Termination Decisions Research Articles

“You’re fired”: the influence of heuristic-systematic processing in communication and termination decisions in organizational environments

PurposeDecisions regarding the termination of organizational members are not only common but also represent difficult actions for managers. Despite their importance and frequency, managers often make or avoid them based on incomplete or faulty decision-making criteria. Previous research suggests that decision-makers are subject to internal influences that play significant roles in their decision-making.Design/methodology/approachUsing a controlled between-groups experimental design, this study, guided by the heuristic-systematic model, tested to what extent decision-makers rely on heuristic cues versus the systematic processing of more relevant information when making termination decisions.FindingsFindings suggest the order in which information is presented influences participants’ decision-making and influences the information-processing structure.Practical implicationsFindings suggest practical considerations for managers, management trainees and others who engage in termination decisions as to potential influencing factors.Originality/valueThis research adds to the understanding of the decision-making process in organizational contexts.

The Partograph: A Practical Guide for Preventing Prolonged Labour

Background: The partograph, a graphic recording of labour and features in the mother and foetus has been used since 1970 to detect labour that is not progressing normally. The partograph serves early warning system and assist in early decision of transfer, augmentation and termination of labour. It also increases the quality and regularity of observing mother and foetus in labour. Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate effect of using partograph on the management and outcome of labour. Materials and Methods: It was a prospective cross-sectional observational study conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital, Barishal; Bangladesh over one (1) year from January 2017 to December 2017. A total 280 patients were enrolled in this study. Plotting on the partograph was started at cervical dilation of 4 cm on alert line. Results: The mean age of the participants was 23.4 ±4 years and mean gestational age was 38.3 ±1.74 weeks and 45% were primigravida. The mean Apgar score of the newborn after 5 minutes was 9.3 ±0.7. The mean duration for delivery on active labour was 4.3 ±2.5 hours in primigravida and 3.4 ±2.3 hours in multipara.Conclusion: The proper use of partographs and the application of the right decision at the right time can be achieved the best for maternal and neonatal outcomes. KYAMC Journal Volume: 14, No: 04, January 2024: 215-219.

For a proper use of frequentist inferential statistics in public health

As widely noted in the literature and by international bodies such as the American Statistical Association, severe misinterpretations of P-values, confidence intervals, and statistical significance are sadly common in public health. This scenario poses serious risks concerning terminal decisions such as the approval or rejection of therapies. Cognitive distortions about statistics likely stem from poor teaching in schools and universities, overly simplified interpretations, and – as we suggest – the reckless use of calculation software with predefined standardized procedures. In light of this, we present a framework to recalibrate the role of frequentist-inferential statistics within clinical and epidemiological research. In particular, we stress that statistics is only a set of rules and numbers that make sense only when properly placed within a well-defined scientific context beforehand. Practical examples are discussed for educational purposes. Alongside this, we propose some tools to better evaluate statistical outcomes, such as multiple compatibility or surprisal intervals or tuples of various point hypotheses. Lastly, we emphasize that every conclusion must be informed by different kinds of scientific evidence (e.g., biochemical, clinical, statistical, etc.) and must be based on a careful examination of costs, risks, and benefits.

Coarse-grained vs fine-grained optimisation in highly integrated problem environments: A case study featuring port terminal operations

The problem environment port terminal operators face is characterised by a highly integrated and complex workflow. There are numerous decisions at radically different scales which must be made, all the way from the berthing of huge vessels to the storage of individual shipping containers. Yet regardless of the specific decision at hand, the core objective typically remains the same: to minimise the travel distance of containers through the yard. In this paper we bring together all major port terminal decisions and, for the first time, seek to optimise these decisions with container distance minimisation in mind. The result is a problem we term the Berth Allocation, Crane and Yard Storage Assignment Problem (BACYSAP). We investigate the added value of treating all these decisions in a simultaneous fashion and compare our results against a more naïve, yet simpler, sequential approach which first solves the berth and crane problems independently and then uses these decisions as input for the yard assignment problem. Our results are somewhat counterintuitive and should not only offer food for thought to those working in port terminals, but any problem environment where there are multiple components with a single ultimate objective. The core contribution of this paper is therefore less to do with the specifics of port terminals and is instead more methodological in nature, namely: how should operational manager decision makers proceed in highly integrated problem environments so they can be confident their approach (i) produces sufficiently good results and (ii) is not unnecessarily complex.

