Entrofy your cohort: A transparent method for diverse cohort selection.

Selecting a cohort from a set of candidates is a common task within and beyond academia. Admitting students, awarding grants, and choosing speakers for a conference are situations where human biases may affect the selection of any particular candidate, and, thereby the composition of the final cohort. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm, entrofy, designed to be part of a human-in-the-loop decision making strategy aimed at making cohort selection as just, transparent, and accountable as possible.

The principles of tomorrow's university.

In the 21st Century, research is increasingly data- and computation-driven. Researchers, funders, and the larger community today emphasize the traits of openness and reproducibility. In March 2017, 13 mostly early-career research leaders who are building their careers around these traits came together with ten university leaders (presidents, vice presidents, and vice provosts), representatives from four funding agencies, and eleven organizers and other stakeholders in an NIH- and NSF-funded one-day, invitation-only workshop titled "Imagining Tomorrow's University.

Bimetallic Ions Codoped Nanocrystals: Doping Mechanism, Defect Formation, and Associated Structural Transition.

Ionic codoping offers a powerful approach for modifying material properties by extending the selection of potential dopant ions. However, it has been a major challenge to introduce certain ions that have hitherto proved difficult to use as dopants (called "difficult-dopants") into crystal structures at high concentrations, especially through wet chemical synthesis. Furthermore, the lack of a fundamental understanding of how codopants are incorporated into host materials, which types of defect structures they form in the equilibrium state, and what roles they play in material performance, has seriously hindered the rational design and development of promising codoped materials.

Circadian and Plastid Signaling Pathways Are Integrated to Ensure Correct Expression of the CBF and COR Genes during Photoperiodic Growth.

The circadian clock synchronizes a wide range of biological processes with the day/night cycle, and correct circadian regulation is essential for photosynthetic activity and plant growth. We describe here a mechanism where a plastid signal converges with the circadian clock to fine-tune the regulation of nuclear gene expression in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Diurnal oscillations of tetrapyrrole levels in the chloroplasts contribute to the regulation of the nucleus-encoded transcription factors C-REPEAT BINDING FACTORS (CBFs).

Electric-field-induced AFE-FE transitions and associated strain/preferred orientation in antiferroelectric PLZST.

Electric-field-induced, antiferroelectric-ferroelectric (AFE-FE) phase transitions are common for AFE materials. To date, the strain and preferred orientation evolution as well as the role of the intermediate FE state during the successive AFE-FE-AFE phase transitions has not been clear. To this end, we have herein studied a typical AFE Pb0.

Promoting competition in Swedish primary care.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of accreditation documents (ADs) in the competition based on provider quality in a quasi-market for primary healthcare.

Design/methodology/approach: The paper uses a mixed-method research methodology to analyse two primary healthcare ADs in two Swedish regions. In total, 19 interviews were conducted with actors involved in the creation and use of such documents.

Collaborative EDNAP exercise on the IrisPlex system for DNA-based prediction of human eye colour.

The IrisPlex system is a DNA-based test system for the prediction of human eye colour from biological samples and consists of a single forensically validated multiplex genotyping assay together with a statistical prediction model that is based on genotypes and phenotypes from thousands of individuals. IrisPlex predicts blue and brown human eye colour with, on average, >94% precision accuracy using six of the currently most eye colour informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (HERC2 rs12913832, OCA2 rs1800407, SLC24A4 rs12896399, SLC45A2 (MATP) rs16891982, TYR rs1393350, and IRF4 rs12203592) according to a previous study, while the accuracy in predicting non-blue and non-brown eye colours is considerably lower. In an effort to vigorously assess the IrisPlex system at the international level, testing was performed by 21 laboratories in the context of a collaborative exercise divided into three tasks and organised by the European DNA Profiling (EDNAP) Group of the International Society of Forensic Genetics (ISFG).

Electron-pinned defect-dipoles for high-performance colossal permittivity materials.

