directional spectra measurements using HF radar are compared with model data to confirm limitations of the currently available theory that underpins these measurements. In high seas, waveheight is overestimated but it is demonstrated that there is no clear impact on the shape of the spectrum which is in reasonable agreement with the model. The need for increased averaging before inversion is discussed

Resolving the terrestrial planet forming regions of HD113766 and HD172555 with MIDI

We present new MIDI interferometric and VISIR spectroscopic observations of HD113766 and HD172555. Additionally we present VISIR 11um and 18um imaging observations of HD113766. These sources represent the youngest (16Myr and 12Myr old respectively) debris disc hosts with emission on <<10AU scales. We find that the disc of HD113766 is partially resolved on baselines of 42-102m, with variations in resolution with baseline length consistent with a Gaussian model for the disc with FWHM of 1.2-1.6AU (9-12mas). This is consistent with the VISIR observations which place an upper limit of 0."14 (17AU) on the emission, with no evidence for extended emission at larger distances. For HD172555 the MIDI observations are consistent with complete resolution of the disc emission on all baselines of lengths 56-93m, putting the dust at a distance of >1AU (>35mas). When combined with limits from TReCS imaging the dust at ~10um is constrained to lie somewhere in the region 1-8AU. Observations at ~18um reveal extended disc emission which could originate from the outer edge of a broad disc, the inner parts of which are also detected but not resolved at 10um, or from a spatially distinct component. These observations provide the most accurate direct measurements of the location of dust at 1-8AU that might originate from the collisions expected during terrestrial planet formation. These observations provide valuable constraints for models of the composition of discs at this epoch and provide a foundation for future studies to examine in more detail the morphology of debris discs.Comment: 22 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Summary of DSN (Deep Space Network) reimbursable launch support

The Deep Space Network is providing ground support to space agencies of foreign governments as well as to NASA and other agencies of the Federal government which are involved in space activities. DSN funding for support of missions other than NASA are on either a cooperative or a reimbursable basis. Cooperative funding and support are accomplished in the same manner as NASA sponsored missions. Reimbursable launch funding and support methods are described

Autonomous Cars, Electric and Hybrid Cars, and Ridesharing: Perceptions vs. Reality

Autonomous Cars, Electric and Hybrid Cars, and Ridesharing are all important new technologies in today\u27s society that can have potentially large impacts on the environment in the future. This study was conducted to determine the differences in perceptions of Gettysburg College students regarding Autonomous Cars, Electric and Hybrid Cars, and Ridesharing and the reality of these topics in the real world. This paper also compares the perceptions of Environmental Studies majors/minors to the perceptions of other majors at Gettysburg College. The primary research was conducted by analyzing questions that were a part of a survey consisting of 16 questions which was administered to Gettysburg College students via Facebook class group pages and the Environmental Studies majors email alias. The study group consisted of 110 students with 31 of them being Environmental Studies majors/minors and 79 of them being non-Environmental Studies majors/minors. It was determined that there were no statistically significant differences between the Environmental Studies majors/minors and students that are other majors/minors at Gettysburg College. From our survey, we found that there is a distinct gap in knowledge on the current and future impacts on the environment from Autonomous Cars, Electric and Hybrid Cars, and Ridesharing. The questions that ask which power method produces more greenhouse gas emissions as well as the questions about the miles per gallon of participants’ personal vehicles were the most accurately answered. Overall, Gettysburg College students regardless of major or minor were found to have mostly inaccurate perceptions on the topics of Autonomous Cars, Electric and Hybrid Cars, and Ridesharing

Afatinib use in recurrent epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

•Genomic tumor testing is an important tool in guiding treatment for gynecologic malignancies.•Targetable mutations may lead to new therapies in gynecologic cancer treatment.•Her2/neu mutations in serous ovarian carcinomas can be targeted with ERBB2 inhibitors.•Afatinib shows promising response rates in lung cancers carrying Her2/neu mutations.•Afatinib may be effective in serous ovarian tumors exhibiting Her2/neu or ERBB2 mutations

Multi-color carrier-envelope-phase stabilization for high-repetition-rate multi-pulse coherent synthesis

Using a zero-offset carrier-envelope locking technique, we have synthesized an octave-spanning composite frequency comb exhibiting 132-attosecond timing jitter between the constituent pulses over a one-second observation window. In the frequency domain, this composite comb has a modal structure and coherence which are indistinguishable from those of a comb that might be produced by a hypothetical single mode locked oscillator of equivalent bandwidth. The associated phase stability enables the participating multi-color pulse sequences to be coherently combined, representing an example of multi-pulse synthesis using a femtosecond oscillator

Predicting the frequencies of diverse exo-planetary systems

Extrasolar planetary systems range from hot Jupiters out to icy comet belts more distant than Pluto. We explain this diversity in a model where the mass of solids in the primordial circumstellar disk dictates the outcome. The star retains measures of the initial heavy-element (metal) abundance that can be used to map solid masses onto outcomes, and the frequencies of all classes are correctly predicted. The differing dependences on metallicity for forming massive planets and low-mass cometary bodies are also explained. By extrapolation, around two-thirds of stars have enough solids to form Earth-like planets, and a high rate is supported by the first detections of low-mass exo-planets.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures; accepted by MNRA