Unraveling the politics-science nexus: diverse strategies in US states’ termination of mask policies

ABSTRACT This study investigates the intentional termination decision of a public health tool (i.e. face-mask policy) in the absence of knowledge regarding the duration of the pandemic. We acknowledge that policy termination is a complicated decision-making process that necessitates multiple considerations. Gleaning perspectives from the literature on the politics-science divide and policy termination theory, two distinct sets of factors emerge as influential: political considerations (i.e. governor’s ideology and public opinion) and scientific considerations (i.e. vaccination rate and healthcare resources). We conduct a fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis to examine how explanatory factors interplay in diverse ways in shaping mask termination decisions. The results show three equally important pathways in elucidating mask termination decisions: two pathways explained how Republican and Democratic Governors draw upon diverse considerations to end the mask use, respectively. The third path underscores that a level high vaccination rate would explain most states’ mask termination decisions. The results highlight the complexity inherent policy-making during a public health crisis. This study offers a glimpse into the varied approaches adopted by states to navigate the exit from the pandemic. In the broader context of public administration, this study sheds light on how states bridge the gap between politics and science.

Evaluating pregnancy termination decisions for fetal anomalies: a retrospective study in a tertiary referral center.

The aim of this study was to examine the factors that influence pregnancy termination due to fetal anomalies, regardless of gestational age, within the legal framework of Turkey. This retrospective study was conducted between January 2021 and July 2023 at a tertiary perinatology center to analyze patients undergoing pregnancy termination. The process involved multidisciplinary evaluations and informed consent, resulting in 326 pregnancy terminations, categorized by gestational timing. Of the 326 patients studied, 219 opted for terminations. Gestational week at diagnosis significantly influenced the decision to terminate, with fetal anomalies being the primary indication. Chromosomal abnormalities accounted for 15.9% of the cases, while structural anomalies and maternal disorders accounted for 84.1% and structural malformations accounted for 84.1% of the cases. Late terminations (≥23 weeks) accounted for 30% of cases and required complex procedures. The findings of this study indicate that maternal demographic factors have a limited impact on termination decisions. Early diagnosis of fetal anomalies is crucial for informed decision-making and emotional support, and the psychological consequences of late termination highlight the need for maternal support. Obstetricians play a vital role in facilitating early intervention. This study underscores the complex medical, ethical, and psychological aspects of pregnancy termination due to fetal anomalies. It emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach, considering medical, ethical, and psychological factors and the crucial role of healthcare professionals in supporting families during this challenging process.

ABORTION AROUND THE WORLD- LOOKING FOR THE GOLDEN MEAN

The tendency towards the radicalization of abortion law is observed in numerous countries, including Poland. Even in a predominantly liberal country like the United States, some of the individual 50 states have banned terminations. Equal access restrictions are also associated with financial issues–the procedure is paid for out-of-pocket in many countries and otherwise might be very expensive and unaffordable. Nevertheless, the main problems associated with the contemporary policy of birth regulation include: no possibility of undergoing a termination because of the conscience clause invoked by the medical personnel, restrictive abortion law, and lack of sexual education. Fetal and maternal autonomies remain in opposition in the event of a termination decision. In most countries, the fetus has no legal personhood before birth and the mother is the primary decision-maker. Our studies in Poland, Italy, USA, and experience from the Middle East suggest minimal changes that are needed: improved sex education and the availability of contraception, free access to abortion-inducing drugs with adequate information provided by qualified medical personnel in countries with a conscience clause invoked by the personnel, and the development of an international network that would facilitate undergoing a pregnancy termination abroad to provide women with access to legal abortion assisted by professional medical personnel. Moreover, the moral status of the fetus and the moment at which we recognize the fetus as a living being will remain a contentious and intractable issue. Therefore, it seems reasonable to base decision enforcement on the law of the country, however, the law is often conditioned by religious aspects.