The immense potential of colossal permittivity (CP) materials for use in modern microelectronics as well as for high-energy-density storage applications has propelled much recent research and development. Despite the discovery of several new classes of CP materials, the development of such materials with the required high performance is still a highly challenging task. Here, we propose a new electron-pinned, defect-dipole route to ideal CP behaviour, where hopping electrons are localized by designated lattice defect states to generate giant defect-dipoles and result in high-performance CP materials.

Purification of crime scene DNA extracts using centrifugal filter devices.

Background: The success of forensic DNA analysis is limited by the size, quality and purity of biological evidence found at crime scenes. Sample impurities can inhibit PCR, resulting in partial or negative DNA profiles. Various DNA purification methods are applied to remove impurities, for example, employing centrifugal filter devices.

Redox-mediated mechanisms regulate DNA binding activity of the G-group of basic region leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors in Arabidopsis.

Plant genes that contain the G-box in their promoters are responsive to a variety of environmental stimuli. Bioinformatics analysis of transcriptome data revealed that the G-box element is significantly enriched in promoters of high light-responsive genes. From nuclear extracts of high light-treated Arabidopsis plants, we identified the AtbZIP16 transcription factor as a component binding to the G-box-containing promoter fragment of light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding protein2.

Temperature-dependent electrical, elastic and magnetic properties of sol-gel synthesized Bi(0.9)Ln(0.1)FeO3 (Ln = Nd, Sm).

This report details correlated electrical, mechanical and magnetic behaviour in BiFeO(3) ceramics doped with 10% Ln (Ln = Sm, Nd) ions on the Bi, or perovskite A, site and synthesized by a sol-gel method. The ceramics exhibit bulk piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties and clear ferroelectric domain patterns through piezoresponse force microscopy. Resonant ultrasound spectroscopy, dielectric spectroscopy and magnetometry studies show correlated magnetoelectromechanical behaviour and the existence of weak ferromagnetism for both compositions.

Interplay between Heat Shock Protein 90 and HY5 controls PhANG expression in response to the GUN5 plastid signal.

The presence of genes encoding organellar proteins in different cellular compartments necessitates a tight coordination of expression by the different genomes of the eukaryotic cell. This coordination of gene expression is achieved by organelle-to-nucleus or retrograde communication. Stress-induced perturbations of the tetrapyrrole pathway trigger large changes in nuclear gene expression in plants.

Decision support systems for choosing a primary health care provider in Sweden.

Objective: To evaluate how patients are supported with information and other forms of Web-based decision support for making an informed choice of a primary health care provider.

Methods: The article is based on a comparative case study of recently developed tools provided by Web portals in Sweden (one national, three regional). The theoretical framework for analysis is the general calculation model, including the steps of isolating, examining, and ranking available options.

Local order in layered NiPS₃ and Ni₀.₇Mg₀.₃PS₃.

The family of two-dimensional magnetic materials M(II)PS(3) where M = Mn, Fe, Ni, Mg, Zn, etc shows a wide range of fascinating magnetic behaviour. It also shows potentially useful chemical properties including intercalation of nonlinear optical molecules and lithium ions. These properties are due to a crystal structure in which the ab planes are well-ordered in the plane but poorly correlated along c.

Incommensurate stistaite--order made to order.

The structure of stistaite-SbSn, was investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction and EDX to yield a simple relation between the modulated structure and the composition. Stistaite is found to be incommensurately ordered over the entire stability region.

The crystal and magnetic structures of LaCa(2)Fe(3)O(8) and NdCa(2)Fe(3)O(8).

The crystal and magnetic structures of LaCa(2)Fe(3)O(8) and NdCa(2)Fe(3)O(8) have been established using a combination of x-ray, neutron and electron diffraction. It was already considered likely that LaCa(2)Fe(3)O(8) and NdCa(2)Fe(3)O(8) were made up of stacked perovskite-like layers of FeO(6) octahedra, with every third layer being replaced by a layer of tetrahedrally coordinated Fe, rather like a variation on the Brownmillerite (Ca(2)Fe(2)O(5)) structure type. We have gone further and determined a likely space group for this Grenier phase and determined the magnetic structure of the compounds at room temperature.