‘I don’t want to play with you anymore’: dynamic partner judgements in moody reinforcement learners playing the prisoner’s dilemma

Abstract Emerging reinforcement learning algorithms that utilize human traits as part of their conceptual architecture have been demonstrated to encourage cooperation in social dilemmas when compared to their unaltered origins. In particular, the addition of a mood mechanism facilitates more cooperative behaviour in multi-agent iterated prisoner dilemma (IPD) games, for both static and dynamic network contexts. Mood-altered agents also exhibit humanlike behavioural trends when environmental aspects of the dilemma are altered, such as the structure of the payoff matrix used. It is possible that other environmental effects from both human and agent-based research will interact with moody structures in previously unstudied ways. As the literature on these interactions is currently small, we seek to expand on previous research by introducing two more environmental dimensions; voluntary interaction in dynamic networks, and stability of interaction through varied network restructuring. From an initial Erdos–Renyi random network, we manipulate the structure of a network IPD according to existing methodology in human-based research, to investigate possible replication of their findings. We also facilitated strategic selection of opponents through the introduction of two partner evaluation mechanisms and tested two selection thresholds for each. We found that even minimally strategic play termination in dynamic networks is enough to enhance cooperation above a static level, though the thresholds for these strategic decisions are critical to desired outcomes. More forgiving thresholds lead to better maintenance of cooperation between kinder strategies than stricter ones, despite overall cooperation levels being relatively low. Additionally, moody reinforcement learning combined with certain play termination decision strategies can mimic trends in human cooperation affected by structural changes to the IPD played on dynamic networks—as can kind and simplistic strategies such as Tit-For-Tat. Implications of this in comparison with human data is discussed, and suggestions for diversification of further testing are made.

Optimal coding unit decision for early termination in high efficiency video coding using enhanced whale optimization algorithm

Video compression is an emerging research topic in the field of block based video encoders. Due to the growth of video coding technologies, high efficiency video coding (HEVC) delivers superior coding performance. With the increased encoding complexity, the HEVC enhances the rate-distortion (RD) performance. In the video compression, the out-sized coding units (CUs) have higher encoding complexity. Therefore, the computational encoding cost and complexity remain vital concerns, which need to be considered as an optimization task. In this manuscript, an enhanced whale optimization algorithm (EWOA) is implemented to reduce the computational time and complexity of the HEVC. In the EWOA, a cosine function is incorporated with the controlling parameter A and two correlation factors are included in the WOA for controlling the position of whales and regulating the movement of search mechanism during the optimization and search processes. The bit streams in the Luma-coding tree block are selected using EWOA that defines the CU neighbors and is used in the HEVC. The results indicate that the EWOA achieves best bit rate (BR), time saving, and peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR). The EWOA showed 0.006-0.012 dB higher PSNR than the existing models in the real-time videos.

Abstract 137: Importance of Ventilation Rate When Assessing EtCO 2 Levels and Applying TOR Guidelines

Introduction: Ventilation is essential for the elimination of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the body during CPR. However, variation in ventilation rate (VR) is an acknowledged confounder for the interpretation of EtCO 2 . VRs that are not according to guidelines alter measured EtCO 2 levels and make the decision of termination of resuscitation (TOR) based on EtCO 2 unreliable. Aim: To retrospectively analyze the effect of ventilation rate on levels of EtCO 2 for patients that do not achieve ROSC during prehospital resuscitation. Methods: Capnograms obtained from monitor-defibrillator recordings of non-ROSC adult OHCA cases, attended by TVF&R (OR, USA), were manually inspected to identify individual ventilations. Episodes were partitioned into consecutive 1-min segments, each characterized by its mean EtCO 2 and VR. We corrected the mean EtCO 2 values by adjusting the VRs to the recommended standard for patients with advanced airways (10 vpm), and obtained new EtCO 2,s values multiplying by the standardization factor 1.64 (1 - 0.91 VR ) published previously. Results: One-minute segments ( n = 3,791) from 244 cases were studied, for a total number of 27,312 ventilations. Of these, 206 cases had a duration equal or greater than 20-min, and 9.7% met the TOR criterium of EtCO 2 < 10 mmHg at 20-min. Median (IQR) VR, measured EtCO 2 and corrected EtCO 2,s were 8.1 (6.2-10.6) vpm, 27.7 (17.9-39.8) and 24.1 (16.0-33.7) mmHg, respectively, all at the 20-min mark. Median EtCO 2,s was at all times lower than measured EtCO 2 , with differences from 10 to 20 min ranging from 3.3 to 5.1 mmHg. Conclusion: TOR guidelines lack consensus, but the threshold of EtCO 2 < 10 mmHg at the 20-minute mark of resuscitation, as predictive of non-survivability, needs re-examination. Modern CPR introduces several confounders that produce higher measured EtCO 2 , including low VRs that are common but can be corrected. Based on a ventilation rate of 10 vpm, a new threshold should be considered as part of a multimodal approach in TOR guidelines.

Validation results on future flight safety methods to be instituted at the Guiana Space Center -New Generation

In the very short term, the European Spaceport in French Guiana (CSG) will welcome new kinds of missions and launchers, such as Ariane 6, micro-launchers or reusable vehicles, and must prepare to operate them. At the same time, the launch safety process must be improved in order to maintain flight safety standards and to respect the requirements of the French Space Operation Act (FSOA [1]) regarding the new risks induced. The Flight Safety Department at CSG has been working on the development of new methods to fit these upcoming challenges while enabling the best possible protection to people, the environment and infrastructures. These concepts will be implemented with the arrival of the new Operations Centre (CDO).Although the flight termination decision remains on a human authority, the process to evaluate the dangerousness of a mission is optimized in order to gain reactivity and effectiveness. As presented at the 73rd IAC [2], this optimization of methods relies on both decreasing the number of operators within the flight safety team during launch operations and on implementing decision-aiding algorithms to better characterize the launcher condition status at any time. This implies a new distribution of the responsibilities between the safety operators and a redesign of the systems in the future organization at CSG.A large test campaign has already been conducted with the participation of all flight safety officers in order to collect data covering different fields [2]: personal and collective impressions, level of comfort, trust in the new concepts and comparison to the current process, amongst others. In follow-up of this study, to consolidate and validate the operability of the presented concepts and methods, the impacts of this new organization on the flight safety officers have been evaluated in order to apprehend the main changes compared to the current organization. In addition, a specific evaluation was performed in order to study the operator behaviour during various simulations of dangerous-case scenarios in which the launcher trajectory or on-board parameters deteriorated. The most critical cases were analysed in order to measure the reaction times before terminating the flight, with respect to different configurations of launcher abnormality. When comparing the behaviour and the reaction time of operators between the current and the future organization, we obtained conclusive results that are presented in this paper. These results will help to determine and demonstrate the efficiency of the new suggested method for the future flight safety organization at the CSG New Generation. The test campaign presented in this paper was possible following significant ergonomics choices regarding both the flight safety room configuration and the operator HMI layout. Indeed, the enhancement of flight safety operations has been enabled by a careful selection of decision-aiding algorithms and logical equations, however the study determining the most adequate position of HMI elements has also played a major role in the safety officers’ ability to operate the new concepts.This paper will present the results of the test campaign based on initial ergonomic studies enabling this major change in the organization of the flight safety team within the future CSG.