Evaluation of a community-based outreach worker program for children with asthma.

Objective: An asthma outreach worker (AOW) can provide home-based education about asthma management and methods to minimize home environmental asthma triggers. A theory-based AOW program was implemented by a community partnership and its effectiveness was evaluated.

Design: Baseline and follow-up surveys were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the AOW.

Asymmetric transformation of a double-stranded, dicopper(I) helicate containing achiral bis(bidentate) Schiff bases.

Reactions of the bis(bidentate) Schiff-bases N,N'-bis(6-alkyl-2-pyridylmethylene)ethane-1,2-diamine (where alkyl = H, Me, iPr) (L) with tetrakis(acetonitrile)copper(I) hexafluorophosphate and silver(I) hexafluorophosphate afforded, respectively, the double-stranded, dinuclear metal helicates [T-4-(R,R)]-(+/-)-[M2L2](PF6)2 (M = Cu, Ag). The helicates were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, conductivity, microanalysis, and single-crystal X-ray structure determinations on selected compounds. Intermolecular ligand exchange and intramolecular inversion rates for the complexes were investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopy.

Screening and genotyping of genital Chlamydia trachomatis in urine specimens from male and female clients of youth-health centers in Stockholm County.

Background: The current study was conducted in the context of the current increase in cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infections, the development of new diagnostic strategies, and an outreach to community-based youth center screening sites.

Goal: The goal was to define the prevalence of genital C trachomatis infection among clients of youth-health clinics and to evaluate the feasibility of implementing genotyping as a tool for epidemiologic studies with use of urine specimens.

Study Design: This was a prospective pilot study at two community-based youth-health clinics for teenagers and adolescents.

Lumbar back and posterior pelvic pain during pregnancy: a 3-year follow-up.

This study is a prospective, consecutive, 3-year cohort study of women with back pain in an index pregnancy. The aim was to describe the physical status and disability among women with back pain 3 years after delivery. Pain was identified as lumbar back pain, posterior pelvic pain or combined lumbar as well as posterior pelvic pain.

Scoliosis and trunk asymmetry in upper limb transverse dysmelia.

The incidence of scoliosis and trunk asymmetry were studied in 60 patients with upper limb dysmelia of the transverse type. The evaluations were based on radiographic measurements of the spine and scoliometer readings of the angle of trunk rotation (ATR), which were correlated with the side and level of the limb deficiency and also with leg length-inequality (LLI). Nineteen patients (31%) had a scoliosis between 10 and 19 degrees, whereas the curves were between 5 and 10 degrees in another 30 patients and the remainder had no measurable curve.

Potential public health benefits from testing with Chlamydia trachomatis PCR technique on first void urine in men.

Urine samples from 467 men living in the Stockholm area were tested with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Roche Amplicor, and with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Syva MicroTrak EIA, for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis. The predictive value of urine versus urethral samples was subsequently compared on a second urethral sample from 25 C. trachomatis-positive cases.

Reduction of sick leave for lumbar back and posterior pelvic pain in pregnancy.

Study Design: In this prospective, consecutive, controlled cohort study, the authors analyzed the impact of a differentiated, individual-based treatment program on sick leave during pregnancy for women experiencing lumbar back or posterior pelvic pain during pregnancy.

Objective: To identify patients with pain early in pregnancy and, by means of individual information and differentiated physiotherapy, reduce sick leave during pregnancy.

Summary Of Background Data: Sick leave for back pain during pregnancy is common, and treatment programs have been aimed at reducing pain, for that reason.

Trunk rotation in scoliosis. The influence of curve type and direction in 150 children.

We compared the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) from scoliometer readings with Cobb angle measurements of the lateral deviation of the spine in 150 children referred to hospital for evaluation of scoliosis. The mean Cobb angle in thoracic curves was 16 degrees. In thoracolumbar curves 17 degrees and in lumbar curves 20 degrees.