The Association of Prehospital End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide with Survival Following Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Objective End tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) is often used to assess ventilation and perfusion during cardiac arrest resuscitation. However, few data exist evaluating the relationship between ETCO2 values and mortality in the context of contemporary resuscitation practices. We aimed to explore the association between ETCO2 and mortality following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Methods We used the 2018–2021 ESO annual datasets to query all non-traumatic OHCA patients with attempted resuscitation. Patients with documented DNR/POLST, EMS-witnessed arrest, ROSC after bystander CPR only, or < 2 documented ETCO2 values were excluded. The lowest and highest ETCO2 values recorded during the total prehospital interval, in addition to the pre- and post-ROSC intervals for resuscitated patients, were calculated. Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, initial rhythm, witnessed status, bystander CPR, etiology, OHCA location, sodium bicarbonate administration, number of milligrams of epinephrine administered, and response interval were used to evaluate the association between measures of ETCO2 and mortality. Results Hospital outcome data were available for 14,122 patients, and 2,209 (15.6%) were classified as surviving to discharge. Compared to patients with maximum prehospital ETCO2 values of 30–40 mmHg, odds of mortality were increased for patients with maximum prehospital ETCO2 values of <20 mmHg (aOR: 3.5 [2.1, 5,9]), 20–29 mmHg (aOR: 1.5 [1.1, 2.1]), and >50 mmHg (aOR: 1.5 [1.2, 1.8]). After 20 minutes of ETCO2 monitoring, <12% of patients had ETCO2 values <10 mmHg. This cutpoint was 96.7% specific and 6.9% sensitive for mortality. Conclusion In this dataset, both high and low ETCO2 values were associated with increased mortality. Contemporary resuscitation practices may make low ETCO2 values uncommon, and field termination decision algorithms should not use ETCO2 values in isolation.

DNA Damage Response-Associated Cell Cycle Re-Entry and Neuronal Senescence in Brain Aging and Alzheimer's Disease.

Chronological aging is by far the strongest risk factor for age-related dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Senescent cells accumulated in the aging and Alzheimer's disease brains are now recognized as the keys to describing such an association. Cellular senescence is a classic phenomenon characterized by stable cell arrest, which is thought to be applicable only to dividing cells. Emerging evidence indicates that fully differentiated post-mitotic neurons are also capable of becoming senescent, with roles in contributing to both brain aging and disease pathogenesis. The key question that arises is the identity of the upstream triggers and the molecular mechanisms that underly such changes. Here, we highlight the potential role of persistent DNA damage response as the major driver of senescent phenotypes and discuss the current evidence and molecular mechanisms that connect DNA repair infidelity, cell cycle re-entry and terminal fate decision in committing neuronal cell senescence.

The impact of early diagnosis of fetal single-ventricle cardiac defects on reproductive choices

Congenital heart defects are the most common fetal anomaly. Congenital heart defects with single ventricle cardiac defects have high mortality rates, and in pregnancies diagnosed with this condition, patients are often offered termination of pregnancy (TOP) as an option. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between gestational age at diagnosis and reproductive choices in fetuses diagnosed with single ventricle cardiac defects. We conducted a retrospective single-center cohort study in which 158 patients with a fetal diagnosis of single ventricle cardiac defects (SVCD) were reviewed. Cases were categorized as isolated or complex. Complex cases included fetuses with SVCD in addition to other fetal extracardiac anomalies (ECA) or chromosomal abnormalities. 158 patients were diagnosed with SVCDs during the study period. Of those, 37 (23.4%) underwent termination of pregnancy, 113 (71.5%) delivered, and 8 (5.1%) had an intrauterine fetal demise. Gestational age at diagnosis and race were significant predictors of the termination decision. The median gestational age at diagnosis was earlier in the TOP group (20.4 vs. 23.6 weeks) (p < 0.001). SVCD diagnosed in early gestation (11 weeks-14 weeks 5 days) were more likely to terminate compared to Mid (15 weeks-27 weeks 5 days) and late (28+ weeks) gestation (54.2 % vs 23.2% and 2.9%) (p<0.001). Earlier gestational age at diagnosis was correlated with earlier gestational age at termination (r= 0.92, p < 0.001). Termination of pregnancy is more common when the SVCD is diagnosed earlier in gestation. This could be explained by the fact that early diagnoses allow parents to make deliberate and informed decisions.

Determining cardinal temperatures for eight cover crop species

AbstractGrowing degree days (GDD) is a tool to predict plant growth and can be adapted for use in any plant species, including cover crops. A limitation of the GDD calculation is accurate temperature parameters used to predict plant development. For most cover crop species, the cardinal temperatures are not well defined in the literature, leading to a less accurate calculation of GDD. The objective of this study was to determine the cardinal temperatures of eight cover crop species, including Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum), balansa clover (Trifolium michelianum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), black‐seeded oats (Avena sativa), common vetch (Vicia sativa), cereal rye (Secale cereale), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), using a growth chamber experiment. Seven different temperature regimes from 4 to 34°C were implemented, and the number of leaves was counted from day 0 to 21. As a result, the data were regressed to estimate the cardinal temperatures for each species. The results of this research identified base (2), optimum (3), and maximum (8) temperatures for cover crops that were not previously reported. Five cardinal temperatures determined in this study were different from what was previously recorded; base and optimum temperatures were −4.5 and 24.8°C for cereal rye, 3.9 and 26.6°C for crimson clover, and the base temperature was 3.4°C for balansa clover. The successful identification of these cardinal temperatures for cover crops will allow the development of plant growth and biomass prediction models to aid in cover crop termination decision support tools.

Associated factors with parental pregnancy decision-making and use of consultation after a prenatal congenital heart disease diagnosis.

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) often leads affected families to experience psychological stress. Pediatric cardiology consultation is important in providing parents with sufficient information and reducing their anxiety to make an informed pregnancy decision. Involving a fetal nurse coordinator may optimize fetal anomaly care. Our study aimed to identify factors associated with parental decision-making for choosing to use pediatric cardiology consultations and pregnancy termination. From September 2017 to December 2018, all fetal CHD cases diagnosed in the second trimester from a primary screening clinic in Taiwan were included (n=145). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to analyze maternal, fetal, and medical factors for predictors of parental decisions for consultation use and pregnancy termination. Acceptance for fetal nurse coordinator care and pediatric cardiology consultation were 84.8% (n=123) and 83.4% (n=121), respectively. Predictors for termination of pregnancy included the following: multiple anomalies (OR: 10.6; 95% CI: 3.6-35.7), chromosomal/genetic abnormalities (OR: 20.2; 95% CI: 3.1-395.8), severe CHDs (OR: 9.8; 95% CI: 4.3-23.4), CHDs that required surgery (OR: 32.4; 95% CI: 11.4-117.8), and physiological single-ventricle (OR: 47.3; 95% CI: 12.4-312.5). Parents who had pediatric cardiology counseling were less likely to terminate the pregnancy (OR: 0.1; 95% CI: 0.0-0.7). Parents with fetal diagnosis having multiple anomalies (OR: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1-0.7) or chromosomal/genetic abnormalities (OR: 0.1; 95% CI: 0.03-0.9) were less likely to make use of cardiology consultation. Parents who accepted fetal nurse coordinator care were more likely to have pediatric cardiology consultation before pregnancy decision (OR: 149.5, 95% CI: 37.8-821.5). Anomaly complexity appeared to be a strong predictor for termination of pregnancy beyond non-acceptability of prenatal cardiology consultation. Prenatal cardiology counseling may help support the parental decision to continue with the pregnancy. Incorporation of a fetal nurse coordinator care into the multidisciplinary fetal medicine team improved the acceptability of prenatal consultation.

Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Sonographic Features of Swyer Syndrome

AbstractSwyer syndrome, also known as complete gonadal dysgenesis, is characterized by an individual who has an XY karyotype but is phenotypically female. It is typically diagnosed in adolescence after investigations for primary amenorrhea. The estimated prevalence is 1 in 20,000 to 80,000 births. Mutations in the DNA-binding region of the SRY gene account for approximately 15 to 20% of cases, with the remaining cases caused by other gene mutations. There are no reports of the established diagnosis of Swyer syndrome prenatally, or of the sonographic features that may be associated with it. This report outlines the details of a 33-year-old primigravida in whom a fetal cystic hygroma was noted on ultrasound at 12 weeks gestation. Chorionic villous sampling revealed a diagnosis of fetal Swyer syndrome. The fetus progressed to develop severe fetal hydrops and a parental decision for termination of pregnancy was made at 15 weeks of gestation.

Blimp-1/PRDM1 and Hr3/RORβ specify the blue-sensitive photoreceptor subtype in Drosophila by repressing the hippo pathway.

During terminal differentiation of the mammalian retina, transcription factors control binary cell fate decisions that generate functionally distinct subtypes of photoreceptor neurons. For instance, Otx2 and RORβ activate the expression of the transcriptional repressor Blimp-1/PRDM1 that represses bipolar interneuron fate and promotes rod photoreceptor fate. Moreover, Otx2 and Crx promote expression of the nuclear receptor Nrl that promotes rod photoreceptor fate and represses cone photoreceptor fate. Mutations in these four transcription factors cause severe eye diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa. Here, we show that a post-mitotic binary fate decision in Drosophila color photoreceptor subtype specification requires ecdysone signaling and involves orthologs of these transcription factors: Drosophila Blimp-1/PRDM1 and Hr3/RORβ promote blue-sensitive (Rh5) photoreceptor fate and repress green-sensitive (Rh6) photoreceptor fate through the transcriptional repression of warts/LATS, the nexus of the phylogenetically conserved Hippo tumor suppressor pathway. Moreover, we identify a novel interaction between Blimp-1 and warts, whereby Blimp-1 represses a warts intronic enhancer in blue-sensitive photoreceptors and thereby gives rise to specific expression of warts in green-sensitive photoreceptors. Together, these results reveal that conserved transcriptional regulators play key roles in terminal cell fate decisions in both the Drosophila and the mammalian retina, and the mechanistic insights further deepen our understanding of how Hippo pathway signaling is repurposed to control photoreceptor fates for Drosophila color vision.

Unplanned Student Pregnancy: Should the University Be There for Its Students?

The issue of discouraging students from having an induced termination of pregnancy is still relevant. Studying at university is a socialization stage, coming after finishing school or college. In this period students may not only choose their future profession, but also their partner. Their relationship with the opposite sex may result in the unplanned pregnancy that can affect the student’s plans. In this case, owing to various reasons, the student is likely to seek a termination of the pregnancy. However, this medical intervention could result in negative reproductive health outcomes. Moreover, until now it has been carrying moral stigma. The present paper aims to research students’ opinions concerning support measures, provided to students by their universities in case of the pregnancy during their study. The results of the survey through the Google Forms have revealed the students’ need for these measures. Thus, 91,2% of 650 respondents stated that the university support is vital for both the pregnant girl and the future father. On the basis of the received answers the author suggests changing the policy of the universities by increasing their role in discouraging students from the termination decision and provide recommendations for the creation of the anti-crisis team, offering the support to the students in difficult life situations including cases of the unplanned pregnancy. In addition, the author deriving the conclusions from polling the students is the first to have suggested the various means of interaction between the university and other non-profit organizations that can provide assistance to pregnant women or mothers in need.

An optimal sequential procedure for determining the drift of a Brownian motion among three values

We consider a one-dimensional Brownian motion, having a random and unobservable drift which can take one of three known values. Assuming that we monitor the position of the process in real time, the problem is to determine as soon as possible and with minimal probabilities of the wrong terminal decisions, which value the drift has taken. We derive the exact solution to the problem in the Bayesian formulation, under any prior probability distribution on the three values that the drift can assume, when the cost of observation is linear. Remarkably, the optimal stopping boundaries of the present problem are non-monotone.